Chapter 261: Entering the Capital
Soon, the year came to a close, and Qin Zhenzhen and her companions decided to return to Qian Family Village to celebrate the New Year.
The upcoming marriage of Su Lan and Qian Shanmin was to be a highlight during the festivities.
Qin Zhenzhen, along with Su Bin and Su Ning, arrived ten days in advance to join in the preparations.
Su Qing, Su Ping, and Qin Silong, on the other hand, were scheduled to return just a few days before the New Year.
Their first stop upon returning was the Qin family home.
When they saw Grandma Qin’s renewed vitality with their own eyes, a wave of joy swept over Qin Zhenzhen and her family.
The entire village gathered to witness the extraordinary sight, and their astonishment was palpable as they beheld this remarkable event firsthand.
Word quickly spread that Qin Zhenzhen possessed divine healing abilities.
Qin Zhenzhen also made an official announcement, “Father, Mother, I have purchased a large house in the prefectural city. After the New Year, our entire family will be relocating there, as I will need your a.s.sistance.”
In the coming spring, Qin Silong was determined to undergo military training, just as he had in his previous life. His goal was not only to become a tribune but to rise even higher, aspiring to be a general.
He believed that by obtaining military authority, he could better protect his family and prevent them from falling under the influence of the Jiang family.
Qin Zhenzhen fully supported her Fourth Brother’s decision to join the military camp.
In his dreams, Qin Silong retained vivid memories of his previous experiences in the military camp. He was intimately familiar with every battle and could recall the causes and outcomes of each conflict.
With the knowledge he had gained, he believed that he could alter the course of past failed battles and save numerous lives. This would not only strengthen the border’s defense but also ensure greater stability in the region.
During that time, it seemed like an opportune moment for Fourth Brother to make significant contributions in the military.
However, once Fourth Brother embarked on his journey to the military camp, Qin Zhenzhen faced a dilemma. She lacked dependable individuals to oversee her workshop in the prefectural city.
Placing complete trust in Su Ping was not an option at this juncture. Moreover, Su Ping’s strong admiration for her Fourth Brother raised concerns that he might follow him to the military camp.
If both of them were to leave, Qin Zhenzhen would need to bring in her own trusted personnel.
Qin Dalong had some reservations about leaving behind the familiar surroundings of Qin Family Village and the town’s pork shop.
Having been involved in the pig slaughtering profession from a young age, he had developed a deep attachment to this line of work. It provided a steady income and ensured he could put food on the table. He considered his current life to be reasonably satisfactory.
However, Qin Erlong and Qin Sanlong expressed their eagerness to relocate to the prefecture capital. In particular, Qin Sanlong, who was yet to marry, saw the potential for a career change as a positive opportunity.
Although butchering allowed him to earn a living, it also came with its downsides, including the constant dirt and the prospect of doing the same job for the rest of his life.
Joining the family in the prefectural city to learn the ropes of business held a different appeal for him.
Ultimately, they reached a decision: Qin Dalong, his wife, children, and the two elders would remain in their hometown for the time being, while the rest of the family would head to the prefecture capital.
Due to time constraints, Su Lan and Qian Shanmin’s wedding took place in the two days preceding the New Year, with the entire village in attendance.
After the New Year festivities, Qin Zhenzhen and her companions returned to the prefectural city. However, before the Lunar New Year’s first month had pa.s.sed, an emissary from the palace arrived in the prefectural capital, accompanied by members of the Jiang family, to deliver an imperial edict.
It was conveyed that the Empress Dowager’s health had taken a turn for the worse, and there was word of Qin Zhenzhen’s exceptional medical prowess. The palace requested that both Qin Zhenzhen and Grandma Qin enter the palace to provide treatment to the ailing Empress Dowager.
Reluctantly, Qin Zhenzhen had to accept the imperial edict, though her inner thoughts were filled with frustration. She wondered why they required her and Grandma Qin when the imperial court boasted numerous imperial physicians. Was there a hidden agenda at play? Or was it because they had drawn too much attention?
Nevertheless, an imperial edict was not something to be disregarded, and the looming storm could not be avoided indefinitely.
On the day they received the imperial edict, Qin Zhenzhen and Grandma Qin were prepared to accompany the palace representatives into the capital.
It was then that Su Bin proposed joining them, stating, “We’re all in this together. ”
“Agreed!” Qin Zhenzhen readily accepted the suggestion. She had initially planned to leverage Su Bin’s ident.i.ty in her dealings with the Jiang family.
Given Su Bin’s proactive proposal, she had no intention of rejecting his offer..