Chapter 502: Returning Home Safe and Sound

Standing before Clerk Feng was nothing more than an ordinary-looking youth—so ordinary, in fact, that he even seemed a little simple and guileless.

And yet, the moment Clerk Feng saw that plain, honest face, his eyes bulged so wide they nearly popped out of their sockets. His throat tightened as if an invisible hand had seized it, strangling off every word before it could escape.

Y-you… how are you back? Weren’t you said to have perished at sea? Th-this… what is going on?

Though the sun shone bright and the breeze was gentle, Clerk Feng suddenly felt as though the air around him had frozen solid. A chill crawled down his spine. He instinctively shrank back, his body trembling uncontrollably, as if gripped by a sudden convulsion.

“Oh? When did the court issue such a policy? How is it that I’ve never heard of it?”

The young man scratched his head as he spoke, smiling with that same simple, harmless expression.

“Zh—Zh—Zhu… Lord Zhu… This humble student greets Lord Zhu!”

Despite the youth’s mild and almost foolish smile, Clerk Feng seemed to lose all strength in his bones. With a dull thud, he dropped to his knees in the dirt, heedless of the mud and dust. Beads of cold sweat, large as soybeans, began to drip from his forehead in rapid succession.

In the academies of old, students were not called “students” but xiángshēng—scholars of the county schools. That was how Clerk Feng addressed himself now, instinctively reverting to the humble title of a mere scholar.

Because he recognized this young man.

He had seen him before in Huaining County. There was no mistaking him.

This was the pride of the entire county—the youngest top scholar since the founding of the Great Ming. A man who had entered the prestigious Hanlin Academy, a sixth-rank official:

Zhu Ping’an.

At that moment, regret struck Clerk Feng like a thunderbolt. He wished he could smash his head against a wall.

If he had known Zhu Ping’an was alive and well, then forget twenty taels—even a hundred taels of silver would not have tempted him. Even with a blade pressed to his neck, he would never have dared to involve himself in today’s affair.

He was nothing—not even a properly ranked official. How could he possibly provoke a sixth-rank official of such youth and promise? Someone like Zhu Ping’an—who knew how far he would rise in the future?

What did it matter if he had offended powerful figures? As long as he lived, even if demoted, he was still an official. And what was Clerk Feng? Not even worthy of being counted as one.

Calling a sixth-rank Anren a “village woman”…

Demanding that a sixth-rank official pay taxes…

Just thinking about either of those was enough to make cold sweat pour down his back. His whole body shook like chaff in the wind. Kneeling there, he felt as though he were perched on thin ice, ready to plunge through at any moment.

In stark contrast to his terror, the people of Xiahe Village erupted into life.

For a single heartbeat, the fields fell silent—then suddenly burst into a roaring wave of sound, like cold water splashing into boiling oil. Cheers, exclamations, and joyful cries rose one after another, unstoppable.

“Ping’an-lang! It’s Ping’an-lang!”

“Ping’an-lang has come back!”

“Little Master Zhu—it really is him!”

“I said it all along—Ping’an-lang is blessed with great fortune. Nothing could happen to him!”

“To survive such calamity—he’s bound for even greater blessings now!”

The villagers were overjoyed.

They had long prayed for Zhu Ping’an’s safe return. With him around, their lives had improved in countless ways. Across all of Huaining County, who didn’t look at Xiahe Village with new respect? Even the officials treated them more favorably. Young men from the village found it easier to marry—families from other villages, upon hearing a suitor was from Xiahe, often agreed with pride, even lowering the bride price.

But among them all, none were more overjoyed than Zhu Ping’an’s own family—especially his mother, Madam Chen.

“Zhì’er…”

Her hands trembled uncontrollably as she raised them to cover her eyes, hardly daring to believe what she was seeing. Tears of overwhelming joy streamed through her fingers. Only after a long moment did she slowly lower her hands—so slowly, as if afraid that moving too quickly would cause the figure before her to vanish like a dream.

Through tear-blurred eyes, she gazed at him, her voice quivering as she called his childhood name.

Beside her, Juan quickly stepped forward to support her, for Madam Chen was so overcome with emotion that she could barely stand.

“Mother, I’m back.”

Zhu Ping’an walked up to her, his honest face breaking into a warm, ingratiating smile. His tone softened, almost like a child seeking affection.

As for Clerk Feng, still kneeling at his feet—he had already been completely forgotten.

If he wanted to kneel, let him kneel.

Just don’t get in the way.

The villagers surged forward, crowding around Zhu Ping’an—some greeting him, some asking questions, others simply wanting to see him with their own eyes. Meanwhile, Clerk Feng, trapped on his knees nearby, felt utterly miserable, wishing he could disappear.

He had lost count of how many times his hands and legs had been stepped on. His clothes were covered in muddy footprints—some of them clearly deliberate. Just moments ago, these same villagers had treated him with fearful deference, like mice before a cat. But now? With Zhu Ping’an back, their courage had soared to the heavens.

“Zhì’er…”

Madam Chen looked at her son again, her eyes overflowing with love, relief, and tenderness. She called his name once more and reached out, her trembling hands gently cupping his face, stroking it over and over—left, right, up, down—as if to confirm that he was real.

He’s back… my Zhì’er is back…

Heaven has returned my child to me…

Her eyes brimmed with tears of boundless gratitude.

“It’s good that you’re back… good that you’re back…” Zhu Pingan’s father stood beside her, repeating the same words over and over. His bronze-toned face could not hide the smile spreading across it.

“You’ve gotten thinner again…” Madam Chen said after a while, her voice filled with aching concern as she examined his face.

“I missed you too much, Mother,” Zhu Ping’an replied with a foolish grin.

“Nonsense—you always know how to coax me…”

Madam Chen laughed through her tears, reaching out to lightly tap his forehead with a finger. Though she scolded him, her heart was filled with warmth, her mood lifting in an instant.

“Where’s Dachuan?”

Seeing her younger son reminded her of her elder son, who had gone out to sea searching for him.

“Mother, I’m here!”

Zhu Pingchuan’s voice came from behind her.

She turned and saw him standing beside his wife, grinning foolishly, holding a handful of colorful seashells and conches he had picked up by the shore, eagerly trying to please her.

“Really—once you have a wife, you forget your mother,” Madam Chen teased, smiling.

“I brought some for you too, Mother,” Zhu Pingchuan said, scratching his head with an embarrassed laugh.

“Mother… I’ll be filial to you together with Dachuan,” Juan added shyly, her face flushing red as she took Madam Chen’s hand in a pleading gesture.