After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 306 How did they manage to bring back the bed boards?
Su Chunlin and Su Chunsen immediately stood up and ran a few steps, wishing they could stretch their necks two miles to get a closer look.

"Hey! It really is them! How can these brats be so reckless!" Su Chunsen cursed and hurried over there.

When they arrived, Shen Yi and the others had just gotten the carriage up. Although they were in a sorry state, they were all smiles.

"Ah Sheng! What are you doing?!" Su Changxi shouted excitedly as he ran.

Su Sheng turned around a few times and saw the newcomers, all of whom jumped up to greet him.

Su Changxi ran to Su Sheng and hugged him tightly, "You're back! You're finally back! Father's heart can finally rest easy!"

As he spoke, he hugged Song Yongnian again, laughing and crying at the same time, as if he wanted to put an end to the hardships of the past years.

Su Chunlin examined Shen Yi for a long time before asking with concern, "Are you injured?"

"Father-in-law, I'm perfectly fine, nothing's wrong!" Shen Yi smiled with an honest and simple expression.

Su Chunlin was overjoyed. After feeling relieved, he asked about the others and learned that everyone was fine. He was in high spirits and said, "Let's go! Let's hurry home and have a proper family reunion."

Su Changxi sat on the oxcart, looking at the long plaque beneath his bottom, his brows furrowed slightly, and he scolded, "I know you're sentimental, but the border is so far from here, why did you bring back your sleeping bed? We have plenty of beds!"

Besides, the bed is so small, it's only about right for a child to sleep on.

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter, laughing until tears streamed down their faces.

Su Changxi said with a stern face, "Did I say something wrong?"

Song Yongnian suppressed a laugh and explained, "Father-in-law, what you're sitting on is a plaque bestowed upon us by His Majesty, with inscriptions personally written by Him."

With a loud crash, Su Changxi fell off the carriage.

Su Sheng was shocked and quickly stopped. "Dad, what happened? Are you hurt?"

Su Changxi rolled on the snow, staring in shock at the bed board—no, the plaque—"What the hell is this?"

"The Emperor bestowed this plaque upon us. We've done a great service. We don't need official positions. The Emperor rewarded each of us with a plaque. We'll bring it back and hang it in our homes. From now on, everyone who sees it will have to pay their respects. Hahaha!" Su Sheng said smugly.

Su Changxi trembled with fear. "I...I...I just sat on it. Wasn't that incredibly disrespectful? Will I be beheaded?"

"No, no, Father, don't scare yourself." Su Sheng quickly helped Su Changxi into the carriage.

He absolutely refused, insisting on squeezing in with Su Sheng. Whenever he thought about it, he would sneak a peek behind him, looking like a thieving old man, which was quite amusing.

The group found an inn in the city to stay in, and Shen Yi and the others told each other about what had happened after Su Chunlin and the others left the military camp during a meal.

Su Chunlin was overjoyed that Shen Yi and the others had such good fortune and expressed his support for Shen Yi's decision.

“We’re just ordinary people, not like we’re childless and carefree. We can’t just do anything to climb the ladder for fame and fortune. There’s really no need to fight for those things. Even if we do, we won’t get ahead. Just look at the county magistrate. The previous magistrate, Lord Liang, only got promoted after so many years of hard work because of his good governance. The current magistrate has been here for so long!”
He's pretty much set in his ways; I think he'll stay in his position as magistrate of Zhaohua County until he dies of old age!

He lowered his voice, not daring to shout.

Everyone nodded.

Su Sheng said, "Don't even mention the county magistrate, isn't our town magistrate the same? The previous town magistrate died of old age before the current one was replaced. If he commits a crime, he'll be replaced; if he doesn't, he'll work until he dies. He has to deal with any problems immediately. He only has a good title and some power in our area, but he's nothing in the county." Su Sheng said casually.

Now that he has received an imperial plaque bestowed by the Emperor, even a lowly magistrate like him doesn't need to worry about being reported.

After the group finished their meal, Shen Yi led Su Sheng and the others to the county government office to file a report with the county magistrate.

All imperial gifts had to go through official channels. Only after the government confirmed that the gifts were correct, missing, or damaged could they be taken back. The government also had to report the matter truthfully.

The county magistrate dared not delay upon receiving the news.

Upon seeing the plaques, he kowtowed three times respectfully, displaying a very kind and friendly attitude towards Shen Yi and his companions, not daring to put on any airs of an official. The matter was handled very smoothly.

The news spread throughout the county as soon as Shen Yi and his group set off.

The horse-drawn carriage traveled all the way to Moshi Town.

The town was still the same as when they left, only a bit older. The group was eager to return home and had no intention of lingering.

Su Sheng and his group took Su Changxi and Su Chunsen back to Dongmen Village to report the news, while Su Chunlin, Shen Yi, and Shen Dagou returned to Shenjiazhuang.

The horse-drawn carriage entered the village at dusk.

Shenjiazhuang was covered in snow, with wisps of smoke rising from the chimneys.

The carriage slowed down as it traveled along the country road. A villager, hearing the noise, peeked out and met Shen Yi's gaze.

Shen Yi smiled at him, "Uncle."

"Hey! Shen Yi! It's Shen Yi! And Big Dog! You're back!" The villagers were overjoyed, their voices so loud they startled the surrounding houses.

The quiet village came alive in an instant, and many people came out to see what was happening.

Upon receiving the news, Wei Erya rushed out without thinking, running straight to the place where the villagers were gathered.

Surrounded by villagers asking them all sorts of questions, Shen Dagou and Shen Yi's eyes welled up with tears when they saw Wei Erya. They quickly jumped off the carriage and rushed over, shouting, "Erya! I'm back!"

Wei Erya rushed forward, tears blurring her vision, "You're really back, you're really back! Waaah!"

"Big dog, big dog!" Huang Xinghua and Shen Mu supported each other as they ran this way.

Shen Dagou hurriedly stepped forward to greet them, "Father, Mother, your unfilial son is back!"

"Waaah, what nonsense are you talking about! My son!" Huang Xinghua wailed, clinging tightly to Shen Dagou and refusing to let go.

Shen Yi watched this scene with a smile and envy, when an oil-paper umbrella appeared above his head.

Shen Yi turned around abruptly and met Su Tai's smiling, gentle eyes.

"I've come to pick you up!"

"Little Tai!" Shen Yi exclaimed excitedly, picking Su Tai up and spinning her around.

Su Tai chuckled.

The villagers were understanding and congratulated the family on their reunion.

"Alright, put me down now," Su Tai said reproachfully, pointing to the Han family and children approaching from not far away, "Look who they are."

Shen Yi put Su Tai down, took a closer look, and his heart skipped a beat. "Mother-in-law, Yue'er! Congrong! There's more!"

Shen Yi's gaze fell on the twins, and he asked with great joy, "They are the boy and girl twins?"

Su Tai nodded.

Shen Yi quickly strode forward, stretched out his long arms, gathered the four children into his arms, and hugged them tightly.

The four children laughed excitedly.

"Dad! I missed you!" Shen Yuezhang hugged Shen Yi's neck tightly, smiling with a satisfied yet proud expression, wishing everyone knew that he was her father.