Zhao Hanzhang’s body stiffened. She quickly helped him up. “This… hasn’t reached the point of mediation, has it?”

“It has, it has,” the young man said. “Look, the sunset has already come out, yet he still won’t give me the ox. What if he works until deep into the night? Won’t the ox be exhausted tomorrow?”

Old Man Jin was so angry his beard bristled. “You’re talking nonsense! This ox is our ward’s treasure. How could I mistreat it? Look—it’s grazing, isn’t it? I think you’re eager to get the ox now so you can plow through the night. Tomorrow the ox will still be yours to use all day. You’ll gain a whole night for free. You’re the one who would mistreat the ox.”

Zhao Hanzhang quickly stopped the arguing pair and mediated, “I think the venerable sir isn’t that kind of person. How about this—let him graze the ox here. When night falls, send the ox to the village head’s house. You can fetch it from the village head’s house tomorrow. How does that sound?”

Old Man Jin immediately said, “That’s a good idea. Let’s follow the young lady’s suggestion.”

After saying this, he suddenly reacted and turned to look at the young man. “What did you just call her?”

The young man looked at him disdainfully. “This is General Zhao. This one is Young Master Fu, our General’s betrothed. Back then, we were all settled by the Young Master. Only you newcomers weren’t.”

Zhao Hanzhang glanced at him and asked the old man with a smile, “The venerable sir arrived in Luoyang later? Where did you come from?”

The old man said, “We came with Official Fan and General Beigong. Originally we fled Luoyang following the Prince of Donghai, but halfway we encountered Shi Lei’s army and fell into chaos. Speaking of it, it was the General who saved us. But at the time, we were far away and I couldn’t see the General clearly. Seeing you today, I must kneel in thanks.”

As he spoke, he knelt down to kowtow.

Zhao Hanzhang quickly supported him. “Venerable sir, you’re too kind. At my age, how can I accept your kneeling? Please rise quickly.”

She said to the young man, “Young man, you’re young and should show some respect to your elders. Why do you mock and ridicule the venerable sir?”

She looked him up and down. “With your build, it would be a waste not to join the military. Why don’t you join my army and let me teach you how to respect the elderly and care for the young?”

The young man’s face turned pale with fright. He quickly waved his hands and stammered, “I, I have a weak constitution, not really suitable for being a soldier. Fine, fine—let him use this ox first. I’ll fetch it tomorrow.”

With that, he turned and ran.

Zhao Hanzhang shook her head and sat on the grass by the field to chat with the old man. “Venerable sir, were you resentful when they forced you back to Luoyang from outside?”

Old Man Jin’s turbid gaze fell on Zhao Hanzhang’s face. Rarely, his eyes showed some tears. “Not resentful. Our family has neither wealth nor power. Going out means wandering everywhere. If we’re fortunate enough to find a place to settle, that’s good. If not, we’re just prolonging our suffering for a few more days.”

“Actually, dying a few days later or a few days earlier doesn’t make much difference. If both end in death, dying on home soil is better.” Old Man Jin said, “After returning to the capital, the General treated us very well. Official Fan also arranged everything properly for us. It’s better than wandering outside.”

Zhao Hanzhang sighed upon hearing this.

Seeing worry on her face, Old Man Jin asked, “Are some among those who returned resentful toward the General?”

Zhao Hanzhang tacitly confirmed.

Old Man Jin then consoled her, “In this world, there’s no single matter that can satisfy everyone under heaven. Don’t blame them either.”

He said, “They’re different from us. We are lowly people—we can go anywhere as long as we can stay alive, which is already heaven’s blessing. They are noble people. Fleeing Luoyang was to seek better prospects. The General cut off their futures, so naturally they have some resentment.”

He smiled. “But I think this resentment is only temporary. The General is the finest official I’ve seen in these twenty years. When one encounters a good official, resentment can eventually dissipate.”

Zhao Hanzhang became thoughtful. Cut off their futures?

Then she would give them another kind of future.

Speaking of exchanging hearts would inevitably sound hypocritical. Better to discuss it in terms of gains and losses.

Zhao Hanzhang had a sudden realization and smiled at Old Man Jin. “Thank you, venerable sir. I understand now.”

She glanced at the orange sun wobbling at the mountain peak and smiled. “It’s getting late. Venerable sir, you should head home soon too.”

Old Man Jin looked at the ox still immersed in grazing and shook his head. “I’ll wait a bit longer. It’s still eating grass.”

Zhao Hanzhang then stood up. On the hillside, the old man was still leading his grandson in planting beans. Only the last two rows remained. He was reluctant to leave it for the next day.

He glanced indifferently at Zhao Hanzhang and the others, not knowing who they were and not caring what they said. He lowered his head and continued burying the beans.

Zhao Hanzhang looked at the sky and felt there was still time, so she rolled up her sleeves. “Come on, everyone help out. Let’s finish planting these two rows of beans.”

Zhao Hanzhang went to ask the old man for bean seeds.

Old Man Chen looked at her in astonishment.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled sweetly. “Venerable sir, we have many people. We’ll finish very quickly.”

Old Man Chen hesitated, then still grabbed several handfuls of seeds and gave them to her.

Zhao Hanzhang lifted her robe to hold them, then went directly to scatter the seeds.

Fu Tinghan also lifted his robe to receive several handfuls of seeds, then followed her in another direction. The guards stepped forward to help cover the seeds with soil.

Old Man Chen stood to the side, worriedly instructing, “Don’t scatter the seeds too thinly or too thickly. The soil should be a bit thinner, or they won’t sprout…”

Amidst his murmuring, in just over a quarter-hour, under the sunset’s afterglow, Zhao Hanzhang and the others finished planting this plot of land.

Only then did the old man show a smile. He thought to ask Zhao Hanzhang their names. “Are the young lady and young master officials coming to Luoyang? I wonder what positions you’ll take?”

Zhao Hanzhang carefully poured the remaining seeds into the child’s basket and smiled. “Minor officials, minor officials—nothing worth mentioning.”

In just these few exchanges, the last trace of sunset at the horizon disappeared. The sky darkened, and everyone could barely make out each other’s faces.

Zhao Hanzhang smiled. “Venerable sir, hurry home. When it gets too dark, the road won’t be easy to walk.”

Old Man Chen’s attitude had improved considerably. He nodded. “Yes, yes.”

Zhao Hanzhang patted her hands clean and mounted her horse to leave.

Old Man Chen slowly gathered his things and, holding his little grandson’s hand, headed home.

Old Man Jin wasn’t grazing the ox anymore. Carrying his plow on his back and leading the ox, he followed behind with uneven steps. The two hadn’t really spoken at first.

They weren’t familiar—they had just been squeezed together on the refugee road. When brought back, because their villages were far from Luoyang, Official Fan thought there was no need to scatter people so widely, so she organized them into one ward and allocated them houses in an empty village not far from Luoyang city.

Unfortunately, both families’ houses were in the same place, and their allocated fields were also nearby. Moreover, both lacked able-bodied men, so they had grown accustomed to sticking together. This way, when one person was bullied, the other could speak up to help.

After walking for a while, Old Man Chen turned back to glance at Old Man Jin and asked, “That Jia family’s young fellow didn’t make a move, did he?”

“No. With an official present, he wouldn’t dare.”

Old Man Chen muttered, “I wonder if he’ll come to our homes to cause trouble. Perhaps we should tell the village head in advance.”

Old Man Jin shook his head. “No need. The General personally spoke up. Even if you gave him ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare.”

Old Man Chen’s steps faltered slightly. “Who?”

“The one who just helped you plant beans—that’s General Zhao.”

“Is that Zhao Hanzhang from Xiping?”

“That’s her. She’s returned to Luoyang.”

Old Man Chen breathed a sigh of relief. Old Man Jin couldn’t help but smile broadly. In the dark night, the two couldn’t see each other’s eyes, but they could hear his hearty laughter. “How about that? Feel at ease now? The General has returned.”