When Huang Tian returned to Qinghui Garden with his haul, he found the road outside almost blocked by over a hundred carriages. Hundreds of finely dressed people had brought servants and gifts, hoping to pay him a visit.
The clamor made him shake his head. Unwilling to get tangled up with them, he circled to the side of Qinghui Garden, touched a toe to the ground, and landed lightly on the blue bricks of the front courtyard before strolling toward the main courtyard.
He happened upon Aunt Qin along the way. She was giving instructions to two sturdy servants, but when she turned and saw him, delight spread across her face. She hurried over. "Young master, I was just about to report something to you—"
Huang Tian stopped. "What is it?"
She looked a little troubled. "At noon today, Huang Manor sent over a rather valuable gift. They said it was Master Huang's congratulations on your breakthrough into the middle three ranks. I truly didn't know whether to accept it..."
In fact, Huang Xunjiu had spent the whole night tossing and turning. He had finally decided to try to mend his relationship with his fourth son. He had wanted to visit in person, but in the end, he could not bring himself to swallow his pride. Being turned away at the door would make him an even greater laughingstock, so he had sent a lavish gift ahead to sound out Huang Tian's feelings.
If Huang Tian accepted it, he would find a chance to visit. He could even reluctantly accept having to lower his head and apologize. After all, given Huang Tian's current strength, potential, and standing, the moment he returned to the Huang Family, it could become one of the prefectural city's most influential first-rate lineages!
For a benefit