Changes

The constables' figures disappeared beyond the village entrance, and the once-silent courtyard was drowned out by the villagers' clamor.

The villagers who had only watched from afar moments ago, their faces full of sighs and lament, now all crowded forward.

Their faces were piled high with warm, fawning smiles, their attitudes making a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.

The neighbors who had not dared speak up to help before were now brimming with enthusiasm. Some hurried forward to support Mother Li, asking after her health with great concern.

Others ran home and brought back hot water and coarse-grain cakes, forcefully stuffing them into the Li Family's hands.

Still others took up brooms of their own accord and cleaned up the mess in the courtyard, their mouths overflowing with praise.

"Uncle Li, Auntie Li, after all your bitterness, sweetness has finally come. Xuancang has truly made something of himself. Azure Creek Village hasn't produced an Imperial Court Battle Soldier in who knows how many years."

"Exactly! Xuancang achieved greatness while still young, killing enemies and earning merit at the border. From now on, the Li Family will be the pillar of our village."

"If you need anything in the future, just call on us. Neighbors ought to support one another."

"..."

The villagers who usually avoided the Li Family like the plague, even privately mocking them for their poverty and saying that the family's pillar had died outside, leaving no one to carry on the line, had now all changed their faces. Their mouths dripped with flattery as they scrambled to curry favor, wishing they could forge ties with the Li Family.

Everyone understood that the Li Family now had a son serving as a Battle Soldier at the border. With the Imperial Court's protection, their taxes were completely waived, and no one dared bully them. They were no longer the destitute household that anyone could trample on.

By currying favor with the Li Family, they would have someone to rely on in the village in the future. Even if bandits came or harsh taxes were imposed, they would have a backer.

Even if Li Xuancang died in battle, the Imperial Court would protect his family for a long time. As long as the Li Family kept to themselves from now on, they could still live peacefully.

Looking at the eager, smiling faces before them, Father Li and Mother Li felt as though a lifetime had passed.

Two years ago, their son had been forcibly conscripted. The family had endured endless cold looks and bullying, struggling even to stay alive.

Now that their son had become an Imperial Court Battle Soldier, everyone's attitude had become worlds apart in only a few short moments.

In these troubled times, strength was what spoke in the end, and power was what let one gain a foothold.

Li Xiu tightly held her little sister's hand. Looking at the grinning neighbors surrounding them, her heart was filled with a jumble of emotions. She looked toward the borderlands and silently repeated to herself again and again.

"Little brother, you must be well. We'll wait for you to return safely."

Li Ling'er wiped the tear tracks from her face, and a long-lost smile appeared.

She knew that her brother was protecting them at the border. From now on, no one would dare bully their family again.

"Everyone, our home still needs tidying up, and we have no time to entertain guests. Please head back!"

The Li Family had gone through such immense upheaval that they had no heart to deal with the crowd, so they told everyone to disperse.

"Alright, alright, Dahai. If anything comes up, come find me."

"Dahai, get some rest first. We won't disturb you any longer."

"Dahai, I'll come see you tomorrow."

"..."

In the past, the villagers would have flown into a rage long ago. But the Li Family was no longer what it had been. Even knowing that Li Dahai was sending them away, they still responded with smiling faces.

After everyone left, Li Xiu said to her parents, "Father, Mother, I'll head back first."

When Qian the Tycoon had brought people to their door to demand payment earlier, Li Xiu had rushed over from her husband's family after hearing the news.

She had long since married into the Zhang Family in a neighboring village. In three years of marriage, she had given birth to a daughter who had just turned two, named Doudou.

In these troubled times where sons were valued over daughters, failing to bear a boy was the greatest sin in her in-laws' eyes.

Over the past three years, she had risen early and worked late in the Zhang Family, managing the household, yet she still suffered her mother-in-law's harsh treatment and her husband's cold looks.

She was underfed and poorly clothed, beaten, cursed, and humiliated at the slightest provocation. Her days had been unbearably bitter.

When her natal family fell into trouble, she had pleaded desperately, but her husband's family chose to stand by with their arms folded.

When she heard that something had happened to her natal family, she ignored her in-laws' attempts to stop her, gathered Nannan into her arms, and ran back without a second thought.

Yet she could only watch helplessly as her parents were humiliated and her little sister was dragged away. Weak and powerless, she could not help in the slightest and could only weep along with them.

Only when the constables arrived, revealing the news that her younger brother had become an Imperial Court Battle Soldier, forcing Qian the Tycoon away and resolving her natal family's crisis, did the heart hanging in her throat finally settle.

Holding Nannan, Li Xiu bid farewell to her parents through tears.

Her heart was both joyful and bitter. Joyful because her younger brother had finally made something of himself and could protect the family.

Bitter because she remained in her husband's household, suffering every hardship. Now that her younger brother had made something of himself, she finally had a sliver of hope as well.

"Xiu'er, you..."

Mother Li wanted to say something, but the words caught in her throat.

Over these years, the family had lost its pillar and been looked down upon by others. She knew of her daughter's life in her husband's home, yet she could do nothing.

"Mother, I'm fine. Little brother has become a Battle Soldier. Our family will suffer bitterness before sweetness from now on."

Seeing the guilt in her mother's eyes, Li Xiu comforted her. Then, holding the sleeping Nannan, she hurried away.

"Don't worry. Now that Xuancang has become a Battle Soldier, the Zhang Family won't dare bully Xiu'er again."

Father Li spoke softly. With his son becoming a Battle Soldier, everything had changed.

Li Xiu hurried back. The moment she pushed open the shabby courtyard gate, a shrill, vicious curse came smashing down on her like a blow to the face.

"You little wretch! You still know how to come back? I thought you were going to die in that ruined place your natal family calls home."

Yang Cuihua stood with her hands on her hips, her fleshy face twisted as she glared fiercely at Li Xiu, spittle flying everywhere.

"I told you to work at home, but what did you do? You ran back to your natal family without permission, loafing around and shirking work! You can't even give birth to a son, yet you still have the nerve to run around everywhere. Having a daughter-in-law like you is eight lifetimes of bad luck."

Her mother-in-law cursed loudly. Zhang Erzhu stood to one side with a cold expression. Not only did he show no concern, he instead barked out a harsh reprimand.

"Mother's right. Hurry up and toss that little girl in your arms aside. Go feed the pigs and sweep the courtyard clean. All you do all day is cause trouble. You useless thing."

They had long grown accustomed to ordering Li Xiu about. In their eyes, she was a free laborer who could not carry on the family line and could only submit to their beatings and curses.