After spending several months on disaster relief, Xie Jin'an and Madam Li finally returned home.
The people of Anyuan County were so enthusiastic that they worshipped them on an altar every day. Though they feasted on lavish meat and fish, they had no freedom whatsoever.
People followed them when they relieved themselves and watched them while they ate. Even when they slept, the enthusiastic locals took turns keeping watch over them.
Several times, they had tried to escape home, only to be caught by the enthusiastic masses and brought back to be worshipped.
Had His Majesty's imperial decree not arrived this time, they would never have escaped that godforsaken place.
Exposed to the wind and sun every day, their skin was no longer as fair as before, but they were not as dark as they had been during their Coal Spirit days either.
Now, all three had healthy, wheat-colored complexions.
Qing Da had wanted to send them to the Government Office again, but since the three were no longer so dark, he could hardly make a move.
Instead, he immediately sent people to notify the masters of each courtyard.
Sure enough, the moment Liu Wan stepped into the Front Courtyard, Madam Li unleashed a torrent of abuse. "The fourth son's marriage was such a major event, yet you dared to hide it from us! Have you forgotten that you still have a mother-in-law?"
She had several months' worth of pent-up anger and nowhere to vent it. Liu Wan happened to be the first to walk straight into the line of fire.
Just as Liu Wan was about to speak, Liu Shi handed the little one beside him to Pan Chun and stepped forward.
"Madam Li, you stripped my sister of her authority to manage the household, and the Fourth Master