Before winter set in the following year, a carriage arrived in Yuanjiang County. As it entered the town, someone lifted the curtain and looked outside-an old man whose face was filled with emotion.
"Ah, I never imagined so many years would have passed before I returned to Yuanjiang County! So much has changed, yet not all that much."
"Father, that's quite a contradiction. Oh, you always used to tell me how famous Tongxin Pavilion's Eight Delicacies were. Now I can finally try them!"
A young man in the carriage said this with a smile, earning a scornful look from his father.
"An ignorant idler! Learn from your eldest brother. Passing the examinations and earning a scholarly rank is what matters!"
"Father, I may be an ignorant idler, but at least I'm the one who accompanied you back to Yuanjiang County when you retired. You ought to praise me."
The old man shook his head and said no more. The carriage went straight to the Yuanjiang County Office. The old offices were still as they had been, and several old colleagues he knew were even still there, much to his delight.
An even greater surprise came when he invited his former colleagues to Tongxin Pavilion for wine and food and learned something during their conversation.
An old Yuanjiang County bailiff who was still serving happened to mention Yi Shuyuan, instantly perking the old man up.
"What? Mr. Yi is here in the county?"
The old bailiff paused, then nodded.
"Yes. Mr. Yi returned years ago and has been in West River Village ever since. Didn't you know, Lord Wu?"
"How would I know? I've had hardly any news of Mr. Yi all these years."
Yi Shuyuan's face had already grown hazy in Wu Minggao's memory. He remembered only many of the