Er Yin ride home and stop occasionally in some inn establishments. She did not want to tired her horse out and he needs to be feed. The stable boys who are doing the feeding is surprise to see her horse is tall and muscular. Also cuts on the body. While Er Yin have develop a habit of not sleeping in the night. Thus she surprise a few who thought that they can steal from the new paton in the inn. When she point her sword or the arrow at them, they run off. Stealing her horse doesn't work as he stomp at anyone who try to lead him away.
She reach home within twenty days of travelling. At home, she kneel down to her parents who are older and their speech is less clear. She send a message to her husband. Informing him that she will return home the next three days. However he come to the Xie residence the next day with his daughter. They look at each other and smile. Her parents are comfort to know that their eldest daughter will be well taken care by a good man. At night Er Yin sit at the porch with a jar of Chinese wine in her hands. She stare at the dark sky. Everything she did in the past is over. She try not to think of the horror she did. She is a mass murder in some sense. The screaming and crying of those young man she had killed so many years ago still linger within her mind.
In the morning, she stare at herself in the well water. It show her that she have white hair. The skin on her face is slightly winkle. Overall she still looks the same but older. She sigh loudly and pull up the bucket of water. She carry the bucket and pour over to a few basins that she had laid on the table in the courtyard. Slowly she walk into the bedroom of her parents and put in two basins for them to wash their face when they get up. She carry another basin to the room where her daughter is sleeping in. Lastly before she pick up the basin, her husband walks out off the room. Er Yin then realised that he had shaved his head. He shy smile and walk up to her.
"My husband, this basin of water is for you."
"Thank you. I was about to go get some water..."
They both stand around in an award silence. He walk over and take the basin. Settile down at the washing area, he quart and start scrubbing his face hard and fast. Er Yin watch him and remember that the Duke wash his face while standing upright with a washing face bin. Even at the army, the soldiers have a wooden stand that holds their small basin for basic wash. She mentally make some plans to improve the living standards of the houses they live in.
In the afternoon, the couple walk around. Zhang Bei Ming talks as they walk. He pointed out the changes in the village. Everywhere they go, people stop them and have a short conversation. Everyone address her as Mrs Zhang while is really odd to hear.
In the evening, Er Yin and her step daughter, Mei Mei starts prepare for dinner. Soon, Si bao appears with her children. San Cai and Meng Bao both work for the local magistrate. Thus they are busy most of the time. San Cai practically sleep at the local magistrate office while Meng Bao returns home at midnight and leaves before the sun is up. The Xie family have used to the current lifestyle and with Er Yin retuning home for good, the parents are happier.
Er Yin and her family soon return home after the third day. Their small house is now slightly bigger. The amount of pigs raised are still the same. Bei Ming did not want a bigger pen for the pigs, that means more work for him. Moreover he is getting older, his back is aching even though he is not complaining. Bei Ming only look forward to spend his days with his wife. Now she is back, they return to the day when they just got married. Everything is strange and awkward for them. Both of them agree to treat it as if they just got married and it's their first few days together. This ideal makes them both easier to absorb each other's present in the environment they are in.
Mei Mei have reached the age of Ji Li. Er Yin wants to arrange a celebration. Bei Ming disagree as Ji Li is only celebrated and done by the rich or the nobles. Not the common people. Er Yin disagree as she never had one and she saw a village that she guarded not long ago when the villagers come together and have a good meal and witness that young girl praying to heavens and her ancestor. Er Yin wants to do a simple celebration.
"If you are worry about the money. Don't be. I have enough. It's a small celebration. Not like those noble people. Also it is important event that announcing that she is an adult now. We need to show her to the eligible young man in the village! Then we can choose and pick the best man for her to marry."
That sentence makes Bei Ming light up and thinking of his daughter marrying a good man. While Mei Mei keep quiet.
"What do you think, my daughter?"
"Whatever my parents say, i will do."
"Mei Mei, if you don't like the ideal. Tell me, i am not an unreasonable person."
"Mother... can i just have a small celebration.... i am afraid to see a large crowd."
"Hmm! I promise you, only close relatives and good men in this village!"
That night while her husband and daughter is asleep, she write down the names of people she wants to invite.
The next day, she walks to the local magistrate office to look for her brother. Er Yin find San Cai in his office writing documents. He stand up and greet her. San Cai have two brushes push into his hair to hold his hair bun. Even thought he is only working in the office, he looks like he did not take a bath for a while.
"You look like a mess. When is the last time you have gone home? Home is not too far from your office."
"I know but there is a lot of work to be done. Come sit sit."
He hurry to clear the papers on the chair and stack them neatly on the floor. Er Yin walk around with her hands behind her. The office is neat but papers are everywhere. His desk is stack with scrolls.
"San Cai... you need a bath... the air inside here is ... open the window."
"No, I'm afraid of there is a strong gust of wind, my papers will fly."
Er Yin walk outside of his office and look at the ground. She see a stone of good weight and pick it up. She walk back in and put on one of the stack of paper.
"Look, do this. The paper will not fly. I will pick up a few more stones of this weight, then you can open the window."
She walk outside and look for a few more stones. She walk back in to see his boiling tea in a corner. After she place some stones on each pile of paper, she open the window.
"See, your room is brighter and need not burnt too many candles."
"Thank you eldest sister! Come sit and have some tea. Not the best but it's comforting to have tea to drink when taking breaks."
"How are you San Cai? I haven't seen you for such a long time."
"Yes, the last time ... but i am glad that you did not suffer when you are jail. Mother was laying in bed. She was crying till she got sick."
"She was? She did not tell me anything..."
"Ah that is the past. Nothing to worry about. Mother is fine now. I have a physician friend, she regularly come by to this area. She goes and check our parents health. So i am not so worry!"
He laugh heartily. Er Yin stare at him and with a curve smile, she lean forward to him.
"Is she your love or a friend?"
He got choke and spit his tea over his garment.
"Eldest sister... don't get mistaken ... we are friends! I ... I..."
"If you like her, you have to do something. If there is other men who is eyeing on her. She might be gone and never appear at your sight."
San Cai remain quiet. He look up and see his sister looking around his office.
"And ... are you happy, now?"
"Hmm.... i have told the emperor that i am not going back to the army. He agree. So i am adjusting back in living as a farmer... "
Both siblings sit at where they are and enjoy the tea and breeze.
"Eldest sister, you have white hair now."
She laugh and nod her head.
"Everyone have to reach this stage. Everyone will have white hair, missing teeth or maybe really bad eye sight."
He laugh and nod his head repeatedly. After putting down his tea cup, he ask why did she come to see him.
"Oh, well firstly to see you. Secondly, please help me to write an invitation cards for Mei Mei's Ji Li. She will be having it next month and i thought to bring a few more people for the celebration... wait ... do your office have any unmarried man who is suitable for Mei Mei. Not too old but ... you know."
"I am not sociable like brother-in-law. I will ask him later. He is now in the local court house with the judge. Besides that... most villagers are illiterate. Did you forget?"
"Oh my mind! I totally forget about that. Everything i did was to write and report to the relevant department. Well forget about that, i need to go home and personally go to those families."
"Eldest sister ... i think, the whole village might turn up when one person hear the news."
"Oh that sounds great. I need not to walk door to door."
"Just prepare more food."
"Will do. Now you go back on your work and i will do mine. Remember to go home and take a good clean bath, please!"
He bow deeply with his hands clinch tight infront of him. Er Yin nod her head and walk off with her hands behind her.