When Liu Zhen finished her meal and went to meet them, Madam Zhang was already waiting there, holding the hands of her two younger sisters, Liu Wan and Liu Zhuang, one in each hand. Standing beside them were her older brother Liu Nan, and her father Liu Yuan, who had returned at some unknown time.

“Father!” Liu Zhen couldn't help but quicken her pace. After a few hurried steps, she was scooped up into the arms of her father, who had bent down with his arms outstretched toward her.

“My Ah Zhen looks very pretty today!” Liu Yuan laughed heartily, touching the apricot blossom tucked into her braid.

The classic hairstyle for little girls at this time was hanging tufts, where the hair wasn't tied up at all, or just casually bundled. Of course, Liu Zhen couldn't just let her hair run wild. She had originally felt that not styling her hair into double buns would be an injustice to her adorably cute and fair face. But for some reason, the two buns she combed up always ended up one big and one small, looking utterly ridiculous. After countless attempts, Liu Zhen discovered she truly had no talent for hairstyling and sullenly gave up.

No matter how well Madam Zhang treated her, she was not her birth mother, and moreover, she had two daughters of her own to care for. Liu Zhen didn't want to trouble her every time, so she simply started wearing her hair in braids, which were neat and easy to manage. In any case, the requirements for women's hairstyles weren't very strict in this era, and besides, they weren't aristocrats, so there was no need for such fuss.

Praised by her father, Liu Zhen gave a sweet smile, just like a real child. She wrapped her arms around her father's neck and said in a clear voice, “Father, I've finished learning all the characters you taught me last time. When we go to Grandfather's place today, I'd like to ask to borrow some books from him to read, may I?”

Although her grandfather was, by any account, a town head, and her father and brother were minor officials in the Qin State, Liu Yuan himself was a complete semi-illiterate. He disliked studying. Of course, due to his birth, his father's regard for him was far less than for his eldest son. Under this intentional and unintentional neglect, Liu Yuan could hardly be called a cultured man. Being able to name his children was already an exceptional display of his abilities.

Hearing Liu Zhen's words, Liu Nan chimed in with a grin, “Ah Zhen, if you want to read and learn characters, I can borrow some from my teacher for you! No need to curry favor with Grandfather!”

This older brother of Liu Zhen's had just turned nine this year, born in the very year Qin Shi Huang unified the six states. But in an era where people matured early, he was already considered a young lad. Xiang Town had a town school, and as descendants of a former town head, the Liu family's children were naturally expected to attend.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree; Liu Nan had inherited his father's gene for disliking studies, and his performance at the town school was always at the bottom. He had a wild nature, and his favorite pastime was gathering his friends to chase chickens and fight dogs, running amok in the mountains and fields all day. He was extremely mischievous, but toward his younger sisters, he was exceptionally affectionate.

The words had barely left his mouth when he received a sharp smack on the back of his head.

Liu Yuan's face darkened. “Ignorant child, how dare you be disrespectful to your grandfather!”

Liu Nan rubbed his head, lowered it, and muttered, “But I wasn't wrong…”

Seeing Liu Yuan's eyes widen as he was about to strike again, Madam Zhang quickly interjected, “It's getting late. We should head out now so we can return early!”

Liu Zhen also urged from the side, “Father, you still haven't promised to help me borrow books from Grandfather!”

Liu Yuan had no choice but to concede. “When the time comes, I will mention it to your grandfather!”

In the Qin Dynasty, the size of a town-level region was demarcated by a population of five thousand. Xiang Town, with a population of over three thousand, was not considered large, but it wasn't small either.

Xiang Town was originally a territory of the Han State. The Han State was the weakest of the Seven Warring States and the first to be conquered by the Qin State. The Qin conquest of Han did not meet with fierce resistance, so the measures taken were relatively moderate. In contrast, the fate of the Zhao State was truly tragic. First came the Battle of Changping, where over 400,000 men were buried alive by Bai Qi. This was followed by the Battle of Handan, where Zhao was defeated again with heavy casualties. In the end, let alone resisting the Qin State, it was said that the territory of Zhao was filled with orphans and widows, a truly heartbreaking sight.

After gradually accepting the fact that she had become a part of the torrent of history, Liu Zhen managed to gather a lot of information through indirect questioning.

Whether it was Liu Yuan, Madam Zhang, or most of the elders in Xiang Town, they had all personally experienced the Warring States period, and thus had a much deeper impression of the chaotic times.

From their mouths, Liu Zhen gained a more profound understanding of the battles recorded in the history books of later generations. She also learned that for a town like Xiang Town to have a population of over three thousand was quite significant in an era of sharp population decline after the contention of the Seven States. In a later era, it would be equivalent to a prefecture-level city. Thus, she could also understand why her uncle, who served as a County Clerk in the county seat, always looked at them with his nose in the air.

The two households were some distance apart, requiring a fifteen-minute walk. After crossing a small path between the fields, they could see a large, well-established house in the distance, much more elaborate than the other houses nearby. That was their destination.

When Liu Zhen and her family arrived, her aunt, Madam Yu, was just coming out of the house, carrying an urn. Seeing them, she raised her eyebrows in a half-smile. “Little brother-in-law is here!”

Liu Yuan cupped his hands in a salute. “Greetings, sister-in-law. Where is my older brother?”

Madam Yu said, “At this hour, your brother is naturally on duty. He is in charge of a whole county's documents. Surely you don't expect him to stay at home all day, idle like a loafer?”

Liu Yuan had only asked casually, but was met with Madam Yu's veiled ridicule. However, he didn't get angry. Instead, he grinned. “You are mistaken, sister-in-law. What's so bad about being a loafer? To have clothes brought to you and food served to your mouth—to live such a life, could anything be more pleasant!”

Without waiting for Madam Yu's response, he led his wife and children inside.

Liu Zhen, her hand held by Liu Yuan, only had time to turn her head for a glance and saw Madam Yu's lips curl in a look of contempt.

An illegitimate offspring, lazing around and doing nothing, what's there to be so proud of!

It was written all over Madam Yu's face.

Inside the house, Liu Xin was sitting by a low table, guiding his eldest grandson, Liu Cheng, as he wrote stroke by stroke on a bamboo slip. Madam Lou was kneeling to the side, weaving a mat.

“Greetings, Father and Mother.” Liu Yuan knelt and bowed, and Madam Zhang and the children behind them followed suit.

Liu Wan and Liu Zhuang were four and three years old respectively, and unlike Liu Zhen, they didn't have a mature soul. When performing the salutation, they were still muddle-headed, only knowing to follow their older siblings in greeting.

“Mm.” Liu Xin's gaze lifted from the bamboo slip and turned to them. “You may all be seated.”

This grandfather of Liu Zhen's was nearly fifty. In later generations, this would still be considered middle-aged, but in the Qin Dynasty, he had already entered old age. His hair was streaked with gray, and the wrinkles on his face were quite pronounced. Although the Liu family was well-off, they were not wealthy enough to afford the daily skincare of nobles that would keep their skin smooth and delicate. Thus, her grandfather's appearance was very characteristic of the era.

At this, Liu Cheng also put down his brush and bowed to Liu Yuan and Madam Zhang. “Uncle, Aunt.”

Liu Cheng was the son of Liu Yuan's older brother and the eldest grandson of the Liu family. Unlike the study-averse Liu Nan, Liu Cheng had always been a student highly favored by the teachers at the town school. The Liu clan had placed high hopes on Liu Cheng, and Madam Yu often boasted in front of Liu Yuan and Madam Zhang that in just another year, their son could be recommended to become a selected scholar and take up a position in the county.

In this era where official positions depended on recommendations, being born into the family of an official, even a minor one in a town, brought great advantages to the descendants. Liu Cheng was clearly a beneficiary of this system.

While Liu Cheng was bowing, Liu Zhen was sizing up this cousin with whom she rarely interacted.

He was twelve years old this year, his handsome face still bearing traces of childishness, yet he was already engaged. His fiancée, Madam Yun, was only eleven. In a later era, both would still be children, but here they were already about to cross the threshold into adulthood. It was said that after Liu Cheng turned thirteen and held his Capping Ceremony, he would be formally married.

Under the influence of his elders, Liu Cheng wasn't fond of his uncle's family either. In his view, the Liu family was so renowned in Xiang Town, yet as a son of the Liu family, his uncle not only lacked ambition but also idled around all day, tarnishing the family's reputation outside. When his classmates at the town school mentioned his uncle, they all wore expressions that said, “Oh, you mean that Liu the Useless who loves cockfighting and dog racing.” This always made Liu Cheng feel deeply embarrassed.

At the arrival of his son from a concubine, Liu Xin showed no obvious joy; his feelings for this son had always been lukewarm. The reaction of Madam Lou beside him was even more apparent. For Liu Yuan, who had not come from her own womb, she didn't even deign to give him a sideways glance, keeping her head down and focusing on the mat in her hands.

Just then, Madam Yu came in from outside. She walked to Madam Lou's side, knelt, and casually picked up the unfinished mat by Madam Lou's hand. “Mother, let me help you.”

Madam Lou smiled. “Your hands are much more skilled than mine. I might as well leave it all to you so I can take a break!”

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law spoke with great intimacy, making Liu Yuan's family seem all the more like outsiders. This was especially true for Madam Zhang, who was also a daughter-in-law of the Liu family; her embarrassment was palpable.

She glanced at her husband, who still wore a faint, unconcerned smile, showing no sign of displeasure.

In truth, a past event lay buried deep in Liu Yuan's heart.

His mother, Madam Tian, had been a servant girl who came with Madam Lou as part of her dowry. According to the law at the time, if a female servant had borne children for her master, the master had the right to free her from servitude. But the law was one thing, and reality another; the heavens are high and the emperor is far away, and no one could guarantee that everyone would abide by the law. Moreover, the Liu family was a local power in Xiang Town. Coupled with the fall of the Han State and the recent unification by the Qin State, the world was newly settled but chaos had not yet subsided. When Madam Lou refused to release her, no one would bother with such a trivial matter.

No one wants to be born inferior, and Liu Yuan was no exception. In his hot-blooded youth, he had even fought with Liu Xin and Madam Lou over this matter, but all he achieved was to have Madam Tian abused even more harshly. Back then, servants were private property that could be dealt with at will. Filled with anger and resentment, Liu Yuan could only suppress his feelings for the time being, waiting for an opportunity to buy his mother's freedom.

A few years passed, and he actually found his chance.

As the Qin government gradually stabilized, Qin law was implemented throughout the country. By a chance discovery, Liu Yuan found a provision in the Qin law: if one's mother or sister was a servant and had committed no major crime, a male descendant could serve for five years as a soldier guarding the frontier in exchange for freeing one person from servitude.

Using state law to override family custom, Madam Lou naturally had no choice but to compromise. And so, Liu Yuan bid farewell to his mother and wife and ran off to join the army. Five years passed. Although he didn't gain any rank, he could at least return to buy his mother's freedom.

But when he returned, full of excitement, he was met with terrible news: his mother, Madam Tian, had died of illness two years prior.

Liu Yuan didn't fly into a rage. After running to his mother's grave and crying his heart out, he acted more calmly than anyone could have imagined. As if nothing had happened, he resumed his old life in his hometown.

No one knew what he was truly thinking in his heart.

Liu Xin sized up his youngest son and slowly spoke, “You've been back for some time now. It's not good to be idle like this day after day. The Attendant of Beisi Outpost is in need of a subordinate. Are you willing to go?”

Beisi was a place's name, located in the Beisi area of Xiang Town. There was an outpost every ten li, and its head officer was called an Outpost Head. Liu Zhen knew this. She also knew that there was a very famous figure in history who had made this minor position widely known. Speaking of which, that great figure should have been born by now.

But as for what a nOutpost Attendant was, Liu Zhen had no idea.

She was a little puzzled, so she looked up at Liu Yuan and Madam Zhang, only to find Madam Zhang with her head lowered, looking furious, her hands tightly wringing the corner of her robe.

Could it be that this position was very dangerous, which was why her stepmother was reacting this way?

Liu Zhen grew more confused and looked again at her father.

Liu Yuan: “Father, I appreciate your kind intentions, but your son is used to a life of freedom and dislikes being constrained. If I had a superior ordering me around, what difference would there be from being in the army?”

Liu Xin's face fell. “Your mother said you were good for nothing. I didn't believe it at first, but now I see it's true! Your grandfather once served as Elder San, a man of high prestige and respect. As a son of the Liu family, all you do is ruin our family's reputation!”

Liu Yuan smiled nonchalantly. “Father, your words are mistaken. I neither steal nor rob, how could I ruin the Liu family's name? Besides, older brother is now a County Clerk. With him here, why worry that the Liu family's prestige won't flourish?”

“You are unteachable!” Liu Xin's face changed drastically with anger. He pointed at the door and said, “If there is nothing else, you may go home. And you need not come here again!”

It seems my plan to borrow books has gone up in smoke, Liu Zhen lamented silently in her heart.