Chapter 87

In the fourth year of the Yingli era, on the 17th day of the fourth lunar month, all members of the穿越团队 (time-travel team), including the留守组 (留守 group) of Feilong Fort, as well as Zhang Xiaofei, Han Qingwen, and Zhong Ziqi, came to Yuxu Palace to prepare for the ancestral worship ceremony.

The ceremony was still held on an open space at the back of Yuxu Palace. All the necessary items for the ceremony had been purchased beforehand. Before the ceremony began, Yuxu Zi and the steward Deng An directed the servants and young Taoist boys to arrange everything neatly.

On the morning of the 18th, the time-travel team and their families came to the ceremony site. Led by the four members of the committee, they solemnly and respectfully completed the ancestral worship ceremony according to the customary procedures of this era. Afterward, everyone returned to Yuxu Palace for a brief rest and a lunch provided by Yuxu Zi. They then bid farewell to Yuxu Zi and returned to Liangxiang City together.

The reason why Qian Yuanshan, Zeng Zhilin, and other members of the留守组 (留守 group) also returned to the city with the main group was twofold. First, they needed to bring back the fifty flintlock guns and related ammunition assembled by the technology group to Feilong Fort for the training of the personal guard squad. The day the personal guard squad became proficient with the flintlock guns would be the day they officially started their duties. Second, it was to make up for the security personnel shortage caused by Wang Xiaojun taking some of the security team members to Youzhou City two days later.

The next day, the time-travel team began preparing for Wang Xiaojun and Han Qingwen's trip to Youzhou City. The trade group was responsible for purchasing a gift to be presented to Han Deyi—after all, a son-in-law visiting his father-in-law should not go empty-handed. Of course, the expenses for purchasing the gift were borne by Wang Xiaojun himself. Although, in a sense, most of the team's funds came from the auction of his bottle of wine and set of cups, Wang Xiaojun never considered the team's assets as his private property beyond the bonuses allocated to him by the team. He believed that the proceeds from the auction were the result of the efforts of all team members and could not be monopolized by him alone. In matters of money, he always maintained a clear distinction between public and private, which is why he was unanimously supported by all team members when appointed as the head of the finance group. This trip to Youzhou City was considered a personal matter, so he absolutely could not use the team's funds and had to pay for everything himself.

The committee understood Wang Xiaojun's insistence on financial matters. However, when it came to security, they would not let Wang Xiaojun make the decision on his own. The other three committee members rejected Wang Xiaojun's suggestion to only bring Wang Feng and two servants. After consulting with the security group, they decided that Qian Yuanshan, Tang Chao, Yang Xin, Zeng Zhilin, and Wang Feng would be responsible for security, with Liang Ziyue and Qingchen also joining as part of the entourage. Although Wang Xiaojun repeatedly stated that such elaborate arrangements were unnecessary, he had to accept the security plan due to the three-to-one voting disadvantage.

After determining the security personnel, the other committee members gathered them and announced the security principles for the trip to Youzhou City—regardless of the methods used, Wang Xiaojun's safety must be guaranteed. According to Zhang Weixin, to protect Wang Xiaojun's safety, the security personnel could use any means they deemed necessary without considering the potential consequences.

Xu Shaowan also emphasized that Youzhou City was different from Liangxiang, where there was no one other than Han Deyi who could provide assistance to the time-travelers. The attitude of Han Deyi towards Wang Xiaojun and the time-travel team was unpredictable after learning that Wang Xiaojun's original wife was still alive. Therefore, this trip would rely entirely on the time-travelers' own strength to solve any problems. In case of special situations, they must not hesitate to act.

Zhang Weixin then added, "I know everyone usually respects Brother Five (Wang Xiaojun) and generally follows his instructions. However, you must understand that your task on this trip is to ensure Brother Five's safety, and this must be your top priority. I want to remind you, especially Brother Eleven (Qian Yuanshan), who is in charge of this security operation, that although Brother Five is a committee member, he is not responsible for this security operation; you, Brother Eleven, are. Therefore, the security measures you take during this trip to Youzhou City should be based on the situation and your own judgment, not Brother Five's personal will."

All the security group members involved in this operation expressed their clear understanding and promised to act accordingly, ensuring that Brother Five would not be in any danger.

Following this, Qian Yuanshan went to You Yuan to collect the corresponding firearms and ammunition. According to the committee's arrangements, all time-travelers on this trip to Youzhou City would be equipped with modern weapons. Each of the five security personnel would carry one 95-type assault rifle, five full magazines, two homemade small bombs, and a walkie-talkie. Wang Xiaojun and Liang Ziyue would each carry a 92-type pistol with two full magazines. Additionally, a machine gun and 500 rounds of ammunition were carried on one of the horse-drawn carriages, along with a radio for communication with "Qingyuan." This was essentially the limit of modern weapons and equipment the team could provide after the battle at Yuxu Palace.

With everything prepared, on the 20th day of the fourth lunar month, Wang Xiaojun and Han Qingwen set out with the large group for Youzhou City.

However, such a grand entourage was clearly unexpected by Han Qingwen. Soon after they set out, she asked her husband with a puzzled look, "My lord, we are only going to visit my parents, who live just a few dozen miles away. We are not embarking on a long journey. Is it really necessary to make such a big fuss? Isn't this too ostentatious? Can we bring fewer people?"

Although Wang Xiaojun agreed with his wife's point of view in his heart, he could not simply agree with her. Otherwise, if Han Qingwen realized that he shared her thoughts, she might insist on sending some of the brothers back. This would put the brothers in a difficult position. If they returned, it would be a violation of the committee's resolution. If they did not return, it would hurt Han Qingwen's pride, especially given her current awkward status, which would make her more sensitive to such matters.

Therefore, Wang Xiaojun waved his hand and said, "My lady, your words are surprising. We are going to visit your parents to resolve your status in the Wang family. My actions are to show my respect and highlight your status in 'Qingyuan.' When you return to your parents' home, my brothers naturally need to accompany you in a grand manner to show their respect."

Han Qingwen, however, did not show much enthusiasm. Instead, she shook her head and said softly, "As long as my lord treats me well for the rest of my life, I will be content. As for status and grandeur, they are mere illusions and do not matter to me."

Han Qingwen's sincere words deeply moved Wang Xiaojun. He pulled his beloved wife into his arms and hugged her tightly, saying, "I do not know how many lifetimes of good fortune I must have to marry a wife as broad-minded and understanding as you. I swear that I will love and cherish you for the rest of my life and will never let you suffer any injustice. If I break this vow, may I be punished by heaven and earth."

Hearing her husband make such a solemn vow, Han Qingwen quickly reached out and covered his mouth, scolding him, "Why make such a heavy vow? Be careful, or the heavens will punish you."

Wang Xiaojun, however, said carelessly, "What's to be afraid of? Your husband will not break his vow. What can the heavens do to me?" As he spoke, he hugged Han Qingwen even tighter.

The distance from Liangxiang to Youzhou City was not far, and Wang Xiaojun and his group entered Youzhou City through the Kaoyang Gate in the south before noon. Following Han Qingwen's directions, they soon arrived at the Han family residence. The servants at the gate naturally came forward to inquire. Upon learning that it was their young miss returning to visit her family, they hurriedly greeted Han Qingwen and one of the quick-footed servants ran into the house to report the news.

Wang Xiaojun helped Han Qingwen down from the carriage and, under the servants' enthusiastic guidance, entered the Han family gate. Among the entourage, Yang Xin and Qingchen remained at the carriage equipped with the machine gun and radio, while the others dismounted and followed Wang Xiaojun into the Han family residence.

Not far into the Han family residence, a boy of about twelve or thirteen years old, not very tall but with a clear and attractive appearance, ran up to them. Wang Xiaojun and the other time-travelers found him familiar but could not recall where they had seen him. The boy approached Han Qingwen with joy and called out, "Sister, you're back."

At this moment, Wang Xiaojun and the others recalled that this boy was Han Qingwen's younger brother, Han Qingzhu, whom they had met briefly at the wedding. Han Qingzhu had a very close relationship with his sister, so he was delighted to hear that his sister was visiting and rushed to the gate to welcome her. Han Qingwen also loved her brother dearly and was very happy to see him. She gently stroked his head and scolded him, "You're getting bigger, but you still have no manners. You didn't even greet your brother-in-law."

However, although she scolded him, there was no trace of anger on her face, only love. Wang Xiaojun, seeing this, understood their deep sibling bond and said, "It's fine, it's fine. We're all family, no need for so many formalities." He then took Han Qingzhu's hand with Han Qingwen and headed to the back of the house to meet Han Deyi and his wife, with Qian Yuanshan and the others following quietly behind.

Upon arriving at the back of the house, the servant who had reported the news was waiting at the door. Seeing the group arrive, he hurriedly greeted the young miss and her new brother-in-law and reported, "Young miss, the master asks you and your brother-in-law to wait in the flower hall. He will be there shortly."

He then pointed to Qian Yuanshan and the others behind Wang Xiaojun and asked, "Who are these gentlemen?"

"These are my sworn brothers. They knew I was accompanying my wife to visit Youzhou City, so they came along to see the sights of the city," Wang Xiaojun explained.

Upon hearing that they were the new brother-in-law's sworn brothers, the servant quickly dispelled his doubts, greeted them, and led them to the flower hall. However, he was puzzled to see that only four of the five sworn brothers entered the flower hall, while the fifth remained at the door, saying he needed to stretch his legs after the long ride. The servant, though curious, did not say much, as the man was a guest and a sworn brother of the new brother-in-law, and let him be.