Transmigrated into a minor official in a county government, with children at home waiting for rice t

The two talked for about an hour, and then Zhang Sanlang settled Sun Jizu and his son in the back room.

After the He family moved away, the house was empty, the stove was still usable, and straw was laid on the kang (a heated brick bed). A-Yun brought two quilts, folded them, and laid them on the kang.

Sun Ce climbed onto the kang (a heated brick bed), rolled around on the bedding, grinned, and said, "Dad, it's soft."

Sun Jizu sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) and looked at Zhang Sanlang. "Brother Zhang, I will remember this kindness."

Zhang Sanlang waved his hand, "County Commandant Sun, you're too kind. Please rest first. I see the child is a bit tired, so let's get some rest. We can talk again tomorrow."

He turned to leave, but Sun Jizu called out to him, "My father's side..."

Zhang Sanlang stopped in his tracks. "Uncle Sun's anger won't subside anytime soon. Don't worry, stay here for now and take your time."

Sun Jizu nodded and said nothing more.

Zhang Sanlang went out of the backyard and stood under the porch.

Old Sun was still sitting in the gatehouse, his shadow cast on the window paper, motionless.

Zhang Sanlang watched for a while, but did not go over to persuade him. He turned around and went back to the main room.

Dinner was delivered by Ximei.

She carried a bowl of millet porridge, a dish of pickled vegetables, and four flatbreads, and placed them on the table in the back room.

Sun Ce picked up the bowl and drank it, not minding that the porridge was too hot.

Sun Jizu took the pancake and chewed it for a long time before swallowing it.

happy Mei stood at the door, glanced at Sun Jizu's empty sleeve, and turned to leave.

Back in the kitchen, Aunt Sun was tidying up the stove. "happy Mei'er, who are those two people?"

"The new county magistrate. My father invited him back." happy Mei'er stuffed a handful of firewood into the stove.

Aunt Sun was taken aback. "County Commandant? So he's an official! Then we'll have to prepare some good dishes to entertain him tomorrow. It's not good to serve porridge to an official like that; why didn't your father say so sooner!"

happy Mei nodded.

The next morning, Sun Jizu knelt at the gatehouse door again.

He carried nothing with him, just knelt there, his right arm hanging limply at his side, his left fingertips touching the ground.

Little Sun Ce squatted down beside his father, hugging his knees with both hands, looking at him without daring to speak.

The gatekeeper's door, which had been bolted all night, was still bolted.

Zhang Sanlang stood under the eaves for a while, then walked over and squatted down. "Ce'er, go knock on the door and call Grandpa."

Sun Ce glanced back at his father.

Sun Jizu's eyes lit up and he nodded vigorously.

Sun Ce then walked to the gatehouse and knocked twice.

The voice was soft and timid, "Open the door."

There was no movement from inside the door.

Sun Ce knocked twice more, this time with more force, "Grandpa, it's me. Ce'er."

The bolt clicked.

A moment later, the door opened a crack, and Old Sun poked his head out. His gray hair was messy, and there were dark circles under his eyes, clearly indicating that he hadn't slept well all night.

He looked down at Sun Ce, his lips moved, but he didn't say anything.

Sun Ce looked up at him, his eyes bright, "Grandpa, I'm hungry."

Old Sun's Adam's apple bobbed, he opened the door, and stepped aside to let Sun Ce in.

Sun Ce stepped over the threshold, glanced back at his father, and followed Old Sun into the gatehouse.

This time the door wasn't closed.

Sun Jizu knelt at the door, saw that the door was open, and saw his son's back disappear into the gatehouse.

He lowered his head, his forehead touching the ground.

Zhang Sanlang walked over and helped Sun Jizu up from the ground. "Let's go inside."

Sun Jizu stood up, his legs felt weak, and he swayed slightly.

He walked to the gatehouse door, but didn't go in; he only dared to stand outside the threshold.

Inside the gatehouse, Old Sun squatted by the small stove, ladled a bowl of porridge from the pot, and placed it on the table.

He then took out a salted egg from the cupboard, cracked it on the edge of the stove to peel it, and placed it next to the porridge bowl.

Sun Ce climbed onto the bench, picked up the bowl of porridge, blew on it twice, and took a big gulp.

"Drink slowly, be careful not to burn yourself." Old Sun's voice was as hoarse as sandpaper.

Sun Ce nodded and drank more slowly.

Old Sun stood to the side, his hands hanging down, watching his grandson drink porridge with longing eyes.

He didn't look at the doorway.

Sun Jizu stood outside the threshold for a long time.

A gust of wind blew by, and his empty sleeve swayed.

That evening in the kitchen, Aunt Sun added a handful of firewood to the stove. The firelight reflected on her face as she said, "A-Yun, slice two extra pounds of cured meat today, but don't slice it too thinly."

A-Yun responded and swiftly wielded the kitchen knife.

Seeing that although Old Sun hadn't forgiven his son, he no longer picked up his knife to strike. And because of young Sun Ce's closeness, the old man finally smiled.

Zhang Sanlang felt the time was right, so he invited three generations of the Sun family to the main room.

The eight-immortal table was laden with dishes.

Braised pork belly, stir-fried preserved pork with cabbage, pan-fried fish, a bowl of flatbread, a dish of pickled vegetables, and a pot of official wine—it was much more lavish than last night.

Old Sun sat at the table with a stern face, refusing to look at Sun Jizu.

Sun Jizu sat opposite him, his head down, not daring to look at him.

Sun Ce sat next to Old Sun, holding a flatbread in his hand, his mouth dripping with oil.

Zhang Sanlang poured wine for everyone and picked up his bowl. "Uncle Sun, County Commandant Sun, as the old saying goes, how can a father and son hold a grudge overnight? County Commandant Sun is fighting for his life in the army, hoping to make something of himself."

"Now that he's back, his arm is broken, and he's brought a grandson with him. Please, for Ce'er's sake, have a drink with him. Let bygones be bygones."

Old Sun was silent for a moment after hearing this. He glanced at his grandson, then sighed heavily, picked up the bowl, took a big gulp, and put the bowl on the table. "You can stay here with Sanlang."

Upon hearing this, Sun Jizu was overjoyed, wiped his eyes with his sleeve, and nodded in agreement.

After several rounds of drinks, with Zhang Sanlang's repeated persuasion and Sun Ce's witty remarks, Old Sun, though still not giving Sun Jizu a friendly look, finally started to open up.

After listening to his stories of his time in the army for a while, Old Sun suddenly spoke up, "You said you saved the Emperor, so how come you only got the rank of county lieutenant? Saving the Emperor is a tremendous achievement; you should at least be a great general, if not a prime minister, right?"

Sun Jizu put down his wine bowl, gave a wry smile, and said, "Father, there's no such thing as a great general."

Zhang Sanlang put down his chopsticks and smiled. "Uncle Sun, you're right. The merit of saving the emperor is indeed immense. But think about it, why did County Magistrate Sun receive the merit for saving the emperor? Because he was defeated in battle."

Old Sun frowned slightly.

Zhang Sanlang picked up his wine bowl and took a sip. "The emperor, greedy for glory, pressed his advantage and attacked Youzhou. As a result, the army was exhausted and suffered a defeat, fleeing in the night and even losing their carriage."

He put down his wine bowl. "Everyone has faults in losing a battle, but no one has merits. Even if County Magistrate Sun saves the emperor, he won't be properly rewarded."

"Why? Because to boast of one's achievements is tantamount to admitting defeat. The court cannot afford to lose face like that, and neither can the Emperor."

Old Sun's face darkened.

Zhang Sanlang looked at Sun Jizu, "The reason we didn't keep County Magistrate Sun in the capital is because seeing you reminds the Emperor of the disastrous defeat and his subsequent escape. Who wants to see someone every day who constantly reminds them of their loss?"

"The fact that the government allowed you to return to your hometown and serve as a county magistrate is already a sign of their favor. Someone else might not even have received this."

Sun Jizu nodded. "That's what the Ministry of War said too. The Emperor himself doesn't want to mention it, and his subordinates don't dare to either. My merit can only be settled as a regular wounded and disabled soldier."

He picked up his wine bowl and raised it towards Zhang Sanlang, saying, "Brother Zhang, you understand the ins and outs of this place far better than I, a roughneck from the army! It's a pity you're working as an official in the county government!"

Zhang Sanlang waved his hand, "County Lieutenant Sun flatters me. I've merely flipped through a few case files and learned a bit about the court's rules."

He picked up his wine bowl, clinked it with Sun Jizu's, and each took a big gulp.

Old Sun put the bowl on the table. "What kind of logic is this?"

Zhang Sanlang picked up a piece of braised pork and placed it in Sun Ce's bowl.

The kid just kept his head down and ate his rice very quickly, his cheeks bulging out.