The moonlight that had shrouded the night gradually faded, giving way to the light of dawn. A faint streak of white appeared on the horizon, signaling the arrival of a new day.

The once-silent Dongshan Village soon became lively and bustling.

As the first light broke, shadows of people began to appear throughout the village. Their voices filled the air, and from afar, the scene looked vibrant and full of energy.

This morning, villagers of all ages—men and women alike—had gathered, carrying various tools in their hands. Together, they headed toward the small thatched house where Su Qi'an and Qin Ziyin lived.

Fortunately, Su Qi'an was not one to sleep in. In truth, he hadn’t slept at all the previous night.

After the intense battle the night before, Su Qi'an had been wide awake, reflecting on his next steps and reviewing the modifications he had made to his bow and arrows.

The fight against the man in black had left him quite satisfied. He had pushed the longbow’s power to its limits and managed to gain the upper hand against an experienced veteran. If word of this got out, it would be hard for anyone to believe.

But Su Qi'an didn’t care whether others believed it. In this new life, he had learned a valuable lesson: hiding one’s strength and playing the fool was the best way to survive. No matter how safe the situation seemed, he always kept an ace up his sleeve.

Although his strength had been partially exposed in the fight with the man in black, it was only a fraction of what he was truly capable of. Everyone had their secrets, after all.

The victory gave Su Qi'an confidence. If there were to be a next time—should he ever encounter that man again—he was certain he’d leave him with an even greater surprise.

Sitting at his desk, Su Qi'an glanced at Qin Ziyin, who was still sleeping soundly. A gentle expression softened his face.

Life had been merciful to him in this second chance, granting him a kind and beautiful wife. For her sake, he was determined to strive for a better future.

The best way to achieve that? The imperial examination.

With his status as a scholar, pursuing the civil service was the most respectable and practical path. Whether or not he succeeded, Su Qi'an was determined to give it his all—to ensure a better life for Qin Ziyin.

With less than a month until the county examination, time was running out.

Though moments of warmth with his family were comforting, his career had to take priority.

For the next month, Su Qi'an planned to set aside his work on improving his bow and arrows and focus entirely on preparing for the examination.

Just as he immersed himself in reading the works of ancient sages, a commotion outside his window caught his attention.

Curious, Su Qi'an got up and opened the door.

What greeted him was an unexpected sight: Li Hu and Zhao Da stood at the forefront of a large crowd of villagers. Behind them were dozens of people—at least a hundred in total—practically a fifth of the entire village’s population.

Startled by the size of the gathering, Su Qi'an quickly asked, “Li Hu, what’s going on? Why is everyone here? Did another wild beast come down the mountain?”

Li Hu chuckled and waved dismissively. “You’re overthinking, sir. There’s no wild beast, and the village is perfectly fine.”

“We’re all here to help you renovate your house.”

Hearing this, Su Qi'an’s tension eased. He had indeed wanted to improve their living conditions for Qin Ziyin’s sake, but he hadn’t voiced it aloud.

To his surprise, the villagers seemed to have understood his needs without being told, gathering together on their own.

Seeing the confusion written on Su Qi'an’s face, Zhao Da explained, “Sir, this has been on our minds for a long time. With all you’ve done for the villagers, it’s not right for a scholar like you to still be living in a thatched hut.”

“We may be simple folk, but we owe you a great debt. After much thought, we decided the best way to repay you is by repairing your house—so that you and your wife can live more comfortably.”

Su Qi'an hesitated. “This… doesn’t feel right.”

It wasn’t out of pride but rather a sense of discomfort. Having been educated in modern times, Su Qi'an found it difficult to accept such a grand gesture from so many people.

Noticing his reluctance, Li Hu quickly added, “Sir, we know you’re kindhearted, but this isn’t just about gratitude—it’s our way of showing respect.”

“You’ve lived in Dongshan Village for so many years and have always been there for us, even when others mistreated you. Now, with the county examination approaching, we hope this small gesture of support will bring you good luck. If you succeed, it’ll be a blessing for the entire village.”

Other villagers chimed in, their voices filled with agreement.

Su Qi'an wanted to refuse, but seeing the villagers’ genuine enthusiasm, the words caught in his throat. He realized that stopping them now would only dampen their spirits.

With a deep bow, Su Qi'an expressed his gratitude. “Thank you, everyone. I am deeply moved by your kindness.”

The crowd dispersed shortly after. The villagers chose a plot of land near Su Qi'an’s home and immediately got to work.

Meanwhile, the noise woke Qin Ziyin, who dressed herself and came to stand by Su Qi'an’s side. Seeing the bustling scene outside, she was stunned.

Su Qi'an wrapped an arm around her waist and murmured softly, “Meeting you and these villagers has been my greatest blessing.”

Qin Ziyin tilted her head in confusion. “Husband, what are you talking about?”

Su Qi'an laughed. “Nothing. I’m just saying our days will only get better from now on.”

The village remained lively as the days went on. What started as a small group of villagers working on the house soon grew into a collective effort. By the end, nearly the entire village had come to help.

This wasn’t just about repaying Su Qi'an’s kindness. Many believed he was destined for greatness. Stories of his deeds—calming the villagers after the tiger attack, standing against the bandits—had convinced them that Su Qi'an was no ordinary man.

Some even speculated that he was the reincarnation of a star from the heavens, sent to bring prosperity to their village.

Amid the construction, a group of matchmakers began gathering outside Su Qi'an’s home, eager to arrange matches. Their persistence was relentless, leading to some awkward encounters. When one boldly suggested adding concubines to his household, Su Qi'an nearly spat out his tea.

Though concubinage was common in Da Liang, Su Qi'an, still influenced by his modern upbringing, found the idea difficult to accept—especially when Qin Ziyin herself encouraged it.

Finally, after weeks of tireless effort, the brick-and-tile house was completed, just in time for Su Qi'an to depart for the county examination.

Standing before the new home, Su Qi'an bowed deeply to the villagers. “Thank you all for your support. I promise to do my best in the examination and bring honor to Dongshan Village.”

The villagers erupted into cheers, sending him off with high hopes and well wishes. With determination in his heart, Su Qi'an set off, ready to face the challenges ahead.

[--------------------------------------------]

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