Before the middle-aged couple approached, Daniu spoke to Shu Yu first, "Uncle Tang and Aunt Tang knew I was coming to Changjin Prefecture, so they discussed with me whether they could hitch a ride together. Yu, has Tang Wenqian really become the county magistrate?"

Shu Yu nodded. Apparently, her grandmother and Third Uncle guessed wrong; Tang Wenqian’s parents, though eager, didn’t hurriedly rush over.

It wasn’t clear whether Tang Wenqian’s letter had an effect or if their nature was now different from before.

The Tang couple walked up to Shu Yu. Madam Tang’s expression was quite complex as she looked at Shu Yu, then she smiled and said, "Lu, County Lord Lu."

Who would have thought that the Lu family’s Second Young Lady would become a county magistrate?

When she received her son’s letter during the New Year, learning that he had become the county magistrate of Chenggu County, she was so excited she nearly fainted, crying and laughing, lost in the room for almost the whole night. She read the letter over and over, fearing she had misread it, so she asked literate villagers to help confirm.

Her son had studied hard for so many years, enduring harsh winters and hot summers, never daring to slack off, just to attain a title and serve as an official in the future. When he passed the scholarly examination, his rank wasn’t high, but he said he’d wait a few more years until he could achieve the rank of Advanced Scholar.

Madam Tang always thought they’d have to wait much longer, never expecting this surprise to come so suddenly.

Originally, she believed her son was already quite successful, having become the foremost person of Shangshi Village. Yet, the Lu family’s second daughter turned out to be even more impressive, becoming a county magistrate without relying on her husband’s family or her maternal family.

A young lady without power or influence, with no exam pathway, at such a young age, relying solely on her own abilities to rise from being an exiled prisoner to Village Chief and then to county magistrate—how many people in the world could achieve that?

Shu Yu felt Madam Tang’s gaze was somewhat odd as she looked at her, glancing down at herself but finding nothing amiss.

"Aunt Tang, you must be here looking for Tang Wenqian. He mentioned that he sent letters back home to you, and once things settled here, he’d have someone fetch you. Why did you come at this time?"

Father Tang quickly replied, "Yes, Wenqian did send us a letter. We were all very happy to know he became an official. We just couldn’t resist coming early to reunite with him, since we haven’t seen each other for over a year. However, Wenqian repeatedly advised in his letter not to travel alone, or he wouldn’t be at ease. We kept waiting for him to come fetch, but later heard Daniu was coming, and he hired escorts, and there were many people in the party, so we couldn’t help but come along."

Actually, Father Tang didn’t mention that after receiving the letter, Madam Tang started packing immediately, eager to set off right away.

It was Father Tang who convinced her otherwise, citing her impulsive act of informing the Lu family about Shu Yu’s exile back then, nearly jeopardizing their son’s future.

Tang Wenqian became very angry over it, and Madam Tang was truly frightened at the time.

Back then, Tang Wenqian had merely returned from the village examination as a Scholar; now he was a county magistrate. As parents, how could they hinder their son’s path?

Madam Tang, despite her usual disdain for others, had nothing to criticize about Tang Wenqian. For her son’s sake, she ought to exercise caution.

This time she thought that, considering there were many people in Daniu’s convoy, it should be safer than waiting for Tang Wenqian to send someone later.