If it were delayed by another two or three days, the rope on the sheep’s horns would have been worn out. Mi Niang, the mistress, wouldn’t have noticed that her sheep had been swapped. At that time, she was busy shearing the sheep, and fearing that frequent visits to check on them might lead to discovery, she just glanced at them one day to ensure the numbers were correct and then left.
Mi Niang sat on a rock, watching the cows and sheep with redhead ropes bowing their heads to graze. Her eyes occasionally darted to the sheep with the longest ears. She wondered if, without asking, Bahu would voluntarily reveal the truth.
He probably wouldn’t bring it up. Bahu’s thoughts were somewhat different from ordinary people. After pondering for a while, Mi Niang thought that when the little lamb was sick, there was no mutual understanding between her and Bahu, no lifelong commitment, let alone any old friendship. Yet, like a fool, he stayed up late treating her sheep when they were sick, and when a sheep died, he considerately replaced it with a healthy and robust one.
What’s even more absurd is that after everything was done and he left, whenever Bahu thought of ways to send her milk and meat, even if she went to him to inquire, he refused to express his feelings. Unable to restrain herself, Mi Niang couldn’t help but pound the ground. How afraid he must be of her getting close to him!
Since childhood, the tall man who dared to throw punches at his father to protect his mother turned out to be timid when it came to matters between men and women.
“Why are you laughing foolishly by yourself? Your mouth is about to skew,” Pandi and Mu Xiang found time to come over, calling out to Mi Niang several times without any response. They thought she was deliberately ignoring them, thinking she was angry. But when they approached, they saw her with a sweet smile on her face, and without asking, they knew who she was thinking about.
“Thinking of something interesting. Why are you two coming at this time?” Mi Niang suppressed the smile on her face.
“We came to discuss when to start felting. We want to start laying wool tomorrow. Will you join us?” Pandi lowered her eyelids. In theory, Lan Niang’s actions had nothing to do with the others, but Lan Niang refused to move out and still lived with them. This made her feel somewhat guilty when talking to Mi Niang as if she had betrayed Mi Niang.
The wool had already been bought, and if they didn’t feel it, it would just take up space. Mi Niang nodded, indicating that she would join them in the morning.
“Um, Lan Niang is still living with us,” Mu Xiang looked away, not daring to look at Mi Niang. “After coming to the north, we’ve been eating and living together. Digging vegetables and herding sheep are also done together. Lan Niang isn’t familiar with the others, and if we don’t include her in felting, she won’t be able to do it alone.”
“I understand what you mean. I have conflicts with Lan Niang and don’t interact with her, but it doesn’t affect your relationship with her. After all, you have no grievances with Lan Niang.” Mi Niang was open-minded. They were strangers who met on the road, and if she insisted that Pandi and the others shouldn’t associate with Lan Niang because she didn’t get along with her, it would seem domineering and unreasonable.
“As long as you don’t take sides, I won’t cut off contact with you because of Lan Niang.” Since escaping from Dakang to the north, they had witnessed each other’s struggles along the way. After two months of eating and sleeping together, the bond between them was not shallow. Mi Niang had no intention of giving up on maintaining this friendship just because she was getting married. As for Bahu, who had shallow blood ties, she had lost both parents if there was no…
Playing well as sisters, there will be no one to lend a helping hand when difficulties arise in the future.
Upon hearing Mi Niang’s words, Pandi smiled and grabbed Mi Niang’s hand, saying, “Even if we take sides, we will definitely lean towards you. We all know that Lan Niang did something wrong, but she cried so miserably and kept saying she was deceived. We can’t bear to heartlessly kick her out. If something happens, we can’t bear the responsibility.”
“No need to explain, I understand.”
The next morning, Mi Niang moved the wool over. Pandi and the others borrowed a roll of bamboo curtain and spread a thin layer of wool on it. Mi Niang pulled Ying Niang up, took the big bow, and sat down to flick the wool.
“You scoop some water and sprinkle it over. We’ll handle the wool flicking.” The big bow was made of white birch wood, and the bow body was not light. For a seven-year-old girl, her arms would swell after half an hour of flipping up and down.
“Ying Niang listens to you. Before, we didn’t let her do it, but she insisted on learning. Stubborn girl.” Pandi waved for the little girl to come over. “Hey, sister, bring me some saliva. I’m thirsty.”
“Then I’ll bring you tea and water. Whoever wants to drink, make some noise.” Ying Niang, seeing Mi Niang back, happily regained her spirits and buzzed around like a little bee deliberately avoiding Lan Niang.
“Mi Niang…” Lan Niang raised her eyebrows and called out, seeing Mi Niang ignoring her. The others remained silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and hesitated with their heads down.
*
Every winter, when Bahu returned to Guchuan, he would visit his two uncles’ homes. Although the two uncles harbored resentment towards his father, they still gave a good face to this nephew who dared to hit his father.
“Getting married?” When Bahu’s eldest uncle heard that he wanted to ask for help in proposing marriage, the old man frowned. He was too lazy to see Ang Qin again. That guy was just a scoundrel, and hearing his name was already irritating.
“It’s a good thing to be willing to settle down. Eldest uncle will give you ten ewes as a betrothal gift. Live a good life in the future.” He completely avoided mentioning the matter of going to propose.
“Eldest uncle, I don’t lack cattle and sheep. You’re getting older, and how could I ask you for things?” Bahu didn’t beat around the bush; he spoke directly. “You know what kind of person my father is. I want you and my younger uncle to help me handle the situation, so he won’t cause trouble.” Bahu explained the incident where Ang Qin and Mandu Ratu were confined by the old couple, revealing that Mandu Ratu had married into the family. If he sought a new bride and had such a scandal, no girl would marry him. The Northern Desert wasn’t short of men.
“That old good-for-nothing, if he drinks, he might as well fall into the river and drown.” Bahu’s eldest uncle cursed in front of him, and Bahu’s expression remained unchanged.
“What about your eldest brother?”
“He escaped back to Dakang.” Even in front of his two uncles, Bahu didn’t leak any information.
“When do you plan to propose? I’ll accompany you.” Bahu’s younger uncle spit out the tea leaves in his mouth and asked, “What’s the situation on the girl’s side? Does she know about your family?”
“She is a Central Plains girl, orphaned by both parents and came alone to Dakang. We discussed the marriage ourselves. When winter comes, I’ll bring her to visit the uncle’s house and formally recognize the family.”
“Oh, came as a refugee.” The younger uncle rubbed his fingers, lifted his eyelids, and said, “Since both sides have no parents, let’s keep the joyous occasion simple. Propose first, and a few days later, we’ll welcome the bride. I’ll take your two brothers to join in the fun, so we don’t have to make two trips. The weather is getting cooler, but it’s going to get busier.”
Both sides have no parents. Bahu’s mouth twitched.
“I would be glad if it happens sooner, but I need to go back and ask Mi Niang. If she doesn’t mind, once I have the cattle and sheep ready, I’ll come and invite you.”
“Alright, have a good talk with her. People in the Northern Desert don’t pay much attention to elaborate rituals. Going back two or three decades, they slept together on the night of the raiding marriage…”
“Don’t talk nonsense. You also said two or three decades ago. Nowadays, who still practices raiding marriages?” Bahu’s eldest uncle glared at him, not showing much respect for his elder status.
“I’m far away from your Second Uncle at Lingshan, and it’s troublesome to make the trip. If you have any questions or things you don’t understand, go and ask your Aunt. Once the date is set, just let me know, and I’ll have your eldest cousin go in my place.” Bahu’s eldest uncle had no intention of going. In the past, he became enemies with Ang Qin, that old drunkard, over Bahu’s sister. They nearly resorted to using knives. After finally bringing his sister back, she stubbornly ran away again. Since then, he decided not to get involved in that side of things; he wouldn’t even ask if someone died.
“Thank you, Eldest Uncle and Younger Uncle. I’ll go greet Eldest Aunt.” Bahu stepped out of the felt bag. His aunt was making butter in the small courtyard. Seeing him approaching, she handed him the wooden mallet and asked kindly, “Are you getting married?”
“Yes, Aunt. Will you come to my wedding?”
The old woman rolled her eyes dismissively from the felt bag. “Your eldest uncle’s temper gets more stubborn as he gets older. He won’t be happy if I go. When winter comes, bring the girl to Aunt’s house, and Aunt will stew lamb legs for you both.”
“Okay.” As the butter residue came out of the butter churn, Bahu lowered his head to take a look, exerted more force, and continued to churn. He also took the opportunity to ask what precautions and preparations should be made when marrying a new bride.
“The rest is easy, but if you’re marrying a Central Plains girl, what are your plans for the headpieces?” Northern Desert girls start collecting head ornaments from birth. The family gathers materials like beeswax, coral beads, and silver jewelry, and when the girl grows up, they have silversmiths create exquisite headpieces. The girl wears these when she marries and moves to her husband’s home.
“I have some silver on hand. Last year, I got two turquoise stones. I’ll go buy some coral beads and have the silversmith urgently make a set of headbands for me, with the turquoise as pendant drops. Does that work?”
“Why is a single man like you collecting turquoise?” The old woman teased with narrowed eyes.
Bahu didn’t respond. He, too, was enchanted and bought them, thinking they had good color, and it would be a shame to miss them. He just didn’t expect the ones prepared for his daughter would be used for the new bride.
“East Street has an old silversmith; he and his son are both skilled and also sell coral beads. Go check it out. If they have a backlog of orders, you can also buy the finished products they display.” The young man was strong, and in no time, the butter had all drained out. The old woman took a ladle, scraped the butter into it, and removed the residual milk. She handed it to Bahu, saying, “Take it back for the new bride, and say it’s from your old aunt.”
“That’s great. She’ll be happier to know it’s from my old aunt than from me.” Bahu took the ladle and helped his old aunt churn another bucket of butter before taking the horse to East Street. He inquired about the prices, chose a style, and hastily paid a deposit. After casually buying a pack of meat pies on the street, he hurried back on his fast horse.
On the other side, Mi Niang was also learning to churn butter with Chaolu. Bahu had made buttercakes for her before, and the fragrant aroma had tempted her. Now she wanted to learn how to make them.
A black horse approached the last felt bag downstream. The woman on the horse heard the voices of women in the courtyard and couldn’t help but laugh. She dismounted and walked straight in. Her eyes scanned around, “Is my son at home?”
“I’ll go check.” Chaolu guessed who the visitor was from the voice. He walked out quickly. “Madam has come, but the master is not at home.”
“Bahu isn’t here?” This was strange. The woman walked around Chaolu and entered, seeing a lively girl rolling up her sleeves and churning butter.
“Is this Mi Niang?” With just a glance, the woman guessed and said with a smile, “I am Bahu’s mother, and this child is too. He has found a girl he likes, but he didn’t bring her home for me to meet.”
Mi Niang glanced at Chaolu, then her eyes returned to the woman. The woman had a grand and gentle demeanor, with a hint of melancholy in her eyebrows. Her gaze, however, was kind.
“Auntie, hello. I am Mi Niang. Bahu isn’t at home, so I came to learn how to churn butter with Uncle Chaolu.” Mi Niang bowed.
“Where did Bahu go?”
“He went to his uncle’s house.” Mi Niang didn’t conceal anything. As soon as she finished speaking, she saw the woman instantly lose her spirit, looking wilted. After that, she had no interest in talking, sat for a while, and then left in a hurry.
“What’s wrong with your mother? She heard about her brother and suddenly looked so downcast.” When Bahu came back, Mi Niang told him about his mother’s visit.
“Guilty conscience, feeling in the wrong, too ashamed to face people.” It was evident that inviting his uncle was the right decision.
“Let’s not talk about her. What do you think about getting married? Should I propose and then quickly follow with a wedding procession to marry you?” Bahu shared the situation at his uncle’s house. His own sister was treated as if she were dead, and as his nephew, he only had a thin face. If there were scheduling conflicts, his uncle might not come.
“Well…” Mi Niang nodded. Now that the two of them often met and ate together, the only thing missing was sharing a felt bag for sleep.
