Mi Niang packed the items they needed into the camel-drawn cart, while Bahu went to the camel pen to lead three camels. Blankets and felt were bundled and tied on the camel’s back. The dried beef legs in the storage room were also taken, wrapped in clean cloth, and placed in the cart. With the addition of Da Huang, the dog afraid of riding horses, there was no place left for Mi Niang to sit in the cart.
“Mi Niang, are you afraid of riding camels? If you are, you can sit on the back of a cow later. Sitting on a cow’s back is not as comfortable as on a camel’s back, but the hump of the camel can provide some support for you to lean against.” Bahu stood beside the camel, and the camel’s back was as high as his chest.
“I’ll give it a try.” Mi Niang wanted to learn how to ride a camel. How could she be afraid of riding a camel?
Bahu picked a female camel and first moved a table over for Mi Niang to step on and get on the camel’s back. “But what if I want to get down? I can’t bring the table with me, right?”
“I can definitely help you get down.” Bahu harnessed the camel to the cart, holding the reins of the camel in one hand and waving a whip in the other as he walked out. Chaolu had already brought the cattle and sheep over and was waiting.
“Let’s go.” Bahu greeted and, waving the whip, drove the flock of sheep southeast.
“Woof!” Da Huang stood on the shaft of the cart and barked at the flock of sheep, showing a posture ready to jump off.
He really doesn’t know how to enjoy it. He was born to be a hardworking man. Bahu picked up Da Huang from the cart, and with it driving the flock of sheep, his task became much easier. In the future, if he could have a few more puppies like it, he wouldn’t need a person to watch over the livestock.
“We have Chaolu and the others at home. Why didn’t we leave the cattle and sheep for them to take care of?” If they had known it would be so laborious, they wouldn’t have let Bahu specifically drive the cattle and sheep back when they negotiated the marriage before the wedding.
“When we arrive at Xia Ranch, Uncle Muren will return. After that, he will lead people back to Guchuan. As autumn approaches, we need to cut grass and store it to feed the livestock during the heavy snow in winter. By then, only Chaolu will be left at home to take care of things. Uncle Muren will be busy tanning hides and fur, and won’t have time to manage the cattle and sheep.” The speed of the flock increased, and Bahu tightened his horse’s belly, accelerating. At this rate, they would reach Xia Ranch before nightfall.
They rested twice in the morning, and the cattle, sheep, and horses needed to drink water and replenish some fodder. They had lunch on horseback, eating chilled butter cakes and butter tea.
“Can you eat now? When we arrive in the evening, I’ll cook some meat soup for you.” Bahu carved a palm-sized piece of beef and put it in a bundle for Mi Niang, telling her to chew on a couple of pieces if she got hungry. As for Da Huang, it finally got tired enough to rest in the cart.
“If you have milk, meat, and cakes, and you still can’t eat, then you’re just looking for trouble.” Mi Niang had eaten plain porridge with no rice grains for over a month.
Mi Niang eyed Bahu’s long legs and, without using the stirrups, effortlessly flew onto the horse. Finally, in the afternoon when the cattle and sheep were drinking water, she shouted that she wanted to get down and walk around.
Bahu held her legs with one hand and hugged her waist with the other. Mi Niang held onto his head, almost lying on his shoulder as she was lifted down.
“It seems that it won’t be easy to get up this time.” Mi Niang said with joy, “Will you teach me to ride a horse later? Horses are shorter than camels, and you can lift me up.”
Bahu rubbed his face, but the soft touch couldn’t be wiped away. Actually, he was willing to make the effort to lift her onto and off the camel.
“Sure, the horses I give you are gentle mares. Choose one you like, and later I’ll teach you to ride for a bit.” Sitting on the horse, holding her waist, Bahu chuckled to himself, thinking that riding a horse wasn’t much worse than riding a camel.
As the sun set, the distant wisps of smoke were vaguely visible. When the stars were scattered across the night sky, the two, along with Da Huang, arrived at Xia Ranch. The two guard dogs, Bala and Alse wolves, who were patrolling at night, heard the commotion and ran over, followed by Meng En.
Da Huang was originally scouting ahead. When it saw two large, fat dogs that could easily catch it, it got scared, tucked its tail, and howled as it ran back. It voluntarily jumped onto the cart.
“Bala! Als wolves! Are you silly? They’re all family dogs. Say hello and get to know each other.” Bahu jumped off the horse, hugged Da Huang, and actively approached the approaching long-haired dogs. He pinched Da Huang’s paw and touched the noses of the two dogs. Before Bala and Alse wolves could react, Da Huang was already trembling in fear.
“Don’t force it; Da Huanf is timid.” Not to mention Da Huang, even Mi Niang was afraid of these two dogs. The fur covered their eyes, their thick mouths had two sharp canine teeth, and their legs were robust. Their bodies were round, and if they pounced on someone, it would be hard to push them away.
“Bala and Alse wolves might look fierce, but they don’t bite people. They patrol at night and sleep during the day, not particularly fond of interacting with people.” Bahu stuffed Da Huang into the cart, and he and Mi Niang returned to the felt bag, leaving the cattle, sheep, and camels to Mong En to take care of.
Bahu had already had Uncle Muren tidy up the felt bag where Mandu Ratu and Yinshi lived. When he and Mi Niang arrived, he could lie down on the bed with his own bedding.
“Huh? Is this the blanket Yinshi used? Didn’t she take it with her?” Mi Niang, while arranging her things, uncovered a familiar cotton quilt.
“She took it, but I took it back. Along with the horse and the cart, I brought everything back. I asked Uncle Muren to pack it up, and he probably just stuffed it in. If you find it unpleasant, you can sell it when we return to Língshan.” He bought it at a high price, and it would be a pity to throw it away.
“No need. I’ll take apart the quilt cover and wash it another day.” With all the luggage settled, Bahu brought in water and asked Mi Niang to wash first.
The night on the grassland grew quieter. Mi Niang caught the man’s inappropriate hand and pressed it under the quilt. “I’m tired.”
“Uh, forget it. Let’s sleep.”
After all, he was young and thin-skinned. After being rejected, he obediently moved to the edge of the bed. When the inner breath became calm, he gently turned over and hugged her.
Riding camels and horses was indeed tiring. Mi Niang slept until broad daylight. When she sat up, the edge of the bed had long lost its warmth.
“Mi Niang is awake. The meal is ready. Wash up and come eat. I’ll go call the master and Mong En to come back.” Uncle Muren saw Mi Niang waking up with a smile, looking very affectionate.
Mi Niang smiled embarrassedly and, when Bahu came back, she leaned over and asked, “When did you wake up? Why didn’t you call me?”
“I did call you, and you even scolded me.” Bahu shook his head, looking helpless.
“Fabrication, keep fabricating.” If he had used a different excuse, Mi Niang would have believed him. She had never gotten angry when being woken up.
Uncle Muren, seeing the affectionate conversation between the young couple, felt happy and envious. “It’s time for a meal. Don’t flirt in front of us, an old man and a young man. It’s stimulating and makes us lose our appetite early in the morning.”
Coincidentally, Bahu was about to mention this matter. He pointed to the adjacent felt bag and said, “After eating, you two move your sleeping felt bags away. Mi Niang is a light sleeper. She was awakened several times last night by your snoring. Mong En also snores loudly. Move the felt bags farther away.”
Mi Niang: “…” How did she not know that she was a light sleeper? But it was true that they should move the felt bags away. The soundproofing of the felt bags was very poor, and people outside could hear the heavy breathing inside.
Breakfast still included butter tea and meat soup. The meat soup was made with dried beef chunks, and it was delicious when soaked with buttered biscuits. The meat soup, cooked with dried beef, had very little oil, and it was more like a bone soup. Drinking a bowl in the morning felt warming to the stomach without being too greasy on the throat.
“What are we going to do today? Are we sorting out the mixed flock of sheep?” After the meal, Mi Niang followed Bahu outside, and Da Huang followed closely. Since the return of Bala and Alse wolves to sleep, it dared not leave people.
Bahu stared at Mi Niang for a moment, nodded, and let her follow. It might be a bit hard now, but acquiring skills would be beneficial in the long run. If something happened to him in the future, she could take care of the livestock with her child without having to sell them for a living.
“After each lamb is born, I will brand a specific mark on its buttocks. The same color represents blood relations within three generations. We need to separate these male and female sheep. There is another way to separate them by age. Those with cowhide collars around their necks are under one year old. We don’t need to worry about the ram, but the ewes must be picked separately. We cannot let the Rams get close to them.” Bahu brought Mi Niang to the sheep flock and gave her a plate of ropes. “First, pick out the ewes under one year old, loop the cowhide collar around their necks with the rope, and when you have enough, let Da Huang help you drive them into the other sheep pen over there.”
“Okay.” The two of them shuttled back and forth in the sheep flock, running around all day, dragging and pulling, before finally dragging the young ewes back into the sheep pen. After eating stewed lamb at night, Mi Niang was no longer tired. Only with a substantial amount of oil could she endure the physical labor during the day. Eating three meals of meat and milk a day, she wouldn’t find it greasy anymore. The meals consisted of butter tea and meat soup, cooked with dried beef chunks, and soaked with buttered biscuits. The meat soup, cooked with dried beef, had very little oil, and it was more like a bone soup. Drinking a bowl in the morning felt warming to the stomach without being too greasy on the throat.
“What are we going to do today? Are we sorting out the mixed flock of sheep?” After the meal, Mi Niang followed Bahu outside, and Da Huang followed closely. Since the return of Bala and Alse wolves to sleep, they dared not leave people.
Bahu stared at Mi Niang for a moment, nodded, and let her follow. It might be a bit hard now, but acquiring skills would be beneficial in the long run. If something happened to him in the future, she could take care of the livestock with her child without having to sell them for a living.
Five days later, the sheep flock was successfully sorted into different pens. Uncle Muren should also return home. Once he left, there was no one to cook.
Mong En patrolled at night and slept during the day. Three meals a day now fell on Mi Niang and Bahu.
“Make breakfast tomorrow morning.” Mi Niang, covering her chest, proposed to change the arrangement.
“Okay.” On matters like this, Bahu was becoming more demanding. Forget about breakfast, he could take care of all nine meals a day.
Afterward, Bahu went out to fetch water and came in to wash. Mi Niang lay straight on the bed, and when she saw him walking over with a satisfied look, she lifted her foot and pressed her toes against his chest. “Bahu, let me tell you today. I don’t care if you’re looking for your father or your mother. If you can’t find a place, don’t touch me, and don’t come onto the bed.”
Bahu’s face suddenly turned red, and he mumbled unclearly, “I’ll go tomorrow.”
The next day, Bahu rode a horse and asked Mi Niang if she wanted to go with him for a stroll.
“No.” Mi Niang turned her face away. She didn’t want to show her face in such an embarrassing situation.
“Okay, then.”
Bahu rode his horse first to the north and then to the west, bypassing the Shu Water and passing through Chunlin, finally entering a pasture called Yungu.
The doctor at Xiaochuntang was a man from the Central Plains. When he heard footsteps, he saw a tense young man stepping over the threshold, glancing around, looking like a bandit descending from the mountains to rob.
“Are you here for a medical examination? Da Niu and Er Niu are out collecting herbs.” Anticipating an attack, Doctor Gu hastily called the attending doctor, a tall and robust man, out.
“No, no, I’m not here for herbs.” Bahu, seeing that the doctor was middle-aged, quickly found a seat and sat in front of the doctor’s examination table. Blushing, he spoke in a low voice, “Doctor, I have a question for you…”
Doctor Gu looked at him strangely and walked to the door, pointing diagonally across. “Go in the direction of this room until the end. The second-to-last felt bag is the bookstore.
“Yes, yes.” Bahu nodded hurriedly.
“Recognize characters? Haven’t you heard of erotic art? You’re not here to make fun of me, are you?”
“…”
Bahu really hadn’t heard of erotic art. “Are teachers in private schools supposed to teach things that happen in bed?”
Seeing Bahu leave all fidgety, Doctor Gu burst into laughter. It was truly amusing; it was the first time someone had come to him asking about intimate matters with a woman.
In the bookstore where many people came for erotic art, the shopkeeper wasn’t particularly surprised. However, he couldn’t help glancing curiously at the person who blushed.
Bahu handed over a silver coin, pocketed the erotic art, and rode to a secluded place. He eagerly flipped through a couple of pages. On his wedding night, he hadn’t gone to the wrong place, but why did Mi Niang feel pain when he did?
Bahu returned to consult the doctor with the erotic art in hand. After the first time, he felt more at ease, but he still couldn’t control the blush on his face.
“When I went in, my wife was in severe pain, and I was in pain too. Doctor, can you tell me what’s going on?” Bahu looked around and leaned close to the doctor’s ear, whispering, “Also, the first time I went in, I became soft in no time. I don’t have an illness, right?” This matter had been weighing heavily on his mind, causing discomfort.
He’s quite ill. How can someone of his age not know anything? Is he a young master raised in seclusion?
“You got the erotic art?”
“Bought it, bought it.” Bahu respectfully handed the book to the doctor.
What a simpleton. Doctor Gu shook his head, opened the erotic art to a certain page, and pointed to it. “Touch, knead, suck, and slurp. When your wife’s body relaxes, you’re good to go.” Doctor Gu flipped through a few more pages. “If that doesn’t work, you do it like this.”
Bahu peeked, his face turning bright red. This doesn’t seem quite right.
