When Mi Niang awoke, she heard voices outside. She hugged the blanket and rolled over in bed. As expected, the warmth from where Bahu had laid was gone again. On the journey, he exerted himself and worried, walking until he stumbled. After a nap with closed eyes, he would recover his energy and spirit. Unlike her, who sat on the horse and endured some bumps, her legs felt sore and weak. She lay in bed not wanting to move.
Familiar scratching at the door, and Mi Niang patted the bed, “I’m alive, getting up.” Whenever she woke, Da Huang was always the first to notice.
The people outside also heard the movement. Bahu called out, scooped a piece of wolf meat from the pot, and tossed it to Da Huang. Seeing Bala and Alse wolves also heard the sound, they came with wagging tails, and he scooped two more pieces from the pot.
“Alright, I’ll feed you after we eat.” The three dogs blocked the door, panting loudly.
After Mi Niang tidied up and opened the door, Da Huang greeted her warmly with a wagging tail. When it walked away, the other two dogs dispersed. Bala and Alse wolves didn’t have the habit of begging for food in front of people before meals until Da Huang came. Mong En had said more than once those Bala and Alse wolves were corrupted by Da Huang, implying Bahu’s favoritism towards Da Huang.
” Chaolu, haven’t seen you in a while. How’s your health?” Mi Niang took the water basin handed to her by Bahu. Except for the first few days after getting married, she always went to the riverbank to fetch water for washing.
“Good, eat well and sleep well.” Chaolu looked at Mi Niang with surprise in his eyes. After everyone left, he whispered, “It was dark last night, and I didn’t see clearly. Mi Niang has gained quite a bit of weight!” Her face puffed up, looking extremely healthy. Compared to when she first arrived in the Northern Desert, only her biological parents could recognize her as the same person.
She had indeed gained some weight, which Bahu, sleeping in the same bed, was most aware of. However, it wasn’t as much as Chaolu claimed, making her seem as robust as an ox.
“She used to be too thin. Now, this is the normal look.” Hearing footsteps outside, Bahu gave Chaolu a warning look, signaling him not to speak carelessly. But if he restrained Chaolu, others might still bring it up.
“Mi Niang? Is anyone… Da Huang, you’re back! Where’s your master?” Mu Xiang and Pandi, who were grazing sheep in the morning, passed by Bahu’s house. Seeing smoke from the felt roof and hearing voices, they were curious. Just last night, there was no sign of life.
“He’s at home. Wait a moment; I’ll join you to graze the sheep.” Mi Niang rushed out to respond and hurried back in. After exchanging greetings with Bahu, she grabbed a basket, cut a piece of dried beef, and prepared to leave. Seeing Da Huang trying to follow, she shouted into the house, “Bahu, call Da Huang back. It hasn’t eaten yet.”
“Mi Niang, I almost forgot to tell you. Come, let’s talk while walking.” Chaolu finished the last sip of meat soup, put down the bowl, avoided the homeowner’s eyes, chuckled, and ran out. “It’s about the honeycomb. The little vendor didn’t bring it over, saying it was too hot, not convenient to carry, and might attract insects on the way. He’ll bring it over when the weather gets colder.”
“Okay, I understand. This matter is not urgent. Thank you for running this errand early in the morning. Don’t delay yourself; you stayed up all night yesterday. Go back and get some rest.”
If Mi Niang were still the poor little helper she used to be, Chaolu wouldn’t have kept thinking about this matter. Now that she had become the mistress of the house, anything entrusted to him by her would be his responsibility, even if she forgot. Chaolu thought it was time to explain.
“Alright, I’m heading back. I won’t disturb you chatting with the sisters.” Chaolu walked back with his hands behind his back. When he reached behind the felt bag, he could still hear Bahu training the dogs. He clicked his tongue twice, thinking that Mi Niang was indeed lucky to marry Bahu, enjoying a life where she could sleep until the meal was ready, eat, and then leave without washing dishes or feeding the dogs. Hearing Chaolu say she had gained some weight, even if she hadn’t heard it herself, Bahu was already displeased.
“Mi Niang, did you all come back last night?” Mu Xiang glanced at Mi Niang, knowing from her good complexion that she was doing well.
“Yes, we arrived late in the night.” Mi Niang greeted each person one by one. Seeing that they were wearing several layers of clothes, probably due to the cold weather, she had put on the summer clothes.
“Do you still have any of the felt you played last time? Bahu used it to make a rain poncho for me, blocking the rain and keeping warm. If you have extra felt, use it to make clothes. If you run out, I can lend you some. It’s getting colder, don’t catch a cold again.” The felt she made before getting married was still at home, but Bahu had put them all in the storage room, complaining that the wool was too coarse.
No wonder people with wealthy relatives are more daring. With just a few words, Mi Niang solved the difficulties they had been worrying about for quite some time.
“We still have some left. If we run out, we’ll definitely ask you for help.” Pandi held Mi Niang’s hand. “How do you make the rain poncho? Can you teach us?”
“Alright, I’ll go back and ask Bahu today, and I’ll come to see you tomorrow.” As she spoke, they reached the grazing area. Mi Niang took out dried beef and shared it with the five of them. “I find it delicious, so I thought of sharing it with you.”
“It’s indeed delicious.” Mu Xiang chewed on a strip of beef. Seeing Mi Niang squatting on the ground, she carefully observed Mi Niang’s movements and asked, “Mi Niang, are you pregnant? If so, don’t squat; my mother says it’s not good to hold the child in your belly.”
“Pregnant?!” Subconsciously, Mi Niang touched her belly, then blushed and said, “No, why would you say that? Do I look like I’m expecting?” She had gained weight, but there was no excess fat on her stomach.
“You’ve gained quite a bit of weight; I thought you were pregnant.” Mu Xiang’s eyes bypassed Mi Niang’s chest and glanced down at herself.
“I’m not pregnant; I just had my period ten days ago.” Mi Niang pinched the flesh on her arm. She slept well, ate meat, and drank milk, causing her to gain a bit of weight. However, she found it quite attractive, and Bahu also said it looked good and felt comfortable.
“Being a bit plumper looks better than before, and it makes your face look younger.” This was the first thing Lan Niang said when she saw Mi Niang. She tried to act as if there had been no past conflicts between them and asked intimately, “Teach me how to gain weight. I want to get fatter too.” Lan Niang gestured at her chest and blushed, asking, “How do you make this grow bigger?”
As soon as she said this, even the seven-year-old Ying Niang perked up her ears, listening intently. However, without exception, everyone lowered their heads or turned away, pretending to be fascinated by the clouds in the sky or the grass on the ground.
“To gain weight, just eat more meat, worry less, and sleep more. As for the chest, it naturally grows larger after getting married.” Mi Niang spoke with tact, considering the unmarried girls present.
The relationship between gaining weight and getting married was not clear to Lan Niang, but she didn’t dare to ask further. She felt it was not something she could inquire about.
“Eat meat, eat meat.” Mi Niang, feeling embarrassed, quickly changed the topic, steering away from the previous conversation.
“When we returned, we encountered wolves. Bahu and Mong En killed four wolves together. When we go back at noon, I’ll chop off a wolf leg for you all to stew and eat.”
“Does Bahu not mind? Isn’t this a bit inappropriate?” Who wouldn’t want free meat? But taking and eating without asking, Pandi worried that Bahu might have objections and would scold Mi Niang.
“Wolf meat becomes tougher the longer it’s marinated. If left for too long, it won’t taste good. Plus, there are two sheep bitten to death by wolves. We have plenty of meat at home, and we can’t consume it all.” Bahu seemed not to like wolf meat much, as he had let Mong En drag away a wolf yesterday.
“Alright, it’s settled then. I’ll bring it to you around noon.” Perhaps it had been a while since they last met, and Mi Niang noticed that Pandi and the others seemed a bit restrained in their conversation. They had to think carefully before speaking. After sitting for a while, Mi Niang wanted to leave.
“I need to visit Granny Zhao; I won’t chat with you anymore. I’ll leave first.” Mi Niang stood up.
“Sister Mi Niang, I’ll walk you.” Ying Niang quickly got up, carrying the basket and trotting behind Mi Niang.
“Do you have something to tell me?” When they were a bit away, Mi Niang asked Ying Niang.
“No, I just feel like it’s been a long time since I last saw you. Is Bahu treating you well? Has he ever hit you?” Ying Niang, looking like a little adult, frowned with concern.
Bahu’s peculiar temperament and the image of him being prone to violence were not easy to dispel. Mi Niang felt bitter for him, repeatedly emphasizing that Bahu didn’t like fighting and had never hit her.
“I noticed that Mu Xiang and Pandi don’t seem as close as before. Have they quarreled?” Since their first meeting, Mi Niang had sensed something unusual between Mu Xiang and Pandi. They used to walk shoulder to shoulder, but now there was enough space for three people between them.
“I haven’t seen them argue, but there was a period when they rarely spoke, especially after Bahu’s cousin came to visit Mu Xiang.” Ying Niang was young and couldn’t explain the reasons.
Bahu’s cousin came to visit Mu Xiang. Mi Niang went back and asked Bahu about the situation. Did Bahu’s cousin have feelings for Mu Xiang?
“Probably, if no one comes to inform you, just pretend you don’t know. Uncle Muren doesn’t seem to agree with this marriage.” Bahu chopped two wolf legs and put them in a basket. Additionally, he dragged another wolf and put it in a bag, carrying it on his shoulder. “Magistrate Yu likes wolf meat. I’ll send one to him. You’re going to visit Granny Zhao, right? Come with me.”
Mi Niang followed behind Bahu, carrying the basket, and asked in surprise, “You have a relationship with Magistrate Yu?”
“He taught me for two years, and our relationship with the old man is even better…” Just as they stepped out, they saw a black horse galloping in their direction.
“Your mother is coming.” Mi Niang recognized the person.
Bahu didn’t say a word. He waited until the person dismounted, habitually scanning the exposed skin for any abnormalities. Seeing that she moved normally, he said, “You go inside and sit. Mi Naing and I have some things to attend to. We’ll be back soon.”
“Alright.” The woman hastily glanced at her son, about to comment on his thin appearance, but then she saw her daughter-in-law, who looked exceptionally well, smiling at her. “Oh! Is this Mi Niang?” Her son not only raised cattle and sheep well but also did a good job in choosing a daughter-in-law.
