The sky was dimly lit, and the sun had not yet risen, but Lingshan was already bustling.
Mi Niang moved the stove to an open space outside to cook, while Bahu and the male servants dismantled the felt tents they had slept in the night before, bundling them up and loading them onto the backs of camels.
“Are you done? Breakfast is ready. Come and eat first,” Mi Niang called.
“Alright.” Bahu washed his hands, sat down, grabbed a piece of flatbread, took a big bite, and then gulped down some butter tea. “Finally, coming back to life.” He was busy from the early morning, feeling a bit dizzy.
“Take your time eating. If you don’t feel full, you can eat on horseback when we’re on the road,” Mi Niang said. She casually ate a piece of flatbread and went back to work. Last night, she prepared a large basin of dough, making flatbreads for the journey. It wasn’t just for her and Bahu; it was also for the three male servants.
Bahu didn’t persuade her to eat more before working. He, too, ate only half-full and took the flatbread and a water bag full of butter tea to the pasture. Another servant who was on night duty hadn’t eaten yet either.
When the drumming sounded, Mi Niang poured a basin of water on the stove, extinguishing the sparks along with it. She moved the stove and ladle into the camel-drawn carriage. The people and livestock on the westernmost side had already started moving, winding their way under the fiery morning sun. The numerous felt tents that were lined up on the grassland before were now nowhere to be seen. Looking around, it was a vast expanse of green and yellow.
Bahu lived downstream from the river. During the westward migration, he was also at the back of the caravan. He and three male servants rode on horseback, waving long poles to guide the cattle and sheep. When they reached their doorstep, they separated from the flock.
“Sit in the carriage and let’s go.” The man cracked a whip towards the cattle’s hindquarters, and the leading carriage started moving, followed by the cattle pulling the rest.
Because there were too many animals, and they were afraid that Da Huang and the others might get hurt under the hooves of the cattle, horses, and camels, the three dogs were locked inside the carriage early in the morning. Bala and Alse wolves, the two wolves, had become accustomed to riding in the cattle cart twice a year. Da Huang couldn’t bear it; as soon as the cart moved, it would howl in fear, scratching at the door with its paws.
“You’re scaring yourself.” Bahu scolded and dismounted to pick Da Huang up, placing it in Mi Niang’s cart. “If you howl again, I’ll make you walk back.”
“When did the people on the west side of the river leave?” Mi Niang asked from the back.
“They left first, at the front of the caravan. Don’t worry about them; the officials have arranged everything.”
“I just wanted to know.” Mi Niang leaned against the felt bundle behind her; her waist was sore from the busy morning.
Some sheep broke away from the flock, and Bahu mounted his horse, holding a pole. “I’ll go over there. If you feel tired, take a nap. We’ve just set off, so the pace is slow.”
The cart Mi Niang was sitting in had a layer of felt, and two quilts were stacked on it for her convenience. She took a look at Da Huang, who was swaying while standing. She pressed down its hind legs to make it lie down. Once the dog was settled, she closed her eyes to sleep, listening to the chaotic sounds of sheep and cattle hooves.
“My cart is full of stuff, nowhere to sit… your second sister-in-law has fallen asleep; don’t disturb her.” Mi Niang heard Bahu’s voice in a drowsy state, along with the voice of a little girl, probably her unseen younger sister-in-law. It seemed they had arrived in Xushui.
The voices faded away, Da Huang lay down again, and Mi Niang didn’t open her eyes. In a drowsy state, she fell asleep again, waking up only around noon.
Mi Niang pushed open the cart door and sat on the outside of the cart’s yoke to get some fresh air. Da Huang jumped down from the cattle cart and ran behind the cart. It didn’t dare to run too far; there were countless horses following behind, and it was afraid of being trampled.
When Bahu saw Mi Niang, he urged his horse over. “Awake? Hungry? We’ve already had lunch. I didn’t wake you earlier because you were sleeping so soundly.”
“I just woke up. If I’m hungry, I’ll get some food from the front carriage myself. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Bahu didn’t say anything, rode to the front cart, and brought back some pastries and cold water. Mi Niang preferred plain water when she woke up; tea and milk didn’t suit her taste.
“Where are we?” The surroundings were a mix of yellow and green pasture, making it hard to discern the direction.
Bahu didn’t know either; not every place on the grassland had a name. “By evening, the army will catch up, and by then, we should be able to reach the Xu River.” The Xu River had abundant water and grass, and resting there for a night would fill the stomachs of the cattle and sheep.
Before evening arrived, the returning army from Dakang had caught up. However, they were still some distance from the Xu River. The main reason was that the sheep were getting tired, moving slowly, and taking the opportunity to rest on the ground. When the army arrived, soldiers wearing thick cloaks over their protective armor rode horses, weaving through the flock. The pace immediately picked up, and they reached the Xu River just before the last hint of sunset disappeared.
“It’s dark now, and the night is getting colder. Even the smoke rising from the felt-covered homes hasn’t stopped the biting cold wind. Inside the makeshift felt tent, Mi Niang started a fire. Seeing the water boiling, she added diced beef, the last of the air-dried beef legs, into the pot.
“Is the meal ready?” Bahu rubbed his hands and entered. “It suddenly became so cold. I wonder if it’s snowing to the west.” The northwest wind brought a piercing frosty chill.
“If we were back in Dakang, this would be the season for autumn harvest. After finishing with rice, we’d move on to fertilizing and root sealing for the tea trees,” Mi Niang remarked. Winter in the northern desert arrived too early.
Outside, the conversation continued. Mi Niang stirred the meat soup, picked up a chunk of meat, and fed it to Bahu. “Is it cooked?”
“Yes, it’s done.” Bahu grabbed a bowl. “I’ll go call the others.”
Mi Niang cut a lump of butter into the meat soup and continued stirring. As the butter melted, the clear meat soup turned into a creamy white color. The soup had a dark hue, making it look appetizing.
Meat soup soaked into the buttered biscuits. The hot soup dispelled most of the cold from their bodies. At night, with the army keeping watch, wolves wouldn’t dare to steal sheep. However, someone still had to keep an eye on the cattle and sheep. There were too many livestock here, and if any strayed into another flock, they would likely never be recovered.
“Chaolu, you’re on night watch tonight, and the night after that, we’ll take turns,” Bahu arranged the night watch duties. After finishing their meal, the other two male servants went to sleep in the neighboring felt tent. Exhausted from the day’s work, the snoring started soon after they lay down.
“Did Sandan come today? Is she with Mother in the back?” Mi Niang chatted while soaking her feet.
“Yeah, the people from Xushui are following behind us.” Bahu wasn’t interested in discussing their matters. After wiping his feet and pouring water, he went inside to sleep. “We’ll have to wake up early tomorrow; get some rest.”
Mi Niang originally considered whether she should go and greet her in-laws since they were so close, but with Bahu not bringing it up, she was happy to feign ignorance. And so, for the next five days, Mi Niang sat quietly in the cart all by herself.
The farther west they went, the more piercing the cold wind became. Despite the early hour, frost had settled on the grassland, and a dense white fog covered the sky. Visibility was reduced to a mere five steps, making it difficult to distinguish between men and women at a distance of ten steps.
“Can we continue in this weather?” It wouldn’t be an issue for humans alone, but with so many cattle and sheep, there was a risk of losing them if they took advantage of the situation.
Batu continued to unpack the felt coverings, standing on top of the cart and looking at the sky. It was humid, and snow was imminent.
“We can and we must, but we need to speed up,” Bahu declared. Waiting longer might mean facing snow and wind, which arrived earlier than usual this year.
As more people joined the rear of the convoy, the pace increased. Cavalrymen shuttled back and forth, keeping an eye on the front and rear. They were concerned about unexpected events that might cause the convoy to stop suddenly. If that happened, once the fog dispersed, people and animals could be scattered.
“Make way, make way! Stop for a short break, the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.” A cavalryman came running from the front of the convoy, shouting, “Make way! Leave a path for the carts and horses from Youzhou to pass through. Pay attention to the sheep; don’t let them run into the carts.”
Hearing the commotion, Mi Niang opened the cart door and stepped out. The grassland was wide enough for both groups to walk without interfering with each other. However, the Youzhou grain transport convoy was also accompanied by a large number of cattle and sheep. It was evident they were inexperienced, with cattle and sheep walking in disarray. People on horseback were sweating profusely, even with their thick cloaks draped over their horses.
“Brother, after so many years, you still don’t know how to herd sheep?” A cavalryman laughed, waving his long pole to drive the approaching sheep away.
“No, we only do this once a year. We learn and forget.” The men on the other side laughed awkwardly. One of them joked, “We bring you grains, and you should send us cattle and sheep in return.”
“No, that won’t do. We can’t let you return with empty carts. It would be impolite.” After unloading the grain, the cattle carts were empty. If there were no cattle and sheep following them, they would look like refugees. After nearly a month on the road, everyone had scruffy beards, and their clothes were dusty and wrinkled.
“Where’s the doctor? Where’s the doctor? My wife has a stomachache, and she’s pregnant.” A surprised cry disrupted the festive atmosphere. The crowd buzzed with voices, “There’s a doctor among the people from Xushui. He’s in the rear caravan.”
The cavalryman who had just made a joke threw his long pole and ran towards the rear. Experienced women went to the cart where the pained cries were coming from. Mi Niang subconsciously looked at Bahu, jumped off the horse cart, and walked towards the rear carts.
Items scattered on the ground were collected by her. She knew exactly where the medicinal herb pouch was, moved aside a box, and then shifted a stool. From a basket, she took out three medicinal pouches.
“Found them?” Bahu stood outside the horse cart and lightly supported her.
“Found them.” Mi Niang stepped out, just in time to see the cavalryman leading the doctor running past. It was the same doctor who had attended to her before.
“I don’t see him carrying medicine. Take these over; maybe he can use them.” Mi Niang handed the pouches to Bahu, but he avoided them and said, “I’ll ride with you to take you there.” When they arrived at the crowded area, he put her down from the horse. “Go and see.”
“Moved the fetal qi and started bleeding. I’ll give you a few shots first. Lie down and don’t move.” The doctor knelt on the cart’s board, facing outward, saying, “I came in a hurry and forgot to bring medicine. Go to my cart and ask my son to give you a prescription for a tonic. Move quickly.”
Hearing this, Mi Niang immediately squeezed in. Holding up the medicine, she said, “I have these. Boil them first for Sister-in-law. It’s also a tonic prescribed by this doctor.”
“Doctor Gu…” The man recognized Mi Niang, his gaze flickering.
“Why are you calling me? Someone brings medicine, and you, a useless man, should go and boil the medicine. Don’t you want a son?” Dr. Gu scolded with a frown. Judging from the woman’s condition, it wasn’t an immediate crisis. After administering a few shots, he scolded the elderly woman in the cart, “Are you deaf or blind, or have you never given birth? Your daughter-in-law has been bleeding so much, and you didn’t call the doctor earlier?”
“She didn’t say anything. How would I know? She’s not my daughter-in-law; her mother-in-law passed away.”
“I told her this morning that my stomach was aching a bit. My aunt said to lie down and endure it.” It was when the dense fog covered the area, and they were worried about an impending snowfall, so the convoy was moving rapidly.
After delivering the medicine pouches, Mi Niang didn’t linger. She recognized the voice of the elderly woman inside the cart; it was the one she had argued with that day.
Such ill luck and malice—dealing with a fool who couldn’t discern the urgency of the situation. Her niece-in-law had encountered misfortune again.
The convoy didn’t stop due to a pregnant woman with a complicated situation. As soon as the time for a stick of incense passed, they immediately resumed their journey. Mi Niang noticed that Dr. Gu hadn’t returned to the convoy from Xushui, indicating that the pregnant woman’s situation was troublesome.
Another five days passed, and the sound of gongs echoed in the front of the convoy. Mi Niang looked towards Bahu, but it was too noisy, and she could only see his mouth moving without hearing what he said.
Standing on the shaft of the cart, Mi Niang tiptoed to get a better view of the front. The convoy made a turn, and the cattle and sheep were directed to the south, leaving the originally traveled path empty, trampling the dry grass into the soil.
Bahu also herded the cattle and sheep to the south, but the people and horses behind continued to move in the original direction. Mi Niang saw her mother-in-law.
“Bahu, we’ve arrived. Go home for dinner in County Magistrate,” the woman waved.
Bahu ignored her and said to the bewildered people, “We’ve arrived. The County Magistrate is still to the west. The others still have to travel for another half day.”
Mi Niang looked around in confusion. There was no sight of houses with green tiles and bricks here, just like in Lingshan. They were deep in the grasslands, without a trace of tiled roofs.
