“Bahu, hurry up.” Mi Niang changed her clothes and came out of the house, standing at the kitchen door, urging, “Just two bowls, why are you taking so long to wash?”
Bahu sighed. He wanted to wash more thoroughly, but it seemed impossible. “Alright, I’m going; I’m off to catch the carriage.” He walked out, then returned to tie the rope for Da Huang. He couldn’t be with her all day, but Da Huang had nothing to do at home, and when he stayed home, he played in the snowy fields with Bala and Alse wolves, all of them having wild fun.
The riverbed was filled with snow, and it wouldn’t melt until April of the following year. Bahu, holding Da Huang, said to the people in the carriage, “This year, I can’t take you ice skating on the riverbed. We’ll make up for it when we come back next year.”
Mi Niang also remembered this, but since she knew she was pregnant, she gave up this idea, saying, “Okay, next year, you teach me to skate. Can you skate?”
“Yes,” Bahu affirmed. However, in his heart, he felt a bit uneasy. He hadn’t played ice skating since he was a child, and he hadn’t had the leisure for it after the age of ten. He thought of finding an opportunity to practice to avoid embarrassing himself in front of Mi Niang and affecting his image in her eyes.
When they arrived at the relief institution, there were already many people crowded in front and behind the house. Bahu along with Mi Niang and Da Huang, found Mu Xiang and the others, planning to wait until the teacher arrived before leaving.
“Why did you bring Da Huang too?” Mu Xiang asked.
“It’s also from the Central Plains. Although it’s a dog, we can’t leave it behind.” Bahu spoke nonsense. The matter of Mi Niang being pregnant was just their private speculation. Moreover, it was still early in the pregnancy, and they didn’t plan to disclose it.
Wan’er, who had the least interaction with Bahu, vaguely remembered that he was someone who liked dogs and didn’t talk much. Today, hearing him speak like this made her feel even more strange about his temperament. He even wanted to bring a dog to the class.
“I’m afraid the teacher won’t allow it to enter,” Wan’er said.
“Place Da Huang by the door or against the wall. I’ll let the teacher know later.” Bahu didn’t take it seriously. Seeing Mi Niang being pulled by Ying Niang’s little maid, he didn’t disturb them.
“A few days ago, did you guys here get affected by the blizzard?” Bahu asked Mu Xiang.
When this was mentioned, the expressions of the several people looked a bit gloomy. The sheep of the six of them were still fine, but some people’s sheep had frozen to death, and some had fallen ill and died.
“The hay for feeding the sheep has been consumed quite a bit. The snow was too heavy, and the sheep couldn’t find anything to eat when they went out.” The hay given to them was distributed by the government, just enough, not more or less, as the bailiff put it, enough for their sheep to survive the winter.
Pandi is most worried because her sheep had the biggest belly. Initially, only she insisted on using borrowed breeding sheep. She was afraid that due to insufficient food, the ewes would lack strength during delivery, leading to difficult births.
“Do you need help with your work at home in winter? I don’t want any wages, just give me some bundled hay.” Pandi asked.
Hearing her words, Mi Niang stopped in surprise. When Bahu looked at her, she spoke, “There is less work in winter, and there are nine male servants at home.”
Pandi felt embarrassed facing Mi Niang and didn’t insist. She could only say awkwardly, “Well, forget it. I’ll look for other options.”
Bahu didn’t know about the things between them. Thinking that Mi Niang had always cared about them, he rarely spoke more, “This winter, there’s too much snow. Few people will sell hay. If the hay is not enough, when you see someone letting cows or horses graze, drive the sheep over and mingle. Or go to the tofu millers to buy tofu residue. Our family’s cattle and sheep buy several barrels of tofu residue every three to five days to feed them.”
The faces of the other several people brightened up. Just as they were about to ask what else they could feed the sheep, they heard a gong and drum sound, indicating that the teacher had arrived.
About twenty or thirty people formed a line. Bahu glanced over and recognized a few faces. Surprisingly, they were local old pastoralists. He lowered his head to look at Mi Niang, who was full of excitement and thought that it would be better to teach her himself.
“Follow the previous arrangement, line up, and enter the house. Don’t push, don’t make noise.”
“Mi Niang, you’re with us.” Mu Xiang pulled Mi Niang, who was holding Da Huang, and moved slowly toward the house.
“Hey, who? What’s the deal with you holding a dog?” The bailiff shouted, and everyone entering or not entering the house turned to look at the commotion.
“This dog also came with us from Dakangng.” Mi Niang blushed and shouted, “Bailiff big brother, rest assured, Da Huang is very well-behaved and won’t disturb the teacher’s teaching.”
No, the decree from above was for those who came from the Central Plains to learn Mongolian, and it didn’t include dogs.
“You go in first; I’ll figure something out.” Bahu saw Huxian cheng and took Da Huang aside.
“Or you can take Da Huang back.” Mi Niang whispered.
Bahu didn’t say anything; he patted her shoulder to reassure her. With Da Huang accompanying her, others would naturally avoid Mi Niang to prevent her from being crowded or bumped.
“What are you doing? What does it mean to bring a dog when studying?” Huxian Cheng saw Bahu leading the dog towards him and scolded irritably, “When you were studying, were your classmate’s dogs, or were you the dog?”
“I have no choice. This dog has been following Mi Niang all the way. It sticks to her closely. When Mi Niang is at home, it behaves well. However, when she’s not at home, it becomes restless, fearing that Mi Niang will abandon it.” Bahu explained with a face that was both disdainful and helpless.
County Magistrate Hu lowered his head to look at the dog. Da Huang stood by Bahu’s leg, but his eyes were fixed on the direction inside the room, just as Bahu had said. Da Huang was indeed a good dog, but it wouldn’t work. Although the teacher wasn’t a conventional one, having a dog sit in the same room with students wouldn’t sound right.
“How about I tie Da Huang at the door, and it can lie down and sleep against the wall?” Bahu lowered his request, but he underestimated how sacred private tutoring was in the hearts of scholars.
“Tie it in the sheep pen; from there, it can still see this direction.” The County Magistrate Hu was unwilling to compromise. He didn’t want to hear people say that in a certain year, someone became classmates with a big yellow dog.
Fine, having Da Huang there was better than nothing. Bahu led Da Huang towards the sheep pen. In the pen, each sheep had peculiar fur colors, and various things hung on their horns and necks, but the place was quite clean.
“All right, stay here, and I’ll come to pick you up with your owner in the afternoon.” Bahu also had principles; Da Huang’s well-being always took precedence over his role as a male owner.
Bahu rushed back home in the ox cart and took ten frozen fish from the fish tank. He placed them in the kitchen to thaw, preparing to stew them for lunch.
“Master, come quickly; it seems like two ewes have given birth.” Chaolu rushed in hastily, calling.
Without bothering to close the door, Bahu ran outside. “Weren’t they fine yesterday? What happened this morning?”
“I didn’t notice. In the morning, Uncle Chaolu and I released the cattle and sheep to find grass. After that, we were cleaning the sheep pen. Just now, when I went to check the flock, I found blood all over the ground, and the sheep were crying…” Chaolu didn’t say more. With Bahu, he ran to the east. Vultures, attracted by the smell of blood, hovered above the sheep, and one of them flew away carrying something covered in blood as they approached.
By the time Bahu arrived, the mother sheep’s cries had weakened significantly. With a glance, he knew these ewes wouldn’t survive. The other one’s cries were still strong. Bahu picked it up and headed back.
“Master, what about this ewe?”
Bahu pulled out a knife from his pocket and tossed it on the ground, “Butcher it, give it a swift end. Skin the sheep and distribute it. Just don’t let Mi Niang know about it.” Knowing she was pregnant, Bahu figured it might be hard for her emotionally.
Uncle Chaolu was momentarily stunned, thinking that the female master wasn’t usually so stingy.
Bahu carried the sheep back home, laid down some straw, and placed it on the ground for the ewe to lie on. There were black water stains on its front knees and neck, indicating it might have slipped and fallen on its belly. He went into the house, took some herbs from a box, selected a few, and brewed them into a dark yellow medicinal solution. He opened the sheep’s mouth and poured it in.
Whether it could make it through depended on fate.
Every winter, there were cattle and sheep that died due to various reasons, especially ewes and cows. Ewes were somewhat better off, but once a cow fell, it was often impossible to save it.
Bahu closed the door and personally took Uncle Chaolu to watch over the cattle and sheep. “Uncle Chaolu you won’t have to clean the sheep pen from now on. Follow the cattle and sheep every day. Pay more attention, and if any of them fall, bring them back promptly.” The lambing season hadn’t arrived yet, so it was more likely for them to survive. The lambs might not make it, but the lives of the ewes could be saved.
Approaching noon, Bahu went home to fetch the cart to pick up Mi Niang. By the time he arrived, the class had already ended. Mi Niang was inside the house talking to Wood Fragrance while holding Da Huang.
“Bahu is here; I’m going back.” Mi Niang stood up when Da Huang wagged its tail, indicating that it was him.
“Well, then, we won’t keep you for lunch.” Wan’err escorted Mi Niang out and whispered, “What did you talk to Wood Fragrance about this morning? She’s been acting strange since she came back.”
“Private matters, don’t pry.” Mi Niang patted her and said, “Go inside; it’s not like he’s a stranger. Don’t keep sending me off.”
“Master, what about this ewe?”
Bahu pulled out a knife from his pocket and tossed it on the ground, “Butcher it, give it a swift end. Skin the sheep and distribute it. Just don’t let Mi Niang know about it.” Knowing she was pregnant, Bahu figured it might be hard for her emotionally.
Uncle Chaolu was momentarily stunned, thinking that the female master wasn’t usually so stingy.
Bahu carried the sheep back home, laid down some straw, and placed it on the ground for the ewe to lie on. There were black water stains on its front knees and neck, indicating it might have slipped and fallen on its belly. He went into the house, took some herbs from a box, selected a few, and brewed them into a dark yellow medicinal solution. He opened the sheep’s mouth and poured it in.
Whether it could make it through depended on fate.
Every winter, there were cattle and sheep that died due to various reasons, especially ewes and cows. Ewes were somewhat better off, but once a cow fell, it was often impossible to save it.
Bahu closed the door and personally took Uncle Chaolu to watch over the cattle and sheep. “Uncle Chaolu you won’t have to clean the sheep pen from now on. Follow the cattle and sheep every day. Pay more attention, and if any of them fall, bring them back promptly.” The lambing season hadn’t arrived yet, so it was more likely for them to survive. The lambs might not make it, but the lives of the ewes could be saved.
Approaching noon, Bahu went home to fetch the cart to pick up Mi Niang. By the time he arrived, the class had already ended. Mi Niang was inside the house talking to Wood Fragrance while holding Da Huang.
“Bahu is here; I’m going back.” Mi Niang stood up when Da Huang wagged its tail, indicating that it was him.
“Well, then, we won’t keep you for lunch.” Wan’er escorted Mi Niang out and whispered, “What did you talk to Wood Fragrance about this morning? She’s been acting strange since she came back.”
“Private matters, don’t pry.” Mi Niang patted her and said, “Go inside; it’s not like he’s a stranger. Don’t keep sending me off.”
Bahu half-carried Mi Niang and helped her onto the cart. Just as he was about to lift Da Huang onto the cart as well, the dog exerted force with its hind legs and leaped up on its own, proudly wagging its tail as it settled in the same spot it occupied in the morning.
Well, that saved him some trouble.
“What did you learn in the morning?” Bahu asked with interest, adopting an attitude similar to that of a father picking up his daughter, complete with an assessment of her studies.
“We learned all about Mongolian, and it made my head spin.” Mi Niang opened a small gap in the cart, “I know the meaning of your name, is it ‘wealthy and pure’?”
“Anything else?” Bahu assumed the role of an inquisitive teacher.
“Uncle Chaolu means ‘stone,’ Chaolu means ‘lively,’ Bala means ‘tiger,’ BaGen means ‘pillar,’ Uncle Muren means ‘river,’ Alse wolves means ‘lion,’ he means ‘axe,’ Dao Lun Jìng means ‘seven cities’…” Mi Niang counted the names she had memorized on her fingers.
“So, after learning for half a day, all you remember are the names of people you know?” Bahu chuckled, “I could have taught you better. I know all the names you mentioned.”
Mi Niang sighed. She also realized that the elderly teacher spoke quickly and densely. After memorizing one part, she forgot the earlier ones. In the end, she could barely remember the names of the people around her.
“I’ll bring pen and paper in the future, jot down what the old master teaches, and ask you if I don’t understand.”
Bahu pursed his lips, finding an excuse, “I’m quite busy too. Today, if I hadn’t been careful, two ewes would have miscarried.”
“How did they miscarry?” Mi Niang’s attention was indeed diverted.
Bahu half-carried Mi Niang and helped her onto the cart. Just as he was about to lift Da Huang onto the cart as well, the dog exerted force with its hind legs and leaped up on its own, proudly wagging its tail as it settled in the same spot it occupied in the morning.
Well, that saved him some trouble.
“Anything else?” Bahu assumed the role of an inquisitive teacher.
“How did they miscarry?” Mi Niang’s attention was indeed diverted.
“I reckon they slipped on an ice block, hit their bellies, and one of them couldn’t make it on the spot. I brought the other one back home.” Bahu quickened his pace, eager to get home soon.
But Mi Niang hadn’t forgotten about learning to read. She mumbled for a while and circled back, saying, “Even if you’re busy during the day, I can learn from you at night. After all, you can’t sleep at night.”
“At night, reading by candlelight strains the eyes.”
“What’s the matter with you? Weren’t you the one who said you’d teach me?” Mi Niang frowned, “Or do you think I’m dumb?”
How dare he? He was afraid of being considered foolish.
