Two days later, Mi Niang carried two jars of honey and arrived at the gate of the Hu family’s residence. She went straight to pay her respects to Mrs. Hu. Smiling, she greeted her, “Madam, County Magistrate, it seems there is great joy in your household lately.”
“Yes, all thanks to you and Bahu,” Mrs. Hu smiled warmly, stepping forward to take Mi Niang’s hand. “Why didn’t you bring the children with you? It’s been a while since I last saw them.”
“Mischievous as ever, can’t keep their mouths shut, bringing them here would just make it too noisy to hold a conversation,” Mi Niang placed the honey jars on the table, mentioning that the gifts sent by Wen Yin a couple of days ago were too valuable. “It was an unintentional gesture on his part. We didn’t have much use for those things. We never even thought about it. The fact that Master got promoted was entirely due to his own luck. It wasn’t worth Wen Yin sending so many things.”
Mrs. Hu listened happily, especially to the phrase ‘his own luck,’ but she still modestly attributed it to borrowing the favorable winds. “We should thank you and Bahu. We have benefited and cannot forget about you. Material possessions are just that, material. Don’t worry about it.”
Only then did Mi Niang push the jars of honey over. “Now that Master has been promoted, Bahu and I should also come to congratulate. But we really don’t have anything valuable to offer. So, we have this honey, which might still be something special in this cold and snowy weather. Madam, please don’t look down on it.” She switched to a more intimate form of address and spoke playfully, making Mrs. Hu busy saying that she loved this kind of thing.
“I haven’t tasted honey in over a decade since coming to the Mobei. It was only when you came that I remembered we still have this good stuff from Dakang. I treasure it greatly,” Mrs. Hu said. Unfortunately, due to the timing, they would have to wait until the end of the snowfall to hold a celebration. Then, they would send an invitation for her and Bahu to bring the children over as guests.
With the items delivered and the conversation concluded, Mi Niang timely brought up the idea of leaving.
“You’re a good girl. Listening to you cheers me up. When you have time, bring the kids over for a visit. If you find them troublesome, just leave them with your sister. She loves children.”
Mi Niang agreed and left. It wasn’t until she was outside the door that she realized that this “sister” referred to Ms. Hu’s only daughter. Before marrying Bahu, she had been introduced to her by Grandma Zhao, but they had become strangers by the time of the Aobao Festival last year.
She couldn’t casually refer to her as “sister.”
Mi Niang went to the side courtyard first and checked on Mu Xiang. After a winter, she had gained some weight, her complexion was rosy, and her spirits were high, indicating that she was leading a comfortable life.
“This is your first time visiting my house. Come in quickly,” Mu Xiang pulled Mi Niang into the house, knowing that she didn’t get along with Zhong Qi, and said that there was no one else at home.
“When Bai Mei got married in the first lunar month, you didn’t come. Zhong Qi thought you might be pregnant and didn’t want to disturb you considering your early pregnancy. The migration is coming soon. Have you made arrangements? Do you have transportation? If you don’t have a ride, you can ride in our family’s carriage,” Mi Niang didn’t mention that she had come from Mrs. Hu’s house, and since the Hu family didn’t talk about her relationship with Bahu, she didn’t bring it up either.
Mu Xiang placed her hand on her abdomen and said that Zhong Qi had made all the arrangements. “He rented a Lele cart, and this year, we plan to rent five more calves to raise.” None of the sheep they rented last year were lost, and with sheep giving birth to more sheep, they now have over a hundred sheep in their house.
“That’s great. Life is getting better and better.”
“Yeah, Zhong Qi and I discussed that we’ll build two more rooms next year and move out. Things will only get better,” Mu Xiang asked about Wan’er’s wedding, “Has the date been set?”
Mi Niang planned to ask when Grandma Zhao returned to her room to rest in the afternoon. “A few days ago, Asyl came to escort Wan’er and Grandma Zhao to our house. I reckon the date has been set.”
“You didn’t go? Aren’t you the matchmaker?”
“Bahu’s father passed away recently. According to the customs of Dakang, I’m still in mourning, so I was afraid of offending Grandma Zhao, so I didn’t go.” Mi Niang stood up as she spoke. “I just came to see you, and now that I see you’re doing well, I’ll leave.”
“Don’t leave. I don’t mind about these things. When you got married, who among us didn’t observe mourning? Even now, I haven’t finished my mourning. You’re fine, and I’m fine. It shows that it’s not offensive.” Mu Xiang held her back. “Besides, when in Rome, do as the Romans do. In the Mobei, nobody cares about these things. Just sit and chat with me. I haven’t been able to go out all winter, and I’m sick of seeing Zhong Qi’s face every day.”
Mi Niang didn’t believe her words. “The smile on your face betrays your insincerity.”
Mu Xiang laughed and said that ever since she became pregnant, Zhong Qi had been nagging like an old woman, monitoring her diet and whatnot. She didn’t know where he got all the information about taboo foods from.
One listened while the other spoke. By noon, before Zhong Qi returned, Mi Niang left. When she arrived at Grandma Zhao’s place, the old lady was already having her meal.
“Grandma Zhao, you eat your meal. I just came to ask about Wan’er’s visit to Asyl’s house a few days ago. Did everything go well?”
The old lady wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, opened the window to let out the smell, and said, “It went well. The people there are quite hospitable, not looking down
on us. The wedding date is also set for the 18th of July, just before the migration. The weather will be warm.” She mentioned that she planned to visit Mi Niang in the afternoon. “These past few days, there has been a lot going on at the Hu’s residence, and I’ve been busy nonstop.”
“Will you be moving in with Wan’er to live together?”
“No, I’ll still be working at the Hu residence while Wan’er lives her life. We’ll just spend time together during festivals and special occasions.” Grandma Zhao mentioned that even during her time in Dakang, she didn’t live with her son and daughter-in-law, so why would she live with her granddaughter and grandson-in-law? She was doing well at the Hu residence, still receiving a monthly allowance. If she went to Asyl’s house, not only would she not earn money, but she would also have to depend on others for food and drink.
“When I’m unable to work, Wan’er will take me to live with her for a few years, and then that’s it.”
“That day is still far off. Your health is still strong. I won’t delay your meal any longer. I should go back now; otherwise, Bahu will come looking for me later.” Mi Niang got up to leave before her seat even warmed up. “Grandma Zhao, you don’t need to see me off. I know the way.”
“I must see you off,” the old lady held onto her hand, “This joyous occasion for Wan’er is all thanks to you. When she gets married, I’ll make sure you sit at the head table.” She also meant to say that she didn’t mind whether Mi Niang observed mourning customs or not. When Wan’er got married, she wanted to invite Mi Niang to attend the wedding.
When Mi Niang arrived home, sure enough, Bahu was waiting for her outside the door. “I thought you got carried away by wolves. You’ve been gone for ages.”
“If I were carried away by wolves, your kids would be motherless,” Mi Niang avoided his attempt to hold her hand. Her hands had been pulled by three different people all morning, so she needed to wash them first.
Bahu glanced at her, thinking that Mi Niang was upset with him. He stubbornly insisted on holding her hand, saying, “You’ve been out for half a day, and now you’ve got a temper. I just said one thing, and you won’t let me touch you.”
“Of course, I’m petty and can’t handle criticism.”
“Can’t even handle a little teasing?” Bahu didn’t respond further, claiming his hands were clean because he washed them with oil and soap after cooking.
“My hands are dirty.”
“Oh, is that the reason?” The man finally caught on.
Mi Niang sarcastically replied, “Yeah, I have a temper and I’m petty.”
Bahu chuckled and brought out the food and bowls from the pot, diverting the topic, “Let’s eat, I’ll go call Ajima.” Along with the food, two chubby children were also brought to the table, reaching out their hands to be held by Mi Niang.
“Someone might think you haven’t seen each other for half a month,” Bahu joked, knowing how to humor them, even though both Mi Niang and he were not buying it.
Mi Niang felt pleased and sat with the two children on her lap, saying, “The three of us have a good relationship.”
“A good relationship might affect our meal,” Bahu teased, serving her food. He then took the least obedient child, Qiqige, holding her hands with one hand while eating with the other.
“Is everything settled?”
“Everything’s settled. We’ve congratulated where needed and visited as appropriate. Mrs. Hu mentioned that she would send invitations when the banquet is arranged in Lingshan. Grandma Zhao also mentioned that when Wan’er gets married on July 18th, she wants us to attend.” After spending half a day, all the social obligations were fulfilled, and they were just waiting to set off for Lingshan.
On the day of departure, Bahu and Mi Niang got up in the middle of the night. Since their house was in the east, they were the first to hear the sound of gongs and drums. Bahu started preparing the remaining items, while Mi Niang, dressed in thick clothes from head to toe, carefully got into the carriage where the beehives were kept, arranging the beehives and bees.
In winter, when the temperature drops, even the bees become lazy. When Mi Niang opened the beehive to harvest honey, only a few bees flew out. If it were summer, the entire carriage would have been buzzing with bees as soon as she entered.
Mi Niang needed to find the queen bee and move her to the new hive. With the queen bee present, the relocated bees would settle down and start building their new home obediently. In the original hive, a new queen bee would emerge.
As the sound of drums and gongs approached, Mi Niang realized one hive was still unfinished. Upon hearing footsteps, she urged Bahu to lead the caravan ahead, saying, “I’ll finish up here and catch up.”
As she opened the carriage door, some bees flew out with her. People outside were a bit panicked, fearing they might get stung. They watched as the bees flew slower and slower, eventually dropping onto the muddy ground.
Although the snow had melted, the cold wind in the Mobei was still bone-chilling. Even mice would freeze if they came out.
It wasn’t until after ten days of travel that they began to see green sprouts on the ground. Bahu took his bow and arrow, riding out to hunt wild chickens and rabbits. Birds migrating south flew overhead, while livestock sounds filled the ground, accompanied by the clear chirping of birds above, creating a bustling scene.
In the evening, it was time for Bahu to show off again. He held a chubby child in each arm, with two stoats running ahead. The larger and smaller stoats, accustomed to indoor life, were now particularly alert outdoors, even though their owner was following close behind.
“Bahu, bring the children over here for me to hold.” Mrs. Hu, seeing him showing off and clapping for the two children, Qiqige and Jiya, who had been tidied up by Mi Niang, looked delightfully chubby. Especially when they smiled, revealing their four sharp little millet teeth and their eyes forming crescents.
Qiqige and Jiya were not shy either. They had been carried to Mrs. Hu’s carriage several times during the journey. But this time, they clung to Bahu’s neck on either side and refused to go over. They had been cooped up in the carriage for a long time and were hoping for some freedom now.
“Mother-in-law, if you want to hold grandchildren, hurry up and urge Wen Yin to get married. I’ll send my kids to roll on his bed. Next year, you can hold two chubby babies.” Bahu teased Wen Yin, raising his eyebrows. “Or do you want to hold them now?”
Wen Yin bowed to Bahu, begging for forgiveness. His mother had been craving Bahu’s children for a long time, sighing whenever she saw them. She definitely didn’t want to add fuel to the fire.
“Brother, you’ve trained these two stoats quite well. Can I catch two next year and have you train them for a while?” He changed the subject.
“When you catch them, they won’t even be weaned yet. You’ll just have to feed them well. If I help you train them, they’ll probably see me as their master.” Bahu glanced at the two stoats, big and small, who had run off a bit. He wanted to see if they would take the opportunity to run away and watched them intently.
Wen Yin stood by, watching as they were about to cross the river, and told Bahu to call out to them.
“Big Spot, Little Spot, come back.”
The two cats heard the familiar voice and turned back but then stared ahead again.
“This training isn’t bad after all, they don’t listen…” Before he could finish his sentence, he saw the two stoats happily running back. The bigger one had a grey mouse in its mouth and ran to Bahu, dropping the mouse at his feet. With its furry thick paws, it pressed down on the mouse.
“For me?” Bahu handed the two children to Wen Yin and squatted down to pick up the mouse by its tail. Big Spot and Little Spot didn’t object at all, sitting on the ground obediently, their ears perked up, watching him.
“Really for me?” Bahu couldn’t believe it. Even Da Huang hadn’t given Mi Niang anything before, right?
“Brother, your children, quick, I can’t hold them anymore.” Wen Yin’s arms were stiff from the strain. This was his first time holding babies.
Bahu glanced at the two children, who didn’t seem uncomfortable at all and were happily holding onto Wen Yin’s neck. He didn’t go to take them back. “I touched the mouse, my hands are dirty, I can’t hold the children. Can you help me take them back?” With that, he took the two cats and headed back. Mi Niang was cooking, and he wanted to show off to her.
“Hey? Hey! No, I can’t hold them, your children will fall…” Wen Yin looked at the two bright-eyed children and said, “Your dad doesn’t want you anymore, cry!”
Qiqige giggled at his expression, not at all reluctant to leave their father who had walked away. On the other hand, Jiya peeked back, but after a short while, turned her head to look at the birds in the sky and the cattle and sheep drinking by the river.
“How could Bahu, with his temperament, have such carefree children like you two? He’s really bold.” Wen Yin didn’t leave either, just found a place to sit on the ground. He wanted to call his mother over to hold the children, but in the blink of an eye, she was nowhere to be seen.
When Bahu approached with a dark expression, his two children were sitting on the ground pulling out grass, their fingers green and oily, with bits of tender grass leaves stuck under their fingernails.
“You’re doing great, Wen Yin.”
“I told you I don’t know how to hold children.” Wen Yin shrugged helplessly.
“Just wait until you marry your wife and get nagged.” Bahu lifted one of them up. The green grass stains on their hands wouldn’t come off easily, and the two children liked sucking their fingers. If he brought them back like this and Mi Niang saw them, he’d definitely get scolded.
