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FG Chapter 125

What do you think Zhong Qi's doing?

During the meal, snow seeds were still falling. By the time people finished eating and left, the snow seeds had turned into snowflakes. The roof without a warm kang was already covered in white. The wild cattle, sheep, horses, and camels had thick fur and were not afraid of this light snow, but they still needed to be driven into the sheepfold. The concern was that if the snow intensified at night, some sheep might lose their way and wander off.

 

Uncle Muren came to say goodbye at the door, and Mi Niang asked him to wait for a while. “When Bahu comes back, he’ll see you off. Let him make sure the stove is burning well before he leaves.” His house hadn’t started a fire yet, and the old man might not manage in the dark. If the fire in the Kang went out at night, the elderly couldn’t bear the cold and might get sick.

“Oh, then I’ll wait a bit longer,” Uncle Muren agreed straightforwardly. With a hint of pride, he went to tell Uncle Jinku, “Bahu and Mi Niang are worried about me. They said they’d see me off and make sure the kang is lit for me. So, I won’t leave with you. You go ahead.” See, even though he was a lonely man with no children or grandchildren, and no one came to pick him up on snowy days, there were still people who cared about him.

 

“You old fellow are lucky. Then you wait, I’ll go first,” Uncle Jinku said as he walked into the darkness. A man outside the gate came forward to assist him. He was also fortunate to have a son come to pick him up.

 

After driving the cattle and sheep into the pen, Bahu escorted Uncle Muren back home, checked the doors and windows, and then returned. Mi Niang and the children were already sitting in bed. He went to check on the dogs; the two marmots and the two puppies brought by Da Huang were there, while the others were in the dry straw nest in the sheepfold.

 

“There’s water on the stove. Remember to wipe your face after washing,” Mi Niang shouted from the kang.

 

The man paused his face-washing motion and obediently took a bit of oil-based face cream to rub on his face. He brought in the water pot and asked, “Do you want some water? We had a lot of mutton for dinner, so you’ll likely get thirsty at night.”

 

“No, I don’t want any. Would you wash a couple of persimmons for me?”

 

After sharing the persimmons, they threw the fruit pits into the snow, closed the door, and the night fell silent.

Slaughtering cattle and sheep, the steaming hot beef and mutton were still emitting white steam when they were thrown into the baskets. Carrying them from the front yard to the backyard, the oil from the meat began to freeze.

 

“Kids, move aside and don’t block the way,” someone shouted from outside, calling the dogs and ferrets to eat the scraps.

 

In the morning, Mi Niang thought the two children might be scared and cry, but Bahu said to take them out and give it a try. As he said, they were born to eat this meal, so how could they be afraid? Just as he said, Qiqige and Jiya only turned their faces away when they saw the knife piercing the sheep’s heart, hugged Bahu’s legs, and cried in pain. When the sheep fell silent, they turned their faces back and squatted with the dogs to watch the skinning process. They didn’t understand anything but would clap their hands when the sheepskin was completely peeled off.

 

“You truly are my children. Luckily, they didn’t inherit your cowardice,” Bahu was extremely proud.

 

Mi Niang gave him a side glance. “Aren’t you the one who said these two children are mine, not yours?”

 

The man laughed, teasingly saying, “Let me borrow them for a while. Tomorrow I won’t argue with you.”

 

“You shameless fellow.” Mi Niang suppressed the fire in the pot. “Your children, you look after them. I’ll go to the west and see if the private school is still open this year.” She didn’t want to be accused of truancy again.

The snowfall was too sudden, and there were still people covered tightly with blankets picking up cow dung in the snowy fields. Mi Niang remembered that after Pandi and the others picked up the cow dung, there was still quite a bit left. She stopped someone on the road and informed them of the direction, saying, “That’s from my place. You can take more people over there; it’s all stuff we don’t need anymore.”

Someone recognized her and hesitated for a moment before saying, “If anyone objects, we’ll just say you gave permission.” The main concern was about Bahu, and the bunch of dogs at his house; otherwise, they would have gone over earlier.

“All of them are unwanted, so nobody should object.” With these words, she continued walking. She first went to find Pandi and the others. “Is the private school opening this year? Have you heard any news?”

 

Lan Niang frowned upon hearing this. “Not only is the private school opening, but we also have to listen to the shaman chanting scriptures like last year. I heard we’ll have to stand in the snow too, but I’m not sure if it’s true or not.”

 

“It shouldn’t be. Mr  Hu is in charge this year, and he’s gentle,” she replied. “If there’s any confirmed news, have Ying Niang run over to my house and let me know. I don’t want to forget again. Wan’er has married far away; she won’t have to endure this hardship this year.”

 

“A few days ago, Bai Mei came by; she’s also expecting. I wonder how Wan’er is doing,” Pandi said as she handed a bowl of butter tea to her. “Taste the butter tea we made.”

 

Lowering her voice, she added, “It seems like Mu Xiang’s breast milk isn’t enough. I heard Zhong Qi has been milking cows and camels every day. The other day, he even went to the relief center to buy hens to make soup to increase milk supply. Before, he wouldn’t even look at the hens you sent over, probably preferring meat bought with money.”

 

Mi Niang glanced at her but didn’t respond. “There are still things to do at home. I’ll head back first. Ying Niang, let me know if there’s any news.”

 

“Sure, Sister Mi Niang, you can rest assured,” Ying Niang escorted her out.

 

“No need to escort me. It’s cold. Hurry back.”

 

“I want to take a walk outside. I don’t want to hear Pandi’s sister gossiping about things that may or may not be true. You just gave her the cold shoulder, so she’s probably not happy. I’ll go back later.” Ying Niang muttered softly, “She’s not generous at all. When Mu Xiang’s sister doesn’t have enough milk to feed her child, she just laughs.”

Mi Niang rubbed the little girl’s head, and the girl started to have her own opinions. “Do you want to come back with me and play with my little ones?”

 

“No, I’ll just stay for a little while and then head back.” Going there would inevitably involve bringing food, and if it happened too often, she would feel embarrassed.

 

 

Three days later, Ying Niang waded through ankle-deep snow to deliver the news. “Sister Mi Niang, the government has announced that classes will start the day after tomorrow, but we have to listen to the shaman’s teachings for ten days first. It won’t be in the snow.”

 

Bahu had planned to go ice fishing at Wali Lake the day after tomorrow. Mi Niang said, “I’m not going with you this year.”

 

Who’s going with whom? After Ying Niang left, Bahu pressed her heart and asked with a look reminiscent of a beggar, “Are you bleeding inside because you can’t go ice skating? You’ve been talking about it these past few days, needing someone to help you on the ice. You even dared to boast about teaching Qiqige and Jiya to skate in the future.”

 

Mi Niang remained silent for a while before saying, “The classes are starting so early this year. It’s all because of what happened last year. I wonder how many years this private school will be running?”

 

“Don’t you like studying? Now you don’t want to go?” Bahu teased her deliberately. “Who was the one saying that the free private school is held every year and that you should go every year?”

 

She felt lazy. Besides herbs, she didn’t need to learn the Mongolian language or the origins of the Tatars dynasty in her daily life. It had been a long time since she last studied, and she had almost forgotten everything she learned last year. The thought of having to be assessed again made her anxious. This year, they were adding another subject, listening to the shaman’s teachings, which she didn’t understand at all. The men who chanted the scriptures looked scary, too. Compared to trudging through the snow to attend class, she’d rather sit at home and mend shoes.

 

Mi Niang made an excuse, saying, “I just don’t want to listen to the shaman’s teachings.”

Regardless of whether she wanted to or not, when the time came, she had to go on time. Ajima didn’t go; he stayed at home with Qiqige and Jiya. After seven days passed, he would go with her to learn Mongolian, learn about herbs, and learn to write.

 

Mu Xiang hadn’t finished her postpartum confinement yet, so she didn’t need to come. Bai Mei, with her pregnant belly, also came. The two met at the entrance of the relief house. As they walked in, they saw Zhong Qi, looking serious, arranging the classroom. She walked over to Lan Niang and asked, “What’s going on? Aren’t we supposed to just sit wherever?”

 

Lan Niang rolled her eyes. “Who knows what he’s up to?” When they entered the room, they found that the five of them had been separated. The unmarried ones were in a different room from the married ones.

 

Mi Niang supported Bai Mei and walked to the other side. As they entered, Zhong Qi happened to be walking out. The eyes of the three met, but his smile immediately turned cold, and he walked away.

 

Mi Niang couldn’t help but sneer. He didn’t seem like a real man; he couldn’t handle anything.

 

Bai Mei looked around but didn’t ask anything. She probably heard about the situation from Pandi. When she returned home, she stored the cashmere socks prepared for Mu Xiang at the bottom of the box. From now on, she would always have them ready for herself when she gave birth in the winter.

 

When they had a day off after the scripture chanting, Mi Niang took out the sled and had Bahu pull her onto the river to skate. “This year, we’re not bringing Da Huang, we’re bringing Big Spot and Little Spot.” With the thick snow, there were no more wild chickens or rabbits on the grassland. Big Spot and Little Spot stayed at home every day and got fat.

 

“I thought you said you wanted to bring Qiqige and Jiya.”

“They’re too young. When they get sick, it’s not like you and me. Taking medicine and sweating under the blankets won’t necessarily bring down their fever.” After it snowed, she didn’t allow Qiqige and Jiya to go out into the snow. During the day, they would just play in the room with the Kang, and she didn’t say anything even if they rummaged through the cabinets.

 

Snowy days in the Mobei were so cold. When you went out with the chamber pot to the dung pit, it was still water, but by the time you got to the dung pit, it turned into a block of ice. The wind was strong, and during the snow, the world became a vast expanse of white, making it hard to see people just a few steps away.

 

Bahu felt that Mi Niang worried too much. “Let the two children come out and try. Look, Ajima walks in the snow every day, just like you thought Qiqige and Jiya would be afraid of slaughtering cows and sheep. But in reality? Our children in the Mobei have been living here since they were young. We can’t just lock them up in a warm room when it snows.” He even knew that you shouldn’t domesticate the wildness out of the mountain ferrets.

 

“If they’re afraid of getting cold, we’ll just dress them warmer. They know when it’s cold and don’t need us to tell them to come inside.”

 

Mi Niang looked up at the man who spoke earnestly, feeling uncomfortable under his gaze until she averted her eyes.

 

“What do you mean by that look?”

 

“I think you’re quite skilled at being a wet nurse, taking care of the cubs. It’s quite a technique.” Mi Niang was convinced by his argument.

The man straightened his face and corrected, “You can’t just compare blindly. What’s with that Bala? It’s a foster father, I’m their real dad.” Besides, Bala is a dog, and he’s a human. Only dogs have masters, where’s there a master who’s like a dog?

 

As the wind picked up, the two of them didn’t dare stay on the ice for long, let alone bring the children out to skate. After Mi Niang and Ajima went to study, Bahu dressed the two children in thick clothes and took them to the sheep pen, teaching them to feed the cattle and sheep. When he noticed that Qiqige sneaked out of the sheep pen to play in the snow, he pretended not to see. In no time, the two children ran back inside, their hands turning red from the cold, and they huddled together complaining about the cold.

Bahu opened his clothes and held both pairs of little hands in his arms to warm them up. After they felt warmer, he let the siblings continue feeding the sheep grass. Afterward, he didn’t see Qiqige and Jiya sneaking out to play in the snow again. At most, they stood at the entrance of the sheep pen and looked outside.

 

At noon, after school, Mi Niang was eager to go back and see how Bahu was taking care of the children. Just as she finished putting on her cloak, she heard someone calling her and Bai Mei. It was Mu Xiang, who had just finished her confinement period but looked thinner.

 

She asked Ajima to go back first and then walked over with Bai Mei. “Mu Xiang, have you finished your confinement?”

 

“You also know I gave birth?” Mu Xiang’s tone carried a hint of sarcasm.

 

“Of course, I know. You’ve eaten the chicken and eggs I sent over. How could I not know?” Mi Niang smiled and caught a glimpse of Zhong Qi rushing over anxiously. She asked, “Or did Zhong Qi not tell you?”

 

The three of them stood at the door of Pandi’s house, exchanging a few words before Pandi, Lan Niang, and Ying Niang returned. At that moment, Zhong Qi also arrived and walked up to pull Mu Xiang. “You’ve just finished your confinement. What are you doing out here? Aren’t you afraid of catching a cold? Hurry and come back with me.”

 

“It’s cold outside. Let’s talk inside.” Pandi opened the door and exaggeratedly asked, “Mu Xiang, when did you give birth? Did you have a girl or a boy?”

 

At this point, Mu Xiang sensed that something was wrong. She broke free from Zhong Qi’s hand and walked into the house. “When Bai Mei got married in January, I was already pregnant. Now it’s almost November. Who carries a pregnancy for a whole year? I heard that day your whole family went to the capital city. Couldn’t it have been a day earlier or later? It had to be that day. My child has been a month old for several days, and none of you came to see me.” Mu Xiang wiped away her tears. “You’re all bullying me. I suffered a lot during my confinement, and my child hadn’t had any milk to drink for three days. It’s all because of the anger you caused me that my milk dried up.”

“That’s because your temper is too bad,” Pandi interrupted before Mi Niang could speak. “You only ask Mi Niang, why don’t you ask us? It’s quite a coincidence that both Lan Niang, Ying Niang, and I only found out about your childbirth on your son’s third washing day. What? Your family, aren’t they snobbish? Are you ashamed to come asking for an explanation for those few eggs of happiness?”

 

Mu Xiang was stunned. She turned to look at Zhong Qi. “You didn’t come to share the good news with them?”

 

“I thought Mi Niang would tell them.”

 

“Me? Am I supposed to announce the good news or the fact that I gave birth?” Mi Niang retorted sarcastically. “Zhong Zongshi, you, a scholar, don’t even understand basic etiquette?” She couldn’t believe that Zhong Qi still wanted to hide it from Mu Xiang at this point.

 

“Mu Xiang, I won’t take the blame for drying up your milk. It’s all Zhong Qi’s doing that your son had no milk to drink. Today, let’s make it clear. From now on, our families won’t have any further dealings. On the day you gave birth, I received eggs of happiness and brought over some hens and eggs. I bumped into Grandma  Zhao at the door, who was delivering gifts for Mrs  Hu. I was in front of her, carrying two struggling hens in one hand and a basket of eggs in the other, with brown sugar and red dates on top. When Zhong Qi saw it, he didn’t even bother to take them and instead sent a servant girl with wet chicken feathers all over her hands to take them. What? Am I some kind of servant?”

 

“I was going to go in and hold the baby. I didn’t want to dirty my hands,” Zhong Qi explained reluctantly.

“Is your house short of water? Washing your hands will make you lose meat? Are you afraid of dirtying your hands but not afraid of dirtying your mouth?” Mi Niang didn’t even glance at him, continuing, “If you’re afraid of dirtying your hands, was the basket holding the eggs dirty too? When  Grandma Zhao said she was delivering gifts for Mrs  Hu, you were quick to take the basket from her. Weren’t you afraid of getting dirty then?”

 

“Who’s disgusted by what appearance? You may be a Zhong Zongshi, but none of us have ever come to beg for food at your house. What are you so proud of? Even if I feel uncomfortable, I don’t want to see your attitude anymore. I deliberately didn’t go to the washing ceremony, and I won’t come knocking on your door again in the future.”

 

Mi Niang finished speaking in one breath, took a deep breath, and said, “It’s almost dinner time. I should go back. I’m leaving.”

 

“ChaoBao is still waiting for me outside. I’m leaving too.” Bai Mei smiled at Mu Xiang, then turned and walked away. As she walked away, she heard Mu Xiang’s roar, a rare occurrence. “Mi Niang, what do you think Zhong Qi is doing? Hiding it from Mu Xiang, thinking he can get away with it? We live so close.”

 

She misunderstood him. He thought Mu Xiang’s temperament wouldn’t lead her to come demanding an explanation.

 

Mi Niang returned home through the wind and snow. Even before entering the house, she heard the bustling noise from the kitchen. She was greeted by Big Spots and Little Spots, who pushed open the kitchen door and rushed over. The two little ones also rushed over, extending their hands and babbling about feeding the sheep.

 

“What’s this about feeding the sheep?” she asked the man.

 

“Qiqige and Jiya helped me feed the sheep in the pen today. They’re especially capable.”

 

The two children looked proud, their faces upturned, waiting for their mother’s praise.

“Truly capable, even more so than their mother.” Mi Niang suppressed a smile, turning her head and resting her hand on Bahu’s leg. “They’re already this capable at such a young age?”

 

“It’s all in their training.”

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