The honeycomb had been drying on the felt roof all day, and when it was collected at night, only empty shells remained. The bucket was filled with a palm’s depth of honey. Mi Niang had filled two jars for Bahu to take to Doctor Huang and Doctor Zhao before the relocation.
“This honey brewed from harvesting dryland lotus can clear heat and reduce fire. Remember to mention it,” Mi Niang instructed.
Bahu nodded, asking if there was anything else Mi Niang needed him to buy, as he would bring it back when he returned.
“No, I’ve bought everything when the caravan arrived,” replied Mi Niang. Lingshan was the first station for caravans entering the Mobei, and it lacked nothing. Anything one wanted could be bought if they had the money.
After Bahu left, Mu Xiang arrived. She noticed many wooden pieces and even some sheep and cattle horns scattered on the ground. “What are these for?” she asked.
“Bahu wants to make a small portable bed for the two children that we can carry while herding. We can take them with us when we graze,” explained Mi Niang as she handed Jiya to Mu Xiang. “Want to go out for a walk?”
“Sure.” Mu Xiang glanced at the scattered sheep horns on the ground. “Do you have any extra sheep horns? I’ll take one for self-defense.”
There were plenty of them. They slaughtered a sheep every two days, and the sheep horns, when used as fuel, could stew meat for half a month. Mi Niang told her to take as many as she wanted.
Discussing the plan to go to Xia Ranch with Mi Niang, Mu Xiang said, “I told Pandi and the others about bringing BaGen and his parents to find me. I initially thought Pandi might have other thoughts, given that she was jealous of me because of BaGen last year. But unexpectedly, she didn’t hesitate and was willing to go to Xia Ranch together.”
Mi Niang listened silently without interrupting.
“I don’t know why, but she seems to be changing for the better,” Mu Xiang said.
“What’s wrong with her being willing to change?”
“It’s quite good.” Mu Xiang smiled but fell silent afterward. “I don’t know if I should tell Zhong Qi. If I don’t tell him, how do I explain my sudden decision to go to Xia Ranch? If he doesn’t want to go with me, then our partnership in raising sheep will have to dissolve.” She hesitated for a night as well. But if she didn’t avoid BaGen, she was afraid of being taken away like Mi Niang.
“I really regret not rejecting BaGen from the beginning.” Mu Xiang felt downcast. What a strange and unlucky situation. She didn’t do anything, yet she somehow got involved with a madman.
“It’s not your fault. You don’t need to regret or blame yourself. Who would have thought that someone who seemed decent would be so crazy and obsessive inside?”
Mi Niang tilted the little girl who was playing with her hair. “If you don’t want to tell Zhong Qi, then don’t join us for now. Last night, Bahu went to see the Huxian Cheng for something, and I heard that the Huxian Cheng intends to arrange for you all to move as well. It’s likely that the government will send someone to take you there together.”
Mu Xiang didn’t say anything. After a while, she spoke, “I feel like this isn’t my fault.”
Mi Niang agreed, “It’s not.”
“I don’t need to hide anything.” After all, Mi Niang was kidnapped by him last year and killed the pervert with her own hands. Bahu didn’t blame her, and the two of them were living well now.
Mu Xiang made up her mind, “I’ll go tell him in a while. If he blames me for not being modest or shows any discomfort, I’ll break up with him. There’s no need to wait until winter to reveal the truth; I’ll just block the windows directly.” There were more men in the Mobei than fish in the river. Was she afraid she wouldn’t be able to marry someone?
Mi Niang smiled, “I support you. Never marry a man who believes in rumors from outside and despises you.” That feeling is not pleasant, just like the man she was engaged to in Dakang, who, when he reluctantly came to give her New Year’s gifts, never looked at her directly.
True to her words, after sending Mi Niang and the two children back, Mu Xiang picked up a small sheep horn and tucked it into her sleeve before leaving.
Zhong Qi came over with a smile at noon that day, walking with ease. From the look on Mu Xiang’s face, Mi Niang could tell that Zhong Qi’s performance had satisfied Mu Xiang, and maybe there was even a pleasant surprise.
“He expressed his intentions to me, saying that in the future if any unreasonable man troubles me, he can rightfully stand in front of me to vent my anger.” Mu Xiang appeared drunk, her cheeks blushing with embarrassment.
Even though Mi Niang was already a mother of two, she couldn’t help but smile at such a situation. She even felt a bit envious. “He’s really articulate.” Not like Bahu with his tangled words.
When Bahu returned in the evening, he noticed that Mi Niang’s gaze at him was a bit strange, as if there was a trace of disdain. He didn’t pay much attention, taking out three silver bracelets from his pocket, one large and two small. “Try them on. If they don’t fit, I’ll go and exchange them tomorrow.”
“Why did you suddenly think of buying bracelets?” Mi Niang was pleasantly surprised, taking the silver bracelets and trying them on her right hand, and they fit perfectly.
“I happened to run into the nomads from Xushui who were preparing to move when I went to Xushui. I met my mother, and she gave me these two small silver bracelets to give to Qiqige and Jiya.” Since there were two children, their mother should have a pair too. Bahu went to the silver shop and bought a silver bracelet, spending all the silver he had on him.
Mi Niang could sense his intention. Even though he couldn’t express himself eloquently, he was thinking about her.
“I really like them.” Mi Niang leaned against the man’s embrace, coquettishly speaking. She rolled up her sleeves, raised her hand, and carefully examined the bracelets on her wrist, wanting him to compliment her.
Seeing that she liked them, Bahu stiffened his body, his skin tense. He let Mi Niang change poses, admiring the bracelet on her wrist with a slightly awkward expression. “What’s gotten into you today?”
“What’s wrong?” Mi Niang pretended not to understand.
Bahu pushed her away, “It’s too deliberate. When I gave you two gold bracelets last year, you didn’t act like this. It’s not like your character.”
Mi Niang instantly lost her mood for acting cute and charming. What a blockhead! Could he not see through her deliberate actions?
“Cooking.” She flicked her hand and went into the kitchen.
Emotions came and went quickly. Before Bahu could figure it out, Mi Niang changed her demeanor again. “When are we going to Xia Ranch?”
“We’ll leave when the little bed is ready. Inform Mu Xiang and let them pack their things.”
But the next day, Mu Xiang came over and said she wouldn’t go with Mi Niang. “Huxian Cheng notified us that his eldest son will take us to Xia Ranch in three days. We’ll leave with him then.”
“That works too.” Mi Niang didn’t force it, but she still asked Bahu to inform Huxian Cheng and arrange for Mu Xiang and the others to stay closer to her residence.
After the wooden bed was completed, it was moved to the river, thoroughly washed, and left to dry for half a day. The next day, before dawn, Qiqige and Jiya were moved to a different location. By the time they woke up, they were already on the road. The two children slept soundly, and Bahu claimed it was due to following Mi Niang.
That evening, they slept outdoors. Mi Niang slept with the two children in a makeshift felt tent, while Bahu stayed up all night with Chaobao and Xi Jin. Before going to sleep, Mi Niang and Bahu were concerned that the children might be frightened by wolves during the night. Fortunately, from dusk until the first light of dawn, there was no sign of any wolves.
“Maybe the people from Mobei drove away all the wolves during the relocation.” This was the first time Bahu had led a large group of cattle and sheep without encountering wolves. He released the puppies that had been kept in the cart all night. Since his second uncle hadn’t mentioned wanting the puppies when he came, Bahu played dumb and didn’t bring it up. He brought all eight puppies with him.
While Mi Niang was preparing breakfast, Bahu spread a felt blanket on the ground, lying down. He then carried the two sleeping children, one on each side, placing them in his arms. “Eat breakfast and let’s leave early. We should arrive by the second half of the day.”
Just as she was speaking, he was already silent. Mi Niang turned back after chopping vegetables and saw the man with his eyes closed, already asleep. One large and two small figures lying side by side, one black and two white, looked like a pile of dried cow dung and two small snowballs. Thinking about it, she couldn’t help but chuckle.
After a summer, Bahu had become even darker from sun exposure.
“Aren’t you going to wake up the head of the household for breakfast?” Chaobao glanced towards the Lele cart. Despite Bahu’s cold demeanor, he was patient with the two children. From the day they were born, she saw him squatting downstream washing diapers. From initially half a basin to now two basins, and it seemed like there would be more in the future.
“No need to wake him up; we’ll call him when it’s time to leave.” Mi Niang had already warmed up Bahu’s meal in the pot.
After finishing their meal and washing the pots and dishes, just as Mi Niang lifted the stove onto the Lele cart, Bahu, hearing some movement, sat up, squinting for a moment before becoming more awake.
Mi Niang handed him a bowl of warm beef and vegetable porridge and two pastries. “Didn’t get much sleep last night?”
“I took a short nap.” With cattle and sheep in the front and children in the back, Bahu, wary of letting himself sleep too much, leaned against the Lele cart and dozed off for a while. He would sleep for a bit, then stand up and take the three dogs for a walk.
“You should let the kids sleep in the Lele cart later. Today, I’ll herd the cattle and sheep with Chaobao and Xi Jil.” Bahu was still sipping his porridge, lifting his eyelids to look at her without saying anything.
“What’s with that look?”
“Don’t just run around chasing after sheep like last time.”
He was referring to the time they returned last year, and Mi Niang wasn’t annoyed, “I won’t. Besides, I have Chaobao and Xi Jil.” While she might not be adept at herding, she would learn. Once she learned, she could help Bahu share the burden.
Bahu thought about it and nodded in agreement. When Mi Niang finished feeding the children, he picked up the kids and laid them on the small bed, tucking them into the cart with both hands.
“Get ready to leave,” Bahu called out, pointing at Mi Niang. “The lady of the house is taking charge today, and I’ll take care of the kids.”
There was a hint of joy in his words.
The newly born lambs and calves this year were the most disobedient, jumping around and causing headaches. If a mouse or a rabbit passed by, it could distract them or make them stand still, making the procession longer and longer.
After spending half a day, Mi Niang finally figured out some tricks. When Bahu came to relieve her and asked her to go to the Lele cart, she was still a bit reluctant. “I just figured out some techniques. Let me practice a bit more.”
“Thinking of walking with a sway in your step again?” Bahu took the long rod from her hand. “Listen, go rest in the cart. I’m well-rested now.”
The somewhat forceful command made Mi Niang involuntarily obedient. Compared to the slight grievances of the past few days, she was more fascinated by his current appearance.
