This year, just like the previous year, with soldiers escorting them, the journey was calm and peaceful. When they approached the turn, Bahu asked Mi Niang to take the children back first, “We’ll go bundle the hay. You won’t be able to do much there. Take the children back, boil some water, take a bath, and get some sleep.”
“Sure, I’ll catch up with the convoy and go with the Yamen.” Ajima was also brought along by Mi Niang. She drove the Lele cart and he played with the children inside. Fortunately, he was talkative. Even facing two infants who could only babble, cry, and laugh, he always had something to say. He could even weave a story about a wild chicken drinking water by the river, and he would get excited, dancing with his hands and feet.
If born in Dakang, he could make a living by going to tea houses to tell stories and even accumulate some wealth to find a wife.
Most of the people returning with the Yamen were migrants from the north, without Lele carts or horses. Mi Niang, driving a Lele cart, stood out among them.
“Ying Niang, come and sit on the Lele cart.” Mi Niang saw that her legs were almost straightened from walking. “I still have a child on my Lele cart, and there’s not much space. Ying Niang is the youngest; let her come and squeeze a bit. Don’t accuse me of favoritism.” She said this to Pandi, Lan Niang, and Bai Mei. Wan’er, benefiting from her aunt’s influence, sat on the Lele cart of the Hu family. As for Mu Xiang, she seemed to be in the Hu family’s caravan, and Zhong Qi was working for Hu Wen Yin; the Hu family arranged for him to have a cattle cart.
“No worries. We’ve only been walking for a short time. Ying Niang’s skin is tender, and riding on the back of a cow chafed her legs.” The cows and camels were out pulling grass, and they only got off to walk after a while.
Walking slowly, the old ox pulling the Lele cart also slowed its pace. Pandi, Lan Niang, and Bai Mei walked beside the Lele cart, chatting with Mi Niang about the rumors they heard on the way.
“Mu Xiang’s affair has spread. Zhong Qi, who works for the Hu family, received a felt bag as his share. When they were at the Xia Ranch, she slept in it. Although she slept in it while Zhong Qi watched the sheep at night, and during the day when Zhong Qi slept, she went to herd sheep, there are still people gossiping about Mu Xiang sleeping with Zhong Qi.” Lan Niang lowered her voice and whispered to Mi Niang.
Inevitably, rumors would circulate, and Mi Niang couldn’t fathom how Mu Xiang ended up living in a felt bag like this. Even if she wanted to sleep separately from Zhong Qi, she could have rented a place from the Hu family or nearby herders, preventing such unpleasant gossip.
“She said they are going to get married this winter or next spring.” Mi Niang mentioned, and when she turned her head, she saw Pandi disdainfully pursing her lips.
“I knew it. She becomes muddled as soon as she meets Zhong Qi. Now she follows him around like a little wife, not interacting with others. The more she does this, the more she gets controlled by men.” Pandi sneered, “If she knew about the rumors outside, she probably wouldn’t dare to interact with others. I wonder what kind of love potion Zhong Qi used on her; her former sharp tongue has completely disappeared.”
“If she had come to talk to you back then, if you had advised her a bit, this wouldn’t have happened today. I suspect that guy forbids her from coming to you.” Pandi didn’t even want to say Zhong Qi’s name. Now thinking about it, among the seven of them, Mi Niang and Mu Xiang were the most unlucky. Mi Niang was relatively better off; after being abducted and involved in a murder in Mobei, she married a good man. Because of her experience, Lan Niang changed her personality. As for Pandi, influenced by watching Mi Niang and Mu Xiang, she tried to please a wealthy man at home and made mistakes in her confusion. Now she realized her mistakes. As for Mu Xiang, she first encountered a crazy man who didn’t understand language, and when she finally got rid of him, she fell under the influence of Zhong Qi’s spell.
“Mu Xiang has indeed married Zhong Qi, and people will talk about her sleeping with someone before marriage for the rest of her life.” Pandi lowered her voice, and the last few words were almost drowned out by the rumbling sound of the cartwheels.
Once a mistake is made, every step is affected, and it has become a fact. Mi Niang could only say, “The customs in Mobei are wild, and there are women who remarry two or three times. As long as she lives well, what others say won’t affect her.”
Pandi remained silent. Who knows if she will live well in the future? Anyway, Mu Xiang’s current situation is not great; she won’t find a better man immediately after leaving Zhong Qi.
“I thought you would go find her after returning to Lingshan,” Pandi glanced at Mi Niang. Seeing her expression was indifferent, she added, “You are quite similar to Wan’er’s grandmother. Wan’er said her grandmother often met Mu Xiang in the caravan but never mentioned her relationship with Zhong Qi. She even warned Wan’er not to gossip about it.”
“In the future, when you marry, you should open your eyes wide. Don’t be fooled by others. If you have doubts, you can talk to Grandma Zhao. She is old and experienced, and most of what she says is right.” Looking into the distance along the river, the pointed roofs of the blue-brick houses had already emerged. Suddenly, Mi Niang shivered and realized what was going on. In Lingshan and at the Xia Ranch, Zhong Qi could still find feelings for Mu Xiang to move out, showing that he had plans and capabilities, which attracted Mu Xiang. However, when they returned to the Xia Ranch, his predicament became apparent. He didn’t have a house, and even if he married Mu Xiang, there was no house for them. As for when he could build a house, he himself had no idea. In this situation, if a girl favored him, he might seize the opportunity to solidify things.
Although despicable, it’s effective. Every step was calculated. Only now did Mi Niang understand. This time she didn’t hold back and shared her speculations with Pandi and the others, “Men who migrated north with us have no home and no property. Men reaching the age of marriage are more anxious than anyone. Be cautious about whom you like; don’t be deceived.”
“That Zhong Qi must have a bad character,” Lan Niang exclaimed. She noticed someone looking their way and quickly covered her mouth.
However, he had a smooth-talking mouth, and Mu Xiang was attracted to his abilities.
No one spoke further. When they reached the doorstep to part ways, Pandi couldn’t help but say, “It’s really frightening. I even suspect that someone is planning to deceive me when I’m unaware.” Previously, she had been eager to find a good man to marry, thinking it would relieve her burdens. Now, thinking about the men who had been attentive to her, she couldn’t help but shudder.
This kind of thing was hard to guard against, like him, and then there were BaGen and Zhong Qi.
The first to arrive was Mi Niang’s home. Yang Niang jumped off the Lele cart and watched as the old ox went straight to the doorstep. She turned her head to look at Pandi, “Should we go and talk to Sister Mu Xiang?”
“Talk about what? About Zhong Qi scheming against her? If she believed our words, she wouldn’t have moved in with Zhong Qi.” Pandi continued walking westward after the flock finished drinking water. “See whether she chooses to stay with us or continue living with Zhong Qi. If she chooses to stay with us, let Wan’er go and ask her grandmother. Listen to what Grandma Zhao has to say. She used to have the closest relationship with Mu Xiang. Yet, she believed the man’s deceptive words and hid them from Mi Niang. If we go and tell her that Zhong Qi is scheming against her…” Pandi thought about Mu Xiang’s opinion of her, feeling amused, “She might think that I’m jealous of her and want to steal her man.”
…
Opening the door, the kitchen, bedroom, and storeroom were all open, as Uncle Muren had opened them previously to ventilate. Mi Niang woke up Qiqige and Jiya, telling Ajima to comfort the two children first, “I’ll clean up the house and spread the bedding. I’ll bring them down when I’m done.”
“Alright, Auntie, you’re busy. I’ll watch over Jiya and Qiqige.”
In the Mobei, the bedding placed in the boxes for a few months didn’t have a musty smell. Nevertheless, Mi Niang took them outside to beat and sun them. Afterward, she brought a bucket of hot water into the house to give the children a bath once the room was warm.
“Ajima, go to the kitchen to take a bath. Change out of these dirty clothes, put on the new ones, and don’t be reluctant to wear them.” He hadn’t changed his clothes since he came home.
Ajima blushed a bit at the words, scratched his head, and agreed.
“Wash your hair too. If there’s not enough water, I’ll fetch two more buckets later.”
With a “splash,” Jiya happily splashed water around, half-lying in the wooden tub, lifting small feet to splash water. When tapped on the back, she giggled, with drool all over her mouth.
“Wow, whose little dirty child is this? So chubby.” Mi Niang rolled up a piece of clothing and padded it behind his head. She opened the neck rings and poured water inside, preparing to wash him. His dad had prepared two female camels for him and his sister. They never lacked milk, nurturing a body full of soft flesh. Afraid of itching, he giggled when rubbed, almost slipping to the bottom of the tub.
“Alright, Mama will wipe you off and then lift you up. If you slip down again, you’ll be drinking your own bathwater.” Now that he could lift his head and turn over, and his body had bones, Mi Niang dared to bathe him alone. When he was just a month old, babies were soft, and both she and Bahu couldn’t lift them from the tub. They were too afraid to touch them, fearing they might break something.
She undressed and tucked herself into the warm quilts. Mi Niang poured water and refilled the bucket to give Qiqige a bath. The little girl had more energy than her brother. Once in the tub, she played like an excited puppy, flailing her hands and feet everywhere. “I’ve wet half my clothes to give you a bath. Should I spank you? Laugh? Who’s laughing with you?” Mi Niang said with a serious face, but the little girl didn’t buy it, still playfully smiling.
“This one will be mischievous when she grows up.” Mi Niang poked her forehead, dried her hair, and then lifted her onto the heated Kang to dry. The little one hadn’t washed her hair during the whole journey back. Babies tend to sweat a lot, and their hair turns sour.
“Only your dad doesn’t mind you two. He even says you smell good.”
After Ajima finished bathing, Mi Niang sent him home. She rolled up a blanket next to the warm Kang, locked the door, took a shower, and washed her hair in the house. After changing and cleaning up, she found the two children squinting their eyes, ready to eat as soon as they saw her.
“So well-behaved. They didn’t even cry when hungry.” Mi Niang touched the hair of the two children, which had already dried. She unbuttoned her shirt and fed them while pondering. Qiqige’s hair resembled his father’s, brown and curly, but not as stiff as his father’s hair. “You really know how to grow. You’ve chosen all the good traits from your parents.” When Jiya was a month old, she looked more like Bahu, but as she grew up, she resembled Mi Niang more in various aspects.
Mi Niang combed through his hair and felt a bit worried. A boy with such sweet and tender looks, fortunately, had deep eye sockets like his father.
Bahu returned near dusk. He couldn’t push the door open, so he brought a camel, stepped on it, and climbed over the wall to open the door. While Mi Niang was asleep, he took clean clothes and rode a horse to the river to bathe. When washing his hair, he even tied it up to avoid getting it wet, fearing Mi Niang’s scolding when he returned.
When he arrived home, Mi Niang had just gotten up from the bed. The man let out a sigh of relief, grateful that he hadn’t washed his hair in the river; otherwise, he would have been caught in the act upon his return.
“I left hot water for you. Why did you go to the river to wash when it’s dark, and the cold is setting in?” Mi Niang frowned.
“When I went to wash, the sun hadn’t set yet. There was no chill.” Bahu grinned with his dark face.
“You’re just being stubborn.” Mi Niang grunted a few times. “Why didn’t you wake me up when you came back? I might have overslept again; I might not be able to sleep at night.”
It’s okay if she can’t sleep. Bahu was afraid that she would fall asleep. The fire in his lower abdomen burned him all the way. Even a cold shower couldn’t extinguish it. “I’ll make sure you can sleep at night.”
