The heavy wagon wheels rolled to the door, and they rushed to unload the alkaline blocks. The alkaline blocks hanging in the sheep pen were licked so thin that they would disappear under the thick tongues of cattle, sheep, horses, and camels in two days.
“ChaoBao, tomorrow, pick four or five people to go with me to the capital to buy grains,” Bahu dropped a sentence and walked straight into the house. When he came back, he ran into Mu Xiang, who seemed angry, as if she had just argued with someone.
“Back already? What did you say to Huxian Cheng?”
His expression was calm, with a smile on his face. If it weren’t for the excessive force when cutting the sheep meat, Bahu would have suspected that Mu Xiang had not come to find Mi Niang.
“I saw Zhong Qi in the yamen. He went to Huxian Cheng with two palm prints on his face, asking if Hu’s family had any vacant houses for rent. He wants to rent a room to get married.” Bahu was quite impressed. He had fought right in front of the yamen, and everyone in the yamen knew that Zhong Qi’s face had been slapped by Mu Xiang. He didn’t try to hide it. Instead, he boldly displayed the two palm prints, demanding what he deserved in front of everyone.
“Then what happened?”
“Huxian Cheng asked someone to take him back and choose a house with a courtyard. He pretended that Wen Yin was busy and had a temporary lapse of judgment. The accommodations for his subordinates hadn’t been arranged yet. After all, everyone knew that Zhong Qi was working by Wen Yin’s side. Even if there were no available rooms, a place should be made for him.” Bahu sat down by the stove and started a fire, asking, “Although Wen Yin is young, he is well-rounded and generous. Zhong Qi has done things for him, and Wen Yin should not have overlooked the arrangement of housing. Could it be that you intervened in this?”
“No, I am just a superficial figure in front of Mrs. Hu. How could a few words from me affect her decision, especially when it comes to her son’s matters?” Mi Niang shook her head. “It’s possible that Mrs. Hu heard about him from someone else and was dissatisfied with him, so she intervened.”
Bahu snorted twice. “Heard from whom? Grandma Zhao? Or Miss Hu?”
Mi Niang remained silent.
“Zhong Qi is not simple. He can adapt and be shameless, and he is also cunning. Someone like him will find ways to climb up given the opportunity. Let it go this time, but in the future, don’t get involved in his and Mu Xiang’s affairs.” Zhong Qi was obviously a person with a small mind. Now he was also keeping an eye on Mu Xiang. Bahu was worried that if Mi Niang intervened too much, there would be retaliation.
“Rest assured, I won’t get involved even if you ask me to.” She explained what she said to Mu Xiang before, raising her hand and saying, “He despises me for having blood on my hands and being involved in taking lives. I won’t attend when Mu Xiang gets married to him. Sending a gift over will be enough.”
“Make it clear then. I suggest sending two sheep over at that time,” Bahu proposed. “She will take care of you during your postpartum period. When she gets married, send a more significant gift to save her face.” After saying this, he spat on the ground. “This despicable guy, when he rented our sheep, he didn’t seem to mind this and that.”
“Did Mu Xiang tell you this way? If he says such things, is she still willing to marry him? That scoundrel deserves a thousand cuts. If you don’t kill him, he will kill you. It’s such a simple matter. Zhong Qi is muddled, and she can’t distinguish right from wrong?” Bahu was upset. He felt uncomfortable with the idea of Mu Xiang being talked about because of Suhe.
“It’s not a threat to herself. She still hopes to change Zhong Qi’s thoughts and his view of me,” Mi Niang lifted the lid of the pot, putting all the chopped lamb into the pot.
“Before, she seemed quite decisive. How did she become confused in this matter?”
Mi Niang felt that Mu Xiang hadn’t changed; she remained as decisive as ever. Previously, she decisively severed ties with others, and now she was determined to stick to her choice without turning back. She was consistent in adhering to her own thoughts.
“You’ve seen that Zhong Qi is not a simple person. Can’t she see that? Sugarcane doesn’t have sweetness at both ends. Good things certainly cannot be fully possessed by one person. It depends on what she is seeking.” Mi Niang also pondered after Mu Xiang left. When she moved to the Xia Ranch last year, Zhong Qi probably planned to climb up the branch of Hu Wen Yin. Walking with her to the pasture meant taking a ride while walking with Hu Wen Yin required a trek. It was hard to say who was being sincere. The day before, Mu Xiang had been prepared to walk with her, but after one night, she changed her mind and decided to walk with Mr. Hu.
If there wasn’t Zhong Qi persuading her inside, she wouldn’t believe it.
“And this lofty ambition?” Bahu muttered. “I really can’t see it.”
Who would want to be a shepherd girl when they could be the wife of an official? Mi Niang glanced at Bahu, “If it were in Dakang, with Mu Xiang’s conditions, she would marry a talented scholar at the very least. With good luck, she might become a noblewoman in her middle age.”
“And what about you? What kind of man do you want to marry?” Bahu asked, his words probing.
“Someone like you, of course.”
“Oh, well, my old man’s family has decent conditions.”
He’s quite adept at praising himself,” Mi Niang said with a smile, giving him a sidelong glance. With his reputation for daring to throw punches at his own father, he wouldn’t be able to find a wife in Dakang. He would be reprimanded by others until his death, holding him up as an example to teach children.
“What did Hu Wen Yin say about the millet?” Mi Niang didn’t want to discuss Mu Xiang’s matters anymore.
“He’s quite optimistic about it. He’s arranging for people to buy some and bring it back home tomorrow. However, the government hasn’t heard about any new grain varieties from Youzhou this year, so it’s estimated that there isn’t much millet, and it hasn’t arrived in the capital yet.”
Around midnight, the overcast sky began to snow. By morning, the outside was covered in a white blanket. The dark gray roofs were layered with snow, about a finger’s depth. The yard was filled with dog paw prints in the snow. With smoke rising from the kitchen, the remaining snow also melted into water.
The courtyard turned into a muddy mess.
Taking advantage of the break in the snowfall, Bahu led a group of people to drive five horse-drawn carriages to the capital. “Only millet is missing, right? Think about whether there’s anything else we need to buy.”
“No, you should hurry and leave. The earlier you go, the earlier you’ll be back.” Once it started snowing, the days became darker early. Winter nights in the Mobei were long, dark in the morning, and late to dawn. In the summer, by this time, they would have already finished breakfast.
After the snowfall, the courtyard became a muddy mess.
While it wasn’t snowing, Bahu and others could only stay in the house or the kitchen. Both Qiqige and Jiya had never seen snow before, and when they stepped outside, they squealed in an ignorant manner. Mi Niang sat at the door washing diapers, listening with a half ear as Ajima improvised a story. Today’s story was about a person lost in a snowy night who was saved by a lone wolf.
“Auntie, I’m here.” Baoyin draped in a raincoat, a circle of white sheep’s wool gathered on her hat, the collar and hem bordered with red fabric. Her face was rosy from the chilly wind, making her look quite charming.
“Quick, come inside. Without you here to join in, Ajima’s storytelling loses some flavor.” Mi Niang saw someone outside and stood up, asking, “Is it your sister-in-law? Come in quickly.”
“No, it’s my little uncle who brought me.” Baoyin shouted outside, “Little uncle, go back quickly; Auntie’s dogs are fierce.”
Mi Niang understood her intention. She walked quickly outside, and the young man at the door was obviously waiting. When he saw her, he smiled, bowed respectfully, and confidently greeted Auntie, “Thank you for your trouble, Auntie. I hope Auntie can say a few good words for me in front of the girl. Next year, I’ll bring a reindeer to Auntie.”
“Have you already met each other?” Mi Niang wasn’t surprised.
“Yes, I came the day before yesterday, and yesterday my sister took me to have a look.” Asyl was very honest.
“I’ll treat you to lunch today. You come a bit earlier to pick up Baoyin.” Mi Niang said subtly. After Baoyin’s little uncle left, she went into the house to give instructions. She also informed Uncle Muren in the sheep pen, then turned and headed to the Hu Mansion.
“He’s my neighbor’s little brother from Lingshan, named Asyl. The young lad is already seventeen, two years older than Wan’er.” They were of the same age, and she felt a bit awkward addressing him as a young lad. “Their summer pasture is located north of the Xu River, just one hour’s ride from Lingshan. His parents are alive, and he has two older brothers, who have already moved out. In addition, he has three older sisters, and he is the youngest. Now, he lives south of us, close to the mountains, and it takes about two hours for a round trip.”
“Hearing that the family conditions are good, is he interested in Wan’er?” With news coming so quickly, Grandma Zhao was both happy and worried. The young man’s situation sounded pretty good, but the distance was a bit far. Should Wan’er marry and go there, or should she go along or stay here?
“He has three elder sisters and two brothers above him. I estimate his parents are quite old, and being the youngest son, he has to stay close to home. I haven’t asked for detailed information yet. You can visit my home this noon and have a look. If he seems suitable, I’ll inquire further.” Mi Niang revealed, “He went to see Wan’er and quite liked her.”
“That’s good.” Grandma Zhao readily agreed. “As long as the in-laws are reasonable and easy to talk to, it’s okay even if they are older. They can’t be older than me. If Wan’er is going to take care of me in my old age, she shouldn’t complain about the older age of their parents.” She thought her health was still good, and she had another ten or twenty years to live. As long as the in-laws weren’t well enough to take care of the child, she could help raise her granddaughter.
Grandma Zhao was the elder from the woman’s side. She couldn’t go too early, so she watched as smoke rose from the rooftops of households before changing into clean clothes and heading over. As soon as she entered, she saw a round-faced young man laying bricks in the courtyard. When he saw her, he nervously scratched his head with hands stained with mud.
“Auntie, please come inside quickly. The weather isn’t great today, and it’s quite cold along the way. Step on the bricks when you come in; the ground has been messed up by the dogs, and it might dirty your shoes.” Asyl reacted quickly.
Well, he has good taste and is quite clever. Grandma Zhao was quite satisfied with his appearance.
She stayed until the meal was ready. Asyl had to leave while holding Baoyin. When leaving, he seemed quite nervous, constantly glancing at Grandma Zhao’s expression.
“Uncle, do you also think Auntie’s cooking is delicious? If you don’t want to leave, I’ll stay here and eat a meal with you.” Baoyin’s childish words made everyone laugh. Her little uncle blushed even more, but he bravely said, “Auntie, Sister-in-law, another day I’ll treat you to a meal at my sister’s house.”
This was probing for information. Grandma Zhao remained silent, but Mi Niang took the opportunity to embrace her, saying, “Your sister-in-law has mentioned it several times. Another day, I must go over for a meal.”
“Okay.” Asyl didn’t hear what he wanted to, so he reluctantly carried his niece out the door.
“How was it?” Mi Niang turned and asked.
“The young man is good. I’ll trouble you to inquire more details but don’t just listen to his sister-in-law. Hear what others have to say,” Grandma Zhao held Mi Niang’s hand, “Auntie entrusts this matter to you, and you may find it a bit troublesome.”
“You’re saying it too formally. Auntie, you’ve helped me a lot. I’m just running around and chatting. What trouble could there be? Not at all. I also want Wan’er to have a good family.” Mi Niang persuaded Grandma Zhao to stay for a meal she prepared, saying, “Don’t leave. I made food for you too.”
At the dinner table, discussing Mu Xiang, Grandma Zhao said, “I heard that Zhong Qi has already started arranging for his marriage. I haven’t met Mu Xiang, and I don’t know what this child is thinking.”
“She is willing.”
“That’s good if she’s willing. The worst thing in marriage is when both sides are unwilling. When I go back, I’ll talk to Wan’er. If there are no major issues on Asyl’s side, let the two of them meet.” Regarding Mu Xiang, Grandma Zhao has done what she can, and she doesn’t worry about how things will develop.
