Chapter 112 Turning Back Halfway

It was late at night, and the late dinner started with the tempting aroma of meat. There were fourteen people, young and old, and one table was not enough for them. Five children each took three pieces of chicken, scooped a spoonful of chicken soup to make porridge, and squatted in the kitchen with their bowls to eat.

"I'm sorry to bother you, my parents, my brother and my sister-in-law. I was in a hurry on the way and didn't have time to buy anything." Sui Yu looked at her parents-in-law and said, "I haven't been home for two or three years. Tomorrow I'm going to the market with my parents. Let me buy them some new clothes to show my filial piety."

Mother Zhao was happy in her heart, but she looked bothered and said, "Your father and I don't lack clothes. You can save the money you earn and use it to raise your children in the future."

"Raising children doesn't conflict with filial piety. Xiping and I are away from home all year round, so my brother and sister-in-law take care of our parents. We're not as good as them in this regard, so we can only show our support financially."

These words made the Zhao family feel relieved. Most of the dissatisfaction that had been accumulated in the hearts of Zhao Dasao and Zhao Ersao disappeared. They were both sons and daughters-in-law. They worked hard at home every year and had to endure the bullying of their mother-in-law. The third son's family could hardly come home once a year, and every time they came back they either ate or took things. Who could accept that?

"That's fine." Zhao's mother finally couldn't hold back her laughter. She touched the patch on her sleeve and said, "I haven't bought new clothes in two or three years. There are too many little monkeys at home. I only think about them when I have good things."

Sui Yu smiled slightly and said, "From now on, Xiping and I will be responsible for buying clothes and shoes for Dad and Mom."

Mother Zhao became more and more satisfied. She used a spoon to stir the chicken in the basin, but the chicken was chopped too finely and the light was dim, so she couldn't find the chicken leg.

"Third brother, give your wife some more meat. She has such a pretty face. Don't lose weight anymore." Mother Zhao looked at Sui Yu and said, "You don't look good when you are thin. You look lucky when you gain weight."

Mrs. Zhao rolled her eyes. Who would look ugly if they were fat? She looked lucky even when she was fat.

Zhao Ersao glanced at Sui Yu and thought that it was a good thing that this person was not in her hometown, otherwise, with her mouth, she would sooner or later coax the old woman into obedience, and she and her eldest sister-in-law would suffer even more.

After the meal, Sui Yu cleared the dishes and went to wash them, after all, she didn't cook.

Zhao Xiping squatted by the stove, lighting a fire. Zhao Xiaomi came over and asked, "Third brother, are we leaving tomorrow?"

"Let's go two days later. I just arrived today." Sui Yu said.

Zhao Xiaomi said, "Oh," and said, "So should we leave on the eighth or ninth day? If we go back one day later, the business in the shop will be delayed by one more day."

"You, a waiter, have more worries than the boss." Mrs. Zhao joked.

Sui Yu looked at Zhao Xiping and said, "Let's go on the morning of the eighth day of the first lunar month."

Zhao Xiaomi left satisfied.

The stove was cleaned and the water on the stove boiled. Zhao Xiping scooped half a basin of boiling water and took it away. He added a ladle of cold water and used the slightly hot water to wipe his face and body. The water temperature was just right when washing his feet.

Lying on the mattress, she could still hear voices outside, but the man's hand had already touched her slightly cold belly. Sui Yu bit her lip, not daring to make a sound.

The earthen walls of his hometown were not as thick as those of the military settlement, and the wooden bed was quite old, so it creaked when he moved it. Zhao Xiping tried to scratch the bed, neither too hard nor too lightly, but he couldn't find the right spot, and neither of them felt very satisfied.

"Stop it." Sui Yu became impatient.

The man gritted his teeth, leaned forward to cover Sui Yu's ears, and ended the action with two hard hits.

Sui Yu kicked him, and she hugged the mattress without saying a word.

Zhao Xiping understood. He pulled a piece of clothing and huddled under the mattress. As soon as he touched her, Sui Yu shivered. She closed her eyes tightly. Her slender neck was covered with sweat in the cold air, and her fair skin became smooth under the dim candlelight.

Everything was over, her cold legs and feet warmed up, and Sui Yu felt so hot that she wanted to lift the mattress.

Zhao Xiping came in after rinsing his mouth. He held a bowl of water in his hand, picked up the girl and fed her.

"I don't want to drink anymore." Sui Yu turned his head.

The bowl was placed on the wooden box. The man lifted the mattress and lay down on it. The wooden bed made a few more noises. He said angrily, "I'll chop it up for firewood sooner or later."

Sui Yu laughed out loud.

"Are you happy now?" Zhao Xiping put his arm around her neck and asked in a low voice, "Are you enjoying your service?"

Sui Yu bit her lip and said nothing.

Zhao Xiping let out a long sigh, resting his head on the pillow with one hand, and staring at the dark roof, lost in thought.

"Why aren't you talking? What are you thinking about?" Sui Yu turned around, resting her chin on the slightly cool chest. She reached out to touch her chin, where the beard was growing, and muttered, "It's a little prickly."

Zhao Xiping chuckled, raised his hand and caressed her still-flushed face, and said, "Kiss me."

Sui Yu didn't move, she felt a little disgusted.

Zhao Xiping didn't force it. He said, "You know, I'm afraid of death. I wanted to live before, but now I'm afraid of death." If he died, the woman on him would no longer be his.

Sui Yu put down her hand, pressed her hand on his neck, and said, "Years ago, your father dreamed of your grandfather. Go back to Guanzhong and see if you can find the old man's grave. If you do, burn a few incense sticks, and when your parents are a hundred years old, send them back to their hometown."

Zhao Xiping didn't say anything. After a long time, he said "hmm".

Sui Yu felt relieved, and her heart fell. She supported herself with her strong chest and gently kissed the corner of his mouth.

The next morning, Zhao Xiping and Sui Yu took the old couple to Jiuquan. When they arrived in the city, Sui Yu paid for two sets of thick clothes for the old couple, and went to the butcher's shop to buy three pounds of meat. When she passed by a grocery store, she went in to buy fifty cents of malt sugar, and then left the city to go home.

On the way, Zhao Xiping told his parents the news that Sui Yu had obtained, as well as the statement they had agreed upon.

On the morning of the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, Zhao Xiaomi got up early to prepare for his upcoming trip. As soon as smoke began to rise from the chimney, Zhao's father suddenly shouted in his sleep. Zhao's mother yelled a few times, and the three brothers Zhao Xiping hurried into their parents' room.

"I dreamt of your grandfather. He hasn't eaten anything his children and grandchildren have offered him in 20 or 30 years. He's so poor he can't even beg for food, and he's chased and beaten by other ghosts every day." Father Zhao sat on the bed, looking at his three sons. He said, "Third son, go back for me and repair your grandfather's grave and burn some incense. You've been married for two or three years and still don't have any children. Go back and talk to your ancestors about it and ask them to bless you."

Zhao Xiping glanced at his father, then went out and said, "Sui Yu, Dad dreamed of my grandfather. I have to go back to Guanzhong. I'll let my second brother take you and Xiaomi back today."

Zhao Xiaomi wondered, "Wasn't there a flood in my hometown at that time? How could I still find it?"

Mother Zhao raised her hand and angrily cursed: "You damn girl, this is none of your business, get out of here."

"Go away if you want. I'm leaving today." Zhao Xiaomi snorted heavily. She ran to Sui Yu and said, "Third sister-in-law, my third brother can't accompany you, so I will. I'll go back with you."

"Okay." Sui Yu looked at Brother Zhao and said, "I'm going to trouble you again."

"Sister-in-law, your second brother is fine at home. He can stay and help you when he passes away. He will come back during the spring planting season." Mrs. Zhao said.

Mrs. Zhao moved her lips, secretly resenting herself for being a step too late. Her husband could also do the job for a salary of one string of coins a month.

"Nonsense, I'll be back soon." Brother Zhao scolded. The third brother was not at home, so what was the point of him staying there for two or three months?

Sui Yu lowered his eyes and said nothing.

The matter was settled. After breakfast, Zhao Erge went to his cousin to borrow a camel. When asked about the reason, he told him about his father's dream. "The third brother wants to ride a camel when he returns to Guanzhong. I will send Xiaomi and the third brother's wife to Dunhuang. I will come back after I have sent them there."

Half of the families in the village have the same ancestor. When the news spread, everyone pooled their money and asked Zhao Xiping to go back and repair the graves of their parents and grandparents.

Brother Zhao Er sent Sui Yu and Zhao Xiaomi out of the village first. At noon, Zhao Xiping, under the earnest instructions of his clansmen, left alone, carrying the bow and arrow brought by Sui Yu.

On the afternoon of the fourteenth day of the first lunar month, Sui Yu and the other two walked into Dunhuang City.

At the same time, a light cavalry rushed out of Chang'an City.

Eight days later, Zhao Xiping met a galloping postman in Wuwei County. Amidst a series of urgent reports, he drove his camel out of the city gate.

The news of the joint attack on the Xiongnu by Wusun spread, and the soldiers in the military camp returned to the training ground. The peach charms on the door were still covered with dust, and the remaining New Year atmosphere disappeared amid the sound of dense footsteps.

Captain Li came in armor to take a headcount. When it was Zhao's turn, Sui Yu explained the reason: "He left for the east half a month ago. If he hasn't left Wuwei County by now, he should be rushing back after hearing the news."

The news that Zhao Xiping was going back to Guanzhong to worship his ancestors had spread as early as when Sui Yu came back. Captain Li had no doubt about it. He just sighed that the old guy was lucky and did not take Sui Yu's words seriously at all. If Zhao Xiping heard the news and ran back, he would be really crazy and rushing to his death.

Except for the disabled soldiers in the military settlement, all the other soldiers with healthy limbs took up their weapons and went to the training ground early in the morning and returned late at night.

Uncle Niu came over after dark. Sui Yu went to the shop early in the morning and came back late at night to do business, so he was never seen all day long.

"What did your aunt come to see you for at the end of last year?"

Sui Yu was puzzled, "When?"

"On the night of the 24th day of the twelfth lunar month." Uncle Niu stared at her. "Did you go to see your people?"

Sui Yu denied it. She shook her head and said, "Why should I go? I'm not the one who should visit them."

Uncle Niu stopped asking questions and said, "Those of your people are going to the battlefield this time as slaves. Nine out of ten slaves on the battlefield are never returned. Your aunt doesn't know yet. Tomorrow you and her should go to the west city gate to wait and see her off."

Sui Yu clenched her hands, "I don't want to go, I don't want to see, you go with her."

"I want to go see her cry for another man?" Uncle Niu thought it was funny. "If you don't want to go, then don't go. It's fine if you don't go."

Sui Yu sat in the shop the next day. The footsteps of thousands of people walking on the street shook half of the city. She could no longer sit still, so she locked the shop and walked quickly towards the west gate with Zhao Xiaomi and Sui Liang.

Tong Huaer didn't come to the shop in the morning. Sui Yu saw her at the foot of the wall of the west city gate. She stared blankly at the many soldiers who walked step by step into the gate of the city wall.

The number of troops marching this time was as many as 150,000. In addition to the garrison in Dunhuang, there were also troops stationed elsewhere. Tens of thousands of soldiers passed through this frontier pass, stepped into the yellow sand one after another, and then passed through Yumen Pass and Yangguan, heading west.

The family members who came to see him off all had heavy expressions on their faces, with tears welling up in their eyes, but they refused to let them fall, for fear that their tears would bring bad luck and block the man's way home.

From morning to evening, the garrison in Dunhuang was deserted, and this bustling city was also empty.

On the way back, Tong Huaer whispered, "I didn't recognize him. I've noticed that when people get skinny, they all look the same: protruding noses, sunken eyes, and drooping mouth corners. They all look the same."

Sui Yu didn't say anything.

"Luckily, Tong Ge'er didn't go to the battlefield. I really hope he won't grow up, but only death can stop him from growing up." Tong Hua'er kicked away a stone blocking her way. She looked up at the dim sky and muttered to herself, "Why is our life so miserable? Why won't God give us some good luck?"

Zhao Xiaomi cried after hearing this, but Tong Huaer had no tears. She looked at Sui Yu and Sui Liang, raised her hand and slapped herself hard. She hated so much, she hated all the people who were blessed by God.

"I won't come here anymore, and don't look for me anymore." Tong Huaer said this and ran away.

Sui Yu sighed deeply.

It's getting dark.

The next day, when the rooster crowed three times, the sky became bright again.

Sui Yu went to open a shop and do business as usual. Half of the people in the city were gone, and the vitality was also gone. Her business became deserted, and most of the people who came to eat there were business travelers who lived nearby.

When the weather warmed up, merchants left the deserted city with their goods, and Sui Yu's business became increasingly deserted, with almost no one coming to his store.

That morning, while steaming buns in the pot, Sui Yu and Zhao Xiaomi were sitting in the yard basking in the sun. Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard outside the door, and the two looked out at the same time.

"Sui Yu, I met Captain Chang on the road. He was the envoy sent to Wusun last year. I'm going to Wusun with him." Zhao Xiping didn't go in. He stood outside the door, looking at her with fervent eyes, and said firmly: "As a soldier, I receive a salary. I should resist the enemy when they invade and protect the people of our dynasty, just as my colleagues protect you and their wives and children."

"Go ahead, I'll wait for you to come back." Sui Yu stood up.

Zhao Xiping smiled at her, turned around and strode away.