Chapter 357: Work More, Dream Less

Aning stroked Jinhua's braid and said, "Sister is also the flower of our family."

Jinhua's eyes sparkled. She slid down the chair, pushed it closer to her brother's chair, and finally sat on it, right next to her brother.

Zhao Xiaomi sighed and laughed, then leaned over and said, "Give Xiaohua to me, don't let her fall down."

"How could that be?" The kid didn't want to give it to her. He had shown off enough, so he walked out with the baby in the cradle, saying, "Little Flower is getting hungry. I'll take it back to my mother."

Zhao Xiaomi followed her out and said, "Take her to your grandparents. Xiaohua is already one month old, and your grandparents have never held a granddaughter in their arms."

Her third sister-in-law probably won't have any more children in the future, and her eldest and second sister-in-law are not young anymore. Xiaohua will probably be the youngest of her grandchildren, and her parents like her very much.

The boy hesitated for a moment, then he carried Xiaohua and left with his aunt.

Zhao Xiaomi looked around but couldn't find her parents. Xiaohua woke up again, so Xiaozai hurriedly sent his sister back to the house.

"Where is she? Didn't she say she wanted to hug her granddaughter?" Zhao Xiaomi muttered, "Da Zhuang, have you seen my parents?"

"He went with the adults." Da Zhuang turned his head and looked around, saying, "I don't know where he went. I saw him just now."

"Left with my brother? Forget it." Zhao Xiaomi stopped looking.

"Stay in Dunhuang? Not going back to Jiuquan?" Father Zhao frowned. "You want us to help look after the child?"

"You and your wife are indeed busy. That's fine. Your father and I will stay here to help you take care of the children." Mother Zhao nodded without hesitation.

"How did this get to us? I didn't ask you to help look after the child, nor did I want you to interfere in raising the child." Zhao Xiping denied it. His parents raised the child like herding sheep. As long as the sheep didn't run away, they didn't care whether they ate grass or gnawed soil.

"You're old now. Can you handle traveling back and forth between Dunhuang and Jiuquan twice a year? Life here is more comfortable than back home, and I can support you two. Why don't you just stay with me and live in Dunhuang?" Inspired by the boy's filial piety, Zhao Xiping reflected for a few days and wanted to show some more filial piety. "I've discussed it with Sui Yu. You two will stay in Dunhuang. You'll live in this main courtyard from now on. You won't be asked to do any farm work normally. During the busy farming season, when the cotton is drying, you can just help herd the chickens."

Zhao's father turned his gaze towards the unfinished mansion on the west side of the river and asked, "You won't let me live in the mansion with your mother?"

"It's good for us to live separately. You don't disturb us and we don't interfere with you." Zhao Xiping didn't plan to live with his parents. If he kept going in and out of the same roof, the old couple would definitely cause trouble.

Father Zhao was not very happy. He said angrily, "No need. We will go back to our hometown in Jiuquan and not stay with you."

Zhao Xiping didn't respond. He looked at my mother and said, "Let him go, you stay here."

Zhao's mother was tempted, but without her sisters-in-law and old enemies in Dunhuang, no matter how well she ate or how warmly she dressed, she had nowhere to show off. She felt like ants were crawling in her heart and felt uncomfortable all over.

"Your father and I are still able to move, so we should go back to our hometown. During the autumn harvest and spring planting season, we two old bones can still go to the fields to chase birds. With us at home, your brother and sister-in-law will have hot soup and hot meals to eat when they come home from work." Zhao's mother refused. "If you let me stay and take care of your children, I won't go back. If you don't need me, I'll just go back."

Zhao Xiping looked at his father again, "Do you really want to go back?"

"Well, we'll come back when it gets colder."

"Then you should come with me in a couple of days. I'm going to transport a batch of cotton seedlings to Jiuquan. The journey is slow, and we can stay at the post station at night." Zhao Xiping didn't force it. "Dalang's five brothers and sisters should also leave with me. They are not young anymore and can't concentrate on their studies. It's better for them to go back and grow cotton to earn some money. Then they can use the money to open a quilt-making shop and support themselves."

When Zhao Dalang and his five siblings went to work as laborers in the weaving workshop, Zhao's father and mother had anticipated this outcome. No matter what the old couple thought, they could not control their son or restrain their grandchildren, so they could only let the situation develop like a landslide.

Seeing that his parents had no objection, Zhao Xiping left.

Mr. and Mrs. Zhao stayed on the east side of the warehouse for a long time and didn't go back until dinner was served.

When the banquet started, Sui Yu, who had spent half a day washing up, showed up. She held her well-fed child in her arms and greeted the guests. When the child became impatient, she took the child back to the house.

Halfway through the banquet, the boy came back and saw his mother and sister lying on the bed. He went over and asked, "Mom, have you eaten yet?"

"I've eaten. The food is ready. Hua Niu and A Qiang served me some first. I ate before you did." Sui Yu saw Xiao Hua turning her head to look outside, and she smiled and said, "She's looking at you."

The kid giggled, took off his shoes and lay on the bed, stretched out his fingers and touched Xiaohua's nose and forehead, making her eyes roll around.

With a "wow" sound, Xiaohua started crying, and the little guy stopped teasing her immediately.

He glanced at his mother angrily, but Sui Yu didn't help and said, "You made her cry, comfort her."

"Don't cry, Xiaohua." The little cub patted her swaddling clothes gently, "Mom, was I also a crybaby when I was little?"

"Don't count it. After all, no one is teasing you."

Little Cub: ...

"I got it." The kid jumped out of bed immediately, put on his slippers, opened the door and ran out. After a while, he came back with a bag of small things. They were all collected from his childhood. Some were bought for him by his uncle, and some were brought back by his mother on the way to business.

Jingling rattles, worn glass beads, small silver bells, smooth lamb knee bones, colorful stones...

Xiaohua stopped crying, but the tears on her face had not dried yet, and a smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.

There were footsteps outside the door. Ah Shui stood outside and asked softly, "Sister-in-law, is Xiaozai here? Xiaozai, your uncle asked me to call you. Gu Dalang and the others are leaving. Please go out and see them off."

"Hey." The kid put the rattle on his sister and immediately got out of bed.

The room became quiet. Sui Yu gathered the things scattered on the bed, unbuttoned her clothes and fed the child.

After all the guests had left and the outside of the guesthouse became quiet, Sui Yu and Xiao Hua took a nap together.

When I woke up again, it was already evening.

The leftovers in the teahouse had been cleared away, and the servants were still washing dishes in the kitchen. Sui Yu went over to take a look and asked, "Where is your master?"

"Mr. Ma is here, and the adults are taking him to see the cotton seedlings." A Shui continued.

"Ma Nongjian is back from Chang'an? What a coincidence." Sui Yu said, "You've been busy all day. Ah Shui, you and Da Zhuang come over and fill half a box of money to distribute to everyone. Let everyone share in our Xiaohua's joy."

"Thank you, master and young master." The servants were overjoyed.

A Shui and Da Zhuang hurried to the main courtyard.

The room where Zhao's father and mother slept was filled with money boxes, and the carpeted floor was piled half a leg deep with copper coins. Sui Yu opened the door and asked Dazhuang to empty half of the box.

"Ten cents per person, take the time to count them one by one." Sui Yu instructed.

Ah Shui said, "Hey," and said, "I'll send the rest of the money later."

"I'll leave the remaining money in your hands for now. Keep an account and return the account book to me at the end of each month," Sui Yu said. "Tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, the cotton farmers will come to transplant the cotton seedlings. Take Hua Niu and A Qiang with you to collect the money and keep the accounts. Whether it's paid or on credit, make sure it's recorded clearly."

Ah Shui sighed again.

Zhao Xiping's voice came from outside the door. Sui Yu walked out and met Ma Nongjian.

"Madam, congratulations on the birth of your daughter. I just entered Dunhuang City after noon today. I'm late, please don't mind." Ma Nongjian bowed.

"Don't blame me, you've been traveling so long and have so much work to do, so I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't come," Sui Yu said politely. "You missed the luncheon dinner, so stay for dinner. You can chat with your master while you eat."

"Don't bother me anymore. My Lord is in the fields and he's just thinking about coming back to see the children." Ma Nongjian smiled, "My Lord, I'll leave now and bring someone back tomorrow morning."

Zhao Xiping nodded.

Ma Nongjian bowed to Sui Yu again, then turned and left.

Zhao Xiping and Sui Yu returned to the house, while A Shui and Da Zhuang hurriedly carried the cash box away.

"There is not enough manpower to grow cotton. How does Your Majesty plan to solve this problem?" Sui Yu asked.

"Your Majesty has issued a decree that I will mobilize the slaves of the four Hexi prefectures to cultivate the land." Zhao Xiping brought a chair for her to sit on and said, "Ma, the agricultural supervisor, is familiar with Dunhuang affairs. He has also met with Hu, the supervisor, and has connections with me. He can mobilize slaves to cultivate cotton. I have dealt with the agricultural officials of Jiuquan and Zhangye before. We hold the cotton seedlings, and if they need my help, I won't be embarrassed. So I will leave Dunhuang and go to Jiuquan and Zhangye."

Sui Yu nodded, "Official business is more important. You can just keep the family matters in mind. You don't need to do it yourself."

"I'm sorry, Xiaohua. I was the one who took care of her brother when he was little. As far as I can remember, he was almost a year old when I was away on patrol for only half a month." Zhao Xiping was anxious. "I'm sure Xiaohua won't recognize me when I come back."

There was nothing that could be done about it, so Sui Yu could only comfort her by saying, "You are her biological father, and blood is thicker than water. When you come back, hug her more and she will still recognize you."

Zhao Xiping didn't say anything. He could only be thankful that the child was young and didn't even know she had a father. She wouldn't be sad if he left home.

Not only Zhao Xiping was leaving, but Sui Liang was also leaving. He was going to Zhangye to check the accounts of the guesthouse, and the food shops in Wuwei County also needed his attention.

Two days later, eight hundred carts of cotton seedlings left the guesthouse, escorted by Captain Gu and five hundred soldiers. They followed Zhao Xiping out of Dunhuang City.

In addition to Sui Liang and Da Zhuang, seven members of the Zhao family's grandparents and grandchildren also left together.

Sui Yu had to stay at home to take care of Xiaohua, so she couldn't go to see him off. She could only let Xiaozai go to the East City Gate alone to say goodbye.

It was noon when the kid came back. He looked listless and slipped into the house like a defeated rooster.

"What's wrong?" Sui Yu asked, "Are you sad?"

"Poor Xiaohua, she doesn't have her dad and uncle to accompany her." The cub wailed, "Mom, it's so hard to get our family together. You were not at home before, but now you are at home, and my dad and uncle are out again."

"Your uncle comes home once every two months, and your father will come back from time to time as well. He won't leave after the autumn harvest." Sui Yu stuffed a rattle into his hand so he could coax Xiaohua. She continued, "Besides, after this year's harvest, cotton will be planted on a large scale in the four counties of Hexi next year, so your father won't have to go to the other three counties to guard them."

The cub said, "Oh," "Growing up is no fun at all."

Sui Yu didn't respond. She asked instead, "Did your father tell you anything?"

"Let me take care of Xiaohua for him."

"I guess so." Sui Yu saw Uncle Niu and Ah Shui peeking into the yard. She waved and said, "Come in and sit down."

Ah Shui waved her hand. She was taking the old man for a walk to prevent him from lying down and sleeping after eating.

"Dad, do you love my mom very much?" Ah Shui asked in a low voice, with a playful look on her face.

Uncle Niu had lost all his teeth a long time ago, and now he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his teeth. He said with disgust, "Stop saying those offensive things. What's the point of saying love or not?"

Ah Shui was stunned. She said disappointedly, "My eldest brother loves my sister-in-law very much."

Uncle Lao Niu didn't say anything.

"I thought you loved me because you loved my mother, and that's why you were willing to raise me and treat me like your own daughter." Ah Shui muttered, "Because Xiaohua was born to my sister-in-law, I especially like this little sister."

Uncle Niu didn't quite understand what she was saying, and didn't want to listen anymore. He said bluntly, "My relationship with your mother isn't like your eldest brother and your sister-in-law's. I brought her home to live with me because I wanted a child. I treat you like my own daughter, and it has nothing to do with your mother. You're my daughter, and I love you. Don't overthink it. White cats and calico cats are both cats. You can't say a calico cat has white fur and is related to a white cat. People's feelings can't be exactly the same. Your sister-in-law loved her two children very much, but Hongzao was abandoned by her mother. You... you see, we're all mothers, with good and bad sides."

Ah Shui said "Oh".

What love or affection? Uncle Niu didn't buy it at all. He glanced at Ah Shui and snorted, "Work more and dream less."