Chapter 506 Zhao Sanniu is going to the capital

Cheng Wanwan took a sip of tea and looked up at the distant sky.

“Last autumn, you were lying in the grass covered in blood. It was terrifying to see. I thought you were beyond saving.” She turned to look at him. “A year has passed. Will the people who were hunting you have let go of their grudges? Will you be in danger going back like this?”

Although she and He Xiao were only cousins ​​in name, He Xiao had taken good care of her family's sons over the past year. Many men in the village followed him to learn martial arts, and he taught them wholeheartedly, never showing impatience because the men in the village had poor comprehension. She hoped that He Xiao would be alright, instead of going back to the capital to die.

He Xiao smiled and said, "Just because it's dangerous, does that mean I'll never go back? My family is all in the capital; they don't know I'm still alive."

Cheng Wanwan said calmly, "The people who chased you back then were probably related to your family, weren't they?"

If his family truly cared about him, how could they have been unable to find him for a year?

If he truly is one with his family, why has he never mentioned his family members all this time?

He Xiao was startled.

His gaze turned somber, and he said in a low voice, "The person who's been chasing me is my half-brother. My mother was his second wife, and I'm the second son by the law, so I also have a right to inherit the family business. He sent someone to assassinate me to eliminate any future trouble..."

Cheng Wanwan put down her teacup: "Doesn't your father care? Doesn't your mother protect you?"

“My father was busy with court affairs and never cared about matters of the household. My mother was my eldest brother’s aunt, that is, my eldest brother’s mother’s younger sister. She always doted on this nephew who lost his mother at a young age and treated him like her own flesh and blood.” He Xiao’s lips curled into a cold smile. “When we were little, if my eldest brother and I cried together, my mother would always choose my eldest brother… When I told my mother that my eldest brother was trying to harm me, she didn’t believe me. She thought I was just making a malicious assumption about my eldest brother and even made me kneel in the ancestral hall for a whole day… Ha, this is the kind of family I have, and I still thought about going back to see them one last time.”

Cheng Wanwan fell silent.

She never imagined the He family would be so complicated, nor did she expect a woman to abandon her own son for her nephew.

She sighed, "If your elder brother knew you were still alive, he probably wouldn't let it go. Going back to the capital would be like a lamb entering a tiger's den. You might as well stay."

She never liked to influence other people's decisions, but she really didn't want to see He Xiao go back to his death.

"No matter what, she's still my mother. She gave birth to me and raised me. I want to ask her in person if she has any regrets over the past year..."

He Xiao's eyes were like an ancient well, making it impossible to see through his emotions at a glance.

“Master, please take me with you.” Zhao Sanniu walked in carrying an axe. “A teacher for a day is a father for life. If Master is in danger, how can I stand idly by? Although I am not very good at martial arts, I am still much better than the average person. If I go to the capital with Master, at least I will have someone to look after me, right?”

Cheng Wanwan opened her lips as if to say something, but then gave up.

Learning martial arts and traveling the world has always been San Niu's dream. Now that the opportunity is right in front of him, San Niu will not give up so easily.

If San Niu chooses to stay in Dahe Village because of her persuasion, then San Niu will definitely spend his life in regret.

She suppressed her emotions and spoke casually, "Even if there's no place for you in the capital, Dahe Village still welcomes you back. This will always be your home. San Niu, when you and your master go to the capital, you must always put your master first. Don't make any decisions on your own. You're impulsive and don't like to think things through. If you encounter anything, you must ask your master..."

Zhao Sanniu stared wide-eyed in disbelief: "Mother, you promised me you'd go to the capital with Master?"

He thought it would take a long time for his mother to give in, and he was prepared for a protracted battle. He never expected his mother to be so understanding.

His eyes sparkled as he looked at He Xiao, "Master, my mother promised to let me go to the capital. Master, you must take me with you. I promise I will behave well and not let you down!"

He Xiao knew the matter was settled, but he would never drag San Niu into the He family's vortex.

After thinking for a while, he said, "Cousin, San Niu's dream is to join the army. I know people in the garrison in Beijing. If you are willing to let San Niu suffer, I can send him to the army for training. However, if he really joins the army, he may not be able to come back for the next two or three years."

Zhao Sanniu was overjoyed and didn't know what to do with his hands and feet.

Cheng Wanwan held her teacup, looking at her silly son who was laughing so hard he was completely lost, and couldn't help but sigh.

A son grows up and is no longer under his mother's control; this is not something she can decide whether she is willing to let go or not.

"I only have one request, which is to ensure San Niu's safety. I hope that one day in the future, he will return to my side intact."

"Don't worry, Mother, I'll be fine!"

Zhao Sanniu picked up his axe and went back excitedly to chop firewood.

Cheng Wanwan asked He Xiao about some details, such as who was in charge of the military camp, whether she would have to go to the front lines to fight after entering, and how complicated the interpersonal relationships were... As an old mother, even though she understood everything in detail, she was still worried.

"Why are you two still chatting?" the village head said as he walked in. "The farewell dinner for the villagers is ready, and everyone is waiting."

The farewell dinner in the village was arranged around the big locust tree. Since the village holds several meetings every month, the ground had long been tidied up and covered with many large stones transported down from the mountain. It was clean and flat, with dozens of large tables set up, and the tables were filled with all kinds of farm dishes.

The farewell dinner was funded by the village. Although the dishes were simple, they were very plentiful, with eight dishes on each table, and wine was also prepared.

"Master He, are you really leaving?"

"If Uncle Village Head hadn't suddenly said you were leaving, I would have thought you were a part of our Dahe Village. Sigh, how could such a good person just leave like that?"

“I’ve said it before: we should introduce a wife to Master He. Once he settles down in Dahe Village and has a baby, he’ll be at ease.”

"..."

He Xiao had a headache. Why were they talking about this again?

"Come, come, Master He, sit here." Old Mrs. Zhao pulled him to sit in the main seat. "We villagers are really reluctant to see you leave. I hope that after you leave, you will always think of the people of Dahe Village. If you can come back to visit once every two or three years, that would be wonderful."

Everyone in the village knows that He Xiao's home is in a very far place, and he only stayed at his distant cousin's house because of some unexpected events.

Fearing that the villagers would keep asking her questions, Cheng Wanwan didn't say where she lived, only that it was very, very far from Ping'an County... In this era, being far apart meant that once separated, it would be difficult to meet again.

A sense of melancholy spread among the villagers as they raised their cups to toast each other, especially those who practiced martial arts every morning. They were used to getting up early, to practicing their stances and punches every day, and to Master He's strict teachings... They had grown stronger and stronger, gained the strength to fight three against one, and had the confidence to protect Dahe Village...

But the person who gave them all is leaving.