121 Chapter 121

◎Delight◎

Gui'er hummed a little tune, feeling particularly accomplished after accomplishing something.

Xu Xiuying tried to persuade her not to act so recklessly, but she turned a deaf ear.

"Little Daddy is here! Little Daddy is here!" The first few children outside the wall cheered, and Badou also followed suit, calling him Little Daddy.

Xu Xiuying's mind turned, and she asked Gui'er, "Is Mu Yun getting engaged? Whose wife is so lucky?"

Gui'er glanced outside and said, "He looks down on everyone. Only someone like Madam Cheng can make him take notice."

The speaker may not mean it, but the listener may take it seriously. Xu Xiuying cried out in her heart, "Oh my god, could it be because of this?"

Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi welcomed Muyun into the farm. Muyun tied the horse in the barn, scooped a ladle of bean feed and sprinkled it into the trough, then glanced at the two braying donkeys.

Badou imitates the bray of a donkey the best. Whenever he hears a donkey bray, he brays. As soon as he brays, Liu and Qi start laughing and making noises.

Mu Yun patted their heads and asked, "What is mother busy with?"

"Raising rice seedlings," they answered in a flurry. Xiaoliu emphasized, "Mom said she wants to grow rice seeds taller than a person."

Xiao Qi added, "Yes, taller than Xiao Daddy."

Mu Yun: "Let's go and take Dad to see it."

After Cheng Xi and her family moved in, they modified the layout of the original nursery base. They moved away the shelves in the vacant yard and raised them in another room. For example, in the large room where she works now, there are four layers of seedling trays.

It is only February now. After several years of experimentation, Cheng Wei has reduced the speed of raising rice seedlings to half a month. Rice is generally planted after May in the north, so there is no need to start too early. She is now researching automatic sprinkler equipment.

The rich man Song Heng used to plant a nest of bamboos in his yard. The bamboos were hollow and could absorb water and fertilizer, so it was just right to cut some down and use them.

Cheng Xi has measured various data such as the main pipe, branch sprinkler pipe, etc. based on the current structural settings, and has also simulated the height of the water storage tank.

The automatic spray can be adjusted by using cotton cloth at the water outlet.

She plans to plant some vegetables as a trial first.

Six, seven, or eight people came in, hugging Mu Yun and making a lot of noise. Cheng Mu washed her hands in the bucket and didn't stay inside. "Everyone, get out."

Gui'er and Xu Xiuying also came to greet him. Gui'er teased Mu Yun, "You are so focused on the escort agency now. There is no place for you to live here."

Mu Yun glanced at Cheng Mu, and she quickened her pace, leaving only the black hair behind him.

Xu Xiuying went to make tea, and Mu Yun rarely stopped to greet Guier.

Gui'er knew nothing. "Don't worry about Madam Cheng's affairs now. If she wants to do something, she has to hire another escort agency."

Mu Yun asked, "Is there anything I need to do?"

Gui'er thrust her jaw forward. "I just left a short time ago to deliver two bags of rice seeds to Yunzhou City. It's only a short walk there and back, and I've already spent two taels of silver."

"Who did you invite?"

"Master An, seeing that he was not doing well, deliberately gave him money."

Mu Yun's expression froze.

Gui'er leaned forward proudly and whispered, "Madam Cheng said she wanted someone like him. I tried him out and he's quite skilled."

Mu Yun's face was gloomy.

Gui'er asked him, "What brings you here today?"

Mu Yun didn't answer her, but just looked at her. Gui'er suddenly felt a chill.

Jiuniu urinated, Huaihua was changing his diaper ring, and Liuqiba surrounded Jiuniu to tease him.

Mu Yun went in and said, "I have something to discuss with my sister-in-law. You all go out."

The children scattered, Huaihua also hurried out, leaving Jiuniu here.

The older Jiuniu grew, the less he cried, and he ate his little fists with relish.

Cheng Mu didn't speak first. Mu Yun said he was coming. She thought about it for a long time but still didn't know what to say to Mu Yun.

She silently put down the cup of water and continued what Huaihua had unfinished, wrapping Jiuniu in his blanket and holding him on her lap.

Jiuniu looked at her with his dark eyes, and his mouth made a smacking sound while eating.

Cheng Mu looked at him with tenderness and thought that he must be extremely hungry. She planned to try with some water, but as soon as she stretched out her hand, Mu Yun handed her the water.

At the moment she paused in hesitation, Mu Yun had already dripped some water on Jiuniu's mouth. Jiuniu rushed to find it, he was really hungry.

Cheng Mu held Jiuniu's little hand, and Mu Yun slowly gave him a drop of water to drink.

He was so close that his breath was right above her head. Cheng Mu felt unhappy and leaned back slightly, looking up at him.

Mu Yun looked back, his eyes gloomy.

The light filtered through the tissue paper of the door, casting a soft glow on his face. The training in the military camp and on the battlefield had made him grow into a strong and handsome man, with a square forehead, a straight nose, broad shoulders and long arms. He no longer had the androgynous appearance that made it difficult to tell whether he was a man or a woman when they first met.

Jiuniu choked and coughed a few times and started crying. The two men came to their senses and hurriedly wiped the clean water that had spilled on the poor child's nose, face and neck.

"She's hungry." Cheng Mu hugged Jiuniu and planned to escape.

As soon as she reached the door, Xu Xiuying opened it and took it over. "Madam Cheng, you are busy. I will take care of Jiuniu."

Cheng Mu didn't want to stay here any longer. Just as she was about to step out of the threshold, someone behind her pulled her and the door was locked.

"Auntie, we haven't discussed our affairs yet."

Cheng Mu retreated to the door, her heart in a state of panic. She feigned composure and said, "My attitude is very clear."

Mu Yun approached, holding the door open with his hand, half-trapping her in front of him, "Sister-in-law is also fond of me, right?"

The momentary distraction just now seemed to have given him great courage. Cheng Mu laughed, "How is it possible? I have always treated you as my younger brother - raised you. How dare you - how dare you have such thoughts about me!"

Cheng Mu reached out to push him away, but she pressed his hand against her chest and said, "My heart has always been tied to you. There's nothing I can do."

Cheng Mu couldn't pull her hand back. She heard him say, "You asked me if I left the post of lieutenant and returned home because I didn't want to kill anymore people. No, I found that I just missed you more. Why would I rather be whipped than leave the Eighteen Riders of Yanyun? Because you've returned."

Cheng Mu didn't show any emotion at all, and said coldly: "If the truth is like this, it will only make me look down on you."

Cheng Mu finally pulled her hand out, pushed the mute man away with both hands, turned around, opened the door and went out.

When Cheng Mu thought about this later, she woke up in shock. How could he be so sleazy? Who did he learn this from? How could he be so love-brained? Who taught him that?

Xu Xiuying discovered something incredible and started to recall how it all started.

When Mu Yun first arrived in Zhaojia Village, he worked hard all day long and didn't talk much.

When Madam Cheng fell into the horse farm, he sneaked in to find her.

Later, he went out to deliver food and never came back. When he came back, Madam Cheng was granted an imperial decree. Then, she heard that Mu Yun was a runaway son of the Wuwei Escort Agency and was not Madam Cheng's legitimate brother-in-law at all. He was fighting outside with the general master. The emperor offered him a higher position than the county magistrate, but he refused...

Later, Madam Cheng was seriously ill and it was snowing heavily. Mu Yun insisted on taking her to Yunzhou City for treatment. After she recovered, they returned together. A few days later, when they went to Tianma Town, they were attacked by the Mongols and Madam Cheng was abducted. Mu Yun went to the battlefield again. When he came back, he was injured and recuperated in Zhaojia Village. There was nothing unusual at that time.

The only time they were together properly was during this winter trip to Puyang City...

Xu Xiuying finally understood. No wonder Madam Cheng wanted to leave as soon as she returned. They had always treated each other like uncle and sister-in-law, and Madam Cheng had a pair of children, so she must not want to be criticized! She also said that Mu Yun's mother had found many women for him, so his family would not agree to Madam Cheng being with him!

She almost pushed the door open when she saw someone sitting on the edge of the kang, and someone standing in front of it. One looked up, and the other lowered his head. Their eyes were locked, completely unaware...

"What have you been thinking about all day? You've lost your soul. I almost dropped one while washing dishes just now."

Sao Hu brought her hot water for her feet, picked up her feet, and took off her shoes and socks.

"Hey," Xu Xiuying tapped his chest with her foot, "Have you settled Mu Yun? How is he?"

"What's up? Just lie down."

"When he was about to leave, you didn't show any shrewdness. You were even worse than Sixth Miss. If Sixth Miss hadn't held him, he would still be on the road blowing in the cold wind!"

"If he wants to leave, it must be Madam Cheng who asked him to leave. Why should I bother with that? Madam Cheng will blame me later." Sao Hu pressed her restless feet into the basin.

Xu Xiuying chuckled twice, "What can you understand from that look in your eyes?"

Seeing her laughing like she had found a treasure, Sao Hu sat down next to her and said, "What good news is there that makes you laugh like this? Tell me too."

Xu Xiuying bumped him with her shoulder and said, "I'll tell you when it's almost done. Keep it a secret for now."

Early the next morning, Xu Xiuying saw Mu Yun. He said goodbye to her and casually asked her if she had enough manpower.

Xu Xiuying thought he needed an excuse to stay, so she quickly said that there were a lot of farm work to do recently and complained that there were not enough people. Because of the lack of manpower, Madam Cheng sold a lot of land.

Mu Yun just nodded and left.

On the third day, when Xu Xiuying saw two men in blue clothes coming to her house, she realized that Mu Yunzhen had sent someone to do some work for them.

"One of them is called Wang Zhong and the other is called Chen He." Xu Xiuying brought the two people to Cheng Mu.

Compared to the previous Saohu and others, Wang Zhong and Chen He are older, around forty years old, with dark skin, strong build, one with a beard and the other with a hooked nose.

The two men exchanged greetings with Cheng Mu, and Wang Zhong, a bearded man, said, "We two are at your service. Madam Cheng, please give us your instructions."

Yesterday, Cheng Mu found two indentures on the table in the room. She guessed that Mu Yun must have put them there quietly, but when she went out, she heard that he had left long ago. It turned out that he had just arrived.

"Where did you work before?" Cheng Mu had never seen them before and thought they were from the escort agency. Judging from their demeanor, if she hadn't seen the indenture, she would have thought they were escorts.

"We two used to make a living as coolies on the Fen River. We offended a powerful tyrant and couldn't pay our debts, so we signed a contract to sell ourselves."

"We only have a handful of strength, so we are determined to work hard and redeem ourselves one day."

Cheng Mu didn't ask any more questions and let Xu Xiuying arrange their work.

Mu Yun was afraid that she would not want him, so he found two unrelated people who were just there to do the work.

Even if she wanted to return it to him, she had to wait until she saw him in person. What she said to him that day was too harsh and hurt him. Cheng Mu felt a little regretful. She couldn't go to him and give up all her efforts. She also didn't want to make it too obvious for everyone to know in order to break up cleanly. So she decided to use it first.

Gui'er came back early in the morning, chattering non-stop behind Cheng Mu, "Madam Cheng, you see, that Escort An is simply untrustworthy. He said he'd be back yesterday, but we haven't seen him yet. He must have absconded with the food. He's completely shameless!"

"Madam Cheng, you trusted the wrong person. Aren't you angry?"