Chapter 120 Sui Ling's Death
After coming out of the Duwei Mansion, Tong Huaer stood in the snow and let out a long sigh. She looked back at the solemn mansion and strode away.
"Leaving on the first day of the Lunar New Year?" Sui Wen'an frowned. He stroked his shoulder, where the arrow had injured it. The bone had been injured, and when the weather got cold, his arm ached so much that he couldn't even lift heavy objects. If he encountered a wolf, he probably wouldn't be able to draw his bow.
"According to previous years, it snowed in the first month of the year. Why not leave in February?" Sui Wen'an said in a negotiating tone. "If we leave in February, we might encounter returning Hu merchants. It would be safer to follow the caravan."
Tong Huaer shook her head and said, "The old man I'm with now doesn't want me to leave. I sneaked out this time when he wasn't home. The longer I waited, the more worried I was that he would cause trouble. I ran away on New Year's Eve when there was chaos, and we packed up and left at dawn. By the time he realized what was happening, he wouldn't be able to catch up even if he wanted to."
"Then let's go on the morning of the first day of the new year and leave here first." Sui Xinlin said.
The others had no objections. They would leave Dunhuang and see what the situation would be like. If it was too cold outside the pass, they could find a place to stay at Yumen Pass for a while. If it didn't snow after the New Year, they could just leave the pass. They had already walked through such thick snow on the way to exile, so what was there to be afraid of?
Sui Wen'an said nothing more upon seeing this. He would feel at ease the sooner he could leave.
"Okay, then everyone should prepare during this time. Auntie, make some bean cakes for the journey and prepare a few more bundles of hay..."
Aunt Chun interrupted him and said, "We are familiar with this and have experience. You don't need to explain it to us."
Sui Wen'an lowered his head in shame, barely managing to pull the corners of his mouth to hide his embarrassment, and continued dryly, "Cousins, go outside and find some strong branches to make a few bows and carve more wooden arrows. Once we enter the desert, we'll have to rely on hunting for food."
Sui Huaiquan nodded.
Tong Huaer seemed to be lost in thought. She glanced at the others and said, "I have to go back. I won't be coming here again."
Aunt Chun saw her out and whispered to her about the child she had given birth to. When she learned that she didn't plan to take the child away, she sighed and said, "Well, it's better to live with that old man than to wander around with us. At least he won't be hungry or cold."
Tong Huaer said nothing and didn't want to talk about anything. She gathered her clothes and left.
The New Year atmosphere was getting stronger in the city. Farmers outside the city were pushing carts and carrying loads, leading goats, driving thin pigs, or carrying chickens and ducks to sell poultry in the city. Tong Huaer was mixed in with them. She was in a trance for a moment, but when she entered the city and saw the workers building the road, she suddenly came to her senses.
As dusk fell, Tong Huaer hurried back to Juntun. Passing Shisantun, she subconsciously glanced into the alleyway. Sui Yu had already moved out, and a new owner had moved in. A few more steps brought her to another alleyway. The house where Sui Ling had once lived had also long since been occupied.
A couple came out of the door. The man stared at Tong Hua for a few more seconds, and the woman cursed at him. She glared at Tong Hua and spat in disgust.
"Come on, come on, what are you doing swaying your hips outside my house?"
Tong Huaer looked at where she was standing. She was standing on the main road. Who was she getting in the way of? But she didn't argue. She was going to leave, too, to leave this dirty place.
"Mom." A Shui ran out wearing a red dress. She shyly tugged at the hem of her skirt and looked over with anticipation.
"It's really beautiful." Tong Huaer smiled. She walked over, took Ah Shui's hand, and asked, "Why did you run out? Where's your dad?"
"Dad is cooking, Ah Shui is looking for Mom." Ah Shui jumped up and down, pointing at the cat on the hem of her skirt. It was a rough outline of a cat drawn by Tong Huaer with black lines. She liked it very much and named it Maoguan.
"Sister Yu said it looks good," she boasted.
Tong Huaer didn't want to listen anymore, so she asked, "What did you eat for lunch?"
"Meat, lots of meat."
The mother and daughter walked into the house, and as the door closed, only a trail of footprints was left in the snow.
It was the twelfth lunar month, and the Chinese New Year was just around the corner. This year, Zhao Xiping didn't want to leave home, so he went back alone before the New Year, planning to invite his parents, brothers, and sisters-in-law to Dunhuang to celebrate the New Year. If his family members didn't want to come, he would stay home for a few days to show filial piety and return before New Year's Eve.
Zhao Xiaomi did not go back with them. She and Sui Yu were still doing business in the shop. The delivery business was good on snowy days. The aunt and sister-in-law took Sui Liang to work in the shop every day, leaving early and returning late, and they were busy as hell.
With the Xiongnu defeated and the Wusun pacified, the Han Dynasty's prestige spread far and wide. This winter, more Hu merchants entered the Great Wall than in previous years. Upon learning that the northwest was stable, Han merchants within the Great Wall braved the freezing cold and rushed to Dunhuang, bringing their goods and settling there before the heavy snow fell.
The alleys that used to be deserted in winter were bustling with people this year. Both Hu and Han merchants even set up stalls in the rented houses to do business.
Sui Yu went shopping a few times and bought two pieces of fox fur to make three scarves, one for Zhao Xiaomi and one for Sui Liang. The three of them agreed to wear them during the Lunar New Year. He also bought a few bags of beans from a fox merchant, planning to sow them on the ridges in the spring after the Lunar New Year.
Zhao Xiping entered the city at noon on the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month. There was no one at home, so he rode his camel directly to the shop.
"Hey, Captain Zhao is here." The old bald man met him and said politely, "I haven't seen you for a while. I heard from Sui Yu that you went back to your hometown? It must have been a hard journey. It was quite cold."
"Fortunately, this year is warmer than previous years, so it's not too cold on the road." Zhao Xiping said casually.
"It only snowed once this year. I don't know if it will snow again after the New Year. If it doesn't snow, it will be dry again next year." The old bald man looked at the sky and said, "I won't bother you anymore. I'm going back."
Zhao Xiping walked into the shop. It was a nice day today, and many diners who came to eat brought benches and sat in the yard to eat. Some people did not leave even after they were full, but sat against the wall and chatted. These merchants exchanged information on the trade routes or talked about the customs of a certain place.
Sui Yu handed him a bowl of flatbread and asked, "Didn't your parents and brother and sister-in-law come?"
"I don't like the cold on the road." Zhao Xiping found an empty seat and asked, "When will the shop close this year?"
"I'll close it when you come back." Sui Yu leaned out and shouted, "Everyone, the shop will be closed tomorrow and will reopen on the eighth day of the New Year. I need to let everyone know so that you don't run out of stock."
"Think of some new food after the New Year. We don't like watery food. It doesn't fill us up." Hu Shang offered his suggestion in awkward Chinese.
Sui Yu smiled and said, "Okay, I'll go back and think about it."
After finishing their evening business and delivering all the orders, Sui Yu and his family closed the shop and went home.
The next two days were spent preparing for the New Year. Zhao Xiping got promoted and Sui Yu made money. This New Year, Sui Yu bought and fried meat. He didn't make vegetarian buns, but steamed two baskets of buns with pure meat filling.
On New Year's Eve, the whole family washes their hair and takes a bath, puts on new clothes, and prepares early for the bonfire Nuo dance in the evening.
Tong Huaer also dressed Ah Shui in new clothes: a red padded jacket, a skirt lined with reed fluff, and thick trousers, also quilted with reed fluff. The outfit made the little girl look festive, beautiful, and warm. Tong Hua also braided two small braids for her hair and tied a red string at the end.
"It's really beautiful." She held Ah Shui and looked at him with a smile in her eyes.
Ah Shui giggled shyly.
Uncle Niu stood in the yard and watched. When Ah Shui ran out, he walked to the door and said, "Can't you not leave?"
"I have to leave. I can't live without you." Tong Huaer said softly. Listening to A Shui's laughter, she knelt down and bowed to Uncle Niu.
"What are you doing?" Uncle Niu said in a gruff voice, his face fierce, "I can't stop you, and I won't stop you. Wait until I take Ah Shui out tonight and you can leave."
"Thank you for not mistreating Ah Shui. I'll entrust her to you from now on." Tong Huaer stood up and said, "She's still young. She won't remember me in a year or two. Don't mention me to her. If she asks, just say I'm dead."
Uncle Niu let out a long sigh and walked out.
The sun moved slowly, and at dusk, the aroma of meat came out of the chimneys of every household. Uncle Niu also bought a piece of meat. He didn't eat much, and Tong Huaer didn't eat much either. They both watched Ah Shui eat the meat with big mouthfuls.
It was getting dark, and Uncle Niu took out a torch and led Ah Shui out. Ah Shui looked back and saw that her mother seemed to be about to cry. She threw away the torch and said, "I want to stay home."
Uncle Niu picked up the torch, picked up Ah Shui with his arm without a palm, and coaxed him, "We'll go first. Your mother will come find us after she finishes washing the dishes."
"Go quickly." Tong Huaer said.
Uncle Lao Niu carried Ah Shui away, and the yard fell into silence. Tong Huaer washed the dishes. Before going out, she pulled out a finger-thick wooden stick from under the firewood pile and stuffed it into her sleeve. The ends of the stick were sharpened.
When the drums sounded and everyone was swarming around the fire, Sui Ling quietly opened the back door and slipped out. Tong Huaer's heart was at ease. She led Sui Ling through the empty alleys towards the west gate with a sweat on her face.
Flames shot over the high walls, illuminating half the roof. Joyful laughter rang out in the cold night. Sui Ling, itching to peek inside, hadn't left the house in over two years. Every day, she sat alone in a deserted room, feeling a sense of longing for the usual bustle and bustle. She secretly resented her eldest brother for being so generous, so foolish as not to acknowledge military merit. If she had a family she could rely on, she wouldn't have to endure the bullying of those mean people in the backyard.
"Where is my eldest brother injured? Can he still go to the battlefield?" Sui Ling asked.
The towering city walls were already shrouded in shadow. Tong Huaer's hands were shaking with nervousness. She clenched her hands and said in a steady voice, "His face is injured, so it's inconvenient for him to see people, but it won't affect his walking. As for going to the battlefield, it depends on whether he's willing."
Sui Ling frowned.
There was a loud "boom" in the city. The people dancing the Nuo dance raised their torches and ran out. The dense drum beats seemed to encourage people, each sound set their hearts racing and urged them to run.
Tong Huaer pulled Sui Ling and ran, shouting, "Hurry up, don't waste time."
Sui Ling grabbed the wolfskin on her shoulders and started walking. After leaving the city, she saw a burning fire pit in the distance, but Tong Huaer pulled her in another direction.
The further they ran, the darker it got. Sui Ling realized what was happening and started to feel scared. She broke free from Tong Huaer's hand and asked, "Were you really sent by my eldest brother?"
"I'm Tong Hua'er." Tong Hua'er grabbed Sui Ling's arm and said, "You saw me in the military settlement. I'm your cousin's wife. Have you forgotten?"
Sui Ling remembered. She slapped the hand on her arm away in disgust and yelled, "Don't touch me, you're hurting me."
It was too late. Tong Huaer tore off the wolf skin and threw it on the ground. She strangled Sui Ling's neck with one hand and pulled out the wooden arrow from her sleeve with the other hand and inserted it into her subordinate's delicate neck.
Sui Ling screamed in panic. The pain in her neck made her struggle hard. The two of them wrestled with each other. Tong Huaer covered Sui Ling's mouth and nose frantically.
"Don't kill me." Sui Ling cried and begged for mercy, her voice unclear.
Tong Huaer laughed. She held the wooden arrow and thrust it into her flesh, her voice hoarse, "Isn't it unlucky to die on New Year's Eve?"
"Don't kill me, cousin..." Sui Ling was desperate. She tried to beg for mercy: "My eldest brother saved you..."
Tong Huaer said nothing more, and the wooden arrow penetrated another half inch into the flesh. Hearing Sui Ling's breathing weaken, she stood up to prevent the blood from staining her clothes.
In the distance, an endless stream of people ran out of the city gate, cheering as they ran towards the Chuhui Pit.
Sui Ling's eyes became dull. She remembered what happened with Tong Huaer. In the brothel, it was she who wanted to open the door. When leaving the brothel, it was she who wanted to drag Sui Yu back to that dirty place. However, somehow, she appeared in the military settlement again.
"It's really unlucky to die on New Year's Eve." Tong Huaer said again.
Sui Ling remembered that one day, she saw Tong Huaer passing by the Qian family's door, and she seemed to have cursed her for bad luck.
Thinking of this, she held on to her last breath and spat maliciously: "You unlucky thing, you will be dirty until you die."
Tong Huaer rushed over and kicked her, "You are unlucky, you are unlucky, you died on New Year's Eve, your death is an unlucky thing!"
Sui Ling had died. Her eyes were open, staring blankly into the darkness.
Tong Huaer gasped a few times, pulled out the silver hairpin on Sui Ling's head, took off the jewelry on her hands, and dragged her away.
There are many earth pits outside the city. Tong Huaer had visited them before. She chose a pit for burning fire and widened it. She lay down in it yesterday and it was big enough for one person.
The person was buried in the pit. Tong Hua looked towards the city gate and saw someone still staying by the fire pit where the flames were rising. She returned in the dark, picked up the fallen wolf skin and put it on her body, then walked leisurely towards Lijiatun.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, just after dawn, Sui Wen'an checked out of his room. He led the remaining members of the Sui family out of Lijiatun, left Dunhuang and headed west.
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