Chapter 144 The West Wind Overwhelms the East Wind
"I just told Captain Gu that he will take you on patrol this year. After you get familiar with the situation, you will lead the troops out of the city for inspection next year." Captain Hu ordered.
Zhao Xiping obeyed the order and asked one more question: "Which places do you want to inspect?"
"Inside and outside the city, I remember that three years ago, a village outside Dunhuang was massacred by the roaming Huns. The patrols were to prevent this kind of situation," said Captain Hu.
Zhao Xiping understood. That year when the Huns massacred the village, he was sent out to pursue the Huns. He was stabbed in the chest and almost died afterwards.
When Zhao Xiping came out of the Duwei Mansion, it was already dark. He went back to the Qianhu Office and asked the doorman of Qianhu Gu's house to inform him that he would visit him the next morning.
The door of his house was locked, so Zhao Xiping went straight to the guesthouse in the north of the city, jogging all the way. It was already dark when he arrived.
Dinner was being cooked in the kitchen. Mrs. Zhao Da and Mrs. Zhao rolled up their sleeves and helped at the stove. Father Zhao and Mother Zhao were warming themselves by the fire in the warehouse next door. The five children of the Zhao family were lying on the table playing with the treasures that Sui Liang and Zhao Xiaomi had found in the guest house.
Zhao Xiping looked over and asked, "Where are the others?"
"Want to ask about your wife?" Zhao's mother said in a cryptic tone.
Zhao Xiping admitted calmly, "Yes, where is Sui Yu?"
Mother Zhao choked.
"My third aunt went to get the cloth measure. She said she would take my grandparents to the street to buy cloth to make clothes tomorrow." Zhao Dalang said.
Zhao Xiping looked at the two elders. Mother Zhao looked a little uncomfortable. She muttered, "You're in debt, yet you're still spending money lavishly."
"I won't buy it." Zhao Xiping's face fell. "I find that you don't remember any kindness. Didn't Sui Yu buy the clothes you are wearing two years ago? If you don't like her, don't like her, then don't accept her filial piety."
"I say one thing, and you have ten things waiting for me." Mother Zhao was angry. "Am I your mother or is she your mother?"
"So what do you want to do?" Zhao Xiping walked in, grabbed a stool and sat down. "Come on, tell me, what are you up to? Are you looking for trouble? Don't you want to live happily anymore? What's the point of you saying all this? What's your purpose?"
These questions stunned Zhao's mother. She looked at her son in front of her and felt weak in her heart. It was not because she was angry or guilty, but because she found that her son had changed. He was as imposing and powerful as an official, which made her feel weak.
"Don't show off in front of your parents." Mother Zhao shouted with all her might.
Zhao Xiping looked calm. He continued to ask, "What is your purpose in saying all this?"
The children playing nearby quieted down, staring at each other, not daring to speak loudly.
Outside the door, Zhao Ersao listened carefully. Seeing that no one was talking, she quietly walked into the kitchen and said with a bit of gloating, "Our two parents-in-law are going to be embarrassed now."
"Did the third brother go in?" asked Mrs. Zhao.
Mrs. Zhao nodded, put down her shovel, and said, "I'll go check it out again."
"... Sui Yu and I are both very busy. I'm going to lead troops out of the city for an inspection in the next two days. Sui Yu has been burdened with all the family affairs. She's also the one worrying about paying off the debts. Don't give her any trouble. We asked you to come over for the New Year so that you could have a change of pace and see what we've built. We want you to be happy for us, not to gossip about us over trivial matters." Zhao Xiping made it clear, "I bought you cloth to make clothes. If you like it, be happy to accept it. If not, don't let her worry about it. Even if you accept her kindness and then gossip about her behind her back, even if you're my own mother, I can't stand it."
"I just said it. I'm worried about the money." Zhao's mother said stubbornly.
"You're just too nagging. You're my mother, and I'm your son. We're both very close." Zhao Xiping sneered and said bluntly, "You're trying to act like a mother-in-law and find fault with your daughter-in-law..."
Mother Zhao punched him and said, "Get out of here! Is it your turn to teach me a lesson?"
Zhao Xiping stood up and gave his final instructions: "Just eat, drink and walk around here peacefully, and don't cause trouble. If you cause trouble this year, I won't let you come here in the future. I go back to my hometown alone for a few days every year."
Zhao's father and mother believed that he was someone who could do such a thing.
After opening the door, Zhao Xiping glanced towards the kitchen. He quickly walked out of the yard and saw Sui Yu and Zhao Xiaomi standing by the river.
"Aren't you cold? Still standing by the river." He walked over.
Zhao Xiaomi left tactfully.
"Master Zhao gave your parents a lesson?" Sui Yu teased.
Zhao Xiping touched the tip of his nose and said, "Did you hear it too?"
"No, I went in with a measuring tape and saw my second sister-in-law pressed against the door. Then I heard your voice, so I came out." Sui Yu held him tightly, hugged him tightly, and kissed him on tiptoe. "You really saved me a lot of trouble. This is a reward for you."
Zhao Xiping grinned like a donkey. He reached out and rubbed the top of her head, saying, "You knew it was for you even without hearing it?"
"I know. I can imagine that my parents were not satisfied with me from the beginning and have deep prejudices against me." However, Sui Yu did not ask what Zhao's father and mother said. With Zhao Xiping's support, she could not bear the grievance.
Zhao Xiping didn't elaborate, only saying, "If the two elders don't want to enjoy their lives in peace, I won't let them travel around next winter. I'll go back and pay New Year's greetings."
"Is dinner ready?" someone in the guesthouse asked loudly.
Sui Yu turned his head to take a look.
"Let's go inside too. It's cold outside." Zhao Xiping held her hand.
As they were about to enter, they heard running footsteps in the yard. Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping took a step back. Mother Yin came running out and shouted, "Dinner is ready."
Before the merchants came in, Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping hurried in and saw Zhao Dasao and Zhao Ersao carrying porridge out. She smiled and said, "Two sisters-in-law, please help me. I will make you two new clothes when the new year comes."
"I have to work at home." Mrs. Zhao was afraid of her brother-in-law and refused vaguely.
"Thank you, sister-in-law." Mrs. Zhao said with a smile and a warm tone.
The merchants came in, and the three sisters-in-law stopped talking. Sui Yu went into the warehouse to stand for a while, and then went to the kitchen to help.
For dinner, there is porridge, steamed buns, flatbread and braised soup noodles. The prices are still the same as before, and customers can buy whatever they want to eat.
Sui Yu took a basket of vegetable buns and brought them to the warehouse, saying, "Go wash your hands and get your own rice."
Sui Liang cleared the things on the table and told Ah Shui to wash his hands.
"Now Shui has someone to play with," said Sui Yu.
Uncle Niu nodded and said in a low voice, "Don't tell your in-laws about Ah Shui's mother."
"I know, but no one told me."
Uncle Niu glanced at Zhao Xiaomi, and Sui Yu understood. He said, "I'll tell her."
She had just finished half of the bowl of porridge when someone called out from outside. Sui Yu handed the bun in her hand to Zhao Xiping, wiped her mouth and walked out.
"Shopkeeper Yu, we plan to go out of town hunting tomorrow. If we catch a yellow sheep, can you help stew it?" asked the escort.
"You have to pay me for the firewood." Sui Yu thought for a moment and said, "I'll set a price. Pheasants, hares, wild birds, and field mice. We'll help you kill and cook these four things. The furs belong to me, and you'll pay me an additional fifty to one hundred coins, depending on the quantity. If you give me the furs of yellow sheep or wild wolves, I won't charge you and will keep the meat. I'll stew it for you when you want to eat it. If you don't give me the furs, you'll pay me two hundred coins per pot of meat."
"Okay, the price is reasonable." The escort felt it was a good deal and said, "I will leave the city tomorrow."
Living in the guesthouse in the north of the city, there will be no ruffians coming to cause trouble or steal goods, and the escorts don't have to be on guard all the time. They are idle anyway, so they might as well go out of the city for a walk.
When Sui Yu entered the house again, the porridge in the bowl was no longer hot. Zhao Xiping took it out to feed the dog, and then scooped half a bowl of boiling hot porridge from the pot and brought a steamed bun stuffed with sauerkraut and egg.
"I can't finish it." Sui Yu took the bowl and said, "Just break half for me."
As soon as the bun was broken open, the filling leaked out. Zhao Xiping said, "I might as well eat half and give it to you."
Sui Yu didn't say anything and looked disgusted.
Mother Zhao curled her lips, thinking that he only showed off in front of his parents.
After dinner, the family walked back and talked in the cold wind, talking about this year's harvest. Mixed with the chirping of children, it felt quite warm.
I was hot from walking all the way back, so I boiled some water, washed up, and went to bed.
Taking down his restless hand, Sui Yu covered himself tightly with the mattress and said, "Not tonight. Be quiet."
"Why not?" Zhao Xiping reached out and asked, "Are you having your period?"
"It's almost here. My waist isn't feeling well." Sui Yu took his hand and placed it on her lower back, saying, "Rub it for me, be gentle."
Hearing that she was feeling unwell, Zhao Xiping immediately lost interest. He instructed her, "Don't touch cold water these days. If it's inconvenient for you to go out, let Xiaomi and Sui Liang watch over the guesthouse. You can just lie down at home and rest."
Sui Yu laughed out loud.
"What are you laughing at?"
"itch."
Zhao Xiping didn't believe it.
"Well..." He thought about it and decided to talk about it, "Don't feel burdened by the child's matter. There must be a fate between parents and children, and our fate with the child has not yet arrived."
"Is there any conflict between you and your parents?" Sui Yu took the opportunity to ask.
"No, why do you ask such a question?" Zhao Xiping was puzzled.
"I feel like you're emotionally unstable in front of Mom and Dad. You're like a pile of hay, and Mom and Dad are like sparks, easily ignited." Sui Yu leaned over, pinched his chin, and said, "When we have a child, you can't be impatient."
Zhao Xiping felt a little guilty. He reflected silently and said, "That's definitely not possible. I'm not like my parents. My children will definitely not bother me."
Sui Yu made a "tsk" sound.
Zhao Xiping chuckled, propping up one leg and resting his hand on the pillow as he explained, "Ever since I was little, I've wanted to go against my parents. I didn't understand how adults valued face, so I thought they were just faking it, faking their own deaths. They acted reasonable outside of the house, but at home they cursed and beat people, and were unreasonable. I remember one time, a cousin of mine stole eggs from a neighbor's house. When they came to look for him, he said I stole them. The family showed up, but my father didn't believe me and beat me up, and made me pay for two eggs." He snorted angrily. It had been a long time, but he still showed disdain, as if seeking justice. He asked, "Do you think I can convince them?"
"That's not possible." Sui Yu said.
"Yeah, that kind of thing happens a lot." Zhao Xiping changed his sleeping position and said, "It's a good thing I left home early, otherwise I would definitely expose my parents' fake faces."
"A hypocritical mask." Sui Yu corrected.
"Yes, a hypocritical mask." Zhao Xiping laughed.
"I can't figure out what they are thinking. It's quite annoying. They gossip about other people all day long, make fun of others, and are afraid that others will laugh at them." Zhao Xiping concluded. He thought of what his mother said behind Sui Yu's back tonight about her extravagant spending. He asked her what her purpose was in saying that, but she couldn't tell him. She just wanted to satisfy her desire to talk and was used to finding fault with others.
The hand that was rubbing her waist touched her belly, Zhao Xiping patted it and said, "Don't feel burdened. It's a good thing that we don't have children now. We are too busy..."
Sui Yu took his hand away and said firmly, "What burden do I have? I have no burden. I went to see a doctor and there is nothing wrong with my body."
The man was hoarse and couldn't speak for a long time.
Sui Yu laughed muffledly.
"I'm sick?" he asked with difficulty. He found the problem and said, "It must be because I killed too many people."
Sui Yu leaned on him and laughed out loud, "Are you stupid? You still believe that fate has not arrived yet."
As for the reason, Sui Yu probably knew it. She was too nervous. Zhao Xiping was also under a lot of pressure. The family owed debts, and he was more anxious to pay them off than she was.
Zhao Xiping snorted and said, "Go to sleep. Don't mention this anymore. I'll get angry if anyone mentions it."
Sui Yu wanted to laugh again, but Zhao Xiping held her down and kissed her. After they felt the kiss, the couple lay down restlessly and tried to fall asleep.
…
After waking up, the family washed up and went out neatly. Except for the old couple, everyone else ran towards the north of the city.
Brother Zhao (eldest brother) and Brother Zhao (second brother) took Sui Liang and their five children to chop fodder to feed the livestock. Sister-in-law Zhao (eldest sister-in-law) followed Zhao Xiaomi and Sui Yu into the kitchen to knead and roll out the dough. With so many hands on the go, buns, flatbreads, soup noodles and porridge were quickly prepared.
Gan Da, Gan Er and Lao Niu Shu were each responsible for a guesthouse. They boiled water and brought cold water before the merchants got up.
When it was bright, the sound of doors opening one after another could be heard in the guesthouse. The merchants came out stretching lazily, exhaling a puff of white mist. They gathered in front of the boiler room to get hot water for washing.
The escorts who woke up first had been practicing for a while. After the kitchen opened for dinner, they put away their sticks, took their money and walked over.
At this time, Zhao's father and mother also came over, carrying a bundle of firewood. They picked up firewood as they walked, and not only picked up firewood but also manure.
The merchants had all eaten, and the host family and servants also brought their bowls. The unsold porridge and dry food were free for everyone to eat. Seeing the servants and helpers eat so much, Zhao's father and mother grimaced. But they were worried about their thief son's stubbornness, and their daughter-in-law ignored their words. The old couple could say nothing, but could only eat more. The more their family ate, the less they lost.
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