Chapter 141 Learning Martial Arts
"Third sister-in-law, where are we going to stay tonight?" Zhao Xiaomi stood in the open space holding her mattress. The fourth guest house not only had no doors or windows, but also no mud couch, so it was not suitable for sleeping at all.
"Go back to the city to sleep tonight, and leave your third brother here to keep watch." Sui Yu called Gan Da over with the camel and said, "You and Liang Ge'er pack up your things and pull them back now. Let Gan Da accompany you. Have dinner here tonight, and then we'll go back together."
Zhao Xiaomi wailed, "We've only moved here two months ago, and now we have to move back again. What a hassle!"
"That's all we can do. We're short of money right now. To make more money, we have to make do with what we have." Sui Yu consoled him and said, "Let's build the house next year. I'll have the mason build a master courtyard on the vacant land north of the west kitchen. If you find this place interesting, you can live here in the future."
Zhao Xiaomi squatted down listlessly. She picked up a piece of grass and drew a circle on the ground. She said sadly, "My third brother drove me away. My parents will take me back next year. I can't come even if I want to."
Sui Yu remained silent and did not respond. In this dynasty, most women got married at the age of eighteen or nineteen, and some were married earlier. She could let Xiaomi live here forever, but she was afraid of wasting her time.
Zhao Xiaomi waited for a while, and when Sui Yu didn't respond, she sighed, picked up the mattress and went to find a basket to pack her things.
Four camels were tied to baskets, and mattresses and clothes boxes were placed in the baskets. When they were full, Zhao Xiaomi and Sui Liang followed the camels back.
Sui Yu stayed at the guest house and took Gan Er and two female helpers to the third guest house to spread a straw mattress and then put a quilt cover on the mattress they had bought.
The merchants were all sorting their goods in the warehouse, coming in and out, making a lot of noise, and the noise here continued until dark.
It was pitch dark and the evening training on the training ground had ended. The camel, with a full stomach, was already waiting under the tree. As soon as Zhao Xiping approached, it knelt down.
Zhao Xiping rode up and said to his colleagues, "You guys go slowly, I'll go ahead."
"Okay, you go first. You live far away."
Zhao Xiping pulled the reins and the camel started running towards the city. Every day, it made one trip early and one trip late. The camel was already familiar with the road and did not need anyone to command it. It took the familiar route and headed north.
Halfway along the way, Zhao Xiping ran into Zhao Xiaomi, Sui Liang, and Gan Da. He tightened the reins, slowed down, and asked, "It's already pitch black, why are you still running around out there?"
"Moving." Sui Liang explained, "Another caravan arrived at noon, and my sister vacated the third guesthouse, so we moved back to the city."
"This is a big order, and it won't be delivered until February next year," said Zhao Xiaomi.
Zhao Xiping was delighted. This was indeed good news. He smiled and said, "Your sister-in-law will definitely be happy."
The further north we went, the heavier the smell of oil smoke in the wind became. In the dark wilderness, on the river bank reflected in the moonlight, there were tiny spots of light, which were the torches lit in the guesthouse.
Sui Yu led Ah Shui to wait by the roadside. When she heard the sound of hooves approaching, she warned: "Open your eyes wide and don't step on me."
Zhao Xiping jumped off the camel and said jokingly, "Boss Sui, I heard there's another big deal coming."
Sui Yu smiled.
Zhao Xiping strode over and lifted Ah Shui to the middle of the camel's hump, saying, "You two go back first."
After saying this, he blew a whistle, and the camel, which had slowed down, started running again, heading straight for the livestock pen in the east.
Zhao Xiaomi looked back while sitting on the camel and vaguely saw her third sister-in-law being picked up. She felt a little sad and envious, and even developed a yearning to get married.
"You stay here to keep watch tonight." Sui Yu hugged the man's neck, leaned forward and pressed her face against his mouth, and asked with a smile, "Is that okay?"
Zhao Xiping had a question and wanted to speak, but his mouth was blocked by the smooth face and he couldn't speak.
"It seems you have no objection." Sui Yu pressed his neck and nodded firmly, muttering to herself: "Well, you agree."
Zhao Xiping held her thighs with both hands and lifted her up with all his strength. Sui Yu suddenly rose into the air like a fish diving into the water. She stretched out her hands, looked at the night sky, and then looked down at the man lying on his back in the cool night breeze.
"You're really strong," she praised.
"You knew it on the first day?" Zhao Xiping was dissatisfied. He shook the person in his hand and put her down again. He walked back with her in his arms and said, "I can only see you at night, and now you don't even give me that chance."
Sui Yu was amused and felt sweet in her heart.
"It's a pity that Gan Da and Gan Er are too dull. Uncle Lao Niu will probably be back soon. When he comes back, let him stay here." Zhao Xiping looked at the house in the dark. It seemed that the meal was ready. The merchants in the house came out one after another and rushed into the west kitchen.
"I'm not at home. If you go back to live with me, take Mrs. Yin with you," he instructed.
"We want to take Yin Po back with her. She will go back and sleep with A Shui. After we leave, A Shui will definitely not want to stay here." Sui Yu said.
During this period, A Shui slept with Yin Po. Yin Po had given birth to a child, knew how to take care of children, and was patient.
After the guests finished their meal and left the west kitchen, Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping helped to clear the dishes on the table. Then they counted the money collected for the meal today and recorded the account. Then Zhao Xiping sent Sui Yu and others back to the city.
Sui Yu rode away five camels at once, and in less than a cup of tea, he arrived home. Zhao Xiping also followed him in and wanted to sit down in the house like a guest.
Just as he took off his clothes, there was a knock on the door. Sui Yu kicked him and said, "Go out and take a look."
Zhao Xiping took a deep breath, put on his clothes hastily, opened the door and went out. A Shui was standing in the yard, and Mrs. Yin went to open the door.
"Sir, it's Captain Gu's servant." Mrs. Yin came in and said, "Captain Gu heard some noise coming from our side and sent a servant to take a look."
"Go over and thank Captain Gu, then you can leave." Sui Yu came out, gathering her clothes. "I'll take over your shift tomorrow morning."
"Okay." After this interruption, Zhao Xiping lost interest.
He went out to the next door to explain a few things, then took the camel outside the door and quickly left the city to the north.
However, before dawn, a brisk sound of hoofbeats came into the Qianhu residence. Mrs. Yin woke up when she heard the sound. When she heard the knock on the door, she had some guesses in her mind. She tucked in the mattress, got dressed and walked out of the room.
Zhao Xiping heard footsteps approaching and said, "It's me."
Mrs. Yin opened the bolt and the man walked in, shrouded in mist.
"My wife is still sleeping." said Mrs. Yin.
"Um."
Zhao Xiping was prepared. He took out a thin wooden board, inserted it into the crack of the door, pried open the bolt, and slipped in effortlessly.
As the man just walked to the bed, Sui Yu suddenly opened her eyes. The room was still dark at this time. She only saw a figure rushing towards her. She was so startled that she turned over and then was hugged.
"Are you going to die?" Sui Yu hit him hard.
"Did you recognize him?" Zhao Xiping quickly took off his clothes and said, "Sleep a little longer. It's still dark."
What a sleep! The wooden bed creaked until dawn.
The sky was just beginning to turn pale, and the man went out feeling refreshed. Sui Yu turned over weakly, pulled the mattress over his head and dozed off for a while.
When it was daybreak, Sui Yu, Zhao Xiaomi, Sui Liang and Yin Po took A Shui on camels to the guesthouse in the north of the city, and happened to meet a caravan about to leave.
As instructed last night, the dry food has been prepared, including six baskets of steamed buns that are still warm, two jars of braised eggs with brine, and fifty kilograms of dried vegetables. After the merchants have counted and paid, these things are loaded into the baskets on the camels' backs and they take them away to eat on the road.
"Will you come again next year?" Sui Yu walked him a few steps forward.
"I probably won't come next year, but I'll pass through Dunhuang the year after with my merchandise."
"I wish you a safe journey." Sui Yu stopped and said, "Come and stay here next time you pass by."
"Okay, I'll definitely come."
The caravan headed towards the rising sun, the tinkling of camel bells mixed with the clattering of hooves as they moved further and further away.
The two female helpers went to clean the guesthouse and wash the beddings. Zhao Xiaomi and Sui Liang took A Shui to the warehouse excitedly. When merchants dismantled and moved the goods, there were always things that were discarded or left behind, such as a piece of dirty leather, a small bell buried in the soil, or dry medicinal herbs with a strange smell. These were the treasures they were looking for.
"Where is this caravan going?" asked the new merchant who arrived yesterday.
"They are also returning to the Central Plains, but they don't go through Hongchiling. They go from the north road. I don't know the specific route." Sui Yu said, "Have you taken the north road?"
"We walked once and turned back halfway. The mountain road is difficult to walk on, so we didn't dare to go through it." The merchant looked into the distance, went back to the house and called his master, who came out and said, "Let's go into the city for a walk. Boss, please keep a good eye on our camels."
"Okay, I've arranged someone to look after you, don't worry." Sui Yu agreed.
In the afternoon, Zhao Xiping came back on a camel. He waved at Sui Yu and said, "Do you want to go hunting?"
Sui Yu stood up immediately. She asked Sui Liang and Zhao Xiaomi to stay and said, "I'll stew some meat for you guys when I come back from hunting."
Before Zhao Xiping came over, he went home to get a bow and arrow. Sui Yu followed him on the camel. The couple rode the camel westward, bypassing the city and going to the fields where the crops had been harvested. There were not only people picking crops in the fields, but also field mice and rabbits preparing to store food. Winter had not yet come, but the birds and pheasants were already preparing for the winter, eating more to gain weight in autumn.
Riding a camel, he chased the pheasant that flew away. The camel ran fast, and the feather arrows followed closely behind. One arrow missed, but the second one caught up and the pheasant with colorful feathers fell in mid-air.
Sui Yu grinned. She jumped off the camel and ran to pick up the pheasant and the feather arrow that had fallen on the road. She said, "I need to practice archery more. My aim isn't as good as it used to be."
Zhao Xiping looked around and saw that all the wild animals nearby had run away in fright at the noise. He jumped off his camel and walked over, pinching Sui Yu's arm and saying, "You need to practice. You don't have enough strength."
"Your strength before was from kneading and rolling dough every day. How about I pick up the kneading job again?" Sui Yu raised his arms and stared at the man thoughtfully for a few seconds. Then he turned his gaze to the muscular man and said flatteringly, "Master Qianhu, can you teach me a few moves? What do you practice every day in the training grounds?"
Zhao Xiping coughed a few times in a pretentious manner and looked at her meaningfully.
Sui Yu kicked him and urged, "If you have something to say, just say it."
"Leave the door open for me in the morning."
Sui Yu glared at him sideways. She pondered this matter every day. She muttered, "You got in even though the door wasn't left open for you."
The man covered his mouth to clear his cough. He smiled and hugged Sui Yu, saying, "Let's go back to eat. We'll go to another place this afternoon."
"When will you start teaching me?" Sui Yu was still thinking about this.
"Tonight, practice your legs first. I'll run back with you in the evening. If you can hold on, we can talk about other things."
"Running..." Sui Yu nodded, "Alright, I'll do as you say."
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