Chapter 62: Grassland 3 Hey, he's on his way to her house. ...
It kept echoing in his mind.
Dulan
Dulan
He suddenly reined in the horse. The black horse pawed its hooves anxiously, and a hint of vulnerability finally revealed between its cold and hard brows.
He had imagined the scene of their reunion countless times, but he never thought that the next time he heard from her, she would be the bride of someone else.
The wind blew the coolness of the night into his collar, but he didn't feel cold.
He should have listened to her, listened to her three years ago.
Eminem has always disliked disobedient children, how could he have forgotten?
He came after me on his own, so he deserved to face such loneliness.
He was a good boy, and he shouldn't have messed up her life and her choices.
Is it right?
He now stood on the land of Loufan, like a child who had done something wrong.
Would she blame him for coming without telling her?
Would he make it difficult for her?
The wind blew sand particles into his face, stinging him. Chen Jinshi seemed oblivious, staring down at the black horse's mane. The mane, ruffled by the wind, perfectly reflected his current state of mind.
Seeing him stop where he was, the attendant hurried forward and asked, "Sir, are you feeling unwell?"
Chen Jinshi came back to his senses, raised his hand and rubbed his brow, his voice returning to its usual cold and stern tone: "Nothing, back to the government office."
The attendant followed him forward, but suddenly heard him ask, "Where is the Dalan tribe?"
The attendant was stunned when he heard this, then bowed and replied, "Sir, the Dalan tribe is far away in the heart of Loufan, and it takes a day's journey on a fast horse."
Chen Jinshi tightened his grip on the reins. The black horse seemed to sense its master's anxiety and hesitation, and pawed its hooves nervously twice.
The attendant continued, "Sir, before reaching the Dalan tribe, you must first pass through the Black Wind Pass. The locals say the gravel there is as sharp as knives, and after passing through the pass, you'll have to circumvent a stretch of sand dunes. Coming from the capital, you might not know that during the day, the sand dunes shift with the sun, and you could easily stray if you're not careful. Wolves also often stalk the area at night. If you go, you'll need to bring more soldiers with you."
"Um."
It was just dawn and the wind on the grassland still carried the coolness of the night. Dulan lifted the felt curtain, put on warm felt boots, and walked out on the dew-covered grass.
I walked to the sheep pen and untied the fence. The sheep came out bleating and stepped on the grass to go to the distant slope.
She held a bamboo basket in her hand and bent down to pick up the sheep dung on the ground.
This is the best fuel. After being dried, it burns without smoke and has the scent of grass and wood.
When he returned to the yurt, Sukhe had already lit a fire.
The copper kettle gurgled on the earthen stove, and the burnt aroma of brick tea mixed with the smell of milk wafted out.
Dulan put down the bamboo basket, scooped out half a bowl of fried rice from the grain bag, poured it into the cooked milk tea, and took a piece of milk tofu, cut it into cubes with a knife and placed it on the wooden plate.
These are just the ordinary lives of their family day after day.
After dinner, she moved a small wooden stool and sat at the door of the yurt, holding a ball of wool and knitting needles in her hands.
This is the wool I sheared last fall. After being washed, dried, and twisted, I will now weave it into a thick wool blanket and take it to the yurt in my new home.
The sunlight slowly rose higher and fell on her hands. The wool thread shuttled through her fingertips. Occasionally, the wind blew, and she felt very happy and satisfied as she was wearing a thick scarf made of yak wool.
Mu Ren said that Xie Qingyue had not come in the past few days because the new governor had arrived and there was a lot of work in the yamen, so he might want to discuss some official business.
Du Lan didn't think there was anything wrong. Xie Qingyue usually didn't stay at her house for long.
I can only spare two or three days a month to stay at her house.
Su He chuckled and said, "I wonder what kind of person the new governor is."
Muren said, "When General Xie arrives, you can just ask him."
Life in the tribe goes on as usual. The Dalan tribe is a small tribe. Suhe is the leader, but he does not manage many people.
It was not until the early morning of a few days later, when Dulan had just driven the flock of sheep to the slope, that he saw two men in official uniforms coming to the tribe entrance, riding horses and holding a red document in their hands.
Suhe had already rushed over after hearing the news, and some curious tribesmen soon gathered outside the yurt.
"Chief Suhe, I'm here by order of the Governor-General to inform you that the government has established trade markets with several major tribes. Tribes can exchange cattle, sheep, and furs for salt, grain, and ironware. Our court will send special personnel to maintain order."
The two officers explained some matters and rode their horses to the next tribe.
Su He took the document and his brows gradually relaxed: "This is a good thing."
Someone rubbed his hands and muttered, "This is very convenient. My sickle has been blunt for a long time. I can exchange it for it when I take it to the Taichiwu tribe someday."
Du Lan stood on the slope, watching the people below rejoice, while wondering if there were any more pits waiting for them to jump into, and shook the whip in his hand gently.
She felt a strange feeling in her heart. This new policy was similar to the one she had boldly proposed to the prince three years ago.
A few days later, Muren returned from the Taichiwu tribe with a smile on his face, holding a new saddle and knife in his hands.
As soon as he saw Du Lan, he couldn't help telling her about the bustle in the market.
"There was even a Han Chinese doctor's tent set up in the market, with a long queue. But I don't trust Han Chinese doctors, so I didn't go."
Tuya was braiding Qiqige's hair when she heard this and said with a smile, "You're afraid of losing your job, right?"
Muren snorted, "Our family can survive just by raising cattle and sheep. No one will come to me for medical treatment in the future, so I'm happy to have some free time."
He held up the newly bought item and sighed, "But the ironware made by the Han people is really good."
Du Lan listened to the two people talking and laughing, and she also started to laugh.
"Have any Han Chinese doctors arrived in the Taichiwu tribe?"
Muren nodded. "Yes, there are herbs hanging outside the tent, and someone is holding a small notebook to write things down. They say they can provide free medical treatment and herbal medicine."
As he spoke, Su He came back from outside, holding a cloth bag in his hand, and he was also in high spirits.
"Hey! You know what, this new governor is quite something!"
Du Lan stared: "Dad, have you seen him?"
Su He nodded, put the cloth bag on the low table, untied the knot, and revealed two packages wrapped in oil paper inside.
"They were given by the governor's office. This packet contains wheat seeds. They say they're good for the winter and can be grown on our land in Loufan. They even taught us how to plow the land and apply fertilizer. The other packet contains powdered medicine to treat cattle and sheep diseases."
Du Lan leaned over and picked up the farming book, which felt both strange and familiar.
Muren snorted again, "How could the Han people know more about treating cattle and sheep diseases than we do? They're just offering us some worthless benefits and expecting us to be grateful."
Su He's opinion changed a little: "At least now we are all getting benefits. Okay, I have to distribute these seeds to the people in the tribe."
Du Lan touched the drawing of a plowed field in the booklet with her fingertips. Next to it was a note saying "plow three inches deep and leave enough space between rows." It even clearly stated how to distinguish good and bad soil. The strange feeling in her heart surged up again.
Somehow, she remembered the flower-growing manual that Chen Jinshi had copied for her.
Tuya took the mutton stewing on the stove and waited for the whole family to come back.
The aroma of mutton spread out, and Dulan helped Tuya arrange the wooden bowls.
"Auntie, what's drawn in this booklet?" Qi Qige came over, pointed at the wheat seed pattern in the booklet with her little hand, her eyes sparkling.
Dulan smiled and held her on her lap. "These are seeds that can grow into wheat. In the fall, I can grind them into flour and make you sweet cookies."
Qi Qi Ge cheered.
After Suhe delivered the seeds, few people in the tribe were interested in them.
After all, Lou Fanren still makes a living by herding.
Su He sat down at the dinner table. Tuya brought him a bowl of mutton. He tutted and looked at Du Lan: "Didn't you just ask me if I saw him? I did!"
Muren asked, "Where did you see it?"
"He's in the Taichiwu tribe today. He looks quite young and handsome, like a pretty boy, probably in his early twenties. He has cold eyes and doesn't smile much. If he didn't look so cold, I would have asked him to come to our house for dinner tonight, hehe."
As he spoke, Su He smiled embarrassedly, stroking his chin.
Muren snorted again, "Who is he? Dad, don't be so self-righteous."
Qiqige held up his chin with his hand, looking forward to it: "I want to see it too... I don't know who is better looking, him or my uncle."
Tuya gently poked Qiqige's forehead and said, "Why do you look exactly like your aunt when she was a child?"
Dulan hurriedly looked up from the mutton bowl and stared. What happened to her when she was a child?
Tuya gave her an embarrassed look.
Muren snorted, "What a nymphomaniac."
Dulan choked on a mouthful of mutton.
Su He lifted Qi Qi Ge onto his lap and held him: "Next time we go to the market, I'll take you with me. I'll let you see who's more handsome, the governor or General Xie."
Qi Qi Ge giggled.
Muren said, "Goodbye, Father. You might as well invite the governor to our house for a meal next time."
Muren's words were obviously meant to laugh at his father's lack of self-awareness. Suhe was very arrogant in the entire Loufan.
There was a burst of laughter in the yurt, and Qi Qi Ge clapped and cheered.
Su He was carried up and glared at his son: "You kid, what will you say if I really invite you!"
Du Lan smiled and gave him an excuse: "The Governor is busy with official duties, so he doesn't have time to come. Stop joking around."
Qi Qi Ge was like a bucket of cold water poured on his head.
It was not until half a month later that Suhe went to the Taichiwu tribe to collect farm tools from the people in the tribe, and happened to meet the governor and his entourage inspecting the market.
Su He was a brave man, so he walked up and said hello.
"Hello, Governor."
Chen Jinshi stopped and his eyes fell on him. How could he not know Su He? From the first time he saw Su He, he had engraved this man's face in his mind.
"Chief Sukh, what's going on?"
Su He rubbed his hands: "Have you eaten?"
"have eaten."
"What are you eating?"
Chen Jinshi raised his lips and smiled: "It's mutton. The mutton in your Loufan is so delicious. I loved eating it when I was in Jinling." The mutton sent by Brother Muren was cooked by Am herself for him.
His hands, tucked into his wide sleeves, were lightly curled up and trembling slightly.
What else could he talk about with his father-in-law?
He didn't dare to be presumptuous, but he was unwilling to give in, so he always kept a distance from the other party.
Unexpectedly, Su He's eyes lit up, and he took the opportunity to take two steps forward. "As long as you like it, my lord! The sheep here are all raised on the wild slopes. The meat is firm and delicious whether roasted or stewed! To be honest, my girl is a good cook. I guarantee you will drink up all the soup from the stewed hand-pulled meat!"
Chen Jinshi's expression changed, and he hurried forward, his eyes locked tightly on his father-in-law. His Adam's apple moved, and he swallowed hard, "Really?"
"Of course!" Su He patted his chest. "Not only is the stewed meat delicious, but the milk tea is also delicious. My home is in the Dalan tribe, not too far from here. My Lord must come with me today and go back to try it."
The attendants around Chen Jinshi were about to stop him, but Chen Jinshi seemed to hesitate for a moment, then smiled and said, "Chief Suhe has invited me so kindly, and I dare not spoil his fun. So, I apologize for bothering you."
Su He didn't expect the governor to actually agree. He grinned, rubbing his hands and said, "That's great!"
As he said that, he slapped him on the back. Chen Jinshi, who also practiced martial arts, was also slapped and staggered.
"Don't be offended, sir. We can ride horses and reach the tribe in half an hour."
The attendant brought a tall black horse to Chen Jinshi and was about to send a few soldiers to follow, but was stopped by Chen Jinshi.
While Su He was away getting his horse, he had to turn around and tell his men, "If I don't come back at night, don't worry, don't look for me, and don't come looking for me."
The attendant responded and then asked, "What about tomorrow?"
Chen Jinshi couldn't hide the smile on his face: "Even if I haven't been back for a year, don't come to see me."
As he spoke, he had already climbed onto his horse, and his followers were scratching their heads in confusion.
It was not yet dusk, and the two men rode side by side on their horses along the riverbank towards the Dalan tribe.
The spring sun on the riverbank was perfectly warm, scattering across the shimmering water like a handful of gold. The newly thawed water, with the crispness of melted snow, gurgled along. Occasionally, a few small fish would leap from the water, their tails wagging. The splashing water landed on the green grass on the bank, forming tiny dewdrops.
The flocks of sheep in the distance were like rolling white clouds, nibbling the grass slowly. The shepherd girl was cracking her whip, and the pastoral songs with light tunes drifted over with the wind, mixed with the scent of the river, which was particularly cheerful.
Chen Jinshi was riding a horse, and the black horse seemed to be in a good mood as well, jumping with every step.
The slopes were covered in dense, new grass, like a soft green carpet, stretching all the way to the horizon. The distant snow-capped mountains, still covered in remnants of snow, were as white as a hat, and against the backdrop of the green grass and clear water, the colors were as vivid as a freshly painted picture.
It turns out that Loufan is so beautiful and it doesn’t seem lonely at all.
Hey, he's on his way to her house.
The black horse seemed to be enjoying the spring scenery as well. It walked slowly with its hooves on the soft mud by the river, occasionally lowering its head to nibble on the tender grass by the roadside.
Su He kept grinning at him, and Chen Jinshi smiled back at him.
He is the happiest little boy in the world today.
The little boy is about to return to his mother's arms.
Su He just felt that the new governor was very approachable.
Chen Jinshi just felt that his father-in-law was really kind and amiable.
In fact, Su He was thinking about how to bring the governor back to show Mu Ren. With Su He's face, even the governor had to give him some face, so he came as soon as he said.
Su He was calculating in his mind, but he was also busy talking. He pointed to a patch of small yellow flowers in full bloom in the distance and said with a smile, "Look, sir, those are gorse flowers. People on our grassland love to pick them and make milk tea. They have a sweet aroma. When we get home, I'll ask Dulan to make you a pot to try!"
Chen Jinshi smiled shyly and whispered, "Let's not bother the young lady. She has to cook mutton and make milk tea. What if she gets tired?"
Su He looked at him with complicated eyes: "You want to drink what Mu Ren brewed? That's fine too!"
“…”
The two horses continued to move forward. In the distance, Chen Jinshi became increasingly nervous and subconsciously slowed down his horse. Su He didn't notice. He was shouting at the top of his voice to the tribe, "Look who's coming!"
Chen Jinshi's heart was gripped by the shout, and he subconsciously pulled the reins, causing the black horse to snort.
Sukhe's shout, with his unique loudness, was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, instantly breaking the tranquility of the tribe.
Muren came out of the sheep pen, whip still clutched in his hand. He frowned and muttered, "Dad, what are you doing?"
Chen Jinshi was riding on a tall horse. Mu Ren looked up, and the moment their eyes met, Mu Ren was so frightened that he almost fainted.
Su He dismounted and called into the house, "Where's Dulan?"
Muren, pointing to the western hillside, murmured, "He went to herd sheep and hasn't come back yet."
Upon hearing this, Su He slapped his thigh and said, "Hey, why are you herding sheep at this time?"
Her voice was filled with regret that the governor could not eat the mutton cooked by Du Lan himself.
In this family, the lamb made by Dulan is the most tender and delicious.
Muren quickly came to his senses: "I said we should have a simple dinner tonight. Dad, I'll go cook some mutton right away."
Muren’s cooking is pretty good, and Suhe hopes that the governor will want to come again next time after eating it.
Chen Jinshi wanted to look up the hillside, but he was afraid in his heart.
There you can vaguely see patches of green, and when the wind blows, the grass waves up and down.
On the hillside, the grass leaves were rarely warmed by the April sunshine, mixed with the scent of soil and wild flowers.
Du Lan lay on the slope with her arms as a pillow, her eyes following the clouds in the sky.
The cloud was floating very slowly, and her eyes were moving very slowly as well.
A flock of sheep were grazing not far away, and their bleating sounds were carried lightly by the wind. She squinted her eyes and almost fell asleep.
This is her most comfortable moment of the day.
He stopped his horse not far away and walked towards her at a leisurely pace.
Du Lan just lazily lifted her eyelids at first, but was stunned.
She almost suspected that her eyes were dazzled by the sun. She blinked hard and looked again. The man had walked to the top of her head and stopped.
He leaned down, his clothes brushing against the grass leaves, making a very light sound. The familiar breath wrapped in the warmth of the sun suddenly enveloped her.
"Don't you recognize me?"
Chen Jinshi looked at her tense expression and felt as if something was pulling at his heart, but he still had a half-smile on his face.
His voice was deeper than I remembered.
The evening sunlight slid down from the ends of his hair, and she suddenly found that he was thinner than before, with a sharper jawline. Only his eyes still carried the stubbornness of the past.
Just like at this moment, the look in his eyes when he looked at her was domineering, pleading, and aggrieved.
She thought she was really about to forget him.
It was not until I was sure that he was right in front of me that the thoughts that I had deliberately suppressed began to grow wildly like weeds on the grassland.
She bit her lower lip lightly. In fact, if she just stretched out her hand, she could grab his neck and hug him tightly, letting him fall into her arms and let her fall on the grass with him.
But she didn't know what she was thinking about. Maybe she was thinking about the letter she left three years ago, or maybe she was thinking about Xie Qingyue.
In the end, she did nothing and bit her lower lip hard, tasting a faint fishy sweetness and a sour feeling in her heart.
In the end, he just lay there motionless, but his eyes slowly turned red, and a sour feeling flooded up like a tide, from the bottom of his eyes to his heart.
Chen Jinshi looked at her eyes that were trying not to shed tears, and dug his nails deep into her palms. The stinging pain spread up her palms, and only then did he barely suppress the impulse surging in his heart.
He had used up all his impulses by coming here today.
Her departure three years ago was heartless and destined.
Such ruthlessness and fate completely crushed his youthful spirit and knocked him down completely.
He can't do anything now.
The wind blew over again, carrying the grass leaves and brushing against the corners of their clothes, even though they were so close.
Su He stood in front of the yurt, his hands resting on the pergola as he looked up the hillside: "Master Chen, why hasn't he called Du Lan back yet?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw two people on the hillside, one riding a horse and the other leading the horse, walking slowly down the mountain. Behind them followed a flock of sheep, like balls of white fluff.
Lord Chen waved the whip awkwardly, driving the flock of sheep down the mountain. His whip was soft every time, as if he was coaxing the sheep to walk.
"You're finally back!" Su He came forward and said in a bright voice, "Muren has stewed the mutton and is waiting for you!"
Chen Jinshi held the reins, walked to the door, and raised his hand to help her down.
He forgot that she never needed help getting off a horse. As soon as he stretched out his hand, she was standing steadily on the grass, standing in front of him.
Suhe took the reins and led the horse to a place to eat hay.
Dulan lifted the curtain of the yurt, the tassel brushed across her wrist, and she stepped aside to invite the guest in first. She was wearing an indigo robe today and a woolen belt around her waist.
Tuya was already waiting at the door and came forward to greet him, "Governor, please come in and have a seat!"
She tidied up the kang and was stunned for a moment when her eyes fell on Chen Jinshi's face.
He exchanged glances with Dulan.
Su He was right, the boy is really handsome.
Su He shouted from outside: "Dulan, go and drive the sheep into the pen, and then come in quickly to help."
Du Lan responded and turned to walk out. Chen Jinshi followed her gaze until the door curtain fell, hiding her figure. Only then was Su He pulled her back to her senses: "Try some beef jerky first!"
A piece of dark brown dried meat was stuffed into his rough palm. Chen Jinshi was stared at by him, took a big bite, and laughed.
The salty and fragrant taste is mixed with the flavor of cumin. The more you chew it, the more fragrant it becomes, and the taste is solid.
"We Loufan people always carry this with us when we go out to graze. It is much more useful than those sweet and greasy cakes of the Han people!" Su He also grabbed a piece and chewed it with a "crunch" sound, his eyes full of pride.
Chen Jinshi took another bite, and the salty aroma of the beef jerky mixed with the flavor of spices spread on his tongue.
It smells really good.
Tuya came in with a copper kettle and poured milk tea into the porcelain bowl. The hot steam wrapped in the burnt aroma of brick tea wafted over. She pushed the bowl in front of Chen Jinshi and said, "Your Excellency is from the capital. I'm afraid you won't be able to get used to our simple food."
Chen Jinshi hurriedly said: "Sister-in-law, you are so polite. I like it very much."
Tuya smiled and turned to the inner room, shouting, "Qiqige, come out and greet the guests!"
Qi Qi Ge hid half of his body behind the door, secretly looking at the guests with his round eyes, obviously embarrassed.
Su He clapped his hands and laughed, "Wow! That's rare. There are people who make you, Qiqige, feel shy!"
Qi Qige blushed at what Su He said, and walked out from behind the door clutching the corner of her clothes. Tuya grabbed her and brought her to the governor.
"say hello!"
"Hello, aunt... uncle!" She called out crisply, and then quickly hid behind Tuya, leaving only a pair of bright eyes exposed, secretly looking at him.
Tuya grabbed her and beat her hard: "Who do you call uncle? You called me wrong! Call me that again!"
Chen Jinshi's tense brows finally relaxed, and he smiled and waved his hands, saying, "No need, no need. Children don't understand."
Tuya explained: "She is like this. Whenever she sees a handsome man, she calls him uncle. She is used to calling him General Xie and thinks that's what uncle means."
Chen Jinshi's hand holding the tea bowl paused, and his smile suddenly became mixed with a barely perceptible bitterness.
Su He didn't notice his subtle change. He chewed some beef jerky and laughed, "Qingyue is a handsome boy with a steady personality. He has helped the family a lot over the years. I've made the decision. I'll marry Dulan to him in the fall."
Du Lan just happened to lift the curtain and come in. When she heard this, she lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes casting a small shadow under her eyes, and she did not refute.
Chen Jinshi was holding the tea bowl. The scalding hot milk tea burned his palms through the bowl, but he seemed unconscious.
It was Dulan who discovered him first.
She came over, bent down and gently moved the tea bowl in his hand to the table, and said in a soft voice: "Let it cool for a while, and drink it later. It's very hot, so be careful."
He stared at her blankly. She was still his mother...
Chen Jinshi opened his mouth at the right time, his voice hoarse, with a helpless emotion that only Du Lan could understand.
"Yes, General Xie told me about it and invited me to a banquet next month."
Du Lan couldn't help but look back at him, she felt uneasy.
Her marriage to Xie Qingyue was based on the thought that "I will never see Chen Jinshi again in this life."
Letting Chen Jinshi watch her marry someone else was not what she wanted, nor was it what he deserved.
She and Chen Jinshi shouldn't have continued to be together, not because he did anything wrong and needed her punishment.
She frowned slightly, not wanting this outcome, nor should it be.
After all, Chen Jinshi, why did you come?
You'd better not come here for the rest of your life. Now that you are here...
Your reappearance has disrupted everything for me, and I... you know, Eminem never wants to make you sad.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
