49 Chapter 49
◎Mu Yun hasn't come back yet◎
The following days were spent in the novelty of what to eat.
A month passed, snow had fallen, and Mu Yun still hadn't returned.
"Nothing's going to happen, is it?"
Outside the house, the north wind began to pick up, and snowflakes began to fall from the sky. Everyone was sitting by the fire in the hall. In order to see the distance more conveniently, Yu sat in the hall sewing clothes, looking into the distance from time to time, regardless of the wind blowing in. She opened the door a crack.
They've been like this lately.
Staring into the distance, hoping to see someone.
Cheng Mu could no longer sit and wait, so she wrote a letter at the table, asking County Magistrate Huang about something.
Xiaoliu was on the other side of the table, reciting formulas while dialing the abacus. She had become very skilled at it. The abacus was her best toy. After playing with it for a year or two, she could now type blindly.
Xiao Qi moved to Cheng Mu's side and watched her write.
Cheng Mu seemed to have sensed something. She turned around and saw Xiao Qi staring at the words on the paper with round eyes, very seriously. She teased, "Xiao Qi, do you recognize it?"
She couldn't help but laugh and call Yu to look. "He looks very clear-headed, as if he really knows what I'm writing."
"Our Seventh Young Master will be the master in the future."
He understands everything you say to him, but for some reason he still doesn't speak at the age of four.
Someone in the village gossiped to Yu, asking if she was a mute, but she didn't believe it.
Would someone like Madam Cheng give birth to a mute?
The snow was falling heavily outside the door, and the sound of horse hooves could be heard in the distance.
Yu and Cheng Mu both stood up to open the door, and Gui'er stopped dozing off.
The horseman came towards them, and when he got closer, he dismounted and ran to them in two or three steps, "Madam Cheng."
The visitor looked unfamiliar, but he recognized her and introduced himself as someone from the Shangguan Horse Racing Field.
Mu Yun and the others were on the road together. Cheng Mu looked out into the distance and asked, "Have all the horses escorting the grain arrived?"
"I was entrusted by Master Mu Yun to bring back a letter from home." He took out a letter and handed it to Cheng Mu. Cheng Mu took the letter without rushing to read it, and asked hurriedly, "He didn't come back?"
"After arriving at the Dingyi Warehouse, we happened to encounter soldiers from the front line transporting grain. Master Mu Yun and his men were escorting the grain and horses back to the capital."
"He went to the battlefield?" Cheng Mu gasped. "Did he choose to go there on his own?"
The visitor was stunned for a moment, then replied, "Perhaps. No one forced me."
"Did he bring back anything else?"
Anxious to know Mu Yun's news, Cheng Mu stood outside, her shoulders covered in snow. Only then did she come to her senses. "It's snowing heavily outside. Please take off the bag around your waist and sit down in the house. Have a cup of hot tea and we'll talk. Gui'er, take the horse to the shed to feed it some hay."
"No, just one word," the man declined, gripping the reins tightly and planning to leave. "Master Mu Yun told my sister-in-law not to worry about my safety."
After finding out why Mu Yun hadn't come back for so long, the whole family was heartbroken.
He is so brave and courageous that he dares to deliver food to the front battlefield. He tells people not to worry, but how can they not worry?
After sending the messenger away, the family closed the door and sat together. Cheng Mu read the letter carefully.
Mu Yun said in the letter that he heard from the soldiers that the commander of a team on the front line was named Lin Hong, who used to be a captain of the police. He was very likely his martial arts master, and he wanted to go and see him in person.
Ever since Xu Rong started the rebellion in Yanyun City a few years ago, Captain Lin's whereabouts have been unknown. When they left Puyang City, they went to the house to look for him several times and also asked at the government office, but no one knew Captain Lin's whereabouts.
Later, every time Mu Yun went to Puyang City, he would go to the house where he used to live in Baoqing Hutong and knock on the door, but he never found anyone.
Also missing is his literary teacher, Li Xiucai, who went out to study and no news has been received from him.
"Captain Lin has joined the army?"
Cheng Mu looked at Yu, who lowered her head and pulled the string without looking at her, just listening with her ears.
"Aunt Yu, have you ever heard that he wants to join the army?"
"I've never heard Sister Jiang say that."
Gui'er was a little confused. "He went to the battlefield just to see Captain Lin? Captain Lin was fighting a good battle, why would he go to see him? How could he see him? Is he going to the battlefield?"
Is it because every time I tell him to visit Captain Lin, he always comes up empty-handed, and this kid has become obsessed?
Fortunately, she hired a few bodyguards to follow her, so Cheng Mu could only find some comfort from this.
Yu sighed, "Mu Yun is such a sincere child. When he heard about his master, he insisted on going to see him in person. The journey is long, and it will take him more than a month to return. It was already the twelfth lunar month when he returned."
The messenger said they were on their way to Dingyi Cang and had encountered no danger, though it had taken some effort to clear the road, as heavy snow had blocked the path.
There will be a lot of snow in the future, so if we give him more time, he should be able to come back before the New Year.
"Little Daddy."
Um?
Xiao Qi grabbed Cheng Mu's hand holding the letter and said, "Mom, Dad, Mu Yun."
He looked like he wanted to read the letter. What?
Cheng Xi was a step slower to react, "Was it Xiao Qi who spoke just now?"
Xiaoliu swung his legs on the bench: "Mom, it was Xiaoqi who spoke. I heard it too."
Yu's eyes were red. "Madam Cheng, the Seventh Young Master has spoken."
Cheng Mu hugged Xiao Qi and rubbed her in her arms, "Xiao Qi, are you speaking? Are you talking?"
Gui'er clapped her hands and called out to him, "Xiao Qi, call me auntie. Come on, call me auntie, and I'll take you flying!"
Xiaoliu opened his arms and rushed out, "Auntie, I want to fly!"
Gui'er threw Xiaoliu up and Xiaoliu giggled.
Yu was crying, Cheng Mu was laughing, and Xiao Qi was shouting "I want to fly" and "I want to fly", and the hall was in an uproar.
Xiao Qi's joy at finally speaking overwhelmed Mu Yun's sadness that he couldn't return as scheduled.
Xiaoqi started speaking two years later than Xiaoliu, and his speech was very unusual when he started.
Yu repeatedly exclaimed, "Your Excellency is so slow to speak." This was because he could speak fluently, and he could pick up any line from the Thousand Character Classic and recognize and pronounce any word he pointed to.
Mrs. Yu sighed, "No wonder he grabbed a book during the "Zhuazhou" ceremony. He can recite it the moment he opens his mouth. He was born with a talent for reading! Our Seventh Young Master will definitely be able to pass the examinations for the scholar or juren degree. He might even be better than County Magistrate Huang and become a high-ranking official!"
The most powerful person Yu knew was County Magistrate Huang, who was a legitimate Jinshi.
Yu: "Madam Cheng, you are blessed to have children and grandchildren!"
"Yes, maybe I can even earn a royal title for myself."
Yu's dream grew bigger and bigger, and Cheng Mu had no choice but to pour cold water on her. "There's not a single scholar in this area within a hundred miles, and few can even read. We ask Mu Yun to write winter couplets. Who will teach Xiao Qi for the exam?"
Yu was worried: "Yes, there is not even a bookstore in the town, so I can't buy books. Mu Yun's teacher is nowhere to be found. Do we have to go back to Puyang City to attend a private school? Or should we go to Yanyun City?"
Yu was very determined, "Madam Cheng, no matter what, Xiao Qi cannot be buried."
Cheng Mu said, "The world is in chaos right now. Xiao Qi is still young. Don't think too much about it. Let's give him enlightenment first."
"Yes, we are at war, and we cannot allow the world to be in chaos."
If you want Xiaoqi to take the imperial examination, you can plan it first.
I only have a copy of Thousand Character Classic on hand, so I need to find a few other books.
Well, you can ask County Magistrate Huang for help.
During the winter month, Zhao Afu and his brothers came here specially.
Although Mr. Zhao didn't come this time, his eldest son came with him.
All the families who had land by the Santou River for Cheng Mu to farm came.
"It's been three years, and it's time to return it to everyone. When spring comes, each family can plant their own crops."
Cheng Mu was very easy to talk to and returned the 60 acres of land when the lease matured.
After the rice harvest this year, Cheng Mu had people plow all the chopped straw into the fields and reminded the villagers that straw must not be burned on fertile land, as wood ash would aggravate the salinity problem in the land. Mr. Zhao Baye specially asked everyone to come and thank her, and this time every family came with gifts.
Zhao Afu: "Madam Cheng, we will grow rice ourselves in the future. Can you give us some advice on what we need to pay attention to?"
"First, don't be afraid of trouble. Transplanting is better than broadcasting. Older seedlings are more resistant to salt and alkali. Second, irrigate appropriately. Water deeper during the seedling stage, shallower during leafing, and deeper again during ear formation. Change the water frequently to keep it flowing. Add water during the day and drain at night."
If she hadn't said these subtle differences, no one would have noticed. Since she had already returned the land, she could have kept it to herself. But she still told everyone without holding anything back. Zhao Afu turned over and bowed, "Madam Cheng, accept this gift."
"How dare I." How could Cheng Mu bear it? These people were one or two generations older than her.
Zhao Afu: "This is just a token of our respect for each other. Madam Cheng's coming here is a heaven-sent opportunity. It is truly a blessing."
"I simply wanted to practice the skills taught by my parents-in-law and my master. I'm grateful for your help and for becoming acquainted with you. If you need me in the future, please let me know."
Several families were overjoyed.
I couldn't help but feel very fortunate that I didn't lose control and bring bad luck last year. With Madam Cheng's help in the future, I don't have to worry about the harvest in the fields anymore.
In the twelfth month, news came that the Yanbei army had invaded the capital.
"I wonder how Mu Yun is doing."
Whether he has seen Captain Lin and whether he has returned safely, it should be time.
Cheng Mi and the others began to look forward to it day by day.
"Xiao Qi, Xiao Qi, don't be greedy. After Laba, it's Chinese New Year. Eat Laba porridge for a few days, and it's the 23rd..."
Xiaoliu helped Yu pick beans and amused Xiaoqi.
She picked up a handful of red beans and ran to Cheng Mu, "Mom, red beans can ward off evil spirits. Please sew a small lotus leaf to wrap the red beans for our child. Xiaoqi needs to be cured the most."
Xiaoqi caught a cold a few days ago and had a fever, which scared Xiaoliu.
"Okay." Cheng Mu still knows how to sew a purse.
"Mom, Aunt Guier and I are going to the river to get some ice!"
"Go ahead, be careful."
"Aunt Gui'er knows Kung Fu, so I'll learn Kung Fu too. I'm not afraid."
What Xiaoliu called learning kung fu was just following Xiaoqi's moves and Badou's moves. Xiaoliu had a strong body and his skills were pretty good among the other kids of the same age in the village.
Cheng Xi smiled helplessly.
Xiao Qi was still having a stuffy nose and a runny nose, so Cheng Mu said to Yu, "Don't let Xiao Qi eat ice tomorrow."
Yu: "You have to take it. If you take it, you won't get sick for a year. Being sick is very painful. The Seventh Young Master has lost a lot of weight in the past few days. When we offer sacrifices to the gods later, Madam Cheng, please tell the gods to help the Seventh Young Master get better soon."
Yu was still quite superstitious, and Cheng Mu didn't insist. Maybe all mothers were like this, so it was better to believe it.
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