97 Chapter 97
◎A general can only die on the battlefield◎
After the Cold Dew Festival, all the seeds that should be planted in the fields have been planted. After Gui'er gave birth, Cheng Mu was mainly busy with greenhouse vegetables in Songzhuang.
Last year’s snowstorm destroyed all the winter vegetables at the nursery. This year we have learned from the lesson and made sufficient preparations.
Not only were the sheds reinforced, but a lot of manpower was also arranged. Whether it was snow removal and rescue at the base or the manpower along the way to deliver goods to Yunzhou City, arrangements were made in advance.
"Mrs. Cheng has a way. We can't think of it no matter how hard we try." Sao Hu has grown stronger this year, and his face has become broader, looking like a farmer.
Xu Xiuying said, "Even if I asked you to take out the seeds and vegetables, you wouldn't be willing to do so."
Cheng Mi's solution was to send winter vegetable seeds to the villages along the way in case they needed help, and for those who helped transport the vegetables for a certain distance, she would directly send them the vegetables when the time came.
Everyone was very happy to work and the deal was quickly finalized.
"Hey, what are you doing catching stupid geese—" Xu Xiuying shouted, "Don't kill any before the New Year. Catch chickens!"
The fox let go of the goose's neck and changed its target.
After a burst of chickens flying and geese crowing, Xu Xiuying took the chicken from Saohu's hand and scolded him, "Don't you know how to watch it! How many goose feathers have you plucked just by catching a chicken?"
Sao Hu snorted in dissatisfaction: "You value those geese more than your eyeballs."
"Of course they are my favorites this year. Have you ever seen such white geese? Do you know how beautiful their feathers are when the snow is thick?"
"When the time comes, you can sleep with the goose in your arms, not me!"
"Who wants to hold you in their arms, with a bag of useless seeds!"
"Xu Xiuying you——"
"Madam Cheng!"
Xu Xiuying greeted Cheng Mu, who had just come out of the greenhouse, with a smile, and turned around to glance at Sao Hu. He was halfway through his words and stopped himself, which made Xu Xiuying laugh.
Cheng Wei asked, "What seeds are you talking about?"
The person who only heard half of the words made Xu Xiuying laugh so hard that she almost fell down.
She was out of breath and couldn't utter a complete sentence. Sao Hu covered it up and said, "We are saying that Madam Cheng's seeds are good and they can all sprout."
Xu Xiuying was laughing so hard that she couldn't even hold the chicken, so Saohu quickly went to chase the chicken.
"Be careful or you might laugh yourself silly." Cheng Mu shook her head.
After autumn, the grass is dry and the land is vast, and the farm looks even bigger. Xu Xiuying is neat and tidy, and everything is cleaned up properly. The livestock pen is also very clean, and the chickens, ducks and geese are all well-fed.
Cheng Mu stayed for dinner. Xu Xiuying chopped the chicken and stewed the potatoes, which were delicious.
Badou has seldom visited Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi recently. Cheng Mu said that she would send him back to Puyang City to study with a teacher in a few days so that Badou could know.
"You really don't want to go play with them?" Xu Xiuying said, "Mom doesn't need your help here. Go play with them for a day tomorrow."
Yadou buried his head in the bowl, his mouth full of food, and mumbled incoherently.
"The seedlings in Room D need to be transplanted... the vegetable garden needs to be tidied..."
Xu Xiuying smiled, "You're going to play, huh?"
Yadou shook his head.
Xu Xiuying said to Cheng Mu, "It's really not that I forced him to work."
Cheng Mu has been here these days, and after spending some time with him, she can see that Badou really loves doing these jobs. Although he doesn't talk much, he is always watching and learning. The seeds have sprouted, and there is light in his eyes.
"It's the same if we let Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi come over to play."
Shortly after the meal, Mu Yun came to pick up Cheng Mu, and Cheng Mu said goodbye to Xu Xiuying.
Xu Xiuying rushed out with her cloak, "Madam Cheng, the dew is heavy and the wind is cold."
Cheng Mu thanked her and she and Mu Yun mounted their horses.
I ran back to Zhaojia Village in the twilight. The bright moon rose from the east, shining like day.
When we reached the village entrance, we reined in our horses and slowed down.
"Muyun, we're going to Puyang City in a few days. Do you want to go back to Yunzhou City?"
"Why go back?" Mu Yun dismounted and led the two horses.
Cheng Mu didn't know whether he knew or not, but in the letter the eldest boss sent her, he mentioned that Mu Yun had reached marriageable age and planned to meet several young ladies.
Mu Yun is old enough to get married. He will be eighteen next year.
The boy who was as weak as a girl is now strong and tough.
"Mom! Little daddy!"
Before we reached the door, Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi came out to greet us.
The atmosphere in Zhaojia Village is different from that in Songzhuang. It is crowded here, with all kinds of noises coming one after another. Cheng Xi has the illusion of working there and returning home after a day's get off work.
She first asked about Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi's day, then asked Yu about the situation at home, and then went to see Guier and Xiaojiuer.
Gui'er was still angry with Cheng Mu because she had to recuperate after giving birth and was recovering from her injuries, so it was inconvenient for her to go out, and Cheng Mu didn't take them with her.
Cheng Mu explained it again, mainly because Xiaoqi's private schooling had been delayed for a year. In the first half of the year, she was in Mongolia and her life was uncertain, so Xiaoqi had no intention of studying. Later, she got into trouble with Badou and became depressed for a while. Later, during the autumn harvest, the child also went to help, so he had no time to study.
Xiaoqi is talented in studying, and Cheng Mu doesn't want to hurt Zhongyong, so she supports him if she can.
If I go to Puyang City now, I can study quietly for at least four or five months until next spring.
Gui'er was unhappy and didn't say anything.
"Just take good care of yourself and take care of your body."
Cheng Mei left the west wing and went straight through the main hall, where she saw Nanny Zhu standing at the back door.
Seeing that she seemed to have something to say, Cheng Mu invited her into the side room.
Nanny Zhu told Gui'er about her worries, "Maybe I'm just worrying too much. I just want to let Madam Cheng know. She knows what's going on."
Cheng Mu thanked her.
Cheng Mu had no knowledge of medicine and could not tell whether Gui'er was ill. She only knew superficially that women should not be sad during the confinement period, as it could easily cause symptoms.
Emotional illness is the most harmful, and even Dr. Chu can't do anything about it.
Gui'er has two worries. One is that Mu Yun does not accept her into the guard team, and the other is that Cheng Mu does not take her to Puyang City.
For the sake of her health, Cheng Mu could not agree to her request.
After Cheng Mu and Xiaoliu washed up, they hugged each other and talked for a while. Xiaoliu was looking forward to going to Puyang City and also to visiting Badou in Songzhuang tomorrow.
As they were talking, they heard two or three loud noises outside. Cheng Mu held down the nosy Xiaoliu and told her to go to sleep quickly.
When he listened again, there was no sound outside. Xiaoliu fell asleep gradually with curiosity.
Cheng Mu was having trouble falling asleep. It was Yu who was being loud, and though she rarely spoke loudly, she could easily guess that Gui'er had angered her.
Thinking of what Nanny Zhu said, how could Cheng Mu sleep?
But she didn't get up to check, she just lay there. She didn't know how long it had been before she fell into a drowsy sleep, but was soon startled awake by a loud scream.
The noise came from the west wing. It was late at night and could be heard more clearly.
Cheng Xi put on her coat and hurried over.
Yu burst into tears and Nanny Zhu lit the lamp.
Gui'er was lying on the edge of the kang, and Jiuniu was still sleeping soundly.
Cheng Mu's eyes moved away from the silk cloth scattered on the ground. This was something prepared for Gui'er's delivery, and tonight it was tied to the wrong place.
“Madam Cheng, Madam Cheng…” Yu burst into tears. “Guier, she must have been possessed by something dirty… How could this be… How could this happen…”
Nanny Zhu rarely spoke, "If it really is infected with evil spirits, we must exorcise it quickly."
Nanny Zhu had never seen such a person before.
"Madam Zhu, please take Jiuniu back to rest first." Cheng Mu indicated that she would stay here.
Nanny Zhu took the baby away, and Yu's crying gradually subsided.
"Madam Cheng, I'm sorry for disturbing your sleep."
"Aunt Yu, please pick up your things."
Yu reacted and rolled up the silk cloth in a mess. She looked around the room but didn't dare to keep it here.
Cheng Mu patted Gui'er, who hadn't moved for a long time, and said, "I can't move you. Why don't you just crawl onto the kang and lie down?"
"Mrs. Cheng, please leave me alone."
Gui'er's voice was a little hoarse.
Her body collapsed, as if the energy that supported her had dissipated.
"Gui'er, do you know what Jin Xiong and the others call you?" Cheng Mu sat beside her, combing her messy hair with her fingers. "They call you General Gui. When someone comes down from the battlefield, they still call you General. What does that mean?"
Gui'er turned her head and looked at her with one eye, "Madam Cheng, do you take my teasing seriously?"
Cheng Xi insisted: "It shows that you are qualified."
Guier smiled bitterly.
"You can underestimate yourself, but do you also underestimate the Golden Bear?" Cheng Mu asked back.
Guier buried her face again.
"A general can only die on the battlefield after a hundred battles, and return home wrapped in his horse's hide." Cheng Mu said, "A general can only die on the battlefield."
Gui'er suddenly burst into tears.
After hiding the things, Yu came back and stood outside the door, not knowing whether to go in or not.
"Madam Cheng, I regret it so much!" Gui'er cried, "I shouldn't have given birth to a child! I regret it! I regret it so much!"
This is her retribution for indulging in the pleasures of men and women!
The children had torn her apart, had ruined her chance, and the men—the sight of them made her sick now.
Gui'er vented all her dissatisfaction and hatred in one go. Yu, standing outside the door, couldn't help but wipe away her tears secretly.
After Guier was tired of crying, she soon fell asleep.
"Madam Cheng, go and rest. I'll keep watch."
Yu arranged the bedding and said with her head down, "Thanks to you tonight."
Cheng Mu stood up and asked, "Did Aunt Yu hear everything we just said?" Seeing her tilt her head, Cheng Mu asked again, "Do you agree?"
"She's still in confinement...Jiuniu is still so young..."
It's not reluctance, it's disagreement. Cheng Mu said solemnly: "Aunt Yu, Gui'er is sick, and this is the only way I can help her. I will treat the problem wherever it is. If you object, I won't insist. After all, you are her mother."
It was late at night and Cheng Mu said no more.
The next morning, she asked Mu Yun to arrange two people to send Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi to Songzhuang.
Mu Yun asked her if she would still care about Guier's affairs.
"Did you hear everything last night?" Cheng Mu sighed. "There's only so much I can do. Aunt Yu is her mother after all."
Mu Yun told her, "Before dawn, Aunt Yu went to the Zhao clan leader's house to ask someone to exorcise the evil spirit. Aunt Zhu is too nosy."
Nanny Zhu was so frightened when she said that that Yu heard it.
Originally, Cheng Mu planned to pack her things for the trip to Puyang City at home today, but when she heard that Yu was going to find someone to exorcise the evil spirits, she immediately changed her plan and went to Songzhuang with Xiaoliu and Xiaoqi.
Xu Xiuying was shocked when she heard about Gui'er's current situation. "Why did it suddenly become like this?"
I don't know how much she envied Gui'er, especially because she could have children. Now comparing, shouldn't she be glad that she can't have children?
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