"Is that the carriage from your house?" The soldiers were stunned and turned their heads at the same time to examine the carriage left by the river.
Guo Honglei replied puzzledly, "They look so much like each other. Where are the horses? Where is the driver?" He approached suspiciously, circled the carriage twice, his brows knitted, and tapped the whip on the few old scratches on the shaft. He said firmly, "It's not a similarity. This is my house!"
"Look, sir," the guard suddenly raised his hand and pointed to the shade of trees not far away. "There are horses in the woods, and two men. Judging by their attire, they look like government officials."
Yamen runners? Guo Honglei was filled with doubts and immediately ordered, "Go and find out what's going on."
"Yes!" The two bodyguards took the order and ran towards the shade of the tree.
Guo Honglei looked around: having garrisoned Heqin for so many years, he knew every blade of grass and every tree. He looked across, but the river was so wide, and the morning mist had just lifted, leaving a white haze, that he couldn't clearly see the scenery on the north bank.
While waiting for the boats, people either watered their horses or scooped up water to wash.
Guo Honglei adjusted his sword, scooped up a few handfuls of water, and washed himself absentmindedly. The cool river water quickly relieved his fatigue and made him clear-headed.
A moment later, the personal guard who had been ordered to investigate returned, followed by two officers. They approached with a forced smile, bowed respectfully, and said, "I greet Captain Guo. We last saw each other at the end of February. How have you been?"
"I heard that you have been promoted to a thousand households. Congratulations!"
Guo Honglei realized the other party recognized him and replied politely, "Thank you very much. I'm fine. May I know who you two are...?"
"We are the newly selected yamen runners of the Heqin County Yamen at the beginning of the year. We are ordered to escort Lord Pei, Madam, and Lord Wei to Yongzhou to take up their posts." The two yamen runners spoke one after another, vying with each other to explain the whole story in detail.
After hearing this, Guo Honglei was stunned and in disbelief. He quickly looked towards the other side of the river, "So, they are actually on the other side?"
"Yes." The yamen runner bowed. "We are waiting. We have to wait for our companions to return to Liu Village to get the pass before we can travel to Yongzhou."
Guo Honglei was surprised and delighted, but his face showed no emotion at all. "Quickly prepare the boat!"
The personal guards received the order and were about to go off to do their work when the yamen runners took the opportunity to offer their courtesy, "If you don't mind, why not take our boat?"
"We hired it in advance. The boatman is a good operator and he manages to keep the boat steady."
"All right." The guard understood that the boatman was charging per trip, so he took out a dime of silver, threw it to the yamen runner, and urged, "Hurry up and tell the boatman to start the boat!"
"Oh, yes."
A moment later, Guo Honglei leaped onto the boat and turned to order, "Wait here. I'll personally go to the other side to instruct the garrison. A warship will arrive to pick us up shortly." He glanced at the desperate and distraught 300-plus prisoners and added a warning, "The wind is strong and the water is cold. If you fall into the water in this weather, you'll either freeze to death or get sick. Be careful."
The guards understood, "Subordinates must be careful and pay attention!"
Guo Honglei nodded and waved his hand, "Set sail."
"Yes, yes." First the civil officials, then the military commanders. The boatman and his son, respectfully and respectfully, bustling about, diligently tending the boat, their generous wages in hand.
Meanwhile, North Shore
As the sun rose higher, the morning mist dissipated, the sky became bright, and the wide river surface suddenly became open.
While waiting in vain, Wei Xu sat alone on a rock by the river, wrapped in a dark green cloak, gazing at the endlessly flowing river. He blamed himself and reflected on himself, feeling upset and depressed, like a clay sculpture or wooden statue.
Under the shade of a nearby tree, Jiang Yushu and Cuimei sat side by side, facing Cangjiang sideways, chatting quietly to relieve boredom:
"Five pounds?" Cuimei was surprised. She gestured with her hands and thought to herself: Isn't it just a small ball?
Jiang Yushu nodded, memorizing it by heart. "To be exact, it's five pounds and one ounce! The midwife weighed the baby when he was born. Alas, he's so thin and tiny. Most of the weight in my arms is from the blanket and clothes. The baby himself is very light."
"So, what about now? You must have gained weight. How much do you weigh now?"
Jiang Yushu smiled and replied, "Before I set off, I weighed myself again, and it was almost nine pounds!"
Cuimei thought for a moment and asked cautiously, "You've only gained a little over three pounds in just over a month. Isn't that a bit too slow? Is it because you're not getting enough milk?"
Jiang Yushu shook her head and said cheerfully, "She's not lacking milk. In fact, at over three pounds, she's still growing. I've done some research, and it's normal for babies to gain two to three pounds per month during the first three months. She's really fast, changing almost every day!"
"Oh, the more I listen, the more itchy I feel. I really want to see what the young master looks like with my own eyes." Cuimei was extremely curious.
Jiang Yushu felt extremely guilty and sighed, "I haven't seen him for several days, and I don't know how Ye'er is doing now. Alas, as a mother, I am not competent enough. I left the child at home when he was just one month old. I should have raised him myself, but in my heart, in my heart... Alas, I always feel sorry for the child, and I feel that the child is particularly pitiful. His father is not around, and his mother is not around either."
"How can it be pitiful? How can it be pitiful?" Cuimei hurriedly comforted, "Young Master, please visit your family whenever you have time, and we will go home as soon as we are done with our work. The child will be well cared for not only by the old lady, but also by Nanny Pan and the wet nurse. Don't worry, when you get home, you will see that the little master has gained a few pounds!"
"I hope so."
Jiang Yushu felt sad and spoke with emotion, sighing, "When I didn't have children, I often went out to do things. I would pack my luggage and set off, wholeheartedly busy with official duties. But since I had Ye'er, I can no longer be as free and easy as before. I am worried about the child, fearing that he will be wronged at home."
"Oh, who would dare to let the young master suffer any injustice?" Cuimei tried to comfort him. "Don't worry, don't worry! How could the old lady not love her own grandson? Besides, Madam Pan is loyal and devoted. She will definitely do her best to take care of the child."
Jiang Yushu smiled helplessly, "I understand the truth, but I can't help but let my thoughts wander sometimes. When you have a child, you will understand."
"Hey, why are you talking about me all of a sudden?" Cuimei lowered her head in shame.
Jiang Yushu answered cheerfully, "Because you're married, it's only natural that you'll have children sooner or later."
"No rush." Cuimei lowered her head, playing with the buttons on her clothes, and muttered vaguely: "Brother Rong returned to the camp the day after the wedding... I guess the young master and his family are very busy and haven't had time to visit them yet."
Jiang Yushu knew the feeling of being apart for so long as a couple was together, so she consoled him, "Yongzhou has been recovered. There's no need to fight the enemy. Perhaps after a while of being busy, there will be a lot of free time."
"Yeah." Cuimei nodded and was about to speak, but she heard Wei Xu shouting excitedly by the river:
“They’re back!”
The two men turned their heads when they heard the sound and found a boat in the middle of the river. They hurriedly got up and approached.
Wei Xu stood on the stone, gazing out for a few breaths. His smile gradually faded, and he asked in surprise, "Huh? The boatman looks familiar, but it's not Shitou and the others on the boat. Who is it—"
Cuimei rushed to the riverside and looked out, her eyes wide open. She interrupted with joy: "Look, it's the young master! Why is it him?"
"Strange, why is he on that boat?" Jiang Yushu was delighted but also confused.
Cuimei smiled brightly, climbed up the boulder in a few moves, and waved, calling out, "Young Master!"
As they got closer, Guo Honglei frowned and shouted, "The wind is so strong, be careful not to fall into the river!"
Jiang Yushu was also worried and waved seriously, "Come down, come down quickly. The water is deep, stay away."
"Oh." Cuimei was blown by the wind and looked down at the bottomless river. She was scared and used her hands and feet to leave the boulder.
Wei Xu came to his senses, guessed it, and asked politely, "Who is...?"
"My humble husband." Jiang Yushu's eyes were bright and she walked quickly to greet him.
"He is our young master!" Cuimei said casually and hurriedly chased after him.
Wei Xu nodded in understanding, and with great curiosity, he stepped forward to greet him. Back in the capital, he had heard his father, brothers, teachers, and friends talk about the second son of the Marquis of Jingyang several times, and they all praised him highly. When he learned that the other party was three years younger than him and had become the pillar of the family at the age of seventeen, he was skeptical and thought to himself:
Really? False? Are there really people in this world who are both talented in literature and martial arts, and who constantly strive for self-improvement?
Soon, the boat docked.
Guo Honglei, in his neatly trimmed military uniform, leaped down nimbly, the hems of his robe fluttering, looking heroic.
Jiang Yushu was startled and subconsciously raised her hand, "Be careful! Don't even wait for the boat to stop."
Guo Honglei strode forward with a bright look on his face. He took her hand and said happily, "It really is you! I just saw our carriage on the other side of the river. I thought I was seeing things."
"Why are you here? Are you going to Yongzhou for business?" Jiang Yushu was delighted by the unexpected meeting and smiled widely.
Guo Honglei hugged her and walked towards the garrison fortress. He asked in surprise, "Didn't Lin Qin and the others tell their families?"
"Since returning to the camp at the end of last month, Brother Rong and the others haven't had time to visit their relatives." Cuimei followed and reported.
Guo Honglei nodded suddenly, and briefly explained, "At the end of last month, I was transferred to Yongzhou to garrison Tuningwei. This trip is to pick up a group of new soldiers."
"What?" Cuimei was shocked and asked anxiously, "What about Rong and the others?"
Guo Honglei replied: "Evergreen and the others are still in Heqinwei."
Jiang Yushu stopped and asked in shock, "You, you are not in Heqinwei anymore?"
"Hmm."
Jiang Yushu was caught off guard and instantly felt confused. "I was actually transferred to Yongzhou—Tuning. I've read in the history books that Tuning County is located at the northernmost end of Yongzhou, right?"
"Yes." Guo Honglei knew she was worried and said lightly, "It's just a rotation, it's nothing. After all, I can't stay in Heqinwei forever."
Jiang Yushu was filled with worry, her hands clenched in anxiety as she whispered, "I know about the rotation, but why were you transferred to Tuning? Tuning borders Beijiao, and there must still be enemy troops deep in the grasslands. The border troops must be uneasy. We went through so much trouble to recapture Yongzhou, and my family has been so relieved that you don't have to face the enemy anymore. I never expected you to be transferred to Tuning!"
"This, this is really——"
Guo Honglei felt very uncomfortable when he saw her smile turn into a worried look, but he could not disobey the military order. He whispered to comfort her: "Don't worry, the war just ended not long ago. Both sides need to recuperate. There will be no fighting in the near future."
The next moment, Wei Xu approached, politely bowed, and said, "I have long heard of your great name. Today, I finally get to see Mr. Guo in person. I am very honored."
Jiang Yushu calmed down and was about to introduce him, but Guo Honglei returned the compliment, "Mr. Wei, thank you for the compliment. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you!"
Hearing the two of them addressing each other as "Young Master," Jiang Yushu was startled. "Do you know each other?"
Wei Xu shook his head. "What a shame! My ancestral home is in Linzhou. I only moved to the capital with my father recently. I only had the honor of meeting Mr. Guo today."
"It's fate that brings us together. It's not too late to meet today." Guo Honglei unconsciously held her hand again and led her towards the fort, politely inviting her, "I heard from the yamen runners on the other side that you've been waiting for a long time. The wind is cold by the river. Please follow me to the fort and have a cup of hot tea to warm yourself up."
Wei Xu hesitated and asked, "Is it allowed?"
"Of course." Guo Honglei raised his hand to invite him.
Wei Xu followed, "Thank you."
At this moment, at the gate of Heqin County Yamen
Gong Yipeng's robe was dusty, his face was pale and thin, his cheeks were sunken, and he pulled the reins and said, "Whoa!"
The old horse stopped, snorted and shook his head.
Gong Yipeng jumped off the cart, turned around and said tiredly, "We've arrived at the county government office. Xiaodie, get off."
"Xiaodie? Why are you in a daze again?"
"Oh!" Liao Xiaodie, distraught, shuddered, waking up from a dream. She was bare-faced, wearing a straw hat and a cloth skirt, and looked extremely haggard, her chin becoming even more pointed due to her thinness.
The couple only had one bag. Gong Yipeng carried the bag and supported them, saying, "Come on, get off the car, and go slowly."
"Oh, oh." People were coming and going outside the yamen. Liao Xiaodie was afraid of being laughed at by passers-by, so she lowered her head deeply, wishing she could cover her face, and quickly moved off the shabby cart.
She was in a panic and when she jumped down hastily, the back of her cotton jacket was caught on a wooden splinter, and with a "swish", a big hole was torn.
"Ouch—" Liao Xiaodie exclaimed, turning her head and looking. Her face flushed red, and her eyes were red too. She pulled out a handkerchief to cover her face and cried, "Oh my God, why am I so unlucky? I'm already miserable enough, and now my clothes have been torn. How can I face people?"
Gong Yipeng straightened her skirt and comforted her repeatedly, "Don't cry, don't cry, as long as you're not hurt. You wait here and watch the horse and carriage. I'll go and ask where the Guo family's new house is."
"The old lady is kind and will definitely take us in. We will be able to see Pearl soon, so be happy."
The author has something to say:
Liao Xiaodie: Happy? You are definitely too happy too early.
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