Night. Guo Family Back Mountain
In a secluded valley amidst the woods, a bonfire burned, sweet potatoes simmering in the coals, a chicken roasting above. Four men sat around, whispering, plotting a drug-fueled robbery and murder against the Guo family.
"Dad, don't let it burn again. Turn it over quickly."
"You bastard, you always order me around!" The middle-aged man scolded as he flipped the chicken expertly, "I didn't see you helping me when I stole the chicken, and you were so lazy standing by while I was roasting it. You're not allowed to eat it later!"
The son, sitting cross-legged without looking up, retorted, "Old man, can't you see I'm busy getting the drugs? Just do your job and stop talking nonsense."
Liu Wang smiled and said, "Old Bao, I think Little Bao is quite good, smart and bold. Don't always look down on him and scold him."
"Brother Wang," Xiao Bao glared at his father impatiently, "Don't bother with that old guy. What else does he know besides stealing chickens and digging potatoes?"
"What do you know? You little bastard, you know shit!" Old Bao cursed.
Liu Qun leaned against the tree trunk, one knee bent. He was uneasy and asked hesitantly, "Strange! The Guo family lives a very frugal life. They don't look like wealthy people with treasures. Brother Wang, have you found out anything?"
Liu Wang's face was covered with flesh, his eyes widened, and he asked in a stern tone, "Ah Qun, what do you mean? Don't you trust me?"
"No! I've been poor these past few years, thanks to Brother Wang's care. Otherwise, I would have starved to death long ago. How could I not trust you?" Liu Qun said cautiously with a forced smile, "I just feel that the Guo family doesn't seem very wealthy. I heard that the Guo family was severely punished by the court. They were stripped of their titles, their property was confiscated, and they were exiled. They walked from the capital to Xicang on foot, and were eventually sent to our village to serve as soldiers and cultivate the land. They really don't seem rich—"
"Tsk, idiot!" Liu Wang interrupted with a sneer. He leaned against the tree trunk, slowly polishing his sharp scimitar. He sneered, "As the saying goes, 'A lean camel is bigger than a horse.' The Guo family was once a noble family, with gold bowls, silver chopsticks, and jade teacups. They were extremely wealthy. Even if they were in trouble, they would always have some relatives and friends to help them, right? They've hidden some of their treasures, and if we can get our hands on them, we'll have enough to enjoy for a lifetime."
"Oh, that's true." Liu Qun's face turned pale and his brows were frowning.
Liu Wang glanced at his accomplice, secretly cursing him for being cowardly, but softened his tone and encouraged him, "Besides, even if there's not much gold, silver, and jewelry, the Guo family has three pretty girls. If we have some fun, it won't be in vain."
Recalling the three young women of the Guo family, Liu Qun swallowed and felt itchy in his heart.
"Right!" Xiao Bao's eyes lit up, and he exchanged a lewd grin with Liu Wang, saying viciously, "We've been through years of war and chaos, and life in this damned place of Xicang is getting increasingly difficult. Anyway, we've already decided to go south to find work, so what are we afraid of? Humph, let's have a good time before we leave, and then we'll leave."
"Good brother, you are so brave!" Liu Wang patted Xiao Bao on the back. The two of them stood close together and excitedly discussed how to proceed.
At the same time, in the Guo family hall
"Woof woof woof~" The two puppies were running around the house, chasing each other and barking. They loved the commotion and refused to return to their nest in the corner of the yard. The Guo family was too busy to pay any attention to them, so they just let them frolic.
"Big Brown? Little Green?" Peng Changrong, having finished his meal and drunk his fill, put down his bowl and stared at the puppies, wondering, "Well, judging by their fur color, they should be called 'Big Black' and 'Little Yellow', right?"
Everyone laughed, and Nanny Pan explained, "It's not about the color of the fur, but the location. The young lady meant that since they were raised in Heqin, she might as well name them 'Da He' and 'Xiao Qin'. Funny, isn't it?"
Peng Changrong suddenly realized, "Hey, interesting."
"What are you laughing at? Bring me the bowl!" Cuimei cleaned the table quickly, still feeling embarrassed, and didn't give him a good look.
Peng Changrong immediately helped to clean up, following her around, asking her all sorts of questions, and often making her laugh so hard that she couldn't hold back her sullen face.
After bathing, Guo Honglei wore a loose blue coat over his inner garments. He was tall, straight, and handsome. He walked slowly towards his bedroom, but stopped midway and turned to walk across.
The door was half open. Xiao Tao keenly smelled the familiar warm masculine scent. She immediately looked up, put down her needlework, stood up, and called out nervously, "Young Master."
"Haven't you rested yet?" Guo Honglei stood outside the door.
Xiao Tao shook her head gently.
Jiang Yushu was in a corner, rummaging through an open box. Hearing this, she leaned out and asked, "You haven't rested yet? What's going on?"
Guo Honglei stepped over the threshold and walked to the corner. "There are two things. What are you busy with?"
"Find some thread. The clothes you brought back need to be mended as soon as possible, or they'll be too late tomorrow." Jiang Yushu placed the box on the low table and bent over to search. The lotus-colored nightgown was half-worn, the fabric had been washed many times, thin and soft, clinging to her body with every move, revealing the curves and curves of her figure.
Guo Honglei quickly looked away and said uncomfortably, "What's the rush? Let's clean up tomorrow morning. I have something to ask."
"Haha, I found it!" Jiang Yushu straightened up, shaking a package of silk thread, and said happily: "I just remember that I asked someone to go to the town to buy five packages of thread last time, and I stuffed one package into the box. Xiaotao, this is for you." @Infinite good articles, all in Jinjiang Literature City
Xiao Tao watched from the side, taking in the Master's demeanor. She felt downcast, anxious, lost, and at a loss for words. She woke as if from a dream, stepped forward to take the thread. Her voice, naturally delicate and timid, was submissive as she said, "Yes. I'll take my leave and go find Cui Mei to help mend the rest of the clothes."
"Go ahead." Guo Honglei sat down and usually didn't pay much attention to the maid.
Xiaotao bent her knees, lowered her head and left, closing the door silently.
Jiang Yushu untied the bundle and deftly shook out the torn clothes one by one, spreading them out on the table. She lowered her eyes and said, "It's a bit much. It seems I'll have to let Madam Pan and Xiaotao stay home tomorrow to concentrate on mending."
"Can they not get out of bed?" Guo Honglei looked around carefully.
Jiang Yushu poured a glass of water and handed it over, smiling, "Of course! We work diligently and never deliberately slack off. Occasionally, when there's an emergency at home or we're not feeling well, we can take a break, and the government won't stop us. In fact, farming isn't subject to military regulations, so we have much more freedom than you do."
"Really?" Guo Honglei sat upright, raised an eyebrow, and asked directly, "But I heard that some villagers have been fabricating rumors to slander the Guo family. And some scoundrels have taken advantage of your absence to break into your house and steal a lot of things."
Jiang Yushu's smile froze, and she asked in surprise, "Who told—Oh, I guess it must have been Zou Gui! You just came back not long ago, and Zou Gui told you when you were writing a letter in your room before dinner, right?"
"Does he dare to lie?" Guo Honglei stared at him.
Jiang Yushu took a sip of water, thought for a moment, and replied calmly, "He didn't lie. There are indeed two things. However, with the Guo family in Xicang, the rumors about the former are inevitable and cannot be stopped. Anyway, it's not a big deal, so let them talk about it. I guess it will die down after a while."
"Where are the scoundrels?" Guo Honglei frowned in thought.
Jiang Yushu explained, "Two thieves broke into our house half a month ago and stole a few taels of silver and some rice and flour. But they were apprehended by the village headman and his officers that same day, and all the belongings were returned. Fortunately, the banknotes and jewelry were hidden well, so the thieves didn't find them."
"I heard from Zou Gui that the thief is from the village?"
Jiang Yushu sighed, feeling a headache. She said fearfully, "Yes. The war has been going on for the past two years. The people of Xicang can't farm peacefully. The crops have failed, and the people are living in poverty. They have fled. The world is not peaceful, especially in the north. There are more and more people taking advantage of the situation to steal and rob. The government is unable to control it, so the scoundrels in every town and village frequently cause chaos, and it is difficult to prevent it."
"Where is the captured thief now?"
Jiang Yushu replied, "Zhuang Zhubu sent someone to escort him to the county government office. He was caught red-handed. I don't know what the government will sentence him to."
After careful consideration, Guo Honglei decisively replied, "There's no telling how many thieves are hiding in the shadows. Right now, our family lacks men, and the elderly, the weak, the women, and the children are the most vulnerable to schemes. I've thought about it and decided to write to Changping and ask Mother to send a few helpers so you don't have to worry day and night and have no peace."
"Ah? I haven't thought about this." Jiang Yushu was stunned.
Guo Honglei stood up and said, "There's no time to lose. I'll write the letter right away!"
"Wait a minute! Although farming is the same everywhere in Xicang, the list has been filed by the Changping County Court. After several months, are they willing to release the people?" Jiang Yushu stood up.
Guo Honglei replied: "I have no choice but to write to Mr. Mu and ask for his help. Everything depends on human effort. Whether it succeeds or not, I will give it a try." After saying that, he turned around and was about to go back to the room, but stopped when he glanced at her. He picked up the coat that was draped over the back of the chair, shook it open, and wrapped her tightly.
"Hmm?" The other person suddenly moved closer. Jiang Yushu was caught off guard and subconsciously shrank back, mumbling, "I'm not cold."
You are not cold, but I see——
Their eyes met, Guo Honglei's expression was complicated, and he felt inexplicably hot all over. He clumsily tied her belt and smoothed her hair, and said without hesitation: "You have to wear it even if you are not cold!" After that, he strode away.
"Why?"
You're such a blockhead! You helped me put on my coat, tied my belt, and even fixed my hair—but you forgot the sleeves!
Jiang Yushu was at a loss for words, her whole body swaying, her two empty sleeves swinging back and forth.
She was tied up with a coat, her face was hot and her heart was beating like a drum.
As the night deepens, everything becomes silent.
Because there were four young and strong men at home, the elderly, the weak, women and children did not have to sleep in three crowded places and could go back to their own rooms to rest.
In the silence, there was a slight "pop" sound, and the wick burst into a spark.
Under the lamp, Cuimei and Xiaotao sat opposite each other, buried in their sewing. They lived in the same room.
Xiao Tao held the needle absent-mindedly, and couldn't thread the needle for a long time. She threw it down in frustration and rubbed her eyes.
Cuimei looked up from her busy schedule and asked, "Are you sleepy?"
"Yeah, my eyes are a little sore." Actually, Xiao Tao wasn't sleepy at all. She was full of energy, but her mind was completely consumed with random thoughts, irritability, and anxiety, and she had no interest in needlework.
Cuimei was also full of energy, concentrating on her work, meticulously sewing each stitch. She urged, "Go to bed if you're tired. The young lady said that you and Madam Pan should stay home tomorrow and concentrate on mending, so that the son-in-law and his family won't go back with torn clothes."
"Since you know that the nanny and I will do the mending tomorrow, why are you still busy? It's late at night, let's rest together." Xiao Tao smiled, but the smile only appeared on her face and did not reach her eyes.
Cuimei blushed and answered vaguely, "I'm not sleepy yet. Let's do it for a while longer. Sister, go to sleep first."
"Little hoof, why are you blushing?" Xiao Tao knew what was going on and joked, "Look at you, you're so busy helping Peng Changrong, you haven't touched anything else."
Cuimei blushed when she was exposed, pretending to be dumbfounded. She said in embarrassment, "Oh, is this bag of clothes his? Why didn't you tell me earlier? If you had told me earlier, I wouldn't have helped him."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk, why are you being so stubborn? I saw it all by accident!" Xiao Tao held her chin with both hands and leaned forward to say, "Before you entered the house, Peng Changrong stopped you, bowed and clasped his hands, coaxing you left and right, begging you for help—"
Cuimei put down her needlework, covered her face, and pleaded, "Stop it, stop it! Sister Tao, please, stop making fun of me."
"My dear sister, I don't mean to tease you." Xiao Tao's smile disappeared, she sighed softly, and said sadly, "I just envy you."
Cuimei looked through her fingers and found that the other person's expression was different. She quickly let go of her hand and asked with concern: "What's wrong with you? Could it be, could it be--" Her face suddenly turned pale with shame, and she stammered: "You, you also...you and Changrong--"
"Oh my god, what are you imagining?" Xiao Tao came back to her senses, dumbfounded, and said unhappily, "I originally served the old lady, and my time serving the second young master was only a short time. I only know the young master's servant, but we don't have any friendship."
Cuimei breathed a sigh of relief and said awkwardly, "Don't be angry, sister. Blame it on me. I was so busy that I lost my mind."
"Forget it. Now all you have in your mind is Peng Changrong. Keep busy. I'm so sleepy, I'm going to sleep first." As she spoke, Xiao Tao had already put aside her work, walked to the bed, took off her shoes and got on the couch, facing inward, her heart in a mess, and she couldn't stop thinking about random things.
"Um."
Cuimei didn't think much about it, she threaded the needle quickly and carefully mended every tear with fine stitches.
In the upper room
Tonight, Jiang Yushu lay alone in bed, without the company of the lively Cuimei and the gentle Xiaotao, and without the casual chat before going to bed. She felt a little uncomfortable, but not afraid at all.
Because Guo Honglei was in another upper room, less than four meters away from them.
She was calm and composed, and slowly pulled the tent tighter to prevent mosquitoes from flying in.
Perhaps because she had stayed up too late, she was no longer sleepy. She tossed and turned, thinking to herself:
We haven't seen each other for several months, and the letter was vague and vague. I wonder how the old lady and the others are doing in Changping County?
Is my sister-in-law still trying to commit suicide? Has Yu'er grown taller or fatter?
How's my third brother? My fourth brother should be much more sensible, right?
…
If I write to request reinforcements, will County Magistrate Han of Changping agree? Will County Magistrate Heqinpan agree? Who will the old lady send?
…
The more Jiang Yushu thought about it, the more awake she became. She closed her eyes but did not feel sleepy at all.
It was not until the second half of the night that her consciousness gradually became hazy and she slowly fell asleep. Just as she was about to fall asleep, she heard a sudden "click" sound from the rear window!
Jiang Yushu, who was half asleep and half awake, shuddered, but was not alert. She just turned over, pulled up the thin quilt, and breathed steadily.
Soon, there was another "click" sound from the rear window!
Then, there were several muddy "whoosh" sounds, which sounded like blowing.
What?
What's going on?
Jiang Yushu suddenly opened her eyes, sat up gently, and listened attentively:
The "Hu~" sound was intermittent, and the more I listened, the more it sounded like someone or some living thing was breathing outside the window.
Jiang Yushu was alone, surrounded by darkness and strange cries. A chill ran down her back, and her sleepiness vanished. She thought to herself, "Hurry, hurry! I can either lift the curtains and investigate, or get out of bed, open the door, and find someone to give me courage—never mind, I'll just call for help!"
However, she was anxious and her throat seemed to be strangled by something, and she could not make a sound for a while.
In the darkness, she gritted her teeth and quickly took out a dagger from under her pillow. Her hands trembled as she opened the curtains and peered out the back window:
There is a small red dot in the corner of the window screen. It lights up and dims with the sound of exhalation.
Then, that should be a fire starter, right?
Oh no, there must be someone outside the window!
Jiang Yushu was terrified. She immediately threw back the curtains, jumped out of bed, and opened her mouth to call for help and warn the police.
"Catch them!" Guo Honglei roared. After two months of military training, they had become increasingly alert and vigilant. Although exhausted and sound asleep, they heard the unusual noise in time and, upon waking, drew their swords and apprehended the thieves.
Guo Honglei was furious. He drew his sword and blocked the exit, shouting, "Don't let anyone escape!"
"You're here to seek death, and you still want to run away?" Lin Qin grabbed the window thief by the back of his collar and threw him hard against the wall.
With a "bang", Xiao Bao, who was in charge of blowing the smoke, fell sideways against the wall, and his right arm was broken with a "crack". He hung down and rolled on the ground wailing.
Peng Changxing raised his leg and kicked the fleeing Liu Qun to the ground, then asked loudly, "How many people came?"
"We've caught three, but I don't know—" Peng Changxing was escorting the habitual thief, Old Bao, when he caught a glimpse of a dark figure scurrying toward the wall. He hurriedly said, "There's one trying to escape!"
Guo Honglei happened to be nearby. Without hesitation, he swung his long sword with all his might, sweeping across with a whistling sound. Immediately, a scream rang out:
"Ah--" Liu Wang covered his bloody calf, screamed at the top of his lungs, his face distorted, and fell off the wall. Peng Changrong kicked his scimitar away.
Guo Honglei was furious and kicked Liu Wang in the chest, sending him into the crowd of thieves.
At this moment, Jiang Yushu pushed open the window, feeling dizzy and swollen. She held onto the window frame and angrily said, "There really is a thief! I was just about to shout when you attacked. Fortunately you were at home, otherwise, otherwise—" She suddenly felt a sharp tightness in her chest, her vision went black, and she slid to the ground. Her ears were buzzing, and she could vaguely hear Cuimei and others knocking on the door, but she couldn't muster the strength to respond.
After a while, he lost consciousness, lost consciousness, and fell into a complete coma.
When she woke up, it was already the afternoon of the next day.
"Girl?" Cuimei came closer with joy, her eyes red as she choked up and asked, "Girl, are you awake? Look who I am?"
Her eyelids felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, and Jiang Yushu struggled to open them. After a long while, her eyes gradually regained their spirit.
Cuimei held her breath and asked, "Girl, look quickly, who am I?"
Jiang Yushu's breathing was unsteady. She closed her eyes tiredly and murmured, "Cui Mei. I don't need to see you, I know it's you just by listening. You chatterbox."
"The girl is awake!" Cuimei immediately clapped her hands and cheered. Xiaotao clasped her hands together and said in fear, "Thank you, Bodhisattva, for your blessing!"
The wife of the village head and two women who were familiar with him were also relieved and bent down to ask questions with concern.
Guo Honglei in the main room rushed over after hearing the news and went straight to the bed. Seeing this, the others tactfully avoided him.
"How do you feel?" Guo Honglei sat down on the edge of the couch, leaned over and asked in a low voice, "Are you feeling dizzy?"
Jiang Yushu lay on her back, motionless, her eyes half-open, and answered in a breathy voice, "I feel dizzy, and my heart is beating wildly."
"The same goes for Mr. and Mrs. Zhou Yan and Madam Pan. You've been drugged." Guo Honglei tucked the quilt in for her and consoled her. "I've invited two doctors from town. They've taken turns seeing you. They both say you're fine. You'll recover after a few days of medication and rest."
Jiang Yushu thought hard, "The others weren't poisoned? No one was hurt, right?"
"The rest are safe," Guo Honglei said sullenly, briefly explaining, "The village chief's investigation has revealed the truth: two of the four criminals are from this village, and the other two are from neighboring villages. They're all habitual thieves with a long and shady record. They've been targeting the Guo family for half a month, planning this. They knew which three rooms you'd been staying in recently, but they didn't anticipate our sudden return home for a visit... Otherwise, the consequences would have been disastrous."
@Unlimited good articles, all in Jinjiang Literature City
Jiang Yushu was terrified. She forced herself to cheer up and asked angrily, "How should we deal with them?"
"It has been handed over to the government. You don't have to worry about it." Guo Honglei said lightly.
Jiang Yushu was exhausted and nodded slightly. Suddenly, she opened her eyes wide and asked nervously, "Hey, what time is it?"
"Noon." Guo Honglei returned with some warm water, helped the man up and said, "Drink some water."
Jiang Yushu turned away, her face etched with anxiety. "It's already noon, why are you still at home? Where are Changrong and the others?"
"Outside, discussing some things with the village chief and the head of the village." Guo Honglei stubbornly handed the teacup forward.
Jiang Yushu could only take a quick sip, suppressing the dizziness and discomfort as she urged, "Military orders are as strong as a mountain. We must return before the evening hour. If you disobey orders on your first visit, won't you be punished? Don't let Captain Pan down. Don't bother me. I'll take care of the family affairs. Take Changrong and the others back quickly!"
"Take another sip." Guo Honglei's voice was deep and powerful.
Jiang Yushu shook her head, "I'm not thirsty." She was worried that her family would be punished by military law, so she was too anxious to lie down. She struggled to throw off the quilt and get off the bed, urging, "Come on, I'll see you off—"
"What's the hurry?" Guo Honglei hugged her tightly, sighed, and whispered, "Don't worry, we'll leave soon. I'm lucky I saw you awake before we left."
"Come on, drink another sip of water. I can only take care of you so much."
Jiang Yushu was startled and whispered, "That's enough." She grabbed the teacup and drank it all in one gulp. She forced a smile and said, "I drank it all. Thank you for your care! You should leave now. Come back next time when you have time."
As their eyes met, Guo Honglei held his wife's cheeks with both hands, slowly lowered his head, and placed his lips on her forehead.
The author has something to say:
First kiss!
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