Jian Ning and the others had lunch at Xichun Tower before returning home. Her family still lived in Huo Jincheng's villa. Although the princess was mentally clear and her consciousness was getting clearer day by day, her health was still poor. The mansion was now managed by Concubine Li.
Concubine Li had prepared a courtyard for Jian Ning's family, but Ding Youtian preferred to live in the other courtyard, saying it was more relaxed and free. It wasn't far away anyway, so Jian Ning would bring Ah Man and the others to the palace every now and then.
"Mom, when are we going back?" Sanniu tugged at Jian Ning's sleeve. "I miss my elder sister, Qiaofeng, and my aunt."
"I want to too." Erniu also said.
"I'll go back in a few days and wait for my father's appointment." Jian Ning had to go back to transfer the winery's assets. Originally, the official owners were her and Ding Youtian. She wanted to go back and change the name to Blind Liu. She had to go back to Dingxian Village first. Guoguo was still there.
"Are you guys going back home and not attending classes?" Ah Man, who was bending over to play with the fur ball, became a little anxious when she heard that they were going back. "Mom, I miss my sister Shu'er and Yue'e too. Can you please tell my dad to take me with you?"
"Your father won't agree. Even if your father agrees, your grandfather will definitely not agree. You'd better learn the rules honestly. You are eight years old and should act like a girl." Dabao said seriously.
"Hmph!" Ah Man was angry. Instead of hitting Dabao, she slapped Maoqiu on the back. Then she stood up and glared at Dabao angrily, "I don't want to learn those things. I want to follow Sister Yue'e back to my mother. I want to be a saint. Saints don't need to learn those rules."
Dabao frowned, "Saints are not good, you are just you, why are you a saint?"
Ah Man sneered at her, "I want to, it's none of your business. You won't even give me the fur ball. If you want to give me the fur ball, then I can obey you and not become a saint."
"Then you should go." Dabao leaned over and picked up the ball of fur, saying calmly.
"Stingy!" Ah Man was so angry that she pulled the ball of fur by the tail. Unexpectedly, the ball of fur turned its head in pain and tried to pounce on her, which frightened her so much that she shrugged her shoulders. When she came to her senses, Ah Man slapped the ball of fur on the back with a "slap".
Erniu and Sanniu giggled, and Sanniu threw herself into Jian Ning's arms, "Mom, can we take Sister A'man with us?"
Jian Ning looked at the angry Ah Man with a smile, "No, we won't be back in the capital for a while. We have to follow Dad to his post, and we'll be there for three to five years. It wouldn't be convenient to entrust Sister Ah Man to someone else to take her to the capital."
"But Mom, I want to go with you." Ah Man took Jian Ning's hand and shook it. "I haven't seen Sister Shu'er and Sister Yue'e for a long time. I want to go. Can you talk to my father about it?"
"Mom, please talk to me. What if your dad doesn't agree? If he doesn't agree, you can't make a fuss anymore, okay?"
Ah Man's eyes rolled around. From what she heard from Jian Ning, it seemed that she could achieve her goal by making a fuss. Just as she was thinking about it, Da Bao seemed to see into her heart and said, "It's no use making a fuss. I told you before that even if your father agrees, your grandfather will definitely not agree. You forgot that it was your grandfather who wanted to send you back in the first place."
"You are so annoying~" Ah Man glanced at him sideways.
The carriage turned a corner and turned into an alley. Dabao lifted the curtain and saw someone riding a wooden bicycle passing by. Nowadays, people riding wooden bicycles can be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys of Beijing.
In the early days, most of the people who rode wooden bicycles were young men from wealthy families. After the novelty wore off, they still rode horses or carriages to travel. However, more and more people in the capital were riding wooden bicycles, and many women also rode them for shopping and buying groceries. Some people even modified the wooden bicycles, mostly to free their hands to transport items.
After Jian Ning and the others got off the car in the alley, they heard Ma Xiaomai talking to Cai Bo before they even entered the house. Ma Xiaomi and Ma Xiaodou started shouting loudly before they even got off the car, "Brother! Big Brother!"
Ma Xiaomai strode over at the sound. He was wearing a soldier's uniform, with a large "Zu" character emblazoned on his chest. In the few months since we last met, he had grown taller and stronger, darker, and with a full smile of white teeth. He respectfully saluted Jian Ning and said, "Master, Brother Hong said my uncle won the first place in the imperial examination. He told the military sergeant that I had an emergency at home, so the military sergeant granted me a day off and praised me, saying that I had always performed well and that I had not embarrassed you, Master!"
"Okay, that's good. Are you used to being in the barracks? With Brother Duan Hong here, I'm sure no one will bully a new recruit like you, right?" Jian Ning adjusted his armor and said with a smile, "If the veterans bully you, just tell Brother Duan Hong if they bully you too hard, and ask him to help you out, okay?"
Ma Xiaomai puffed out his chest and said nonchalantly, "It's okay. I heard from Brother Duan Hong that newcomers have to lie down. This is the rule. I understand. I can't break the rules. The old soldiers were all new soldiers before. Everyone has this experience. I can endure it."
Jian Ning smiled and pulled his ear, "Well done! Master will make you a delicious meal so we can replenish our nutrition. You can talk to Master about what happened in the military camp later. Go play with your brothers and sisters first."
"I don't want to play. I'm a pawn, not a child." Ma Xiaomai said, waving to his two younger brothers, "Come here, you two. Dabao brother, come here too. Look at me. Do I look like the general I'll be in the future?"
He held his head high and straightened his chest.
Ma Xiaodou took a closer look and said, "He looks like my older brother."
Dabao and Ma Xiaomi looked at him sideways. Isn't this nonsense? He is his elder brother, so how can he be like his elder brother?
"Get out of the way!" Ma Xiaomai kicked him.
"Brother, I believe you will become a great general. When the time comes, I will be your military advisor." Ma Xiaomi said, still sticking to his original intention of studying. "If you don't need a military advisor, I will make you a grain commander, in charge of grain and fodder. I read in books that before the army moves, the grain and fodder must go first. I promise to manage your grain and fodder clearly and not let your soldiers go hungry."
"If you're hungry, you won't have the energy to fight, and you won't be able to defeat the bad guys." Sanniu shouted.
"Right." Ma Xiaodou came to his senses and leaned closer to Sanniu, smiling and saying, "Yaoyao, you're absolutely right. From now on, we'll go do that for my eldest brother. Second brother, what did you just say?"
"Don't make trouble." Ma Xiaomai took him aside and asked Dabao, "Brother, what kind of official position can you give me?"
The image of his father riding a tall horse flashed through Dabao's mind. He put his hands behind his back and said seriously, "I want to be the top scholar like my father."
As he spoke, his eyes intentionally or unintentionally passed over Ah Man, and then he continued, "But when you become a general and go into battle to kill the enemy, I will also lend a hand. I will be your vanguard officer!"
"Brother!" Ma Xiaomai punched him in the chest. "I've learned how to use a spear. I'll find a branch to teach you."
Erniu and Sanniu clapped their hands and clamored to learn. Ma Xiaodou quickly found a branch, and Ma Xiaomai took it in his hand and practiced it in a very serious manner.
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