Bone-Returning Seed (12)
I chuckled out loud: "Silly girl, don't you think—you're putting the mountain god in a bit of a difficult position?"
Huai Xu pouted: "What's so difficult about it?"
I suppressed a laugh and said, "Let me calculate for you. Twelve years is exactly this year. After this year, it will be the thirteenth year. There are only half left this year. Your godmother and the mountain god don't have much time left."
"Let me think," Luo Erying said, slapping her forehead. "Sister Huaixu, I feel that the wish you made for Aunt Qing is a bit awkward."
Huai Xu frowned: "What's awkward about it?"
"Think about it, how many years of youth do we women have? Why keep a man you haven't seen for twelve years in your heart? You should have moved on to someone else long ago."
"In my opinion, loving someone means being able to take them on, but also being able to let them go. If such a man really dies, we should cry for him; if he is still alive, it's too much to ask that we haven't heard from him for so many years. Even if he comes back, we shouldn't pay any attention to him."
Luo Erying rattled off a whole speech, then looked at me and said, "Aunt Qing, don't you think so?"
My impression of Luo Erying has always been that of the moment when she and Huai Xu fought over Feng Qiao. I never expected that she would be so insightful about love between men and women at such a young age.
I nodded in agreement: "Yingzi is right. In this world, letting go of love is a sign of detachment, while clinging to it is an obsession."
Luo Erying's expression darkened: "Back then, my mother was too obsessed. She fell ill because my father took a concubine, and she passed away a few years later."
Huai Xu opened his arms and hugged her, saying, "If any man you find in the future is unreliable, you must tell me, and I will get rid of him for you."
After seeing Luo Erying off, Huai Xu and I lingered together again.
“Godmother, I once heard people say that Yingmei’s mother was a famous beauty in the Nanguang tribe, and she and her father were a perfect match.” Huai Xu sighed as he leaned against me. “Alas, I never thought that after raising children and managing half a lifetime, this would be the end.”
I sighed and said, "As the saying goes, those who are too sentimental will inevitably suffer."
"The five major clans of Nanguang are of similar strength and are related by marriage. The Luo clan has gained its current influence precisely because of these marriage alliances. Marrying into such a family inevitably means sharing your husband with other women."
"Aren't there any exceptions?"
“Exceptions? Unless someone gives up their position as clan leader.”
"Does status and position really matter that much in front of someone you love?"
"Based on my thirty years of life experience, I regretfully but firmly tell you—when faced with a choice between love and power, the vast majority of men in this world would embrace the latter."
"Godmother, what do you think Feng Qiao will choose?"
"It seems that even if you gnaw him down to the bone, he will still praise your good appetite."
"But what if he changes his mind later?"
"Heh..." I chuckled dryly, "Then I'll chase him away for you?"
"Godmother!"
"Huai Xu, blindly worrying about things that haven't happened is just asking for trouble, understand?"
"clear……"
"Remember what we just discussed, don't use it to question Feng Qiao."
Huai Xu hummed in agreement, his expression conflicted: "But why can't I ask?"
"Go ask him, the answer is obvious. Do you think he would dare to say things you don't like to hear to your face now?"
"Men, don't listen to what they say, look at what they do." I yawned, pushed Huai Xu away, and grabbed a pillow. "Alright, stop overthinking. I'm a little sleepy, I'm going to lie down for a while longer."
Huai Xu clung to her again and said, "Godmother, let me make a new wish for you!"
I squinted at her: "Making a wish with the mountain god, and then taking it back?"
"Why not bring it?" Huai Xu chuckled. "An unfulfilled wish can, of course, be exchanged."
I said "Oh," and closed my eyes: "Just pick one, Godmother is listening."
Huai Xu said with great interest, "Then let's say that my godmother will soon meet a man of good character and good looks who will fall in love with you at first sight and propose to you!"
Seeing that I didn't react, the girl gently pinched my cheek and pressed, "Godmother, what do you think? Look at me and say something!"
I yawned, too lazy to even lift my eyelids: "Which of the men who proposed to me before didn't consider themselves to be of excellent character and outstanding appearance?"
"What kind of person is he? Haven't you seen for yourself? As for the idea of falling in love at first sight, that's even more unreliable."
“Your godmother is thirty, not eighteen, and she has a family to support. Even if he dares to ask, I wouldn’t dare to agree.”
Huai Xu said dejectedly, "Godmother, so you're not planning to like men anymore in this lifetime?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? Who told you I didn't have that plan?" I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her and kick her off the bed. "You have to meet someone you like first, otherwise why waste your time?"
Huai Xu muttered as he walked out, "What makes it worthwhile?"
As I stroked the old scars on my wrists, I was suddenly wide awake: Yes, what would make it all worthwhile...?
The rainy season in the southwest arrived as scheduled, making the mountain roads muddy and the waterways turbulent. The caravans needed to rest, and the border markets also entered the off-season.
After days of lingering rain, the sun finally came out this morning. Lin Zhong went to the yard again to tend to his flowers and plants; Huai Xu and Feng Qiao were discussing building a bigger chicken coop. I sat on the veranda, fanning myself with a palm leaf fan, watching the three men and two chickens, and felt a sense of peace and contentment.
Suddenly, the long neighing of the Wumeng horse could be heard.
"It looks like Shigure's horse?"
"Shigure has arrived!"
Huai Xu and Feng Qiao exchanged a smile and ran towards the door. Sure enough, the three of them went inside hand in hand.
"Aunt Qing! Uncle Lin!"
I pointed at Huai Xu and Feng Qiao and laughed, "Shi Yu, you've come at just the right time! These two are arguing about how to build a chicken coop. Go and help them!"
"Okay!"
Huai Xu asked, "Shi Yu, didn't Lord Wei come with you?"
Shi Yu scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed, and replied, "The lord came with me, but his horse wasn't as fast as mine. Halfway there, I accidentally lost him and came here by myself."
"Hahaha, is that really true!"
"You guys stay home and play," I said with a smile, getting up. "I'm going outside to take a look."
The rain had just stopped, and the wind carried a wave of heat, making the summer heat very intense. I stood at the entrance of the inn, fanning my forehead with a fan, and gazed towards the end of the state road. Before long, I saw Wei Ji riding towards me.
"Qing Niangzi." Wei Ji lifted his bamboo hat and took my hand.
“Lord Wei,” I greeted him with a smile, “I heard you got lost in the woods.”
Wei Ji jumped off his horse and laughed, "It seems that Qing Niangzi has been laughing at me for a while now."
"I wouldn't dare," I said, looking at him. "With the continuous heavy rains, the mountain roads are difficult to travel, so I'm more worried about that."
Wei Ji looked grateful: "Thank you for your concern for my safety, Qing Niangzi. In fact, I know this road very well, but there was a section in the forest with deep water. Shi Yu's mount was extremely swift and could cross the water, so I took a detour, which is why I was late."
"I see." I asked, "May I ask what brings you here today, sir?"
Wei Ji tied his horse to the hitching post and replied, "I had nothing to do today, and Shi Yu was also thinking of you all, so I came along."
"Are you really free?" I asked with a smile, twirling my fan. "I've never seen an adult with nothing to do."
“Nothing’s wrong.” Wei Ji said sincerely. “I was worried that you might have run into trouble again, but I didn’t remember to tell you. I just happened to have some free time, so I came to check on you.”
"You've gone to so much trouble, Lord Wei." I chuckled. "It's the rainy season now, the quietest time of year for the inn. Come on, I'll take you for a stroll around Yanziping."
Halfway there, a sudden downpour started. I quickly used a palm-leaf fan to shield my head and ran to take shelter under a protruding rock. Wei Ji, on the other hand, put on a bamboo hat and stood under a nearby tree.
I looked around for a spot to stand. Two people could stand side by side without any problem, and if we squeezed in, even three could fit. I then waved to Wei Ji, who was standing under the tree in the light rain, and said, "Lord Wei, this way."
Wei Ji walked over and stood at the edge of the open space. I nudged his arm with the handle of my fan: "Stand further in."
"It's okay, you won't get wet."
Well, I'm in the east, but the wind is from the southwest; it's no wonder I get wet...
I glanced at him and said, "Cough, there's a snake."
Wei Ji instinctively moved to my side. I tapped him on the shoulder with my fan and laughed, "Just kidding!"
Wei Ji's ears turned slightly red, and he cupped his hands in greeting to me: "I've made Qing Niangzi laugh at me again."
I stopped laughing: "Lord Wei, please don't mind. This rain came suddenly, but it won't last long and will stop soon."
"May I ask, Lady Qing, has Feng Qiao's injury fully healed?"
"It's all better now, just a minor scrape on my scalp. I'm so grateful to you and Shiyu for keeping me company that day."
"And what about Qing Niangzi? I heard from Luo Tongpan's daughter that you were unconscious for three days before you woke up."
"It's not that exaggerated. Doctor Liu said it was summer heatstroke and prescribed some medicine to relieve the heat and dampness. I recovered even faster than Feng Qiao."
Wei Ji was silent for a while before saying, "Was it just summer heat? At that time, Huai Xu struck the bronze drum, and you seemed to suddenly grieve, clutching your chest, and then lost consciousness."
I sighed and slowly said, "The moment Elder Amo handed the drumsticks to Huai Xu, I thought of my mother."
"She struck the bronze drum twice in her life. The first time was thirty-two years ago, also in Shenyang Cave, when she crossed the sinkhole and escaped from the village. The second time was fourteen years ago, when she returned to Qingbin Village and struck the village drum. At that time, Yan and Yue prefectures were not yet under the control of the imperial court, and the two tribes often fought endlessly over the division of the Yujing salt profits."
"One day, my father went into the mountains with a caravan to carry salt. On the way, they were ambushed by the Yan Yi and returned with serious injuries. My mother settled my father and me in the inn's tunnel and went alone to the village to report the news. On her way back, she was also hit in a vital spot by a stray arrow."
"Although they were not born on the same day, month, and year, they died on the same day, month, and year. That day, the sight of the scene stirred up my emotions, and I felt very sad. Thank you for your help, sir."
Wei Ji lowered his head and fell silent once again.
I waved my fan and said, "My lord, that's all in the past. I'm not telling you this to make you sad for me. Do you want to know what wish Huai Xu made to the mountain god?"
Wei Ji turned around, his eyes clear: "Please speak, Lady Qing."
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