Bone-Returning Seed (Part Four)
As dawn broke the next day, Lin Zhong, Feng Qiao, and I were preparing our horses in the backyard when we suddenly heard a commotion in the front quarters.
"Qing Niangzi!"
"Qing Niangzi!"
Recognizing the voices as belonging to the villagers of Yanziping, I quickly brushed the grass clippings off my hands and went out to greet them: "You're here, you're here!"
"Young Lady Qing, when shall we set off?" Liu Yu, dressed in her new clothes, looked eager to go.
"I was just about to send Feng Qiao to Yanziping to pick up Doctor Liu." I looked around at everyone and said with delight, "Why is everyone here?"
Liu Xingjian laughed and said, "Liu Yu couldn't wait after receiving the transfer order, and he finally made it to this morning."
Wang Yunhui continued, "Everyone has come to see you off!"
With a gleaming kitchen knife tucked into her waistband, Aunt Xu shouted, "Don't worry, Qing Niangzi. My husband and I will guard the inn for you. If those bastards dare to cause trouble, I'll skin them alive!"
Xu Shan chimed in, "That's right, we Han people aren't easy to bully!"
Many others said, "Don't worry, Lady Qing, leave this to us!"
Looking at this group of hardworking, brave, and spirited villagers, I felt so grateful that my eyes almost welled up with tears: "Thank you all, my fellow villagers. When I return to Qingcheng, I'll treat you to a drink!"
Lin Zhong and I each rode one horse, while Liu Yu, who was not skilled at riding, rode with Feng Qiao. The four of us, on three horses, spurred our horses on and hurried to the prefectural government office.
It was still early when we arrived. Shi Yu was waiting at the gatehouse. Following Wei Ji's instructions, he first took Lin Zhong and Feng Qiao to meet Huai Xu, and then led me and Liu Yu to the Zhoupu Garden.
In the open area of the state garden, there were more than ten chairs arranged in two rows. Wei Ji had changed into his official robes and sat at the head of the seats on the right. Shi Yu called out "My lord," put down the book he was reading on a side table, and got up to walk towards us.
"Liu Yu, an exile, pays his respects to the Prefect." Liu Yu bowed deeply, but was stopped halfway by Wei Ji, who rushed over. "Doctor Liu, Madam Qing, there's no need for such formalities."
“Lord Wei, I received the transfer order yesterday, and I’ve been wondering what you’ve brought me here for. I asked Qing Niangzi, but she doesn’t know either. I’m just a country doctor now. If you want to teach the barbarians, you should have transferred Liu Xingjian instead.”
Wei Ji smiled and said, "This matter can only be entrusted to Doctor Liu. Please follow me." He walked to a corner of the artificial hill, stood still, cupped his hands, and said, "I am sorry to trouble Doctor Liu to wait here for a while."
Liu Yu looked on with suspicion: "Lord Wei, what exactly are you up to?"
"How dare I sell medicine in front of you, Dr. Liu? Don't overthink it. I came to you to treat patients and save lives."
"Standing here to save people? Couldn't you at least give me a heads-up first? So I could be mentally prepared."
"No need for special preparation. With your quick wit, Liu Yu, you will surely be able to handle things smoothly and calmly."
Liu Yu grabbed Wei Ji's hand, pressed it against the radial artery, and said, "The pulse is stable, so there's no illness."
Wei Ji smiled and pushed him behind the artificial hill: "Please come to the table later." Turning to me, he said, "This way, please, Qing Niangzi."
Since I was the person in charge and Wei Ji was the governor of Yuezhou, I took a seat below him. Before long, the leaders and elders of the five tribes of Nanguang arrived one after another.
Among these chieftains, some were hereditary local officials appointed by the emperor, but none of them wore official robes for this gathering; they were all dressed as commoners. To my right is Luo Zhong, the current Vice Prefect of Yuezhou and also the leader of the Luo clan of Nanguang.
His daughter, Luo Erying, was a sworn sister of Huai Xu. The Liao people valued loyalty, so he was very polite to me when he saw me. Before I sat down, he greeted me by saying, "Qing Niangzi."
I stood up and said, "Chief Luo, I am unworthy to be second in the Qingcheng position, and I have offended you in many ways."
"The person in charge is the most important, Miss Qing, you're too kind." Luo Chong smiled as he sat down, leaning half of his body towards my side, and said in a low voice, "Elder Amo from Qingbin Village has also come."
My heart skipped a beat: Why would he come? Could it be that Wei Ji did this intentionally? Then I thought again: Apart from the five major clans of Nan Guang, the Du Zhangren is also a powerful force in the area. Elder Amo is the Grand Shaman of Qingbin Village, so it must be a coincidence that Wei Ji invited him. But was his acceptance of the invitation merely a coincidence?
I glanced towards the end of the table, where two elderly men of similar age sat, both wearing blue headscarves and black robes. I could only ask Luo Chong in a low voice, "Which one is it?"
Luo Zhong whispered, "The tall one, the one with the rattan cane. Elder Amo has not left Qingbin Village for many years. To be honest, I had expected that Prefect Wei might invite him, but I didn't expect him to actually come."
As noon approached, the sunlight overhead was dazzling. I pressed the throbbing veins on my temple: To be honest, not only Luo Zhong didn't expect it, but neither did I—I thought I would never see someone again in my life, but we met here and now in this way…
Someone in the audience muttered, "We've arrived at Mahubu."
I looked up at the Moon Gate and saw Wei Ji and Song Ninghai walking side by side, leading the seven clan leaders of Mahu towards this place.
"Should we stand up and greet them?"
"Welcome my ass! Everyone says that Han people respect the left, but the prefect arranged for us to sit on the right. We're already half a head lower without even saying a word. If we go to greet them, those barbarians from Mahu will look down on us Nanguang Liao people even less!"
"that is!"
"The Han people not only respect the left, but also the guest. We, the people of Nanguang, are the hosts, and the people from Mahu are the guests. The prefect's arrangement is also a form of courtesy."
"What's all this talk about etiquette? Han Chinese rules are such a hassle! If it's to their advantage, then it's considered polite; if it's not, then it's considered impolite! The Han Chinese decide everything, so why should we Liao people be at their beck and call?"
“Young man, don’t act rashly. If it weren’t for the Song army’s help back then, our Nan Guang tribe would have been wiped out by the Shimen barbarians. The Han people are willing to reason with us and exchange goods; but the Shimen barbarians just rob us without saying a word. We Nan Guang are small and poor, and we can’t fight either side. We have to find a side to rely on. If we don’t rely on the Song Dynasty, are we going to rely on bandits like the Shimen barbarians?”
"That's true."
"Hey! Chief Luo, give us an answer! We'll listen to you!"
Luo Zhong picked up the teacup on the table beside him, lifted the lid and took a sip. He said unhurriedly, "What's the rush? We can get up when the others arrive. We are welcoming two officials from the imperial court, Wei and Song, not those barbarians from Mahu."
Everyone followed Luo Zhong's example, picking up their teacups to drink tea. When Wei Ji and Song Ninghai approached, they all put down their teacups, stood up, clasped their hands in greeting, and so on.
Wei Ji said, “Please be seated, everyone. Mahu and Nanguang are neighboring places, and they have both surrendered their land to the Song Dynasty. We are all in the same boat. Even if there are disputes and frictions, I and Prefect Song still hope that you will assess the situation, prioritize the overall situation, and try to resolve your differences through negotiations to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.”
"I have sincerely invited you all today, so please feel free to speak your minds." He then looked at Song Ninghai on his left, "The people of Mahu have come from afar as guests. Prefect Song, please go first."
Song Ninghai sat below Asang Zihe, and next to Asang Zihe was Dong La, the chief of the Mahu tribe.
Dong La's great-grandfather, Dong Chunxi, presented fine horses as tribute during the reign of Emperor Taizu to demonstrate his submission. Because he was the first of the southwestern tribes to surrender to the Song Dynasty, the court bestowed upon him exceptionally generous rewards, making the Dong clan the most powerful among the seven tribes of Mahu. Unlike the five tribes of Nanguang, whose strength was roughly equal and whose negotiations often failed, Dong La's clan wavered between Dali and the Song Dynasty for years until they were severely defeated by the Shimen tribes. Dali, unable to intervene, finally submitted to the Song Dynasty.
Song Ninghai looked at Dong La and said cautiously, "Chief Dong, would you like to say a few words?"
Dong La said arrogantly, "The client is the most important person. Asang, what is your opinion? State it clearly in front of these two gentlemen. We in Mahu have always acted according to the rules. We will not bully anyone, nor will we be bullied."
Asangzi nodded: "My lords, my leaders, we Dong people often say, 'A mother's love is as deep as her brother's.' Asangzi's sister's daughter is marrying into Asangzi's family, which is a double blessing."
“As her uncle, how could my whole family mistreat her? Such a good marriage, and someone has to sabotage it.” He then pointed at me and said, “What exactly are you up to?”
"You still have the nerve to ask me what my intentions are?" I sneered. "'Mother is the greatest uncle,' but mother comes first. Who do you think you are as an uncle? Huai Xu is the daughter I raised for ten years. You want to force her to marry me without my consent?"
Asangzi was furious: "You, you! What right do you, an unmarried woman, have to be my niece's mother?!"
"Her own mother died, and you, you, you just happened to be passing by and picked up the child! Don't think I don't know what you, Qing Niangzi, are up to. You brought her to your inn to work as a mule and horse, and you even want her to be your nephew's wife!"
"You're talking nonsense!" I retorted angrily. "What are you up to now?"
“Your eldest son has a mental illness. As a father, you have neglected your responsibility to take care of him and insisted on finding him a wife. You kept trying to find someone suitable, but when you happened to run into us at the Yuezhou market, you tried to drag your niece down with you.”
"Asangzi had foreseen all this, and didn't want her daughter to jump into this fire pit of yours, which is why she was tricked by the broker and lost her life in vain!"
There was much discussion among those seated:
"What kind of nonsense is this? How can anyone cheat people like this?"
"It's a bit dishonorable to talk about this openly, but that's the rule of 'returning the bone seed.' Even if someone is deaf and blind, as long as the maternal uncle's family asks, the paternal aunt's daughter has to marry him."
“But Qing Niangzi is the foster mother of my daughter, so she can’t be considered a paternal aunt.”
"But that guy is indeed the girl's uncle, so how should we calculate this?"
"If you ask me, it's the husband's family that's the problem. If the husband's family had a few capable men, they wouldn't be so easily manipulated by the maternal uncle's family."
After the commotion subsided, the two tribal leaders looked at me with pity, but at Asang Zihe with undisguised contempt. Even so, many of them still spoke in Asang Zihe's favor.
Dong La coldly swept his gaze over the crowd, then looked at me and said, "Qing Niangzi, you don't understand. 'If your aunt wants a daughter, you can reach out and marry her; if your maternal uncle wants her, you can call across the river.' 'Returning family members to their hometown' is a custom passed down through generations of our southwestern Yi people."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
