Chapter 144 Chapter 144 Update.
Ji Xu and his companions rode in a carriage, out of the North Gate Street, and along the snow-free road along the bank of the Wei River, heading towards Maoling Town.
All he could hear was the deafening clatter of boots clattering on the ground. Ji Feng lifted the curtain and looked, startled,
"So many sergeants!"
Ji Xu also looked. It was a team of armored and armed soldiers, lined up in an open space in the eastern suburbs in an orderly manner, with flags fluttering. The leading Sima was inspecting the troops in front of the tent.
Outside the camp, a circle of onlookers were pointing and talking from a distance.
"He's the Emperor's cavalry general. He's skilled in horseback riding and archery, and he could kill bears. He quelled the rebellion of the Prince of Yan, and he just returned from Youzhou."
"Oh, that's the Marquis of Muping, whose fiefdom only has 500 households!"
The Grand Marshal held the imperial edict and ordered the cavalry general to lead a certain number of soldiers and horses. Ji Xu was on the chariot by the Wei River, far away from the camp. He could only vaguely see a figure wearing armor and tall, who looked like an old acquaintance.
But once the carriage wheels turned, the view was cut off.
When her family came to Chang'an, Zhuang Gaiyi was investigating a case of treason in the State of Yan. He did not say goodbye in person, but asked his sworn brother Youlu to convey the message. They had not seen each other for several months.
Today, when I saw him from afar, I learned that he was going to Youzhou to fight again. Naturally, I hope he can return safely.
Tian had never met the young Marquis of Muping. She only knew that the family's money had been buried in the mansion of the guilty county magistrate. It was only thanks to him bringing his daughter in that it was unearthed. She peeked at the soldiers scattered on the ground and said, "I wonder who these boys belong to? Their families must be worried sick, hoping they can win the battle and return home safely."
As a mother, Tian also had the same hope at this moment.
The servant of the Song family also said so, and chatted with Tian about some family matters. She asked Ji Xu how old he was and whether he had any family. Tian said:
"Not yet. We only got together in the first half of the year. I secretly want to keep her at home so that we can be close and intimate. I can talk to her about other people when she's older. She's not even eighteen yet, and she herself never wants to do anything like this. But I'm just worried about her."
Nowadays, women are ashamed to talk about getting married, and Tian said so in front of outsiders.
In fact, she recognized Song as her child's aunt for her own selfish reasons. She wanted to find a good family in Maoling Town for her daughter.
After all, she had no relatives or friends in Chang'an, and as a commoner, she could only find a peddler for her daughter. It wasn't that she looked down on him, but she felt that her daughter deserved better. She only regretted that she didn't have the ability to find a wealthy family for her.
Now, Song came to invite her to be a guest, and she readily agreed. She combed Ji Xu's hair into a bun, asked her to take the bamboo hairpin, wear silver hairpin earrings, and put on a lotus-colored skirt.
It would also help Mrs. Song remember that she has such a pretty daughter, so that if there are any good boys of the right age in the future, she can help to introduce them to someone.
"Who says it's not true? I heard the other day that there was a girl in our Shuangying Lane who got married at the age of thirteen. She was too young. Our wife also said that it was too early to get married. She didn't even know how to be a parent, so how could she have children? Xu's age is suitable, so we can wait and see."
As they walked and talked, they arrived at Maoling Town. The houses here were obviously more luxurious. The house where Ji Xu's family lived now was the most spacious in the whole alley. Even among the noble courtyards in Maoling Town, it was inferior to them.
The bracket-arched roof, the vermilion-painted gate, and the majestic stone lions came into view along the way, leaving them amazed.
The reason why Maoling Town is so rich can be traced back to the "Order to Move to Maoling" issued by the previous emperor, which ordered that all wealthy people with assets of more than three million coins at that time should move to Maoling Town. Until now, Maoling Town is inhabited by wealthy families.
"Here it is. We're here."
The maid leaned out and ordered the door to be opened. Tian's mother and daughter got off the carriage and followed them to the Song family's courtyard.
Tian kept telling them to remember to call someone later. Feng and Zhu, who had just arrived, looked at the scenery on both sides with great interest. After hearing what she said, they both said they would remember it.
A maid at the side door looked furtively, then ran to Old Lady Yan's courtyard and said:
"We've got a carriage to pick him up, and he's already in the backyard."
Old Mrs. Yan was dressed richly. The jade on her headband was as big as an egg. She didn't mind it being heavy on her neck and wore it every day.
When she married into the Yan family, they were just a pig-slaughtering family outside Hangu Pass. By coincidence, her uncle, whom Xiaoyao should call her great-grandfather, followed them to Taiyuan and Shangdang to sell salt.
At that time, the salt and iron industries had not yet been state-run, and many families became rich and powerful by trading salt and iron.
The Yan family also took advantage of the salt business and jumped from a poor pig butcher to a wealthy man with three million coins, reaching the standard of wealth. Later, they complied with the "Order to Move to Maoling" and moved their family to Maoling Town near Chang'an and became residents of Guannei.
Old Madam Yan looked down upon those outsiders, and now after hearing the maid's reply, she was very unhappy.
"But she rushed to acknowledge me as a poor relative, even asking for a car to pick her up and drop her off. She gave the two hundred taels to the Tian family without even informing me. She treated my Yan family's storehouse as her dowry box and took it at will. I think she has no eyes for me and no eyes for this family. Go and bring Yong'er here, go now!"
The Song family is currently checking the preparations at various locations.
The kitchen was very busy, the chopping board made a clattering sound, fresh and high-quality venison was hanging on the beam, and crisp green leafy vegetables were being washed in water. These were delivered from the Yan family's farm early in the morning.
When the earthenware pot of river turtle soup was opened, white mist filled the air.
"You are an honored guest today. Please do your best. I will reward you later."
After hearing what Song said, everyone nodded in agreement.
Song looked at the wing room that had been cleaned up. She had intended to let Tian and the others stay here for a few days, so the room was already cleaned up. She heard people say outside:
"Tian Gu is here, Tian Gu is here!"
Delighted, he hurried to greet her, but he walked so fast that he coughed twice and gasped for breath. The maid supported him and he slowly took a few steps.
I saw that Fenggu had already brought Xiaoyao and was waiting outside. Now she brought Tian and the others in. Xiaoyao was dancing and gesticulating with joy, holding the "carved beard" given to her by Ji Xu and couldn't let it go.
Aunt Feng was holding a bundle in her hand, which contained small items such as hoods and hand clothes that Tian had made for Xiaoyao.
"Finally you've been waiting for me. Are you frozen on the road? Come and sit in the warm room and I'll make you a pot of hot tea." Song said.
"The carriage was thickly packed, and we were dressed warmly, so we didn't feel cold. We walked and looked around, and it was quite refreshing. But you, how come you've lost so much weight and looked pale in the past few days?"
Tian pulled Song aside to talk, and looked at her face.
Song said, "There are so many things to do during the New Year, so it's inevitable that I'm a little distracted. I've been busy lately, and of all the people I've met, the one I wanted to see the most was Sister Tian. Finally, I've met her."
"Forget about others. I don't really understand the relationships with wealthy families like yours. In the future, there's no need to make such a big fuss for us. Just two dishes and a pot of wine, and we can sit down and talk. It would be great if we could just do this. You'd be the one who'd tire yourself out."
Tian was speaking the truth. She was indeed pleased to see the carriage coming to pick her up, and was happy to come for a stroll. But when she saw Song coughing due to the wind, she naturally felt sorry for her.
These words softened Song's heart and she agreed immediately.
When Song saw Ji Xu, who had gentle features, rosy lips and fair cheeks, she was delighted and led him to the warm room, where she and Tian went to talk.
Feng and Zhu followed Xiaoyao and ran to his house.
Ji Feng left the outsiders, closed the door and quietly asked Xiaoyao:
"Are you living well here? Is this family treating you well?"
Xiaoyao thought for a moment and gestured:
"Aunt, good; Grandmother, bad."
"How did Mrs. Yan treat you so badly?" Ji Feng asked again.
The little one made a circle with one hand and put it on his forehead, pretending it was the egg-sized jade on old lady Yan's head. He made a frowning face, pointed, babbled, and stomped his hands.
Ji Feng could already imagine the look of Old Lady Yan lecturing with her cane, and said angrily:
"I knew that old woman was not a good person. Has she ever hit you?"
Xiaoyao shook his head, made a pushing motion, and said:
"Yong'er bullied me."
"Yong'er?"
Feng and Zhu were unfamiliar with this person. As soon as they finished speaking, they heard Feng Gu say outside:
"Miss, please bring Miss Feng and Miss Zhu out. It's time for dinner. We can play later. The old lady has come with Yong'er. Madam has already ordered the table to be set up in the warm room."
Song and the others also started to talk. The meal was not supposed to be served so soon. It was Old Madam Yan who came here and ordered the meal to be served. She said:
"I'm not as young as you. I'm old. If I eat late at lunch, I won't be able to eat dinner."
Song had no choice but to come out to greet Jungu and invite her to sit in the warm room, where a large fur mattress was already spread out and a charcoal fire was ready.
The Yan family ate at separate tables. Because Aunt Jun was there, Song, the daughter-in-law, could not eat in peace either. She held the food table and placed it in front of Old Lady Yan, waiting on the side, handing her water and serving her dishes. Only after Old Lady Yan had finished her meal could she have a chance to eat a bite.
"Have some wine and some food, Miss Tian, don't be polite."
Old Lady Yan ordered people around, had bad teeth and was slow to eat, so she occupied the place. It was difficult for the women to talk privately, and because they were concerned about the Song family, they hardly picked up their chopsticks.
Song had been serving Jun Gu for many years. Even if Jun Gu deliberately chose to eat when there were guests in her courtyard, she couldn't openly criticize her. She had no choice but to serve her and persuade Tian Gu and the others to eat.
"Is this food delicious?"
Although she was a vegetarian, in order to entertain Tian and the others, the table was mostly filled with meat, and it was extremely sumptuous.
Just like this, the old lady felt uncomfortable and said:
"My daughter-in-law doesn't treat me this well. You are more fortunate than me."
Tian was not her daughter-in-law, so she did not agree with her at all. Instead, she said:
"Madam, you have such a good daughter-in-law. She keeps everything in order and serves you well. Isn't that a blessing? When I was your daughter-in-law, I didn't have such a good temper. Madam, please cherish your blessings. If you say you are unlucky too much, it will come true."
The old lady sneered twice.
"After all, you country folk can talk."
Tian did not give in at all, but said more:
"We are speaking vulgar language, unlike the old lady. Even the stupid people can't understand what you are saying."
This meant that she was cursing people in a roundabout way. Old Lady Yan couldn't win over Tian, so she could only sarcastically say a few words to Song:
"You've made a good marriage!"
She no longer pretended to ask the mother and daughter to eat vegetables. Yong'er, because she liked him, stayed next to her, and the old lady said that she would occasionally feed him some good meat.
"I don't want to eat the turtle soup, I want to eat what's on her plate!"
This Yong'er instructed, he was two years older than Xiaoyao, but he was very rude, kept making a fuss, and pointed at a dish of braised food on Xiaoyao's table and asked for it.
This was brought by Ji Xu. Thinking that Xiaoyao had not eaten for a long time, he specially packed two big bags for her. Song was a vegetarian, so he originally wanted to braise some radish and bean curd sticks for her to eat, but he thought that her health was not good and she might not be able to tolerate the stimulating spices in the marinade, so he gave up.
Song didn't want to embarrass the good person by making fun of her, so she didn't put any braised food on the old lady's table, not giving her a chance to eat. Unexpectedly, Yong'er saw this and started making a fuss.
Old Lady Yan asked what it was, and thought that Song was deliberately treating her nephew coldly, and only gave her daughter some good food. Song knew what she was thinking, so she said:
"That's the braised food that Xu made. Xiaoyao is used to eating it and loves it. I'm afraid Jungu might not be used to it, so I didn't put it out for the time being."
As expected, Old Lady Yan immediately showed disdain and said to Yong'er in her arms:
"Those are just street food, how dirty they are! Don't eat them, they'll upset your stomach."
When Tian and Ji Feng heard this, if Song was not a guest, they would have started to curse at her out of consideration for the fact that she was their daughter-in-law.
After hearing this, Xiaoyao was very angry and gestured something, but the grandparents could not understand at all.
Little Yao remembered that Yong'er was trying to steal her things, so she continued to eat the braised food, nodding her head and looking very happy. This made Yong'er feel itchy and she didn't listen to Old Lady Yan at all, and started to yell:
"I want to eat! I want to eat!"
Finally, he got a plate of it and ate it. It was really good stuff. He bit out a lot of bones and ate it all. Afterwards, he complained to Old Lady Yan:
"Auntie is partial. She only gives the good things to the youngest."
This caused Old Lady Yan to scold him:
"You ignorant idiot, that's not even a good thing! I told you not to eat it, but you didn't listen!"
After the grandparents left, they were finally able to spend time together freely. The children finished their meal and ran to play in the house. The youngest gestured:
"Let's sleep together tonight. I'll sleep on the innermost bed, Xiaozhu will sleep in the middle, and Second Sister will sleep on the outer bed, just like before, okay?"
She then took out the box hidden under the bed, which was filled with good things she had left for her, including a wolf-hair brush and a silk flower with beads, one for Zhu and one for Feng.
The two of them were not new to this place. They hadn't seen Xiaoyao for many days and wanted to stay and play. So they went to ask Tian:
"Mom, can we stay here for a day?"
Song's family was keeping them there, but Ji Xu said she had to take care of the stall at home, and besides, she had to keep an eye on the price of wool, so she had to go back and couldn't stay overnight.
"Aunt is so kind, why don't you take my sisters and stay here for a day?"
Tian said, "I can't leave you alone, so I have to go back. Since the elementary school for these two little kids has been suspended, I'll let them stay here for a day. Don't be bothered."
He also told Feng and Zhu to be obedient and quiet. Song was happy and said:
"One day is not enough. Stay a few more days. I'll take them back in a carriage someday and save you the trouble."
Tian was worried that Song would be overworked, so she only let the child stay for one day.
It's settled. Tian and Ji Xu will just sit for a while and then leave.
Ji Xu was drinking sweet wine and listening to his elders' farewell when he felt his palm being pulled.
It was the little kid, lying on her lap, gesturing:
"I have something good for my sister."
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