While eating, An Moxue nodded in agreement, "Yes, yes, you're right, I'll definitely pay attention next time."
Only those who truly care about you will be concerned about your safety. They don't want even the slightest oversight to happen. Although they want to know where you are, what you're doing, and how you're doing, these things are insignificant compared to your safety.
As An Moxue ate the hot noodles, her heart was also warmed; it felt so good to have someone care about her.
Aunt Ma looked at her, tears welling in her eyes, and said with heartache, "Slow down, is this enough? If not, I'll cook another bowl. The noodles are ready, it'll be quick."
"That's enough, Auntie." An Moxue ate with relish, and the elderly couple sat beside her watching her finish her meal.
Aunt Ma sat to one side and said happily, "It's so good to be young. Everything looks delicious."
"Hmm, she can eat, but she looks a bit thin. What do you think, old woman? We should make her some good food to nourish her while she's at home these few days." Old Ma said, taking a sip of water from his glass.
Aunt Ma also said with concern, "Yes, yes, you've lost weight, you've lost weight, you need to eat more."
An Moxue looked at them, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. She was clearly two pounds heavier than the last time she came back, so she asked about other things: "Did you receive the things I mailed to you? Did you eat them properly?"
"Received, received. Your auntie has been fine even in this cold winter, going out to visit neighbors without getting sick once," Old Ma hurriedly replied.
An Moxue asked with concern, "How are you, ma'am? Are your legs and back alright?"
Old Ma replied happily, "It's fine! I took the medicine you sent back exactly as you instructed."
Aunt Ma also said, "Don't worry, we're both fine! We've eaten."
An Moxue knew that people at this time had a common problem: they were reluctant to eat or drink the good things and would just put them in the cupboard, some of which would even get moldy. "Don't be reluctant to eat them. These things are really nothing. It's easy to bring them back. Just don't bring back a large amount at once. Don't be reluctant to eat them. But it's more than enough to supply you two elders."
"Girl, you came back in disguise. Don't you want the villagers to know?" Old Ma asked.
"It's okay, just normal life and social interactions, no problem."
"That's good. You haven't been injured in the past few years, have you?" After Old Ma asked, An Moxue saw the old couple looking at her anxiously.
"No, I'm fine! How about we have a match sometime?" An Moxue looked at him and teased him with a smile.
Old Ma said disdainfully, "You think you can beat me? You're so capable. How dare you lay a hand on an old man like me?" He knew that she was better than him.
"There's nothing to be embarrassed about. You're no ordinary person; you're a renowned reconnaissance soldier with countless merits."
As Old Ma listened to her boasting about her past, it was as if he could see the scene of the first time the two of them met again. In the blink of an eye, she had grown into a promising young woman serving the country.
"Alright, keep bragging to your aunt! I'm going to add two more pieces of wood to the stove. We'll go to bed a little later, and you can tell us what you can say." Old Ma said, and left the house.
Aunt Ma said with a smile, "Your Uncle Ma and I were talking about you the other day! We were wondering if you could come back this year. But it's okay if you don't come back. The most important thing is that you're safe. We kept talking about you, and here you are now."
An Moxue smiled and looked at Aunt Ma: "You two are the only ones who still care about me. Please talk to me more often."
Aunt Ma laughed and said, "That won't do. Your ears are too hot, it'll interfere with your work, what should we do?"
After saying that, the mother and daughter looked at each other and burst into laughter.
Old Ma came back, holding two sweet potatoes in his hand: "What are you laughing at? The sweet potatoes buried in the stove pit are ripe now, want some?"
“Eat. My aunt said she’s the only one nagging me, you haven’t said a word, and I’m a little sad.” An Moxue said, taking the sweet potato and peeling it.
"Get out of here! Stop joking around." Old Ma said as he sat down on the kang (a heated brick bed).
An Moxue suddenly thought of the Popov family and asked, "Uncle Ma, Auntie, do you know where the Nalan family's influence extended back then? Some of their servants later moved and went into hiding. How were they dealt with?"
The two thought for a while, and Aunt Ma shook her head and said, "I live in the inner courtyard and have a lot of contact with women. They rarely mention these things, so I don't remember them."
"Uncle Ma, what about you?"
Old Ma looked at her and said, "As you know, the Nalan family was once a super family, no exaggeration. With the ascension of the ancestor, there was no suitable descendant to become the high priest, so the Nalan family ancestors migrated many times, also to avoid those who sought wealth and magic spells. But that doesn't mean the Nalan family members were incapable. They just didn't have the talent to become the high priest, but they were no less capable in other aspects."
An Moxue also admired this, for integrity cannot be tarnished. "Yes, otherwise more than two hundred members of the clan, regardless of gender, would not have died in battle, and their family wealth would have been hauled away in cartloads, all for the sake of resisting the Japanese pirates."
"Yes, in fact, back then, in every place we went, one or more families would become vassals or servants of the Nalan family."
However, when the Nalan family migrated, they severed ties with these families, but left a batch of treasures for them to keep safe.
Of course, corresponding compensation was also provided, but almost all the families did not accept the Nalan family's decision and said they would wait for the Nalan family's return.
However, several families were not informed due to their haste in leaving. Nevertheless, they all wielded considerable influence locally and wouldn't be bullied simply because of the Nalan family's departure, but they would certainly retain their former glory.
"So, does that mean I might still have unknown treasures to inherit?" An Moxue's eyes lit up as she looked at Old Ma.
"That's possible, but it's also more likely that they pocketed the treasure."
An Moxue asked hopefully, "Then, do you know the list?"
"I don't know. Only the direct descendants of the family know about this list. Moreover, I only know about it because back then, Second Master liked to travel all over the country and didn't stay at home much."
“Oh—” An Moxue was somewhat disappointed.
"However, from what I know about the Nalan family, they like to have backup plans. Since we've left the treasure to them for safekeeping, there should be something to restrain them."
“Uncle Ma, I met one, but that family is now a well-established and powerful clan in the area. They really did steal the Nalan family's treasure, but they're on the verge of extermination. I've already punished and dealt with them, and I'll use them for now. Once I stop using them, it will be the end of their clan. Just like you said, the Nalan family has the ability to control them.”
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