Chapter 125 Helping the refugees, the child's gender...
The expectant faces before me overlapped with those of the elderly women and villagers of Lvtian County.
Youthful, elderly, young, men, women...
There was once a group of people who admired and respected her, praised her achievements, and stood up for her when she was framed.
Zhang Ting approved of this exchange of benefits, but her calm heart was uncontrollably stirred, as if something was quietly growing and expanding within her.
She lowered her hands and solemnly scanned every face present.
"You don't need to follow me."
In an instant, the light in everyone's eyes went out, turning as dull and lifeless as the clothes they wore.
Zhang Ting said, "Since you are innocent and have only fallen to this state due to the exploitation of local gentry and officials, I will show you a way out."
She pointed in the direction of the county town, "This place is not far from the government office. You all hurry up and block the entrance where the county magistrate is on duty early tomorrow morning." She then pointed to the ground and smiled slightly, "Kneel down on the ground and shout, 'We beg Magistrate Hu to do justice for us,' and report the truth."
The group exchanged bewildered glances, their faces showing distress. "Our benefactors, we were forced to leave our homes and become exiles because of the persecution by corrupt officials. If this gets back to them, won't they kill us?"
"My benefactor, why does the county magistrate address the county magistrate as 'County Magistrate'?"
"So simple, they just gave the land back to us?" Someone scratched their head in disbelief.
Zhang Ting did not provide an answer, but reassured everyone, "You may go now."
"I will help you."
...
The summer heat was intense, and Zong Suyi only felt alive again after returning to the carriage. However, the fine sweat on his body had not yet subsided after sitting for a while, so he simply lay down next to the ice basin and fanned himself to cool down.
He slowly closed his eyes, revealing a serene and relaxed expression, enjoying the hard-won coolness.
I really want to take the ice basin with me wherever I go.
He was lost in a beautiful dream when suddenly he felt dizzy and was lifted up by the waist, away from the ice basin.
"Let go, let go!" Zong Suyi grabbed the corner of the ice basin with lightning speed and shouted urgently.
Zhang Ting pried open his hands that were tightly gripping the ice basin, carried him away from the ice source, and pressed him into the small couch. "My lord never learns his lesson. You are pregnant now and should not be so close to the ice."
Zong Suyi lay down on the small couch, sobbing with her lips pursed, "But I'm so hot, so hot." She touched her belly with relief, "The baby is still here, he hasn't been frozen away."
He turned to his wife and cried, "I'm going to melt from the heat." Despite his limited use of ice, he felt sticky and uncomfortable all day, even more so than when he was drenched in sweat.
He shrank back and hugged the stubborn, heartless woman, pleading with her, "Can you let me use more ice every day? My wife, please, this feeling of being neither hot nor cold is so uncomfortable." He pulled her hand to his face, his eyes brimming with tears, as if a downpour was about to begin if she didn't agree.
Zhang Ting frowned slightly, reached out and touched his vest; the temperature was normal, but there was a slight sheen of sweat.
She lovingly stroked her husband's face, but for the sake of his and the child's health, she wouldn't allow him to overuse ice.
Upon hearing this, Zong Suyi let out a dry howl and lay back down on the small couch, even pounding it a few more times.
What a shameless woman who doesn't know how to cherish women!
Helpless, Zhang Ting took a fan and fanned him, asking, "Is that better?"
"My lady, you're so good to me," Zong Suyi snuggled closer again, smiling brightly, her eyes clear and bright like those of an innocent young man. "Could the wind be a little stronger?"
She poked his nose with her fan. "You've got some pretty good ideas."
Zong Suyi nestled in her arms, showering her with sweet words, "I just wanted to be close to you like this, my lady. How can we stay together if it's too hot?" She pouted, looking aggrieved, "How can you say my thoughts are unrealistic?"
He took her hand and placed it on his belly, his eyes sparkling with life, and said softly, "My baby wants to stay with Mommy too."
Zhang Ting stared intently at him, his gentle and delicate eyebrows and his warm and serene smile making her heart pound. It was as if a thousand tides were surging within her, or as if a gentle stream was flowing into her heart.
The lower abdomen beneath my palm rose and fell slightly, and a new life was thriving and leaping within.
It is the continuation of her life.
Zhang Ting, still holding her hand on his lower abdomen, paused slightly.
"Can you feel the baby?" Zong Suyi asked softly, her tone full of anticipation.
It's only been about two months, how can we sense any movement?
But Zhang Ting's hand trembled as if she had been jolted by something. Her eyes widened and she jumped away abruptly, her movements inexplicably sluggish.
Zong Suyi looked at her with a puzzled expression. "What's wrong?"
Zhang Ting stood frozen for a long while before stammering, "He's too lively." This feeling was so strange; a new, vibrant little life was growing inside her husband's body, and it was still her bloodline.
She walked over awkwardly, touched her lower abdomen again stiffly, and found it to be very flat. How could a baby live inside?
Zhang Ting's reaction was so funny that Zong Suyi thought she was like a dull, old ox. He chuckled and burst out laughing, his shoulders shaking with laughter at his own thoughts. "I can't take it anymore, it's too funny, my stomach hurts so much." His eyes crinkled into bright, clear crescent moons as he laughed.
Upon hearing him say his stomach hurt, Zhang Ting immediately tensed up, her hands and feet trembling with anxiety. "Xiao Yi, stop laughing, be careful of the baby," she said, circling around Zong Suyi.
She was so anxious she was practically burning up, but Zong Suyi still found it hilarious, laughing so hard she couldn't stand up straight. Her eyes, which were filled with twinkling stars, were fixed on Zhang Ting.
After he had finished laughing, he couldn't help but pull her close, wrap his arms around her neck, and sweetly kiss her cheek.
"My most, most, most beloved old thing." After saying that, he turned his head and chuckled softly.
Is she old? She's only five years older than Zong Suyi, so how can she be considered old?
But considering that this title was Zong Suyi's absolute favorite, Zhang Ting took pity on him and let him off the hook.
Seeing that he was very lively now and there was no sign of any problem, Zhang Ting secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He picked her up and put her back on the small couch. "Take a nap. We'll go into town later to buy some supplies."
Zong Suyi assumed it was just replenishing daily supplies, so she had no objections. She obediently nestled into the small couch, blinking her eyes as she stared at her.
Suddenly, he asked, "My wife, do you think Xiaoguai is a girl or a boy?"
Zhang Ting was suddenly shocked and quickly realized that this was a life-or-death question.
With a firm look in her eyes, she solemnly replied, "I like both men and women, even if you give birth to my babies, I'll still like you."
Zong Suyi glared at her, a hint of flirtatiousness in his handsome eyes, "You silly girl, talking nonsense! How could I give birth to a monkey?" But he felt a sweet warmth in his heart and happily lowered his head.
Zhang Ting gave an awkward smile, pulled him into her arms, and, wanting to end the conversation quickly, tried to change the subject by asking him what he wanted to eat for dinner.
Suddenly, he asked again, "My lady, if Xiao Guai were a boy, how would you treat him?"
How can you treat your own child?
Zhang Ting said, "Naturally, it's like precious jewels, with fine clothes and sumptuous food."
Zong Suyi nodded in satisfaction, then clutched the hem of her clothes and asked hesitantly, "If it's a boy, will the mistress personally teach him, or will she invite a tutor from outside the academy... to teach him manners and etiquette?"
Zhang Ting didn't understand why he said that, but she answered him very seriously: "If I have free time, I will definitely teach you personally. Poetry, books, rites, and the Spring and Autumn Annals are a given. As for social interactions, horseback riding, and archery, you can take the lead since you are good at those."
Zong Suyi was overjoyed. His wife was not like those pedantic scholars who believed that men should be skilled in needlework and be obedient and quiet.
He slowly climbed up from her arms, hugged his favorite clever head, and then gave her a sweet kiss on the other side of her face.
With a loud smack, it pressed firmly onto the surface.
Holding her head close to his face, Zong Suyi stroked her thick, black hair and said with a hint of guilt, "My wife, if this baby is a boy, then we should strike while the iron is hot and have another one. I will definitely give you a daughter to inherit the family business."
Of course, he would never allow any little vixens to come up and volunteer themselves if he didn't give birth to Zhang Ting; Zhang Ting could only be his.
Zhang Ting smelled its gentle fragrance, and a sense of peace and tranquility washed over her.
She truly didn't care about the number or existence of children.
"Anything is fine, I can do it even without a girl."
Zong Suyi glanced at her casually and snorted lightly. He didn't believe that there wasn't a woman who didn't want a daughter to carry on the family line.
Just like his mother, even though his father couldn't produce a legitimate daughter, he still took a concubine and had a long line of half-sisters for him; even though his grandmother was highly respected and loved his grandfather dearly, even though his grandfather didn't have many children, she still took a concubine into the family to add to the family.
Zong Suyi knew from a young age that no matter how much a woman liked or loved you, she would never compromise on the matter of having children.
If they can't do it openly, they'll do it secretly. The number of mistresses they keep and the number of prostitutes they frequent are countless and commonplace.
Thinking of this, he suddenly felt a surge of anger, glared fiercely at Zhang Ting, and angrily turned his head away, ignoring her.
Zhang Ting was puzzled: "?" What's wrong now?
As the sun gradually moved eastward and set, the carriage slowly entered Qishan County.
The ground was bathed in a golden light, a breathtaking sight, but the weeds were scorched and dry, and there wasn't a trace of green on the ground. The sound of wheels rolling over the soil was like the earth's painful wailing.
Inside the government office.
The cicadas chirped incessantly, creating a noisy cacophony.
The servant stood behind the ice basin, fanning it vigorously. Magistrate Hu's eyes were closed, her two round, thick legs propped up on the table. She was panting from the heat. "Not enough, not enough. Haven't you eaten?"
He kicked the servant to the ground, closed his eyes, and impatiently shouted, "Use more strength!"
The servant fell to the ground and cried out in pain.
After a while, light footsteps could be heard. Magistrate Hu endured the sound with agitation, but instead of a cool breeze, the approaching footsteps stopped.
She immediately sold off that lazy, worthless wretch!
Magistrate Hu opened his eyes angrily, only to see a familiar yet unfamiliar person standing quietly before him, as still as a pine tree, with an outstanding demeanor.
She stared intently at the woman in front of her, her pupils suddenly contracting, too shocked to speak. She turned over but stumbled and fell off the recliner, landing hard on her bottom.
Her eyes widened, and she pointed a trembling finger at the newcomer as if she had seen a ghost, stammering, "You you you you you you you you you you you..."
The newcomer chuckled lightly, "Magistrate Hu, we're old acquaintances. Why are you so afraid?" He sat down in the main seat as if no one else was there, looking at her with a smile.
"I'm not going to eat you."
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