Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 106
Guo Daping stammered back: "I...I'm not feeling well today, shopkeeper Qiu, can I...can I ask for a leave?"

Qiu Baiyan glanced at the beggar who was squatting aside and looking up at the sky, and nodded, "Well, then you should go and see the doctor!"

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Qiu."

Guo Daping put down the bucket and went out without even packing his things.The beggar watched Qiu Baiyan enter the room and immediately followed Guo Daping out.

Walking on the street, for some reason, it was almost June, and Guo Daping felt chills all over, and looked behind him quietly. The beggar old man followed him closely, looked around from time to time, and seemed more nervous than him .

Was he not a beggar, but a hidden bandit, or even a Turkic?Thinking of this, Guo Daping's legs felt weak, and he almost couldn't even walk.

In the Pingding Camp, Xia Zhen and Liu Zaili sat together for breakfast. They didn't say a word for a long time. The room was so quiet that even a needle could be heard. There was no one at the corner of the corridor outside. Mr. Tian and Ma Min'er held each other Taking flower rolls, holding porridge in one hand, talking in a low voice while eating, after eating, a guard took their bowls, and the two sat on the spot by the railing.

"Digest food."

"I heard that Mr. has not slept for a day and two nights, why don't you take a nap?"

"Well, wait a minute."

Ma Min'er glanced at Xia Zhen's office, as if the two of them hadn't finished eating.

"Thank you, Second Lady."

"Ah..." Ma Min'er turned her head, "First... you are too polite."

Mr. Tian shook his head: "I'm telling the truth."

"gentlemen……"

Taking a deep breath, Mr. Tian looked left and right and said, "To be honest, last night, I was looking forward to the little general's arrival, but also afraid of the little general's arrival. I was conflicted in my heart."

Ma Min'er could understand his contradictions. On the one hand, this chaotic situation could no longer be resolved by Wen. It was on the verge of breaking out, and it needed someone like Xia Zhen to control violence with violence.

She lowered her head and followed Mr. Tian and sighed.

"Why is Erniang sighing?"

"No one wants to be seen as a brutal person."

"Yes, you are right." Mr. Tian smiled wryly, "The General's Mansion in Yizhou Township is the fifth generation in the hands of the little general. The first and second generations are in charge of the family. With extraordinary courage, he was promoted all the way from a corps leader to become the biggest ruler of Yizhou. However, in the generation of the old general, on the one hand, there were fewer battles, and on the other hand, his temperament was gentle. I grew up in middle school, but..." He couldn't continue, his head bowed to the ground, as a subordinate, he couldn't say anything about his boss, even if he was no longer alive.

Ma Min'er changed the subject: "Since when did the wars with the Turks become more frequent?"

"One year before the general got married, the wandering Turkic tribes suddenly became stronger and came to harass the border of our Great Wei Dynasty every year. The general had to fight east and west to resist the attack of the Turks. I thought... "Speaking of this, Mr. Tian bowed his head and fell silent.

"The big general is gone, the old general has a gentle personality, but in order to frighten the 20 troops, you let the little general go, making him become as irritable as he is today?"

"Er Niang always hits the nail on the head, yes, that's right." Mr. Tian looked into the distance, "Ten-year-old boy, except for my son who keeps whipping those disobedient soldiers, what can he use to restrain them? ?”

For some reason, Ma Min'er felt a pain in his heart. Ten-year-old boy, most people are playing with mud, but he has to shoulder the task of 20 troops, even if he doesn't do anything, just stand in front of people , That also requires great courage and deterrent power!If it were you, seeing the 20 heads of crows, you would be so frightened that you would shrink your head into the arms of your parents!But he only has a gentle grandfather, what can he do, he can only rush forward.

The two were silent for a while, and Mr. Tian continued: "Last night, I really thought that the little general had to kill a few people to calm down the situation, but I didn't expect... Really, thank you, Er Niang, it was you who let us resolve the situation without bloodshed. this crisis."

"Sir, you are being polite. As I said, I am a bystander, so I can see the problem rationally. You are the parties, and you were blinded for a while."

"No, no, we got used to using violence to control violence before we knew it, and we all forgot that there is such a thing as plotting."

Ma Min'er shook her head and laughed, "Sir, since the crisis here is over, I can't help with the rest of the matter. I'm going to go back. Otherwise, my father should be worried."

"Okay." Mr. Tian stood up from the railing, "I'll send you out of the city."

"No need, sir, you guys are busy, I can do it."

Mr. Tian smiled, "If I don't follow the platoon, the little general will not be able to pass."

"Then... that's fine." Ma Min'er said, "I'll go in and talk to him."

"kindness!"

Mr. Tian and Ma Min'er entered Xia Zhen's office. The two young dignitaries had already finished their meal. They didn't know what to say. When they saw them coming in, they stopped talking.

"Little General, I'm going home."

Xia Zhen looked at Ma Min'er with earnest eyes, meaning don't go back, just stay by my side.

Ma Min'er shook her head, "I came out in a hurry yesterday, I didn't bring anything, I didn't even take a shower, I felt my body smelled bad."

Uh... Xia Zhen was stunned for a moment, "I'll arrange someone to buy clothes for you on the street right away, there's a place to take a shower."

Ma Miner still shook her head, "No, I won't go back, my father will be worried."

Seeing that the young daughter-in-law insisted on going back, Xia Zhen almost wrapped her eyes in reluctance.

"You are busy." Ma Min'er bowed to Liu Zaili again, "Jun Wang, come to my house again when you have time."

"Thank you Ma Erniang for the invitation, this county has thanked you."

"The two of you are busy, I'm going back."

Mr. Tian said: "Jun Wang, little general, let me arrange a carriage."

Xia Zhen nodded.

Mr. Tian sent Ma Min'er out.

Guo Daping took the beggar out of the city gate, went to a deserted place and asked, "Where are you going?"

"Find me a place to live with food and drink." The beggar replied while looking in the direction of the city gate, and was secretly relieved to find that no one was following.

Food and drink...Guo Daping just wanted to say that there is such a place in my place, when he suddenly thought of his mother's nursing shed, "Oh, then come with me."

Mrs. Guo Li was listless during this time, selling things in the shop, and misplaced money several times.

"Really, how do you do business? You can't even count copper coins."

"Yes... I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'll give you another essay!"

The guest took the copper coins unhappily, and left cursing.

"Mom, what's the matter with you?"

Guo Lishi was slapping himself on the forehead, and when he heard his son's voice, he was startled, "Why are you back?"

"I am busy."

When Guo Li saw his son came back, he quickly closed the store door and went to the yard behind the store door, "What's wrong, son, why are you so lazy?"

"I didn't sleep last night."

"What's the matter?"

"Something happened."

"What's the matter?"

"It has nothing to do with us. It's someone else's business. Let me deliver a message to them. Now that it's delivered, it's all right. Mom, I'll go to sleep first and have lunch later."

"Oh, then go to sleep quickly."

Guo Daping went to bed. After all, he was a son, not as good as a daughter, and he was careless. He didn't realize that his wife was also in bad spirits.

Seeing his son, Mrs. Guo Li patted his face again, "Don't think about it anymore. He is the daughter of the county magistrate. What do you care about yourself? Fortunately, I have two sons to rely on. Yes, I have two sons." Consoling herself, she felt much better, and hurried to the kitchen to make something delicious for her son.

The beggar looked at the small shed, but it was clean and refreshing. He looked out at the field, closed the door, lay down on the floor, closed his eyes, and fell asleep. He was too tired and trembling for days, and finally I can sleep for a while.

Ma Min'er only sent the guard's carriage to his main shop and let him go back, "It's okay, if Mr. Tian asks, just tell me what I said, I asked you to send it to the shop of Anlong Trading Company."

"This……"

"It's okay, go back quickly, maybe the little general and the others will use a carriage."

The guard wanted to say that the little general didn't need a carriage all year round: "Then... the little one will go back first."

"Thank you, big brother."

"Young lady...you're welcome."

The little brother driving the carriage knew that the little lady was the young general's best friend, but he didn't expect to be favored by the general, and he was so polite to them, so he went back to report with a smile.

Ma Min'er stood at the door of the shop, pulled up her sleeves and smelled it, "Oh, mother, it really stinks."

The guy at the door saw the owner coming, and he greeted him, and went to find the shopkeeper Qiu, and the shopkeeper Qiu.

Qiu Baiyan rushed down to greet her, "My little boss—"

"I'm just passing by, so get busy!"

"Oh."

Qiu Baiyan felt that Xiaodong's clothes were sticky, "You want to..."

"Yes, I want to take a shower, I'm going to my dormitory."

"Do you have a change of clothes?"

"There should be."

Qiu Baiyan said: "The fine cotton cloth has been dyed, I asked Shi Xiao'e to make a few sets for you, or let her bring it to you, and let's see how it looks."

"Okay, then I will trouble Zhang Zhang."

"My little boss is polite, I'll do it right away."

More than half an hour later, Ma Min'er wore a newly woven and dyed cotton dress, a simple style, breathable and cool, "Very good!"

"Little boss, you look good in anything you wear." Shi Xiaoe sighed.

"No, it's because you made it look good."

Shi Xiaoe shook her head, "A embroiderer also made a sample to try on, and I always feel that there is something wrong with the clothes."

After what she said, Ma Miner lowered her head and took a closer look, "Is the color too monotonous?"

"But besides these few colors, what else can be dyed?"

"It can be printed!"

"printing?"

"Yes, the color of summer fabrics should not be dark. If it is too dark, it will look hot, but if it is too light and dull, we can make a mold and print various beautiful patterns on the fabric, so that it will not look monotonous."

"Is this feasible? Maybe it's more convenient to embroider."

Ma Min'er shook her head, "When it's printed, you'll know how beautiful and easy calico is."

Qiu Baiyan nodded, "I have been to the southernmost part, where people have printed clothes, which are done through batik."

"You can try the mold."

"Okay, then I will sum it up with the masters."

"Yeah." Ma Min'er said, "For the style, try to narrow the waist and narrow the sleeves, so that everyone can wear it comfortably and conveniently."

"I see, my little boss." Shi Xiaoe nodded repeatedly.

It was already noon, Ma Miner went to the kitchen to eat a simple work meal, and did not see Guo Daping while eating, "Hey, why didn't Brother Guo come down to eat?"

"He's not feeling well. I asked him to find a doctor. Just now, a guy said that he went home directly."

"Oh, then when I go back later, I'll go and see him."

Shi Xiaoe blinked when she heard Xiaodong's words, "Little boss, Brother Daping is serious about his work here, and he has never asked for leave."

"Really, Master Qiu?"

"En." Qiu Baiyan nodded.

After the meal, Qiu Baiyan arranged for a carriage in the shop to take the little owner back home, before getting into the carriage, someone came to find him.

"Aunt Wu, why do you come here when you have time?"

Wu Xu smiled awkwardly, "I was about to ask someone to go to you, I didn't expect to meet you in person."

Ma Min'er immediately understood why she came here, "Why don't we go to the teahouse at the intersection."

"Okay." Wu Xu couldn't wait.

The two sat under the shed of the teahouse and ordered two bowls of clear tea. The weather was hot, and they both drank most of it.

Wu Xu put down the bowl, and said awkwardly: "Er Niang...that...about Mr. Mo, I wonder if you have heard about it?"

Ma Min'er smiled lightly, "Is Master Mo okay?"

Hey, Mrs. Mo was arrested last night, what can she know as a little lady, Wu Xu didn't hide it, "Last night, I heard that there was a disturbance in the big camp, and the little general arrested the greedy people in order to calm down the troublemakers. county magistrate."

"Oh." Ma Miner responded.

"But my eldest lady's father—that is, Mr. Mo was wronged. He was not greedy for money at all."

"No greed, the little general will definitely release him when he finds out the facts."

Wu Xu's expression was uncomfortable: "That...that's not it either."

"I don't understand what Aunt Wu said."

"Hey, since I'm talking about this, I won't cover up my family's ugliness. Lord Mo is not greedy for money, but Lord Mo's stepwife, Mrs. Liu, is. I would like to ask Er Niang to ask, what happened to women? Do you want a man to carry it?"

Ma Min'er really asked about this matter, and the reason was of course because of her father. At that time, she was surprised, it wouldn't make Master Mo unable to come to her house to make a decision. After the investigation, Mr. Tian's subordinates replied, "As long as Mr. Mo took out the double amount of money you had for greedy ink, and you will be fine."

She asked, "When will that person be released?"

"Let's go tonight."

That's why Ma Min'er came back in a hurry. Master Mo will find a matchmaker for her daughter as soon as she comes back to her home to discuss when to make an appointment and when to go for the three letters and six rituals.

Aunt Wu looked at Ma Miner earnestly.

"According to the logic, whoever commits the crime shall bear the responsibility."

"Will the little general come to arrest Liu?" Aunt Wu looked at Ma Min'er with a complicated expression. She hoped that Liu would be arrested and punished, but she didn't. She runs.

Ma Min'er grinned, "Don't worry, Master Mo should be fine, and I think he can go home tonight."

"real."

"Yeah." Ma Miner nodded.

Wu Xu was very happy, she didn't realize at all that her lord was just arrested last night, how could this little lady know that lord Mo would be released tonight, if she was relieved, she went back happily.

Ma Min'er shook her head, if Xia Zhen didn't have too many things to do, she really wanted to mess with Mrs. Mo's stepmother. I heard that she treated Mrs. Mo's siblings very badly!Haha, is it too much to meddle in?

Ma Min'er, who was belatedly aware of it until she left the city gate, finally realized why Shi Xiao'e said that serious thing. She dared to say good things for the person she likes.

Thinking about it carefully, of these two people, one is upright and calm, the other is lively and cute, they are a good match, hehe, don't worry about Aunt Guo, we are about to have a wife here.

After pacifying Daying, Mr. Tian received a letter from Feige sent by Zhang Nianmei. He was very angry and anxious, and hurriedly passed the news to the little general, "Shao actually escaped."

"Where can he escape?" Xia Zhen's indifferent eyes began to turn red again, "Say hello to the people outside, if anyone dares to keep him, don't blame me, Xia Zhen, for destroying his family."

"Yes, little general, I'll go greet people I know right away." Mr. Tian hurried out.

Liu Zaili sat on the guest seat, crossed his legs, "How long are you going to keep me waiting?"

Xia Zhen snorted coldly, "Ten days at most."

"Okay, then I'll go and reply to the emperor." Liu Zaili called out of Xia Zhen's office as if I had time to wait.

Xia Zhen stared at his back in a daze, and after a while, Xiaowen rubbed his face. Xiaowen hurried forward, "Little General, it's time for lunch."

"Come in."

"Yes, little general." Xiaowen didn't expect his master to eat so simply today.

Of course he was straightforward. Last night, the heavy burden on his shoulders was solved by memorizing the Analects a few times and kneeling on the back of a few thorns. Isn't it easy?
Although the surnamed Shao fled, Xia Zhen was in a really good mood. She ate three bowls for lunch late. What are you afraid of running away? I am most afraid of not knowing who is behind the scenes. That is the scariest thing. Now it is exposed in front of me. , I'm afraid he's an uncle.

Xiaowen felt that the little general was in a good mood, so he gently reminded: "Little general, don't forget to go back to accompany the old lady at night."

"Well, I see."

Ma Min'er didn't go back first, but went to Aunt Guo's house in the town, "Aunt, is Brother Daping there?"

"I just woke up and was eating." Mrs. Guo Li hurried over to open the door when she heard the knock, but she didn't expect it to be Ma Erniang, so happy that she couldn't see her eyes.

"Brother Daping, are you feeling unwell?"

"No... I haven't heard of it." Guo Li was stunned for a moment, "Didn't the child tell me if he was feeling sick?"

Guo Lishi took Ma Min'er to the main hall behind the shop where Guo Daping was eating at the table of the Eight Immortals.

"Er Niang, why are you here?" Guo Daping didn't expect to see her, and was extremely happy.

"I heard shopkeeper Qiu said that you were not feeling well, so I came to see you."

"Did you go to the county seat today?"

"Uh... yes." Ma Min'er smiled uncomfortably.

"I'm not sick."

"Then you..." Did you miss Aunt Guo and find an excuse to come back?Ma Miner thought so.

Guo Daping put down the bowls and chopsticks in his hand, walked quickly to the door of the main hall, looked outside, and quickly closed the door.

"You child, what are you doing in broad daylight?"

"Mother, you go in, I have something to say to Erniang."

"What mother can't listen to."

"Go in quickly."

Guo Li was pushed in by his son.

Seeing his nervousness, Ma Min'er became nervous: "Brother Daping, what happened?"

"Er Niang, I think that beggar is very strange."

"Is it the beggar from the nursing home in our backyard?"

"Yes." Guo Daping nodded.

"Is that place strange?" Ma Miner asked.

Guo Daping replied: "During this time, the cook said that he was mysterious, as if there was a ghost chasing after him, hiding behind the stove all day long, and asked me to calm down the camp last night."

"Ask you to pacify the camp?"

Guo Daping nodded.

"Go for what?"

"Let me tell him what I saw. He also knows that Mr. Tian's name is Tian Yangguang."

Ma Miner frowned.

Guo Daping was humble, "He said that if I told the story, he would have a way to kill me."

Ma Min'er raised her head suddenly, "Ah..."

"I'm doing well in the shop. He insists on going out of the city, but he has no place to go. Let me arrange a place for him. I think of the small shed my mother used to look after the fields, so I let him live in it."

Ma Min'er frowned, "Accordingly, he shouldn't be a spy."

Guo Daping shook his head, "I don't understand."

Ma Min'er looked at Guo Daping, "You stay at home these two days, don't go anywhere, I'll go and see who he is."

"Er Niang, he knows martial arts, you go to the danger alone."

"It's okay, I'll let Uncle Niu follow me."

"Oh." Guo Daping hoped to go with Erniang himself, but he was timid, and after she left, he would be alone at home and feel annoyed.

Ma Min'er passed by the shed on her way home, and looked towards it quietly. The door was closed, leaving only a gap. She glanced at it a few times, but she didn't see anything. passed.

"Ma Erniang..."

The depressed throat was extremely hoarse.

Walking on the empty field, Ma Min'er broke out in a cold sweat when she first heard this voice, and wanted to walk quickly.

"Ma Erniang..."

He yelled again, and eyes peeked out through the crack of the door.

Ma Min'er bit the bullet and turned to the small wooden shed, "Uncle, what...what's the matter?"

"I'm hungry and I have nothing to eat."

Mother, I was scared to death, Ma Min'er patted her heart secretly, "This shed has not been lived in for a long time, there is no food in it, wait a moment, I will go back and ask Uncle Niu to bring you some."

"I don't want others, I want you."

Ma Min'er frowned, she has been working as a small boss for a long time, and she is really not used to being ordered by others.

"Hurry up." The beggar looked around outside and urged.

... Well, respect the old and love the young, seeing that he doesn't care about his age and lameness, Ma Min'er said: "Then just wait, I will come right away."

"En." The beggar closed the door.

Seeing his daughter coming back, Ma Qifeng finally let go of his concern, "Min'er, are you alright?"

Ma Miner shook her head, "It's fine."

"Oh, have you eaten yet?"

"I've eaten." Ma Min'er replied as she walked towards the kitchen.

"Not full?" Ma Qifeng felt strange after saying that he had eaten and ran towards the kitchen.

Ma Min'er said: "I met a beggar on the road, I'll get him something to eat."

"Oh." No wonder, it turned out to be like this, Ma Qifeng said: "Let Uncle Niu take it there, you have a rest."

"It's okay, a few steps."

Ma Min'er rummaged through some leftovers in the kitchen, but there were no more dishes, so she reached out to wash some dishes and made two simple stir-fries.

"My son is kind." Ma Qifeng said with a smile when he saw his daughter busy.

Ma Min'er replied: "Father, we are also people who have gone through hardships, so we should help if we can."

"That's it."

In addition to getting a ready-made meal, Ma Min'er also gave the beggar five days' worth of grain and some vegetables that could be stored.After sending them off, I waited at home with my father for someone from the Mo family to come.

On the third day, we finally arrived at the Mo family, but Master Mo did not bring his grandfather along. Ma Min'er saw the deep disappointment in his father's eyes. Although he lived in a small town, Ma Chengzu had never been to Ma's house. courtyard.Usually during Chinese New Year and holidays, Ma Miner's family would go to the town and come back after watching their grandfather, and they rarely even had a chance to have a meal together.

Master Mo looked at the row of children standing in the main hall, from big to small, very neat, and then looked at the person his daughter was going to marry, he didn't look old, but he was a widower after all, so he felt uncomfortable, There is no way to describe it.

When it came to the matchmaker, seeing that the two families were silent, she coughed and broke the silence, "Master Ma——"

"exist!"

"Master Mo invited me here today to discuss with your family how to celebrate the three books and six rituals. What day do you think is suitable and convenient?"

"Since the good woman is here, please ask the good woman to help me choose a good date. A certain man Ma really doesn't understand these things."

The matchmaker saw that although Master Ma had four children, he looked young and not bad, she beamed, "Then I will not be polite."

"Good woman, just say it."

Ma Min'er and the sisters stood aside, listening to the matchmaker choose a date. Sometimes they would send out birthdays, and then they would make small orders, and then they would make big orders... Anyway, the final big wedding will be in May next year.

This ancient flash marriage actually took a year, it was not sloppy at all.

"Master Ma, what do you think?"

Ma Qifeng cupped his hands: "This is very good."

"Okay, okay." The matchmaker said to Master Mo with a smile: "My lord, you heard me, you can go back and prepare to marry your daughter with peace of mind."

What can I do if I don't marry, I can't delay my daughter's life, Mrs. Mo nodded, and wanted to call Ma Qifeng, but he didn't know how to address him. This middle-aged man who is only a few years younger than himself has become his own. His son-in-law, he just wanted to hide his face and run away.

Mr. Mo came with the matchmaker in a hurry, and then left with the matchmaker in a hurry, like a gust of wind, without leaving a trace.

Uh, what are you thinking about?Ma Min'er said: "Father, your business has been settled, so let's do everything according to the procedure."

"Father, a man..."

"Dad, don't worry, I think of someone who can help us."

"Who?"

"Miss Saburo."

"This...isn't that good."

"Father, what's wrong." Ma Min'er said: "Master Sanlang is a well-known Confucian in Pingding. Asking his wife to help you will not only make you look good, but also make your future wife look good. Why not do it."

"This……"

"Father, don't worry, I'll take care of the hiring." Ma Min'er said with a smile.

"Oh."

Ma Min'er felt that her grandfather was not able to come, and her father was upset, so she pursed her lips and said after thinking about it, "Father, my grandfather was not able to come, maybe it was because of my second uncle." Although she felt that, even if Without the second uncle's business, his grandfather might not be able to come, but in order to comfort her father, she still made excuses for him.

"What happened to your second uncle?"

(End of this chapter)