Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 123
Some people are afraid, some people are secretly happy.

Most of the people who were terrified were ordinary people. They were worried: "If there is no General Xia, can we still sleep peacefully?"

"Yes, I heard that in other places, they will always be burned, killed and robbed by Turkic people. Only in Yizhou Prefecture does this rarely happen."

"Who says it's not?" Passer-by B said: "I heard that the person sent by the new emperor to accept the seal was the little general's subordinate before. How can he accept the seal of the little general?"

……

The ones who are secretly happy are of course the opponents of the Xia family, or the aristocratic family whose interests have been suppressed.

Ma Min'er asked melancholy: "Master, can the Xia family escape the new emperor?"

"Then you have to ask your future husband-in-law."

"But the imperial power is supreme, Xia Zhen won the battle, what will happen next?"

Jiang Fengyi smiled: "The strong will always have the initiative."

At the place where Qingzhou Prefecture and Xiangzhou Prefecture were handed over, the King of Jin blocked the Turkic Alliance again, and the war came to an end again, and controlled a small half of the county government in Xiangzhou Prefecture, reaching the point where rice was produced from the military pole.

"Zi Li, Xia Shiyong is still very sensible. Instead of food, he gave money." King Jin was in a good mood.

Liu Zaili grinned, "He knew that if he didn't give it, you would bring the military power of two state capitals to attack."

Liu Zicheng said: "I've been fighting with Shao for more than half a month, and I didn't expect Shao to have a couple of troubles."

"The one surnamed Shao may have some tricks, but it is also a fact that Xia Zhen has been attacked on three fronts."

In Xinggu County, Xiangzhou, Mrs. Ling was beside her daughter, taking care of the housework in the General's Mansion with her. There were dozens of servants standing in front of her, not to mention their arrogant appearance.

"You scumbags, steal and play with me all day long, don't think that you will be lawless when the general is not at home, I tell you, when the general is leaving, let my son be the mistress of the house, you have to listen, don't bully her If you are young and ignorant, you think it is easy to fool, and I tell you that it is impossible."

The people below held their breath and remained motionless.

Ling Ruya was sitting in the position of the mistress, with a dark face. After her mother finished speaking, it was her turn, "In order to show punishment, the housekeeper—"

"The little one is—"

"Sell the most slippery ones."

"lady……"

"My words are useless?" Ling Ruya's eyes twitched.

The housekeeper said cautiously: "Husband... madam, these people were bought by the general's mother. If you want to sell them, should you tell the old lady first..."

"The general said, the old lady is getting old, don't bother her with family affairs, you just sell these slaves."

"This……"

"Why, do you think the butler's position is not good?"

"No...no, the little one will do it right away."

Ling Ruya glanced at everyone with sharp eyes, "Everyone back down."

"Yes, ma'am."

Dozens of slaves retreated with their heads bowed and their voices suppressed.

Madam Ling turned her head, "Ya'er, what are you thinking, if it wasn't for me, wouldn't you care about these things today?"

"Mother, I'm not the wife."

"Are you stupid, so what if you're not Mrs. Zheng?" Mrs. Ling said, "I know why General Shao didn't set up a Mrs. Zheng. He wants the emperor to show him the marriage?"

"Then what should I do?" Ling Ruya asked nervously.

"What should I do? Don't say whether the emperor will do what he wants, and point him to his wife. Besides, you should take advantage of the fact that Mrs. Zheng has not entered the door, and hold the family affairs in your hands. Cultivate your confidants, have your own Useful people."

"Mother, in my heart..."

"Don't think about those useless things. Follow General Shao well. Only a husband and wife are valuable, understand?"

"Yes, mother!"

"You, you have to organize the house just like you did just now."

"Got it, mother."

Ling's mother said happily: "I heard that General Shao and General Liao have joined forces and have reached Wu County, Yizhou Prefecture. They are forcing your cousin to hand over the big seal. When the big seal is handed over, the emperor will run the Xia family. You are more expensive than a husband and wife, so you can take a good breath."

Ling Ruya said: "At that time, I will ask my cousin why he refuses to marry me."

"Ask him what he is doing, then you can humiliate him well, without him, your life will still be easy."

Ling Ruya's listless complexion seemed to be better.

In Wu County, Yizhou Prefecture, a battle had just ended. Xia Zhen returned to his camp. The battle had been going on for almost a month, but his face did not look haggard. After opening the curtain, he took off his battle robe on the On the hanger, Xiaowen didn't even have time to take over.

"General, let the little one serve you."

"Go and call Mr. Zhuang."

"Yes, General." Xiaowen went out quickly, and after a while, Zhuang Hao arrived.

"General, are you looking for me?"

"How is the situation in the capital?"

"Returning to the general, the new emperor's harem is fighting fiercely. Moreover, the southern King Zhao has already swept the land of Wuyue, and he is probably about to become king."

Xia Zhen nodded, "Then we will still fight the delay tomorrow."

"Yes, little general, this subordinate understands."

"Write a letter to Mr. Tian and ask him to collect the grain as soon as possible."

"Okay, my subordinates will do it right away."

Unknowingly, July, the hottest month of the year, has passed, and the seedlings in the rice fields have grown to half a person's height, and the people who said they would come back in a few months have not returned. Famous for being ruthless, accurate, and fast, but now they are procrastinating in fighting, and they often draw with their opponents, which makes people who hear it feel puzzled.

Master Ma Er, who had been imprisoned for three months, returned home quietly. He was ashamed to see others after being in such a state, and sat in the room boringly when he got home.

Mrs. Ma Er asked the great lady who danced to help him get rid of the bad luck, "You came out to jump into the brazier and sprinkle moxa water!" Her tone was not so much impatient as it was contempt for the man who hated iron and steel.

Master Ma Er raised his gloomy face to look at his old wife, and asked, "Except for the house, a few small shops are not for sale, right?"

"Then dare to sell them, the family's expenses are all based on them."

"Ah."

"Stop talking about this, come out quickly."

Master Ma Er dragged his generally dirty clothes out of the room, cooperated with his old wife to jump into the brazier, sprinkled wormwood water, and drank the water dripping with dog blood. "Come on, give me a bath."

Mrs. Ma Er was so angry that she wanted to scream twice. There are outsiders here. I am sorry, so she took out the copper and gave it to the witch.

The sorceress got the money and left happily, but was held back by a young daughter-in-law at the corner of the door, "Young lady also wants to get rid of bad luck?"

"No, I want to go to bad luck."

"To bad luck?"

"Yes, old woman, what can you do?"

The sorceress stared at Ma Jian'er without moving.

"As long as it is useful, I have plenty of money."

Hearing Qian, the old woman's eyes lit up, "Of course there is a way."

"Speak out quickly."

"Where's the money?" The sorceress opened her hand.

Ma Jian'er took a dime of silver from her pouch, "here, tell me quickly."

The sorceress narrowed her eyes with joy, "Is there anyone who is lucky by your side but whom you particularly hate?"

Ma Jianer frowned and looked at her.

"You are like this... like this..."

……

As usual, Feng Jiangyi asked people to ask him for gossip, and sat in the gazebo with Ma Qifeng to discuss as usual, and sometimes, Ma Miner also sat by the side or listened to or participated in the discussion.

"Ma Erniang, why do you think General Xia is beating like this?"

"do not know."

"You girl, you don't want to tell me, do you?"

"I didn't scout around for gossip like you did. It's meaningless to say something without basis."

"Haha..." Feng Jiangyi laughed loudly, "Yes, you can't talk nonsense if there is no basis."

Ma Miner pursed her mouth.

Feng Jiangyi said again: "I heard that General Xia's staff are collecting food everywhere, except for Pingding."

"I heard what Shopkeeper Qiu said."

"Why do you think this is?"

"It's not that simple. Rabbits don't eat the grass by the side of their nests. If they don't have to, they won't touch the food."

"Haha, look at you, you are still talking nonsense, here and there are nonsense, simple words to the point."

"Master Jiang, you have been inquiring all day long, have you inquired, have you found anything?"

Feng Jiangyi took a sip of tea: "Do you have to inquire about something?" He shook his head, "It's just to let myself know what's going on, so I don't panic when things happen."

Ma Min'er only half believed what the old man said, he did these things by no means as simple as knowing what he knew, but as long as what he did was not harmful to his family, it didn't matter!

Ma Min'er stood up, "I don't want to tell you, the full moon festival is half a month away, I went to the lotus pond to see how the water chestnuts and lotus roots are growing, so I can pick them for the moon Chang'e."

"So fast?" Ma Qifeng heard his daughter talking about the full moon festival.

"Yeah." Ma Min'er smiled, "Father, your son-in-law with short legs is about to give a gift again."

"Haha!" Feng Jiangyi laughed out loud at Ma Miner's words.

"You kid, do you want to be beaten?" Ma Qifeng blushed.

"I dare not." Ma Min'er smiled and escaped from the gazebo.

Ma Yueer and Niu Xiaobao were jumping in the square under the shade of a tree, when they saw the second sister running out, they shouted, "Second sister, where are you going?"

"I'll go to the lotus pond to the north to see if there are any water chestnuts?"

"Isn't there one in the yard?"

"Leave this little bit for Saburo as a snack."

"Oh." Ma Yueer held Niu Xiaobao's hand, "Second Sister, wait for me, I'll go with you."

Ma Min'er walked around, "Xiao Bao also wants to go?"

Niu Xiaobao nodded.

"Okay, let's go together."

Shan Xiaodan was doing chores in the yard, when she heard that they were going out, she quickly put down her sticks, adjusted her clothes and followed them out.

In Yunshui Town, Li Tingzhang was happy because of Xiao Niushan's windfall, he hummed a little song and left the office, and returned home, "Old woman, do you have any wine?"

Madam Li heard voices in the wing and came out, "Why do you want to drink as soon as you come back?"

"Of course I'm in a good mood to drink some wine. Hurry up and prepare it for me, and then order some food and drink." Li Tingchang staggered into the main hall.

In a certain room in the inner courtyard, Ma Jiaer was sitting by the bed, stretched out her hand and pushed her husband, "My mother asked me to go to the lotus pond to pick lotus leaves, will you go?"

"What are you going to do there?"

"You went with those students a few days ago, why can't I go?"

Li Xunting turned over and sat up, "My classmates and I are going to write poems and paintings, what are you going to do?"

"Jianniang said to pick water chestnuts and pinch lotus leaves."

"Pluck water chestnut, pinch lotus?"

"Yeah, it's interesting to say."

"Oh." Li Xunting was persuaded.

After a while, Li Xunting came out with his shoes on and his robe half covered.

Li Tingchang sat in front of the Eight Immortals table and drank the old wine leisurely by himself. He was almost flying when he was young. When he saw his eldest grandson coming out of the courtyard, his brows were almost knotted, "You took a nap until the sun went down?"

"No... no grandfather."

"Didn't go to school today?"

"Grandfather...it's too hot, I...I'll be back."

Li Tingchang's expression changed, he put away his wobbly posture, and said seriously: "Didn't I tell you, next year will be Qiu Wei again, why don't you work hard?"

"Grandfather... Grandfather, next year is still early."

"You..." Li Tingchang wanted to hit someone, so angry that he almost became cross-eyed.

"Grandfather, Jia Niang wants to go to the countryside to pick lotus leaves for rice, so I will go with her."

"Country, that country?" Li Tingchang frowned and asked.

"Xiaowang Village."

"You go to Ma's house to pick lotus leaves?"

"The Ma family is Jia'er's uncle, and they are relatives. It's no big deal to pick a few lotus leaves." Li Xunting said.

Ma Min'er bought the top of Xiaoniu Mountain, which made the Yamen of Yunshui Town another fortune. Li Ting Zhang was in a good mood and waved his hand, "Hurry up, there is a chance to get closer to Dalang Ma, and learn from him , and it’s good to be able to come back from the examination of a master next year.”

"...is..., grandfather."

Ma Jiaer hid in the corner of the hall, heard that her husband had settled the boss of the family, straightened his clothes and came out, went to Li Tingzhang and bowed, "Grandfather..."

Li Tingchang gave a solemn hum.Ma Jia'er got permission and immediately turned around and went out with her husband.

At the Luo family in Xiaowang Village, Ma Jianer waited at the door and saw his cousin and his wife coming from a distance, and asked the girl again, "Have you found out, will she go to the lotus pond today?"

"Go back to madam, I have inquired about it, Ma Erniang will come out to patrol the fields every afternoon, and will stay by the lotus pond for a while."

"Well, I see." Ma Jian'er touched her sleeve quietly.

When she came to the lotus pond, Ma Min'er unexpectedly met two cousins. Not only that, the two cousins ​​were asking the girl to pick water chestnuts and pinch lotus leaves, making it look like her own.

Ma Yue'er pouted and wanted to go over to stop it, but Ma Min'er stopped her, "Let them pick it."

"Second sister, didn't you say that taking without telling is stealing."

"Don't worry, they are all family members. Besides, how much can they pick?"

"Oh."

Ma Min'er really didn't want to argue with them, so she looked around the lotus pond, and found that water chestnut, Jiaobai, Ciru, and lotus root all grew well, like Jiaobai and Ciru, which have been supplied to the county restaurant. It is also quite impressive. When winter comes, it falls into the water and digs lotus root, and there will be a lot of income.

Ma Jian'er saw Ma Erniang standing under the shade of the tree, and waited for her to come around, with a half-smile, "Erniang, pinch some lotus leaves, is it alright?"

Ma Min'er smiled back: "It doesn't matter, but the lotus leaves are a bit old now, if you keep them in the house, they will be fine, but if you use them to steam rice or chicken, they may be old."

"We pinched the heart in the middle." Ma Jian'er's girl said with trepidation.

It doesn't matter if you don't say it, after she said that, Ma Min'er hurriedly looked at the small boat by the pond, a large area was choked up by them, and now the lotus root underneath is growing, so pinching her heart, it's really...

Ma Min'er resisted getting angry, and said to herself, I'm not angry, I'm not angry, I don't care about how plants grow with these inactive people.

Seeing that Erniang's complexion was not good, for some reason, Ma Jian'er felt happy in her heart, and she had a half-smile face again: "Why, Erniang, I picked a few leaves from you, so I feel so sorry for you. , I heard that you will be the mistress of the general's mansion in the future, if you can't bear a few lotus leaves, how can you reward the servants, and the servants will not say that you pick like an iron rooster."

She didn't say a word yet, but her good cousin came up with a lot of ideas, all related to the mistress of the future general's mansion, Ma Min'er suppressed her anger, and said with a smirk: "I'm a crop grower. A farmer is nothing compared to my cousin sister who married into the county town and became a wife and the head of the house."

"Ma Erniang, what do you mean, are you mocking me?" Ma Jian'er immediately changed her face, "I married in the city, and you live in the country, isn't it true?"

"That's right, it's the truth. Then, Cousin Jian, you, a city man, went to the countryside and left my house with lotus leaves?"

"You..." Ma Jianer snorted coldly, "It's not like I picked it alone."

Ma Jia'er and his wife were paddling on Xiaoshaozi's boat, and they had already reached the middle of the pond. They were fine just now, but now they quarreled for some reason.

Ma Miner yelled, "Don't move—"

The young couple were too frightened to move by the sudden shout.

"Don't move, sit down together!" Ma Min'er shouted.

The young couple looked at Ma Min'er together, then looked at each other, but did not sit down.

"If you two want to spend the night in the pond, then stand still on the small stalk." Ma Min'er looked over coldly. The pond of more than ten acres is quite big, and they are in the middle of it. If you don't sit down together, Xiao Shaozi loses his balance and can easily turn into a drowned chicken.

Ma Yueer snickered, "Second Sister, let's go back."

"Okay." Seeing that they were motionless, Ma Min'er didn't bother to talk to them.

Shan Xiaodan took Niu Xiaobao's hand and smiled secretly. Xiao Shaozi looked at Xiaoqiao as fun, but people who don't know how to handle it would easily fall over. Not only that, they were all in the middle of the pond. If they didn't work together, they might be rowing When he didn't reach the shore, he didn't listen to Erniang's words, shook his head secretly and left with Xiaodong's family.

Ma Jian'er glanced at the young couple who were far away from the pond, and her eyelids sank.

In the middle of the pond, Ma Jiaer shouted anxiously, "Hurry up and get the boat to the shore."

"I don't know how to do it." President Li Xun is so old, when did he play with boats? A few days ago, he came over with his classmates. They asked the watchman to borrow a boat. The boat was rowed by his father.

"Then you still come to see the lotus and pick the lotus leaves, what are you doing?"

"Didn't you want to come? Why did I want to come again?"

"It's you anyway..."

……

The couple quarreled again, and Ma Miner, who was leaving, shook her head. Sooner or later, she would fall into the pond... But before she finished thinking, there was a splashing sound, and the couple fell into the water.

"Help... help!"

"save……"

……

Ma Min'er turned around helplessly, and shouted, "What's your name, can't you just stand up and walk to the shore?"

"Ah..." Li Xunting came to his senses first, and tried to stand up straight. Sure enough, the water reached a little below his shoulders, and his head was completely above the water.

"Pick up your wife, hurry up, the water may be up to her nose."

Li Xunting hurriedly grabbed his wife, half hugging her, relying on the buoyancy of the water, moved to the shore step by step, but refused to come up.

"Miss Shan—"

"Second Mother!"

Ma Min'er said: "Go to the care shed at the pond to get two spare robes."

"it is good."

Ma's cousin sisters and a cousin's husband actually arrived at Ma Min'er's house in this way, and Ma Jian'er followed behind, looking at the Ma's yard in the village, the expression on his face was unpredictable.

"Father, take your cousin and husband to change clothes."

Ma Qifeng nodded, "Come on, Xiaoting."

Little... Li Xunting was almost taken aback by the name of the sixth uncle, and smiled awkwardly, "Please trouble the sixth uncle."

"Next time you come, tell me, I'll ask the caretaker to teach you, and you will know how to draw a small tip."

Li Xunting's ears turned red, he was really rude and disrespectful, "Yes, yes, this junior knows."

Ma Min'er took Ma Jia'er to her room, taught her how to take a bath under the faucet, washed her hair, and brought her a new set of clothes.

Ma Jiaer is also a rich person, but she was still surprised by the lifestyle of the sixth uncle's family. Whether it is the room or the washing habits, it is much different than what she has seen before. It is really convenient and practical. , She secretly looked at her cousin's bathroom, it was so bright and clean, so tidy and refreshing, and the simplicity revealed the atmosphere of wealth and nobility, which made people not only admire her.

"Cousin Jia, are you alright?" After not hearing the sound of water for a long time, Ma Min'er called out worriedly, and stood towards the door of the bathroom, avoiding Ma Jian'er's penetrating gaze.

Ma Jianer kept looking at Ma Miner's room, looking at the furnishings in the room for a while, and then at Ma Miner again, which made Ma Miner's skin crawl all over.

Seeing Ma Min'er looking away, Ma Jian'er who was standing by the dressing table quickly threw something into the corner.

Ma Jia'er came out, and took the opportunity to look at her cousin's room again, it was still simple, but there was an aura of wealth in the simplicity.

Seeing that the two of them were looking at their room, Ma Miner said quickly, "Two cousins, tea is ready in the living room, please sit in the living room."

"Oh." Ma Jia'er looked away and looked at the cousin in front of her, only to see that she was also dressed simply, but she was so different, and her actions were luxurious and self-contained.Could it be because she has the confidence to marry the General Zhen Guo's mansion?

The two concubine sisters who had come out to relax, their already depressed life became even more depressed. On the way home, the two couldn't help arguing: "Obviously I live in the country, and I heard that I go out to patrol the fields every day to take care of farming, why? Do you still look like a daughter of your family?"

Ma Jianer snorted coldly: "Why can it be, the money is piled up."

When it comes to money, Ma Jiaer is silent, her husband is still studying and has no income, and now all the money depends on the monthly money drawn by her grandmother. Their life is very tight, and they have no money to buy some better rouge and water powder .

Ma Jianer narrowed her eyes and looked into the distance, then suddenly said, "I'll go back to the county tomorrow."

"Cousin, didn't you say you still want to relax."

"No..." Ma Jian'er's tone suddenly became relaxed, "There are many things in the shop at home, I have to go back and take care of it."

Hearing this, Ma Jia'er curled her lips secretly, obviously the Liu family didn't let you intervene, and you still act like the mistress of the house, don't think that others don't know.

Ma Min'er doesn't know what the two cousins ​​are thinking. Although she is busy, her leisure is relative. She still has a lot of things to deal with every day, but she is used to it and efficient.

Seeing that the full moon festival was approaching, Xia Zhen suddenly launched a fierce attack on the border of Yixiang, causing Zhao and Liao to retreat three hundred miles in a row.

"Does the little general want to chase after him?"

"Of course, we must chase!"

"Little General, can we finally have a good fight?"

"Yes, after playing, go home for the full moon festival."

"Yes, little general." Gu Dun and others, who had been aggrieved all the time, chased after them like chicken blood, and went on.

In Xinggu County, the chaotic general's mansion was managed by Ling Ruya in a decent manner. There was always good news coming from the front. She thought that the good days were not far away from her, so she finally had the opportunity to ask Biao Brother, why did you treat her like this.

Sitting in the position of the mistress, Ling Ruya was dignified and dignified, "Have you ordered all the ingredients for the full moon feast?"

"Go back to Madam, everything is ordered."

"There will be no mistakes, will there?"

"Madam, please rest assured, absolutely not."

"Ah That's good."

Ling Ruya asked again: "Have all kinds of fruit wines been prepared?"

"I'm back to my husband, and I'm ready. I'll wait for the general to come back and worship the moon."

"Well, you can't be careless about such trivial things as cleaning the yard, understand?"

"Yes, ma'am."

The matter was almost settled, when suddenly someone broke in, crossed the main hall and ran towards the courtyard, the servant just wanted to stop him.

"Ma'am, it's the general!"

Ling Ruya also saw it, and hurriedly ran into the inner courtyard, "General, general...what's going on?" She was frightened by the disheveled general.

Shao Youliang entered his bedroom and was digging out his belongings when he saw a woman coming in and shouted, "Pack up your things and go to Beijing."

"General, is it the emperor who wants to summon you?"

"Why so much nonsense, clean it up quickly."

Ling Ruya was frightened by the man's vicious look, so she hurriedly packed her things.

Madam Ling was taken aback when she saw the injured man come back, "Qianyan, what's going on?"

"Stop talking, run for your life."

"how……"

"Pick up quickly, it's too late..."

Xia Zhen led a large army to attack Xinggu City. After fighting for only one day and one night, the gate of the city was breached. "As long as you surrender, you will not lose your life, and you will not take or kill or rob..."

The soldiers shouted as they entered the city.

The people in Xinggu City put down their shovels and poles amidst doubts, and gave up resistance.

After reassuring the people, Xia Zhen's soldiers quickly found the two general mansions, "General, in the two mansions, except for the servants, there is no shadow of Shao and Liao."

"Check it out for me, they fled over there."

"Yes, General."

Zhuang Hao said, "Little General, people have escaped, so Xinggu City..."

"Gu Dun—"

"The end will be—"

Xia Zhen said: "Bring 3 troops to garrison here. If possible, you can strengthen your troops."

"Yes, little general, I will definitely expand the team and try to get as strong as 5 horses."

"That's up to you." Xia Zhen smiled brightly.

Gu Dun patted his heart: "Little General, this time, I, Big Fatty Gu, will definitely do a good job for you to see."

"Okay, then I'll wait."

On the border of Qingzhou Prefecture, Liu Zaili asked, "My lord, Shao Youliang and Liao Shijie have fled back to the capital, and Xiangzhou Prefecture is in Xia Zhen's pocket. What are you going to do?"

(End of this chapter)