Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 138 The Sinister Discovery
"Let me just say, it turns out to be like this, it's great, it's wonderful." Xia Zhen walked around happily on the spot a few times, and suddenly asked, "Is there any other good news?"

"Have--"

"Hurry up and listen."

"Yes, little general."

Thirty miles away, King Jin's camp, Liu Zaili also brought good news, "My lord, my concubine has a secret message."

The king of Jin opened it quickly, and the letter read: Xia Shiyong has solved the predicament in Liangzhou.

"God, it's really God helping me, it's really God helping me."

Liu Zaili took advantage of his joy and said, "Your Majesty, it has been raining in spring these few days, rivers and waterfalls have swelled, and the ground is muddy. Neither we nor the other party are suitable for sneak attacks. This in disguise gives us a chance to recuperate."

King Jin nodded, "Through deliberation over the past few days, I decided to hit Lao Qi first."

"King Zhao—"

"Well, cut off your worries."

Liu Zaili nodded: "I really want to talk to the prince about this, I've thought about it with you."

"Okay, since we want to get together, let someone call Xia Zhen over, and let's discuss how to beat Lao Qi."

"Yes, my lord."

Ma Min'er understood why Master Jiang kept a low profile, it was self-protection!Those who lost their families and lost their mouths were finally sent away by Chief Li Ting. He said: "No one would want such a thing to happen. Now that it has happened, I will represent Yunshui Town to collect donations from the wealthy gentry in the town to help everyone settle down. , live your life first."

"How to settle down?"

"I'm going back to the yamen to discuss this matter with everyone. If you want to know, you can wait for a message outside the yamen."

Everyone got Li Tingzhang's guarantee and hurried back to the town with him. In the blink of an eye, all the troublemakers left outside Ma's courtyard.

Shen Houer looked at the stunned Ma family, "Brother Ma, don't be sad, everyone is gone, hurry up and tidy up in the yard." After speaking, he turned and shook his head back to the town, "Hey, Master Ma, why are you here?"

Ma Chengzu glanced at the old six families, and finally landed on Feng Jiangyi, "You helped the Xia family drive away the Turks?"

Feng Jiangyi smiled softly, "I'm not helping the Xia family, I'm helping myself, these ordinary people."

Ma Chengzu frowned.

Ma Min'er was getting angry, so she said, "Don't you have the world in your heart, don't you help the common people, you can say such things as helping the Xia family, ha ha..." She contradicted her grandfather with disdain.

"Min'er mustn't be rude." Although Ma Qifeng mentioned his daughter, his tone was very weak, and it was just a symbol. Anyone with a discerning eye could see that he was perfunctory, and he lost the respect he used to have.

Ma Chengzu looked at Ma Liujia coldly.

Feng Jiangyi sighed, shook his head and turned back to the house, this time he didn't invite him in for tea or chess, and it was not appropriate because the war was just over.

Ma Yihui followed behind his grandfather, seeing that the Ma family did not intend to invite his grandfather, he said softly, "Grandpa, let's go back."

Ma Chengzu glanced at his eldest grandson, turned around and went back.

Why does Ma's family feel weird, Shen Hou'er thinks about stopping, staggering away, letting Master Ma's grandson go first, he turns his head back.

"Uncle Shen, what's the matter?"

Shen Hou'er suddenly realized that what he wanted to say was a bit abrupt, and changed his words: "Well... If you need to fix anything in your house, don't be shy, come to me, I'll come over and help you fix it right away."

"Thank you, Uncle Shen." Ma Dalang cupped his hands in thanks, there are still many good people in this world.

"Hey..." Shen Hou'er smiled, "Uh... When I came here just now, I saw Mrs. Ma asked the eldest grandson to call the pavilion chief over."

"..."

The Ma family was stunned, the pavilion chief was actually called by Ma Chengzu.

Feng Jiangyi had already entered the gate of the courtyard, and was looking at the messy inner courtyard. Hearing this, he turned his head and looked outside. It was actually Ma who relieved the siege for his granddaughter?

Ma Qifeng instantly became uneasy, "I..."

Ma Miner also pursed her lips.

Shen Hou'er originally wanted to ease the atmosphere, but in the end he seemed even more embarrassed, "I...I'll go back first." After speaking, he turned around and trotted away.

Father Shi and others also went home one after another. After all, there are many things to do after the disaster. As for the grievances and grievances of the Ma family, they will deal with them on their own, and they can't talk to them.

"Min..."

"Father, let's go back to eat and rest first, and we'll talk about the rest later."

"Oh."

In a dilapidated and messy alley in Pingding County, the dilapidated gate of the courtyard was about to fall down, but was stuck firmly after being pounded several times. After confirming that there was no danger, I went out, and closed the door casually. Because the door frame was not aligned, it took several times to close it.

In the dilapidated room in the yard, on the cold muddy floor, a woman was tied behind her hands, with a smelly rag stuffed into her mouth, and when she heard the door closing, she kept twisting her body, ummmmm... wanted to call for help , was kicked a few times, "Smelly bitch, what's your name, wait for the master to sell you to Nagada, let you call it enough."

"Uuuuuuu..."

"Smelly bitch, look at the plain white clothes you're wearing. This dress must belong to that unfavored aunt. If you sell you, no one will chase after you. Instead, our brothers have made a fortune."

The short man had mustaches and yellow teeth, drooling as he spoke, got up and looked outside, there was no more fighting outside at this time, and Sun Xiaosi was not here, could I...

"Uuuuuuu..."

Sun Xiaosi copied his hands and walked to the burned-out street, shrunk his neck in fright, and walked towards Hualou with his stomach empty. He had to open the shop quickly, or he would starve to death.

Suddenly someone called over, "Sun Xiaosi, what are you doing these days?"

Oh, mother, it's Liu Papi's family, hurry up and slip away, Sun Xiaosi only takes a look, with two short legs straight ahead, he turns into the alley and disappears in a short while.

"Boss, Sun Xiaosi must be tricky."

"Chi Laozi, chase me, your side, your side, and you, take the back road..."

"Yes, boss!"

……

After a while, Sun Xiaosi was blocked by a group of people at the end of the alley, "Grandson, you are running, running..."

The eldest of Liu Yang's subordinates panted heavily, and gave a yell, "Grandma, I haven't eaten two meals, I'm starving, you still dare to run, say, there is something shameful to hide from my elder brother ?”

"No……"

"No? The goddamn will believe it, boys, show him how powerful he is."

"Yes, boss..."

After a while, there was a roar in the alley like killing a pig: "Please forgive me, sir, please forgive me..."

Xia Zetao, who hadn't closed his eyes for several days and nights, stood in front of the girl, "Can't you call a guard?"

"The general, the guards were...all pulled over by the old lady to defend the city..."

"Is there always a lady?"

"My wife was also called by the old lady to cook hot oil and pour the enemy..."

"..." Standing at the entrance of the alley where his wife disappeared, Xia Zetao had mixed feelings in his heart for a moment. Yes, even his mother in her 60s led her slaves out to guard the city, but his wife, even himself... If you don't take good care of it, you have to...

"General..." Seeing the general slumped away, Shuang Lian yelled anxiously: "General, Madam is usually in the mansion and rarely even leaves the courtyard door, except for reading and doing embroidery, how can she deal with the sinister people? "

Xia Zetao turned his head to look at the little girl with a dull expression, "I know!"

It turns out that the general didn't give up on his wife. God, I was scared to death.

"General, general..."

Suddenly someone called over, Xia Zetao raised his eyes and frowned at the visitor.

"Great...General..." Liu Yang patted his heart and said, "Great...General, the old lady said that whoever finds his wife will get 1000 taels, this...that means it."

"En." Xia Zetao felt uncomfortable when he heard this, but he still responded.

"That's good." Liu Yang turned his head and kicked the person, "Sun Xiaosi, hurry up and lead the way, or the general will kill you."

Seeing the big knife in the general's waist, Sun Xiaosi, who was beaten into a pig's head, didn't dare to lead the way, so he quickly shrank his head and put his cheeks on his face to lead him.

In the dilapidated courtyard, Zhao Suxin, who was as weak as a delicate flower, was as strong as iron at the moment. Although she was tied up, she kept twisting and bumping into the wall.

"Stinky...smelly...girls, what are you pretending to be a strong woman..."

With a sound of "Boom," the door was kicked open, Xia Zetao stretched out his hand and stabbed Sun Xiaowu, and Sun Xiaowu died in the room immediately. As he fell down, his hand loosened the underwear he was carrying, looking very ugly.

"Husband..." Zhao Suxin had tears in her eyes after the rag was taken from her mouth.

Xia Zetao saw that his wife's face was covered with blood, and then glanced at his wife whose neckline was torn. He took off his coat and wiped the blood off her face with the hem of the robe.

"Husband——" The husband who appeared like a god made the sad and desperate Zhao Suxin stare at him, looking at him without blinking, expecting his comforting words, but he put on her robes and said Without saying a word, he half-supported and half-hugged her to leave.

"Husband..."

"Go home!" Xia Zetao had never felt so tired before, and the words he said were tired and sad.

"Husband, I want to find you..."

"I know."

"But……"

"Stop talking, let's go home."

Zhao Suxin felt inexplicably panicked, "Husband, you hate being a bitch..."

"No, I'm not disgusted, I'm just tired."

Not only did she not sleep for several days and nights, but she also fought desperately with the enemy, and her body was still injured, but since the meeting, the wife only cared about her own feelings, and never asked aloud, 'Are you tired'!
Xia Zetao suddenly felt a little funny. A person who had stayed in the ancestral hall for ten years was so moved that he felt that his wife and husband could not ask for more, but now they didn’t even say a word of greeting in person. Then why was she in the ancestral hall? What are you doing everything for?
Yes, for what?Perhaps only Zhao Suxin can understand this answer.

Mrs. Xia told Master Mo the rest of the matter, "Please."

"Old lady, you are too polite."

Old Man Xia smiled wearily, "It should be, the old man will go back first."

"Old lady, don't worry, I will deal with the aftermath with the general."

Mrs. Xia nodded, and took her family and servants back to Xia Mansion. Seeing that she was about to leave, Mrs. Liu hurriedly said: "Old lady, my younger brother helped the general find his wife, the one thousand..."

"Liu Shi, don't you want to mess around?"

Mrs. Xia stopped, "Have you found it?"

"Well, yes, old lady, in a dilapidated alley, the man said that the lady was dressed plainly, and thought she was the concubine of the rich gentleman's family. Mo Huaien slapped her, "Shut up."

Pure?Concubine... If it wasn't for my son's wife, Mrs. Xia really wanted to get along with her, wouldn't she? Then Mrs. Zhao dressed up in filial piety for the sake of beauty, and she was plain white. In the eyes of others, she is actually a concubine, but when she thinks about her actions in the mansion, isn't she acting like a concubine?
Mrs. Xia said with a straight face, "Let your brother come to the mansion to pay money."

"Thank you, old lady, thank you, old lady!"

When the old lady left, Mo Huaien stepped forward and slapped Liu Shi, "How can you disgrace me like this?" Gritting his teeth, he almost ate her.

But Mrs. Liu was not afraid at all, "That official has no money, but you have been suppressed by the Xia family to death, and there is no money to fish, so why don't I get some money!" After speaking, she turned her chubby body and walked away. up.

"Marrying an ignorant woman is really It's a family misfortune." Mo Huaien was really frustrated.

Chang Sui thought, "My lord, don't feel sorry for marrying the wrong woman. I don't think the wife married by the great general is any better?"

Mo Huaien looked at the long follower.

"Look, the old Mrs. Xia who organized the manpower and contacted you is not only unable to help, but also lost herself. It's really..." Laughing , Chang Sui didn't have the nerve to say it out.

Uh... Mo Huaien stared blankly at the back of the old lady. It turned out that every family had scriptures that were difficult to recite. He felt much better in an instant.Haha...Where is this guy...

When Mrs. Xia returned to the mansion, Xia Zetao had already returned with his wife and was sitting in the main hall.

"Tao'er, you haven't rested for several days and nights, why don't you go to rest?" Seeing her son's face full of stubble and tiredness, Mrs. Xia was so distressed that she died.

"Mother—" Xia Zetao bowed to his mother, "Thank you, son!"

"Thank you for what?" Mrs. Xia was confused by her son's sudden thanks.

Xia Zetao lowered his head, then raised it again, "Mother, do you know how the enemies outside the city retreated?"

"Yeah, I was about to ask you, where did the reinforcements come?"

"On the border, the military strength is tight everywhere. How can there be reinforcements?" Xia Zetao smiled helplessly.

"……That……"

Xia Zetao replied: "It was your future granddaughter-in-law and the former young master who helped me defeat the enemy."

"Ma Er Niang?"

"Yeah." Xia Zetao said, "Zhen'er...he has vision!"

Mrs. Xia finally understood the deep meaning of his son's words. He finally admitted that the woman he liked was unbearable. Looking at the delicate and weak woman, he sneered secretly, and then raised his eyes again. His eyes were filled with pity for his son. "Go, mother will help you take care of the affairs of the mansion. If there are any future ones, mother will also help you entertain them. When you wake up, discuss important matters with them."

"Mother—" Xia Zetao choked his throat, "Okay, my son is going to rest." After speaking, he turned and left.

"Husband...husband..." Her husband didn't wait for her, which had never happened before. Zhao Suxin panicked and hurried to catch up.

"I haven't slept for five days, don't follow me, let me sleep well." Xia Zetao said coldly to his wife who came with him while walking.

Madam Xia watched the figures of the couple disappear in front of the main hall, sighed and sat down on the chair, her eyes were heavy and her face was tired.

"Old lady, you should go to rest too, the rest of the work will be done by the old servant."

Mrs. Xia shook her head, "The generals in the army, they go through life and death for the Xia family. I have to meet them personally when they come to look for Tao'er, to show my respect for them."

"Old lady, this old slave understands!"

After watching for two days, they found that the Turks did not call again. The people in Yunshui Town were relieved. Ma Min'er asked Fu Xiaoyou to inquire outside, and it turned out that the Turks even evacuated Chuanling County.

"How could this happen?" Ma Min'er was extremely puzzled: "Master Jiang, can you analyze one or two things?"

Feng Jiangyi stroked his white beard leisurely, "Based on the old man's guess, I'm afraid that the old general hit the Turkic people hard somewhere, making them overwhelmed and unable to spread their forces to attack the long border of the Wei Dynasty."

"Oh!" Ma Min'er felt that Master Jiang's analysis made sense, "Then I'll ask Xiaoyou to find a craftsman to repair the yard."

Feng Jiangyi nodded.

Two hundred miles away from the capital, the two princes of Jin and Zhao met on a narrow road, whoever is brave will win!

The new emperor of the capital’s palace heard that the two princes were fighting, and they had been fighting for more than 20 days. .”

The servants around him flattered and said, "Your Majesty, if they both lose, we can do it and enjoy it."

Emperor Longxiang put away his smiling face, and snorted coldly: "These rebels will suffer from both sides, and it's because they are taking advantage of them. I wish they would die immediately and confess their crimes in front of their ancestors."

The servant did not dare to answer with a smile on his face, and the Minister of the Ministry of War, who was standing in front of the dragon case, cupped his hands and asked, "Your Majesty, why don't we be fishermen?"

"When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman wins. Well, I will be that fisherman!" Emperor Longxiang shouted, "Come on—"

"My lord—"

"Prepare an army for me, I want to go out in person."

"Yes, my lord."

The Minister of the Ministry of War didn't have time to stop him, he looked at the emperor in surprise, if he left the palace, then...he glanced at the palace unconsciously.

As a commoner and a commoner in the north, Ma Min'er didn't know much about how fierce the battle of the capital was. Occasionally, rumors came back, true and false, changing rapidly, so she couldn't take it seriously.

Since late April, the sky has been leaking, it has been raining continuously, and the water level has continued to rise. If the river had not been opened last winter, it would have been flooded this year. In this way, the county officials kept organizing Manpower dredges the flow channels so that the water will not overflow and the thousands of fertile fields will not be flooded.

Standing at the head of the field ridge, Father Shi sighed: "It's really a little bit of luck, the wheat is all drowned, and it's all confiscated."

Ma Min'er nodded, "Yes, it's confiscated."

Daddy Shi said: "At least you have grown some aquatic plants, and you have some harvest."

"Just like the drought that year, you used taro to survive. This year, it's rainy, so you can only grow wetland plants such as taro."

Old man Shi sighed again, "When will the world be peaceful, and when will the weather be smooth and let us live a comfortable life?"

Ma Min'er looked towards the misty and rainy distance. On the distant road, because of the flood, people kept fleeing from the south, just like the severe drought four years ago. Eight years old."

Father Shi turned his head quickly, "Er Niang means that in my lifetime, I will live a good life with good weather and good weather?"

"That's natural. Let's talk about Father Shi, you're only under 20. Even if you live to [-], there are still [-] years left. Why are you excited?"

"Haha..." Father Shi, who was in a gloomy mood, was amused by Xiaodong's family, "God, there are almost no people in our village who can live to be eighty, and few who can live to be seventy. I don't dare to think about it."

This is true. Medical care in ancient times was backward, and the quality of life was not high. There are not many people who can live to seventy. Ma Miner exhaled, "Father, I'm going home."

"I'm going back too."

By mid-May, God still had no intention of stopping the rain, and the farmers were so worried that their hair turned gray. "This wheat is not expected to be harvested, but we must let us sow the seedlings."

"That's right. Normally, the wheat would be harvested after June. It stands to reason that the seedlings should come out, so that they can be planted in time for the harvest."

"But today, if the seeds are sown, they will be soaked in water. What's the use?"

"I'm afraid of being soaked in water!"

……

In Ma's yard, Ma Min'er looked up at the sky. Behind the dark clouds, there was a corner of the sun's father-in-law's face. The sky seemed to be sunny. She looked away and said firmly, "Soak the rice seeds, and prepare to sow the seeds and raise seedlings."

"Er Niang, it was the same a few days ago. The sun showed up, and then it immediately became cloudy again, and the sky was not clear." Niu Dabao and the hired workers at home felt that it was a pity that the seeds had soaked and germinated.

Ma Min'er shook her head, "It is said in the farming book that the solar term does not wait for anyone. There are rules for what solar terms to plant and what plants to plant. If you miss it, you will miss a year. You can't wait, and you can't afford it."

"Okay, little boss, since you said so, let's soak the seeds."

"Let's take a dip, not only rice has to be planted, but all kinds of vegetables and fruits have also started to be cultivated."

"Got it, little boss!" Niu Dabao started to get busy with the hired workers outside the house.

Ma Min'er gasped and prayed secretly, God, you can't go down anymore, you have soaked up the fertile land, and the flood almost reached the foundation of the house. Fortunately, the road was clean and the river was dug last year, otherwise we would be like others. Like the people of the state capital, they are fleeing everywhere!
The farming work started, and the family's expenses also started to move. Mo Wanyi, the head of the house, also started to get busy. She sat in the downstairs room dedicated to business affairs, and sat for a long time. At lunch, she finally took a breath. , When I arrived at the restaurant, I found that no one came to eat, "Aunt Niu, where are they?"

"Probably upstairs at Da Dong's."

"Oh." Mo Wanyi said, "Then I'll ask them to come down for dinner."

"I'm about to call. Since my wife has gone, I'll be lazy."

Mo Wanyi smiled, raised her skirt and left the restaurant, and went up to the second floor.

At the door of the wing room on the second floor, the second sisters of the Ma family were chattering in front of her husband, and she listened carefully.

"Father, this style is not very good, it's too cumbersome. I like the simple style, and this kind of lacing is so troublesome. You can use the button for me, which is convenient and practical."

"What kind of buckle to use?"

"Don't buckle it, please, just wrap the wood with cloth."

"It's too careless, no, use a buckle."

"Oh," Ma Miner pouted.

"Father, I'm different from my second sister. I like flowers blooming like brocades. You give me more flowers and plants on my skirt."

"It's still Yue'er who lives exquisitely."

Ma Min'er wanted to roll her eyes, but when she saw Mo Wanyi standing beside her, she quickly stepped back, "Aunt Wan..."

When Ma Qifeng saw his wife, he hurriedly put the semi-finished clothes in his hand into the small basket, and smiled, "You... you finished the housework."

"Husband, last night, you said that Xiao Miluo's work belonged to Er Niang and Si Niang, and they forgot to take it back when they were sitting on the porch chatting with you, but just now, I think you held it in your hand..."

"Uh..." Ma Min'er didn't expect her father to be able to make clothes before telling his wife, "Dad, it's lunch time, and Yueer and I went down to eat." After finishing speaking, she pulled Yueer up and went downstairs run.

Ma Qifeng always blushed, "Are you asking me to go down to eat?" He changed the subject, the woman was handling housework, and he was sitting upstairs doing needlepointing alone, it seemed... not very good.

Mo Wanyi didn't reply, she walked to Xiao Miluo, and picked up the clothes her husband had just put down, "Last night, it seemed to be just a look, but today it was made so finely, and it was embroidered..." Seeing She seemed to have thought of something about this little flower, and suddenly raised her head, "Four years ago, you embroidered the round fan that was sold to Xu's Embroidery Workshop?"

Ma Qifeng blinked, "It's Min..."

"I've been married to you for more than half a year, and I haven't noticed that Min'er has taken a needle and thread. Even if it's raining, she's sitting in the corridor in a daze, and she hasn't." Mo Wanyi didn't give her husband an excuse.

Ma Qifeng twitched the corner of his mouth in embarrassment, "Yes."

"Except for the clothes in the shop, you made Min'er and the others for them?"

"Yeah." Ma Qifeng took a deep breath, "Let's go down and eat."

"You..." Mo Wanyi's eyes filled with tears: "You are such a good father."

Uh... Why is this picture different from what I thought, shouldn't I look down on myself, should I despise myself, Ma Qifeng was stunned, why is she still crying?
"You... you... I just don't do needles in the future."

"Husband, you are a good father."

"A good father doesn't have to be a needle finger, I understand, I'm a little..."

"No, no, do what you like, and I won't look down on you." Seeing that her husband still didn't understand what she meant, Mo Wanyi said directly.

"You won't look down on me?"

"Nothing."

Ma Qifeng breathed a sigh of relief and smiled slightly, "Thank you, Wanyi."

"Husband, you are always so polite."

Ma Qifeng grinned brightly, stretched out his hand and pulled her, "Let's go, let's eat."

"it is good."

In Ma's restaurant, sister Ma Min'er had already set the table and was waiting for her father and his wife to come down for dinner. When she was bored, she asked, "Master Jiang, is there any gossip?"

Mr. Jiang was sitting at the top, looking at the small fried fish on the table. These small fish were caught by him in the pond in the yard, and they were no longer than the length of a finger. They scraped off the scales, removed the internal organs, wrapped them in flour, and deep-fried them in the wok until golden brown. People, he wanted to move his chopsticks, and when he heard Ma Erniang's question, he raised his eyes, "Yes—"

"What is it?" Ma Min'er's eyes lit up.

"I heard that King Zhao fled to Liuqiu."

(End of this chapter)