Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 79
Ma Yihui stood in front of Ma Chengzu, with a serious look of frustration, "Grandfather, I'm sorry for disappointing your expectations."

The old man with slightly closed eyes was leaning on the grand teacher's chair. Hearing what his grandson said, he slowly opened his eyes. His eyes were full of fatigue, "You did well in the exam."

"No, grandfather, I'm not number one."

"What if you get the first place?"

Hearing this, Ma Yihui, who was somewhat depressed, suddenly stepped down his straight shoulders, and said sadly: "Grandfather——"

Ma Chengzu dozed off and closed his eyes again, and the room sank into deathly silence.

The corners of Ma Yihui's mouth were tightly pursed, and he bit his lip while biting.

After an unknown amount of time, Ma Chengzu said again, "Is it dark outside?"

Ma Yihui nodded.

The old man with his eyes closed seemed to feel his grandson's response, "That's good."

It's dark, what's the matter, Ma Yihui was puzzled, turned his head and looked outside, outside the corridor, it was dark, "The setting sun has faded, what's the good?"

"How can tomorrow's dawn rise without the fading of the setting sun?"

Ma Yihui's eyes turned from the outside to his grandfather's face. At this moment, he has opened his eyes, his eyes sparkling, "Hui'er, you still have one more chance. If... if you amnesty the world, you may regain your freedom. Then, you Go wherever you want."

"Grandfather—" Ma Yihui's eyes suddenly filled with light.

Ma Chengzu nodded.

Not happy for a while, Ma Yihui immediately thought of a question, "Then, does Yichu also have the opportunity to go to the palace for an examination in the capital?"

Ma Chengzu looked towards his eldest grandson.

Ma Yihui was flustered by his grandfather: "Grandfather... Grandfather..."

"Have I ever told you that since ancient times, some of the most outstanding ministers have been born as champions?"

"grandfather……"

"Yi Chu's qualifications, in the future, he can only be a mid-level and noble official."

Ma Yihui looked at his grandfather, meaning to ask what about me?

Ma Chengzu's eyes narrowed slightly, staring blankly at the eldest grandson in front of him who had devoted himself to training, "You can't heal yourself."

"Grandfather?" Ma Yihui anxiously waited for his grandfather's judgment.

Ma Chengzu looked serious: "Don't ask me anymore, my grandfather will do everything he can to train you to the top."

"Grandfather!" Ma Yichu looked at his grandfather gratefully.

Ma Chengzu nodded, "Go ahead, don't worry about being number one or number two. In my grandfather's opinion, No.4 is perhaps the most unpredictable of all exams."

"Zhao Yuyan?"

"Ah."

Ma Yihui looked at his grandfather in surprise.

At this time, the old servant outside the door said: "Master, Zhao Xuezi is asking to see you."

Ma Chengzu chuckled, "Look, he's here."

Ma Yihui couldn't understand what his grandfather said, and looked at the door in a daze.

"Let him in."

"Yes, sir."

Zhao Yuyan entered Ma Chengzu's study with square steps. After entering, a set of etiquette was established. Although it was not perfect, it still had a good appearance. For a commoner who had never dabbled in anything, it was already very valuable.

"Have you studied etiquette?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Is this the reason why you didn't take the first place?"

"Yes, my lord."

Walking around the emperor all the year round, Ma Chengzu's majesty was always harsher than ordinary officials, but it didn't affect the young man in front of him, he responded calmly.

"Do you know that you passed the fourth exam?"

"Yes, my lord."

Ma Yihui looked at Zhao Yuyan who kept answering the same sentence, his eyes narrowed.

"What are you talking about here?"

Zhao Yuyan raised his eyes, eyes showing sincerity, clasped his hands together and raised his forehead, and saluted: "Student asks the boss to marry your granddaughter."

"Who?" Ma Chengzu seemed to know what he was going to do, and he was calm when he heard this.

Ma Yihui was taken aback, he didn't expect that the children from the poor family supported by his grandfather would dare to think about people from the Ma family.

"My lord, it's your eldest granddaughter—Ma Meier."

"You're presumptuous." Hearing that it was his direct sister, Ma Yihui couldn't calm down, and immediately changed his expression, pointing at her and almost yelling at her.

Ma Chengzu looked at his grandson, who was two years older, but younger than him in appearance and demeanor, with dark eyelids.

Zhao Yuyan kowtowed and knelt in front of Ma Chengzu, waiting for his answer.

Seeing that his grandfather did not refute Zhao's words, Ma Yihui immediately looked at his grandfather anxiously, "Grandfather, he is just a commoner, so why marry my sister?"

Ma Chengzu stared at the young man in front of him for a long time without replying.

We set our sights on Ma Yichu, No. 1 in Pingding. Master Ma Liu excitedly took the children to the aunt and lady's tablets, pointed to the older son and said to them: "Auntie, Lingniang, look, this is Your most competitive descendant, he got the first place in the exam, the first place in Ping County..."

The brothers and sisters of the Ma family looked at the tablet both happily and sadly, full of emotion.

"Chu'er, come here, and kowtow to your aunt, grandmother, and mother, so that they will know."

"Yes, father." Ma Dalang reverently kowtowed three times to his aunt and mother, "Aunt, mother, Chu'er will work hard, although I know that I can only go to the capital city of Yizhou, but I will never Will not let up."

"Good boy." Ma Qifeng stretched out his hand and patted the eldest son's shoulder. This kid is much more promising than himself. I hope they can see it too!

The family stood silently in front of the memorial tablet for a long time before returning to the room.

The back room is next to Ma Qifeng’s bedroom. It is neither a study nor an ordinary wing room, but a room where their family usually gathers and chats. There is a couch and a wooden bench like a sofa in the middle. Two chairs are placed on each side to form a U shape. There is a coffee table in the middle. On the coffee table, there are books, snacks, and tea sets, etc. Anyway, how to relax.

Now that the weather is cold, there are soft cushions on the chairs, and the family sits around the chairs, with Dalang, Yueer and Dad sitting in the middle, and Ma Sanlang and Ma Miner sitting on both sides, all with smiles on their faces meaning.

"Brother, you are really good. You passed Ma Yihui's exam." Ma Min'er praised with a smile.

Ma Dalang said with a smile: "This time I mainly guess the topic of countermeasures, otherwise, I wouldn't have passed Yihui."

"Hee hee, it seems that guessing questions is still effective." Ma Min'er laughed.

"Thank you, big sister. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be so lucky to take the first place."

Ma Min'er quickly waved her hand: "Brother, I guess we are not the only ones who guessed the question. The main thing is that you have the strength and you have to believe in yourself."

Ma Dalang smiled shyly, and wanted to say thank you, but the elder sister would probably stop him with other reasons. In fact, he must be willing to work hard, but the learning method of the elder sister often made him suddenly enlightened. , Let him study with half the effort, this kind of help cannot be measured by hard work.

Ma Sanlang said to his eldest brother: "Brother, I want to learn from you."

"Okay, work hard." Ma Qifeng nodded and smiled.

Ma Min'er thought about it: "Brother, after waiting for nearly a month, the dust has finally settled, why don't we go out and have some fun."

"where to?"

"Xiaoniu Mountain." Ma Min'er said: "I heard from Uncle Niu that there are many real seeds and millet seeds on Xiaoniu Mountain. Let's gather some while relaxing, and use them as snacks in winter."

"Pick some mushrooms, if any."

"it is good."

"Haha, we can go out and play Luo." Ma Sanlang stood on the chair, raised his hands high, and was extremely jubilant.

Xiao Yue'er pouted: "Third Brother, you are already ten years old, and if you still behave like this, be careful not to be spanked by your husband."

"Hee hee, sir won't come to my house."

"Father is also a gentleman now."

Masanlang stuck out his tongue and sat down quickly.

"Haha..." The whole family was amused by Saburo.

Shi Chunyue stood under the porch and asked, "Boss, it's getting late, do you want dinner?"

"open it."

When Shi Chunyue heard this, she turned and went to the kitchen to make arrangements. Now it was not Shi Xiaoe who was cooking with her, but Yu Xinger, the daughter of her elder sister.Xiao'e and Miao Miao from Peng's family went to work with other embroiderers in the county shop, specializing in making ready-to-wear.

"Myolie, it's alright."

Sitting on the stool, Niu Lei, whose nickname is Xiaobao, is three years old this year. When he saw his mother coming, he called out sweetly, "Mother!".

Shi Chunyue reached out and patted her son's head, "Little Bao, be good, mother will come and have dinner with you soon."

Niu Xiaobao bared his toothless mouth and smiled, bowed his head and played with building blocks again. He was loved by his parents, he felt safe, he was not fussy, and he was very well-behaved.

Shi Chunyue glanced at her niece who just kept silent, and her movements were a little dull. Xing'er couldn't compare with the clever Xiao'e. She was slow to learn something, and it took a long time to get started, so she had to put in a lot of effort.

"Myolie, be careful, don't touch the inside of the bowl with your fingers, understand?"

Xing'er turned her head to look at her, and then nodded: "En!"

"Put the dishes on the tray and bring them over." Shi Chunyue didn't dare to add the word "hurry" before the word "put". Once added, the child would be so anxious that he would knock over the plate.

"Ok!"

Seeing her carry the dishes to the restaurant, Shi Chunyue felt a headache. If it wasn't for the poor elder sister, she would not have brought Xing'er to the owner's house. This child is too stupid, so stupid that she is almost stupid.

Alas... I can only suffer myself, Shi Chunyue looked at the child who has no time to talk to her, and she can only feel sorry for her son.

Ma Min'er's family sat at the table, and when they saw Yu Xing'er coming, they all pretended not to see her, and still whispered to each other, but the voice was not loud, for fear of scaring her, but they had to keep talking, keep talking, this little lady Thinking that if you stare at her, she will be at a loss, and if she is at a loss, she will break the dishes. She has broken at least a dozen of them in the house.

Ma Qifeng wanted to fire her, but Ma Min'er stayed behind. Yu Xing'er reminded her of her mentally handicapped mother. In such a developed modern society, it is difficult for such a person to survive, let alone in ancient society. Out of compassion, she was allowed to stay here. From the beginning of shrinking and smashing the plates, to being able to serve food on the table now, it is a great improvement for her. She believes that it will not be long before she will definitely Can support themselves like a normal person.

After Yu Xing'er set the table, she timidly took a peek at the owner, fearing that they might think she had done a poor job, and found that they didn't seem to care at all, so she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, turned and left the restaurant.

When the little lady went out, Ma Sanlang breathed a sigh of relief, "Second sister, why do I feel like I am serving an ancestor?"

"You want to fight, don't you?" Ma Min'er stared.

"Come on, I won't say anything."

"Hurry up and eat." Ma Min'er stood up and helped everyone serve the meal.

After serving the host well, Shi Chunyue set up another table, "Xing'er, go and bring my father and uncle over for dinner."

"Oh." Yu Xing'er replied honestly, then turned to call for someone.

Niu Dabao was at the door, but was stopped by Yueniang's eldest sister, "Brother-in-law, how is Xing'er inside?"

"It's pretty good." Niu Dabao glanced at the gray elder sister, as if he saw himself two years ago, "Elder sister, living in a small shed is fine."

Shi Qiuju smiled wryly: "Compared with home, it's like being in heaven."

Niu Dabao believed this, and he also thought so before, "The main thing to protect the field is the dog, the dog is fierce, no one will come close to it, you just need to pay attention to it."

"Well, I understand." Shi Qiuju looked inside the door, but she didn't expect her daughter to come out, "Xing'er..." she exclaimed happily.

Yu Xing'er is three years older than Ma Min'er, but her stature is about the same height as hers. The clothes she wears are her old clothes. If they are old, it might be better to say that she specially gave them a few half-new ones.

Yu Xing'er, who is not as gray as autumn, has been in Ma's house for less than three months, but if she goes back, the neighbors in the family may not know each other. She has changed from a gray child as dirty as a hair nest to a refreshing little lady. It is still not white, but the clothes not only fit well, but are also clean and tidy. The hair like a nest is neatly combed. According to the shape of her face, Ma Min'er gave her a girly hairstyle similar to a bun. style, looks petite and pleasant.

"Myolie..." Shi Qiuju covered her mouth and cried. She was so happy that her daughter was like the eldest lady of the landlord's family.

"Mother—" Yu Xing'er was so indifferent that she didn't even have any affection for calling her mother.

Niu Dabao sighed, "Sister, why don't you come in and have dinner with us."

Shi Qiuju shook her head, "Mother let me go home to eat, and don't let me bother your boss."

"Oh." Niu Dabao didn't stay, and he didn't want to trouble his boss, "Then...then Xing'er and I will go in."

"Well, you go in!" After you close the door, I will go back to my mother.

Niu Dabao turned around helplessly, "Myolie, let's go eat."

Yu Xing'er glanced at her mother again, turned around and entered the door with her little uncle. Father Fu was about to close the door, so he extended his hand and waved to Xing'er's mother, "Don't worry, the little boss is taking good care of your daughter."

"I know, I know, I just want to see." Shi Qiuju smiled with tears.

If Shi Chunyue’s suffering comes from the man’s stepmother, at least there is a man who loves her, but her eldest sister is different. The old couple are not bad people, but they are not good people either. Under the pressure of her family, her eldest sister reconciled, escaped from the sea of ​​suffering, and brought the somewhat foolish eldest daughter back to her natal family.

The Ma family has a lot of fields and needs someone to look after the fields and protect the land, so they hired her, so they can survive.

For some reason, I was the one who proposed to go hunting, but when it came to the day of hunting, Mr. Tian felt a little complicated and nervous. He was about to leave the city. He sat on the horse and still didn't say a word, looking at the little boy in front of him from time to time. Master, should we take the north road to Xiaoniu Mountain, or the east road?He has been tangled.

We were about to leave the city gate, and no one said whether to take the east road or the north road. Zhang Nianmei touched the tip of her nose habitually, and approached Mr. Tian with a horse, "Mr., tell me, which way to go up the mountain?"

"Why are you asking, where did you go before, and where do you still go now!" Mr. Tian looked impatient, but in fact he was secretly happy, Zhang Shuatou, thank you for eliciting this topic, which solved the old man's difficulties.

"Sir, why are you so fierce? Why don't you tell me earlier." Zhang Nianmei seemed to have been greatly wronged.

Zhuang Hao is like a bystander, watching these two perform a play, and the cooperation is quite tacit.

Now that there is a direction, the horses that leave the city gate are like flying, heading towards Xiaowang Village like lightning.

There is a saying that 'closer to the country is more timid', these horses slowed down when they were about to reach the cabin, and everyone passing by the cabin unconsciously looked inside.

The cabin was closed and locked, and it was empty, except for spinach and radishes growing in the vegetable beds in the yard, and lonely and withered flowers and plants by the fence.

Zhang Nianmei's horse was at the forefront. It seemed that this pioneer had to do it himself. He trotted his horse towards Ma's new compound.

Old man Fu was sweeping fallen leaves by the inner wall of the door. He was old and didn't hear the sound of horseshoes outside. He didn't put down his big broom until someone knocked on the door and opened the door.

"You...it's you..." Father Fu was so excited that he almost had another stroke.

"Then...that...where's my old sister?" Zhang Nianmei looked inside the door and thought to herself, it's not good that the house is big, and you can't see inside.

"Little...Little Boss..."

Unable to say a word for a long time, Zhang Nianmei stepped into the door directly, calling as she walked, "My sister... my sister..."

Mr. Tian saw Xia Zhen lowered his head slightly, looked at Ma Zong, thought about getting off the horse, "Xiaowen—"

"Sir, the little one is here."

"You take your luggage in."

"Ah..." Xiaowen was stunned for a moment, although the people in the General's Mansion were so superior that no one could invite them, but he always felt that Ma Erniang was different from others, so it might be bad to do so.

"What are you doing here?" Zhuang Hao, who got off his horse, kicked him lightly.

"Oh." Xiaowen quickly waved his hand and asked the guards to get things.

Father Fu was so anxious that he choked up his throat, but when he saw the little general coming in with all the generals, he danced happily, great, great, the little master and the little general could finally meet.

Thinking that Xiaodong's family is not at home, Fu Laofu became anxious again, "Ah... ah..."

Seeing the old man like this, Mr. Tian was so frightened that his beard twitched, "Zhuang Hao, hurry up and don't let him get excited." Old lady, when you got excited, we didn't see Ma Erniang for two years, and we missed a lot of good things.

Zhuang Hao hurriedly rubbed the acupoints that soothe the tendons, making the old man less agitated.

Zhang Nianmei looked around in the courtyard, and finally saw a girl, "Where's my sister?"

Yu Xing'er was afraid of strangers, and when she saw Zhang Nianmei, she was so frightened that she went straight into the kitchen.

"Hey, hello, what can I ask you?"

It's a pity that people have disappeared.

"I'm such a man who is facing the wind, why did he act like a cannibal?" Zhang Nianmei was furious.

After a while, Zhang Nianmei returned to the gate of the front yard.

Mr. Tian looked behind Zhang Nianmei, there was nothing there, and immediately aimed at the little master.

Shun He, who had just dismounted from the horse, was gone, and his whole body was as cold as ice.

While rubbing the old man's acupuncture points, Zhuang Hao looked at Zhang Nianmei, seeing that Mr. Tian didn't move his mouth, he thought about it and asked, "Zhang Tiaozi, did you come out so soon?"

"Yes, there is no one else in the family except a shy girl."

It turned out that there was no one, not that Ma Erniang refused to come out to see the little master, oh my mother, it was so frightening.

Mr. Tian dared to speak, "Where is the one who is afraid of giving birth to a girl?"

"Hide in the kitchen and don't speak."

"No way, if the yard is bigger, there will be no one else except an old girl?"

Shi Chunyue was comforting her elder sister with her three-year-old son in a small shed. When she saw a dozen big horses passing by, she didn't pay attention at first. Going into the arms of my sister, "Sister, I'll be right over." After finishing speaking, he went out and ran towards the new house.

Yu Xing'er was pulled in front of Mr. Tian by two guards, "Where's your master?" But the little girl was so frightened that she nearly foamed at the mouth.

Mr. Tian waved his hand impatiently, "Pull it down quickly, pull it down."

Shi Chunyue ran back panting, and she saw more than a dozen horses stopping for the door, she was so happy that she stepped inside the door.

"Ah..." Father Fu waved his hands happily when he saw Niu Dabao's wife.

"Old... Dad, you... what's wrong with you?"

Zhuang Hao snorted coldly, "What else can I do, be happy."

"Oh." Shi Chunyue smiled embarrassedly.

"Come on, where's your master?"

"Going to play." Shi Chunyue replied quickly.

"play?"

"That's right, that's right, I went to Xiaoniu Mountain, and the whole family went to celebrate Dalangjun's Mansion Test No. 1." Shi Chunyue happily replied.

"..." Everyone was silent.

Shi Chunyue was frightened by the silence of the crowd, "What...what's the matter?"

Really, everyone in the yard saw Xia Zhen smiling. Although it was only for a short moment, they really laughed.

Xia Zhen turned around, stepped out of the courtyard gate with two long legs, and rode on the big horse, galloping away without waiting for anyone.

Mr. Tian let out a long breath, "Come on—"

"Sir, the little one is—"

"Hurry up to the county seat, find Mr. Wei, and ask him to pick the best congratulatory gift and send it to Ma's mansion."

"Yes, sir." The guard took the order and left.

"Let's go, let's go to Calf Mountain."

Zhuang Hao found out that the old man saw the little general go to Xiaoniu Mountain. He seemed to be less excited, and his mood had stabilized, but he was still worried, "Come on,"

"Mr. Zhuang—"

"Invite the doctor from the town over, I don't want any more accidents to happen."

"Yes, Mr. Zhuang."

After everything was arranged properly, Mr. Tian finally relaxed, and said to Shi Chunyue, "We'll have dinner here tonight, do we have a place to stay?"

"Yes, yes, there is a lot of space." Shi Chunyue replied happily.

Mr. Tian said very politely: "Then I will trouble you to arrange it."

"My lord..." Shi Chunyue was excited.

"Like them, call me Mr."

"Yes, the woman knows, sir, I will definitely arrange it."

"Ah."

Xia Zhen only felt that she was riding on a horse as if she was flying, a little ecstatic, a little unreal, but she also went to Xiaoniu Mountain, did she know that she was coming too?
At eight or nine in the morning, the frost and dew seemed to have not faded away, and it was a little damp and slippery.

"It's best to look for fungus at this time." Ma Dalang said with a smile.

"Yes, let's find it quickly."

"Okay!" Ma Sanlang turned around happily. In the past two years, they have often come to Xiaoniu Mountain. It can be said that they are very familiar with this place.

However, due to the presence of large animals, they did not dare to go deep into the woods, they only stayed at the foot of Xiaoniu Mountain or halfway up, and did not go far.

Although the mountain is often visited by farmers and young people, and there are not many things that can be found, it does not prevent the family from being happy together.

Ma Sanlang suddenly asked worriedly: "Big Brother, Second Sister, what if we encounter wild boars and roe deer?"

"This is not deep in the forest, where there are so many wild boars." Ma Min'er laughed.

"Hee hee, if we can meet one or two pheasants and hares, that's fine too. We can hunt them back and eat them."

"That's up to you."

"I have been practicing shooting for nearly two years, and I should be able to shoot a rabbit."

Ma Min'er snorted: "Oh, you also know it should be. Usually practice is static, but now the rabbit is moving. Do you think it is stupid, standing here for you to beat."

"Second sister, don't hit me all the time."

"I'm not hitting you, but telling you the facts so that you don't have illusions."

Masaburo stuck out his tongue and made a grimace.

Ma Qifeng walked at the back, watching the children playing and the sunshine falling from the treetops, he just felt that the years are so peaceful.

An hour later, it was almost noon, and everyone was tired. They found an open space, spread burlap, placed the belongings brought from home, and started preparing lunch.

Ma Dalang and Ma Miner divided the work, one built the stove and the other prepared the ingredients. They enjoyed the picnic without rushing.

Ma Sanlang and Ma Yueer were nearby, one was picking up dead branches, the other was picking up dead leaves to start a fire, chatting and laughing, it was very interesting.

Ma Qifeng sat by the side of the sackcloth, sharing the fruits of labor picked up by everyone in the morning. Everyone really had everything in their cloth bags.

Xia Zhen quickly arrived at the foot of the mountain. As a young general who was used to fighting, after harnessing his horse, he searched for human footprints and quickly went halfway up the mountain. After a while, he saw smoke wafting from somewhere.

Xia Zhen froze in her tracks, pursed her lips and looked in the direction of Piaoyan, without moving for a long time.

Jing Mo glanced at his master, passed him, and continued walking.

Someone was walking in front, and Xia Zhen's feet moved, and she followed. After a few turns, an open grass field appeared in front of her eyes, and the familiar little figure came into view.

I haven't seen her for two years. The little daughter-in-law seems to be a lot taller, and the bun on her head seems to have changed.On one side of the body, a strand of hair fell on the shoulder, looking gentle and moving.

"Yue'er, have you washed the wild onions?" The soup in the pot is already boiling, and it's ready to eat just waiting for a handful of shallots to remove the freshness and flavor. , fearing that the ingredients inside would be stuck in the pot, he stretched out his other hand to pick up Xiao Yueer's wild onions.

After waiting for a while, the wild onion was delivered to her. Ma Min'er took the time to look at the wild onion, but unexpectedly bumped into a pair of deep pupils: "Little general—"

Xia Zhen pursed her lips.

"Why are you here?" Ma Min'er was both surprised and delighted.

Jing Mo held his sword, stood behind the master, glanced at the master who was squatting on the ground, and said coldly: "You can come, can't we?"

"Yes, of course." Ma Min'er was amused by this master and servant.

(End of this chapter)