Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 80
Ma Min'er smiled brightly, and Xia Zhen's mood followed suit.

In two years, the 12-year-old girl has half-lengthened her eyes, and she has the bright and pretty face of a young girl. On her white oval face, there are a pair of watery red phoenix eyes, and the long eyelashes under the willow-leaf eyebrows flash charmingly with her smile. The small nose had a mischievous smell, and the small mouth was grinning...Suddenly it felt a little glaring, Xia Zhen hurriedly moved her eyes away.

I haven't seen her for more than two years. The seven-year-old Xiao Yueer has no memory of what happened when she was four or five years old. She forgot the fear she used to have, but she was still afraid when she first saw Xia Zhen, who was tall, mighty and serious. There is nothing more intuitive than a child's sense of approaching momentum.Seeing that he took the wild onion in his hand, Xiao Yue'er was so frightened that she quickly hid beside her father, not daring to move.

As Masanlang grew up, he saw that he was no longer as afraid as he was when he was a child, and stood still, staring at the tall and mighty young general with a good look, and even showed admiration.

Ma Min'er had already put the wild onions into the pot, and seeing Xia Zhen choking on her throat from the corner of her eyes, she turned her head and smiled and said, "Are you hungry, or is your mouth dry? Do you want to drink some water first?"

"All the way..." The one who spoke was Jing Mo, who thought that the master would not answer, and was going to say for the master, "Walk all the way, whoever is not thirsty." ’ As a result, the master nodded like a well-behaved little boy: "Yeah!"

Jing Mo felt that he was redundant, holding his sword half a mile away from them.

"Surprise guard, don't go, drink some water to quench your thirst." Ma Min'er shouted.

Jing Mo followed Ma Min'er's gaze, stopped his back foot, stepped forward, and reached out to grab one of the bamboo tubes.

"That's my bamboo tube." Masanlang called urgently.

As if he didn't hear it, Jing Mo retreated under a big tree like a whirlwind, pulled out the cover of the bamboo tube, raised his head and gurgled loudly.

"Second Sister, doesn't he dislike other people's saliva?" Ma Sanlang twisted his face.

"Pfft..."

It was Xia Zhen who laughed, and Ma Miner stared at him in surprise, "So you can laugh too?"

Xia Zhen stood up in embarrassment, "I...I want to drink water." There was awkwardness in the cold expression, really like Ma Saburo when he was seven or eight years old.

Ma Min'er lowered her head and secretly smiled, then called out: "Sanlang, pour chrysanthemum tea for the little general."

"Okay!" Ma Sanlang responded happily, ran to the side of the sackcloth mat, and took the largest bamboo tube among them. This is a public bamboo tube, and the water in it can only be poured, and cannot be drunk by mouth.

When going out, for convenience, Ma Miner made a bamboo tube for everyone, and a small wooden cup for everyone, which is light and will not break. Ma Sanlang quickly poured a cup for the little general and brought it to him, "Little general Please have some tea."

Xia Zhen reached out to take it, bowed her head and drank it.

Ma Sanlang was a little disgusted, he was still a little general, why was he so rude, and he didn't say thank you.Uh...Little General Xia, your brother-in-law is starting to dislike you. I'm afraid your way of chasing your wife is...

Ma Sanlang looked at Jing Mo in the distance, and saw that he had no sword on his waist, a bow on his back, and he was wearing a black suit, so arrogant that he didn't want to. There is also a big bow, which is even more wise and martial, and the little eyes of worship never stop.

The middle-aged man immediately forgot about the impoliteness of his future brother-in-law, and grinned his flattering mouth, "Little General, we are going to hunt rabbits today, and we will go back to do the pilgrimage offering at night. What about you, do you want to hunt?"

Xia Zhen stopped drinking water, looked at Ma Min'er, hunting rabbits?
It's a pity that someone's channel is with him. The soup at the bottom of the big pot has been stewed. It can relieve the greasy taste of meat.

"Little general, where are you sir?" Ma Min'er didn't notice any difference in how Xia Zhen looked at her, and felt that it was impossible for him to come out alone.

Jing Mo stood under a big tree more than ten miles away, as if he didn't hear Ma Erniang's question, he was looking up at the top of the tree.

Seeing that Jing Mo didn't answer for him, Xia Zhen frowned.

Ma Min'er laughed: "Little General, you won't be too lazy to ask others to answer for you, what if someone's answer is not to your liking?"

The little daughter-in-law's beautiful eyes stared at her, Xia Zhen slightly looked away.

"Did the gentlemen come together?" Seeing that he didn't answer, Ma Min'er got into a fight with him, and stretched out her hand to pat his waist, wanting to pat his chest, but unfortunately he was short and could only hit his waist.

Xia Zhen lowered her head and looked at her waist.

The childish action made Ma Min'er roll her eyes, uncle, you really have the ability, such a good-tempered person like sister was offended, she turned her head and shouted: "Father, let's eat."

"Wait for Mr. Tian and others." Ma Qifeng had already stood up from the linen mat.

"Wait." Ma Min'er glared at the expensive Xia Zhen, hum, let you tug, don't give me food, see if I can tug.

Xia Zhen looked at Jing Mo again. Jing Mo tilted his head and was looking at other places, so he could only look down the mountain.

Ma Qifeng understood, and quickly conveyed the meaning to his daughter, "People are behind."

"Father—" Ma Miner pursed her lips.

Ma Qifeng smiled and gave him a look, meaning who made him a little general.

snort!
Just as Ma Miner was preparing the bowls and chopsticks, Mr. Tian and others finally arrived, "Second lady, do you have an old man's share?" They were familiar as if there had never been two years between them, just like the old man who just met yesterday. like friends.

"No!" Ma Miner replied like an old friend.

Mr. Tian was stunned: "..."

Ma Min'er snorted: "Someone didn't order you a meal, so it's not your share."

"Ah..." Zhang Nianmei hurriedly looked at Jing Mo, "Dead Mo Mo, why didn't you say we were behind?"

Shocked Mo held his sword, "It's not for me either." After speaking, he took a few steps back.

Uh... what the hell is this.

Ma Qifeng hurriedly walked up to Mr. Tian, ​​"Min'er is naughty, playing with the little general, a big pot is enough for everyone to eat."

Just kidding?Zhuang Hao looked at the little general who was at a loss, no, the little general was at a loss?Not reconciled?That's right, it's only been a while, so it's impossible to reconcile so quickly.

Zhang Nianmei hurried to Ma Min'er's side, "Sister, I had a hard time looking for you just now."

"Find me?"

"Yeah, we went to your house, but in your house, there are either an old man who can't speak, or a girl who dare not speak, so I don't even have anyone to ask." Zhang Nianmei complained.

Ma Min'er shouted nervously: "Papa Fu..."

"I'm so happy that I can't speak." Seeing that the misunderstanding was about to come again, Zhang Nianmei quickly explained.

"Oh oh oh." It's possible, Ma Min'er glanced at the crowd and saw that they were open-minded, Fu Laofu should be fine.

"Old sister, for the sake of seeing my brother working so hard to find you, let me share with you."

Ma Min'er nodded, "Okay, for your good performance, I'll give you a share."

"Thank you, sister." Zhang Nianmei raised her eyebrows proudly, "Then I'll do it myself." After speaking, he took the bowl and spoon, filled a large wooden bowl with soup and meat, but gave it to Xia Zhen.

Ma Min'er raised her eyebrows.

Zhang Nianmei turned her head and grinned at her sister: "My sister, I borrow your flowers to please my boss once, no... don't mind."

The upright Zhang Nianmei made the overwhelmed Xia Zhen instantly proud, her brows raised, you little daughter-in-law, you don't give me food, this general has already eaten.

Ma Min'er looked at the sky speechlessly, and rolled her eyes again.

Although he said that he didn't have everyone's share, how could he really have no share, since the little general can come to the door in person with a low profile, why is Ma Min'er being pretentious, she just said that she won't eat, it was just a joke.

After a while, a group of people sat on the sackcloth mats in a circle, happily eating the big pot of soup.

"Why is Erniang's soup delicious?" After eating a small bowl, Mr. Tian felt refreshed and even sweated slightly.

"Chef Lei asked me for the recipe of MSG, his soup should taste good!" Ma Miner laughed.

"No, no, it's just that bad, the old man can pay for it, but it's not that bad."

Ma Miner smiled, "Thank you sir for liking it."

"Sister, I like it too."

"If you like it, you can eat here often in the future."

"Really." Zhang Nianmei's happy eyebrows almost flew up.

Zhuang Hao and Mr. Tian glanced at each other, Ma Erniang is stepping down for everyone, from now on, they can be like before again.

"Yeah!" Ma Min'er is not a real child, of course she saw the interaction between the two gentlemen of Tianzhuang, and nodded with a smile.

"That's great." Zhang Nianmei happily drank three bowls of soup and meat, and was so full that she burped.

Xia Zhen lowered her head slightly and drank slowly. Unknowingly, she also drank two small bowls. Ma Min'er also made him a steamed bun in the broth, "I only drink soup, not the staple food, and I will be hungry after a while."

Mr. Tian looked at Ma Min'er who was careful and thoughtful, and smiled on his brows, and followed him with a steamed bun in broth, "It feels good."

Zhang Nian, the beauty who came crazy, also stretched out the bowl, "Sister, I want to make steamed buns too."

"Okay, wait a minute, let me break it for you."

Ma Sanlang and Ma Yue'er looked at each other, this was all their treatment, but in the end, these big men were like children, and they made my sister break their buns, not happy!

Ma Qifeng sensed the emotions of the young couple, so he quickly took buns from Xiaozhumi and broke them into soup bowls, and the two little ones finally felt a little more balanced.

After a lunch, everyone ate to their heart's content, got up from the linen mat with satisfaction, and walked around to digest food.

"I feel that I haven't felt full and satisfied for a long time." Mr. Tian sighed while walking.

Zhuang Hao smiled, he didn't agree, he couldn't understand Mr. Tian's mood.

In the backyard of the Mo Mansion, the stepwife Mrs. Liu was yelling in front of Mr. Mo: "Master, did you make a mistake in marrying Mrs. Ma's granddaughter to Shaolin, so how can my younger brother Liu Yang's wife, Mrs. Ma, stand up? "

Master Mo moved his butt uncomfortably, yes, they are also the granddaughters of Master Ma, one is the elder and the other is the junior, really...he forgot about it.

"Master, why don't you speak?" Mrs. Liu refused to say a word, looking like a noble wife of the county magistrate.

"I... I know!" Master Mo stroked his beautiful beard.

"You mean you won't propose marriage?"

Master Mo didn't say a word.

"You still want to go?" Liu's eyebrows were raised upside down.

In another boudoir in Mo Mansion, Mo Wanyi heard what her younger brother told her, and felt that the matter was hanging over her head. Now that the Liu family is making such a fuss, as expected...

"Ma'am, what should I do?" the girl asked anxiously, "It's hard for the master to think about the young master. I didn't expect Liu to make excuses this time, but there is an excuse now."

"Is Shaolin's fate the same as mine?"

"Miss, don't talk nonsense."

Mo Wanyi lowered her head and wiped her tears. She is already 20 years old, and she is still in her boudoir, and her sadness comes from it.

Zhang Nianmei was entangled by Ma Sanlang, took her own bow, and explained to him, from the tension of the bow to the structure of the bow, it was very detailed, and Ma Sanlang's eyes were all little stars.

In the early winter afternoon, in the open space in the mountains, the warm sun was pouring down, and the warmth was so warm that it made people feel slightly smoky. They were so lazy that they didn't want to move, but Xia Zhen sat on the linen that had just been packed.

"Aren't you going hunting?" Ma Min'er put the washed dishes and chopsticks into the flat willow box, and let the little donkey carry them back later.

Xia Zhen glanced at Ma Min'er, "I'm sleepy."

I thought he wouldn't reply, but two words popped out, yes, from one word of 'um' to two words of 'sleepy' can be regarded as progress, "while the sun is high and there is no wind, hurry up and squint for a while, wait for the mountain wind to rise I won't be able to sleep anymore."

"Yeah." Xia Zhen put her hands behind her head and lay straight on the linen cushion, her eyes were really closed and she was squinting. Ma Min'er took a small blanket and covered his stomach.

Feeling something falling on him, he opened his eyes, met the little daughter-in-law's star-like eyes, the corners of his eyes fluttered, and he squinted and fell asleep peacefully.

Xiaowen muttered, "Didn't you come here to hunt? Why are you chatting and sleeping?"

Jing Mo glanced at Xiaowen coldly, then continued to look up at the treetops.hunt?If Jingmo knew poetry, he would say that the drunken man does not care about wine, but cares about the mountains and rivers. Since the mountains and rivers have been found, why do he need wine?

The little general's people didn't intend to hunt at all, and the Ma family found a lot of seeds, plantains, and some wild plows around the forest when they were resting.

"Take this home and stew it with sugar cubes. It can be kept in a jar for a long time. Drink it when it tastes good. It can moisten your throat and lungs." Ma Min'er didn't expect to see a small mountain plow at the turn of the slope. The tree, although the tree is small, does not bear many fruits on the branches, but each of them is big, which is really an unexpected harvest.

"Sister, brother will help you climb the tree, but I want to give you an altar." Zhang Nianmei has been following Ma Min'er's buttocks, talking non-stop, chattering, and I don't know why he comes so much. talk.

"I know, your share must be indispensable."

Seeing the setting sun, "How about we go back, there are still more than ten miles away." Ma Qifeng said.

"Okay, let's go to the open space." Ma Min'er also felt that it was getting late.

When they reached the open space, Xia Zhen and the others were no longer squinting, and they were putting bows and arrows on their backs.

"Wow, how did you know we were going back?" Ma Miner asked with a surprised smile.

"We're not going back, we're going hunting." Jing Mo replied coldly.

"Ah..." Ma Min'er said, "But...it's already late!"

"Many animals are nocturnal, and come out to look for food in the evening." Xia Zhen answered this time.

Although the uncle seldom spoke a long sentence, Ma Miner still twitched the corners of her mouth, "But I have put away all my pots and stoves."

"There is still dry food, you just need to boil some water." Zhuang Hao said.

Mr. Tian smiled: "I'm sorry, the old man forgot to remind the second lady just now!" He said this, but in fact he also wanted to say it in his heart, thinking that the little general would stop hunting when he saw you, but he would still hunt.

Mr. Tian probably didn't realize that he was old and far from his youth. How could he know that young people like to behave in front of little ladies.

"Oh." What can Ma Miner do?

Together with my eldest brother and father, I took out the installed bowl and stove, boiled plain water, and made a simple dinner. After eating, everyone who came with the little general went hunting.

Before leaving, Mr. Tian said with a smile: "Second lady, the fight won't last long."

"Oh." Seeing them heading towards the top of the mountain, for some reason, Ma Min'er thought of the drops of jade water on her neck, and suddenly turned around and asked, "Father, what time is it today?"

"Fifteen." Ma Qifeng replied, "If they hunt late, the moon should be fine tonight."

Ma Min'er was not worried about the darkness and no moon at all, so she murmured, "October [-]th?"

"Well, today is October [-]th." Ma Qifeng affirmed casually, not noticing the change in his daughter at all.

Ma Min'er pursed her lips secretly. The last time she fell into the pit was October [-]th. Could it be that she could see her future parents again tonight? Her heart couldn't restrain her excitement.

"Father, let's sit down and rest, and wait for them to come over."

This was the only way to go. Since the evening was when the animals came out to look for food, he didn't dare to run around with the children. If he encountered a ferocious beast, he might not be able to take care of it as a frail person.

After all, it was on the mountain. As soon as the evening arrived, the mountain wind blew over.

"Father, why don't we open up the little tent we prepared to shelter from the wind."

"it is good."

Ma Min'er asked the embroidery workshop to help make a few small and modern tents for spring or autumn outings, and she didn't plan to stay on the mountain today, but just brought one here for precaution, so it really came in handy.

The father and son hurriedly found a shelter from the wind and propped up the small tent, and sat in it, feeling much warmer.

Ma Dalang said: "Father, let's light a fire and roast."

"it is good."

After the fire was ignited, it was completely dark, and Ma Miner sat quietly in the tent, waiting until the time was almost up, before stretching her head to look outside, "I don't know how the little generals are doing hunting. ?”

"I don't know." Ma Dalang shook his head.

"Last time they hunted, they seemed to have met an assassin."

"Ah..." The Ma family were all shocked, "Then..."

"There is no danger."

"Oh." Ma Qifeng was startled by his daughter's words.

"However, if there is an accident and they are all trapped, it will be bad if no one reports to Pingding County for them." Ma Min'er said deliberately.

Ma Qifeng recalled that night, when thousands of soldiers trampled on the small roads in the village, he asked worriedly, "Do you want someone to report to the county seat?"

"Yeah." Ma Min'er kept paying attention to the expressions of her father and elder brother. Seeing that they were frightened by what she said, she secretly said, I'm sorry, father and elder brother, I really have some difficulties.

Xiao Zhangfeng, who was originally silent because of the night, became even quieter because of Ma Miner's words.

Suddenly, Ma Min'er said, "Father, why don't I go and see if they are in trouble."

"Min...Min'er, you can't go as a little lady." Ma Qifeng hastily stopped her.

"Then let big brother go with me."

"No, no."

"Then...that father will go with me, and let the eldest brother stay and take care of the younger brother and younger sister."

"This..." Ma Qifeng thought for a while and nodded in agreement.

Ma Min'er didn't expect her father to agree to her going to find Xia Zhen and the others. She felt extremely guilty and sorry for her father.

Why did Ma Qifeng agree to go to the little general with his daughter?To put it bluntly, if I want to pay back some favors for my family, the little general and the others will let it go if nothing happens. Favored.

Alas, Ma Qifeng, Ma Qifeng, why have you been tricked by your daughter, who is the little general, even if there is something wrong, how could it be possible for you to go to the county to find someone to rescue you.

Ma Qifeng and his daughter each took a pine oil torch in their hands and headed all the way to the top of the mountain.

Because she wanted to trick Xia Zhen into the pit, Ma Min'er took advantage of spring, summer and autumn to pick wild vegetables, and had already found the pit and made a sign, waiting for the opportunity.

Unexpectedly, the opportunity finally came. She took her father along seemingly casually, but actually walked towards the pit step by step.

Xia Zhen and the others seemed to be unlucky. They only saw pheasants and hares, not even small prey such as deer and roe deer. They kept wandering in the depths of the dense forest, hoping to catch a good prey.

The hard work paid off, and they finally found a wild boar, but they didn't expect that it was a very strong wild boar. Even though Xia Zhen and others were very good at shooting, they missed the vital part and missed a little. , it ran wildly with blood arrows.

When Xia Zhen and the others saw the torch moving and realized who would be on the top of the mountain, they quickly shouted, "Run to the left, run to the left."

The injured wild hunting is on the left side, so under normal circumstances, it will not run to the left.

Ma Min'er was so preoccupied that she didn't hear the name of the person in front of her clearly, but felt that there was a large animal rampaging in the forest, so she was so frightened that she quickly used a torch to protect her body.

Ma Qifeng heard what they were calling, and hurriedly dragged his daughter to run to the left.

The rampaging wild boar heard the sound of miscellaneous steps ahead, instinctively defended itself, and pushed towards the sound of miscellaneous steps.

Seeing that her little daughter-in-law was in danger, Xia Zhen rode a horse all the way.

"what……"

"what……"

When she fell into the boundless darkness, Ma Min'er thought, it's over, it's over, am I going to die again?
After an unknown amount of time, she felt her face being slapped constantly, "Wake up, wake up..."

"Xia Zhen..." His eyes were black when he opened his eyes, but Ma Min'er recognized who the voice was, "Where are we?"

"I don't know." Hearing that the little daughter-in-law was able to speak and knew herself, Xia Zhen breathed a sigh of relief, relaxed her body, and sat down by the wall.

Ma Min'er rubbed her aching head: "I seem to have fallen downhill just now."

"Ah."

Ma Miner struggled to get up.

"do not move!"

"what's wrong?"

Xia Zhen didn't say a word, they stayed in a small place, and Ma Min'er touched his wound.

"Are you injured?"

"No problem."

He didn't say no, but if he didn't get in the way, he would be hurt. Ma Min'er asked anxiously, "How is it? Does it matter?"

"A twisted ankle."

"Then..." Ma Min'er didn't know how to deal with it.

"When they get here, someone will deal with it." Xia Zhen felt that she talked more tonight than usual in a month.

"Oh." Ma Min'er asked, "Then... how about my father?"

"do not know."

In the dark, neither of them spoke, and they were surprisingly quiet all of a sudden.

Ma Min'er felt as if she had been crushed, her whole body ached, she regretted it, it didn't matter what happened to her, she didn't know what happened to her father, but when she asked Xia Zhen, he didn't know either, which made her very anxious.

Above the darkness, Ma Qifeng was held back by Jing Mo, but he didn't fall down the slope, but he was frightened, "Min'er...Min'er..." He kept calling his daughter's name.

Zhang Nianmei and the others had no time to comfort him. They searched down the slope and found that the two of them seemed to have disappeared. Except for the grass near the hillside, there were traces of rolling grass, but there were no traces below.

"What's going on?" Zhang Nianmei frowned.

Zhuang Hao didn't say a word, and looked around. In this section, the trees are not lush, there are many open spaces, and there is always a feeling of deja vu.

Xiaowen asked: "Do you want to go to the county to mobilize people?"

Mr. Tian thought about it and said, "It's not too late, so wait a little longer."

"Yes, sir."

After a while of pain relief, Ma Min'er was in the dark, using the spray from above... wait, above?Are we in the pit?After all, she seemed to have rolled down that hillside last time.

Realizing this, Ma Min'er was always excited. She stretched her head to look at the mouth of the pit. A ray of moonlight poured down, making the moonlight in the pit hazy and beautiful.

"Xia Zhen..." Ma Min'er almost said that you should fall asleep quickly.

"Hmm!" In the moonlight, Xia Zhen looked at the little daughter-in-law. The original white and lovely face was covered with a layer of silver light. In the haze, the carefree girl looked graceful and gentle, extremely docile.

"Will...will someone come to rescue us?" Ma Min'er started to find something to say.

Sensing that the other party was a little scared, Xia Zhen pursed her lips, hesitated for a while with her big hand on her knee, and stretched it out to cover the back of the girl's soft little hand.

Uh... Ma Min'er was frightened by the sudden movement, but she wasn't really a little girl, and she didn't panic and waved her hand. On the contrary, she knew that Xia Zhen had a sensitive personality, and if she pulled her hand away, he might be defeated I will never dare to hold another person's hand again.

Xia Zhen was feeling uneasy, and found that the girl across from him did not shake off his hand, but gently held him.

"Thank you, I don't feel scared anymore."

Lowering her head, Xia Zhen grinned silently.

"You have a nice smile."

Xia Zhen instinctively withdrew her smile and looked cold again.

Alas, I said he was 20 years old, but his mental age is estimated to be only 12 years old. He is like an awkward boy who desperately wants to be recognized by others on the one hand, but also disdains others' approval on the other hand. A typical adolescent rebellious boy.

Ma Min'er looked up at the moonlight at the mouth of the pit again, maybe people outside will find this place soon, she looked at the boy opposite, how could she make him fall asleep?

"I...I want to sleep for a while, how about you, Xia Zhen?"

Xia Zhen didn't answer.

Ma Min'er understood, and didn't reply, which means he doesn't want to sleep, oh my mother, after tonight, I want to return the jade water drops, and I must not be his wife, don't say anything else, all day long Just guessing his mind can be exhausting.

No matter what, the girl pretended to sleep first, and Ma Min'er immediately showed a sweet and dreamy look.

The soft and even sound of breathing in the quiet pit gives people a calming force.

(End of this chapter)