Chapter 257
The afternoon sun was just right, and without the wind, it wasn't cold to walk outside.
Yang Xu, holding a wooden basin, glanced at Zhan Feiyu who was walking slowly with a hand warmer and asked with disdain, "You practice martial arts, why are you still so afraid of the cold?"
In the morning, he had greatly admired Zhan Feiyu's diligence in her studies, but now, seeing her in a fox fur cloak, wearing a hood, and never letting go of her hand warmer, she still looked so delicate.
"It's not like we're out of money. If we can afford charcoal, why freeze?" Zhan Feiyu replied lightly. If conditions allowed, she would rather be a salted fish, living a life of leisure and indulgence.
Having money made you special! Yang Xu was rendered speechless and could only stride forward with a stiff face.
However, after a few steps, he slowed down to match Zhan Feiyu's leisurely pace, still looking disdainful. Even though she was a year older than him, a young girl was still just a young girl.
"Yang Xu!" As the two reached the end of the village, they saw a group of children rush out.
The leading child was about the same height as Yang Xu, also dark and thin, wearing a patched padded jacket.
After Da Niu stopped, four or five followers stood on either side, and not far away stood three young girls.
"Get out of the way!" Yang Xu said gruffly. His attitude clearly indicated that he had had many conflicts with the village children.
Da Niu was instantly enraged, his eyes bulging like ox eyes, spitting fire.
There were many children in Shitou Village around Yang Xu's age, but none of them were a match for him. If they ganged up on him, even if they won, they would be scolded at home.
The men of Shitou Village were upright and honorable. What kind of men would gang up on others or bully the younger?
Da Niu and his group of children had fought and lost repeatedly, but none of them were convinced. However, at this moment, their eyes were fixed on Zhan Feiyu behind Yang Xu.
Yesterday, they had heard that a carriage had arrived in the village and that the noble person had gone to the foot of the mountain. The Yang family, grandfather and grandson, lived there, so it must have been to their house.
Some villagers who were gathering firewood had also seen a young girl. When they returned, they described her as incredibly beautiful and delicate, someone who couldn't be found even in Xiangwu County, likely from the prefectural city.
It was cold and freezing, and Da Niu and the others had nothing to do, so they came out to block the way.
Yang Xu stuffed the basin for making tofu into Zhan Feiyu's hand, stood in front, and took a stance, "Want to fight?"
"Yang Xu, do you think we're afraid of you?" Da Niu shouted angrily, old and new grudges surging up.
"If you want to fight, let's fight! What are you afraid of!"
"Today, whoever is afraid is not a man!"
"Right, Yang Xu, don't think you can look down on people just because you practice martial arts!"
Several boys chimed in, their voices loud, and they occasionally shook their fists.
Placing the wooden basin on the ground, Zhan Feiyu still held her hand warmer, looking at the fierce and combative children. The boys of Jinlin Village were also mischievous, going up mountains and down rivers, and fighting. But they didn't have this kind of momentum. They looked like they were going to fight to the death.
"You move away," Yang Xu said, glancing back. Although Zhan Feiyu had thrown him over her shoulder yesterday, the true man Yang Xu believed he had been careless. Moreover, he couldn't go all out against a young girl.
But today, facing Da Niu and the others who were provoking him, Yang Xu had no reservations.
Da Niu and the others had come to see the beautiful young girl from the prefectural city, but now that the arrow was nocked, the fight was inevitable. Glancing at Zhan Feiyu, who had rosy lips and white teeth, they echoed, "Right, girl, stand aside."
The Yang family, grandfather and grandson, had lived in Shitou Village for six or seven years. The villagers knew a little about their situation. They heard that Yang Xu's grandfather used to lead troops in battle, but was punished and exiled here.
At that time, some ruffians had climbed over the Yang family's wall in the middle of the night, wanting to steal something for money. As a result, six ruffians were beaten until they cried for their mothers and fathers.
Later, one of the ruffians was unconvinced and found his brother-in-law, who was a constable in the yamen, to get revenge.
But the result was that a group of constables arrived in great fanfare, their arrogance making the villagers believe that the Yang family, grandfather and grandson, were about to suffer greatly. Unfortunately, with a fire poker, Yang Shousheng beat more than ten constables armed with sabers into a panicked retreat.
In the end, the matter passed silently.
The eldest son of the village chief worked as a shop assistant in the county town. When he returned, the villagers learned that the ruffian's brother-in-law had been beaten with a board by the county magistrate and lost his job. From then on, no one dared to bully the Yang family, grandfather and grandson.
The Yang family, grandfather and grandson, lived peacefully in the village. Later, when they saw Yang Shousheng hunting in the mountains, the village men shamelessly joined him. Although Yang Shousheng was taciturn, he did not hide his knowledge and gave them some pointers.
When Yang Shousheng was teaching Yang Xu martial arts, the village children also came to learn. Yang Shousheng did not turn them away.
However, Da Niu and the others were too wild. They came to join in the fun for more than ten days, but finally couldn't bear the hardship and the dullness of practicing horse stance, so they all refused to learn.
Even if their grandfathers and fathers beat them with sticks, it was useless. The first few years of practicing martial arts were about strengthening the bones, and no moves were taught. It was normal for the village children to lack patience.
But this led to Da Niu and the others resenting Yang Xu. After all, he was constantly praised by the elders, and they couldn't endure the hardship, but Yang Xu could. Therefore, they fought whenever they met.
The village people didn't care about the fights between children, and neither did General Yang nor Yang Shousheng. It was just a fight between weaklings, at most resulting in a few days of bruises.
"Brother." Da Hua walked over, glared fiercely at Zhan Feiyu, then tugged at Da Niu's sleeve, "If you win, I want that flower on her head."
Sometimes there were stakes in the fights between village children, such as small wooden knives or swords, or a handful of wild vegetables dug from the mountain. As Da Niu's sister, Da Hua usually disdained the things Da Niu won. But today was different.
After walking from the foot of the mountain to the end of the village, Zhan Feiyu, who was a little warm, had taken off her hood, and the silk flower pinned in her hair was revealed.
If it were spring or summer, Da Hua wouldn't be envious; she could pick a flower and wear it.
But in the weather of late October, the outside was frozen in the early morning. Looking around, there was desolation, and not a single green leaf could be seen. Da Hua and the others only got a new hair tie during the New Year.
So, not only Da Hua was envious, but the other three young girls were also the same. Such a beautiful hair accessory, just like a real flower, with petals layered one after another.
Before Zhan Feiyu could even object, Da Niu and Yang Xu had already started fighting, while the others stood aside, cheering them on with laughter.
A quarter of an hour later.
Yang Xu clearly had the upper hand, but he also knew it was because he practiced martial arts. "You all come at me together!"
The other boys exchanged glances, perhaps not wanting to lose face in front of the beautiful girl from the prefectural city. With a rush, they all charged forward, and instantly, a group of people were fighting.
Zhan Feiyu glanced at the carriage parked not far away. It seemed that this madam did not intend to give up, or rather, the Zhenbian Marquis's mansion did not intend to give up.
"Madam, Young Master Xu is fighting with some children," Lian'er, who had just alighted from the carriage, reported in a low voice, looking disdainfully at the children rolling on the ground. Although she addressed him as young master, her eyes were full of contempt.
In the carriage, Zhang Yiyi did not want to get off. Shitou Village was too poor, so after she left yesterday, she returned to Xiangwu County. This morning, she traveled for more than half an hour by carriage to reach Shitou Village.
Before meeting Yang Xu, Zhang Yiyi still had some feelings for him, after all, he was the child she had carried for ten months.
After entering the Zhenbian Marquis's mansion, she had also been pregnant, but miscarried before three months. So far, Yang Xu was her only child and her future reliance.
But when she thought of Yang Xu yesterday, who was as dirty as a beggar, and was trampled on like a dead dog by the guards, and now was fighting like a wild child with the village children, Zhang Yiyi was also extremely disgusted. She resented General Yang and Yang Shousheng. How did they teach their child?
"Stop fighting, someone's coming!" Da Hua saw Zhang Yiyi and her entourage alighting from the carriage. She was momentarily stunned, then shouted.
Unfortunately, Da Niu and the others, who were already fired up, couldn't hear her. In a one-on-one fight, they were no match for Yang Xu. This time, since they were all fighting together, they definitely couldn't lose, otherwise, they would truly lose face.
"What are you standing there for? Hurry and pull them apart!" Zhang Yiyi commanded in a娇声 (delicate voice). Although she disliked Yang Xu for embarrassing her, he was her son after all, and she wouldn't allow some wild children to bully him.
Guard B and Guard C ran over without a word. After returning to Xiangwu County yesterday, although the madam hadn't said anything, they all knew that Guard A had offended her, as he was the one who had injured Young Master Xu.
Guard A also knew he had made a mistake and knelt outside the courtyard to beg for forgiveness. Lian'er deliberately did not go in to report. In the cold weather, even if he was a martial artist, he couldn't withstand kneeling from noon until the next morning.
When Zhang Yiyi found out, she immediately scolded Lian'er, telling Guard A to get up and rest, and then found a doctor. At first glance, it seemed that Lian'er had acted on her own initiative.
But as Marquis's guards, they were not stupid. The madam's kindness was probably superficial. She was just using the maid to punish someone, but it wouldn't affect her reputation in the slightest.
The two guards immediately went to use their full force. Yang Xu was startled and then became enraged. He pulled Da Niu over, making him dodge Guard B's kick.
Seeing this, Zhan Feiyu kicked the wooden basin at her feet towards Guard C, also blocking his attack.
Da Niu and the others stood together, warily watching the two guards. If Yang Xu hadn't moved so quickly just now, Da Niu would have been kicked, and he turned pale at the thought.
"Xu'er, do they always bully you like this? Doesn't your father care?" Zhang Yiyi, her steps slightly unsteady, looked at Yang Xu, who was covered in dust, with great concern. Seeing the injuries on his face, she was even more heartbroken and took out her handkerchief to wipe him.
Yang Xu retreated to avoid her, and like a wolf cub on the prairie, his dark eyes looked at the tearful Zhang Yiyi with hostility. Seeing her choked with sadness, Yang Xu felt a momentary fluctuation in his heart, but after recalling yesterday's events, he returned to his coldness and rejection.
"Xu'er, I am your mother." A beauty's tears are most heart-wrenching. Zhang Yiyi's broken voice was filled with pain. She hugged Yang Xu tightly and whispered tearfully, "Xu'er, my poor child, you..."
Da Niu and the others were stunned. Yang Xu actually had a mother, and she was so beautiful! Like a fairy from heaven. They had always thought Yang Xu only had a grandfather and a father. Previously, when Xiong Shan couldn't beat Yang Xu, he had laughed at him for not having a mother, and as a result, he was spanked by his grandfather when he got home.
The young men of Shitou Village could fight, but they couldn't be as gossipy as old women.
In the soft embrace, there was a faint fragrance. Yang Xu, who was being hugged, was stunned. When he reacted, he struggled, but Zhang Yiyi held him tightly. Yang Xu didn't dare to use too much force. Although he was only eight years old, he had been practicing martial arts for several years, and his strength was almost catching up to that of an ordinary adult man.
With red eyes, Zhang Yiyi smiled again, looking at Yang Xu in front of her with loving eyes. She slowly wiped the dust from his face with her handkerchief, "Xu'er, you've grown up. Mother has been dreaming of you."
Looking at Yang Xu, who remained like a wooden post, Zhang Yiyi showed no impatience or disdain. Her gaze turned to Da Niu and the others beside her, and her gentle voice sounded, "You cannot gang up on Xu'er just because there are more of you."
After speaking, Zhang Yiyi took the brocade box from Lian'er and opened it. Inside were neatly arranged four-colored cakes.
Seeing Da Niu and the others' eyes widen, and some of them swallowing their saliva with gluttony, Zhang Yiyi, no matter how disgusted she was, had a gentle smile on her beautiful face. Her fair fingers picked up a piece of cake and placed it in Da Niu's hand, "Be good to Xu'er in the future, and don't fight anymore."
One by one, Da Niu and the others received pastries, and Da Hua and the other four girls, in addition to pastries, Zhang Yiyi had also brought some silk flowers, which were perfect for young girls to wear, one for each of them.
"Young girls should be dressed beautifully." Zhang Yiyi pinned a silk flower onto Da Hua's head and praised her with a smile, making the four girls beam with joy. They even forgot about the pastries and wished they could go home immediately to look in the mirror.
Yang Xu still had a stern face. He picked up the wooden basin, glanced back at Zhan Feiyu, and said, "Let's go."
Zhang Yiyi's hand, holding the handkerchief, tightened slightly, but her expression remained unchanged. She looked at the stern-faced Yang Xu with disappointment and sadness. She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
"Yang Xu, why don't you call your mother?" Da Niu asked in a deep voice.
...
One by one, Da Niu and the others received pastries, and Da Hua and the other four girls, in addition to pastries, Zhang Yiyi had also brought some silk flowers, which were perfect for young girls to wear, one for each of them.
"Young girls should be dressed beautifully." Zhang Yiyi pinned a silk flower onto Da Hua's head and praised her with a smile, making the four girls beam with joy. They even forgot about the pastries and wished they could go home immediately to look in the mirror.
Yang Xu still had a stern face. He picked up the wooden basin, glanced back at Zhan Feiyu, and said, "Let's go."
Zhang Yiyi's hand, holding the handkerchief, tightened slightly, but her expression remained unchanged. She looked at the stern-faced Yang Xu with disappointment and sadness. She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
"Yang Xu, why don't you call your mother?" Da Niu asked in a deep voice.