"We'll stop here for today. Please send my regards to your family!" Gu Mingyan stood up.
He served in the Ministry of Works in the imperial court, holding the position of Assistant Minister. His responsibilities included the construction and research and development of new weapons, new agricultural tools, and various large-scale civil engineering projects.
When Yun Siman stole the crossbow schematics from Yan, the Emperor was overjoyed and rewarded Gu Mingyan handsomely. Gu Mingyan was also proud to have capable subordinates like Qingfeng. Gold and silver flowed to Siman like water.
"Farewell, Marquis!" Yun Siman bowed respectfully.
The Marquis hadn't granted him any leave, but he figured he could stay in the village for a while longer this time.
The next morning, Yun Siman bought two large bags of gifts for his family and rode his swift horse towards Dashui Village.
Meanwhile, at the old Yun family's residence.
"Oh dear, this little ancestor has made such a mess of the kitchen, there's no room to step!" Old Man Yun came to the kitchen with a plate to get some pickled vegetables.
Seeing the charcoal cinders scattered all over, leftover bones, and the pots and pans overturned, Old Man Yun was so angry he wanted to grab the little ancestor and strangle her.
"Father, I'll clean it up!" Zhao Guihua walked over with a broom.
Du Tieshan, having been busy all night, had gone back to catch up on sleep at dawn. Zhao Guihua had made the leavened flatbreads this morning and also prepared a pot of pickled cabbage soup and a few salted cucumbers.
Old Man Yun sighed, "Whose daughter is she? Oh my, she has no manners at all! Look at the dish rack, it's been turned upside down as if a thief had broken in!" He found her truly detestable.
Zhao Guihua couldn't help but chuckle. Regardless of whose daughter she was, she seemed quite wealthy.
"Father, look, there's still so much roe deer meat left. Should we put it in the root cellar?" Zhao Guihua asked.
Old Man Yun, annoyed, replied, "Just leave it there. I hope it spoils!"
Zhao Guihua: "..."
There were very few people who could anger her father like this. It seemed that young lady was naturally gifted at provoking people.
After waking up, Xiao Jinheng took a stroll in the back garden and picked some plums for Xiao Xitian.
"Uncle Yun, who are you arguing with so early in the morning?" Xiao Jinheng peeked his head into the kitchen from the doorway.
Old Man Yun chuckled, "Ah, it's Young Master Xiao. I'm arguing with my tenant. She roasted some roe deer meat last night and nearly demolished my kitchen."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Jinheng glanced towards the guest room. Seeing several maids and servants guarding the door, he asked, "What is the tenant's name and where is she from?"
"She's surnamed Xiao!" Zhao Guihua washed a large persimmon and handed it to Xiao Jinheng. "She has the same surname as you, Young Master Xiao!"
"Xiao?" Xiao Jinheng took a bite of the persimmon and rolled his eyes like Xiao Xitian, "Hmph, she's truly a disgrace to our Xiao family."
In the main room.
Xiao Xitian sat drowsily at the dining table, dark circles under her eyes. She hadn't slept well due to the noise last night, and the heated kang was too hot, scalding her bottom. She'd have to tell Sister-in-law Shanshan later that her room didn't need to be heated so much; the fire wall could fry eggs.
"Little village girl, are you feeling unwell?" Xiao Jinheng placed the plums on the dining table and asked with narrowed eyes.
Xiao Xitian rolled her eyes at him, "It was hot and noisy, I didn't sleep well!" While the daytime was lively, the late-night roasting and rummaging through the dish rack was truly excessive.
Xiao Jinheng couldn't help but chuckle, "I'm going to the county town later. Would you like to come along, little village girl?" He remembered that the little village girl's birthday was approaching, and he wanted to buy her a gift in the county town.
"Sleepy, no!" Xiao Xitian rested her chin on her hands and refused.
Just as Xiao Jinheng was about to say something more, Madam Gu walked in after washing her hands. "Young Master Xiao, welcome! Please sit down and eat with us. These are freshly made leavened flatbreads, they're delicious!"
"Guihua, go get a set of bowls and chopsticks!" Xiao Jinheng had been waiting for this. He sat on a stool next to Xiao Xitian, looked at the soft and fragrant leavened flatbreads, and couldn't help but swallow. Why was the food made by the old Yun family always so delicious? Even boiled sweet potatoes or corn tasted different.
Yun Sanman had drunk a bit too much last night. This morning, he took a drag of his pipe, and the taste was so nauseating it almost made him vomit.
"Third son, you should cut back on that stuff!" Old Man Yun placed a leavened flatbread in front of him. "Since Fengjuan has divorced you, you should live well with Jingde in the Yun family. Find yourself a wife when you have time. What's the use of just drinking?"
Yun Sanman took a sip of the pickled cabbage soup and remained silent. Gao Jingde, sitting beside his father, quietly took a leavened flatbread and carefully sipped some soup. Madam Gu patted his head, "Jingde, do you like the food?"
Gao Jingde smiled and nodded, "Yes, it's delicious!"
"Then stay here with peace of mind. Next year, Grandma will send you to study at the academy, okay?" Madam Gu asked with a smile.
Upon hearing about studying, Gao Jingde became disheartened. His mother had said that studying was useless; it was enough to recognize a few characters and do accounts. Therefore, Gao Fengjuan never let him read the storybooks and account books that Yun Sanman brought back.
"Jinshan and Jinhe are both studying in the county town. Sending you there will give you company!" Madam Gu was very fond of this grandson. Perhaps because Gao Jingde had lived with the Gao family his whole life, she wanted to give him more care and attention now that he had come to the Yun family.
Yun Sanman felt unwell in his stomach and was full after eating half a leavened flatbread. "Father, Mother, after we finish harvesting the wheat, I want to go on a long trip!"
"What are you going to do?" Old Man Yun asked curiously. He wondered if his third son was going to end his life, which wouldn't do.
Yun Sanman burped and sighed, "Father, when I was helping the Gao family manage their shops, I met some merchants who dealt in dried goods. I plan to collect some dried mushrooms, dried chili peppers, and monkey head mushrooms to sell elsewhere."
"It's getting colder day by day. Before the deep freeze, I want to earn some money for the New Year!" Although he had his own savings, he couldn't just sit and spend them. Jingde would need a wife and a family in the future, and all of that required money.
Yun Daman heard this and smiled, "I agree, Third Brother. Big Brother will go with you then!" During the farming off-season, villagers started to hibernate. Since they were staying home anyway, they might as well go out and earn some money.
"Okay!" Yun Sanman readily agreed.
Old Man Yun was a little worried. "There are all sorts of people out there. You two must be careful. I heard from the village chief that there are bandits on the road near Liujia Village."
Yun Sanman pursed his lips and was about to say something when he heard a dog bark from the courtyard.