Xiao Xitian lifted the quilt, and just as she was about to get out of bed, she found Chen Xiaoran and Qin Yiyi hugging her legs on either side, sleeping warmly.
"Let go!" Xiao Xitian rolled her eyes.
What was this habit of her little sisters? They clung to her tightly every night, making it hard for her to breathe.
After struggling for a long time, she finally jumped off the bed, put on her little floral jacket and cotton pants, and trotted out.
When she reached the main entrance, she saw Old Man Yun and Yun Daman standing there, yelling at the top of their lungs, clearly furious.
County Magistrate Chen, having not drunk the night before, woke up very early. He was now sitting dejectedly on the steps, rolling a pipe of dried tobacco.
Prefect Qin stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the object by the main entrance, his expression equally grim.
The object was indeed inauspicious: it was a square bell, the size of a garlic paste jar. It wasn't heavy; one person could carry it.
Giving a bell, giving a bell. Who would give a bell to a newlywed couple?
Wasn't that cursing them to death?
Xiao Xitian sighed helplessly and walked forward, intending to pick up the bell and throw it away.
"Daughter, don't touch that thing!" Old Man Yun shouted. "How unlucky! I want to see who has the audacity to send a bell to our Yun family today!"
County Magistrate Chen lit his pipe, taking two strong puffs. "Who else could it be? Your second son married a beautiful wife. Who would be the most uncomfortable? This matter, you don't need to guess to know it's Er Man's ex-wife who did it, hmph..."
Upon County Magistrate Chen's reminder, Old Man Yun immediately realized.
He slapped his thigh. "That's right! Liu Cuirong is so wicked. Forget sending a bell, she'd dare to set fire to our firewood pile!"
Just then, Yun Erman and Du Tieshan also ran over. Seeing the bell at the entrance, Erman's face instantly darkened.
"If it was really Liu Cuirong, just wait till I rip her head off!" Yun Erman clenched his fists and looked at Old Man Yun. "Dad, don't be angry. I'll go to the county town to ask Liu Cuirong!"
After not seeing her for a while, he wondered if the woman was dead or alive.
"She'd better just die with a snap, so she doesn't come out to annoy people..." Yun Erman cursed as he went to the stable to get a horse.
Du Tieshan quickly stopped him. "Erman, Erman, forget it. With Liu Cuirong's character, what good will you get from going? It's not worth getting angry!"
"What's not worth it? If you don't show that dead thing some color, she'll dare to do it again!" Yun Erman pushed Du Tieshan away, mounted the horse, and galloped off.
Shangguan Fang'er also imitated Yun Erman, picked up a wooden stick, swung it twice, and said with a semblance of seriousness, "She'll dare to do it again, hahahaha!"
Old Man Yun: "..."
Du Tieshan: "..."
Xiao Xitian looked helpless, kicked the bell away, and then took Shangguan Fang'er's hand. "Sister Shangguan, shall I take you to the outhouse?"
She had already learned to tie her own shoelaces, but she still liked to go to the outhouse with Xiao Xitian.
"Mhm, she'll dare to do it again, hehehe!" Shangguan Fang'er grinned foolishly.
Xiao Xitian: "..."
She decided that no matter what it took, she had to help Sister Shangguan get better. If it continued like this, her family would surely break down.
In the main hall of the house.
Madam Gu watched the old man sulking and smoking, not eating breakfast. She smiled and persuaded, "You still need to eat. Don't get yourself worked up into a bad state. Perhaps it was some naughty child who did it intentionally..."
"Even if they were naughty, they shouldn't send a bell to our house! All the boys in our village are good, they don't have such wicked intentions!" Old Man Yun said angrily.
Du Tieshan came in with a basin of fried eggs and rice cakes, glancing outside from time to time.
Why hadn't Erman returned yet?
She hoped he wouldn't get into a fight with Liu Cuirong. If that woman framed Erman, they would have to pay money.
Yun Sanman mashed the potatoes in his bowl, then scooped a spoonful of fried eggs and rice cakes, and mixed in strips of green onion, handing it to Shangguan Fang'er. "Eat, be careful, it's hot!"
The family usually ate steamed eggplant and steamed sweet potatoes. Since they got potatoes, they had made them their staple food, and couldn't do without them.
If you tore apart steamed eggplant, mixed it with cilantro, green onions, and potatoes, and then fried some egg sauce or chili sauce, it would taste extraordinary.
In winter, there were no green onions at home, but they had a whole storehouse of large green onions, enough for them to eat all winter.
"Mmm! It's delicious, Dad, Mom, you eat too! You can live longer if you eat enough!" Shangguan Qiaoyun said with a smile.
Old Man Yun: "..."
Madam Gu: "..."
They would be angered to death by her sooner or later.
Madam Gu ate a few bites and then found a sweater, holding it up to Jin Xiaolou. "It's getting cold now. Put this sweater on later, don't catch a cold!"
This was Yun Jinshan's sweater. It was a bit small for him now, but it would be just right for Jin Xiaolou.
The newly knitted sweater wasn't finished yet, and Madam Gu didn't want to see Jin Xiaolou running around in a single layer of clothing.
"Thank, thank you, Auntie!" Jin Xiaolou clutched the sweater tightly, tears welling up in his eyes.
Xiao Xinling walked into the house and took a look. Seeing that breakfast wasn't lavish and there wasn't even any meat sauce, only a bowl of milk, she went back to make her own special meal.
After breakfast, Yun Daman hitched up the horse-drawn carriage and helped his sister move the large wooden barrel of milk onto the carriage. Then, he took Xiao Xitian and Jin Xiaolou to the county town.
They were out of salt and soy sauce at home, so he planned to buy some.
Yun Erman and Du Tieshan were also busy. They picked up their bows and arrows, slung their sacks over their shoulders, and went into the mountains.
In late autumn and early winter, it hadn't snowed yet. There would be many wild animals in the mountains. They were busy collecting food to prepare for winter, so hunting now was sure to be fruitful.
Yun Sanman led Shangguan Fang'er to the neighboring village. He heard there was an old physician there who specialized in treating madness, and Yun Sanman planned to try his luck.
Yun Siman was entangled by Xiao Xinling and couldn't go anywhere. The two of them sat on the kang and played "gala ha."
In the west wing, Xiao Jinheng paid his respects to the Emperor and then walked out of the room with Kong Xingzhuo.
"The little village girl went to deliver milk again?" Xiao Jinheng asked, looking at his cloth shoes.
Kong Xingzhuo nodded. "Yes, this time Sweet Baby took Jin Xiaolou with her!"
Xiao Jinheng frowned upon hearing this. "Why is it that brat again?"
Like a sticky plaster, he clung to the little village girl every day.
"Prepare the carriage!" Xiao Jinheng walked out quickly, his hands behind his back.
Kong Xingzhuo sighed softly. "Young master, can't you just stay home with the Emperor and be peaceful for a day?
Why do you follow Sweet Baby wherever she goes?"
At the same time, Yun Erman galloped all the way and soon arrived at a steamed bun shop in the county town.