After breakfast the next day, Tian Fengying settled Father Huo properly and went out together with Ning Yuchan and Taohua.
They happened to run into Huo Mingqian.
“Second Sister-in-law, where are you going?”
Huo Mingqian quickened his pace and caught up with them.
Tian Fengying had always had a good impression of this younger brother-in-law. Yesterday, he had also given more than thirty taels of silver, so when they met, she naturally appeared warmer and friendlier.
“We’re going to the city. What about you?”
Huo Mingqian smiled. “Just right, I’m also going to the city. Mother’s birthday banquet is tomorrow, and there are still some things I haven’t bought.”
“Then we’re on the same road,” Tian Fengying said generously.
The four of them headed toward the city together.
Passing by the west end of the village, Ning Yuqiao came out to pour slop and was very surprised to run into them.
“Yuchan, going out?”
In front of Tian Fengying, Ning Yuchan felt a little uncomfortable. “Yes. Sister, have you eaten?”
“I’ve eaten,” Ning Yuqiao also felt somewhat uneasy. As she turned back, she glanced at Tian Fengying.
This woman, whom she should have called mother-in-law, had become a stranger.
It was her own choice to give it up.
It was true that she felt guilty, but even more than that, she felt justified.
Huo Jingye was already dead. How could she possibly marry over?
Who would not want to become the wife of a juren[1]A successful candidate in the provincial imperial examination jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1953076_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1953076_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, living a life of glory?
Tian Fengying pretended not to see Ning Yuqiao.
Her current daughter-in-law was clever, sensible, and well-behaved; everything suited her. There was no need to cling to the past.
The four of them quickly passed the entrance of the Liang family. Ning Yuqiao noticed the tall, long-legged Huo Mingqian.
She suddenly remembered that he was also a scholar, having passed the examination one cohort later than Liang Yunxian.
Seeing him walking with Tian Fengying between him and Ning Yuchan, the handsome man and beautiful woman were very eye-catching.
If those two could end up together, it would also count as some compensation for Ning Yuchan.
…
By the time they reached the city gate, the gate guard Liu Hansheng was squatting under the city wall with several soldiers, eating steamed buns.
When he saw her, he stood up with a grin and held out a bun toward her. “Have a taste. Huzi’s mother made them.”
Seeing his cheerful expression, Ning Yuchan felt inexplicably at ease.
“Brother Liu, I won’t eat. I just had breakfast before coming.”
Thinking of the two taels of silver he had given her, she added, “I didn’t manage it this time. Next time I come, I’ll bring some pastries my father made, the crispy cakes Brother Liu likes most.”
Liu Hansheng’s mouth watered. “Your father’s pastries are unmatched in Qinzhou City. It’s a pity your father hasn’t set up his stall recently, so I haven’t been able to taste them.”
Ning Yuchan replied truthfully, “My sister and I have both married out. My father can’t manage alone, so he rarely makes them now.”
Liu Hansheng smacked his lips twice, feeling a bit regretful. “What a pity.”
Noticing the tall, long-legged Huo Mingqian beside her, he instinctively felt he was a scholar and was filled with admiration. “Is this your man?”
Ning Yuchan’s face flushed red. “This is my Third Uncle.”
Suddenly, someone tried to force their way through the checkpoint, interrupting their conversation. Liu Hansheng hurried over to help.
Ning Yuchan held onto Tian Fengying’s arm, her face burning hot.
She did not dare to look at Huo Mingqian’s expression.
At first, Tian Fengying had not thought much of it, but Liu Hansheng’s words startled her, and she suddenly became alert.
If her son could not return, Ning Yuchan could marry a city gate guard, but she absolutely could not be with Huo Mingqian.
Right now, she calls her “Mother.” If one day she changed and called her “Sister-in-law,” she would be furious to death.
With different intentions now in mind, Tian Fengying became guarded, and not long after entering the city, they split up.
Ning Yuchan had written down all the medicinal ingredients and auxiliary materials she needed on paper and bought them one by one.
By midday, everything had already been purchased.
Passing by the snack street, the rich aromas of wontons, dumplings, buns, and all kinds of foods rushed straight into their noses.
Taohua’s stomach growled loudly.
Ever since Ning Yuchan married into the Huo family, she had not eaten as well as when she was with Old Man Ning. Seeing the fragrant meat buns, her eyes practically shone.
Tian Fengying was older, but she was also tempted.
Unfortunately, the number of copper coins in her pouch was limited.
“Let’s hurry back. Yesterday, your Third Uncle brought a basket of eggs. When we get back, I’ll make egg pancakes for you.”
When Taohua heard there would be egg pancakes, she no longer cared about the snacks on the street and even walked with more energy than before.
Seeing that Ning Yuchan was walking slowly, she went back to pull her along.
“Sister-in-law, the egg pancakes my mother makes are really delicious. Let’s hurry.”
Tian Fengying could not help but laugh. “Your Uncle Ning can make all kinds of pastries. Yuchan definitely isn’t used to what I make.”
Ning Yuchan thought of her days at home and could not help but smile.
“My father’s skills are average. It’s my mother’s cooking that’s truly good.”
Tian Fengying only knew that Old Man Ning was not originally from Dayang Village. Back then, when he brought his wife and daughter and moved here, Ning Yuchan had not even learned to walk.
The two villages to the east and west did not know Old Man Ning’s background.
At that time, no one paid much attention to it.
Only when Old Man Ning’s two daughters grew into beauties like flowers did people begin to talk more.
“Yuchan, your father is a genuine farmer, but when I look at your mother, her appearance, figure, the way she speaks and handles things, she must have come from a wealthy family.”
Ning Yuchan had heard Old Man Ning mention this story before.
“My father used to be an idle hooligan. That’s what he said himself. One day, he went up the mountain to gather herbs and met an injured young lady, who was my mother.
He rescued my mother, treated her injuries, and boiled medicine for her. My mother was moved by him and married him.
As for what kind of family my mother came from, my father never said, and I don’t know either.”
Tian Fengying still remembered Ning Yuchan’s mother’s appearance. “Your mother was beautiful. There wasn’t a single village within ten li that didn’t praise her. You don’t know, at that time, many people said that she suffered a loss marrying your father.”
Ning Yuchan did not feel it was appropriate to judge her parents. “My father treated my mother very well.”
Tian Fengying was not saying Old Man Ning was bad. “Everyone just felt that your mother shouldn’t have married a farmer, and should have married into a wealthy family instead.”
Ning Yuchan did not know what the feelings of her parents’ generation were like.
But more than once, she had heard Old Man Ning say that the thing he was most proud of in his life was marrying her mother, and then having the two of them, obedient and sensible daughters.
Suddenly mentioning her parents, Ning Yuchan inevitably thought of many past events, and her mood gradually sank.
Tian Fengying could not help but feel regretful. Why had she brought this up for no reason?
“Yuchan, don’t worry. From the moment you entered this household, I’ve treated you as my own daughter, the same as Taohua.
If Changsheng cannot come back, I’ll marry you off properly and with honor.”
Ning Yuchan could feel that Father Huo’s family truly treated her well.
Naturally, she would repay kindness with kindness.
“Mother, I will definitely work hard to restore the dog-skin plaster.”
The few of them chatted and laughed as they once again arrived at the city gate.
Entering the city was checked more strictly, while leaving the city was usually just a formality.
The mother and two daughters lined up to go out. It was almost Ning Yuchan’s turn. The city guard soldiers recognized her and waved her through.
But she did not manage to leave the city smoothly.
It was also her bad luck. Just as she reached the city gate, someone suddenly began shouting loudly. Immediately after, all the city guards, well-trained, spread out into defensive positions, and the city gate was closed at that very moment.
Tian Fengying and Taohua were following behind Ning Yuchan. All three of them were locked inside the city.
Everything became chaotic, and no one knew what had happened.
Ning Yuchan discussed with the city guard, “Sir, please show some kindness. Could you let the three of us out?”
How could the city guard have the courage to do that? “Miss Ning, please don’t make things difficult for us. Orders from above. Not a single person is allowed to leave.”
It was the first time Ning Yuchan encountered such a situation, and she felt extremely nervous. “What happened in the city? Could you tell us a little, so we have some understanding?”
The city guard did not know the specific situation either. “We’ve only been told that a rebel has appeared. Until he is caught, the city gate absolutely cannot be opened.”
Tian Fengying still wanted to ask a few more questions, but the city guard was busy carrying out his duties, and his temper gradually grew impatient.
Ning Yuchan could only pull Tian Fengying and Taohua aside to a place where they would not be in the way.
“Mother, we don’t know when the city gate will open. Let’s wait here for a while.”
Taohua was young and timid. “They said a rebel appeared. What is a rebel? Will we be in danger?”
Tian Fengying scolded, “We are good people. How could we be in danger? Once they catch the rebel, they will let us out.”
Ning Yuchan suddenly remembered what Ning Yuqiao had said to her.
She was the descendant of rebels.
The rebel being captured in the city today… should not have anything to do with her.
Right?
As if she had a guilty conscience, Ning Yuchan felt as though countless eyes were cast upon her from all around, as if her identity might be exposed at any moment.
Fortunately, the city gate was only closed for a little over half an hour.
Liu Hansheng personally came to open the city gate.
Seeing her hiding nervously in the corner, he instructed, “The city hasn’t been peaceful these past two days. If there’s nothing urgent, don’t come over.”
Ning Yuchan sincerely felt grateful. “Thank you, Brother Liu.”
After Ning Yuchan and Tian Fengying left the city, Liu Hansheng looked at her back and sighed, “Such a beautiful girl, already married.”
Just then, a villager from near Huojia Village passed by. Because he knew Ning Yuchan’s background, he spoke with a bit of smugness, “Married is married, but unfortunately she’s a young widow.”
Liu Hansheng asked in confusion, “What do you mean?”
That person poured out everything he knew at once.
“Her husband went off to the army a few years ago and never came back. Everyone says he’s dead. The Ning family girl married with a big rooster in place of the groom[2]A traditional proxy marriage ritual used when the groom is absent jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_1953076_1_2').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_1953076_1_2', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, and entered the household as a widow from the start.
If you ask me, the Huo family is too heartless. They actually made such a good young girl remain a widow for their son for a lifetime…”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Huo Mingqian had just arrived at the city gate. Hearing the villager speak disrespectfully, he angrily rebuked him. “The Huo family’s son is not dead at all. He will return after completing his mission. How are you any different from those gossiping women?”
Huo Mingqian was a scholar, and there was no one within ten li who did not recognize him.
That person feared his status, immediately shut his mouth, and ran off in a hurry.
References[+]