Chapter 052

Chapter 052

Xiao Zhen walked out of the room after changing his clothes and found Tong Sui in the backyard.

Tong Sui was observing the tree they had struggled to bring back, which was said to be called "Tuosang." Seeing Xiao Zhen, she approached him and whispered, "Didn't you say you wanted to cut down common elm and oak trees from the mountain for spear shafts? What use is this tree?"

Xiao Zhen knelt beside the stump where the tree had been cut and gestured for her to look. "The heartwood of this tree is golden, hence it's also known as Golden Wood. It's commonly found south of the Yellow River. Although there are some in the north, they're not as abundant."

"Golden Wood grows very slowly, making it extremely difficult to mature. A tree with a heartwood width of about one foot would have taken at least a hundred years to grow."

It was the first time Tong Sui had heard of Golden Wood. Anything named "golden" must have other precious qualities besides its color.

"What can this wood be used for?"

Xiao Zhen took her hand and guided it to touch the heartwood of the Golden Wood.

Tong Sui felt the characteristic hardness and smoothness of the wood.

Xiao Zhen: "Golden Wood is best suited for making bows. Legend has it that General Li Guang used a bow made of Golden Wood to shoot through stones."

Tong Sui: "..."

She now looked at the tree as if it were made of pure gold.

Xiao Zhen: "If you like it, we can make a bracelet from the heartwood. The longer you wear it, the more beautiful its color becomes. Many noble ladies love it."

Tong Sui glanced at him and asked, "If I like it, will you make one for me?"

Xiao Zhen nodded.

Tong Sui looked at him again and lowered her eyes. "Then I'd rather have a bow made of Golden Wood."

Xiao Zhen patted the trunk. "This tree should be solid. It might be enough to make two bows, one for each of us. The leftover scraps can be used to make bracelets for you and your mother-in-law."

Tong Sui tried to maintain her composure but couldn't help smiling.

Just as Xiao Zhen was about to reach out, a deliberate cough came from the entrance of the main room. It was Tong Gui's voice.

Tong Sui instinctively stood up and moved away from Xiao Zhen, glaring at her brother.

Tong Gui: "My throat was itchy; can't I cough?"

Tong Sui blushed and went inside.

Tong Gui had learned about the tree's value on the way down the mountain from Xiao Zhen. Hearing more of their conversation, he exclaimed, "Second Master, you're really going to keep such a valuable thing instead of selling it? With so many martial artists in your family, you're even willing to give your sister a bow. Don't be just talking big in front of her and then go back on your word!"

Xiao Zhen replied, "As you said last time, why should we sell all the good things to those wealthy families? If our family likes it, we'll keep it."

Tong Gui found this attitude agreeable and looked at Xiao Zhen more favorably.

"Sis!"

Tong Shan returned from school, and upon seeing his sister standing next to their mother in the main room, he excitedly shouted and ran inside.

The young boy's clear cry made Song Zhishi, who was about to open his door next door, pause in disbelief and gaze toward the Tong household.

Song Lan also glanced over in surprise before pushing open the door and pulling his distracted son inside.

—

After dinner was ready, Tong Youyu brought the food basket to deliver meals to the Song family.

Upon meeting, they exchanged pleasantries, and Song Lan smiled, asking, "Has Aman and her husband returned?"

Tong Youyu could hardly hide his joy. "Yes, my in-laws have almost finished planting their fields and came home while the weather is still cool."

Song Lan: "Have there been any news lately?"

The biggest news was the tragedy in Pine Village. Tong Youyu sobered up and recounted the story to the father and son, though what he knew was deliberately blurred by Xiao Zhen. For example, it was actually Xiao Zhen and his eight companions who intercepted Brother Qin, but when he told his father-in-law, it became "the Sun brothers leading the villagers to rescue them."

This matched what Song Lan had heard from the village head, who had been summoned by County Magistrate Liu and focused mainly on distributing land to refugees, only getting a vague idea of the Pine Village case.

"Well, eat up quickly. I'll be going back now."

"I'll see you off."

"Oh, we've been neighbors for years. Why are you still so formal, Master?"

After exchanging pleasantries, Tong Youyu strode back home.

With cheerful chatter, the family ate a bit slower. As the sunset illuminated the courtyard, a figure suddenly appeared at the entrance of the Tong household.

Sitting to the north, Xiao Zhen looked up and saw Song Zhishi. The twenty-year-old scholar wore a white spring robe, a square cap, and stood tall and upright in the sunset, truly embodying the phrase "a gentleman as pure as jade."

He looked at Song Zhishi, who also looked back without rushing to enter the yard.

Sitting to the west, Tong Sui and Zhou Qing simultaneously noticed Xiao Zhen's change and turned to look at the entrance.

Recognizing Song Zhishi, Tong Sui silently withdrew her gaze and continued eating.

Zhou Qing was about to greet him, but Song Zhishi smiled and walked in, saying, "Auntie, I'm returning the food basket. Please stay seated; no need to trouble yourself."

Zhou Qing leaned forward. "Sure, just put it on the stove. Are you full? Want to join us for more?"

Song Zhishi: "I'm full, thank you, Auntie. Second Master, Aman, welcome back."

Xiao Zhen nodded, and Tong Sui had to put down her bowl and smile at him.

Since the hosts were eating, Song Zhishi had no reason to linger and bid farewell after a brief chat.

---

After dinner, Xiao Zhen took a stick from the wall of the Tong family's house and prepared to teach Tong Gui a simple and easy-to-learn spear technique.

The villagers of Taohuagou would also receive a wooden spear, so naturally, they needed to learn the accompanying spear technique to truly harness its power.

Tong Youyu had been on the battlefield and learned a set of spear techniques in the military camp. Comparing it with Xiao Zhen's, he quickly noticed the difference: "Yours is simpler than what they teach in the camp, yet it's easier to use to kill enemies."

Xiao Zhen explained, "It was continuously simplified by my grandfather. He couldn't sit still and never thought about whether it would be useful."

Tong Youyu said instinctively, "If the old man were still a thousand-household commander, he would certainly serve the court better than those generals who got their positions through connections."

Xiao Zhen just smiled.

Tong Gui grew up playing in the mountains, with a strong body, and learned the spear technique quickly. By the time night fell completely, he had already mastered it quite well.

Xiao Zhen put away his spear and said, "We'll practice together again tomorrow morning."

Tong Gui replied, "Sure, you guys go to sleep. I'll keep practicing; I've just found my rhythm and haven't had enough yet."

Thus, even after Tong Sui and Xiao Zhen closed the door to the western room, they could still hear the sound of Tong Gui practicing his spear moves in the courtyard.

The flickering light cast their shadows onto the window.

Tong Sui originally wanted to ask Xiao Zhen to turn around so she could check the marks on his shoulders, but now she could only blow out the lamp and quietly ask, "Does your shoulder still hurt?"

Xiao Zhen replied, "Not really, just a bit sore. Can you help me massage it?"

This soreness came from carrying the golden wood. Thinking of the good stuff stored in the backyard, Tong Sui was more than willing to help.

Xiao Zhen lay face down on the bed.

Tong Sui knelt beside him, and the man's shoulders were too solid. After massaging for a while, Tong Sui's breathing became heavier.

Xiao Zhen looked at the dark floor and reminded her, "Sit on my waist; it might be easier to apply pressure that way."

Tong Sui replied, "...Let's just do it this way. I'll switch sides."

But Xiao Zhen was too tall, and his long body divided the bed into two parts. To switch sides, Tong Sui had to step over him.

She stood up, making sure he was still lying there obediently, before stepping over him.

At that moment, Xiao Zhen suddenly turned and grabbed her wrist, pulling her towards him.

Tong Sui almost cried out in surprise!

Her heart was still pounding when Xiao Zhen started kissing her neck.

Tong Sui whispered anxiously, "Second Brother is still in the courtyard. Wait until he goes to sleep."

Xiao Zhen replied, "How long will that take? He's practicing his spear moves and won't hear us anyway."

Tong Sui still wanted to wait, but the man had no patience. She could only listen to her brother's practice while being teased by her strong husband.

In the end, she heard nothing else.

---

In the morning, Tong Sui woke up to the sound of wooden sticks clashing. Opening her eyes, she saw the familiar yet long-uninhabited room of her parents' home. She felt as if much time had passed.

"Second Master, this stick is too slippery. It almost flew out several times. Is there any trick?"

"A real spear has an anti-slip handle. Next time I come, I'll give you one."

"A real spear? With an iron tip?"

"Yes."

A loud shout of excitement echoed from the courtyard.

Tong Sui shook her head helplessly. Second Brother used to be quite steady, but why did he act like a child in front of Xiao Zhen?

Taking advantage of Xiao Zhen not being in the room, Tong Sui quietly got dressed. As she dressed, she couldn't help but recall the scenes from last night. Even Second Brother was exhausted and had gone to bed, but Xiao Zhen still didn't want to rest. It was said that deer meat and blood were good for stamina, but during the month when the Xiao family slaughtered deer, Xiao Zhen didn't seem particularly different. Instead, every time they visited her parents' home, he...

He was just being mischievous, knowing she was worried about her family hearing them.

Stepping outside, she saw her mother cooking breakfast and her father watching Xiao Zhen and the others practice.

Tong Sui fetched water to wash up. After combing her hair, she joined the men sitting around the low table.

Tong Sui deliberately avoided looking at Xiao Zhen.

After breakfast, Xiao Zhen went with Uncle Tong Youyu and Cousin Tong Gui to the village head's house to discuss logging matters.

The Xiao family needed a lot of wood, and there were few able-bodied men in Taohuagou. They needed the village head's help to gather the villagers and explain the situation, saving the Tongs from visiting each household individually.

Naturally, the village head was curious about the reason.

Xiao Zhen said, "My grandfather didn't say, but rest assured, we won't sell it privately. We'll need everyone's help to process the wood later."

In other words, the villagers would earn wages for cutting wood and another wage for processing the logs later.

The villagers of Taohuagou rarely cut trees except for building houses. They could easily collect dry branches from the mountain for firewood. Now, with two opportunities to earn money and the Xiao family being reliable helpers, the village head was willing to assist.

He struck a gong, and most of the villagers, who had finished their spring planting, gathered.

When they learned that the Xiao family needed wood and offered wages, the diligent men were eager to take on the job.

The women also wanted to earn money and asked Xiao Zhen, "Second Master, we have strength too. Will we get paid if we go to the mountain to cut trees?"

Xiao Zhen smiled and said, "Regardless of gender, everyone gets paid for cutting down trees. However, after the logs are brought back to the village, they need to be debarked. The aunties might as well take on this task. We can work together, both on the mountain and in the village, without wasting any time."

The women were delighted upon hearing this.

Song Lan and his son stood among the crowd. Seeing how well-liked Xiao Zhen was in the village, Song Zhishi sneered, "Putting on a show."

Song Lan stroked his beard. There were countless varieties of trees on the mountain, yet the Xiao family only wanted elm and oak. These two types of wood are strong and hard, making them the primary materials for crafting spear shafts and gun stocks throughout dynasties. More suitable but rarer and more expensive woods like bull sinew wood, sandalwood, and white waxwood are used only by generals or high-born sons.

Are they really going to make guns?

But what would the Xiao family gain from making guns? All iron mines are controlled by the government; it's impossible for the Xiao family to have enough iron to forge hundreds of spearheads.

Meanwhile, Uncle Tong Youyu and his nephew asked the villagers who had taken on the task to go home and fetch their axes and saws, then gather at the Tong family’s gate later. They escorted Xiao Zhen back home.

On the way, Tong Youyu looked up at the mountain, feeling somewhat conflicted. He said to Xiao Zhen, "These trees have grown on the mountain for decades, even centuries. It’s not easy. Cutting down so many at once, we mustn’t waste them."

Xiao Zhen replied, "Father-in-law, rest assured. Every tree will serve a great purpose."

As long as the gun stocks remain intact, worn spearheads can be resharpened. Using these to protect the villagers from bandits and soldiers is a matter of survival—how could that be considered wasteful?