Chapter 055

Chapter 055

Lingshui Village.

As dusk approached, Pan Yong returned from the town's blacksmith shop on his mule, bringing a package of red bean paste cakes for the women in the family.

His son Pan Dai went to tie up and feed the mule, while Wang Shi served her husband the warm meal she had kept for him. Looking at the red bean paste cakes before her mother-in-law and daughter, she whispered, "Why waste money on these when we have plenty of food at home?"

Pan Yong smiled, "I made you all suffer before. Now that things have settled down and I have work that earns money, there's no need to be so frugal."

In the past, their family was well-off with land and savings, and his status as a blacksmith earned him respect among the townsfolk. Thus, he married a beautiful wife who bore him three strong sons and a pretty daughter.

The eldest and second sons had bitter fates; one died on the battlefield, and the other during their escape. Although his mother, wife, and daughters survived, they endured hardships along the way. Pan Yong never tried to console them with empty words until they moved to Lingshui Village, where he finally had a chance to make amends.

Wang Shi and the others understood his intentions and stopped complaining, dividing the sweet red bean paste cakes among themselves.

After a while, Pan Dai also sat down.

Pan Yuerou picked up a piece of red bean paste cake and fed it to him, "Brother, open your mouth."

Pan Dai accepted it with a smile.

Pan Yong asked him, "Did Xiao Family teach spear techniques again today?"

Pan Dai replied, "Yes, they told us to find our own sticks. Tomorrow, we can't go empty-handed."

Pan Yong thought for a moment and said, "The blacksmith shop received an order recently to melt some iron tools into planing knives and saws. The quantity suggests they could make about twenty sets. The client is said to be Master Wang from the carpentry shop."

The women's movements slowed as they ate the cakes.

Pan Dai lowered his voice, "Father, do you think Master Wang's iron tools might have come from our village? The Xiao Family might be making spears and distributing them to everyone?"

Pan Yong nodded, "That's likely. As a carpenter, Master Wang doesn't have wealthy relatives. How could he accumulate so much iron? Just recently, the Sun and Xiao families helped Pine Village capture a group of refugees. Those refugees were executed, but their tools were left behind, including several machetes. If those were truly Master Wang's, would he melt them down? He'd sell them or keep them for protection."

Pan Yuerou's heart raced, "Didn't Xiao Er also accompany Second Lady back to her hometown? Taohuagou is surrounded by mountains, perfect for cutting trees to make spear shafts, which would require planing knives and saws!"

Wang Shi frowned, "What exactly do the Xiao and Sun families intend to do? If they're really helping villagers defend themselves, teaching martial arts would suffice. Now they're practicing with spears and making them. Could they be planning... a rebellion?"

She whispered the last two words.

Pan Yuerou's face changed. In recent years, several uprisings in the north had been brutally suppressed by the government. Only two powerful factions in the south, led by a provincial governor and a prominent clan, had established strongholds, founding the states of Xiliang in the southwest and Dongling in the southeast, becoming thorns in the government's side.

Although the Xiao Family was formidable across three generations, starting a rebellion with just the men of this village would be suicidal.

Pan's grandmother suggested, "If that's true, Yuerou should choose another husband. The Xiao Family isn't suitable, and Dai shouldn't train with them anymore to avoid being implicated."

Pan Yong waved his hand and analyzed, "It's not that serious. General Han's fifteen-thousand-strong Jizhou Army is only a few hundred miles away. With them here, no one would dare entertain such thoughts. Besides, the Xiao Family lacks sufficient iron materials; they can only make wooden spears."

Wang Shi asked, "What good are wooden spears?"

Pan Yong replied, "Choose hard wood, sharpen the tips, and they can still kill. Brother Qin mentioned Imprisoned Dragon Ridge when rallying people. I suspect Lingshui Village is preparing against them."

Pan Yuerou grew more anxious, "Everyone says the Prison Dragon Ridge Gang is incredibly vicious. The government has sent troops multiple times without success. If they attack Lingshui Village, won't we suffer?"

Pan Yong reassured her, "Before, we might have worried, but now, seeing the actions of the Xiao and Sun families, we don't need to fear. Bandits rely on the advantage of mountainous terrain. When government troops arrive, they retreat into the mountains and reappear to harass villagers once the troops leave. If they abandon the mountains to attack Lingshui Village now, they might not gain any advantage."

Wang Shi listened and glanced westward, her eyes brightening, "So, the Xiao Family is a good match?"

Pan Yong looked at his daughter, "Either don't marry, or marry into the Xiao Family."

If she didn't marry, he and his son would protect her with their lives. If she did, only the Xiao Family in nearby villages could offer better protection than them.

Pan's grandmother immediately instructed Pan Dai, "Now that you're training with the Xiao Family, perform well and try to earn the admiration of Commander Xiao. Yuerou doesn't need to deliberately approach the Xiao brothers. Go with your mother to wash clothes by the river in the morning and greet the Xiao Family if you meet them. In the afternoon, many young girls go to watch them practice. Join them, and with your beauty, the Xiao brothers will notice you."

Marrying into the Xiao Family would benefit both his granddaughter and their entire family.

Pan Dai and Pan Yuerou both nodded.

---

Tong Sui also wanted to see the impressive sight of hundreds of people practicing martial arts together.

Xiao Yuchan went whenever she had free time, but as a newlywed wife, Tong Sui didn't want the old man to think she was frivolous. Even if he was broad-minded, she needed to avoid giving anyone reason to gossip.

So she waited patiently.

The Xiao Family had six men, and every day, two stayed home while the other four went out. One stood atop the gentle slope to teach spear techniques, while the other three moved through the ranks to provide close guidance.

The six rotated roles, and by the fourth day, it was the old man and Xiao Shouyi's turn to stay home, while Xiao Zhen took his three younger brothers to the river, and he would demonstrate the spear techniques.

Tong Sui thought that if she didn't go when others demonstrated but only watched her husband, it wouldn't be considered frivolous.

On the third night, Tong Sui spoke to Xiao Zhen, "Tomorrow afternoon, I'll go with Yuchan to watch you practice at the river. Is that okay?"

Xiao Zhen agreed without hesitation. After a moment, he looked over and asked, "Why tomorrow?"

Tong Sui replied, "Tomorrow, I don't need to cook."

Xiao Zhen pointed out, "Yesterday, you and my sister-in-law also rested."

Tong Sui hesitated, "…I didn't think about it yesterday. The idea came to me today."

Xiao Zhen lifted the blanket, intending to come closer.

Tong Sui quickly wrapped herself tightly in the blankets and turned to face the wall, "You have to get up early tomorrow. Don't be silly."

Xiao Zhen touched her exposed face, "Then tell me the truth."

Tong Sui admitted, "…Tomorrow, it's your turn to stand above. Watching you, whether it's family or outsiders, no one will say anything."

Xiao Zhen: "You think too much. Actually, the women who come to join in the fun mostly watch the villagers below. They find it amusing when someone can't keep up and messes things up."

What Tong Sui truly wanted to see was those hundreds of people practicing together, to witness how spectacular it would be. She chose the day Xiao Zhen demonstrated merely to avoid gossip.

After Xiao Zhen explained, he suddenly understood. This girl, using his name as an excuse, wasn't actually there to see him.

Xiao Zhen directly flipped over the quilt in front of him.

Tong Sui, who had turned halfway around and ended up facing him: ...

---

The next afternoon, Tong Sui did not take a nap but hid in the east wing room to catch up on her reading.

In the past, she preferred stories, but ever since she learned that some of Xiao Zhen's woodcraft skills came from books, including his ability to recognize the precious Toona wood, Tong Sui no longer had preferences. She felt that anything she learned could be useful someday.

As the sun gradually set and the light became less harsh, the Sun family sounded their gong on time, and the villagers began to gather at the Xiao residence.

The old man's rules were effective.

Villagers liked to take advantage of opportunities. If the Xiao family taught martial arts like they used to, allowing everyone to learn whenever they wanted, people might skip lessons out of laziness. However, with the new rules modeled after military training, the villagers thought—If I don't go today, I won't be able to go later, which means I'll miss out on the benefits the Xiao family offers.

Thus, the number of villagers practicing now was relatively fixed, with about seven hundred showing up daily. Those who couldn't attend due to illness or other reasons could provide proof and be excused once.

Tong Sui put down her book, hearing the villagers setting off. She went to Liu Chu's place and said to Liu Chu and Lin Ningfang, who were discussing a poem: "I'm going to the river to watch them practice. Are you coming?"

Liu Chu immediately thought that if she didn't go, Tong Sui would have to go alone or find Xiao Yuchan, who wasn't as close to her.

Thinking this, she unconsciously nodded.

Lin Ningfang remembered Xiao Yuchan mentioning that many women gathered by the river, women who roamed around and chatted rather than staying by the water to do laundry.

She shook her head and smiled, saying, "You two go ahead. I'll take a walk in the back yard."

Tong Sui could imagine how the village wives and girls would react if Lin Ningfang joined them.

Even without a prime minister's daughter, Tong Sui didn't want to be the center of attention.

"Alright, we'll go first and return soon."

Relieved, Lin Ningfang put away her book and went back to the West Court.

Liu Chu followed Tong Sui towards the back yard and encountered Xiao Yuchan, who was also heading out.

Xiao Yuchan pouted and stared at Tong Sui, saying, "Before, when I asked my second sister-in-law to come watch with me, she always refused. Why do you want to go today?"

She was a bit upset with Tong Sui.

Previously, she had tried to get closer to Tong Sui, but Tong Sui didn't seize the opportunity to befriend her and instead continued to stick with Liu Chu and Lin Ningfang, which was frustrating.

Xiao Yuchan had also gone to Liu Chu's room to listen to Lin Ningfang discuss poetry, but she only enjoyed poems about romantic love. When Lin Ningfang didn't comply with her requests, Xiao Yuchan stopped going. What was the point of poetry when gossiping about others was more interesting?

Tong Sui already knew how to deal with the He family mother and daughter—she ignored their passive-aggressive remarks and simply stated facts.

"Grandfather and Second Uncle were there before, so we didn't feel comfortable going. We waited for today. If you don't have anyone else, let's go together?"

Mrs. He had to stay home to prepare dinner and couldn't accompany her daughter.

Xiao Yuchan certainly had other companions and wanted to reject Tong Sui haughtily, but despite raising her chin, she ended up saying, "...Let's go."