Chapter 059

Chapter 059

Xiao Yan still wanted to arm wrestle with Tong Sui.

This time it wasn't about who was more convinced; he was simply curious about how strong Tong Sui was, given that she could shoot through bricks and stones.

Without needing Xiao Zhen or Xiao Ye to say anything, the old man kicked over the table, ending the contest.

But Tong Sui's arrow was too impressive; even as they sat down to eat, everyone was still discussing it.

Huo Shi: "You're not taller than Yuchan, nor are you heavier. How did you build up your strength?"

Xiao Yuchan: "..." Did she have to mention my weight?

Tong Sui answered honestly: "I didn't specifically train for strength. I guess it built up gradually from practicing archery with my grandfather and father since childhood."

While other children were playing with mud, she was constantly drawing her bow at home. While other children complained about helping with spring planting, she had already been running around the mountains with her grandfather.

The more one practiced archery, the stronger one became. The same principle applied to one's arms and legs—the more they were used, the stronger they naturally became. Like Lin Ningfang, who had been confined to her room, her limbs would naturally be weaker.

Huo Shi: "Ah, even teeth and tongue clash sometimes, let alone our large family. If there are any grievances, we should voice them and move on. But no fighting or shooting arrows."

Clearly directed at her, Tong Sui smiled: "Second Aunt, don't worry. I'm not that aggressive."

Xiao Mu looked at both tables and said solemnly: "Xiaoman's ability to shoot through leaves and stones must not be shared outside. If someone comes looking for us when we're not here, Xiaoman could be an unexpected force. If others know of her skills, they might bring more people, making her archery useless."

Huo Shi quickly assured him: "Father, don't worry. We'll keep it to ourselves."

Xiao Mu looked at the two children.

Mianmian and Qi Yao nodded seriously. Children who survived the early years were wise beyond their age, especially given the recent unrest.

After the meal, each household returned to their rooms for a nap.

In the east wing, Tong Sui asked Xiao Zhen: "Are we going to the fields this afternoon?"

It was already hot at noon, and weeding wasn't urgent, so villagers usually waited until it cooled down.

Xiao Zhen: "Yes, we'll probably need another day tomorrow."

Tong Sui: "With both fieldwork and spear training, some villagers might complain."

Xiao Zhen: "It's okay. Most families have just a few acres, and with wives and children helping, they can finish in a day."

In the entire village, only the Xiao family didn't require women to tend the crops.

After wiping his neck and face, Xiao Zhen sat on the bed and patted the space beside him, signaling Tong Sui to sit down.

Tong Sui: "What is it?"

Xiao Zhen looked at her right arm: "Arm wrestling. I want to see how strong you are."

Tong Sui: "..."

She didn't want to waste her energy, but Xiao Zhen insisted, pulling her onto his lap. He wouldn't let go unless she agreed.

Compared to arm wrestling, Tong Sui was more afraid of igniting his passion. It was daytime, and it would be better if they didn't.

So, the couple sat facing each other, leaning forward to rest their right elbows on the bed.

Their hands, one small and tanned, the other large and pale, clasped together.

Seeing his thick, long thumb, Tong Sui felt a sudden heat and looked away, listening to him say "start" before exerting her strength.

She wanted to end it quickly, but without increasing her strength, Xiao Zhen also didn't increase his, merely pressing her hand down slightly before releasing the pressure.

Tong Sui looked up, meeting his long, narrow eyes, which had been watching her all along. He told her to "take it seriously."

Tong Sui had no choice but to take it seriously.

Her face turned red as she struggled to lower his hand halfway, but then he suddenly exerted force, pinning her hand to the bed and leaning over her.

In the east wing of the West Court, Xiao Yan was trying to save face in front of his wife: "Actually, I could hit the grass leaf too. I just got nervous when you threw it. The more I feared missing and being laughed at by you, the more likely I was to miss."

Lin Ningfang, sitting at the desk, said without looking up from her book: "I won't laugh at you."

Xiao Yan looked at her: "I know. You've never smiled at me, not even mockingly. I just don't want to lose in front of you."

Lin Ningfang glanced at him: "Go to sleep early. We have work in the afternoon."

Xiao Yan: "Sleep together? Yuchan said you threw grass all morning, so you must be tired."

Lin Ningfang: "I'm not sleepy."

Xiao Yan: "...I'll sleep outside, I promise not to touch you."

Lin Ningfang realized that if she didn't sleep, he wouldn't rest either.

She put down her book, lay down fully clothed on the mattress, and pulled the blanket up to her waist.

Xiao Yan lay still for a while, then suddenly poked her shoulder.

Lin Ningfang closed her eyes: "What now?"

Xiao Yan: "Look here."

Lin Ningfang turned and saw Xiao Yan's hand raised, pointing downward at his pants.

Realizing what he wanted her to look at, Lin Ningfang quickly turned away.

Xiao Yan hugged her from behind and kissed her neck. "I can't help it; I really can't."

In the afternoon, after the men had set out, Tong Sui went to the backyard to practice archery. Regardless of whether the bandits would come after the wheat harvest, she couldn't calm down enough to read before then.

Xiao Yuchan was still sleeping in, while Liu Chu came to the backyard to accompany her.

At this moment, Ah Zhen arrived and softly explained to Tong Sui, "Third Lady is still asleep. Shall I throw the straw for you?"

Tong Sui noticed that Ah Zhen seemed uneasy and, recalling what Xiao Zhen had done, guessed the state Lin Ningfang must be in. That frail body needed some rest.

Tong Sui also realized that practicing archery alone wasn't enough; she needed to build up the leg strength of Liu Chu and Lin Ningfang as well. Gradually, with over twenty days until the wheat harvest, every bit of improvement could make a difference in an emergency.

The next morning, the men went to the riverbank for training, and Tong Sui called Liu Chu and Lin Ningfang to the backyard to run laps around the courtyard with her.

This morning, it was the He family's turn to cook. Xiao Yuchan leaned against the back door of the main room, watching with amusement and said, "Why, Second Sister-in-Law, do you want to train First Sister-in-Law and Third Sister-in-Law to be as capable as you?"

Tong Sui glanced at Xiao Yuchan's plump figure and asked, "Can you run fast?"

Xiao Yuchan pointed at Liu Chu and Lin Ningfang, who were panting heavily. "It depends on who I'm compared to. I can easily outrun them by a mile."

Tong Sui recalled how the He family chased after Qi Yao around the courtyard when he was misbehaving, so she didn't bother with them and only reminded Xiao Yuchan, "Are you comfortable riding the mule? Since you have free time, you should practice more."

Xiao Yuchan was lazy, especially with the heat: "Forget it, I don't want to practice."

Tong Sui mimicked Mrs. He: "If the old village head's dream is true, and chaos breaks out again, those soldiers and bandits will prefer someone as plump as you."

Xiao Yuchan: "..."

---

Xiao Zhen had been keeping track of Master Wang's progress in drying the wood in Taohuagou. On the fourteenth night, he told Tong Sui, "I'm going to Taohuagou tomorrow morning. Are you coming?"

Tong Sui was also concerned about this matter: "Can the wooden gun barrels hurt people after being tempered? What about wooden arrowheads?"

She only had ten iron-tipped arrows, and the Xiao family's supply of iron-tipped arrows was insufficient. During hunting, there was time to retrieve arrows, but not during combat.

Xiao Zhen: "It should work with enough force and aiming at exposed areas."

Tong Sui immediately said, "Then I'll go too."

She wanted to learn the tempering process from Master Wang and see if there were any suitable scraps to use for making arrows.

Xiao Zhen: "We won't need to bring anything this time. We'll ride the mules. Can you handle riding one yourself?"

Tong Sui's mule-riding practice had been delayed by the spring plowing. So far, she had only ridden the mule slowly around the back street and hadn't tried running yet.

But Tong Sui was brave in this regard and, being very familiar with the two mules, felt it shouldn't be a problem.

The next day, before the Sun family sounded the gong to wake the villagers for training, Tong Sui and Xiao Zhen had already quietly led the two mules out the back door after greeting the elderly man.

Xiao Zhen looked at his wife on the mule and whispered, "Take it slow, we're not in a hurry."

Tong Sui nodded, patted the black mule's back, and slowly headed eastward, careful not to disturb the sleeping villagers nearby.

After passing the easternmost Pan family courtyard, Tong Sui tried to get the black mule to trot.

Xiao Zhen kept a distance of an arm's length beside her.

The dirt road between the villages was relatively flat, and the black mule ran steadily. Sitting on it, Tong Sui could see scattered stars still twinkling in the northern sky and the eastern horizon gradually turning red with the rising sun.

As the black mule ran faster, the wind blowing against her face became increasingly refreshing.

Tong Sui closed her eyes and took a deep breath of the fresh field air mixed with the scent of earth and grass.

How wonderful, life is truly beautiful.