Chapter 082

Chapter 082

When Xiao Zhen returned from Imprisoned Dragon Ridge, it was still dark.

He stood by the bed and undressed, while Tong Sui turned over in bed, indicating she had woken up. She then asked, "How is it over there?"

Xiao Zhen: "There was some water accumulation, but it's all drained now."

Tong Sui: "It’s been one and a half months. Has anyone thought about leaving the mountain?"

Even chickens in the coop liked to run outside sometimes, let alone two hundred men full of energy.

Tong Sui trusted that the old man and Xiao Zhen had chosen the right path, but maintaining secrecy for a long time required constant vigilance both inside and out.

Xiao Zhen stroked her head. "They all understand the stakes. They’re focused on training with Fourth Younger Brother. Some even envy your archery skills and want to learn from you."

Tong Sui smiled. Archery, like marksmanship, was something you practiced; those with higher talent just progressed faster.

"How is Grandfather?"

"He can’t sit still. When he has nothing to do, he likes to go out and gather herbs. Fourth Younger Brother doesn’t trust him going alone, so he always sends someone along. I sat in his courtyard for a while, and it was filled with drying herbs, giving off a strong medicinal scent."

Tong Sui could imagine the scene. The deep mountains were a treasure trove for both hunters and doctors.

Knowing that her grandfather was comfortable, Tong Sui fell back asleep.

---

The recent storm not only knocked down the corn in the fields but also damaged several old houses in the village, including the home of an uncle from the mountains.

Xiao Zhen and his three brothers went to help, hauling stones and sand, chopping trees, as if they were repairing their own house.

Tong Sui spent her days cooking and reading, practicing archery for two quarters of an hour each morning and afternoon.

The bandits were gone, but future challenges would continue. It was far from a time to rest easy.

During these two quarters of an hour, Liu Chu and Lin Ningfang also continued running laps around the courtyard.

Initially, Lin Ningfang couldn’t even complete half a lap, but after two months of persistence, she could now run two laps relatively easily, only gasping for breath after the fifth lap.

The biggest change was in her herself. When Tong Sui first married into the family, Lin Ningfang was so thin that she was almost skin and bones. Now, she looked similar to Tong Sui and Liu Chu—slimmer than Xiao Yuchan but healthier than most girls in the village, with a fair complexion that glowed, indicating good nutrition at home.

Every time she saw Lin Ningfang like this, Tong Sui felt a sense of accomplishment, as if she had successfully raised a little piglet.

After their run, Tong Sui placed two basins of water under the eaves in the backyard.

Lin Ningfang took longer to recover than Liu Chu. After walking in the shade for a bit, she finally approached the wooden basins, her pale face flushed red, with sweat rolling down her cheeks.

Tong Sui handed her a damp towel.

After wiping her face, Lin Ningfang said, "Second Sister-in-Law, I want to go for a walk."

She rarely made such requests, so Tong Sui was surprised. "Where to?"

Lin Ningfang pointed to the closed back door. "Just to look at the cornfield outside, not too far."

Tong Sui breathed a sigh of relief. Before the corn grew tall, the fields were visible, making it easier to spot any danger. Since the corn grew taller than people, Tong Sui didn’t dare venture out, fearing unexpected attacks. Even Ah Fu and Ah Zhen waited for other women before going to wash clothes together.

"You go ahead. I’ll pour the water," Liu Chu said with a smile.

Tong Sui accompanied Lin Ningfang out the back door of the Xiao residence.

North of the Xiao residence, the field was planted with corn. Only two acres, half of which were destroyed by the storm and cleared away. The remaining corn stalks were sparse and looked pitiful.

Lin Ningfang stood at the edge of the field, looking at the few corn plants in front of her.

A few days ago, when the men of the Xiao family left, she had peeked outside during the brief moment the gate was open. Those corn plants were still leaning, but in just a few days, they had straightened themselves.

She murmured, "I thought these corn plants wouldn’t survive."

Tong Sui touched the straight corn stalk and whispered, "Plants and trees, like people, strive to live."

---

As soon as July began, Xiao Yan found Tong Sui and Liu Chu when Lin Ningfang wasn’t around and reminded them, "Ningfang’s birthday is on the twelfth of this month. This is her first birthday in our family, so please prepare a birthday gift for her, something simple like a handkerchief or pillowcase. She’s closest to you two, and she’d be delighted to receive gifts from you."

The usually stern Third Younger Brother seemed awkward asking his sisters-in-law for help.

Liu Chu smiled. "Of course, we should. We didn’t know her birthday before, and when we asked, she never told us. Luckily, you remembered."

Xiao Yan looked embarrassed. He didn’t remember either. From Ah Zhen, he learned that Lin Ningfang’s family encountered bandits the day after her birthday last year. It was an important day, but Xiao Yan was busy rushing home with his second and fourth brothers, not paying attention to dates. Asking Ah Zhen further might lead her to complain to Lin Ningfang about him forgetting her parents’ anniversary. So, he had to ask his second brother, who managed to figure out the date after some effort.

After saying goodbye, Xiao Yan left.

Liu Chu said to Tong Sui, "Third Younger Brother really cares about Third Sister-in-Law."

She didn’t know how Xiao Yan had married Lin Ningfang, the daughter of a high-ranking official.

That was a secret Lin Ningfang had shared with Tong Sui through tears, and Tong Sui wouldn’t reveal it to anyone else, not even her close sister-in-law.

Initially, Tong Sui tried to comfort Lin Ningfang, unable to bear seeing such a talented beauty wither away. Now that Lin Ningfang had come to terms with her situation and regained her health, Tong Sui felt relieved. As for how Lin Ningfang and Xiao Yan would fare, it wasn’t her place to interfere.

She pondered what gift to give Lin Ningfang.

Lin Ningfang had given her paintings and embroidery, setting a high standard. Tong Sui didn’t want to embarrass herself with a similar gift.

In the evening, when Xiao Zhen returned from helping others, Tong Sui asked him, "For Third Sister-in-Law’s birthday, what do you think about giving her a dagger?"

Xiao Zhen raised an eyebrow. "The one your grandfather gave you?"

Tong Sui: "No, I'm keeping that one for myself. I'll go to the blacksmith in town and order another one for her."

Xiao Zhen: "A dagger isn't cheap, yet you're willing to spend on it."

Tong Sui: "Could anything be more valuable than the calligraphy she gave me? Besides, it's not about the cost. I just want her to have something to protect herself with, in case of emergencies."

Xiao Zhen looked at her, suddenly realizing that if something had happened to Tong Sui and he had been the one to act, this girl would surely have stabbed him with a dagger.

"Even if you give her a dagger, it won't help. She might not use it well and end up getting it taken away by someone else, putting her in danger."

Tong Sui thought about it and frowned. "Then what should I give her?"

Xiao Zhen: "I still have some old clothes. You can cut a piece of cloth from them to make her a pouch. New ones worn outside might attract thieves, but an old one is practical."

Tong Sui: "......"

---

On the morning of July 11th, everyone pretended not to know it was Lin Ningfang's birthday, planning to surprise her during the longevity noodle dinner in the evening.

After breakfast, Lin Ningfang returned to her room for a while before heading to the eastern courtyard to visit her sisters-in-law.

Suddenly, Xiao Yan walked in and said, "Come with me; I'll take you somewhere."

Lin Ningfang frowned. "Where?"

Xiao Yan: "I won't harm you."

He grabbed her wrist, and Lin Ningfang, not wanting to struggle, pushed him away and said, "I'll come along."

Xiao Yan led her to the backyard, where he first took out a mule from the stable, helped Lin Ningfang sit in front, then mounted behind her, holding her with one arm and the reins with the other. As they left through the back door of the Xiao residence, Lin Ningfang glanced back and saw the old man standing in the central courtyard, watching them.

She lowered her head, not curious about where Xiao Yan was taking her, but worried about being seen by more villagers.

Xiao Yan rode the mule northward along the dirt path between the fields until they reached the Lingshui River.

A group of women gathered by the riverbank, including A Fu and Ah Zhen. Seeing the man on the mule and the woman in his arms whose face was obscured, the other women quickly started whispering. Ah Zhen recognized her lady's dress but could do nothing as Third Master continued northwest across the river.

Under the glaring sun, Xiao Yan finally stopped the mule at the foot of the cemetery in the northwest.

He helped Lin Ningfang down and explained, "The path ahead is steep, so we'll have to walk."

Lin Ningfang followed him numbly.

Xiao Yan held her wrist with one hand and led the mule with the other as they climbed the mountain.

Once they arrived, they were surrounded by both new and old graves. Some old graves had not been tended to for a long time, revealing holes dug by wild animals.

Even though Lin Ningfang was numb, she was still a sheltered young lady, and being here made her feel a chill down her spine even in broad daylight.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, Xiao Yan stopped in front of a cluster of graves and pointed to four mounds. "This is Grandmother's, this is Uncle's, this is Aunt's, and this is Eldest Brother's."

Lin Ningfang thought of the old man, Xiao Zhen and Tong Sui, Liu Chu, and Mianmian.

Xiao Yan pointed to three new graves nearby. "These are the graves I set up for your father, mother, brother, and nephew. They aren't buried here, but at least you have a place to pay respects. If you don't mind disturbing them, I can bring their remains back..."

Before he finished, Lin Ningfang was already sobbing uncontrollably.

Xiao Yan pulled her into his embrace and stroked her hair. "I was a beast back then, only thinking of myself without considering your feelings. But bringing you back, I truly intended to live a good life with you. Feel free to curse or hit me, let out your anger, and forget the past, okay?"

Lin Ningfang just cried.

Xiao Yan waited for a moment and sighed. "Forget it, it's my fault. If you want to remember, remember it. But to me, you are my wife. I will sleep and treat you well. I'm not as thoughtful as Second Brother, as sweet-talking as Fourth Younger Brother, or as obedient as Fifth Younger Brother, but I can protect you and ensure no one bullies you again."

Lin Ningfang clutched his robe, gradually stopping her tears, and turned to look at the three new graves.

Xiao Yan: "Do you want to move the graves? I think I can find a place."

Lin Ningfang shook her head. It was too far, and she didn't want to trouble him or disturb her family who had found peace.

As Xiao Yan said, having these memorial graves and a place to pay respects was enough for her.

"Thank you."

She said to the man in front of her.