Chapter 166

Chapter 166

After the troops were rewarded and rested, the army was about to set out again. Qi Heng would lead 25,000 soldiers to Fenzhou to reinforce Han Zongping along the route from Xuxian, while Xiao Mu would lead 55,000 soldiers of the right wing army to attack Zhizhou from Yuxian, forcing the court to dispatch additional troops to block them on both fronts.

Previously, 5,000 troops were left to guard Quancheng. Since Tai Yuan had already been captured and Niangzi Pass had 3,000 troops, only 500 soldiers were needed to guard Quancheng, and 4,500 soldiers were transferred to defend Tai Yuan.

Before leaving Tai Yuan, the Xiao family had one more thing to do.

From the old man, Xiao Shouyi, Xiao's uncle, to Uncle Tong and Aunt Tong Sui, the family had received too many rewards, especially for this campaign to capture Tai Yuan. The accumulated rewards required two carts to transport. It would be a waste of manpower and resources to carry them with the army, and leaving them in Tai Yuan was not reassuring. Fortunately, a group of wounded soldiers from Wei County was returning home, so the old man asked these soldiers to help escort the rewards back to their home in Wei County.

Tong Gui, Zhou's family, Sun's family, and Zhang Wengong also had rewards to send. The leader of this group of wounded soldiers was a cousin of Sun Dian, an elder from Lingshui Village, who could be entrusted with this important task.

Even without family members, these wounded soldiers would dare to touch the property of the powerful Xiao family only if they wanted to die.

Along with them were the postmen from the camp who helped the soldiers send letters and items.

The postmen walked ahead, the carts loaded with valuables followed in the middle, and the carts carrying the wounded soldiers were on either side and at the back.

On the way, the wounded soldiers gradually dispersed, each returning to their homes. Only the group heading to Wei County first went to Shuozhou to collect another batch of rewards for the Xiao family, then set off from Shuozhou toward Wei County. After a circuitous journey of half a month, they finally arrived in Wei County on the fifth day of the eighth lunar month.

Now, Wei County was far from the battlefield, and poor families had been allocated land. They looked forward to the increasingly ripe autumn crops and happily prepared for the Mid-Autumn Festival.

At the Xiao residence,

Lin Ningfang was teaching Tong Shan, Mianmian, and Qi Yao in the schoolroom at the back of the courtyard. Liu Chu sat under the eaves outside, sewing as she listened to the children read.

In the main courtyard, He Shi and Xiao's aunt had just seen off a group of guests.

Since the old man was appointed Right General by Commander Han, their house had been flooded with visitors. If all the men were at home, He Shi might have enjoyed putting on airs in front of the guests. Now that her husband and son were fighting outside, always at risk of injury or worse, He Shi had no spirit for entertaining and had lost weight.

Xiao's aunt listened patiently to He Shi's complaints, as she had nothing else to do.

At this moment, Xiao Yuchan returned, followed by A Fu, who was carrying two new bolts of cloth.

Seeing her, He Shi said disapprovingly, "Your father and brothers are risking their lives out there, and you still have the heart to dress up."

Xiao Yuchan replied, "Who doesn't have a heart? I miss them too, but I still have to live my life. My clothes from last autumn are too tight; I need to make some new ones."

He Shi glanced at her daughter's waist and became even more disapproving. "Everyone is losing weight, but you're getting fatter. Do you think others don't know you don't care about your father and brothers?"

Xiao Yuchan retorted, "What does that have to do with it? In the village, I used to walk around the streets, cook, and do farm work. Now I'm locked in the courtyard, doing nothing. Are you going to make me starve myself to lose weight just to avoid gossip?"

He Shi countered, "Why aren't your sisters-in-law getting fat?"

Xiao Yuchan explained, "My eldest sister-in-law likes sewing, which I don't. My third sister-in-law teaches the children, which I can't do."

He Shi was speechless.

Xiao's aunt laughed, "Enough, enough. I hear you bickering every day over such trivial matters. Stop it."

Xiao Yuchan glared at her mother, who always found ways to upset her, and returned to the side room with A Fu.

He Shi and Xiao's aunt continued chatting.

Soon, a commotion erupted on the street, as if something had happened to draw a crowd. He Shi, thinking of calling her daughter to go see, heard someone shouting at the gate, "Ladies of the Xiao and Tong families, come out quickly! General Xiao has sent you rewards, two full carts of them!"

He Shi and Xiao's aunt were stunned, and Xiao Yuchan ran out from the west side room.

Liu Chu and Lin Ningfang also brought the excited children to the front courtyard.

The women and children hurried to the street, where Zhou Qing and Jiang Shi were already waiting.

Sun's cousin, whose arrow wound on his arm had scabbed over but was still not fully healed, stood before the two carts. He began recounting the military achievements of the right wing army's commanders during the battle of Tai Yuan, describing it vividly, better than any storyteller in the teahouse. The surrounding villagers listened with rapt attention.

When he mentioned that Tong Sui had been appointed Deputy General by Commander Han, Zhou Qing and her sister-in-law couldn't hide their smiles.

Everyone chimed in with compliments.

He Shi urged Sun's cousin, "Go on, how is my husband? And Third Master and Fifth Master?"

Sun's cousin smiled, "Their ranks haven't changed, but their rewards are piled high like mountains. Here is the ledger; you can check it against the items on the cart."

He Shi was about to take it, but Xiao's aunt snatched it first and said to Sun's cousin, the postmen, and the other wounded soldiers who had helped escort the rewards, "Thank you for your hard work. Come inside for some tea."

She warmly invited everyone in, and the cart drivers naturally brought the two carts into the courtyard.

Once the gate was closed, the villagers, having no more entertainment, dispersed, though some lingered out of curiosity, planning to ask the wounded soldiers what was on the carts when they came out. They could then share the news with their neighbors.

Tong Youyu also rushed over, and Zhou Qing asked him to entertain the postmen and wounded soldiers, while the women gathered around Sun's cousin, asking questions. Each person had someone they were particularly concerned about, wanting to know every detail of their days. Sun's cousin spoke non-stop, almost running out of saliva, while A Fu refilled his tea several times with a smile.

Xiao's aunt left for a while and returned with eight purses. When Sun's cousin and the others were about to leave, she gave each one a purse.

They politely accepted with smiles.

After closing the gate again, He Shi curiously asked, "How much did you give them?"

Xiao's aunt replied, "Ten taels each."

He Shi's eyes widened. "So much?"

Xiao's aunt explained, "Our status and wealth have changed. It wouldn't be right to give them just a few coins for their hard work in protecting our wealth."

He Shi looked at the large and small boxes arranged in the courtyard and felt less pained.

Each box was labeled with a name, with the most belonging to the old man, followed by Tong Sui, and arranged in several piles according to ownership.

He Shi wondered, "Why does the second one have the least?"

Xiao Yuchan explained, "Sun's cousin said that after leaving Shuozhou, Second Brother separated from the group. Commander Han's rewards for Second Brother are with him. This is just the part he earned in Shuozhou."

Aunt Xiao unfolded the letter from the old master. Apart from reminiscing, he specifically mentioned that the rewards for the Xiao family had already been distributed. The remaining items, except for what Tong Sui earned, which should be entrusted to Zhou Qing and her husband for safekeeping, were all locked in his study, with the key given to Aunt Xiao.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qing immediately said, "Aman is not only my daughter but also a member of the Xiao family. It was because of the old master's recommendation that she had the opportunity to earn merit and receive rewards. These rewards should be kept together with the others. What the old master said sounds too formal. I don't believe Aman would suggest such a thing."

Aunt Xiao thought that her niece-in-law definitely wouldn't do something so formal, but the old man wanted to prove that they wouldn't covet their daughter-in-law's rewards.

After some polite exchanges, Zhou Qing insisted on keeping her daughter's share with the Xiao family, citing that "if the things are with me, I won't be able to sleep," arguing that with more people around, it would be easier to notice any thieves.

After the excitement, the old master took out the items to distribute to everyone. Aunt Xiao, Lady He, Zhou Qing, and Lady Jiang each received 100 taels of silver, a box of gold jewelry, a box of pearls, and ten bolts of silk. Xiao Yuchan, Liu Chu, and Lin Ningfang received half the amount. Qi Yao, Mianmian, and Tong Shan each received ten taels of silver, while the maids A Fu and Ah Zhen each received five taels. Ordinary servants and attendants received one tael each.

The courtyard was filled with a festive atmosphere.

After the commotion, Zhou Qing and her husband, along with Lady Jiang, brought back the shares for Tong Gui and the Zhou family through the inner gate to the eastern courtyard. The ladies of the Xiao family returned to their rooms with their shares, taking the time to read letters from their families.

Liu Chu received two letters, one from Tong Sui and one from Xiao Ye, and inside Xiao Ye's letter was another from Sun Dian.

Lin Ningfang also received two letters, one from Tong Sui and one from Xiao Yan.

In Xiao Yan's letter, Lin Ningfang carefully read the serious parts, while she skimmed over the less serious ones. She read every word of Tong Sui's letter and discovered details that Xiao Yan hadn't told her, such as how he almost got scalded by hot oil during the city attack and how he endured forty military lashes to lure the enemy.

Having received the letters, they naturally needed to reply.

---

On the 15th day of the eighth month, the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Two weary postmen caught up with the right army, which was approaching Zhizhou, specifically to deliver items to the family of the Right General.

Tong Sui received the most letters and clothes, from her parents, brother, Liu Chu, Mianmian, and Lin Ningfang. Her mother, Liu Chu, and Lin Ningfang had also made her convenient shirts, trousers, and shoes for movement.

Xiao Yan, holding the clothes sent by his wife, came over and asked, "Which one did Ningfang give you?"

Tong Sui only showed him the cuffs.

Xiao Yan compared the stitches on the cuffs with his own and confirmed that they were sewn by his wife, then left satisfied.

As Tong Sui carried the items to her tent, she saw Xiao Ye chasing Sun Dian, who seemed to have snatched two pairs of shoes from him.

After this commotion, at noon, another postman arrived from Anzhou in the east, bringing items sent by Xiao Zhen.

Everyone gathered around and found that Xiao Zhen had prepared three things: a festival gift for the old master and two letters.

The postman handed the first letter to the old master and then took out the second.

All eyes turned to Tong Sui.

Tong Sui hadn't felt her face burn like this in a long time. She pretended to be calm as she took the letter.

The postman coughed and looked at Tong Sui, saying, "Second Young Master said you should write him a letter. I can only return once I have your letter."

Xiao Ye started the teasing, "Look, Second Brother is getting anxious!"

Tong Sui glared at him and walked away, her steps quickening.

Back in her tent, Tong Sui unfolded Xiao Zhen's letter. The first three pages were text, and the fourth page was a drawing.

The drawing showed a square table with a plate of cakes and a plate of apricots on it.

Tong Sui thought of the dinner they had at the Shuozhou residence and felt a warm feeling in her heart, missing him even more.

Moving to the next page, the last page was also a drawing, showing an open window with the moon outside and a stalk of wheat on the windowsill.

Tong Sui: "..."

That night, he had taken advantage of being alone at home and carried her to the window, the bright moonlight clearly showing the difference in their skin tones.

Even though it had been three months, she remembered it so vividly.

Her face felt hot, and Tong Sui placed the drawing face down.

She knew Xiao Er was skilled in martial arts and well-read, but today she learned that he could also draw, although his skills were far from Lin Ningfang's, the wheat stalk was quite lifelike.

She read the first three pages again, thinking about what to write since the postman was still waiting. Tong Sui fetched pen and ink, grinding the ink while pondering what to write.

She couldn't draw, so she wrote four pages in response to Xiao Zhen.

The first three pages described the people and events in the camp recently, and the last page contained just one sentence: "I want to eat apricots next year."

Apricots you sent me.