Chapter 177 Cao Geer

Chapter 177: Cao Geer

Qin Jiao spent the New Year at the Song residence; after the New Year, he might leave. Chang Jinhua and Meng Wan prepared a table full of dishes, with Huang Ye assisting them and Xue Sheng watching the child.

If not for the bandit incident, Meng Wan would have let Huang Ye go to the neighboring county town to visit his mother. With the unrest outside, Meng Wan didn't let him go alone, planning to wait until after the new year when some shop in the county town sent someone to the neighboring county, then entrust them to take Huang Ye along.

With many people at home, the atmosphere was lively. Qin Jiao taught Chu Ci a few moves of martial arts, and A Yan clapped and cheered from the side, being very encouraging.

"Husband, come help me beat the egg mixture," Meng Wan called to Song Tingzhou.

He wanted to try steaming a cake and wasn't sure if it would succeed. At least beating the egg mixture was beyond him; it was too tiring for his arms.

"How should I beat it?" Song Tingzhou asked Meng Wan, holding a small half-basin of egg whites.

Meng Wan, holding a bundle of bamboo strips tied together, demonstrated for him, "Like this, stir in one direction continuously until your arm gets sore, then switch with Xue Sheng."

Song Tingzhou straightened the silver hairpin that had gone askew for him, "Not tired. You and mother have worked hard."

Meng Wan turned his face and rubbed it against Song Tingzhou's hand skillfully, "Cooking with mother is the most fun. Wait for your husband to make you something delicious."

His demeanor and expression were very similar to A Yan's. Seeing this, A Yan ran over, "Daddy, daddy, I want some too."

Meng Wan brushed his son's face perfunctorily, afraid he would cling, then turned and went into the kitchen.

Watching their harmonious family, Qin Jiao sighed, "It's been like this for years!"

Taking advantage of his distraction, Chu Ci tried to sneak an attack, but Qin Jiao, as if with eyes in the back of his head, blocked his move without even turning around.

"Kid, you're still too green."

Song Tingzhou did a good job beating the egg whites, but unfortunately, Meng Wan's cake was not a success—it wasn't fluffy and had collapsed.

Seeing his expression, Chang Jinhua deliberately comforted him, "This egg cake might be a bit overcooked, but it's even more fragrant than usual!"

Meng Wan was amused and exasperated, "Mother, I made a cake, not an egg cake."

"Same thing, same thing. They're both made with eggs, so calling it egg cake is fine." Chang Jinhua's perfunctory response was just like how he himself brushed off A Yan.

The Song household prepared a large table of dishes with vegetables, meat, fish, and shrimp. A Yan was overjoyed, though unfortunately most of it he couldn't eat.

After the meal, he was taken by Chu Ci to the Miao residence to play, but didn't stay long before Chu Ci brought him home, carrying him. The little guy got sleepy after eating and fell asleep shortly after arriving at the Miao's. In the evening, when he smelled the aroma of dumplings, he sat up drowsily, "Dumplings?"

Meng Wan gritted his teeth. A Yan only cared about eating and sleeping. No, he couldn't let the child be idle and lose ambition at such a young age. He couldn't stand it!

On New Year's Eve, Meng Wan sat at the desk and started drawing—things like the twelve zodiac animals, furniture, plants, animals, etc.—making a small stack of soft paper cards to give A Yan to play with.

A Yan, still curious like any child, played with the cards and forgot about the dumplings. But when Chang Jinhua called them to eat, he set the cards aside, apparently thinking the dumplings were more important.

Everyone sat together, chatting and eating dumplings. But halfway through, Xue Sheng hurried in with Tao Jiu, and the cold wind blew away the warmth of the room.

"Sir, something happened."

Song Tingzhou immediately put down his bowl and stood up, followed by Qin Jiao.

A Yan lifted his face from his bowl, confused, "Dad?"

"Eat quickly. After you're done, go to grandmother's room and play with the little cards," Meng Wan coaxed him. Then he put on his coat and saw them out.

As he walked, Song Tingzhou instructed Xue Sheng, "After I leave, guard the house tightly. Lock both the main door and the side door, and prop them with heavy objects. If there's any disturbance, report immediately to the husband."

Xue Sheng: "Yes, sir."

Watching them hurry to the stable, Meng Wan followed closely, asking Tao Jiu worriedly, "Where did it happen?"

Tao Jiu, having ridden all the way, was out of breath, "It was my sixth brother who came urgently overnight. He said that two days ago, at the town market, they found suspicious people. He suspects they are the bandits from Qinzhou that you mentioned, sir. So he left a few of our brothers to watch secretly and came to Heshang to report to you. He's now waiting outside the door."

Song Tingzhou and the others led their horses out of the stable and saw Tao Six waiting at the gate. The fastest ride from Luyun Town to the county town took three days, but he made it in two, meaning he hardly rested at night.

In the gatehouse, Xue Sheng and the others had also set up a table with some cooked meat and several plates of steaming hot dumplings. Meng Wan called Qiuse to pull him in, "They've gone ahead. Eat a few bites while they're hot, then catch up. Otherwise, your body won't hold up."

In the time it took to say a few words, Song Tingzhou and his men had already ridden off. Tao Six was indeed cold and hungry. Without standing on ceremony, he sat down at the table and began stuffing dumplings into his mouth.

Qiuse poured him a cup of warm wine. Seeing Tao Six eyeing the meat without reaching for his chopsticks, Meng Wan found a clean pair of chopsticks and placed several pieces of braised pork and a chicken leg into his nearly empty dumpling bowl, "Take your time. You can catch up with them."

Despite the words, Tao Six was still anxious. He chewed the meat and barely swallowed before quickly saying, "Thank you, Meng Fulang."

Back then, the consultation fee for his father was paid by Meng Wan; otherwise, the old man wouldn't have survived. Later, he arranged jobs for several of his brothers in the county office, hired his family to raise chickens in the mountains, and even had his people working in the sugar workshop. Meng Fulang had a great kindness toward the Tao family. That's why the Tao brothers worked so hard in the county office.

"Don't mention it. Tao Jiu said you saw a group of suspicious people in Luyun Town. What were they like?" Meng Wan was still worried about Song Tingzhou and the others.

Tao Six quickly finished a plate of dumplings, "Before returning home, sir had us inspect every town. But because some villages are too remote, the county office and bailiffs together only have about two hundred people. So the main focus was on a few towns and wealthier villages. Our brothers' homes are in Hongshan Village, Luyun Town, so sir assigned us to stay in Luyun Town, allowing us to take turns going home during the New Year."

Tao Six downed a cup of wine, "Two days ago, it was my turn and Old Seven's to patrol the town. That day happened to be market day, with many people coming and going. Normally, it's impossible to tell the locals from outsiders. Coincidentally, Old Seven's husband is pregnant, and while buying some sticky rice cakes for him in town, he noticed an old man's stall was especially busy. He bought about a dozen."

Tao Seven and Tao Eleven were the sharpest among the Tao brothers. After buying the cakes and meeting up with Tao Six, he felt something was off. The old man selling cakes had a kindly smiling face with deep wrinkles, but his teeth were completely different from those of ordinary elderly people.

He shared his suspicion with Tao Six. The two brothers hid behind a big tree nearby, watching. When the old man finished selling and packed up to leave, they quietly followed him.

The farther the old man got from the crowd, the faster he walked. After a while, he turned into the back door of a small courtyard. Before entering, he carefully looked around, but luckily the market was crowded that day, and Tao Six and Tao Seven weren't spotted.

Once the courtyard door was closed, they crept closer and heard loud voices inside, eating and drinking. The voices sounded like robust men, and there seemed to be quite a few of them.

By then, they knew something was definitely wrong. Without hesitation, Tao Seven stayed to watch in town, while Tao Six rented a horse and rushed back to the county town to report to Song Tingzhou.

After hearing the whole story, Tao Six had eaten his fill. "Meng Fulang, I won't stay long. I'm going to catch up with Sir and the others now."

Meng Wan pressed his lips together, "Qiuse, go next door and call Qing Xing over. Hurry."

He and Song Tingzhou had personally experienced how fierce bandits could be—they were desperate outlaws, swift and ruthless, without the timidity of ordinary people. Even though Song Tingzhou had Qin Jiao with him, Meng Wan wasn't reassured. It was better to bring a trusted doctor along.

Qing Xing was a woman and couldn't travel alone with Tao Six. After thinking for only three seconds, Meng Wan said to Tao Six, "Take some food on the road. I'll go to the backyard to fetch my godson and Doctor Miao from next door to go with you."

A poison expert and a doctor, plus Qin Jiao. At home, Xue Sheng was there, and next door there was a whole family of doctors. That way, both sides would be safe.

The Miao family was also having their New Year's Eve dinner. When they heard Meng Wan's request, Qing Xing didn't hesitate. She grabbed her medical kit and came over. Chu Ci was also called over by Meng Wan, "I have to trouble you again this time. Be careful and take good care of Xiao Ci."

Qing Xing said solemnly, "Rest assured, Meng Fulang."

Chu Ci nodded steadily at Meng Wan.

Xue Sheng brought out two more horses from the backyard. Tao Six's horse was tethered at the gate. Mounting, he said, "Fulang, don't worry. I know the way. They'll be fine following me." He was genuinely anxious; his entire family, old and young, were in Hongshan Village. He was afraid that if they were one step late, the bandits would break into the village.

Meng Wan stood at the gate, watching them leave. The street outside was bright. It was New Year's Eve, and all the shops in the county town had closed but put up red lanterns, hoping for a prosperous year ahead.

This was their second New Year in Heshang County. He hoped everything would go smoothly in the coming year and that the people could live and work in peace.

—The second day of the first lunar month, Chen Family in Red Leaf Village.

"Mother, why are there fireworks outside? Who lit them?" Cao Geer crouched by the stove, helping his mother tend the fire. The warmth of the firewood licked the bottom of the pot, and the big iron pot bubbled away.

Cao Geer's mother figured the pot had been cooking long enough. Hearing Cao Geer's words, she glanced out at the pitch-black night sky. "Where is anyone setting off fireworks? Those things are expensive. Only the Tong family in town can afford those. Alright, step back, or the steam might burn you when I lift the lid."

With that, she lifted the lid, and steam mixed with fragrance burst from the iron pot—the scent of reed leaves, glutinous rice, and cured pork blending together. The kitchen filled with a rich aroma that made Cao Geer's mouth water, instantly making him forget all about the fireworks.

"Dad, Big Brother, time to eat!"

The Chen family ate at home: salty meat zongzi, steamed whole fish, sweet sticky rice cakes, and braised chicken. After a lavish New Year's feast, the food on the second day of the lunar year was still mouthwatering.

Cao Geer had just bitten into a meat zongzi, squinting with delight, when his father suddenly stood up. "Something's wrong. Wife, take Cao Geer into the house. Daniu, come with me."

Without warning, Chen Er seemed to hear something. He put down his chopsticks and ran to the backyard, with Daniu following closely.

The next second, three or four burly men with full beards jumped down from the backyard wall, coming face to face with Chen Er.

Both sides were stunned. Daniu, usually not too bright, shouted angrily, "Run, Dad! They have knives!"

His yell instantly jolted Chen Er awake, who turned and bolted. His first thought wasn't how to deal with the bandits entering his home or to find a weapon to fight back, but to prevent these men from entering the house and harming his wife and child.

Daniu was young and fast, but he couldn't abandon his father. He rushed to the front yard, grabbed a wood-chopping knife, and ran back to support Chen Er. Chen Er's eyes bulged with rage. "Run, don't worry about me... Ah!"

Before he could finish, he screamed. The three burly men had already caught up. To avoid drawing attention, they intended to kill the Chen father and son on the spot.

One of them swung his blade with great force down onto Chen Er's back, cutting a long gash from his back to his backside. The strike was meant to kill—the wound was deep enough to expose bone. If not for the thick layers of winter clothing, that single blow would have ended Chen Er.

"Dad!" Daniu rushed back to shield Chen Er, slightly holding off the bandits' attack.

But how could he, inexperienced as he was, match the seasoned, ruthless bandits who killed and looted for a living? He swung the wood-chopping knife wildly without any technique, gradually being surrounded by the three men. When he stumbled, his entire arm was chopped off, the arm flying far away as blood splattered everywhere.

Cao Geer was shoved into a grain chest by his mother. Hearing the cries of his father and brother outside, he covered his mouth and wept, his heart pounding wildly. Panic, fear, and grief made him feel he might pass out any second. He whimpered, "Mom... Mom..."

Hearing no response from his mother, Cao Geer cried even harder, soaking the grain sacks with tears.

His mind in chaos, Cao Geer was immersed in a world of terror and sorrow, as if he had gone deaf and heard nothing.

He didn't want to eat meat zongzi or sticky rice cakes, nor did he want red ribbons. He only wanted to be with his dad, mom, and brother.

He didn't know how long had passed—perhaps not long, but Cao Geer had lost track of time. Suddenly, the chest he was in was opened from above. A handsome, fair-skinned man appeared, looking down at Cao Geer. "Come out. Your mother is fine."

Cao Geer didn't hear him—or rather, he heard but didn't comprehend, still trapped in his fear.

"Ge Quan, did you find the kid? His dad is barely breathing. What should we do?" a light, cheerful young voice said.

Ge Quan lifted the stunned little boy out of the chest and replied to Fang Jinrong, "First, apply the medicine from the bundle to their wounds."

Cao Geer finally came to his senses. Trembling, it took him a while to find his voice. "Dad... Brother... My mother..." He couldn't finish, tears streaming down again.

Still too young, only seven years old, to experience such a thing.

"Your mother is fine. If you're scared, stay inside. We'll go out and save your dad and brother."

Cao Geer's legs felt weak, his voice as soft as a kitten's mew. "I... I want to go too."

Ge Quan was worried about Fang Jinrong in the yard, so he didn't say more and turned to leave.

Cao Geer noticed that Ge Quan had a cloth bundle on his back, bulging evenly into a long shape, like carrying a pillow.

When Cao Geer went outside, his once neat and clean yard was a mess, filled with blood and bodies. His father and brother lay on the ground, with some straw from the firewood pile underneath them, but after only a short while, the straw was soaked with blood.

Daniu had lost an arm and lay stiffly, his face and lips pale, not daring to move, inhaling sharply from the pain, but at least his life was not in danger.

Chen Er's condition was far worse. He lay face down on the straw, completely unconscious. Cao Geer's mother tremblingly pulled aside his clothes, allowing the handsome boy squatting beside him to apply medicine.