Chapter 101: Stay
Editor: Atlas Studios
“Your name is on the register. I can report your death and leave, but this way, you’ll have to change your name.” Qi Xiuyuan looked at them with a deep gaze. “Uncle Mu, did you offend someone in Lin’an? Otherwise, I can’t figure out who would add your name.”
Mu Shi’s expression changed. He calmly took the booklet and looked at it before saying, “General Qi, please allow me to discuss it with my wife and children.”
Qi Xiuyuan nodded. “The matter of military status will be implemented in the next few days. I can postpone yours for now. Tell me when you’ve thought it through.”
Mu Shi was grateful. His daughter had only rendered them a little help back then, and the Qi family had repaid her with so much. Now, it was the Mu family who owed the Qi family a favor.
Mu Shi respectfully sent Qi Xiuyuan out. When he returned to the house, he saw his wife holding the booklet and crying sadly. His daughter and son were looking at her in confusion.
Sighing slightly, Mu Shi went forward to hug his wife before saying to his daughter, “Bring your brother out and tell your great-aunt and the others to stop packing first.”
Mu Yangling glanced at her mother and obediently led her brother out. When they reached the door, she did not leave. Instead, she hid at the door to eavesdrop.
Mu Bowen’s eyes sparkled as he squatted beside his sister without making a sound.
Inside the house, Mu Shi was holding his wife’s hand tightly. “Don’t be anxious. It might not be what you think.”
Shu Wanniang shook her head with tears in her eyes. “I know it’s them. Who else can we offend in Lin’an? They’re afraid that if I go back and others find out about my matter, it will ruin the Shu family’s reputation. But we only want to move south. I’ve never thought of going to Lin’an. I’ve never thought of it.”
Mu Shi hugged his wife in silence and patted her shoulder to comfort her.
“What should we do?” Shu Wanniang looked at her husband in panic.
Mu Shi looked out of the door with a deep gaze. After a while, he said, “Let’s stay.”
Shu Wanniang covered her mouth and cried bitterly. Staying behind meant that Mu Shi was going to join the army, which was akin to handing over half his life to the heavens. This was the first time Shu Wanniang felt resentful towards the family that had raised her.
However, Mu Shi wanted his wife and children to live in an above-board manner and have the freedom to go wherever they wished.
Since the Shu family had been paying attention to them, even if they changed their names, they would definitely be able to find them. He did not want to live under the surveillance of others in the future.
Thus, joining the army was his only option.
After making up his mind, Mu Shi went to look for his daughter.
Mu Yangling couldn’t understand. “Father, is Mother’s family very powerful? They’ve been monitoring us?”
Mu Shi frowned. “The Shu family can be considered an aristocratic family. Although they’re only a branch family, they have a lot of assets. Perhaps they came across some opportunities in Lin’an.”
“But Mother is their daughter after all. Didn’t you say that Mother is their legitimate daughter? Don’t they feel sorry for her?”
Mu Shi’s expression was ugly, but he did not say anything.
Mu Yangling’s shoulders slumped. “I understand, Father. But if you join the army, what will happen to Bowen and Bosi in the future? Bowen is so weak, we should thank the heavens if he can live to a ripe old age. Now, you can only pray to God and hope that your second son inherits the divine power of your ancestors. Or at the very least, that he’s healthy. If that isn’t the case, you can only have another child.”
The corners of Mu Shi’s mouth twitched as he slapped her. “Are you that unconfident in Father? I’ll work hard to build military merits. As long as I get promoted to the fifth-grade, I’ll be stripped of my status.”
Although military status was passed down from generation to generation, as long as a soldier made it to the fifth-grade, they could remove their family from the register. However, their sons and grandsons could also enjoy the status and benefit from protected appointments should they choose to remain in the military. Therefore, although many soldiers who made it to the fifth-grade had the chance to remove their households from the register, they would not do so for the sake of their descendants.
Even if their descendants were a disappointment, with the protected appointments system for hereditary privileges, their lives would not be too miserable.
“When the time comes, will Father still be willing?” Mu Yangling looked at him suspiciously.
“Not like we have a choice. Can your brother join the army given his health?” Mu Shi looked at his daughter regretfully. “If only you were a son.”
Mu Yangling muttered, “There’s nothing wrong with being a girl. If they let me join the army, I might be able to become a general too.”
Mu Shi didn’t hear his daughter’s muttering and discussed with her, “Your great-aunt’s family doesn’t have any land left either. I originally wanted them to leave with us, but since we can’t leave now, we can’t leave them behind, too. Since our family received quite a lot of land, and none of us knows how to farm, why don’t we let your great-aunt live with us?”
Mu Yangling had no objections. “Father, go ask Mother for her opinion.”
“Your mother has no objections.” Mu Shi knew his wife well. He could make the decisions himself.
“Then you can discuss it with Great-aunt.”
Madam Ma-Liu sat by the bed in silence while Xiuhong and Xiulan stood on either side of her. Mu Shi said, “Aunt, Mother often told me about her life when she was young. When Grandfather and Grandmother passed, she was only three years old. You were the one who brought her up. At that time, there was nothing to eat at home, but you insisted on leaving all the food to my mother and the others even if it meant you had to starve. My mother’s marriage was even arranged by you…”
Madam Ma-Liu wiped her tears and said, “It’s been so many years. Why are you bringing this up?”
Mu Shi half-knelt in front of her. “Aunt, a few years ago, because I was sad about what happened to my parents, Wanniang and Bowen’s health wasn’t good either, so I neglected you. I’ve always felt guilty. The Ma family’s fields are currently under Minister Liu’s name, and Minister Liu is on the register. So, those fields will probably be taken as military fields. Why don’t you and your granddaughters live with us?”
At this point, Mu Shi said in embarrassment, “You also know that I don’t know how to farm, let alone Wanniang. She’s not in good health and still has two young ones to take care of. Having an elderly person at home is like having a treasure. If you don’t mind, our two families can become one. When my nieces grow up, I’ll give them a dowry and take care of you in your old age.”
Tears welled up in the corners of Madam Ma-Liu’s eyes. She turned her head and wiped her eyes. In a choked voice, she said, “Aren’t you losing out too much like this?”
Mu Shi said with a smile, “Aunt, what are you talking about? I was worried that you would suffer a loss. You know that just like my father, I don’t know how to farm. In the future, I’ll still need your guidance from the side. Otherwise, our family can only starve.”
At this point, it wasn’t that Mu Shi wasn’t worried. After becoming a soldier, it was clearly impossible for him to enter the mountains to hunt every day. As for farming, he didn’t even know how to grow vegetables. Could he really grow grains?
Mu Shi was extremely worried.
Madam Ma-Liu lowered her head and pondered. Living under someone else’s roof was different from staying in one’s own house. She was old and didn’t have much to worry about, but her two granddaughters were at an age where their personalities were malleable. She didn’t want to cause any bad influence on the two children.
Secretly anxious, Xiuhong reached out and tugged at her grandmother’s sleeve. Madam Ma-Liu lowered her head to look at her and heard her mutter, “I like Cousin Ah Ling.”
Madam Ma-Liu’s heart skipped a beat and she nodded in agreement.