Chapter 124: New Year
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling took an iron plow and two hoes back. It was said that the seeds would only arrive after the New Year. This being clearly different from everyone’s expectations, everyone was a little depressed.
Mu Yangling only sighed, but some people cried on the spot. With the absence of a plowing oxen and the lack of labor at home, they could only give up planting a large piece of land.
Unbeknownst to everyone, Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin were standing in a corner of the camp and watching them. Seeing that everyone’s faces were downcast, they could not help but clench their fists.
Fan Zijin patted his shoulder. “Alright, I know you don’t feel good, but Cousin has already said that the situation of the other camps is even worse than ours. General Lu Ji from the East Camp ran to Xingyuan Prefecture to cause a scene and is still locked up in jail. I reckon he’ll spend New Year’s Eve in jail. Don’t tell me you want Cousin to go to jail too?”
Anger appeared on Qi Haoran’s face, but he still couldn’t help but slap the tree trunk beside him. “They’re simply beetles. They’re even greedy for these things. When I become a general, I’ll be the first to behead them.”
“Isn’t General Yuan a great general now? But isn’t he not saying a word now?” There was sadness in Fan Zijin’s eyes. “The country is not like a country, and the court is as good as non-existent. If you take it seriously, you can only be beaten into the dust. In the past, General Yuan couldn’t stand such things the most. Isn’t he turning a blind eye now?” After all, the person at the top was standing behind them.
Even angrier, Qi Haoran clenched his fists so tightly that they creaked.
Seeing this, Fan Zijin hurriedly advised, “Don’t be rash. This is different from the past. Cousin can’t handle it either.”
Qi Haoran snorted coldly. “Don’t worry, I’m not that stupid. I’ll remember this debt and deal with them after I make a contribution.”
Fan Zijin heaved a sigh of relief. Qi Haoran had always kept his word. Since he said to wait, he would definitely not flare up now.
“But what about the farming tools and plowing oxen? What good can so little do?”
“It’s better than nothing.”
Worry appeared on Qi Haoran’s face. “Since they tampered with the plowing oxen and farming tools, do you think they also tampered with the seeds?”
Fan Zijin’s expression changed. Seeds were different from farming tools and plowing oxens. If the latter two items were missing, they could still use labor to make up for it. At most, they could plant less. However, if the seeds were too inferior or too few, they would really have to starve next year.
Fan Zijin turned around and said, “Stay in the camp. I’ll go back and discuss it with Cousin. Since the seeds haven’t been planted yet, I’m sure there’s still a way.”
Qi Haoran hurriedly sent him out. “Then come back quickly.”
No matter how disappointed they were, they had to live on. Because they had obtained the farming tools, the next day, the farmers appeared to be in full swing on the edge of the field. It would be the new year soon, so everyone had to hurry up with their work in the field.
Mu Yangling still brought her great-aunt and Xiuhong to the fields every day. She and her great-aunt plowed the fields while the three children ran all over the ground to pick up the grass stems. When it was almost the new year, she finally finished plowing the 83 acres of land that her family had to farm and simply leveled the land a little. Other than Mu Yangling, everyone else felt that they could not straighten their backs.
Thinking that it was almost the new year, Mu Yangling no longer brought them to the fields. Instead, she brought them to the county to buy new year goods.
Mu Shi and the others finally finished building the water conservancy facilities on the third day after New Year’s Eve. They had also finished building the civilian houses. Qi Haoran planned to let them continue working on the remaining half of the camp after New Year. The entire camp was allowed to go home for the New Year.
Therefore, the whole family was going to the market this time. Shu Wanniang also came out with the twins.
Along the way, Madam Ma-Liu discussed with Mu Yangling in a low voice, “We still don’t know what the situation will be like in spring. You have to spend your money sparingly. It wasn’t easy for you to save up a little.”
Mu Yangling nodded continuously. “Don’t worry, Great-aunt. We definitely won’t buy those useless things. Wouldn’t that be wasting money?”
Madam Ma-Liu heaved a sigh of relief. However, this sigh of relief came too early.
Mu Yangling brought them straight into the cloth shop and bought a set of cotton cloth for everyone. Then, she bought a lot of cotton and a lot of dried jujube and sugar cakes from the provision store. She also bought all kinds of sacrificial items for the ancestors.
No matter how much Madam Ma-Liu tried to dissuade her, she refused to listen. Seeing that Mu Shi and Shu Wanniang were letting Mu Yangling make the decision while the other three children watched eagerly, she swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth. After all, this past year had not been easy. Besides, she had already paid for everything. If she continued nagging, she would be dampening everyone’s spirits.
Before returning home, Mu Yangling took out another piece of silver and handed it to Mu Shi. “Father, go buy some grains from the grain store. I don’t know how Eldest Great-uncle and the others are doing. I’ll send them some stuff later.”
Mu Shi paused for a moment before taking the money from his daughter’s hand. He stroked her head and praised, “Ah Ling is even more considerate than your parents now.”
Mu Yangling raised her head proudly. “Of course. Don’t you know whose daughter I am?”
Mu Shi laughed out loud, and Shu Wanniang couldn’t help but purse her lips and smile.
This time, Madam Ma-Liu did not stop them because relatives should help each other out. Now it was the Mu family who helped them, and in turn, they would return the favor in the future, forming a virtuous cycle. This was the simplest principle.
Mu Shi and Mu Yangling carried a large pile of things home, while Madam Ma-Liu and Shu Wanniang carried the twins. The three children helped carry some stuff each, too. When they entered the village like this, the villagers could not help but secretly look over.
Even the Hu family could not help but stand in front of their door and watch enviously. Everyone was living a miserable New Year’s Eve, and very few people could afford to buy New Year’s goods. The Mu family was considered the first in the village.
When Mu Shi returned home and tidied up the things, he said to Mu Yangling, “It’s almost the new year. Let’s send them to your Eldest Great-uncle and the others tomorrow.”
Mu Yangling nodded and packed up the things she planned to give to them.
Early the next morning, the father and daughter carried their things and set off.
As Liu Daqian and the others were not far from them, it would take them less than an hour to walk. However, their environment was more complicated than Chenggu Garrison.
Chenggu Garrison was filled with military households, but Chaoxi Village had a mixture of military personnel and ordinary civilians. With so many soldiers suddenly stationed in the village, the villagers could not help but feel a little nervous. Mu Yangling had heard from Liu Lang that the children of those families in the village were unwilling to play with them.
The father and daughter carried the things and walked straight from the entrance of the village to a mud house in the middle of the village. Mu Yangling shouted, “Great-uncle, we’re here to visit you.”
Just as Liu Daqian’s voice sounded, Liu Lang had already rushed out to open the door. When he saw Mu Yangling, he rushed up with a howl and circled around her. He said aggrievedly, “Why are you only here now? Didn’t you say that you would come and play with me when you’re free?”
Mu Yangling rolled her eyes. “Do you think I’ve been free?”
Mu Yangling took out a bag of candy from her pocket and handed it to him. “Here, this is for you guys.”
Liu Lang happily handed the things to his younger brother behind him and asked with a smile, “What did you bring to my family this time?”
“Ah Lang, step aside. Who talks like this?” Liu Zhuang came out of the house and slapped his nephew away, welcoming the father and daughter in.