Feng Ao Si was about to say that it was a piece of cake when he saw Feng Ao Kuai stared in his direction. For some reasons, all of the words he was about to say were swallowed back as he felt chills on his back.
If he dared to make a mistake, he was sure that his younger brother would not hesitate to roast him alive!
"Yes, Grandpa! I'll be careful!" Feng Ao Si quickly said solemnly. He couldn't possibly let his younger brother see his miserable self, could he?
Feng Ao Kuai turned his gaze back down to the tea in his hand as if there was nothing that happened. Only Feng Ao Si knew that the gaze given to him was a warning. Warning for him to not mess around because it would be too difficult for one to back down otherwise.
The others didn't notice anything. Even Nan Si Qiao didn't understand what was in her two children's mind. She only nodded when she saw that Feng Ao Si had agreed.
"Your tents are over there. Hua'er will be staying in the middle. If there's any strange noise, you know what to do," Old Master Nan gave instruction solemnly. He would never let anything happen to his cute granddaughter.
"Don't worry, Grandpa!"
"Leave it to me."
"Yes."
Nan Hua blinked her eyes at her twin brother and cousins' enthusiastic response. She was fine even if she had to stay in the wilderness alone. Even when she was sleeping, she was mostly a light sleeper. It was very easy for her to wake up even at the slightest sound in order to preserve her life.
However, it would be useless to say this to the others.
That night passed by quietly. Nan Hua was staying in the tent with Xiao Yun, sleeping peacefully. No noise could be heard on that night.
The next day, they departed swiftly.
"I never thought that you can actually clean up this fast," Nan Luo commented. This was the first time he ever went on a trip with others. Not to mention, the people who were following them were soldiers. They were all already used to march to the battlefield.
This task was easy.
"It's normal." Feng Ao Si stretched his hand. "When you're at the frontline, you need to move quickly in order to adapt to the enemy's movement. It's not like they'll wait for you."
"Don't you have confrontation head on?" Nan Luo asked. It was what he often heard from his grandfather.
"That's only if you meet at an open plain. If it's in the forest, do you really think that your opponent will give you a chance to fight properly? They'll utilize the terrain to the fullest in order to win the battle."
Nan Luo listened to Feng Ao Si as he began to tell the story while trying his best to control the horse. He only realized that war was not as simple as what he had heard very often from his grandfather.
On the other hand, Feng Ao Kuai and Nan Hua continued their 'war' on the Go board. It was a wonder how these two could concentrate when the other two were extremely noisy outside.
"Halt."
*Neigh*
"What is it?" Nan Luo asked curiously.
"The village is up ahead. A small team will head there to buy some necessary additional foods while the rest will prepare water for the horse," Long Qian Xing gave his order. "First Young Master Nan, you can lead the group to the small village."
"Alright!" Nan Luo was excited as he jumped off the horse. He then rushed to the servants, asking them to prepare some water and money.
Nan Hua and Feng Ao Kuai also alighted down the carriage.
"How many people will come along?"
"Some of my servants will come." Long Qian Xing looked at Nan Hua and resisted the urge to pinch her cheek. "They'll buy some fresh vegetables for tonight's dinner. We'll prepare lunch while you're going."
"Okay," Nan Hua replied succinctly.
"We're going now then!"
"Wait for me! I want to come too!" Feng Ao Si also handed the reign to the soldier before he rushed over. They would be walking there because the terrain was not exactly suitable for horses.
Nan Luo looked at his older cousin with dissatisfaction. "Why do you have to come, ah? You can just stay behind!"
"No way! As if I'll let you go by yourself!"
"What? I'm not as weak as you made me to be!"
"Tsk, in that case, shall we have a duel? In terms of raw power, you're just a weakling."
"Come at me if you dare."
The servants were all silently watching the two young master, feeling a bit helpless. They wanted to stop the two of them, but they lacked the means to do so. All they could do was to watch these two quarreled from a distance away.
Not to mention, the young master's language… has turned worse.
Nan Hua paid no attention to the two of them. Her eyes landed on the village before her.
It was a poor village.
Even though the village was located around a day's walk from the Capital City, the difference was really huge. It was as if one was paradise while the other one was hell. It made one wonder just what could possibly cause such a huge difference.
"What the hell, what kind of a village is this?" Nan Luo was stunned. He had never seen such a village in his entire life.
Well, he was staying in the Capital City most of the time because his father wouldn't let him out.
"It's a poor village."
Feng Ao Kuai's eyes also narrowed when he saw the condition. He had seen the villages at his condition at the frontline because they were living a hard life. However, how could it be possible for a village this far back from the frontline to be in this pitiful condition?
It just didn't make sense.
"Who's the one in charge of this area?" Feng Ao Kuai turned to look at Nan Luo.
"Huh? I don't know." Nan Luo scratched the back of his head.
Hou Liang looked at the children. "It's a local official named Su Ming. He lived in the nearby city and took charge of the city along with several villages around."
Feng Ao Kuai nodded.
Nan Luo arched his eyebrows. Why did this surname appear again from time to time? But to think that such a small Su Family dared to do this. He wondered what gave them the courage to not manage the village well.
"Let's buy some vegetables."
The vegetables might not be at the very best, but it was better than the dried ones that they bought along. Nan Hua could notice the eyes of several people watching their group from the darkness but said nothing. She shouldn't make a move when it was unnecessary. It would be better for her to just wait for the right time to do anything.
"Is that all?" Nan Luo looked at the basket filled with vegetables as his mouth twitched. He didn't think that he would be able to finish all of them.
Nan Hua nodded. "Tonight's menu is vegetables."
"Wait, you're saying that we'll only eat vegetables tonight?"
"No….I want meat!"
Both Nan Luo and Feng Ao Si howled. With a glance from Feng Ao Kuai, the two of them quickly shut their mouth. Since Nan Hua had decided that their night meal would be vegetables, they shouldn't complain.
"Let's go back."
"Mhm."
The four of them acted nonchalant and quickly returned along with the other servants. However, the amount of vegetables they bought startled the other servants including the Old Master and others.
"Oh my, why do you buy so much?" Nan Si Qiao was stunned.
Nan Luo looked at his aunt and put on a pitiful expression. "Hua'er said that our menu tonight will be vegetables. Aunt, does it mean that we'll be vegetarian?"
"Yes, Mother, can't we just hunt some meat? It'll be better than just vegetables!" Feng Ao Si chirped in. He definitely didn't want to end up with only vegetables as his meal when they had dinner later.
"Nonsense!" Nan Si Qiao laughed. "It's good for you to eat more vegetables. Now that you say it, how about if I teach you how to cook some good dish, Hua'er?"
Nan Hua nodded.
"That settled it, then."
Looking at the happy Nan Si Qiao, Feng Ao Si and Nan Luo could only swallow any complaint they might have. First, Feng Ao Kuai was already staring at them. Secondly, even Old Master Nan also nodded at Nan Si Qiao's words. Third, they didn't really dare to cross Nan Hua….
Boo hoo.
Long Qian Xing walked over and coincidentally saw this amusing scene. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "General Nan, are we ready to depart again?"
"Yes. Brats, return to the carriage."
"Yes, yes…"
They all scurried away.