Chapter 242: Entrust
Editor: Atlas Studios
Bowen said, “Sir said that winter break isn’t a thing in the south, unlike here. It’s so cold in the winter that people can freeze, so we have to take a break. Otherwise, the students will freeze to death in the academy.”
Mu Yangling was stunned. “Is this why your teacher releases you guys for winter holidays?”
“Winter holidays?” Bowen tilted his head. “Isn’t it winter break? Our teacher said this is called winter break.”
“Right, winter break.” Mu Yangling said thoughtfully, “So the winter break is in place because the winter is too cold and the students will freeze to death in the academy otherwise?”
Mu Yangling went to hug Kejia and Bosi and asked, “The two of them will be one year old soon, right? That’s a big occasion…” Only then did Mu Yangling remember that she would probably still be in Hanzhong Prefecture that day. She likely wouldn’t be able to make it back for their one-year-old birthday celebration.
Mu Yangling went to look for Shu Wanniang and said, “Mother, Father might not make it back for Bosi and Kejia’s first birthday celebration.”
Shu Wanniang paused in her embroidery and smiled. “That’s fine. You hosting it doesn’t make a difference.”
Mu Yangling looked down at her toes and said, “I might not be able to make it back in time, too…”
Shu Wanniang put down her things and sat upright. She looked at her daughter and asked, “Where are you going?”
“I’m making a trip to Hanzhong Prefecture with Little General. There’s something to do.” Mu Yangling thought for a moment and said, “Mother, why don’t I get Aunt to come over and help?”
Shu Wanniang shook her head. “Between your father and you, at least one has to be present. Ah Ling, this is the largest banquet that our Mu family has ever held since we moved here. Not only will the villagers from Nearhill Village come, but the villagers from Chenggu Garrison will also come. It’s not that your great-aunt and I can’t handle it, but the head of the Mu family has to be present. This is a chance to establish your status. In the future, you can speak on behalf of the Mu family outside and no one will dare to object.”
Seeing that her daughter had her head lowered, Shu Wanniang asked, “When can you come back?”
“I’ll be back by the 29th at the latest.” If they attacked on the 26th, and they hurried back from Hanzhong Prefecture on a horse, they could come back in a day. Even if an accident happened, they should return by 29th.
Kejia and Bosi’s birthday was on the 27th.
Shu Wanniang said, “Then we’ll postpone their first birthday celebration for two days. Your great-aunt and I can arrange everything else. You just have to appear at noon on the 29th and personally carry your siblings out for the zhuazhou1.”
A smile appeared on Mu Yangling’s face. She hugged her mother’s arm and said, “Mother, don’t worry. I’ll definitely be back before noon on the 29th.”
Shu Wanniang tapped her daughter’s forehead. “I don’t care what you and Little General are doing outside, but you have to take care of yourself, understand?”
Mu Yangling nodded. “Mother, don’t worry. I cherish my life very much. I know that as long as I’m alive, there’s hope. If I die, there’s nothing left.”
Shu Wanniang hugged her daughter and patted her shoulder gently. “It’s good that you understand. When are you leaving?”
“I’ll leave on the 23rd.”
Shu Wanniang frowned. “You’ll be gone for seven days? That’s too long.”
“Mother, don’t worry. Little General has asked someone to secretly guard our house. Don’t worry and sleep tight at night. If anything happens, do as I told you. Throw the lamp outside the window and light the hay below. The soldiers of the 5th Division will come over when they see it…”
There had always been a handful of hay under Shu Wanniang and Great-aunt’s window. Mu Yangling replaced it every day. Shu Wanniang didn’t understand why in the past, but she finally understood now.
Great-aunt didn’t agree with Mu Yangling’s decision to leave home. She didn’t understand why Shu Wanniang didn’t stop her. “Ah Ling is a girl. How can you let her go out with the Little General for so many days? Why didn’t you stop her as her mother?”
“Aunt, Ah Ling knows what she wants. She’s never been a child.” Shu Wanniang had always felt that her daughter was fulfilling her duties as an adult, so she should receive the rights of an adult. She wasn’t smart enough, but she knew her daughter well. Sometimes, she was even less considerate than her husband. How could she treat such a daughter as an ordinary person?
Since she had supported the family at such a young age and assumed the responsibility of being the family head, she should have the right to control the family and be free to come and go as she pleased.
Hence, Shu Wanniang blocked all of Great-aunt’s objections, and simply asked Mu Yangling to prepare everything and leave in peace while she and Great-aunt took care of the house.
Seeing that Shu Wanniang kept objecting to her, Great-aunt was so angry that she didn’t speak to her for two days.
“Ah Ling,” Great-aunt said with a straight face, “I know you’re capable, but no matter how capable you are, you’re still a girl. How can you go out with a bunch of men for so many days? Besides, how old are you this year? How am I going to answer to your father when he comes back?”
“Geez, Great-aunt, why are you still harping on this when I’m leaving tomorrow? My mother has already agreed. You don’t have to do anything. You just have to cover for me. If anyone in the village asks, just say that I went to visit a relative because something happened to them. I’ll come back in two days. It’ll be even better if no one asks. No one dares to mess with our family anymore.”
Great-aunt glared at her. “When your father comes back…”
“My father will definitely not scold me when he comes back. My father will unconditionally agree to whatever my mother consents to.”
Great-aunt could only glare at her.
Mu Yangling gave Xiuhong a look.
Xiuhong immediately climbed onto the brick bed and hugged her arm. “Grandma, it’s getting cold. Can our rabbits survive the winter? Do you want to cover them with a blanket?”
“Go, go, go. What blanket? Take out the remaining wheatgrass, dry it, and sprinkle it in the shed. Then, block the spots where wind leaks.”
“Aren’t the baby twins’ first birthday coming soon? How many tables of guests will we have to treat…”
Mu Yangling quietly slipped back to her room.
She heaved a sigh of relief and wiped the dagger that her grandfather had left behind before putting it aside. Then, she took out the sleeve arrow that Qi Haoran had given her and examined it carefully. Bowen’s sudden appearance startled her.
“You startled me.” Mu Yangling pulled her brother to her side and said, “How did you walk without making a sound?”
“Sis, where are you going?”
Mu Yangling leaned close to his ear and said, “Sister is going to get something. I didn’t even tell Mother about this. You have to keep it a secret.”
Mu Bowen suddenly felt like a trusted man who could be entrusted with responsibilities. He looked at Mu Yangling with determination in his eyes and said, “Sister, don’t worry. I’ll definitely keep it a secret for you.” He forgot what he had originally wanted to ask.
“I believe you.” Mu Yangling let him sit on the brick bed and whispered in his ear, “You’re the only man in our family. When I go out, you have to protect Mother and your younger siblings, understand?”
Mu Bowen nodded vigorously, but he asked in confusion, “Isn’t Father a man?”
“…” Mu Yangling said, “Isn’t Father often not at home? That’s why you’re the only man left in the family. Bosi is still young. He’ll only be a man when he’s your age.”
Mu Bowen looked at the dagger that his sister had placed on the brick bed and said, “All men have knives.”
Mu Yangling thought for a moment before taking out the precious dagger encrusted with gems from the box. She pulled it open and closed it before handing it to her brother. “You have to keep it well. This is a weapon you use to protect yourself and our family. You can’t take it out easily. Once you take it out, blood will be shed.”
Clenching his precious dagger tightly with both hands, Mu Bowen looked into his sister’s eyes and said seriously, “Don’t worry, Sister. I’ll definitely protect Mother, Great-aunt, Cousins, and my younger siblings.”
Mu Yangling revealed a gratified smile.