Chapter 260: Beg
Editor: Atlas Studios
Beaming, Qi Xiuyuan asked, “What are you worried about?”
Rong Xuan glanced at him and said, “You’re so carefree.”
“The Mu family has its own secrets. As long as it’s harmless to us, we don’t have to investigate.” Qi Xiuyuan looked down at Mu Yangling and the other two and said, “Mu Yangling has a good temperament. I’m more at ease if Haoran and Zijin hang out with her.”
“That’s right. Haoran has grown quite a lot in the past two years and Zijin has not continued his crooked ways. So you plan to continue to ignore the letters from your father and Old Master Fan and leave the two of them here?”
Qi Xiuyuan’s eyes turned cold. “Otherwise should I let them go back and be bullied? Do nothing every day and cause trouble? If they stay here…” At the thought that his brother was focused on the military camp and reclaiming his homeland, and that Zijin had his own direction, Qi Xiuyuan could not help but laugh. These two children had really been acting like adults for the past two years.
Although Qi Xiuyuan felt that they were overreaching, he still decided to leave the two of them here. He didn’t want to see two profligate sons when he returned to the capital.
Everyone stayed overnight in the tent. The next morning, Qi Xiuyuan got someone to pack up. They were going into the mountains to hunt.
Since he was using hunting as an excuse, he had to leave the mountain with some prey.
Mu Yangling was in charge of leading the way. When they left the mountain in the afternoon, everyone’s hands were occupied. Mu Yangling dragged a deer using a makeshift mop and carried a wild boar on her shoulder. Qi Xiuyuan and Qi Haoran also carried a deer. Even Rong Xuan and Fan Zijin were not empty-handed and were carrying some small prey.
After sending the things back to the Mu family, Qi Xiuyuan laughed out loud and said happily, “It’s indeed satisfying. I’ve never been so happy when hunting in the past. No wonder Haoran likes to hunt with you. Ah Ling, if I come over to hunt next time, can you lead the way for us?”
Mu Yangling nodded with a smile.
“Alright, Fei Bai, go get someone to bring the prey back.” Qi Xiuyuan only chose a deer and some small prey. The rest, he left for Mu Yangling.
However, Mu Yangling waved her hand and said, “Big Brother Qi, you don’t have to leave so many things for me. My family can’t finish so many prey and will have to sell them anyway. You might as well bring back more and share some with the soldiers.”
As she spoke, she went forward and picked a fat and tender deer to carry to the side. Then, she went up and chose some small prey, all of which were tender. “Alright, if Big Brother Qi doesn’t mind that I’m picky, I’ll keep these. You can take the rest back.”
Seeing that she had chosen what her family liked and didn’t stand on ceremony with him, Qi Xiuyuan felt good. He nodded with a smile. “Then I’ll accept your kindness and take the rest back.”
While they were talking, Shu Wanniang had already cooked some dishes. “Children, come and eat. I made bone broth this morning and it’s been simmering over a slow fire. Have a bowl to warm your body first.”
“Thank you, Auntie.” Just as everyone was about to enter the house, someone shouted anxiously from outside, “Brother Haoran, you’re finally back!”
Everyone turned around and saw Song Zhi, who had a small beard, rushing in with a follower.
Mu Yangling and Fan Zijin couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
A smile flashed across Qi Xiuyuan’s eyes. Then, he cupped his hands and said with a straight face, “So it’s County Magistrate Song. Why are you looking for my younger brother?”
Only then did Song Zhi notice Qi Xiuyuan and the others. He felt a little awkward, but it only lasted for a moment. Smiling shyly, he said, “Big Brother, you’re here too. Nice to meet you.”
The corners of Qi Haoran’s mouth twitched. How could he have the cheek to call him ‘Big Brother’ when Qi Xiuyuan was eight or nine years younger than him?
“Brother Song, why are you looking for me?”
Song Zhi heaved a sigh of relief. After thinking for a moment, he was about to speak when Xiuhong came out of the house and said, “Big Brother Qi, my aunt asks you guys to come into the house. It’s cold outside. If you have anything to say, say it in the house. I’ve already heated up the wine for you.”
Song Zhi’s emotions, which had been brewing for a long time, instantly dissipated. Qi Xiuyuan and Rong Xuan couldn’t help but find it funny. “County Magistrate Song, let’s talk inside.” The two of them led the way into the house.
The dishes had already been placed on the table in the central room. Everyone sat down, but Mu Yangling wanted to turn around and go to the kitchen. Qi Xiuyuan glanced around and saw that Shu Wanniang was not in the central room. He knew that she was deliberately staying away, so he called out to Mu Yangling, “Ah Ling, sit down and eat too. You’ve been busy for half a day.”
Mu Yangling only smiled. “You guys eat. I’ll go pack up the prey. My mother must have left something delicious for me in the kitchen, so I won’t fight for the food with you guys.”
Only then did Qi Xiuyuan not force her.
Mu Yangling called Fei Bai and Yanmo out and said, “Go to the kitchen and eat.”
“Miss Mu, let us know if you need us to do anything.”
“Alright, alright. This is my house. Why would I starve myself? Hurry up and eat. After you’re done, go serve your master.”
Fei Bai and Yanmo responded with a smile and turned to leave.
As Mu Yangling tidied up the prey, she listened to the voices in the room.
Song Zhi had been waiting for Qi Haoran for a day. The moment they entered the mountain, he had arrived. He had come to look for Qi Haoran to beg for corn seeds.
As soon as the news of the corn spread, he also got excited. However, the emissary then took away several carts of seeds. Later, the Shen family took away another batch. In addition, people from Xingyuan Prefecture and other places had also taken some from the West Camp. He estimated in his heart that the seeds left behind were only enough for the West Camp to plant themselves, so he gave up on the idea of asking for seeds.
Even if he did not plant it next year, there was still the year after. He would just wait another year.
However, it had not snowed since winter this year. Coupled with the previous drought, Song Zhi did not dare to harbor any hope.
He could leave the other places be, but the citizens of Mingshui County recognized him as their local magistrate. Therefore, he could only shamelessly ask Qi Haoran for seeds.
Upon hearing this, Qi Haoran looked at Big Brother. He knew that the latter had specially left some seeds for the commoners. Not only for the commoners of Xingzhou Prefecture, but also for the commoners of Hanzhong Prefecture. However, because the county magistrates and magistrates of the various counties did not come looking for him, Qi Xiuyuan did not mention it.
At this moment, Qi Haoran suddenly understood that Big Brother did not want to give them the seeds for free. He had to make them pay a price.
Qi Haoran didn’t know what his Big Brother wanted, so he pushed the matter to him. “Brother Song, the seeds are all in my big brother’s hands, so you’d better beg him.” Then, he said to Qi Xiuyuan with a shy smile, “Big Brother, Brother Song is chummy with me. He helped me a lot when I first moved to Mingshui County. Can you help him?”
Qi Xiuyuan pretended to glare at his brother. Song Zhi heaved a sigh of relief and smiled. “That’s what I should do. Brother Haoran and I hit it off at first sight, plus we share the same interests. I’ll naturally help if I can.”