Chapter 370: New Residence
Editor: Atlas Studios
Northerners were used to sleeping on the heatable brick bed. Because it was warm, even if a slightly thinner blanket was used, it would not be too cold to get up at night to heat up the brick bed.
However, there were also people who felt that a brick bed was not aesthetically-appealing and wanted to sleep on a bed instead. Of course, those who were willing to spend so much effort and could afford a bed were mostly rich people.
Therefore, the rooms built by the rich were very big. Just the inner rooms alone were about 40 square meters. A large bed could be placed on the northwest side and a screen could be placed to separate it from the brick bed on the east side.
In this way, the master could choose to sleep on the bed or brick bed depending on his mood.
Under normal circumstances, they would only sleep on the brick bed during the coldest period. Most of the time, they would sleep on the bed. When they were doing needlework and playing with the children, they could do so on the brick bed because there was a window open on the inside of the brick bed, which provided excellent light.
Mu Yangling explained the reason to Xiuhong in a low voice. Xiuhong blushed and stuck out her tongue. “Fortunately, I didn’t use this reason to lower the price. Otherwise, I would have been laughed at.”
“If you have any questions in the future, ask my mother. She knows everything.”
Xiuhong nodded in agreement.
“Then where are we going to buy a bed?”
“There’s no hurry. We have to customize it with the craftsman. Hasn’t our family always slept on the brick bed? Let’s sleep on the brick bed first. We’ll just have the bed built before summer.”
It was not like in her previous life, where she could just go to the mall to choose one if she wanted to buy a bed. Here, one had to source for the wood themselves before asking the carpenter to help process them.
There were people selling ready-made beds, but there were very few of them, and the quality was only so-so.
Mu Yangling brought her entire family to Xingzhou Prefecture. The family had smoked the house before, so they could move in directly. Seeing that the courtyard was huge, Great-aunt said in satisfaction, “I’ll plant vegetables in the courtyard later. Perhaps I can take some to sell in the city.”
“Great-aunt, plant the vegetables in the backyard. Use the empty space in the small courtyard to plant fruit trees. When Bosi grows up, he can climb those trees.”
“Who teaches their younger brother how to climb trees?” Great-aunt glared at Mu Yangling before looking at the backyard. She saw that there was indeed a huge area in the backyard, about four times the size of the vegetable field they had previously.
Shu Wanniang, on the other hand, planned to make a few wooden screens and frame the things she had embroidered in the past. She would put one in each room.
The family was busy. When Mu Shi barged in, they had yet to finish eating.
Bosi and Kejia still recognized their father. When they saw him, they rushed over with loud cries. Mu Shi picked them up one by one and pricked them with his unshaven face, causing the two children to cry out excitedly.
Shu Wanniang ran out of the house and leaned against the door, beaming at them.
Mu Shi put down the children and went forward to hug his wife and led her in. Smiling, he said, “I got someone to order food from Red Taste Restaurant. It’ll be sent over in a while. Let’s have a good meal tonight and consider it a housewarming celebration.”
Mu Shi looked around the room and didn’t see the older kids, so he asked, “Where are Ah Ling and the others?”
“They’re packing things in the back. We have quite a lot of belongings, so I asked her to tidy them up and leave the miscellaneous items in the storeroom. Each person will keep their own belongings well. We’re using the old bookshelves and desks for the study.” Shu Wanniang continued after a pause, “If I had known that we would move to Xingzhou Prefecture, I wouldn’t have built a new house in the village back then.”
“This is different. This house is only our family’s property. In the future, when I transfer out, we can sell it or rent it out. However, Chenggu Garrison is our home, just like Nearhill Village, so we still have to have a nice house there.” Mu Shi said in a low voice, “Although we’ve moved out, we have to go back often to tidy it up lest the house rots.”
Hearing this, Shu Wanniang thought for a moment and knew that her husband wanted to have a root in his heart. Since Nearhill Village was gone, it could only be Chenggu Garrison.
Today was their family’s first reunion meal this year, so everyone sat around the dining table solemnly and happily. Mu Shi first toasted Great-aunt, then his wife. Only then did he pick up his chopsticks and say, “Did I scare you guys during the New Year? Today is not only a housewarming feast, but it’s also to calm everyone down. Come, everyone, have a drink.”
Bosi and Kejia also grabbed a cup. Shu Wanniang couldn’t snatch it from them. A smile flashed across Mu Shi’s eyes as he said, “Let them drink. It’s just fruit wine. It’s similar to plain water.”
“Your son and daughter are just over three years old.”
However, Bosi and Kejia still finished it in one gulp. Then, they continued to make a fuss and became even more excited.
No one knew if it was because of the wine.
After the meal, Mu Shi called Mu Yangling and Bowen to the study. Perhaps because his wife and children were by his side and he could see them at any time in the future, he was in high spirits. The smile on his lips did not disappear the entire night.
After entering the study, he only instructed his daughter and son to study hard.
Mu Shi’s eyes sparkled as he said, “Bowen, I’m already an assistant commander now. At the latest, I’ll be appointed by the Imperial Court in March. As soon as I’m appointed, I’ll request to remove our family’s military status and get it done before autumn. Didn’t your teacher say that you’re doing well in your studies and can give the examination a try? Do try next year, okay?”
Bowen’s eyes lit up as he said excitedly, “Can I really participate?”
Mu Shi smiled and nodded.
Bowen turned to look at his sister with a silly grin.
Mu Yangling was also very happy. She patted his head and said, “Then study well with Teacher Liu. You don’t have to worry about the family. Mm, start preparing. I’ll send you to the nursery the day after tomorrow.”
No longer feeling bitter anymore, Bowen suggested, “I have to bring my books over.”
“Let’s bring some essentials first and slowly bring the rest over. Anyway, it’s not like you won’t be going home. You have to come home for two days every ten days. Otherwise, I’ll be worried that Bosi and Kejia won’t recognize you.”
Bowen declared proudly, “Bosi and Kejia like me the most. They will definitely recognize me.”
Mu Shi looked at them for a while before turning to ask his daughter, “If you send Bowen to the nursery, what about Xiuhong?”
“I’ll send Xiuhong and Cousin Lang over as well. Father, I’ve built a few houses over there. They can live there. Not only do we have a cattle farm, a nursery, and dozens of hectares in Hanzhong Prefecture now, but there are also people managing these things. Spring plowing is about to begin, and the rental of oxen has to be put on the agenda. I don’t plan to do it myself. Other than delegating it to Xiuhong and Cousin Lang, I also plan to nurture Zhang Wu and Zhang Liu. So that at the very least, they can undertake tasks without supervision.”
Mu Shi nodded, very reassured about his daughter. After some thought, he let Bowen go back to sleep first before tugging at his daughter and asking, “How are things between you and the Little General?”
Mu Yangling was baffled. “We’re fine.”
“Then why hasn’t he come to look for you for the past two days?” In the past, Qi Haoran would come over whenever he had the time. Now that he was still recuperating, he shouldn’t be busy. However, other than coming to the military camp to give Mu Shi pointers for the first two days, he hadn’t been seen for the past two days.
However, Mu Yangling said with a smile, “He might be busy with something. Father, you don’t have to be so anxious. Our marriage hasn’t been settled yet. It’s fine even if it gets called off.”
Mu Shi glared at his daughter. “Where are you going to find a man who’s so tolerant of you? I think the Little General is great. Don’t anger him all the time.”