Upon arriving at the mountain, Yang Jing and Xia Yong were both waiting.
Although Miss Jun had decided to bring people back herself and the sentries had also reported to everyone about outsiders entering the village, there were still some matters that needed to be explained.
"You all speak," Xiao Zhi said and gestured to Cook Liu'er, "Bring the things over here."
She led Cook Liu'er and Zhao Hanqing into another room.
"Hanqing has already told us about what happened then," Xia Yong took the initiative to say, "Where does this lady wish to go?"
"They are going to Daming Prefecture," Miss Jun said.
The Daming Prefecture on the Hebei West Road is currently where the main forces of the Jurchen people are concentrated, north of Hejian and Boye, confronting the Duke of Chengguo.
The crisis in Kaide Prefecture has been resolved, and because the emperor was alarmed, the Anli Army and Guangji Army from Jingdong West Road have already been sent to reinforce the line at Daming Prefecture.
Thus, for the entire Hebei Road, the situation around Daming Prefecture is the most stable.
Many people are heading there.
It's not strange that the destination for this group of people is Daming Prefecture.
"My guards have already trained quite well with you, Uncle Xia. I will take them for a journey," Miss Jun said.
Xia Yong looked complex, naturally understanding her meaning; she had taken on the matter herself, not troubling them.
"I'm very familiar with this stretch of road. Don't worry, I can get back home by the 15th of the first lunar month at the latest," she continued with a smile.
Although she has never walked it, she had already gone over it several times in her mind with the map, which was detailed to the point of marking villages.
She was also just about to verify how accurate this map was.
Going home.
Xia Yong couldn't help but glance at Yang Jing.
"We still need to buy some cattle for farming next spring," Yang Jing suddenly said, "I heard that the prices of everything have increased outside."
Xia Yong immediately understood.
"I wonder if Miss Jun needs more hands?" he said in a composed manner, "We can take a trip with you. How much would Miss Jun give us?"
Miss Jun laughed, her eyes slightly teary.
Family, they regarded her as family.
As family, how could they bear to let her venture alone.
"As for the reward, I'm collecting 50,000 taels of silver, but I should share 20,000 taels with everyone," she laughed, playfully winking.
"Although everyone is putting in effort, I still should take the larger share, because after all, I'm using this,"
She pointed to her head, her expression becoming more solemn.
"I promise, if I take everyone with me, I will bring everyone back."
As her words ended, Xia Yong and Yang Jing's expressions changed slightly as they watched her.
Meanwhile, inside the room, Xiao Zhi suddenly covered her mouth with her hand, stopping her speech.
The cook, who was listening to how the cloth should be cut, looked puzzled at her, while Zhao Hanqing, who was eating fried meatballs nearby, also looked over.
"Mother, what's wrong?" she asked.
Xiao Zhi coughed lightly.
"Suddenly, my throat hurts," she said, turning to pick up a water jug nearby and pouring a cup of water.
Zhao Hanqing did not mind, following her.
"I'm also thirsty," she said.
Liu'er rolled her eyes.
"Eating so many meatballs, it'd be odd not to be thirsty," she muttered.
"You haven't eaten few either," Zhao Hanqing said bluntly.
Xiao Zhi smiled, poured water for Zhao Hanqing, and gestured to Liu'er.
"Liu'er, come drink a cup too," she said.
Liu'er immediately walked over, watching the two girls drink, Xiao Zhi slowly sipped her tea, the slightly bitter mountain tea sliding through her mouth and tongue.
She listened to the outside girl speaking.
"..for the selection of Uncle Yang and Uncle Xia, don't split into my people and your people, choose whoever is suitable and capable."
"Oh, and although we're letting them move in, let's not reveal our identities."
"That's simple, it's almost the New Year, let's get busy with the New Year preparations," Xia Yong said.
Getting busy with the New Year.
Yes, it's the twelfth lunar month already, another year is passing by, how fast.
"Alright, let's finish all the household chores before we leave," Miss Jun laughed.
...........
The pig's grunting, followed by the stab of a knife, suddenly turned into a howl.
The pig's screams were also so frightening.
The people gathered around suddenly stepped back as if they had been greatly startled.
Seeing a few familiar men among those who retreated with frightened faces, Liang Chengdong's eyebrows twitched.
Afraid of killing pigs? Killing pigs isn't as severe as killing people, right? Those who slaughtered people that day didn't seem afraid.
The pig's howling gradually subsided, and the basin collecting blood gradually filled up.
The wooden board was set up, the skinning knife was polished bright, only waiting for the pig's blood to drain.
"Come watch the pig slaughtering, come watch the pig slaughtering."
The children, holding newly made sesame candy, ran over giggling and laughing.
"Liang Chengdong, are you still watching the pig being slaughtered?"
Someone said from behind.
Liang Chengdong turned around to see his two brothers approaching.
"They are making tofu over there." one of them said excitedly, "The pulp has been boiled and many people are waiting to drink it."
"I haven't seen tofu making in many years," another one remarked with a touch of nostalgia, "Since I left the village, seeing it now feels so familiar, just like my village."
Village..
These people are not really villagers.
Liang Chengdong's brows twisted together, the most terrifying thing was that they were completely like villagers, without a single flaw that could be pointed out.
One can pretend to be a villager temporarily, but to do so this perfectly, they must truly consider themselves villagers; yet the next moment, they could kill without batting an eyelid.
This is truly eerily horrifying.
"Where is Madam?" he asked, "Where is Xiao Chuan?"
"That Miss is in the courtyard making rice cakes," a man busily pointed and said, "Madam asked Xiao Chuan to help."
Compared to the areas where men gathered for slaughter and tofu making, the rice cake spot was crowded mostly with women, their laughter and chatter was ceaseless and loud.
"Madam, have a taste."
Miss Jun walked over with a freshly cut piece of hot rice cake, smiling as she spoke.
The woman was sitting at the door soaking up the sun, her feet propped up on a small stool, basking in leisurely warmth.
"I last watched rice cake making when I was a child." She smiled, picking up a small piece.
"Be careful, it's hot," Miss Jun said, sitting down beside her.
The woman turned the rice cake in her hand and popped it into her mouth.
"The opposite is true for me; I never saw it as a child, only as an adult," Miss Jun said, watching the busy, laughing women.
Of course, she watched with her master; the purpose was to eat, although back then she neither found making rice cakes interesting nor tasty.
"Poor boring child," her master had lamented with a click of his tongue.
Yes, back then she was only focused on how to quickly learn the skills to save her father, with no other thoughts, very monotonous; and thinking of it now, her master watching the villagers slaughter pigs, make tofu, and rice cakes must have felt a complex mix of emotions.
When festive times come, thoughts of home and loved ones grow strong.
"Is your family in Daming Prefecture?" Miss Jun suddenly turned to ask.
Since the day before, their conversation had been simply casual, not delving into personal backgrounds.
This girl was not one to probe by circuitous means; her asking was just a spontaneous thought, perhaps thinking of her own family.
The woman smiled softly.
"No," she said, "My family members are not together now."
Miss Jun looked at her with some surprise.
"Your family members are not together either," she said.
The word 'too' made the woman smile faintly; amidst the festive hustle, it sounded somewhat lonely.
"Being together or not doesn't really matter," she said, "Heaven is next to you if you think so, and it's not about being together morning and evening."
Mixing two different lines of poetry together at such a time was indeed interesting.
Miss Jun laughed.
Yes, as long as they are alive, even though not together, and even if far away, a meeting is possible, which is better than being permanently separated by life and death.
"What is Madam's last name?" she asked after a pause.
Normally people would ask for names upon meeting, but this girl had never done so; this could mean she was not interested in prying into backgrounds, or she might simply not be interested in others' names.
Meeting by chance, come without fuss, and leave without attachment.
Asking now perhaps meant she wanted to get to know this person better.
It was like the naïve purity of a child and the inherent pride etched deep in her bones.
The woman looked at Miss Jun and smiled.
"It's not important, my last name is Yu," she said, "My full name is just Lan."
Even sharing their names, Miss Jun smiled.
"Madam Yu," she said, "My last name is Jun, first name is…"
Before she could finish, a loud, urgent voice interrupted them.
"Miss Jun!"
Miss Jun looked up to see De Sheng Chang's shopkeeper hurrying in.
His face was slightly red and sweat was beading on his forehead, perhaps from hurriedly traveling in winter, or perhaps from nervousness.
Whether from rushing or nervousness, it suggested that something alarming had occurred.
********************************************************************************
Thanks to page 11 for the generous gifting of He's Bi, O(∩_∩)O, great to see such generosity every day.
Thank you everyone, thank you very much.