Zhao Xueli next to Xie Chen picked up the chopsticks, and Niu Daochang outside stood up and handed over a new pair of chopsticks.
Everyone's indifference made Xie Chen less embarrassed, but his heart was still full of emotions. Could it be her who came up from the village?
After that incident a few years ago, many people were killed or injured in the village. He vaguely guessed the inside story of everything Jiang Wei handled personally, but Jiang Wei didn't let him ask any more questions.
He just told him that he was acting under the emperor's orders and everything was for the sake of Daqi's country.
Because there were wars in the southeast and north at that time, we must not let the war spread to the northwest again.
The imperial court took Taozhou and Minzhou, and by interfering in the political situation of Xibo, it caused chaos in Xibo, so that it could not raise troops against Qi within three to five years.
At least the people in the northwest of Daqi will not have to suffer from war in three to five years.
At that time, he, Jiang Wei, and Zheng Zishu were still passionate about serving the country. First, he heard Jiang Wei and Zheng Zishu talking about the troubles in the northwest of Qi Dynasty. Jiang Wei said that while he was there, he would clean up the northwest for the imperial court.
When the border was restored and Taozhou and Minzhou were taken back, he was also excited. He picked up his wine glass and said, "Count me in."
All of this was deliberately hidden deep in his mind, but now when he thinks about it, he can still remember it as vividly as if it happened yesterday.
In the end, they achieved the result they wanted, but it was different from what they thought. He returned to the capital. Every time he enjoyed the joy brought to him by his wife and children, he subconsciously thought of the children in the village, and the women were also upset.
In a pool of blood, not to mention he knew clearly that Jiang Wei was hiding something.
Xie Chen didn't know what Jiang Wei and Zheng Zishu thought. From then on, he lost interest in those ambitions. The imperial court promoted him to join the Ministry of War, but he refused and plunged into the Yushitai.
Jiang Wei died of illness in Taozhou. He and Zheng Zishu had a tacit understanding and had little contact. Zheng Zishu went to the Ministry of Rites. In these years, he only focused on matters of sacrifice and enjoyment, and was extremely strict in this regard, but ignored all government affairs.
After all, I still feel guilty.
Xie Chen thinks about this, and the food he eats becomes even more tasteless.
"Aren't you used to eating this?" Zhao Xueli asked from the side.
Xie Chen shook his head and said: "I just remembered some things from the past. I came to Taozhou a few years ago." He knew that he should say more, so that the atmosphere would become warmer, but Xie Chen didn't know where to start.
Xie Chen could only say: "It's a pity that he returned to Beijing not long after he came."
Zhao Xueli nodded, and the men didn't ask any more questions.
Afterwards, there were almost no words spoken during the meal, but the laughter of women could be heard from a house not far away.
Zhao Xueli couldn't help but laugh and said: "Don't be offended, sir. Women in farmers' households don't have so many rules."
Women from wealthy families are always not allowed to do this or that, but for ordinary people, women have many things to do, so how can they pay attention to those things.
Old Mrs. Yang does have some rules in the Zhao family. Other families do not allow women to eat at the table, but this family absolutely cannot do it. In the past, when the old lady was here, she always disliked this and said that Old Mrs. Yang was a country roughneck. Now the old lady is not here.
, they don’t even have to worry about the so-called etiquette.
Xie Chen waved his hands and said: "That's good."
When Zhao Xueli mentioned this topic, he said a few more words: "Our female relatives here earn more money than us men. They do needlework, sell cheese, and later make fur coats. We can only do some hard work. On weekdays,
They are also the ones busy in the kitchen."
Fengxia Village is different. Xie Chen was not surprised when he heard this: "My life was saved by your girl."
Zhao Xueli nodded.
Niu Daochang said: "Our lives were saved by Sister Luo. If it weren't for Sister Luo, we might all be buried under the mountain. Also, without Sister Luo, we wouldn't be able to work on the village."
Any person from any of the 16 households can tell you a lot about Zhao Luoyang's benefits.
Xie Chen somewhat understood why the village and the sixteen households in Fengxia Village moved around. It might be because the person in charge of the village was also a woman.
…
In the house next to it.
Shi Jiu's voice came from Zhao Luoyang's mind: "I mentioned you over there."
Zhao Yuanrang and Zhao Yuanji waited outside the main house to listen to the news. Whatever Xie Chen said, the two brothers would tell their sister.
However, for some words, Shi Jiu could guess roughly by looking at the fluctuations in his charm value without the need for two younger brothers.
Zhao Luoyang handed the dried meat to Mr. Bai, but he did not forget to care about the charm value: "Did it increase much?"
Shi Jiu said: "Now the total is 42 points."
A lot, but Zhao Luoyang felt that if her grandma were here, she would do better than her father. Of course, it would be best...
Shi Jiu said: "Don't think about it, you can't go."
Zhao Luoyang didn't know that Mrs. Bai and Mrs. Bai would come to Fengxia Village. Since Mrs. Bai did not avoid Xie Chen, the most important thing tonight became to let Mrs. Bai and Xie Chen meet.
Zhao Luoyang told Shi Jiu, "Mama Bai should meet Xie Chen outside the village." She could feel that Mrs. Bai didn't want to involve Fengxia Village.
Mrs. Bai treats people coldly on the surface, but she treats them sincerely, which Zhao Luoyang can feel.
Shi Jiu said: "Should we put the recorder on the mule cart in advance?"
Zhao Luoyang nodded: "However, we can't just play the recorder."
After finishing their meal, Mrs. Bai and Ms. Bai were ready to go back to the village. The women helped carry Ms. Bai into the car.
Bai drank some buttermilk they brought, her cheeks were slightly hot, and she was in a particularly good mood. After the two of them got into the mule cart, the mule cart moved forward slowly.
Mrs. Bai smiled and looked at Mrs. Bai: "You are right, it is time to go out for a walk. Although we often see them in the village, it feels different when we come to Fengxia Village."
The women talked about their children and their homely, simple words, which made Bai feel relaxed. Tao was pregnant, and everyone guessed whether it was a boy or a girl, and everything they said made sense.
Bai Shi said: "I think he is a son of a bitch, but to be on the safe side, I will make him a pair of shoes that are easy to wear for both men and women."
Mrs. Bai also nodded.
Bai continued: "I don't know when I will come over next time."
"As long as you are willing," Mrs. Bai said, "I can accompany you out and about at any time."
Normally, Ms. Bai would probably shake her head, but today she was so happy that she responded: "Okay."
Not long after the mule cart entered the official road, the sound of horse hooves came closer and closer. Mrs. Bai pulled the reins to slow down the mule cart. After a while, Mrs. Bai saw Xie Chen.
Xie Chen chased all the way and finally caught up with the mule cart. He saw a woman wearing a bamboo hat sitting at the front of the cart, but he didn't know how to speak.
"Thank you, Sir," Mrs. Bai said without hesitation, "If you have something to say, just get on the mule cart!"
The carriage on the mule cart is very simple, but it is enough to seat three people. The old mules know the way and can move forward slowly without being driven, and the horses can also follow slowly.
Listening to the sound of wheels and horse hooves, Xie Chen was a little confused for a moment. He always felt that all this was unreal, like a dream.
Mrs. Bai said: "What do you want to say, Mr. Xie?"
Bai seemed to be asleep, leaning against the carriage and squinting her eyes slightly, probably because she really had no interest in listening to what she was going to say next.
Xie Chen pursed his lips and made a lot of determination before taking a closer look at Granny Bai. When he saw the terrible scar, guilt flashed in his eyes: "The injury on your face..."
Mrs. Bai said: "What Jiang Wei left behind with his sword was of course of my own free will, otherwise he would have killed me." After saying this, a sarcastic look flashed across her face.
Xie Chen couldn't help being shocked: "It's... it's him... why did he..."
Mrs. Bai stared at Xie Chen: "Didn't you already know it? Why are you pretending to be like this? Even if Jiang Wei didn't tell you, you couldn't guess at all?"
Xie Chen was silent, and the Bai family next to him suddenly said: "He wouldn't have followed him if he didn't guess."
Mrs. Bai opened her eyes, with more hatred on her face than Granny Bai: "Let me guess, Mr. Xie's career has not been going well in recent years? Did you come to Taozhou to earn another credit?"
"Now that Mr. Xie understands everything, you can write a report to the court, saying that...Princess Changle is still alive."
Xie Chen's face became even more ugly.
Bai said sternly: "Now that you know all the secrets of our village, you can get out."