Chapter 117: Tranquility
One day later, the surviving common people of Anle County finally arrived at Pei Family Village.
Endless wheat fields had already turned yellow, and as the wind blew, waves of wheat rose and fell one after another. Men and women working in the wheat fields saw the group from afar, their eyes lighting up as they shouted loudly, “Sixth Sister Pei is back.”
The shouts reached inside the wall, and soon a young woman with a beautiful face came out to greet them. Several elderly women and children quickly gathered around.
Pei Qinghe smiled and greeted the elders one by one.
Her nephew Little Doggy hugged her leg, calling “Aunt” in a childish voice. Little Yu’er snuggled by her side, her voice crisp and tender: “Aunt, it’s been so many days since I saw you. I really missed you.”
Pei Qinghe smiled with pursed lips, reached out to pick up Little Doggy and Little Yu’er, and kissed each on the forehead.
Madam Feng felt sorry for her daughter and hurriedly took Little Doggy from her: “Your aunt has been busy for so many days. Let her rest well.”
Pei Yun took Little Yu’er over and said in a low voice: “The people you brought back, are they from Anle County?”
Pei Qinghe nodded slightly: “Yes. Anle County was massacred, only more than four hundred survived, and all who were willing to come to Pei Family Village to settle down are here.”
Pei Yun immediately said: “I’ll lead them to settle in. You just go rest.”
With Pei Yun there, Pei Qinghe was completely at ease and went to bathe, change clothes, and rest.
For more than twenty consecutive days, she slept at most one or two hours each night. Even a body of iron would be worn out from exhaustion. Pei Qinghe fell into a deep sleep.
Half asleep and half awake, someone gently pushed the door open, tucked in her bedding, and stroked her cheek.
In her sleep, Pei Qinghe leaned into her mother’s palm.
Madam Feng felt gratified yet heartbroken, sitting by the bed for a long time. After leaving the house, she quietly shed tears.
Pei Qinghe had led people to defend the county town, and every day Madam Feng had been on tenterhooks, fearing news of Changping County Town falling. These days, she hadn’t had a single sound sleep.
This mother’s tender heart, she couldn’t even show it. Among those who went with Pei Qinghe to defend the county town were more than a hundred Pei Family Members. Everyone had only one life, and on the battlefield, they all had to fight to the death for a way to survive.
She was Pei Qinghe’s mother, and the refugees who had thrown themselves on Pei Family Village were all watching her. She had to appear confident, steady, and full of confidence to steady people’s hearts.
Pei Qinghe was woken up by hunger.
Madam Feng pushed open the door in the morning light, carrying a large bowl of steaming hot noodles, and said softly with a smile: “You’ve slept a full day and night, you must be hungry now. This is handmade noodle I made myself, with ham stock soup, very fresh.”
The noodles were chewy, the broth delicious. Pei Qinghe was ravenous and drank even the soup clean, then sighed happily: “Mother still loves me the most.”
Madam Feng hugged her daughter and said softly with a smile: “Now that you’re full, get up! Pei Yun has been holding things together inside and out these days, and she’s very tired too.”
Pei Qinghe nodded slightly. After leaving the house, her youthful playfulness faded instantly, and the one appearing before people was still the majestic Sixth Sister Pei who had the final say.
Pei Qinghe strolled around the village on patrol, with Pei Yun following behind her, talking nonstop. From the villagers’ daily food and clothing to that day’s pursuit of the Xiongnu remnants. She had a bellyful of words and hadn’t finished even after half a day.
Finally, Pei Yun sighed: “From now on, when you go to war, I have to go with you. The errand of guarding the village, leave it to Second Sister-in-law!”
Pei Qinghe laughed: “Second Sister-in-law often praises you in front of me, saying you’re attentive and decisive, act swiftly, and your judgment far surpasses hers!”
Pei Yun muttered: “Anyway, Second Sister-in-law and I will take turns guarding the village.”
Pei Yan had no such worries and was excitedly playing with cats and dogs everywhere. Anyway, whoever wanted to stay behind could stay; this heavy responsibility would never fall on her head. She wanted to follow behind Cousin Sister Qinghe and kill enemies on all sides!
Pei Xuan and Pei Feng had always stayed by Pei Qinghe’s side. During the most critical moments defending the city, the two of them still went up the city wall to kill enemies. They had also gone with her to Anle County to gather the common people. After this experience, both felt they had grown up.
Quite displeased with Cousin Sister Pei Yan’s laziness, Pei Feng steadily said: “From now on, leave the fighting and killing to me.”
Pei Xuan was even quicker with words: “Pei Family Village is our turf, guarding the village is just as important. In a couple more years, Cousin Sister Qinghe can rest assured leading people out. Leave the errand of guarding the village to me.”
Pei Qinghe smiled and praised Pei Xuan and Pei Feng, coaxing her little cousin brother and little cousin sister into delight. Turning her head, she saw Pei Yan tricking Xiao Wan’er out of her malt candy.
“Pei Yan!” Pei Qinghe was both exasperated and amused: “How old are you, still snatching sugar from Xiao Wan’er to eat.”
Xiao Wan’er was a good child and said softly: “I’m willing to give the candy to Aunt Yan.”
Pei Yan beamed with joy, picked up Xiao Wan’er, and kissed her hard: “Xiao Wan’er is the best. From now on, Aunt Yan will give you all the good things she grabs.”
The warm sun shone on everyone’s relaxed and happy smiling faces.
They fought to the death with all their might for this peace.
Pei Qinghe also laughed.
Unfortunately, these peaceful days wouldn’t last many more. Messengers kept coming from Changping County, urging Pei Qinghe to return to the county town.
Pei Qinghe once again led Pei Yan and the others on horseback out of the village.
The common people of Anle County, who had been working with heads down… were now all villagers of Pei Family Village. They all looked up, sighing softly: “I never thought we’d get to live days with three meals a day.”
“I’m not going anywhere else from now on. I want to stay in Pei Family Village.”
“With Sixth Sister here, we can eat our fill and stay warm every day.”
Zhai Sanlang laboriously pulled the mule to reclaim wasteland, laughing loudly: “Everyone’s right. The life we’re living now, we never even dared to imagine before.”
“Everyone work hard, don’t slack off and get kicked out.”
……
“Qinghe!”
Defending the city and steadying hearts was no easy errand. Mao Hongling, who had been worrying and laboring all day every day, looked a bit haggard, her voice somewhat hoarse: “You’re finally back.”
“The prefect of Yan Prefecture sent someone, who’s in the county office now. County Magistrate Wang is handling it.”
Pei Qinghe raised an eyebrow and sneered: “Yan Prefecture governs ten county towns, Anle County was massacred clean by Xiongnu Cavalry, yet Yan Prefecture’s prefect didn’t dare send anyone to investigate. Now he’s sending someone to Changping County.”
“I want to see what the Prefectural Governor intends!”
County Magistrate Wang was fond of wine, neglected administrative affairs and ignored people’s livelihood, but at least didn’t oppress the common people. This Prefect Tang, however, was a standard Jing Dynasty official: bullied the weak and feared the strong, greedy without measure.
In the past, with the Eastern Palace backing the Pei Clan and the Beiping Army as their support, Prefect Tang didn’t dare reach into Pei Family Village. Now the Eastern Palace had fallen, the Beiping Army badly defeated, and the dragon throne in the Capital City had a new Son of Heaven. The rebel army was pressing straight to the Capital City, and the new Son of Heaven was too overwhelmed to settle scores.
Prefect Tang considered himself a loyal minister, wanting to remove the new emperor’s major worry. Surprisingly, even after the Pei Family Members resisted the Xiongnu Cavalry and defended Changping County Town, he sent someone to make trouble.
