Chapter 16: Bamboo Whistle
The bamboo whistle’s sound was extremely crisp, like birdsong in the morning.
After two whistle sounds, the Pei Family old and young quickly came out; the old woman carried the toddler onto the cart, while the others formed teams.
Another whistle sound, and the formation became neat at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Pei Qinghe nodded slightly, turned to the dumbfounded Captain Sun, and said: “Captain Sun, we’re ready and can set off.”
Captain Sun’s expression was somewhat complicated: “Sixth Sister Pei, this bamboo whistle…”
Pei Qinghe explained unhurriedly: “The elders are hard of hearing; shouting until one’s throat is hoarse, they still can’t hear. The cousin brothers and sisters are young and mischievous, loving to run around everywhere. I use the bamboo whistle to remind them.”
The reason was very sufficient.
Not excessive at all.
Captain Sun nodded to show understanding, mounted his horse, cracked a loud horse whip, and shouted to set off immediately.
The Big Soldiers mounted their horses one after another, leading the way ahead. Several Eastern Palace Guards rode alongside, proceeding unhurriedly.
After the whistle sounded, the Pei Family old and young stepped forward.
After half a month, the formation already had some shape, and today they were especially spirited and neat.
After walking for an hour, Pei Qinghe blew the bamboo whistle, signaling everyone to stop, drink water, and rest.
Captain Sun glanced at Guard Gao.
Guard Gao coughed and said: “The Pei Family Members are honest and obedient, which saves Captain Sun the trouble.”
This was not wrong.
Captain Sun was not doing the escort officer job for the first time. In the past, it was a proper tough errand; every day filled with scolding and cursing, whipping, driving a bunch of crying people forward. From time to time, carrying a corpse to throw by the roadside—very unlucky.
This escort of the Pei Family Members filled his pockets; good food and drink all the way. The Pei Family old and young were silent and quiet, traveling thirty li each day. At this speed, they could reach Youzhou in two months. He, as the escort officer, could also finish the errand early and return to the barracks.
Fine then, let Sixth Sister Pei do as she pleases.
Captain Sun picked up the water pouch, gulped down a big mouthful, then remarked: “Why is this water warm?”
The square-faced Big Soldier stretched his neck and answered: “Sixth Sister said drinking raw water is bad. Boil it and let it cool before drinking, so it’s less likely to get sick.”
“When steaming buns by the fire at midnight, they also boil a dozen pots of hot water. Everyone gets hot water to drink.”
Finally, the square-faced Big Soldier added: “Sixth Sister thinks of everything!”
Captain Sun twitched his mouth: “Sixth Sister is so good, why did you even become a soldier? When you get to Youzhou, just stay and become the Pei Family’s live-in son-in-law—that’d be great.”
The square-faced Big Soldier, lacking wits and muscles in his head, didn’t hear the sarcasm at all and actually considered it seriously: “That’s actually a good idea.”
Captain Sun angrily kicked at him.
The square-faced Big Soldier chuckled and dodged, calling a few other Big Soldiers to catch wild chickens. The Pei Family had a madam whose culinary skills were especially good; her stewed wild chicken soup was fragrant. He had eaten it once and couldn’t forget it.
Pei Qinghe, with nothing to do, turned and called: “Cousin Sister Yun, Cousin Sister Yan, let’s go walk around that woods over there.” To loosen muscles and bones, and incidentally find some food.
Pei Yun and Pei Yan nodded with smiles.
Pei Xuan and Pei Feng, the two loyal little followers, immediately followed: “Cousin Sister Qinghe, we’ll go too.”
A flash of amusement in Pei Qinghe’s eyes; she reached out and pinched Pei Xuan’s round and cute little face: “Good.”
Pei Feng silently stepped forward, squeezed Pei Xuan aside, and brought his handsome little face close. Pei Qinghe laughed in spite of herself and also pinched her cousin brother’s little face: “Let’s go!”
Only then did Pei Feng grin.
Pei Xuan rolled her eyes.
This Pei Feng looked honest, but actually had plenty of wits; he loved competing with her, vying for Cousin Sister Qinghe’s attention and affection.
Pei Feng also stuck his tongue out at Pei Xuan.
He was Cousin Sister Qinghe’s consanguineous cousin brother; Pei Xuan was from a different branch. In terms of blood ties, she couldn’t compare to him.
Pei Xuan’s mother was a brothel woman in her youth; after being redeemed by Pei Xuan’s father, she entered the Pei Family as a concubine and died in difficult childbirth giving birth to Pei Xuan. Pei Xuan had no mother since childhood, and the principal wife didn’t like her either.
Who knew why Cousin Sister Qinghe would choose Pei Xuan as the leader of team seven, and treat her with such intimacy and fondness.
Pei Qinghe saw the two little radishes’ winking and grimacing, secretly amused but said nothing.
The woods were near the official road; a few hundred meters in, they entered the forest. Pei Qinghe took out the dagger, chopped a tree branch as thick as a small arm, quickly sharpened a tip, and handed it to Pei Yun: “Make do with this.”
Pei Yun acknowledged, took the crude wooden spear, flicked her wrist, and shook out a few spear flowers.
Pei Yan’s eyes lit up: “Cousin Sister, I want one too.”
Pei Qinghe smilingly assented, raised the dagger and brought it down; another tree branch fell.
Pei Xuan and Pei Feng were still young, so the branches were specially chosen thinner.
Pei Qinghe had a dagger in hand—though small, it was a real sharp weapon. She led the way ahead and soon spotted a nest of wild rabbits.
Pei Qinghe turned back and made a hand gesture.
Pei Yun and the others nodded and tactfully spread out.
Pei Qinghe flashed forward, light as a swallow and swift as an arrow, actually catching two alive. The other rabbits fled in panic; Pei Yun and Pei Yan each grabbed one.
Pei Xuan was not very old, but exceptionally fierce in action, directly stabbing one to death. The wild rabbit was impaled on the wooden spike, bloody.
Pei Feng was a step slow and caught none; already depressed, seeing Pei Xuan’s smug look, he was so angry he nearly cried.
Pei Qinghe held back her laughter and stuffed one of the rabbits in her hand into Pei Feng’s arms. Pei Feng clumsily hugged it, then grinned.
That night, white steamed buns were filling; fragrant wild chicken soup, one bowl per person. The few wild rabbits stewed over high fire, a small piece per person.
The delicious food soothed everyone’s hardships and pains from the journey.
The next day, after three bamboo whistle sounds, the Pei Family Members set off again.
Three whistle sounds to assemble, two to set off, one long whistle to stop. Short whistle to urge speeding up, long whistle to signal slowing down.
Pei Qinghe frequently blew the bamboo whistle to adjust and control the speed and rhythm of the march.
Of course, there were some small episodes. For instance, at one whistle from the bamboo whistle, Little Doggy had to pee, often wetting Madam Feng’s clothes.
Another example: Pei Feng, unwilling for his team to fall behind Pei Xuan’s, would menacingly beat anyone who didn’t obey the whistle commands and ran around.
Pei Yue was beaten the most, crying and complaining to Cousin Sister Qinghe: “Cousin Sister, Cousin Brother hit me.”
Pei Feng kept a stern little face and angrily said: “The whistle said to stop, but you ran around—who to hit if not you.”
Pei Yue was extremely aggrieved: “I don’t understand.”
Pei Feng was even angrier: “There are only these few whistle sounds—how don’t you understand? So stupid! Stupider than a pig!”
Pei Yue cried even louder: “Cousin Brother called me a pig.”
Pei Qinghe unhesitatingly sided with Pei Feng, upholding the captain’s authority: “It’s been days now; still can’t understand a few simple whistle sounds—indeed quite stupid.”
Pei Yue opened his throat to wail loudly; Pei Qinghe shot him a cool look: “No crying allowed.”
Pei Yue hiccuped, swallowing his crying.
……
Vote and leave comments a lot~ New book period needs everyone’s care and pity~(@^_^@)~
