Chapter 314: Marriage Alliance
Pei Feng stared in shock with wide eyes, as if meeting Pei Xuan for the first time.
Pei Xuan looked back with a smiling gaze: “What’s wrong? Don’t you recognize me anymore?”
Pei Feng’s lips moved, wanting to say something but not knowing where to start.
“You’re good at everything, just a bit stubborn.” Pei Xuan continued to lecture in the tone of an elder sister: “This is already much better than a blind marriage. Most women in the world only see what their husband looks like after the wedding veil is lifted upon marriage.”
“Now I’ve not only met Lu Erlang, but with the engagement, I can delay the marriage for a few more years. Even if Lu Erlang has any bad habits, I have plenty of time to train him.”
“Isn’t this good?”
This was simply too good!
Pei Feng let out a deep breath and said in a low voice: “You’re right, my heart was too narrow.”
Pei Xuan smilingly rubbed Pei Feng’s forehead, which was red from being knocked: “You’re just feeling sorry for me. As your sister, I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.”
Pei Feng pursed his lips: “I worried for nothing. You have more wits than a sieve and are fiercer in battle than me. How could you come out at a loss.”
The brother and sister had grown up together, inseparable, closer than blood siblings. Arguments, quarrels, falling out, and even coming to blows were common. They made up in just a short moment.
Pei Feng still felt a bit awkward inside, but when they went to welcome Lu Erlang in the evening, he finally managed a smile.
Lu Erlang didn’t notice at all.
Pei Xuan smiled so sweetly and beautifully that his eyes couldn’t move away from her. How could he notice Pei Feng’s attitude.
That evening, Pei Qinghe specially held a banquet for Lu Erlang to welcome him and wash away the dust of travel.
Lu Feng had made his attitude clear in the letter, sending Lu Erlang to the Pei Clan as a son-in-law, and the Pei Clan’s choice of person was up to Pei Qinghe.
Just as Pei Xuan said, behind Lu Erlang was the Fanyang Army, plus five hundred cavalry and warhorses as dowry. They couldn’t just pick someone casually.
Pei Xuan actively stated her position and took on the heavy responsibility of the marriage alliance. Pei Qinghe, gratified, specially called Pei Xuan over after the banquet.
“Pei Xuan, this is your lifelong affair, not child’s play. You must think it through clearly.” Pei Qinghe said warmly: “If you haven’t taken a liking to Lu Erlang, no need to force it.”
Pei Xuan raised her eyebrow with a smile: “Second Brother Lu has horses and soldiers, and has me in his eyes. That’s very good.”
Pei Qinghe laughed in spite of herself: “Have you really thought it through?”
Pei Xuan restrained her smile and nodded solemnly: “I’ve thought it through. I’m still young. With the engagement set, we’ll marry after I turn eighteen. There are still a few years, enough time for Second Brother Lu to grow and transform.”
Pei Qinghe was amused again and smilingly pinched Pei Xuan’s fair and tender cheek: “As long as you’ve thought it through. The engagement doesn’t need to be rushed. We can handle it after returning to Pei Family Village.”
Pei Xuan, the clever one, rolled her eyes and chuckled softly: “Elder and younger in order. Let Second Sister-in-law get engaged first, then it won’t be late for me.”
Pei Yun and the others had already left, but Mao Hongling delayed her departure, visiting Meng Bing more and more frequently. Little Yu’er and Little Doggy still followed along from time to time.
Everyone wasn’t blind and could all see the signs.
Pei Qinghe glanced over with a smile: “As long as you know in your heart, don’t go blabbing everywhere.”
Pei Xuan grinned and nodded repeatedly.
……
On the first night in Liaoxi City, Lu Erlang spent it in a hazy sweet dream. The next day at the fifth watch, he was startled awake by the military drum. Lu Erlang wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth with his hand, got up quickly, then went to each military tent to urge: “Get up quickly, time for training.”
Lu Feng had repeatedly instructed that upon arriving at the Pei Family Army, they must follow the Pei Family Army’s rules and get up early every day for training. Along the way, Lu Erlang had also sternly warned and reminded all the soldiers.
The soldiers yawned while dressing and grumbled: “Up so early!”
“It’s not really going to be training all day, is it!”
When the five hundred soldiers lined up at the training ground, it was exactly when the third military drum sounded, not a moment late.
However, the training ground was already packed with people, all lined up neatly and full of spirit.
Lu Erlang instinctively turned his head to look. At a glance, he saw several listless soldiers yawning nonstop, both embarrassing and infuriating. He glared fiercely at them. Those soldiers all lowered their heads.
Pei Qinghe appeared on the six-chi-high drill platform.
The crowd of soldiers, who had been slightly restless, immediately quieted down.
Pei Qinghe said little, announcing the start of training as usual.
The first item of training was running.
Each company had a hundred men. The vacancies from deaths or severe injuries in battle had been filled one after another. For leaders who died in battle, Pei Qinghe had promoted a batch of new leaders from veteran soldiers in these two months.
Running was the most common training item for soldiers. The Fanyang Army used to run every three to five days, two or three li each time.
Today they ran a full eight li. The soldiers were all panting and out of breath, with some even falling behind one after another. Yet no one dared complain. Because General Pei was also running.
Which general trained alongside the big soldiers?
If the general can run, you as a big soldier can’t?
What right do you have to draw military pay?
After running, they lined up to eat breakfast. General Pei was also in line. Lu Erlang silently went to line up too.
Coincidentally, right behind Pei Xuan.
The Pei Family Army’s meals were famously good. The hungry soldiers smelled the aroma of steamed buns, and their eyes lit up.
Not only were there hot steaming buns, but more surprisingly, the vegetable soup had oil slicks and occasionally even bits of meat.
“Is your daily meal always this good?” The soldiers ate noisily. Lu Erlang was a bit more reserved and elegant, asking Pei Xuan while eating.
Pei Xuan was small but had a big appetite, taking two steamed buns the size of an adult man’s fist. She smiled and replied: “This is the usual meal, with meat once every three days. Everyone looks forward to the end-of-month martial arts competition, where the top three get to eat meat for three meals straight.”
Lu Erlang couldn’t help glancing at General Pei not far away and asked in a lowered voice: “Does the general eat with everyone every day?”
Pei Xuan nodded as if it were a matter of course.
Lu Erlang’s mood was complicated.
It wasn’t like this in the Fanyang Army. Ordinary soldiers ate the worst food and often went hungry. Leaders could have their own private meals. His own father, General Lu, had meat every meal. As the general’s beloved son, he ate especially well too. The steamed buns and vegetable soup before him were really nothing special to him.
Was this the gap between the Fanyang Army and the Pei Family Army?
Of course, it was far more than that.
After filling their stomachs, the formal training of the day began. Sabers, spears, clubs, and staffs; horse riding and archery; troop formation confrontations; troop formation transformation drills.
Lu Erlang watched dazzled and dumbfounded.
The five leaders under him were equally stunned.
What were they to do?
How were they to train?
This was completely different from their previous perfunctory training!!!
The perceptive Pei Xuan came over with a beaming smile: “Second Brother Lu, you’re new here and not yet familiar with the Pei Family Army’s methods. How about I lead some people to train with you?”
