Chapter 120: They’re All Good People Around Here
Just as Luo Ping’s family was eating lunch, a few villagers began to pass by not far away.
Upon seeing Li Dafeng, they all greeted her enthusiastically.
“Dafeng, are you here to bring lunch to your parents?”
Hearing this, Li Dafeng replied with a smile, “Yes, Aunt Zhang.”
“I just made a simple lunch to bring to my parents.”
The person who arrived was a woman around forty years old, whose husband’s surname was Zhang. She rode over on horseback and saw the food laid out by Luo Ping’s family on the ground.
She looked surprised and, being polite, flattered with a smile, “Oh, it smells delicious! Dafeng, your cooking is quite good.”
“Not at all, I just made it casually. It’s just ordinary food,” Dafeng smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed.
She knew her own cooking skills; she could only say they were above average, not as exaggerated as Aunt Zhang described.
If there was any difference, it was that today’s meal included a bit more meat.
After all, they had to work hard on the farm for several days in a row, and without some meat, they really couldn’t sustain it.
“Even a casual meal is this delicious. If you practiced more, it would be even more delightful,” Aunt Zhang was also a good conversationalist.
Her mouth moved incessantly, and she only spoke kind words, making Dafeng blush a little.
“Dafeng is beautiful, capable, and her cooking is so delicious.”
“Your Da Meng is truly blessed to have such a good wife like Dafeng.”
“Mine is no good; clumsy at work, all squawk and no lay, it’s such a worry.”
Hearing Aunt Zhang praise Li Dafeng, she then began to talk about her own daughter-in-law.
Li Dafeng couldn’t handle it anymore and said with a smile, “Sister-in-law Zhang, you’re great too.”
Aunt Zhang rolled her eyes and huffed, “She’s given birth to two ‘money-losers,’ what’s so great about her.”
“But Dafeng, looking at your pointed belly, this baby must be a boy.”
Upon hearing this, Luo Mu also perked up. For her now, nothing was more important than the child in Li Dafeng’s womb.
Thus, the two women began to exchange experiences on this topic.
Finally, Luo Ping couldn’t stand it any longer.
He took a large bite of the freshly baked hu bing, swallowed, and took a sip of lamb soup. He glanced sideways at these two troublesome old women and said,
“Old Zhang’s wife, weren’t you going to fetch water? If you keep chatting like this, Old Zhang and the others will be thirsty to death.”
Hearing this, Aunt Zhang immediately realized she had been delaying for too long.
She mounted her horse, carrying several large bags of water pouches, and hurried towards the riverside.
After she left, Luo Ping said to Luo Mu and Li Dafeng, “You two, listen to her nonsense less from now on.”
“This old woman’s mouth is like it’s been blessed, she can chatter more than those bald monks.”
Luo Ping shook his head, looking helpless.
Unexpectedly, Luo Mu snorted upon hearing this and said, “You find her annoying now.”
“When you were young, who was always hanging around her doorstep?”
Luo Ping’s expression became a little unnatural, and he said angrily, “I was looking for Old Zhang.”
Listening to their conversation, Li Dafeng secretly shook her head.
Don’t think the older generation is all conservative; in reality, they were more playful than the young people.
Especially in winter, when heavy snow blocked the doors, if the man of the house wasn’t around, you could expect someone to knock.
Not long after Aunt Zhang left, a few more women came to greet them, and without exception, they all showered Li Dafeng with praise and flattery.
They said she would definitely give birth to a healthy baby boy and so on.
In the past, although the Luo family was the Fort Master of Hedong Fort, they didn’t have such high status.
Now, with Li Dafeng having a younger brother who was a Deputy Governor, she felt her life was slowly changing.
There would no longer be petty gossip and trivial matters to bother her.
Everyone showed her genuine smiles.
This made Li Dafeng sigh inwardly, “Everyone around is a good person.”
Luo Ping had four sons, and Luo Meng was the eldest.
After the family finished lunch, Luo Mu called the youngest son to fetch water from the river.
Then she looked at the five slaves. Three of them had completed their tasks and were each given a hu bing for their lunch.
The remaining two women would have to go hungry.
With this lesson learned, even if just to get food, they would definitely work hard in the future.
“Dafeng, go back and rest!”
After lunch, Luo Mu urged Li Dafeng to go home.
“It’s alright, Mother, I can work. I’m not that delicate.”
Saying this, Li Dafeng, ignoring Luo Mu’s objections, picked up her sickle and went to the fields to harvest wheat.
Her movements were quite skilled, as she had practiced since childhood at her maternal home.
Luo Mu wanted to stop her but was prevented by Luo Ping, “Alright, let Dafeng stay.”
He then cautioned her, if she felt uncomfortable, not to overexert herself.
With Li Dafeng’s help, the work in the fields went a little faster.
However, not long after, a faint sound of hooves could be heard from a distance.
Luo Ping’s ears twitched, his eyes immediately sharpened, and he looked up into the distance.
Many Hedong villagers did the same, looking alert and walking towards their warhorses.
Fortunately, a shout soon came from the distance: “Da Meng and they are back.”
Hearing this, everyone gradually relaxed.
Looking at the dark shadow of cavalry in the distance, it did indeed resemble Han people.
And the most excited was Luo Mu.
She immediately put down her sickle, stood on tiptoe to look, her face full of excitement.
“Is the eldest back?”
“What about the second? Has the second returned?”
Li Dafeng also smiled, put her arm around Luo Mu, and said, “Mother, if Da Meng is back, then Er Zhu is surely with him.”
Previously, Luo Ping had brought most of the male laborers from Hedong Fort back to harvest grain.
Only a few youths were left to serve Li Xiao, including Luo Meng and his younger brother Luo Zhu.
Furthermore, Li Dafeng had learned that Luo Meng had also made contributions in this war and had already been conferred the title of Centurion.
The second son, Luo Zhu, had been conferred the title of Squad Leader.
The entire family had received rewards and were flourishing.
This made Li Dafeng very happy.
In the future, the Luo family’s days would only get better.
As the large cavalry approached, the herdsmen in the distance from Hedong Fort began to exclaim in surprise.
“It’s the Governor.”
“The Governor is coming to our Hedong Fort.”
“Governor!”
The men of Hedong Fort, looking at a figure among the distant cavalry, cheered loudly.
The Governor here was naturally not Xiao Lintta, but Li Xiao.
They had all fought alongside Li Xiao.
First, they raided Sanhe Fort, then Wuya Village, and then marched against the Naiman People.
The four forts of Hexi were considered Li Xiao’s most trusted subordinates, having followed him steadfastly from the beginning.
Similarly, these men of Hedong Fort had personally witnessed Li Xiao’s rise step by step.
From the Fort Master of Hexi Fort, he had become the powerful Jin Prefecture Deputy Governor he was today.
His prominence even overshadowed Xiao Lintta, the Jin Prefecture Governor.
In short, Li Xiao was a child of the four forts of Hexi and the pride of their Jin Prefecture Han People.
Therefore, after many days, these men of Hedong Fort, upon seeing Li Xiao again, couldn’t help but shout.
Although Xiao Lintta was the nominal Governor of Jin Prefecture, in their hearts, Li Xiao was the only Governor.
The title “Governor” only befitted Li Xiao.
Li Xiao, riding his horse, waved to these herdsmen, a smile on his face.
These people were his foundation!
Soon after, Li Xiao and his entourage stopped in front of Luo Ping’s fields.
Luo Ping had already brought people to greet them there.
“Uncle Luo, how have these past few days been?”
“I have safely returned your brother-in-law and Zhu Zi to you.”
Li Xiao dismounted and laughed heartily at Luo Ping.
Behind him stood the brothers Luo Meng and Luo Zhu.
“Father, Mother~”
The two brothers stepped forward and called out to Luo Ping and his wife.
Then, Luo Meng eagerly walked towards Li Dafeng.
He gently wrapped his arm around her waist, and his other hand rested on her belly.
His face showed excitement, as if he saw a light, his heart filled with joy.
He said with surprise, “I’ve only been gone for less than three months, and your belly has gotten so big!”
When the war broke out, Li Dafeng had just discovered she was pregnant, and Luo Ping and his son had to go to the battlefield.
Next came the endless battles of attacking the Naiman.
This continued for more than two months.
Returning now, Luo Meng felt as if a lifetime had passed. Touching her belly, he felt a strange sense of blood connection growing.
Li Xiao also came forward, looking at Li Dafeng’s belly.
He smacked his lips and said, “I’m about to become an uncle.”
This child was the first of the Li family’s next generation, and although not a Li family child, they were still connected by blood.
“Yes, Da Long, you’re about to be an uncle.”
“And the two of you, Da Hu, Er Hu, don’t hide in the back.”
“I see you.”
Li Dafeng giggled and called Da Hu and Er Hu over.
“Eldest Sister~”
“Eldest Sister!”
The two brothers stepped forward and called out with smiles.
Li Dafeng was the eldest child of their generation.
Although she was a girl, she had a boy’s temper since childhood.
When they were young, she had often beaten them, her younger brothers.
Da Hu and Er Hu were somewhat afraid of her.
“You’ve all grown up~”
“You’ve all become adults!”
Li Dafeng looked at the three younger brothers before her, feeling both happy and sad.
As she spoke, tears began to flow.
“If our father could see your achievements today, he would be overjoyed.”
Li Dafeng wiped away her tears, thinking of her father who had died a few months ago. Luo Meng quickly comforted her.
Da Hu and Er Hu also became a little somber.
Only Li Xiao sighed softly and said, “Eldest Sister, don’t cry.”
“The dead cannot be brought back to life. Our father would definitely want us all to be well.”
Li Dafeng shook her head slightly, tears flowing, and said, “I’m not sad, I’m happy.”
“Seeing you all grow up, becoming so valiant and strong, and achieving so much merit.”
“Eldest Sister is happy in her heart.”
In fact, she was heartbroken!
Although Li Xiao had become the Jin Prefecture Deputy Governor, and Da Hu and Er Hu had also become Centurions.
They looked imposing and glorious.
However, Li Dafeng keenly noticed the bloodstains remaining on their leather armor.
Although they were dry and seemed to have been washed.
But the bloodstains were too deep to be completely cleaned.
Seeing the bloodstains on their bodies, Li Dafeng couldn’t help but think of the dangers they had experienced on the battlefield.
They were only teenagers.
Without their father’s protection, they had to go to the battlefield themselves, enduring countless fights and dangers.
Only then did they achieve their current achievements and status.
Li Dafeng was happy for her three younger brothers, but more than that, she felt pity for them.
Of course, when she saw Luo Meng’s scars that evening, she would probably forget these three younger brothers and worry about her husband.
“If you’re happy, don’t cry. It’s not good for the baby,” Li Xiao stepped forward and gently wiped away her tears.
Then, he called out to Da Hu and asked him to bring something.
“Eldest Sister, look, what have I brought you.”
“This is authentic Shu brocade.”
“These were seized when we broke through the Naiman Sun Khan’s old camp.”
“Unfortunately, most of them were taken away by the Sun Khan in advance.”
“I only got ten bolts.”
“These two bolts are for you. Make a few nice outfits with them. The eldest grandson’s birth should be celebrated festively too.”
“Give another two bolts to my grandmother, two bolts to my mother, and two bolts to Second Aunt as well.”
“Divide the remaining two bolts among Er Feng and the other two girls.”
Li Xiao cheerfully handed the two bolts of Shu Brocade to Li Dafeng.
The Naiman Tribe is the overlord of the western grasslands and is quite wealthy among the tribes there.
These Shu Brocades were bought from Western Xia, specifically to be given to his consort Guerbiesu.
Although Li Xiao also received a good portion, most of it fell into Xiao Yanyan’s hands.
That woman is quite fond of beauty.
