Chapter 97: Old Li Family’s Wife
In the twenty-first year of Tianxi of Great Liao, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, Mid-Autumn Festival.
Heavy rain fell from the sky, dark clouds obscuring the moon.
For the Han people of Hexi Fort and even the entire Jin Prefecture, this Mid-Autumn Festival was destined to be bland and joyless.
What should have been a festival for the whole family to reunite and enjoy the moon together was turned by the advent of war into experiences of life-and-death separations for numerous families.
Countless Han people gazed at the torrential rain outside the door, worry and sadness appearing on their faces.
They worried whether their relatives far away on the Naiman battlefield were safe, and whether they had even a tent to shelter in amid the downpour.
When the army was still in Jin Prefecture before, they could occasionally get some war news, knowing their relatives were safe.
But once the Northern Frontier Army crossed Golden Mountain and entered Naiman territory, contact between Jin Prefecture and the Northern Frontier Army was almost completely cut off.
It took a long time for one or two messengers to return, though they all spoke of Northern Frontier Army victories, defeating so many Naiman enemies.
But the extent of their own losses was completely unknown, and there was no definite word on when the army would return.
This kind of waiting without knowing the outcome always made people anxious.
At Li Xiao’s home, a torch was stuck in the wall, burning silently.
The orange-red firelight illuminated the dim and shabby room, but the atmosphere inside was somewhat oppressive.
On this day of family reunion, there were fewer people than usual at the Li Family’s dinner table.
A large table was placed in the middle of the room, with the Old Master and Old Lady sitting at the head.
On the left side were Qin Dani, San Bao, and San Feng.
On the right side sat Li Erjiang and Second Aunt.
As for Er Bao, Er Feng, and Si Feng, the three children sat directly opposite the Old Master.
As the Northern Frontier Army crossed Golden Mountain and successive victory reports came in, the situation in Jin Prefecture had temporarily stabilized.
So the Old Master ordered people to bring back all the children from Dragon Heart Island.
At least to let each family have a festival with some liveliness.
“Alright, stop standing around, let’s eat.”
Seeing everyone somewhat silent, the Old Master first picked up his chopsticks and said in a flat tone.
He picked up a dumpling from his bowl and stuffed it into his mouth.
The others also picked up their chopsticks and began eating, though the atmosphere remained oppressive.
As they ate, Qin Dani unconsciously wiped away tears.
“We can eat dumplings at home, but Da Long and the other three lads, who knows where they are right now.”
“Can they eat their fill? Have they been injured?”
Thinking of these things made Qin Dani’s heart ache like a knife cutting.
Her husband and Elder Brother had already died in battle, her two sons had also gone to the battlefield, along with her father and Second Brother.
If anything really happened to these people, how could Qin Dani go on living?
As Qin Dani cried, Second Aunt across from her also began wiping tears, equally worried about Da Hu.
Immediately after, the Old Lady’s eyes also reddened.
Seeing this, Li Erjiang first glanced at the somewhat dark-faced Old Master, then said to the Old Lady and Qin Dani.
“Mother, Elder Sister-in-law, don’t cry.”
“Not long ago, there was news that we’re about to win.”
“Da Long and the others aren’t ordinary soldiers; it’s not so easy for something to happen to them.”
“Maybe by now they’ve earned great merit and will bring back a beautiful wife for you.”
“Cough cough~”
As he spoke, Li Erjiang gave a light cough.
Clearly, his previous injury hadn’t fully healed; he coughed when the weather turned rainy.
However, these days he had Second Aunt make him allicin to eat, and his condition was gradually improving.
Hearing this, Qin Dani forced a smile on her face: “I, a mere woman, don’t understand anything about merit and such.”
“I only hope they can return safely.”
The Old Lady nodded slightly beside her, clearly sharing this petty woman’s sentiment, and added: “The wife doesn’t need to be too beautiful; mainly she needs to be thrifty and good at managing the household.”
Saying this, the Old Lady looked at Qin Dani and said: “What about that girl you took a liking to at Gushan Fort last time? How about sending a matchmaker to propose?”
Then she looked at Second Aunt and said: “Second Master’s wife, Da Hu is also at the age to marry soon; as his mother, you need to pay more attention and inquire more.”
“Better to get the marriage settled as soon as possible.”
Second Aunt nodded; she was certainly concerned about her son’s affairs.
Mainly because wars in the Northern Frontier were too frequent; besides large-scale wars, tribes and fortresses often clashed over interests.
Men’s mortality rate was very high.
They also wanted to get their children married off quickly, so if something unexpected happened later, at least there would be descendants.
“Grandma, Mom, I think you shouldn’t worry blindly about Elder Brother; better to focus on Second Brother and Third Brother.”
“Elder Brother already has someone.”
Just as the Old Lady finished speaking, San Bao hugged his big bowl, stuffing dumplings into his mouth while mumbling.
Though his words were mumbled, the Old Lady and the others heard clearly.
“San Bao? What do you mean? What do you mean Elder Brother already has someone?” the Old Lady asked puzzled.
Meanwhile, Qin Dani beside her seemed to understand, glaring at San Bao and saying: “Are you talking about that widow from Hou Village?”
“No, no~” she shook her head vigorously.
“Your Elder Brother is the Li Family’s eldest son and grandson; besides, our Li Family isn’t too poor to afford a wife—how could we let your Elder Brother marry a widow?”
“That would make us a laughingstock.”
Qin Dani also knew about Li Xiao and Huang Xiuer; mainly, it was spread by people from Hou Village.
When she first learned of it, Qin Dani was furious and wanted to give the unworthy Li Xiao a beating.
So young and not yet married, yet already misbehaving.
Learning from those husbands to climb over widows’ walls? It didn’t sound good if word got out.
Although Qin Dani was now a widow herself, her children were grown, and she had no plans to remarry.
She was different from that Huang widow.
Qin Dani had seen that Huang widow many times; she walked with affected grace, looking sickly, with a seductive fox-like face.
Her previous man, even if not killed, would surely have been drained of his vital energy by the Huang widow and died.
That kind of woman clearly wasn’t good for her husband.
Qin Dani definitely didn’t want Li Xiao to marry such a woman.
But San Bao hurriedly shook his head and said: “Mom, it’s not the Huang widow; it’s another one.”
“What other widow?” Qin Dani’s voice rose twofold, eyes wide as she asked.
“Not a widow, it’s a, it’s that~” San Bao thought, not knowing how to say it.
Er Bao beside him supplemented: “It’s the Wei Family’s girl from Sanhe Fort.”
“Wei Family’s girl?” Qin Dani hadn’t expected that.
“Her grandfather is the Fort Master of Sanhe Fort,” Er Bao said.
Hearing this, the Old Master reacted first: “Old Man Wei’s granddaughter?”
He and Old Man Wei had been friends for decades.
During this time, he had taken good care of Old Man Wei’s pair of grandchildren, visiting them from time to time.
So the image of Er Ya immediately flashed in his mind, a pretty girl with delicate features.
“What’s the story with that girl?” the Old Master asked flatly, his tone full of dignity.
He wouldn’t let his old friend’s granddaughter be bullied.
Seeing the Old Master’s stern face, Er Bao and San Bao instinctively shrank back.
Then Er Bao said softly: “It’s not exactly bullying her.”
“Just these days, some kids gave her a nickname, calling her ‘Old Li Family’s wife,’ ‘Fort Master wife,’ and such.”
“Don’t know who started it, but it spread anyway.”
“Yesterday, her brother caught a kid who was calling it the loudest and beat him hard, but it didn’t help; others still call it.”
Hearing Er Bao’s words, the adults at the table instantly exchanged glances; this situation was truly unknown to them.
“How did Da Long get involved with the Wei Family’s girl?” the Old Master asked gravely.
“Seems someone saw my Elder Brother talking alone with Er Ya, and even entering Er Ya’s family’s tent,” San Bao mumbled.
The Old Master immediately understood what was going on.
“That was Da Long treating the Wei Family boy’s injury.”
The Old Master knew this matter well; it was that thing Li Xiao made with garlic and wine, which cured Li Erjiang and also cured the Wei Family boy.
Clearly a major act of saving lives, but gossipy women twisted it once it spread.
“So what now?” the Old Lady asked.
Second Aunt smiled lightly: “Mother, I think the Wei Family’s girl is pretty good; pairing her with Da Long would be sufficient.”
Hearing this, Qin Dani said somewhat unwillingly: “Her looks are fine, but her hips are a bit small.”
In her mind, women with big hips were fortunate and good for their husbands.
Second Aunt said: “That’s because she hasn’t fully grown yet.”
“In a couple years, take another look~”
Listening to them, the Old Master lowered his head and silently ate his dumplings.
In his mind, he pondered Second Aunt’s words repeatedly.
If Da Long could marry the Wei Family’s girl, it would be a good thing.
He was already this age; how many more years could he look after the Wei siblings?
Their family was all dead; just the brother and sister depending on each other, bullied wherever they went.
If the girl married Da Long, others would hesitate to mess with them out of fear of the Li Family.
“It’s worth considering,” the Old Master thought to himself.
Because of Li Xiao’s marriage, this Mid-Autumn Festival reunion dinner gained a bit more lively atmosphere.
It slightly dispelled their worries about the war.
Time passed slowly; torches in each household were extinguished, and Hexi Fort quieted down.
But just after the Old Master and others had lain down to sleep, they were suddenly awakened by a burst of urgent barking.
The Old Master instantly opened his eyes and grabbed the war saber beside him.
He slowly rose and looked out the window, finding the barking growing more intense, accompanied by faint sounds of hooves splashing through mud as they galloped through the village.
“Someone has entered the village.
