Chapter 65: Making Dumplings
In the afternoon, husband and wife took the kneading board inside the bedroom and Xue Dongting made dumpling skins while humming little tunes, while Song Yuming studied the crossbow the man in black had dropped on the ground.
Xue Dongting looked up and glimpsed him absorbed in concentration, and she asked off the top of her head, “What’s so interesting about a crossbow?”
The imperial court has regulations. Men of the jianghu can carry a sabre, but they absolutely are forbidden from using personal crossbows. I’m thinking about where this crossbow came from.”
“Doesn’t seem strange that that man in black could get a crossbow since he was sent by the emperor to kill you.”
“No, this crossbow is crude as hell, and of the oldest style. Anyone using a crossbow like this in the army would not be of very high rank. If His Majesty were going to bestow a crossbow on someone, it would certainly not be this one.”
Xue Dongting cocked her head to the side, thinking. “Then maybe the man in black stole it from a military camp?”
Song Yuming shook his head as if he weren’t sure. “If a crossbow could just be taken like that then the military camp’s security is much too lax. If an enemy made a surprise attack, then the camp would likely be routed in one fell swoop.” His brows were slightly knit, clearly somewhat apprehensive.
Something clicked in Xue Dongting’s mind. She didn’t say anything, but she knew that even though His Highness, Prince Yu, whose great accomplishments for the imperial court overshadowed his ruler, even though he had retired to live in seclusion, there were many things in his heart he was not able to let go of. He might not want the Dragon Throne, but when it came to the lives of the 300,000 cavalry and soldiers and the common people, he could not just brush that aside. Now the emperor was in poor health and the crown prince had taken his woman and was scheming behind the scenes, could Song Yuming really set all that aside and keep to himself out here?
“Why are you staring off into space?”
She snapped out of it and smiled. “No reason, I was just thinking about what Mama Qiao and Yuansheng were eating tonight.”
“Must have scared that girl, Yuansheng, the other day,” Song Yuming said with a wry smile. “I must go back and explain things to Mama Qiao. On the third day I’ll take you back to Cloudgem Lodge. I wonder how bad Yuansheng will scold me!”
“You know how my Mama is, if you bully me you’re just asking for it. And when the time comes, I’m not saying a word in your defense!”
At Cloudgem Lodge, Mama Qiao and Yuansheng were also making dumplings. Yuansheng was complaining as she wrapped them, “Mama Qiao, I don’t like dumplings.”
“Then go make what you like to eat yourself.”
Yuansheng, who couldn’t even make congee, stuck her tongue out and took another dumpling skin and continued wrapping.
Mama Qiao looked at the dumpling filling and became lost in thought.
“What is it, Mama Qiao?”
“I wonder what your Big Sister and Second Sister are eating tonight.”
“Big Sis is eating well for sure. As for Second Sis… That Song Yuming is really bad, he’s always yelling. I hate him the most!”
Mama Qiao made like she was going to slap her and Yuansheng sprang up from the stool and backed away. She said in her defense, “That’s how he is though! That guy is so weird, he made Second Sis cry too.”
“Knowing your Second Sister’s temper, they just need some time to get used to each other. It’s normal for spouses to fight, you’re just taking it too hard!”
Yuansheng muttered indignantly, “It’s obvious that Song Yuming is bad, saying my Second Sis isn’t Xue Dongting and this and that!”
Mama Qiao frowned. “That’s your brother-in-law, who said you could call him Song Yuming?” Yet she had some misgivings of her own. She wondered what misunderstanding had occurred between the couple.
Yuansheng stuck out her tongue and giggled. “Mama Qiao, if I get married in the future, I want to marry the gentlest, most affectionate man who wil treat me the best.”
“So shameless! Girl like you always jumping up and down like that would just scare off a gentle, refined man. Who’d want to marry you?”
Yuansheng pulled on Mama Qiao’s arm, not letting her get away with that.
Mama Qiao chuckled to herself, and said meaningfully, “Didn’t you say you wanted to stay with me forever and never get married? So much has changed in just a few days! Sure enough, a grown girl cannot be kept at home for long.”
Yuansheng blushed. “I just said what kind of man I wanted if I get married, not that I definitely was going to.”
“Fine, don’t get married. Become an old maid, I’ll still take care of you.”
Yuansheng pouted, stressing, “I won’t make you do that. I can play the zither and sing to make money.”
Mama Qiao looked at this foolish girl and let out a faint sigh. “Of you three, your Big Sister and Second Sister flaunted themselves the most because you were still too little, so I didn’t let you perform often, plus so in the future you could marry into a good family. You’re good, why would you want to go out and perform to earn money? Are you money hungry?”
Yuansheng giggled, then changed the subject. “Mama Qiao, it’s New Years, you should make a wish.”
Mama Qiao looked at the masterpiece paper cutouts pasted crookedly on the windows and she said with worry, “This year, I don’t have any requests. You’re not young anymore, I just hope I can find someone to marry you, you peevish girl.”
Yuansheng was startled. “But I’m not read yet!”
“Your Big Sister and Second Sister got married quickly, didn’t they? That thing called destiny waits for no one. It will come when the time comes.”
Yuansheng lowered her head in thought. “Mama Qiao, I don’t want to become a concubine like Big Sis,m and I also don’t want someone like Song Yuming, so mean and without a bit of gentleness to him… I want… I want…” The girl blushed and she couldn’t finish her sentence.
Mama Qiao smiled. “What kind of man do you want to marry?”
The girl bit her delicate lip and mustered her courage. “I want to marry a scholar, an elegant gentleman, one who is gentle and tender like jade.”
Mama Qiao laughed. “You! Girls are always fond of gentlemen, but actually how many elegant gentlemen are there in the world? I think your Second Sister’s husband is quite nice. If you can marry someone like that it will be your good fortune.”
Yuansheng paled with fright and quickly shook her head. “No way, no way!”
“Oh? Just what did your brother-in-law do to offend you?”
“I thought he was good at first, a big, strong, proper man, but that day I met him I found out he had a really bad temper. He’s always so mean to people. I don’t like him one bit.”
“You don’t even know when a man is being gentle!”
“Mm? When was he ever gentle? I never noticed!”
“He’s very gentle to your Second Sister, trust me. I’ve seen a lot of people, I wouldn’t misjudge someone. That Song Yuming has seen and been through a lot. It’s wonderful that your Second Sister could marry him.”
“Oh!” Yuansheng said, but she didn’t take it to heart. A girl like her just beginning to blossom is imbued with the idea of marrying a handsome, dashing gentleman. She wouldn’t hear her no matter what Mama Qiao said.
At the Zhang family compound by the sea, Squire Zhang learned from Lady Yu that the matron had suddenly taken an interest in and accepted Wanqing’s younger sister as a foster daughter. Lady Yu was going to say that it was improper for he to accept her as a foster daughter, seeing as she was Wanqing’s younger sister and Wanqing was Squire Zhang’s concubine. She was surprised to find that Squire Zhang didn’t mind. He thought it was nice for the matron, who lived all by herself here, to have a foster daughter to keep her company. He nodded and said, “I’ve been away for a while calling on friends and haven’t seen Wanqing in some time. What has she been doing? I’ve been back for several days, why haven’t I seen her?”
Lady Yu was a bit uncomfortable. “Wanqing has pleaded ill recently and hasn’t left her room.”
Squire Zhang was startled. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner! I’ll go see her.”