Chapter 196 – Seeing Tongluo Plain
Yan Xiaosi knew that Ms. Wang had been looking for a wife for Tian Dazhuang, causing him much anxiety.
“Brother Dazhuang, you look so worried. Did Aunt Tian find you an incredibly ugly wife? Ah, Aunt Tian is really digging a hole for you.”
“It’s not that she’s incredibly ugly, but incredibly beautiful.”
With such an answer from Tian Dazhuang, Yan Xiaosi was confused.
“If she’s incredibly beautiful, Brother Dazhuang, why are you still so worried? Don’t men usually like beautiful women? Or do you have different tastes, wanting an unpleasant wife instead?”
Tian Dazhuang sighed deeply.
“Xiaosi, my mother wants me to marry Yan Shujing from the Yan family.”
Thud!
Yan Shuqin’s hand slipped, and the cabbage she was holding fell into the stream.
Seeing the cabbage float away, Yan Xiaosi quickly reached out to retrieve it. When he looked up, he noticed Yan Shuqin’s eyes were slightly red.
It seemed that her elder sister’s feelings for Tian Dazhuang had grown stronger, and she was heartbroken to hear that Ms. Wang was arranging a marriage for him.
“Elder sister, you go back to the cave and help mother and the second sister. I’ll finish washing these cabbages.”
“Brother Dazhuang, could you please help Xiaosi?”
Yan Shuqin, afraid of hearing more heart-wrenching news, shook the water off her hands and walked somewhat awkwardly towards the cave.
Tian Dazhuang, unaware of her emotional turmoil, continued to discuss his dilemma with Yan Xiaosi.
“Xiaosi, you’re smart. Please help me think of something.”
Yan Xiaosi gave him a serious look. “Yan Shujing is the eldest daughter of the Yan family. She’s good-looking and somewhat talented. Her dowry from the Yan family won’t be small. Marrying her is like marrying a wealthy beauty, which would turn your life around. Brother Dazhuang, are you really not tempted?”
Tian Dazhuang looked at Yan Xiaosi and shook his head without hesitation.
“I just don’t want to marry Yan Shujing. I was born poor; why should I try to attach myself to the wealthy Yan family?”
His words, spoken with such integrity, resonated with Yan Xiaosi.
“Brother Dazhuang, I’ll help you.”
Yan Xiaosi was well aware of what kind of family the Yan’s were and what kind of person Yan Shujing was. Something must have happened for the Yan family to turn to Tian Dazhuang. Otherwise, why would they let their well-cultivated eldest daughter marry a poor fellow like him?
Seeing a glimmer of hope, Tian Dazhuang’s eyes brightened as he looked at Yan Xiaosi.
“Xiaosi, my mother has already agreed to the Yan family. Do you have any way to get me out of this marriage?”
Yan Xiaosi gestured for him to come closer. “Brother Dazhuang, lean in, I’ll tell you.”
Tian Dazhuang leaned in to listen.
Yan Xiaosi whispered in his ear for a while, then straightened up and smiled mischievously.
“Brother Dazhuang, did you get all that?”
After hearing the plan, Tian Dazhuang wasn’t sure how to react. Such a sneaky idea could only come from Xiaosi.
“Xiaosi, aren’t we being a bit too unscrupulous with this plan?”
Yan Xiaosi rolled his eyes at him.
After discussing their plan, the two finished washing the cabbages and brought them back to the cave.
Ms. Zhong and others were still preparing the pig skin. Yan Xiaosi, unable to assist much, suggested they go into the mountains, “Brother Dazhuang, let’s go for a walk in the mountains. You can catch rabbits, and I’ll gather herbs.”
Yan Xiaosi had previously planted some heshouwu (Chinese knotweed) in her portable space, which had shown significant growth. She thought of digging up a few more medicinal herbs to plant there.
After notifying Ms. Zhong, they headed towards the top of Big Sister Peak. Approaching the peak, a plump wild goat leapt out from the bushes.
Tian Dazhuang, used to hunting smaller animals like pheasants, rabbits, foxes, and bamboo rats on Big Sister Peak, rarely saw such a big animal. He regretted not bringing his bow and arrow.
Just then, Yan Xiaosi picked up a stone the size of a bun and threw it at the goat with incredible speed, striking it down.
Tian Dazhuang was astonished. “Xiaosi, how did you do that?”
Yan Xiaosi patted her hands and said with a grin, “We were lucky to encounter such a plump wild goat. I couldn’t let it escape, so I threw a stone to wound it. I didn’t expect to actually succeed. Brother Dazhuang, let’s go check it out.”
The two approached and tied up the injured goat.
“Brother Dazhuang, how about we have roasted whole goat tonight?”
Tian Dazhuang swallowed hard. “Great, I’ll clean the goat.”
Yan Xiaosi only found a few sanqi plants as they continued towards the peak. Before reaching the top, they heard faint sounds of soldiers training.
Yan Xiaosi remembered that the imperial army of 50,000 soldiers was currently stationed at Tongluo Plain, at the base of Big Sister Peak.
“Brother Dazhuang, can you hear the soldiers training?”
Tian Dazhuang nodded. “Yes, I heard that the imperial army is stationed at Tongluo Plain below. Those barbarians won’t dare to cross the Yunluo River and invade our Great Chu territory now.”
“Brother Dazhuang, let’s climb to the peak. From there, we should be able to see the impressive army.”
Yan Xiaosi had promised General Zhan to work as a military doctor once her house was built and her family was settled. Going to the peak now would be a good opportunity to familiarize herself with the military camp.
