Chapter 388: Standing Tall

“Selling them… would be a real shame. Let’s keep them, Yan Lao’er,” Hu Er suggested.

The rest of the crowd chimed in one after another.

At the end of the day, what man doesn’t treasure a horse? They all fantasized about the day they could mount one and gallop across the fields.

“Raising them is a lot of work. They aren’t like mules or donkeys. There’s a lot to know about how to feed a horse and when it needs to be taken out for a run,” Yan Lao’er said.

“Didn’t Platoon Commander Xue say he’d send someone to teach us? Yan Lao’er, we’ll definitely listen carefully.”

“That’s right, Yan Lao’er, we’ll definitely study hard.”

…

Since everyone’s opinion was so unified, Yan Lao’er had nothing more to say.

“Then we’ll keep them. There’s one more thing. When I went to Guiyuan to buy bamboo last time, I ordered a batch of grain. The date is coming up. I have to head back to Crouching Tiger, so the village should find a few people to go with my daughter. She knows the way. Go and transport the grain back.”

Village Chief Luo spoke up immediately: “Don’t you worry, leave this to us. I guarantee there won’t be any mistakes.”

He put on a stern face and addressed the crowd: “Since we’re all here today, let’s have a serious talk. The Scholar’s family has helped us enough. They think of us before everything else, but we can’t take this kindness for granted. We need to shoulder what needs to be shouldered. We have to make our own way in life! The Scholar’s family members are all going to take the Imperial Examination. We can’t have them worrying about our affairs every single day. From now on, learn to stand on your own two feet.

You can’t make up your own minds on anything. Even when it comes to killing Northern Rong, you have to let Xiao Er lead the charge. You’re not even as good as the younger generation of boys. Look at yourselves! That Platoon Commander Xue fooled you with just a few nice words. You didn’t even stop to consider if you’re cut out for it. Why do you think Yan Lao’er had you pick the strongest from each group before? To pick from those again? That’s going to the Border Army, to fight the Northern Rong face to face. When you meet on the battlefield, one of you has to die. What were you thinking? Weren’t you quite clearheaded at the start?

It’s not that I’m stopping you from moving up in the world. If someone from our village becomes an official, it’s an honor for us all. But look at yourselves. You’ve practiced your courage a bit, but what about your brains? I and the other old bones don’t object to you going to train, but regarding the Border Army matter, you must be cautious. It’s not about restricting you, it’s just, well, don’t just believe whatever people tell you. Use your heads and think it through more, alright? Turn it over in your minds until you understand it completely… As for the grain purchase Yan Lao’er mentioned, I see the young lads in each of your families are doing well. Let Xiao Er take a few of them, and then some of you follow along…”

The group of men, their faces flushed with shame, looked up with expressions full of bewilderment.

“It’s settled then!” Village Chief Luo said in a heavy tone.

…

“The Village Elders really have keen eyes!” Yan Yu clapped her hands and whispered to her parents: “Platoon Commander Xue even asked me if I caught the excitement when the Consort of the Heir Apparent’s wedding boat passed by. I was so nervous at that moment.”

“What did you say?” Yan Lao’er also became slightly tense.

“I was vague about it, of course. I didn’t give a straight answer.” Yan Yu furrowed her small brows: “I’m being very careful when I talk to him now. This Platoon Commander Xue isn’t just good at smooth-talking, his mind is sharp and his reactions are fast. I even suspect he might know something. Whenever I think about that day, I see potential risks everywhere.”

Li Xuemei comforted her: “Don’t scare yourself. It was probably just a casual question. The Heir Apparent’s grand wedding is a massive event in Guanzhou. Plenty of people are talking about it… Platoon Commander Xue is with the Crouching Tiger Border Army; he can’t reach as far as the Prefectural City.”

Yan Yu nodded slightly, feeling somewhat reassured.

It was true.

Platoon Commander Xue was overwhelmed with his own troubles. As soon as he heard the village wanted to keep all the horses, he left without another word.

“Dad, are you leaving tomorrow morning?”

Yan Lao’er said: “Yes, your Eldest Uncle instructed me before he left. Once things are finished here, I’m to go back and… study.”

He hoped his teacher remembered their agreement and would definitely help cover for him!

Li Xuemei pulled out a bundle. “Inside are shoes made for Magistrate Tian. Your Eldest Brother originally wanted Daya to do it, but I had Granny Rong take over the task.”

Granny Rong’s hands were faster. If Daya had done it, they would have had to wait a few more days. She knew this was for the apprenticeship and wanted to be quick so as not to cause a delay.

Yan Lao’er opened it and looked. “They’re padded with cotton?”

Li Xuemei said as if it were obvious: “The weather is turning cold. Of course they have to be cotton-padded.” She then pulled out the cotton gloves from underneath. “And these. Didn’t you say the Government Office is cold? These are thin cotton with exposed fingers, so they won’t interfere with writing.”

…

When Yan Huaiwen saw the cotton shoes and gloves, his pupils contracted slightly.

Yan Lao’er gave a cheeky grin and showily brought out an identical set he had prepared for his brother.

“Eldest Brother, you have a set too. Just try the shoes on for size. Put them aside for now and wear them when it gets colder.”

Yan Huaiwen first tried the gloves, moving his fingers, then tried the shoes. They fit perfectly.

He nodded and put them away together.

An apprenticeship gift didn’t necessarily require shoes. This was something he had added, and he believed Magistrate Tian would understand the meaning upon seeing them.

Clothing and footwear sewn by the female members of a family and offered to an elder carried the intent of filial respect. Being for the feet, they also signified the intent to follow.

To observe his actions, listen to his words, learn his character, and inherit his ambitions…

“Once the Gufeng City Guard delivers the Northern Rong corpses tomorrow, I will return to Gufeng with them.” Yan Huaiwen pondered for a moment and patted his brother’s shoulder. “The affairs in the city have been straightened out. Magistrate Tian will be inspecting the various townships and villages over the next few days. You will attend at his side. Persuade the Magistrate more to prioritize his health.”

…

Yan Lao’er soon understood what his brother’s words meant that day.

On the second day after Yan Huaiwen left for Gufeng, Magistrate Tian, his teacher, took him along to travel through the various villages within the jurisdiction.

Along the way, the sights were heart-wrenching!

He had been to every one of these villages before. In just a short time, the world had been turned upside down.

The faces that had once overflowed with happiness because of the harvest had become miserable and bitter, as if an invisible, heavy weight was pressing down on their bodies and hearts, making it hard to breathe and leaving them on the verge of collapse.

In contrast, Xiao’an Village was like a pure land, not shrouded by this gloom, still living under the sun.

Magistrate Tian felt unwell several times, yet he gritted his teeth and endured.

Facing the blood-weeping cries of the people, Magistrate Tian appeared very calm and composed in public. Only when no one was around would he knit his brows tightly. He would wake up in the middle of the night and be unable to sleep again, sitting in silence until dawn.

His hair was falling out, and his mouth was plagued by sores…

Yan Lao’er felt he was taking meticulous care of him, but he still couldn’t keep up with the speed at which his teacher was wasting away his own body.

Finally, they finished touring all the townships.

His daughter had led the people back from Guiyuan with the grain and came to see him riding her donkey.

Yan Yu thought that although she had seen the Magistrate before, this meeting was different. It was technically the first time meeting her Grand-Teacher.

She brought a deer leg with her.

Speaking of this deer leg, one had to mention the people of Xiao’an Village, who had been entering the mountains more frequently after getting their Bamboo Crossbows back.

With weapons in hand, things were indeed different. They dared to go deeper into the mountains. Although Platoon Commander Xue hadn’t returned to Xiao’an Village, he had sent his subordinates over.

Despite their injuries, those men didn’t hesitate at all when it came to navigating the woods. Not only did they lead the villagers in hunting deer, but they also carried back several wolves…

(End of Chapter)