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Cheng Mutian glared at her. "That was compiled by the famous physician Zhu Ruizhang, every sentence is precious. You're carrying my child, you have to be careful in everything you do." He then picked up a copy of Zhu Xi's *Elementary Learning* and showed it to her: "Look at this, the first chapter is 'Education for Pregnancy,' 'In ancient times, when a woman was pregnant, she would not sleep on her side, sit on the edge, or stand on tiptoe, and she would not eat any strange food. She would not eat anything that was not properly cut, nor sit on a mat that was not properly laid, nor look at anything improper, nor listen to anything inappropriate. At night, she would have a blind person recite poems about proper matters. If she did this, her child would be born with handsome features and exceptional talent…'"

He was reading with great enthusiasm, while Xiao Yuan was getting drowsy. She quickly interrupted, "I wonder if the bean sprouts I'm soaking are against any taboos?" Her words were just a joke, but Cheng Mutian jumped up and ran towards the kitchen, saying, "I have to go check." This caused all the maids and servants in the room to cover their mouths and chuckle. Xiao Yuan finally got some peace and quiet, and touched her slightly numb ears. "This is the first time I've realized that Erlang is so talkative."

The Winter Solstice had just passed, and bean sprouts had become all the rage in Lin'an. People, both acquaintances and strangers, came begging for them. Xiao Yuan, pregnant, couldn't withstand this onslaught. She hurriedly summoned Ren Wu, the head manager of the dowry shop, asking him to come up with a plan to deal with the people asking for the sprouts.

Ren Wu, a shrewd fellow, stood on the ground, his eyes darting around. The lady wasn't asking him for advice; she was clearly asking him how to make money. But making money was his specialty, so he pulled out a pre-ordered form from his pocket and handed it to Xiao Yuan, asking her to take a look first.

Xiao Yuan took a look. It turned out to be the bills for the cake shop and the cotton bag shop. Calling it a bill was a stretch; it was more like an "end-of-year summary." It not only listed gross profit, net profit, and expenses, but also clearly recorded the sales volume of various goods by month, year, and quarter. The last page even included his suggestions for next year's products—which should be increased and which should be discontinued. He spoke with great confidence and expertise.

She nodded as she read. Pointing to the "Product Suggestions" section at the end, she asked Ren Wu, "So tell me, should this bean sprout be sold or should production be stopped?"

Ren Wu laughed and said, "Madam is joking. Why stop production? Why not make money? It's just that selling bean sprouts alone is too unprofitable. Besides, it's easy to make, and anyone can learn how. Our estate on the mountain has a big business hidden inside. In a few days, when Tian Er comes down the mountain, I will come with him to talk to you about it."

Xiao Yuan knew exactly what the mountain village produced. Besides sorghum, bamboo shoots, mutton, and wild game, there was nothing else. These things had already been transported down the mountain and sold. Where could there be any big business opportunities? Her curiosity was piqued. But Ren Wu was tight-lipped. He simply wouldn't tell her beforehand. This made her anxious and frustrated at home. She took her anger out on Cheng Mutian every day.

At first, Cheng Mutian was confused, but after learning the reason, he found it amusing. That day, he suppressed his laughter and joined her in scolding Ren Wu. He touched her belly and said, "Everyone says that becoming a mother makes one more composed, but you were more composed than anyone else before you got pregnant. Now that you're pregnant, you're like a little kid..." Before he could finish speaking, he saw his wife's eyebrows rise, so he quickly changed his words and said, "Don't be angry, don't be angry. I have some good news to tell you. Do you remember when Cai Mei came to our house a few days ago to borrow a doctor?"

Xiao Yuan, being pregnant, had a somewhat poor memory. She tilted her head and thought for a while, vaguely remembering that Cai Mei had come by, but since she only wanted to borrow a doctor, she hadn't paid much attention. Cheng Mutian gently tapped her head and mocked, "You've really gotten dumber. The Zhao family has been practicing medicine for generations. Aren't you surprised that she still came to our house to borrow a doctor?" Xiao Yuan didn't think much of it: "The saying goes, a doctor cannot heal himself. What's so strange about that?"

Cheng Mutian shook his head: "Zhao Langzhong is sick, but he refuses to let anyone take his pulse. She had no choice but to come to our house to borrow someone." Xiao Yuan said indifferently: "Why tell me all this? I don't care about their affairs anymore. Whatever illness he gets is none of my business."

"Weren't you most concerned about the maids who came with you as part of your dowry? Now that she's a widow, don't you want to find her a new husband?" Cheng Mutian looked around to make sure no one was watching, then pulled her into his arms.

Xiao Yuan was moved: "Zhang Langzhong is dead? What illness did he have?" Cheng Mutian suddenly remembered that the illness of Zhang Langzhong was difficult to talk about, and immediately blushed, grabbing the "Elementary Learning" book beside him: "You're pregnant, you can't listen to pornography." Xiao Yuan was furious, grabbing the book and throwing it far away, "You're even worse than Ren Wu." Suddenly seeing Cheng Mutian's embarrassed look, she immediately understood, leaning close to his ear: "Could it be a venereal disease? The head of the brothel he took in came from a brothel, it's not surprising that she had that kind of disease, but even though that disease is serious, it shouldn't be fatal, right?"

Cheng Mutian quickly covered her stomach with his hand before saying, "You were afraid people would find out, so you kept delaying treatment. No wonder you died. I just saw you were upset and wanted to cheer you up. Please stop talking about it now, or you'll offend my son's ears."

Xiao Yuan pushed his hand away and stood up: "What's there for me to be happy about in other people's affairs?" She said indifferently, but in her heart she was very glad that Cai Mei had finally escaped her suffering, so she ordered someone to bring her some bean sprouts to eat.

Cailian, who had always been close to her, had personally delivered bean sprouts to her. When she returned, she sighed, "Caimei said she wanted to remain chaste. The bean sprouts I delivered were now being offered before her spirit tablet." Xiaoyuan, whose mindset had long since changed, simply said indifferently, "Everyone has their own destiny. Let her be."

After frost, Maeda finally finished his work, harvesting sorghum, slaughtering sheep, hunting wild game, and pulling bamboo shoots. He then used both rafts and carts, traveling by land and water, and carried a thick ledger down the mountain to meet his master.

Xiao Yuan was overjoyed to see the carts full of mountain goods, not because she wanted to make money, but because she thought the farmers on the mountain could have a good New Year.

Tian Er chuckled and rubbed his hands together: "Madam, you and the young master didn't get to eat sorghum rice on the mountain last time, so I specially brought down two cartloads today so you can have a taste."

Xiao Yuan held the ledger in her hands, but her eyes were glancing towards the door. "Ren Wu said there's a big deal, is it this sorghum rice?"

Just then, Ren Wu appeared at the gate of the courtyard with his men carrying a large basket. He laughed from afar and said, "Madam is joking again. Sorghum rice is just for novelty. It is coarse grain after all. It can't be sold at a high price."

Xiao Yuan didn't say anything, just stared at the basket. Tian Er, being honest, stepped forward and lifted the cotton cloth covering it, taking out each item for her to see: yam, lettuce, spinach, mushrooms... The basket was filled with dozens of kinds of fresh vegetables!

Xiao Yuan picked them up one by one and examined them, then exclaimed in surprise, "These mushrooms are fine; they must be everywhere in the mountains. But how did you get the lettuce and spinach?"

Tian Er laughed and said, "Last time, Madam said there were no fresh vegetables to eat in the manor, so I had some planted in the valley. I didn't expect the climate in the valley to be different from outside. It's still very warm now, so these vegetables are growing very well. I thought that the New Year is coming soon, so I brought some out to see if I could exchange them for some money."

Ren Wu patted the basket and said, "It's not just about exchanging 'a few' coins, it's about exchanging 'a few strings' of cash."

"Isn't this just off-season vegetables?" Xiao Yuan smiled, ordering someone to carry the baskets to the kitchen so she could cook one of each dish that evening. She was also mentally calculating how much money she could make from these fresh vegetables. Cheng Mutian passed by and poured cold water on her enthusiasm: "In a few days, heavy snow will block the mountain passes, and no matter how many vegetables you have, you won't be able to transport them out."

Ren Wu laughed heartily: "Young Master is absolutely right, so we need to transport some down before the mountain is closed and sell them to the purchasing agents who are preparing for the New Year; when the ice thaws next spring, the vegetables in the vegetable gardens in the East Gate of the city will sprout, and the vegetables in the mountains can be transported out again to make a lot of money." After saying that, he cupped his hands in a small round fist: "As for the period after the mountain is closed and before the ice thaws, we will have to rely on Madam's bean sprouts."

Cheng Mutian nodded in agreement: "I never imagined that you, my wife, had such talent hidden away. It's a waste of your talents to just sell vegetables. Why don't you come to my dock?"

Xiao Yuan laughed and scolded him as she kicked him out: "How can you poach people so blatantly?"

After discussing for half a day, the three of them, including the mistress and servants, all agreed that retail was not their forte. Therefore, they decided to rent a warehouse at the entrance of the East Gate vegetable market for a few months to specialize in wholesaling off-season vegetables. The people of Lin'an, who were tired of eating frozen radishes, suddenly saw fresh vegetables falling from the sky, which immediately triggered a frenzy of buying. The purchasing agents of wealthy families ignored everything else and just squatted at the entrance of Cheng He's warehouse to guard the goods.

When the heavy snow blocked the mountains, the purchasing staff were lamenting that they had money but couldn't buy vegetables. Then, He's vegetable shop's bean sprouts came on the market again. Although there were many shops that followed suit and made bean sprouts, He's bean sprouts were made from mung beans, and each one was plump and tender without being red. Therefore, her shop still had the best business.

Xiao Yuan's products were always a hit, and she was very pleased with herself. Since she was pregnant and had nothing to do, she had someone make her an abacus. She sat cross-legged on the floor with the chimney paved and kept clicking away. Next to her, A Cai ground ink, Cai Lian held the account book, and A Yun told jokes. She was living a very comfortable life.

On this day, Cheng Mutian returned from the dock carrying a box of rhinoceros horns. Seeing her doing accounts again, he laughed at her, saying, "Wife, if you need money, I'll give you these rhinoceros horns. You'll have a fortune in no time. Why bother grinding your fingers on the abacus every day?" Xiao Yuan didn't even look up: "You're mocking my bean sprout business. If you're so capable, then don't eat."

Cheng Mutian didn't understand at first, but he was dumbfounded when lunchtime arrived. The dishes—stir-fried bean sprouts, vinegar-braised bean sprouts, bean sprout and pig's blood soup—and even the mutton hot pot in the center, were all from her farm. Xiao Yuan didn't ask anyone to set out chopsticks for him; she just turned her head and smiled at him. Cheng Mutian was not one to back down, and pointing at the soup on the table, he complained, "Pork is only for poor people; what's the point of getting all this pig's blood?"

Xiao Yuan still had a mischievous smile on her face, touching her belly and saying, "Your baby wants to eat." Cheng Mutian had no temper with her belly, so he leaned over and touched it as well. "The rhinoceros horn I brought back today is for him. Nowadays, people like to hang it on their waist as an ornament." Xiao Yuan laughed and dropped the bean sprout she had just picked up onto the ground. "I'm only two months pregnant. You can just wait and see him grow up and wear the rhinoceros horn."

Chapter Sixty: He Yaohong Returns to Beijing

By the twelfth lunar month, Xiao Yuan's bean sprouts were becoming increasingly popular, adding a touch of glamour to her dowry. Her third brother, He Yaohong, had recently been promoted and would be returning to the capital after the New Year. Based on the age-old truth that women need the support of their maternal family, her value had increased considerably. Even Master Cheng dared not underestimate her and secretly hid his idea of giving Cheng Mutian a few concubines while she was pregnant.

On the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, every household worships the Kitchen God. Xiao Yuan watched with her hands in her sleeves as people prepared fish, meat, and pastries. She thought of the days when she and Aunt Chen depended on each other for survival. There wasn't even a man in the family to worship the Kitchen God. Fortunately, they both found good homes now, and it wasn't in vain that she risked her life to leave the mansion.

Cheng Mutian personally brought a chair for her to sit down. "You've gone to so much trouble. I'll remember to smear some wine lees on the stove so that the Kitchen God will speak well of you in heaven." Xiao Yuan clung to his arm and laughed, "I'm just watching. What's so troublesome about it? It's you who's been busy today, though. Father invited a monk to read scriptures."

Cheng Mutian said, "Festivals are joyous occasions, so don't be afraid of being busy. Remember to 'take care of the waste,' and don't wait for me at night. Go to sleep early."

Xiao Yuan watched him walk ahead, then instructed Cai Lian to fetch a lamp. She watched as Cai Lian lit it and placed it under the bed to illuminate the room.

After the Kitchen God was worshipped, the days flew by, and before they knew it, the year was over and the New Year arrived. Everyone in the Cheng family received new clothes and hats, even Little Fourth Sister had a new swaddling cloth. The servants got up early to clean the doors and windows, removing dust and grime, bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new. Master Cheng was in high spirits, thinking that there would be more people in the family next year. He personally went to the front gate to watch them change the door gods, hang up the Zhong Kui portrait, and then led Cheng Mutian to put up the Spring Festival couplets and worship the ancestors.

Everyone in the family was busy preparing for the New Year, but Xiao Yuan was ordered to stay in her room to rest and not lift a finger. She was bored and restless, and when the New Year's Eve dinner finally arrived, she suffered from severe morning sickness and vomited uncontrollably. Fortunately, Master Cheng believed that severe morning sickness was a sign of having a son and didn't mind her rudeness. As the first month of the lunar calendar approached, her morning sickness became increasingly uncontrollable. However, she was the only mistress of the Cheng family, and she was obliged to attend New Year's visits and banquets. Cheng Mutian had no choice but to spread the news of his wife's pregnancy. Since the Cheng family had only one son, and offspring were of paramount importance, everyone was sensible and didn't bother her, allowing Xiao Yuan to rest peacefully for half a month.

When spring arrived and flowers bloomed, Xiao Yuan's morning sickness gradually subsided. Just then, He Yaohong went to the capital to take up his post, and she felt even more refreshed. She was about to pack her congratulatory gifts and go back to her parents' home. Now that her belly was starting to show, Cheng Mutian couldn't rest easy. He had no choice but to put aside his work and accompany her to the He residence first.

In this world, there are many who step on the lowly to curry favor with the high. Everyone in the He family knows that Xiao Yuan is close to He Yaohong, who has just been promoted to an official position, so they treat her with extra courtesy. Just as she was reminiscing with Cheng Mutian, she saw her third sister-in-law, Li Wuniang, come out to greet her personally, calling out affectionately, "Fourth sister, your third brother has been talking about you. I said, we only have this one sister, how could we not come? Look, here she is."

After saying that, seeing Xiao Yuan about to curtsy, she quickly grabbed her arm and said, "Fourth Sister, you're pregnant, why bother with these formalities?" Xiao Yuan noticed her sudden change in temperament and, though puzzled, still said politely, "It's just pregnancy, there's no need to be so delicate. We still need to observe the proper etiquette."

As Li Wuniang led the two women into the house, she sighed, "You're pregnant, so of course you don't feel it. Look at me, your third brother is always on duty, and I, the legal wife, still have no children. But that..." Before she could finish, He Yaohong came out to greet them, and she quickly shut her mouth and lowered her head, seemingly afraid of him. Xiao Yuan was puzzled for a moment, but when she entered the house, a young woman with a belly even larger than hers came to greet her. Only then did she understand. It turned out that her third brother had taken a concubine while on duty and had returned with a pregnant belly. Li Wuniang had panicked for a moment before she calmed down.

Back then, He Yaohong got his job thanks to Li Wuniang's money. Why are all men like this? They take concubines the moment they achieve a little success? Ren Xiaoyuan felt a pang of resentment towards Li Wuniang for having taken over her shop, but she still felt indignant on her behalf. She had no reservations in front of her third brother, and blurted out, "Third brother, your wife takes care of everything at home for you. You're not grateful, fine, but you bring someone back to upset her?"

He Yaohong simply lowered his head and drank his tea. After a long while, he said, "No matter how many concubines she takes, she is still the principal wife. Who can surpass her?" After saying this, he turned to the concubine and told her to go and serve Li Wuniang. Li Wuniang had already felt much relieved when Xiao Yuan spoke up for her. Now, seeing that He Yaohong was still giving her face in front of others, she felt even more at ease. She took the concubine and went out to prepare the meal herself.

Seeing that his wife and concubine had both left, He Yaohong finally spoke the truth: "Do you think I wanted to take a concubine? It's just that your third sister-in-law is so domineering. Even the eldest sister-in-law, who just entered the family, has to give way to her. I really had no choice but to buy a concubine to teach her a lesson."

Li Wuniang was a woman who dared to scheme against her sister-in-law's property as soon as she married into the family. She certainly needed to be given a good talking-to from time to time. Although Xiaoyuan felt that taking a concubine was not a good idea, she couldn't help but smile, remembering how attentive Li Wuniang had been to her earlier: "Third Brother's method is very effective!"

Cheng Mutian noticed that He Yaohong was still wearing his official robes. He laughed and said, "Third Brother, you've applied the ways of officialdom to your family. Is this what you call a system of checks and balances?"

He Yaohong was unaware that his words were three parts joke and seven parts sarcasm. He said seriously, "My wife is not virtuous. That's why I resorted to this drastic measure. My sister is a good wife, even your father praises her. Don't take a concubine and cause her trouble."

Seeing that Cheng Mutian had fallen into his old habit of being jealous of his concubine, Xiaoyuan quickly changed the subject, asking about interesting things that happened during He Yaohong's tenure.

He Yaohong sighed deeply: "What interesting things could there be? My promotion this time is nothing more than taking advantage of the imperial court's northern expedition."

"The imperial court is planning a northern expedition?" Cheng Mutian was more interested in this topic than Xiaoyuan and asked first.

He Yaohong smiled bitterly: "Yes, the court posthumously conferred the title of Prince of E on Yue Fei the year before last because of the plan to launch a northern expedition. This year, all the officials who opposed the war were dismissed. I was promoted because I did not participate in the anti-war activities."

Seeing that he said he wasn't involved but looked unwilling, Cheng Mutian's contempt for him grew even stronger. He said, "The Jin dogs have occupied our land. The court is wise and wants to take it back. What's wrong with that?"

He Yaohong got up and took out a map of the Song Dynasty to show him: "Of course the Jurchens should be eliminated, but not now. They are in trouble from both inside and outside, while the Mongol Tartars are strong and well-equipped. As the saying goes, if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold. If we really go north and destroy the Jurchens, without this barrier, I'm afraid the Tartars will become restless."

Wasn't it only a few decades later that the Southern Song Dynasty allied with the Mongols to destroy the Jin Dynasty, thus pushing its territory into the hands of the Mongols so early? Xiao Yuan was filled with admiration for He Yaohong's foresight, but even if everyone understood this principle, what difference would it make? He couldn't persuade the court, and she had no power to change history.

Cheng Mutian wasn't stupid; he understood the logic immediately. However, he still couldn't let it go and hesitated, saying, "Are we just going to let the Jin dogs occupy our capital?"

Xiao Yuan nudged him and laughed, "Third Brother's grand plan is something the court should worry about. We common folk only know that 'every man has a responsibility for the rise and fall of the nation.' In my opinion, if the court really wants to launch a northern expedition, we should donate some battle clothes and food to do our part and not care about the outcome."

"Absolutely." Cheng Mutian smiled, truly feeling that only this wife was his confidante.

He Yaohong, however, disagreed with his sister's remarks. He believed that assisting the court's northern expedition would only hasten the fall of the Song Dynasty. Even if she hated the Jurchens, she should still consider the future of her descendants. But then he thought again, she was just a woman, and her husband was merely a businessman; it was normal for them to have such thoughts. If they all thought like him, what would be the point of having court officials? Although he wanted to change his mind, he was still worried about his only sister and advised, "It seems this war is unavoidable. Who knows if it will affect Lin'an? You'd better make plans early." He then took out a contract from a hidden cabinet and handed it to her, saying, "I bought a few acres of land in the mountains and built two small estates. I'll give you one as a backup plan."

Xiao Yuan took it, and the couple burst into laughter. Cheng Mutian shook the contract and laughed, "You two really are siblings, buying estates all in one place." He Yaohong then realized that Xiao Yuan's dowry estate was also there, and he laughed too, "Perfect, let's buy all those mountains, so even if something unexpected happens in the future, we'll still be together."

Xiao Yuan pushed the deed back and said, "Third Brother must not have gone to the mountains to see for himself. Several families have bought land and built houses there, and they must have the same plans as us. My estate is much bigger than Third Brother's. You should take this deed back. Your whole family... including your wife and the others."

There was no reason to separate the family while the elders were still alive. He Yaohong understood this very well. If they really wanted to go to the mountains, they would have to take the whole family with them. So he could only smile bitterly and change the subject.

Cheng Mutian had just heard He Yaohong's remarks on the Northern Expedition and was somewhat impressed. Seeing that he was truly thinking of his wife, he put aside He Yaohong's "balance and control theory" and genuinely respected him as an older brother.

On the way home, he kept thinking about He Yaohong. In the sedan chair, he held Xiaoyuan's hand and laughed, "Third brother really favors you. He's bringing people into the house himself, but he won't let me take a concubine." Xiaoyuan pretended to be generous, "Go ahead and take one. I'm not the kind of person who gets jealous." Poor Cheng Mutian, who was as slippery as an eel in the business world, and had been married for so long, still couldn't understand a woman's jokes. He immediately frowned and wanted to get angry, but because of her pregnancy, he could only turn his head away and say, "The court is about to launch a northern expedition. Instead of thinking about making more battle clothes, you're worrying about these trivial things."

Xiao Yuan laughed so hard she clutched her stomach and gasped for breath. Only then did he realize that his wife was teasing him on purpose. His handsome face immediately turned red. He wanted to tickle her in revenge, but he was afraid that she might hurt her baby if she dodged. He wanted to scold her, but he was worried that she would take it seriously. After thinking it over and over, he had no choice but to pull her close and kiss her lips a few times before he stopped.

Chapter Sixty-One: Children and grandchildren have their own blessings.

Ever since Cheng Mutian returned from He Yaohong's place, he had been thinking about preparing for the future of his children and grandchildren. This day, he finally finished his business and had some free time, so he came to Xiaoyuan to discuss it: "Wife, let's tidy up the manor in the mountains and build the walls higher. If there is really a war in Lin'an, you can take the children and move to the mountains. Shouldn't we also prepare a few ships? If the children don't want to go to the mountains, it will be cheaper for you to take a ship overseas."

Xiao Yuan asked curiously, "Weren't you determined to resist the Jin? Why did you think of this?"

Cheng Mutian felt embarrassed: "Of course I want to fight the Jin dogs, but who knows what the children will think? If they don't want to go to the battlefield, are we just going to abandon them?"

Xiao Yuan chuckled. Her firstborn child hadn't even been born yet, and he was already calling his children "they" all the time. Besides, she knew very well that the Jurchens wouldn't be able to reach Lin'an. Even the Mongol Tartars wouldn't be able to march south for another twenty or thirty years, and it would be at least sixty or seventy years before they could conquer Lin'an. Naturally, they would have to fight the Tartars with all their might, but even if they wanted to prepare for their children and grandchildren, there was no need to rush.

But Cheng Mutian's ability not to impose his own ideas on his future children shows that he is not old-fashioned. Xiao Yuan took his hand and placed it on her slightly protruding belly, saying, "You're right. Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. Anyway, we've prepared everything we need to. As for whether they will go to the battlefield or live in seclusion in the future, let them decide for themselves."

With his wife's support, Cheng Mutian worked with extraordinary enthusiasm. He spent a large sum of money to have Tian Er plant more grain, build high walls, and renovate several ships that frequently sailed overseas, making them very comfortable. Xiao Yuan watched him throw away large sums of money and wanted to tell him that there was no need to prepare for things decades in advance, but she was afraid of being seen as a freak, so she could only close her eyes and treat it as a long-term investment.

With the weather warming up, a large quantity of vegetables from Dongmen Vegetable Garden are now available, so her off-season vegetable business has been put on hold. This has freed up a lot of land in the mountains. Tian Er came down the mountain specifically to ask for advice: "Madam, there is already a lot of empty land, and we have also bought a lot more as instructed by the young master. What should we plant on this land? We can't just leave it lying there uncultivated."

Xiao Yuan was in a daze during her pregnancy and didn't want to use her brain, so she asked Cheng Erlang, the one who started it all, to come up with a solution. Cheng Mutian was in high spirits and said, "Raise more livestock and poultry, grow more vegetables, and plant all the newly bought land with cedar trees." Xiao Yuan knew that he was thinking about using the cedar trees to make dowry for her daughter, but she didn't say anything. She suppressed a smile and went to the door, asking Cai Lian and the other wives, who were called Zhan Yi, to come and get the needlework.

Upon hearing the words "battle armor," Tian Er disregarded Cheng Mutian's continued pronouncements and hurriedly asked, "Is the imperial court heading north? Madam, please don't forget the leave you promised me."

Xiao Yuan turned to look at him. She vaguely saw again that spirited peasant standing by the cart shaft, saying he wanted to go north and personally reclaim the lost territory. Before she could speak, Cheng Mutian answered Tian Er: "You have such ambitions, so naturally I will fulfill them. Don't worry about your wife and children at home. You have a wife. It's just a pity that I'm a cripple. I want to go to the battlefield, but no one wants me."

Tian Er was overjoyed to receive his master's promise. He bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for your kindness, young master and madam." He then said to Cheng Mutian, "Young master, there's no need to blame yourself. I went to the battlefield alone. It's truly admirable that you and madam would donate your battle armor."

"There's still plenty of food," Xiao Yuan thought to herself. "I wonder if future generations will laugh at me for doing this, knowing the outcome all along, yet still doing all this futile work." Then she felt a sense of relief: "Could it be that I left the door open to let robbers in just because my house was bound to be robbed?"

After Tian Er left, his wife also came looking for him. She asked Cai Lian for a job sewing battle clothes, saying she wanted to sew a garment for her husband to wear herself.

Xiao Yuan was deeply moved. She stood by the door for a long while. Then she called Cai Lian over and instructed her: "Tell the kitchen that the wife who makes the battle clothes must have meat with every meal; also inform our accountant that Tian Er's monthly salary will continue to be paid while he is away."

Cailian hesitated and said, "Madam, Tian Er is easy to deal with. He came as part of the dowry. His monthly salary will still be paid through your private account. But what about the food for making war clothes? Should it be paid through the public account or your private account?"

Xiao Yuan paused for a moment, then slowly said, "This is a large sum of money. Let me go and ask the master first."

She said she was going to ask Master Cheng, not really holding out much hope. She thought she was just informing him, and if he didn't agree, she would use her dowry. But Master Cheng's reaction was quite unexpected. When he heard that the donation of clothes and grain was for the Northern Expedition, he became so excited that he couldn't speak properly, repeatedly saying only, "Our Cheng family's ancestral graves are in Kaifeng." Xiao Yuan guessed what he meant and tentatively asked, "Does Father mean that our family should donate more?"

Master Cheng nodded repeatedly, “I will donate, of course I will donate. Not only will I contribute from the public funds, but I will also take out ten thousand strings of cash myself. If I can visit Kaifeng in my lifetime, I will be able to go to the underworld to meet my ancestors.”

Whether it was family values or national righteousness, Xiao Yuan was too lazy to distinguish. She only felt that her father-in-law had never been so kind to her. With a smile on her face, she returned to her room and praised Master Cheng for the first time ever.

The Cheng family's battle clothes and food were quickly prepared, and Tian Er planned to go to the battlefield with these supplies. To put his mind at ease, Xiao Yuan specially appointed his eldest son as the deputy manager of the manor to manage the affairs in the mountains. Everyone in the family was full of admiration when they heard that Tian Er was going to personally kill Jin Gou. They all put down their work to see him off. The group lingered at the door for a long time, and only when they dispersed did they realize that one person was missing.

"Madam, my son Sun Dalang has gone missing." Madam Sun came looking for Xiaoyuan in great anxiety.

Xiao Yuan thought that Sun Dalang was only ten years old, and it was common for children to get lost while playing, so she joked, "Could he have gone north with Tian Er?"

Ah Yun said anxiously, "Isn't it because I'm worried that he went north? Does Madam still remember what he said about 'two-legged sheep'?"

Xiao Yuan then remembered that Sun Dalang was originally from the north, and had fled to the south because his grandfather was killed by the Jurchens. "Could it be that he wants to go back to avenge his family? But he is just a child. How can he travel without an adult to take care of him?"

Sun was too anxious to think straight. After hearing this, she realized her mistake and hurriedly went to look for him with A-Yun. Sure enough, they found that the two martial arts instructors who taught Sun Da-Lang were also missing.

"Nonsense!" Xiao Yuan slammed her hand on the armrest of the chair in a huff. "If those two are martial artists, they can go and fight the enemy themselves. Why bring a child along? What if something happens to her? How will Grandma Sun live the rest of her life?"

When Madam Sun realized that Madam had revealed her thoughts, she cried and said, "Madam is so considerate. I don't consider myself a coward, but my eldest son is only ten years old. We have to wait until he comes of age to fight the enemy."

Chapter Sixty-Two: Little A-Yun's First Love