Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

Motivated by a sense of longing, Qiao Xuan let out a sigh and whispered to Shao Yunduan, “I can’t help but miss Qi a little. I wonder how he’s doing in the intermediate camp. It must be colder there than it is here. I wonder how much snow they’ve had this year and if he’s keeping warm.”

Shao Yunduan’s heart skipped a beat; he cared deeply about his brother, too.

Brushing away the snow on Qiao Xuan’s shoulders, Shao Yunduan replied with a reassuring smile, “Don’t worry, Qi has always been skilled in archery since he was young, and I’m sure he’s doing well. After the New Year, I’ll inquire about his well-being.”

Qiao Xuan’s face lit up with joy. “That would be fantastic! Please don’t forget to ask.”

Shao Yunduan chuckled affectionately. “Qi is my brother; how could I ever forget about him?”

It almost seemed as if Qiao Xuan considered him as a sister-in-law rather than a brother.

Qiao Xuan smiled in response.

“I’m planning to go back next spring. Please make sure to send me any updates before that. I want to bring back the news and share it with mom and the rest of the family. You have no idea how much mom misses Qi, but she’s hesitant to ask me directly. I can sense her concern. She’s worried you might be troubled if she brings it up.”

Shao Yunduan nodded with a smile. “No worries!”

As the mountain breeze blew, snow gently fell from the branches, creating a mist of snow in the air.

Shao Yunduan held Qiao Xuan’s hands and said, “It’s getting late; let’s head back down the mountain.”

Qiao Xuan surveyed their surroundings – they had explored enough and successfully hunted some wild animals. It was time to return home.

Carrying their prey, the two of them made their way down the mountain.

From a distance, Songshi spotted them and hurried over to take the wild roosters and rabbits from their hands. He exclaimed happily, “Fifth Master and Fifth Madame, you’re incredible! I never thought you could catch wild rabbits and roosters. Haha!”

Qiao Xuan laughed. “It was just a sudden snowfall that startled them. Let’s not tell anyone about it; it would seem too unbelievable. We’ll just say we bought them from the farmers.”

“Yes, Fifth Madame!”

Hungry and eager to cook, Songshi drove the wagon to a nearby village. He knocked on a farmer’s door and borrowed their space to prepare lunch.

With roosters and rabbits on hand, the farmer’s wife quickly killed and stewed them, turning them into a delicious meal.

The generous portions meant they couldn’t finish everything, so they shared a bowl with the farmer’s wife’s children.

Living in the outskirts of the capital, the villagers enjoyed a relatively better life than those in the poorer counties, but meat was still a luxury. The farmer’s three children were overjoyed, and their mother felt a bit embarrassed by their gratitude. Although she was paid 2 liang for the meal, the guests’ generosity left her profusely thanking them.

Cooked over large stoves and firewood, the dishes were simply delicious. With fresh ingredients, a touch of ginger and garlic, and some stewed roosters with radish, the roasted rabbits emanated an irresistible aroma.

Two large bowls of steaming hot and fragrant food were served, making Qiao Xuan’s mouth water with anticipation.

“It smells so good!” Qiao Xuan couldn’t help but exclaim.

Just as they were about to dig in, an unexpected guest arrived, catching them by surprise.

It was a master accompanied by two servants who sought refuge and a warm meal during the intermediate snowstorm.

The yard was relatively small, so Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan spotted them immediately as they entered.

One of the servants smiled and asked the farmer’s wife, “Sister-in-law, we’re exhausted from our journey, and we’d love to warm ourselves up with some food and drink at your place. Don’t worry; we won’t be freeloading. We’re more than happy to pay for our meal. The aroma of the meat you’re cooking is enticing. Could you please share some with us?”