After walking all the way, the hot weather was restless. When Cui Xingzhou and Li Guangcai returned to the station, they saw a beautiful woman in a short-sleeved and thin shirt waiting for the soldiers who were building a thatched hut and she brought herbal tea.
Watching Cui Xingzhou and his companions come sweating profusely, the leading woman smiled and exclaimed, “Your Highness and Lord Li are back! Today I have made a new herbal tea to relieve the heat, and I have been cooling down in the well for a long time. Come and have a bowl of tea to relieve the heat.”
She smiled brightly, causing people to unconsciously curl up the corners of their mouths, and the restlessness in their hearts quickly dissipated.
The medical skills that Liu Miantang learned in the past have once again become useful in the North Sea. Today’s herbal tea recipe was decided after she tried it several times herself. Because the medicinal herbs are abundant, they are much more effective than the herbal tea used by local people to relieve heat. In addition, the herbal tea also contains a lot of sweet grass and honey, eliminating the original taste of medicinal bitterness. It was very sweet and delicious, and at the same time, it also attracts many local children to lean on the railing and stare eagerly.
Miantang poured a cup of herbal tea for Cui Xingzhou and caught a glimpse of the children leaning on the railing. With a smile, she instructed Bicao and the others to cut the prepared pot of cold cakes into pieces and give them to eat.
At first, those dark children were still a bit timid and afraid.
Officials and soldiers have also come here before, claiming to suppress the Japanese people. But after just arriving, they went door-to-door to collect money and arrest people to do corvee and build trench military camps. Usually, after a struggle, those officers and soldiers were scattered by the Japanese people and there was no further action.
The local people are also suffering from such repeated struggles, feeling that these officers and soldiers are even more despicable than the Japanese.
This time, there are more officers and soldiers than in previous times. The previously left camp was naturally not enough. Their parents hid all the remaining rice, chicken, and ducks in the mountains early. Even if these soldiers came to search the house, they couldn’t find them.
If it weren’t for the sweet and fragrant taste of the herbal tea this time, they wouldn’t have dared to come over. But they didn’t expect a fairy-like big sister to smile and ask them if they would eat cold cakes.
For a moment, the children were struggling in their hearts. Miantang looked at the tangled little faces and walked over on her own, stuffing the big bowl into the big child and saying, “Go back and share it within yourselves.”
The child immediately turned around and ran away with the basin, followed by a brunch of bee-like children, who couldn’t even see a moment’s effort.
Miantang smiled as the group of children ran away and turned to see Cui Xingzhou looking at her thoughtfully.
Miantang wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and asked, “Do you want to drink another bowl?”
Cui Xingzhou gathered her hair wet with sweat at her temples and said, “If those children return the basin, let me know.”
“Ah?” Miantang was stunned and didn’t understand the meaning of his words.
Cui Xingzhou smiled slightly and looked at her sunburned face as he said, “This herbal tea is delicious. We need to send it again tomorrow, but you can just ask the servants in the residence to send it. Why bother coming here on your own?”
Miantang smiled and said, “The tea delivery is a small matter. The important matter is to see you… By the way… Tomorrow not only will there be herbal tea, but also mung bean soup. Today I see many soldiers didn’t have the appetite to eat, so tomorrow I’ll have Servant Li make some delicious cold noodles and bring them along.”
The climate in the North Sea was hot, and although many soldiers have no covered houses, if it doesn’t rain, they can persist for a few days. But once they do have not enough food, their body will soon become overwhelmed.
Nowadays, many soldiers have fallen due to acclimatization, and many people have diarrhea and dehydration. Although Miantang consulted experienced doctors in the capital early on, prepared enough herbs, and promptly treated with the accompanying doctors in the army, there were still many people who doesn’t feel like eating.
Miantang felt that since she had arrived, she couldn’t be a burden to her family. She had to take care of her husband and cook delicious meals. She also tried to mix some medicinal meals to help the sick soldiers adjust their appetite.
When they came out of the military camp, many soldiers were already about to rest. They could only see a few mosquito-repellent incense sticks lit in a simple thatched shed, and then they were preparing to sleep.
The local mosquitoes bite people severely. If they doesn’t apply any insect-repellent herbs, it was easy to get a hawthorn-sized swelling in one bite.
In fact, not only the barracks where the soldiers did not have a sheltered place but also the mansion where Miantang and her companions are currently living is dilapidated. Cangwu County was too poor to find any decent houses for the prince from the capital to live in.
Sherrif Su was originally planning to let Cui Xingzhou live in his own house. The rooms were all tidied up, but Cui Xingzhou politely declined and moved into the courtyard that he had originally planned to move into.
When Miantang finished delivering herbal tea and brought the maids back to the courtyard, Lu Zhong and Lu Yi were standing on the roof commanding people to repair the house.
Due to the humid climate in the North Sea, the wood used for building houses needed to be soaked in lime for anti-corrosion. If not carefully maintained, the lifespan of the houses will not be too long.
The beams in the main hall of the room where Miantang lives are decaying, so they must be replaced and reinforced. So Lu Zhong and Lu Yi went to fixing shirtless, directing the servants to soak the new beams with Limewater first, then smoke them, and replace them after the new beams are completely dry.
Miantang thought that Cui Fu and Li Guangcai were preparing to get married in the North Sea, so she gave them the best room in this mansion to live in. After the main beam was repaired, she immediately instructed them to repair their house to at least withstand the ceremony.
Cui Fu sat in the room next to her, looking a bit dumbfounded. When she first came to the North Sea, she was really forced by the Qingguo Mansion. Although she also know that this place was not as good as the capital city, she didn’t expect it to be like this.
Jin’er has been crying three times since he looked at this dilapidated house. He was just too old and embarrassed to cry with her son, but her heart was feeling really sour.
As a result, when Jin’er saw a cockroach as big as a finger lying on the beam, cockroaches with their wings up and ready to take off, he was so scared that he jumped up and cried again.
Liu Miantang was standing in the yard supervising the work. Upon hearing Jin’er cry, she strode in and followed Jin’er’s fingers to look over. She picked up her embroidered shoes and jumped up with one foot, smashing the cockroach to death.
This doesn’t count, she even frowned at Jin’er with one hand lifting the cockroach whiskers and said, “You will also be a young man after the Chinese New Year. Why are you so fond of crying? Didn’t you see your mother’s face turn pale with fear? Next time you see these things again, as long as they’re not venomous snakes or something like that, take them out with your shoe soles. They’re not as big as you, why are you afraid that they’ll do something to you.”
Jin’er cried halfway through but was shouted back by her aunt. He looked straight at the cockroach and timidly said, “Auntie… Are there any snakes here?”
At this moment, Xiaoyi’er, who was being held by a wet nurse, was staring brightly at the insect that his mother was holding in her hand and was desperately using his fat hands to gesture with his drooling mouth, meaning he wanted to taste it.
Seeing that his younger brother was not afraid, Jin’er felt even more embarrassed to cry.
Lu Zhong and Lu Yi were working on the roof, while Lu Liang helped with the small work. Lu Quan was so tired that he put his hands on his hips. Seeing the children crying in the nearby room, he cursed in a low voice and said, “The Prince said to let our big boss live a life of gold and jade after their marriage. See, what happened now? F*ck! I think the rural landlords are better than him living in this dilapidated house.”
Miantang was coming out of the room when she heard this. She walked over and hit his head, saying, “What are you talking about? If you’re disrespectful to the prince again, I’ll slap you without mercy.”
Cui Fu followed behind her and happened to come out. Upon hearing Lu Quan’s words, she felt that as a member of the Cui family, she couldn’t help but say in a low voice, “It’s not his fault to say that. Xingzhou has indeed made you suffer.”
At present, her younger brother’s military situation was urgent. How can these accompanying family members cause chaos? But she was also living in this dilapidated house, only staring blankly for a whole day. Inside and outside were all managed by Miantang, and she was in good order, with no sign of her distress.
Cui Fu used to feel that she was much better at home affairs than Liu Miantang, so when she was in the State of Zhen, she didn’t have much confidence in Miantang’s management.
But now that she has left the wealthy life, she seems to know nothing at all, and she was no match for a woman from a small family background.
To be honest, although the courtyard was messy and in a state of chaos waiting to be revived, Miantang felt that she lived much more comfortably than the wealthy residents in the capital, at least there were no intrigues here.
But after hearing what Cui Fu said, she also knew that Cui Fu didn’t quite adapt here, she chuckled and took her hand, saying, “At present, it’s a bit difficult, but you should know that if life were all leisurely guarding a house, it wouldn’t be very enjoyable. Think about it, how many women in the world would be like you and me, traveling across the northern and southern regions, experiencing such different customs and traditions? It is said that men are more ambitious than women and can endure hardship, but because they have a heart for travel and are focused on increasing their knowledge, rather than taking root on the ground. Counting, they naturally climb mountains and cross paths, crossing the river is like crossing a muddy pond. This broad and open-minded attitude has nothing to do with whether you are a man or a woman.”
Cui Fu blushed a bit when she said it, feeling that she seemed short-sighted in front of her Sister-in-Law, like an ordinary village woman who only knew about daily necessities.
She thought she was also a familiar reader of the books of sages. She once envied the ancient men who could travel and study. How come when it was her turn to leave the capital and travel around the world, she doesn’t appreciate the customs of rivers and mountains, but only thinks about the old and new houses and soft beds!
Thinking of this, she perked up her spirits and showed the grace a Cui’s legitimate daughter should have, saying to Miantang, “Leave the matter of repairing the house at home to me. Aren’t you busy dispensing medicine and boiling soup for the military? Don’t worry about the family’s affairs anymore.”
Miantang saw that her sister’s eyes seemed to have dissipated a bit of sadness and added a hint of light. She smiled slightly and said, “Once we settle both the affairs at home and outside, they will go fight their battles. By then, we must have a good time playing around.”
Cui Fu looked at her heartless words and twisted her nose, saying, “You sure love to joke around. When the war really starts, I’ll see if you still have the heart to play.”
The next day, Miantang and Servant Li got up early to cook herbal tea and mung bean soup and made several large bowls of herbal powder. They put them in the carriage and rushed towards the military camp.
As she approached the military camp, Miantang saw several dirty children gathering outside the carriage and couldn’t help but look at her carriage.
Miantang instructed the driver to stop the carriage at the entrance of the military camp and walked out. These children gathered in front of the carriage, and a boy raised his hand, raised the basin high, and handed it to Miantang.
This basin was made of refined copper and was a delicacy found in the inner courtyard of Miantang. Even those who cannot understand the quality of things know its value only by looking at the material and workmanship.
Miantang looked at his hopeful face and smiled and said, “Wait, there’s still food to eat today.” He then asked Bicao to bring out a pot of herbal tea from the carriage and hand it to the boy.
The group of children let out loud cheers and ran to the small bamboo forest next to them, carrying their water bottles. They chopped bamboo and split it into bamboo tubes, using them to share herbal tea and drink it gurgling.
Moonlightjie On GD (QT) Chapter 6