Chapter 148: Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

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 Jiao Cang "Delicate Concealment" / Are You the One

 

 Chapter 148: 

 

Mian Tang poured a cup of the cooling tea for Cui Xingzhou and, noticing the children hanging onto the fence, smiled and instructed Bicao and the others to cut the batch of chilled cakes into pieces and give them to the children.

At first, the dark-skinned children were hesitant, too timid to reach out and grab the food.

Previously, soldiers had come to the area claiming they were there to wipe out the Japanese pirates. But as soon as they arrived, they went door to door collecting money and conscripting people for labor to dig trenches and build military camps. After these soldiers had caused chaos, they were soon scattered by the Japanese, and nothing further was ever heard of them.

This cycle of upheaval repeated, leaving the local people suffering. Many even began to see the soldiers as more detestable than the Japanese themselves.

Now, another group of soldiers had arrived, in greater numbers than before. The remnants of the previous camps were insufficient for their needs. Their parents had hidden whatever rice, grains, and poultry they had left in the mountains, knowing that even if these soldiers searched their homes, they wouldn’t find anything.

The only reason the children dared to approach this time was the alluring sweetness of the tea. But what they didn’t expect was that the beautiful lady, who looked like a celestial being, would smile kindly and ask if they wanted to try some chilled cakes.

For a moment, the group of children struggled inwardly. Seeing the conflicted expressions on their faces, Mian Tang simply walked over and shoved the large bowl into the hands of the eldest child. "Go on, take it back and share it with everyone!"

The child immediately turned around and ran off with the bowl, followed by a swarm of children like bees, all disappearing in an instant.

Mian Tang chuckled as she watched them run off into the distance, then turned back to find Cui Xingzhou gazing at her thoughtfully.

She wiped his mouth with a handkerchief and asked, "Would you like another cup?"

Cui Xingzhou gently brushed back her sweat-dampened hair from her temples and said, "If those children bring the bowl back, let me know."

"Huh?" Mian Tang was momentarily confused, not quite understanding what he meant.

Cui Xingzhou smiled slightly, looking at her sun-flushed face. "The tea is good, so be sure to deliver more tomorrow. But let the servants handle it; there's no need for you to make the trip yourself."

Mian Tang laughed, "Bringing tea is a small matter, but seeing you is what really matters… Tomorrow, I'll bring not only more tea but also mung bean soup. I noticed many of the soldiers weren't able to eat today, so I'll have Li Mama make some refreshing jelly to bring as well."

The climate in Beihai was scorching, and though many of the soldiers had no proper shelter, they could manage for a few days as long as it didn't rain. However, if they couldn't eat, their bodies would soon give out.

By now, many soldiers had fallen ill due to the unfamiliar climate, with many experiencing diarrhea and showing early signs of dehydration. Although Mian Tang had previously consulted experienced doctors in the capital and prepared ample medicinal herbs, and the military physicians had been providing timely treatment, many soldiers still couldn’t keep food down.

Mian Tang felt that since she was here, she couldn’t just be a burdensome wife. She needed to help her husband by preparing palatable meals, which was crucial. She tried her best to prepare medicinal food, hoping to improve the soldiers’ appetite and help those who were ill.

As she left the camp, many soldiers were already preparing to rest. Simple grass huts had been set up, and a few mosquito-repelling incense sticks were lit, signaling the start of their night’s sleep.

The local mosquitoes were vicious, and without applying repellent herbs, a single bite could swell into a lump the size of a hawthorn berry.

It wasn’t just the soldiers who lacked proper shelter. Even the residence where Mian Tang and her group were staying was dilapidated. Cangwu County was so impoverished that they couldn’t offer any decent accommodations for the prince visiting from the capital.

Initially, Lord Su had intended to offer his own residence for Cui Xingzhou to stay in, and the rooms had already been tidied up. However, Cui Xingzhou politely declined and moved into the house Lord Su had planned to relocate to instead.

When Mian Tang finished distributing the tea and returned to the residence with her maids, she saw the two brothers, Lu Zhong and Lu Yi, standing on the roof, overseeing the repairs of the house.

Due to the humid climate in Beihai, the timber used in construction had to be soaked in lime to prevent rot. Without proper maintenance, the lifespan of the buildings would be short.

The main beam of the central hall in the house where Mian Tang was staying was visibly decayed and needed to be replaced for structural integrity. So, the two brothers had taken off their shirts and were personally directing the servants to first soak the new beam in lime water, then smoke it. Once the new beam had dried thoroughly, they would replace the old one.

Mian Tang, knowing that Cui Fu and Li Guangcai were planning to get married in Beihai, decided to let them stay in the best room of this house. Once the beam was repaired, they would prioritize fixing their room so that at least the place would be presentable for the wedding ceremony.

Cui Fu sat in a nearby room, looking rather stunned. She had been sent to Beihai because she had been squeezed out of Duke Qing’s mansion. While she knew that this place wouldn’t be as good as the capital, she had not expected it to be this bad.

Jin'er, her son, had cried three times already upon seeing how rundown the house was. Although Cui Fu was older and couldn’t cry along with her son, her heart was filled with bitterness.

The situation worsened when Jin'er spotted a cockroach, the size of a finger, perched on a beam with its wings ready to take flight. He screamed like he’d seen a monster and jumped up in terror, crying even harder.

Mian Tang, who had been supervising the repairs in the courtyard, heard Jin'er crying and immediately walked in. Following the direction of Jin'er’s pointing finger, she spotted the cockroach, took off her embroidered shoe, and with a quick hop, smacked the cockroach dead.

Not only did she kill it, but she also picked it up by its antenna with one hand and frowned at Jin'er, saying, "You're going to be a young man soon, so why are you crying so much? Don’t you see how pale you’ve made your mother? Next time you see something like this, unless it’s a poisonous snake, just take off your shoe and smack it. It’s not even as big as you, so what’s there to be afraid of?"

Jin'er, mid-cry, was scolded back into silence, staring wide-eyed at the dead cockroach. In a trembling voice, he asked, "Auntie… are there snakes here too?"

Meanwhile, little Yier, who was being held by the wet nurse, had his eyes fixed on the bug his mother was holding. He gurgled with excitement, waving his chubby hands eagerly and drooling, clearly wanting to taste it.

Seeing that his younger cousin wasn’t scared, Jin'er felt even more embarrassed about crying.

Up on the roof, Lu Zhong and Lu Yi were hard at work, while Lu Liang was assisting as a laborer. Lu Quan, exhausted, stood with his hands on his hips, watching the commotion caused by the crying child in the neighboring room. He muttered under his breath, "They said marrying our boss to the prince would let her live a life of luxury, but look at this! What nonsense! Even country landlords live better than this."

Just as Mian Tang was coming out of the house, she overheard his grumbling. She walked over and gave him a smack on the head, saying, "What are you talking about? If you dare speak disrespectfully of the Prince again, I’ll deal with you myself!"

Cui Fu, who had followed Mian Tang out, also heard Lu Quan's words. Feeling a bit ashamed as a member of the Cui family, she quietly said, "You can’t really blame him... Xingzhou truly has made you suffer."

With her brother’s military matters being a top priority, Cui Fu knew that they, as the family members who followed, couldn’t afford to create trouble. But while they both lived in the same run-down house, she had spent the entire day dumbfounded, while Mian Tang had been busy inside and out, managing everything in an orderly manner without showing any sign of distress.

Cui Fu had always thought she was better than Mian Tang when it came to handling household affairs. Back in Zhenzhou, she wasn’t entirely confident in leaving the household management to her.

But now, far from the comfort of luxurious houses and silken curtains, Cui Fu realized she was helpless, unable to do much of anything. She simply couldn’t compare to her younger sister-in-law, who came from a humble background.

To be honest, though the courtyard was messy and in need of repairs, Mian Tang found living here far more freeing than in the grand mansions of the capital. At least here, there was no scheming or backstabbing.

However, after hearing Cui Fu’s words, Mian Tang could tell that her sister-in-law wasn’t fully adjusting to life here. With a gentle smile, she took Cui Fu’s hand and said, “It’s a bit tough now, but sister, you must understand that living a life confined to a peaceful courtyard doesn’t bring much excitement. Think about it, how many women in the world have had the chance to traverse both the north and south, experiencing such diverse customs and cultures like we have? People say that men are more ambitious than women and able to endure hardship because they have a heart for travel, seeking to expand their knowledge rather than settling down and living routine lives. For them, climbing mountains is like crossing hills, and fording rivers is like wading through puddles. That sense of broadness and resilience has nothing to do with being a man or a woman.”

Cui Fu blushed at Mian Tang’s words, feeling as though she had been narrow-minded in comparison, focusing only on trivial domestic matters like an ordinary village woman concerned with nothing more than oil, rice, and salt.

She, too, had once studied the classics and had admired the ancient scholars who traveled far and wide to seek knowledge. But now that it was her turn to leave the capital and come to the edge of the world, she found herself more preoccupied with the state of the house and the softness of the bed, rather than appreciating the land and its culture.

With this realization, her spirits lifted, and she regained the composure and grace expected of a daughter of the Cui family. She turned to Mian Tang and said, “I’ll take care of the house repairs. You’re busy preparing medicine and soup for the troops—there’s no need for you to worry about the household matters anymore.”

Seeing that her elder sister's eyes seemed to brighten, with some of the worry fading away, Mian Tang smiled and said, "Once everything is in order, both at home and outside, while they’re off fighting their battles, we can go out and enjoy ourselves!"

Cui Fu gave her a gentle pinch on the nose, laughing, “You’re always so playful. Let’s see if you still feel like having fun when the real fighting starts!”

The next morning, Mian Tang and Li Mama woke up early to prepare iced tea and mung bean soup. They also made several large trays of cold jelly and loaded them onto a cart to take to the military camp.

As they neared the camp, Mian Tang spotted a group of dirty children gathered outside, looking intently in the direction of her carriage. She instructed the driver to stop at the entrance to the camp and stepped out of the carriage. The group of children gathered around, and one boy raised his hands, holding up a basin and handing it to Mian Tang.

The basin was made of fine copper, something from Mian Tang's inner courtyard, very refined and exquisite. Even those unfamiliar with its worth could tell from the material and craftsmanship that it was valuable.

Mian Tang looked at the boy’s hopeful face and smiled, “Wait here, there’s more food today.” Saying this, she had Bicao bring out a jug of iced tea from the carriage and handed it to the boy.

The group of children let out excited cheers, took the jug, and ran to a small bamboo grove nearby. They cut down a bamboo stalk, split it into bamboo cups, and used them to gulp down the iced tea with great enthusiasm.

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