sjar Chapter 440 Xi Xi, Not the Same Anymore
Chapter 440 Xi Xi, Not the Same Anymore
The battlefield now has modern weapons.
Good news kept pouring into Wangyue Village!
Gao Mengli led the villagers of Wangyue Village to work day and night to produce military equipment.
Finally, in the autumn of the same year, a stunning victory report came from the border.
The main force of the Northern Mutiny was completely defeated, and the remaining troops fled north in panic. Our army won a great victory and returned in triumph in no time!
When the good news reached Wangyue Village, the villagers were busy making weapons around a furnace on the back mountain.
Molten iron reflected half the sky red, and the sound of hammering was deafening and never stopped.
The messenger rode into the village entrance, shouting at the top of his lungs: "Great victory! Our army has won a great victory!"
His Majesty has led his troops in triumph, and the Northern Mutiny has retreated a hundred li and submitted to him!
Before the words were even finished, the entire village fell silent for a moment, then immediately erupted into a frenzy.
The blacksmith swung his hammer and slammed it hard on the anvil, raising his arms in a cheer!
The old man tending the fire stroked his beard, tears streaming down his face, repeatedly muttering, "We won! We finally won!"
The blueprints slipped from Gao Mengli's hands. She stood blankly by the furnace, the iron fire reflecting a startling light in her eyes.
The fatigue from staying up all night for days disappeared, and I couldn't help but smile.
"Finally, we've returned in triumph. We can finally take a breather!"
After arranging her things, she turned and went down the mountain.
The village is harvesting in autumn; the fields are golden, and the heavy ears of rice bend low.
Every household was busy in the fields, and even the children were carrying small bamboo baskets to pick up the scattered ears of rice.
When the good news arrived, cheers and laughter echoed throughout the village, resounding across the fields.
Gao Mengli walked slowly down the hillside, her steps much lighter, and her usually furrowed brows completely relaxed.
As I passed the threshing ground, an old woman winnowing rice greeted me with a smile: "My lord, come and take a rest! This year's harvest is good, every grain of rice is plump and full!"
"We were so focused on manufacturing weapons that we were worried about missing the autumn harvest. We never expected that everyone would manage it so well."
Gao Mengli glanced at the threshing ground, her eyes filled with satisfaction.
The old scholar, leaning on his cane, walked from the edge of the field, still holding half an ear of rice in his hand. He smiled and said, "Don't worry, my lord, we can make weapons and harvest the autumn crops at the same time!"
With able-bodied men taking turns, we can naturally cultivate the land well, ensuring sufficient food and ammunition, and eliminating any worries about the future!
Gao Mengli smiled and nodded.
Then we walked to the courtyard house that we hadn't returned to for a year and a half.
Zhou Miao went to teach in another city, and Da Niu went with him to gain experience.
For a time, the once bustling courtyard house seemed much quieter.
With a creak, Zhao Hua opened the courtyard gate with a joyful expression.
Looking up, I saw Gao Mengli standing outside the door.
Zhao Hua's joy froze instantly, then turned into ecstatic delight. He took a few steps across the threshold and walked to Gao Mengli's side: "My lord! You've finally come down the mountain!"
Gao Mengli smiled and nodded, "Uncle Zhao, thank you for your hard work these past few days!"
Zhao Hua rubbed his hands together, grinning from ear to ear, his wrinkles crinkling at the corners of his eyes: "It's no trouble at all! It's no trouble at all! It's my duty to look after this yard. I come to clean it every day, just looking forward to your return from the mountain!"
As he spoke, he quickly stepped aside to lead her inside.
Gao Mengli walked into the courtyard, but didn't hear the familiar "Mengli, you're back," and was momentarily dazed.
But looking at the chayote vines on the trellis in the yard, they were climbing all over the trellis.
Plump green gourds hang among the lush green leaves, their adorable appearance warming one's heart.
These are the melons that Da Niu planted, and now they've yielded a bumper harvest, but he still hasn't returned.
Gao Mengli reached out and touched the chayote on the shelf above her head, then turned to the side and asked with a smile, "Uncle Zhao, did Xixi say where he is?"
Zhao Hua slapped his thigh and replied with a smile, "Lord Lin wrote a letter a while ago saying that he went to Ling Si's residence!"
He said that Lingsi Prefecture was the last place where the previous dynasty had taken root, leaving behind many officials and wealthy merchants from the previous dynasty.
After the Crown Prince dealt with these people recently, he sent someone to invite Ling Si to his residence for reform. Presumably, he's still there these days.
Gao Mengli looked at the trellis full of chayote melons, her smile softening even more, "Okay, I understand!"
Go and get me ready, I'm going on a long trip!
Zhao Hua was taken aback upon hearing this, and quickly said, "My lord, you just came down the mountain to rest, and you're already setting off? Ling Si Mansion is quite a distance away. I'll pack your luggage right away and prepare some dry food and travel expenses!"
After saying that, he turned to head towards the side room, but Gao Mengli stopped him again, "No need to make a fuss, just pack a couple of changes of clothes, and also pack some chayote from the yard to take with you, so that Xixi can have a taste!"
He paused for a moment, then added, "Tell the craftsmen on duty in the village that the armory can just rush to finish the work as usual. I'll be right back."
Although Zhao Hua was worried about her being overworked, he also knew that she was efficient and capable.
He responded quickly and went to get busy.
Gao Mengli also quickly went to the bathroom to wash off her dirty clothes.
Zhao Hua soon returned carrying a blue cloth bundle.
Inside were clothes, dry food, and a cloth bag containing washed and packed chayote, which were respectfully waiting in the courtyard.
After Gao Mengli finished packing, he stepped forward respectfully, "My lord, I'll escort you to the dock!"
Gao Mengli took the bundle and shook her head at him, "No need, Uncle Zhao!"
"Take good care of the melons in the yard; I'll be back just in time for the last harvest."
"Rest assured, my lord! Please be careful on the road!"
Zhao Hua stood at the courtyard gate, waving goodbye to Gao Mengli with a smile!
He wasn't worried about Gao Mengli going out, because all the guards in the courtyard followed her.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
A small village in Lingsi Prefecture.
Lin Xi was rolling up her sleeves, holding rice and threshing it in the threshing machine.
Golden grains of rice fell softly, covering his trouser legs and shoes with chaff. His bangs were damp with sweat and clung to his dark forehead.
Several villagers took turns handing him bundles of rice, praising him repeatedly: "My lord, this improved threshing machine is so convenient and saves so much effort!"
"Yes! Thanks to your visit, our village has improved its planting methods and taught us how to irrigate with waterwheels. This year, our village's harvest has doubled compared to last year!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Xi quickly waved her hand, smiling as she stuffed the last bundle of rice ears into the threshing machine. Her strength remained undiminished, and the grains fell into the bamboo basket, piling up into a small mound.
"Fellow villagers, please don't stand on ceremony!"
As he spoke, he straightened up and rubbed his lower back, sweat trickling down his jawline and splashing into the mud on the ridge of the field.
Gao Mengli stepped down from the carriage and saw this scene, her eyes reddening slightly.
Her daughter, Xixi, is probably too weak to carry anything.
I haven't seen him for a year and a half; he's gotten darker and thinner.
His shoulders have developed firm muscles, and his palms have developed thin calluses; he is no longer the delicate, slender man he used to be.
He looks even more manly like this!
Thinking of this, Gao Mengli couldn't help but burst out laughing!
This sound also drew the attention of the villagers working in the fields.
The commotion in the fields suddenly subsided for a moment.
Everyone looked toward the edge of the field following the sound. Lin Xi was the first to look up, and when she saw the figure standing in the sunlight, she froze.
The bundle of rice in his hand slammed down next to the threshing machine with a "thud".
His composure and efficiency vanished instantly, and his eyes suddenly reddened.
He staggered forward half a step, gently pushing aside the villager who was handing him a bundle of rice, his voice hoarse: "It's...it's Mengli!"
Before anyone could react, he took off running towards the edge of the field.
The fields were muddy, and he ran fast, his trouser legs covered in mud. He almost tripped several times, but he didn't slow down at all.
The hands that were used to holding rice stalks and swinging hoes were now swinging incredibly fast.
His eyebrows and eyes, which had just been somewhat strong, were now completely red, and his nose was stinging.
It was only a few steps, but it felt like a whole year and a half had passed.
He ran up to Gao Mengli and suddenly hugged her tightly, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.
A thousand words stuck in her throat, finally turning into a soft, tearful call: "Mengli!"