sjar Chapter 148 Settling Down
Chapter 148 Settling Down
Ning Xiaoxi had gained a basic understanding of the situation outside the north of the city, but she wanted to know more. Why was it so barren? Was there really no chance of survival?
The carriage traveled through the main road of the county town and went directly to the northern part of the town, where there was a low-rise housing area closest to the city wall.
The north gate was smaller and more practical than the south gate, probably only prepared for sending out troops. The heavy gate didn't look like it was ready to be opened at any time!
The houses in this area are uniformly built, arranged along the eastern city wall. The eaves of the gabled roofs, less than two meters high, are now bare of snow, revealing the round log roofs. There are approximately ten streets and eleven rows of houses, ten in each row. Each house has three standard rooms, separated by wooden fences to form individual courtyards, some still covered in unmelted snow.
The Ning family lived in the sixth building of the third row. The gate to the courtyard was a simple frame with a thatched roof. The gate was made of two thin pieces of wood with a simple lock. The wooden fences on the left and right sides were about the height of Ning Shi, so you couldn't see inside from the outside.
The simple door was only about one and a half times the width of a person, and together it was only about three people's width. There was no way a carriage could fit through it.
“Aunt, my sister has just arrived home. Please rest well today. I will come back tomorrow to see if she needs anything.” Ming Jizong bid farewell tactfully, then turned to look at the reindeer following Ning Ziqing’s horse. He wondered if his yard could accommodate such a large animal. “Sister, please take this reindeer to my yard. There is still room in the stables there. Keep it there for now, and let me know when you have made the arrangements.”
"Okay, thank you very much, second cousin." Ning Xiaoxi's main features were a beautiful smile and a sweet mouth.
"Jizong, thank you for your hard work today. Let's have lunch together as a family tomorrow. Remember to come." Ming Luoying was very affectionate towards her nephew.
"Okay, Aunt, I understand." Ming Jizong nodded in response. "Uncle, Ziqing, I'll head back now. If you need anything, have Zhou Xin pass on a message to me."
The family of four waited at the door for Ming Jizong to drive the carriage out of the street before turning around and entering the courtyard.
The Ning family has only been living in this courtyard for half a month, but it already looks quite impressive.
A gravel path leads from the main gate to the three main rooms; the path is clean and free of snow.
To the left of the yard was clearly land prepared for planting; the snow on it had begun to melt, and the entire area was flat. To the right, near the fence, was a woodshed with neatly chopped firewood, a pile of branches and twigs, and several bundles of hay. In front of the woodshed was another flat area with wooden frames around it. Some withered vines hung on the frames, suggesting that some summer-growing plants might be being grown there.
In front of the three main rooms is a stone-paved courtyard about five steps wide, the bluestone paving is very fine, and there is no dirty soil. This tidy courtyard does not look like it is uninhabited at all.
"Mother, was this house inhabited before?"
“When we arrived, we were assigned to this courtyard, and no one said much. Later, my mother found out that this place used to be occupied by a squad leader from the border army's scout battalion named Shang Wu.” Ming Luoying pulled Ning Xiaoxi to the bluestone slab to clean her shoes.
In fact, Ning Xiaoxi had been riding on the back of a reindeer the whole way here. Her brother picked her up on his horse. When they arrived at the city gate, they hadn't gone far before she got into her second cousin's carriage. The stone path in the courtyard was very clean, and there was no mud on her shoes.
Just watching my mother fuss over me brings me peace of mind.
“Xiao Xi, this place is different from the royal city. We’ll have to readjust to many of the new customs.” Ming Luoying picked up a small broom with a short handle and swept Ning Xiaoxi’s trouser legs and shoes. After sweeping herself, she handed the broom to Ning Shi, who was waiting behind her.
After sweeping, Ming Luoying pulled Ning Xiaoxi into the house.
The room had a door in the middle, and on each of the left and right walls was a wide, four-pane window. The window frames were made of small wooden strips arranged in a grid pattern and then covered with paper. The paper was clearly recently replaced and was still very white, but it was estimated that the room wouldn't be very well lit.
Upon entering the house, you'll find a kitchen. On the east side, towards the back, is a large stove with a striking iron pot on top. In the center is a solid wood eight-person table, with two stools on each of the four sides. On the west side, in the center, is a hearth with a kettle on top, the flames glowing red-hot. Therefore, a warm feeling greets you as soon as you enter the house.
Ming Luoying first led Ning Xiaoxi into the west room. In the middle of this room was a thin wall made of blue bricks, and outside there was a screen that separated a small private room. Besides a small table, there was also a single bed. If you wanted to write at the table, you could only sit on the bed, as there wasn't even a place to put a chair.
Stepping over a threshold about a foot high connecting to the thin wall, you enter another cozy little room. Against the blue brick wall is a small bed covered with white animal hide, and inside is a dressing table with cosmetics and other items on it. Against the outer wall is a row of shelves with four wardrobes stacked on top of each other, the gaps between the shelves and wardrobes making it look much more spacious. In the corner is a wooden shelf with a copper washbasin on it.
“Xiaoxi, our conditions are limited right now. After a while, when the pardons for our parents and brother are issued, we’ll move to a bigger house.” Ming Luoying patted Ning Xiaoxi’s hand. “Wait and see if there’s anything we need, and I’ll get it for you.”
Ning Xiaoxi turned around and hugged Ming Luoying, "Mommy, I like it very much, I really like it!"
Given these conditions and circumstances, to be able to provide her with such a room, what more could she possibly want?
"Xiao Xi, come out and get something to eat," Ning Ziqing called from the doorway.
Ming Luoying led Ning Xiaoxi to the east room. To the north was a large heated kang (a traditional Chinese bed-stove), on which sat a kang table with four plates containing peanuts, candied fruit, gingerbread, and hazelnuts. Near the window on the floor was a brazier, next to which sat an open kettle. The glowing embers made the room warm but not stuffy.
Ning Ziqing brought in a ceramic bowl and handed it to Ning Xiaoxi, saying, "Here, drink a bowl of ginger soup first to get rid of the cold."
The edge of the kang (heated brick bed) was a bit high, so Ning Xiaoxi's feet dangled in the air when she sat down. The kang was covered with a straw mat, and there were two cotton cushions next to the kang table, which were warm to sit on.
Ning Xiaoxi sat down and took the ceramic bowl, sipping it slowly. The steaming ginger soup was a little spicy, but it warmed her stomach after swallowing. She looked up at her parents and brother, flashing a big smile, her joy overflowing and impossible to contain.