She fell out after crying at the wrong grave

No matter whose face it was for, A'ao felt much more relieved after getting a promise.

Not long after, it started snowing in Shuyang again. The weather was cold and difficult to travel. Communications were also interrupted for a few days because it was the end of the year and the mountain roads were completely difficult to travel.

When the snow melts, green begins to appear between heaven and earth. It gets cold very fast, but warms up quickly.

A'an chose the first day of correspondence to send out the letters to the Empress Dowager and Mrs. Zhou.

At the end of March, when the weather had become completely warm, A'ao and Hengzhi began to travel around the mountains and rivers in Sichuan.

There are many green mountains in Shu, and the most famous one is Qingheng Mountain.

To say that this is an isolated mountain is not quite accurate. Although Qingheng Mountain is high, there are some villages in the mountains, which look like they are embedded in the cliffs, which is very dangerous.

It is said that there is a very ancient Zen temple on the top of the mountain. This trip is not to pray to gods or Buddha, but more to see what this century-old Zen temple has. It is worth it for many people to travel thousands of miles to the top of the mountain to see it.

Ah'ao was wearing a light riding suit and had her long hair tied up high. "Mr. Huai has also been to Qingheng Mountain." She looked at the green bamboos on the mountain road, and with the help of Hengzhi's arm, she jumped onto a small steep slope.

"Can he climb such a dangerous mountain?" Hengzhi smiled.

"How can you look down on me, young marquis? He and Gong Sheng and Gong Shengshou have been good friends for many years. Didn't I tell you before? They traveled together when they were young and even came to the Qingyuan Temple to study."

Qingheng Mountain is indeed difficult to climb, and the temple is located on the top of the mountain, so people regard the arduous climb as a test from the gods and Buddhas. It is difficult to make a wish and it is also difficult to fulfill a wish, so word of mouth spread and the reputation gradually spread.

But the two of them didn't have much to ask for. At most, they went there for the fairly delicious vegetarian meal, which made it seem a bit boring.

So halfway up the mountain, Ah'ao felt a little tired.

"Hengzhi, shall we take a break?" Ah'an put her hands on her waist, her calves aching. "There seem to be a few families ahead, let's go and ask for some water to drink."

Hengzhi held a dagger in his hand and chopped the dead vines in front to clear a path. When he heard Ah-yi begging for mercy, he walked back to her side and said, "I knew you didn't have enough strength, but you boasted that you could do it."

He chuckled and held out his hand in front of Ah-yi, "My lady lost, five taels, remember this."

Before going up the mountain, the two made a bet. If Ah-yi complained of being tired, she would lose and would have to pay Heng-chi five taels of silver.

Although Haikou boasted in advance, it was almost impossible not to complain about being tired. So Ah-yi had already been able to bend and stretch, and was willing to lose this bet.

Reaching out and patting his palm, Ah-yi said unhappily, "What are you talking about? You still owed me five taels of silver from the day we first met. A bag of silver is gone when it reaches me. Do you think I'm stupid?" She approached and said in a questioning tone, "The two sides offset each other."

Hengzhi quickly pinched her cheek and said, "So you were waiting for me here."

Because he didn't give five taels of silver, he is still being criticized even after so many years of marriage.

Ah'ao has been in a good mood recently and enjoys eating. Her cheeks have finally become a little plumper and feel a little better when pinched.

Hengzhi, filled with satisfaction and pride, took Ah's hand and walked towards the nearby residential area. "I'll listen to you and take you to rest."

Even though the mountain roads were difficult to navigate, the villagers were used to living in houses built on the cliffs. The more affluent families would reinforce the houses with bricks and stones.

However, what is expensive is never the bricks and stones, but the hard-earned money spent on building on the cliff.

The bamboo shoots and mushrooms from Qingheng Mountain are very popular in major cities like Shuyang. Wang Xuan's family specially bought these for cooking, and also some livestock raised in the mountains, which are all very delicious.

Although the amount of food that can be grown is far from enough compared to the flat Pingzhou, but relying on these, plus the growing bamboo, they can still afford to eat.

Walking up to the bamboo fence, Heng Qi knocked on the wooden door and asked, "Is anyone home?"

Soon, a middle-aged woman came and opened the door.

"Who are you two looking for?" The woman's accent was a bit heavy, so I could only barely make out what she meant. The woman had silver hair and a thin figure, but her eyes were very bright, and it was obvious that she was a friendly person.

Ah's almond-shaped eyes curved with a smile, "Madam, my husband and I came to pay our respects to Qingyuan Temple. We are passing by and are thirsty. Can you lend me some water?"

Both of them were good-looking, and they didn't look like robbers, but rather like the sons and daughters of wealthy families.

The peasant woman was relieved when she saw this, and quickly and generously invited them in, "No problem, both of you please come in quickly."

With the introduction of the village women, Ah'an realized that it was not uncommon for people like them to ask for help when they were thirsty, hungry, or had any other problems while climbing mountains.

This year, spring has just passed, so not many people come here. When the coldness in the mountains completely dissipates in a few days, it will be cool and pleasant, and more people will come here.

"This is the honeysuckle we grew at home. We just harvested it last year. You two can have a try." The peasant woman boiled water enthusiastically and placed two clean porcelain bowls in front of the two. "But we don't have any tea sets at home. Please forgive me."

Seeing that the two of them drank water in perfect harmony, the peasant woman couldn't help but smile and said, "Are you two here to pray for marriage or children? Qingyuan Temple is very effective. People like us always go to the temple to pray for safety before giving birth!"

Probably because they were young, he guessed based on his previous experience of receiving tourists. "It turns out that praying for marriage here is very effective." Heng Qi asked with a faint smile, "Then you really came to the right place. I don't know what my wife means, I am seeking marriage."

The peasant woman didn't quite understand what was said, "Why, this lady doesn't want to ask for anything?"

Ah-yi felt puzzled, "We are already married, what else do we need to ask for in marriage?"

Isn’t it perfect to have your lover by your side?

"Oh, my wife." The peasant woman clapped her hands and laughed. "In this world, there is no such thing as praying for a happy marriage! Before marriage, people come to pray for a smooth marriage, and after marriage, they come to pray for a long life together. They pray for a loyal husband, a peaceful family, and many children. All of these are possible."

Ah'ao looked back at Hengzhi, and in her clear eyes, she seemed to not believe that he would change his heart.

"When two people fall in love, it means that fate is intertwined." Ah-yi shook her head. "If the man wants to change his mind, it means that he is hypocritical and insincere. For such a person, even if you pray to the Buddha, he will not change his mind. It is useless."

The peasant woman was speechless for a moment.

That being said, it was true. But there was nothing wrong with keeping hope in one's heart. She laughed at the newlyweds, thinking everything was so simple.

"My wife is a cautious and temperamental person." Heng Qi tried to smooth things over and added some hot water to Ah'an. "She is very good at business and is well-known in her hometown. I am the only one who can ask her not to change her mind, so why should she ask me for help?"

It turns out that it was a marriage that was married into the family.

The peasant woman looked at Hengzhi again, with a hint of sympathy in her eyes. If that was the case, he probably had no room to speak in his wife's home, so it was understandable that he was so cautious.

However, in this world, there are always people who are better than you. There are even places where women are doing well in business.

"May I ask where you two are from? I have rarely heard of women doing business!"

"We are from Kezhou in the north." Ah'an answered her question first, then continued, "Why not do business? In our Kezhou, women can go to school like men and become teachers or accountants."

What she said openly was the result of Hengzhi's hard work over the years.

In fact, wherever there are people, there will be conservative thoughts, and Ah-yi knows this.

Just like when she disguised herself as a man and went to teach in the village, she was scolded and driven out of the village after being discovered. In many places, women still suffer from the pain of not seeing the sun.

Hengzhi treated all women equally and with courtesy. During the years that Yunli had lived in his house, she had almost grown up with him and Yuncong, and had never been treated with any contempt or humiliation.

Except for her, the one who tied her up and deceived her at first sight can be considered a decent gentleman.

All of this is inseparable from the teachings of his mother, Mrs. Xu.

"It's great that she can still study." The peasant woman said enviously, and then sighed, "I have a daughter who has been smart since she was young. She can recite all the poems and essays her brother learned in school. I wanted her to study too so that she can marry better. But when she was thirteen, her father decided to marry her off to a butcher's family in Jiannan Road. I haven't seen her for more than ten years."

For a mother, the most difficult thing is that her children are far away and she cannot see them.

Jiannan Road is not far from Shuyang. If you take the official road, or even by water, ten days will be enough to get there.

A journey of ten days is not yet completed in ten years. It is clear that what binds them is not the long journey.

Ah'ao wanted to say something to comfort her, but she was afraid that she would hurt her even more, so she just lowered her head and drank her tea in silence.

People in this world have different backgrounds, which is something they cannot choose. She and Hengzhi were fortunate to be born in a wealthy family, and they have never had to worry about food and clothing since childhood, so they should not exaggerate the sufferings of others.

This is just human conscience.

The peasant woman realized that she had said something wrong and wiped her face. "It's getting late, and it's inconvenient to travel at night. I think you two can stay here and continue up the mountain tomorrow."

This is a good suggestion. If we pass by this inhabited area and go further up, if there are no traces of people, we might encounter wild wolves at night.

"Then thank you for your help for one night." Ah'ao tilted her head, looking playful and cute.

"It's okay, it's okay." The peasant woman waved her hand and took them to see the house. "My husband happened to be out hunting with our son. I'm afraid he won't be back today. It's better to have you accompany me than to be alone."

At night, A'an sat alone on a stone pier in front of the peasant's yard, looking up at the starry sky.

It is closer to the sky here, and the stars are bigger and brighter. Tomorrow will definitely be a sunny day, Ah-yi thought.

"Why are you sitting here?" After Hengzhi washed up, he could not see Ah's presence in the room. He looked for her and found that she was sitting on the stone like a rabbit.

"Hello, Kezhou. I miss home a little." She said without thinking, with her lips slightly curved.

(End of this chapter)