Mysteries of the Great Zhou Dynasty

Chapter 134 Dried Fruit
Yan Mingzhang returned the greeting: "Congratulations, Brother Xiao, on gaining a beloved disciple. With your unique teaching methods, you are sure to be an excellent teacher."

Wan Yin covered her mouth and laughed, "Junior brother, are you just looking for an excuse to beat up A Bao? Go easy on him so you don't hurt him."

Xiao Mu simply smiled, bowed to everyone with perfect manners, and then gracefully departed, his steps still unhurried.

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Mo Yun looked at the long line of bandits in front of him and was immediately overwhelmed. He nudged Chang Feng with his elbow and said, "Chang Feng, what do you mean... sigh, we were just enjoying the scenery and thinking that we would have a big meal when we got there, but we didn't get to have a meal. We have to work first."

Changfeng nudged Moyun, signaling him to be quiet, and then gestured for Moyun to look towards Wanyin.

Yan Mingzhang carefully examined Rong Wanyin's arm wound again, making sure it was bandaged and there was no bleeding, before asking with concern, his voice even trembling slightly, "Does it still hurt?"

Tears welled up in Rong Wanyin's eyes instantly. With her eyes brimming with tears, she pouted and said coquettishly, "It hurts, it hurts so much! Let's have some meat tonight!"

Mo Yun and Chang Feng exchanged a smile. Mo Yun then put his hand to his chest, feeling extremely gratified, as if his pig had finally learned to root for cabbages: "Our master has finally come to his senses!"

Yan Mingzhang, as if coaxing a child, tapped Rong Wanyin's nose with his finger and smiled: "Alright, add a braised pig's trotter. Like cures like!"

Rong Wanyin was about to cheer when she suddenly realized, "using form to supplement form"—wasn't that just saying her hands were pig's feet? Rong Wanyin stomped her foot angrily and lightly punched Yan Mingzhang a few times: "Hey!"

Yan Mingzhang begged for mercy repeatedly: "Alright, alright, I admit defeat! I was wrong, I was wrong!"

Mo Yun and Chang Feng exchanged a glance, then shivered, feeling the hairs on their bodies stand on end. Was this the legendary flirting? Their teeth ached.

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.

After everyone had finally rested, Mo Yun picked up the rope with a long string of "bandits" on it, tied it to the saddle, and said to the bandits, "Let's go, everyone!"

The bandits were crestfallen and secretly regretted their bad luck. They had only heard that Peach Blossom Town was the richest place in the area, and that it was full of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled refugees. Their village had suffered a disaster, so they thought they could come here to make a fortune. But who would have thought that they would be ganged up on? It was truly... alas... they tried to steal a chicken but lost their rice instead.

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.

Taoyuan Town, neither large nor small, was originally just a small village nestled in a mountain valley. Later, Lord Meng Yong used it as a resettlement place for war refugees. Those displaced during the war, regardless of whether they were Han or Khitan, could stay here as long as their citizenship was verified. They could rent fertile land, houses, cattle, and horses. Taxes were low, and after two or three years of hard work, they could generally redeem their livestock and houses, making them their own. However, land could only be rented, not bought or sold. More and more people came, and merchants and artisans flocked to the town, which is how Taoyuan Town came to be. In the chaotic past, such places were naturally prime targets for bandits and robbers. Taoyuan Town's ability to stand strong for so many years is certainly not without reason. Firstly, its terrain is exceptional: surrounded by mountains and with a swift-flowing river in front, it's easy to defend and difficult to attack. Secondly, its militia is highly trained, including many recruited bandits and robbers, certainly not the weak and infirm as rumored. Thirdly, and most importantly, but little known to outsiders, after Lord Meng Yong's accidental drowning while building a dam, another person took over the reins of Taoyuan Town—the Elder Wuji, Rong Wanyin's master. However, these inexperienced bandits are unaware of this intricacies, thinking Taoyuan Town is a tempting target, not a hot potato. Now they're strung together like fish on a chopping block, a perfect example of being at the mercy of others.

The group, struggling to carry the bandits, finally handed them over to the responsible personnel, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

The group arrived at Master Wanyin's residence—an inconspicuous little courtyard. Xiao Mu was already waiting at the door with A Bao, who was covered in dirt and had a bruised and swollen face.

The small courtyard had mud walls only knee-high, and various flowers, herbs, and medicinal plants grew inside. There was also a pergola, and three tiled houses enclosed the courtyard. Although simple, it was kept neat and tidy. The neighboring courtyard was similar, except that it was filled with various dried fruits drying in the sun, and something was simmering on the stove, emitting a sweet aroma. In the neighboring courtyard, a plump middle-aged woman was sitting at a stone table peeling walnuts, her hands covered in black soot.

When Wanyin saw her neighbor, Aunt Wang, she greeted her warmly, "Auntie!"

The Han woman immediately stopped what she was doing, wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, looked at Wanyin with surprise and delight, and clapped her hands and laughed: "Oh, isn't this little Yin'er? Why did you come so late this year! Our Dazhuang has been going up the mountain every day for the past month to pick wild fruits, such as wild grapes, wild walnuts and red dates... saying that you love to eat them. But it's hot, and they can't be kept for long. Now they've all been made into candied fruit and dried fruit. If you hadn't come, there wouldn't have been enough room to dry them in the yard! Little Niuwa wanted to eat some, but his mother wouldn't let him eat too much, saying that these are for his savior."

As if suddenly remembering something, the aunt carefully wiped her hands on her apron, grabbed a handful of dried fruit and red dates, and stuffed them into everyone's hands: "Look at me, I've been so busy talking! Come on, have some! Don't be disgusted, my hands are black from peeling walnuts, they're not dirty!"

Rong Wanyin smiled and took the dried fruit, then quietly slipped it into Yan Mingzhang's hand and took the red dates from his hand: "How could I! My aunt's dried fruit is the best, you should try it."

The group exchanged a few pleasantries.

Wanyin said with a smile, "Thank you, Auntie. Please thank Brother Dazhuang and Sister-in-law for me. If Xiaoniu wants to eat, let him eat more. He's a boy who's still growing. Besides, I can't eat that much myself. It would be such a waste."

Aunt Wang nodded in agreement.

Wanyin then asked, "Auntie, how was the harvest this year? I feel at ease now that everything is settled."

The aunt pointed to the lush, vibrant green grass growing in the cracks between the stones in the yard and laughed, "We Han people may not look as strong as the people of the grasslands, but we are very resilient. Just like this grass, with a little rain, it will grow vigorously and recover very quickly!"

Wanyin nodded and smiled, "Auntie, I'll take a few friends to visit my master first, and we'll come back later."

Yan Mingzhang and the others nodded in acknowledgment, and Aunt Wang smiled shyly and returned the greeting.