Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 117 Peace
A day later, the surviving people of Anle County finally arrived at Peijia Village.

The endless wheat fields had turned golden, and the wind blew, creating waves of golden wheat. Men and women working in the fields saw a group of people in the distance, their eyes lit up, and they shouted, "Sixth Sister is back!"

The shouts reached inside the wall, and soon a beautiful young woman came out to greet them. Several elderly women and children quickly gathered around.

Pei Qinghe greeted the elders with a smile.

Her nephew, Little Dog, hugged her leg and called her "Auntie" in his childish voice. Little Yu'er nestled beside her, her voice crisp and sweet: "Auntie, I haven't seen you for so many days, I really missed you."

Pei Qinghe smiled, reached out and picked up the puppy Xiaoyuer, kissing her forehead on both sides.

Feeling sorry for her daughter, Madam Feng quickly reached out and picked up the puppy, saying, "Your aunt has been busy for so many days, let her rest well."

Pei Yun took Xiao Yu'er in her arms and whispered, "Did you bring back someone from Anle County?"

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly: "Yes. Anle County was massacred, and only a little over four hundred people survived. Those who were willing to come with me to Pei Family Village to settle down are all here."

Pei Yun immediately said, "I'll take them to settle in. You just go and rest."

With Pei Yun around, Pei Qinghe felt very relieved and went to bathe, change clothes, and rest.

For more than twenty days in a row, he slept for only one or two hours a night at most. Even a person of iron would be exhausted. Pei Qinghe fell into a deep sleep.

Half-asleep, someone gently pushed open the door, covered her with blankets, and stroked her cheek.

Pei Qinghe, still asleep, nestled closer to her mother's palm.

Mrs. Feng felt both gratified and heartbroken, and sat by the bedside for a long time. Only after leaving the room did she quietly let out a cry.

Pei Qinghe led her men to defend the county town, living in constant fear, lest she hear the devastating news of Changping County's fall. She hadn't had a single peaceful night's sleep in days.

She couldn't even reveal this maternal love. More than a hundred members of the Pei family accompanied Pei Qinghe to defend the county town. Everyone only has one life; on the battlefield, everyone has to risk their lives to fight for survival.

She was Pei Qinghe's biological mother, and all the refugees who had come to Pei Family Village were watching her. She needed to appear confident, composed, and capable to keep people's hearts at ease.

Pei Qinghe was awakened by hunger.

As dawn broke, Madam Feng pushed open the door and brought in a large bowl of steaming noodles. She said softly with a smile, "You've slept for a whole day and night, you must be hungry now. These are hand-pulled noodles that I made myself, with a broth made from ham. They're very delicious."

The noodles were chewy and the broth was delicious. Pei Qinghe was starving, so she drank every last drop of the broth, then sighed happily, "Mother still loves me the most."

Madam Feng hugged her daughter and said softly with a smile, "Get up now that you've eaten! Pei Yun has been taking care of everything inside and outside these days, and she must be exhausted."

Pei Qinghe nodded slightly. After leaving the house, her playful and childish nature immediately disappeared, and she appeared before people as the imposing and authoritative Sixth Miss Pei.

Pei Qinghe wandered around the village on patrol, with Pei Yun following behind her, talking non-stop. She talked about everything from the villagers' daily lives to the day they pursued the remnants of the Xiongnu army. She had so much to say, and it took her almost half a day to finish.

Finally, Pei Yun sighed, "When you go to war, I'll go with you. The task of guarding the village should go to my second sister-in-law!"

Pei Qinghe chuckled: "My second sister-in-law often praises you in front of me, saying that you are meticulous, decisive, and efficient, and that your decision-making is far superior to hers!"

Pei Yun muttered, "Anyway, my second sister-in-law and I have to take turns guarding the village."

Pei Yan didn't have this problem; she enthusiastically walked the cats and dogs, playing around everywhere. Anyway, whoever wanted to stay behind could stay behind; this important task would never fall on her shoulders. She was going to follow her cousin Qinghe and conquer everything!

Pei Xuan and Pei Feng stayed by Pei Qinghe's side the whole time. Even during the most critical moments of defending the city, the two of them still went up to the city walls to fight the enemy. They also went to Anle County to rally the people. After this experience, both of them felt that they had grown up. They were quite displeased with their cousin Pei Yan's lazy behavior, and Pei Feng said steadily, "From now on, leave the fighting and killing to me."

Pei Xuan was even quicker with her tongue: "Pei Family Village is our territory, and guarding the village is just as important. In two years, Cousin Qinghe can rest assured and lead people out. The task of guarding the village will be left to me."

Pei Qinghe smiled and praised Pei Xuan and Pei Feng, making her younger cousins ​​very happy. Turning her head, she saw Pei Yan coaxing the malt candy from Xiao Wan'er's hand.

"Pei Yan!" Pei Qinghe was both annoyed and amused: "How old are you? You're still stealing Wan'er's candy."

Little Wan'er was a good child, and she replied softly, "I'm willing to give the candy to Aunt Yan."

Pei Yan beamed, picked up Xiao Wan'er, and kissed her hard: "Xiao Wan'er is the best. From now on, Aunt Yan will give you all the good things she gets."

The sun was shining warmly, illuminating the relaxed and joyful faces of everyone.

They fought tooth and nail for this peace.

Pei Qinghe also laughed.

Unfortunately, the peaceful days wouldn't last long. Letters kept arriving from Changping County, urging Pei Qinghe to return to the county seat.

Pei Qinghe led Pei Yan and the others out of the village on horseback once again.

The people of Anle County, heads bowed as they worked in the fields... are now all villagers of Peijia Village. They looked up and sighed softly, "We never imagined we could live such a good life, with three meals a day."

"I'm not going anywhere else; I'm going to stay in Peijia Village."

"With Sixth Sister around, we can eat our fill and stay warm every day."

Zhai Sanlang struggled to pull the mule through the wasteland, laughing loudly as he said, "Everyone is right. The life we ​​live now is something we never dared to dream of before."

"Everyone, work hard! Don't slack off or you'll be kicked out."

……

"Qinghe!"

Defending the city and maintaining public order is no easy task. Mao Hongling, who had been worrying and working hard all day, looked a little haggard, and her voice was a little hoarse: "You're finally back."

"The prefect of Yan County has sent someone, and they are currently in the county government office. Magistrate Wang is dealing with the situation."

Pei Qinghe raised an eyebrow and sneered: "Yan County has ten counties under its jurisdiction. Anle County was completely slaughtered by the Xiongnu cavalry. The governor of Yan County did not dare to send anyone to investigate. Now he has sent someone to Changping County."

"I'd like to see what the Prefect intends to do!"

Magistrate Wang was a drunkard who neglected his duties and the people's livelihood, but at least he didn't oppress them. Prefect Tang, however, was a typical court official who bullied the weak and feared the strong, and was insatiably greedy.

In the past, with the support of the Crown Prince and the backing of the Beiping Army, Prefect Tang dared not touch Pei Family Village. Now, with the Crown Prince fallen, the Beiping Army defeated, and a new emperor on the throne in the capital, the rebel army is advancing towards the capital. The new emperor is overwhelmed with problems and has no time to deal with the rebellion.

Prefect Tang, believing himself to be a loyal subject, wanted to rid the new emperor of this great threat. Even after the Pei family had successfully defended Changping County against the Xiongnu cavalry, he sent men to make things difficult for them.

(End of this chapter)