Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 328 Return (Part Two)

A night of revelry.

The next day at dawn, Pei Qinghe quietly got up, dressed, and left the bed.

Shi Yan, exhausted from a night's work, was still fast asleep, dreaming sweet dreams, a smile playing on her lips.

Pei Qinghe had just stepped out of the house when she ran into Pei Yan and Yang Huai. Pei Yan was rubbing her lower back and muttering something. Yang Huai, embarrassed, smiled too obviously, grinning broadly.

Pei Qinghe pretended not to hear anything and smiled as she invited Pei Yan to go to the training ground together.

The training ground in Peijia Village has been constantly expanding. The trees that originally stood in the north of the village have been cut down batch after batch, and now they almost reach the foot of the mountain.

The veterans of Pei's army were used to it. However, the two thousand Liaoxi soldiers and five hundred Fanyang soldiers who had just arrived were quite shocked.

This training ground is huge!
There are places specifically for practicing strength by lifting stone weights, various wooden weapons for sparring, and countless archery targets.

Not only was it several times larger than the military camps they were used to, but what was even more astonishing was the high morale of every soldier in the Pei family army. After traveling for so many days, weren't they even a little tired? Didn't they need to rest for a few days before training again?!
If Pei's army doesn't rest, how can they have the face to rest?

Fortunately, the general, understanding everyone's hard work, announced that today's morning exercise would only involve running five li (approximately 2.5 kilometers). The soldiers quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

For the past six months, they have been undergoing rigorous training by the general. Now they can run five miles with ease, and no one falls behind anymore.

After finishing their run, they lined up for breakfast. The kitchen in Peijia Village was mostly staffed by women, and the soldiers formed ten lines. Every now and then, someone would crane their neck to peek.

The women serving food and soup weren't shy at all; they actively looked the soldiers over. If they saw someone strong and handsome, they'd even smile. Occasionally, a soldier would strike up a conversation with one of the cooks while getting his food.

This was the most anticipated event of the day for the soldiers. Marriage was not forbidden in the Pei family army; as long as a man and woman took a liking to each other, they could report their union and get married. It was not uncommon for husband and wife to serve in the army together, training separately during the day and returning to their rooms together at night.

Both male and female soldiers died on the battlefield. Those who lost their spouses were allowed to remarry after observing a year of mourning for their deceased husbands or wives.

After fighting so many wars, life and death, separation and parting are commonplace. After the grief subsides and tears are wiped away, you must continue to live with your head held high. You still have to eat, the war continues, and life goes on.

Every war is followed by a surge in weddings. The battlefield is cruel and life and death are unpredictable; therefore, we must cherish and love life even more.

Within just a few days, three people came to report the good news that the general was getting married.

Sun Cheng was among them.

Sun Cheng, a seasoned veteran on the battlefield, rarely showed any nervousness or timidity. The woman standing beside him was slender, with fair skin, almond-shaped eyes, and peach-blossom cheeks; she was charming and beautiful.

This woman, named Jiao Niang, had a past that need no further elaboration. She had been in Pei Family Village for four or five years, teaching the children to read. The soldiers of the Pei Family Army privately nicknamed her "the beauty surpassing Diao Chan." She was the dream wife of countless soldiers.

Unexpectedly, it was Sun Cheng who ended up picking this flower.

Pei Qinghe asked with a smile, "Have you two thought it through?"

Sun Cheng was slightly flustered and embarrassed.

The beautiful woman, however, was poised and graceful, and replied with a smile, "To be honest, General, Chief Sun and I were attracted to each other last year. Later, the Xiongnu barbarians suddenly invaded Liaoxi, and you led a large army to the front lines. Now that Chief Sun has returned safely, I don't want to wait any longer. I am willing to marry Chief Sun."

It was said that marriage was free and open to all. In reality, it was mostly women who chose their husbands. Women in the Pei family army had high status and General Pei's backing, so they were more confident in choosing husbands.

Pei Qinghe looked at Sun Cheng.

Sun Cheng, a man in his thirties, now resembled a lovesick young man, coughing as he said, "I wish to marry your beautiful wife, General, please grant my request." Sun Cheng originally had a wife and children. In previous years, due to the constant turmoil and fighting in the capital, his wife and children had all perished at the hands of the rebel army in Jiangnan. Later, Sun Cheng wandered from place to place until he finally found peace by joining the Pei family army.

Sun Cheng was a widower, and Jiao Niang had also lost her husband long ago. They were in love with each other, and Pei Qinghe was happy to see them get married. She even prepared a generous gift for them.

The Pei family army is full of talented people, and Sun Cheng stands out among them. He has established himself firmly with his own abilities and has won the trust and respect of Pei Qinghe.

After the marriage contract was signed, the bride packed her bags and moved into Sun Cheng's house, where two tables were set up to invite her close colleagues and friends. They ate stewed meat in the military camp, and that was considered the end of the marriage.

With one happy event after another, Meng Bing, whose injuries had almost fully healed, could no longer contain herself.

Meng Bing shamelessly went to find Mao Hongling: "When are you going to welcome me into the house?"

Mao Hongling bit her lip and smiled: "Are you really sure? Once you take this step, you're a member of the Pei family, and there's no turning back."

Meng Bing chuckled softly, "I've already made up my mind. As long as you don't mind me, I'll be yours for the rest of my life."

Mao Hongling was about to speak with a smile when a strange sound suddenly came from outside the door. Mao Hongling's ears twitched, and she quickly went forward to open the door.

The puppy stumbled in, and Mao Hongling grabbed its ear: "When did you learn to eavesdrop?"

The puppy cried out, "Ouch! Ouch! Mom, let go! My ear is going to fall off!"

Meng Bing smiled and said, "The child is still young, it's inevitable that he'll be a little naughty. We can teach him slowly in the future."

Mao Hongling is usually gentle and kind-hearted, but when she gets angry, she has a bit of the majesty of a female general: "He is seven years old this year, and he should be sensible by now. Other things are fine, but the bad habit of eavesdropping is absolutely unacceptable. Don't worry about it, I'm going to teach him a lesson today."

Meng Bing had no choice but to shut up.

Mao Hongling slapped the puppy's bottom without any hesitation. The puppy howled and cried.

Mao Hongling showed no mercy, and asked with a stern face, "Will you dare to do it again?"

The puppy sobbed, "I won't do it again."

Mao Hongling then asked, "I want to marry Uncle Meng. Are you willing?"

The puppy wiped its tears with its sleeve: "Can I call him Dad from now on? Xiao Wang and the others all have dads, and I want a dad too."

Mao Hongling was both amused and annoyed, glancing at Meng Bing. Meng Bing was overjoyed and immediately laughed, "Then from today onwards, I'm Little Dog's father. From now on, all the military pay I earn will be left for Little Dog to spend."

The puppy was coaxed into smiling through its tears and clung to Meng Bing's sleeve, refusing to let go.

Meng Bing, holding the puppy in one hand and Mao Hongling's hand in the other, appeared before Pei Qinghe with a smile in her eyes.

Pei Qinghe raised an eyebrow and smiled: "General Meng, are you really willing to marry into the Pei family?"

Meng Bing answered decisively.

Pei Qinghe looked at Mao Hongling. Mao Hongling blushed and said softly, "Please grant my request, General."

Pei Qinghe smiled and said, "I've been waiting for this day for a long time." After a pause, she added, "This matter can't be kept secret. I'll write a letter to inform the Emperor."

(End of this chapter)