Ask the mountains and rivers

Chapter 330 Marriage-in-law
Pei Qinghe took the mischievous puppy away, and the group of children followed like little tails. Seeing this, the leaders who had come to make a ruckus in the bridal chamber also wisely withdrew.

In the newly built house, which was decorated with red "double happiness" characters, Mao Hongling whispered apologetically, "Don't take the child's nonsense to heart."

For a man, being unable to have children is a shameful and humiliating thing.

Meng Bing was quite frank, and chuckled softly, "I was seriously injured five years ago, and my leg became lame, so I could no longer have children. It's already a miracle that I was able to snatch my life back from the jaws of death."

This is what a true man is. No matter what adversity he encounters, he can persevere.

A surge of warmth welled up in Mao Hongling's heart, and she nestled into Meng Bing's arms.

Meng Bing whispered with a smile in her ear, "I just can't have children, but I can still be a man. Don't worry."

Mao Hongling, feeling ashamed and embarrassed, spat at him.

……

After the wedding banquet, Pei Qinghe took the puppy back into the house.

The puppy asked excitedly, "Can I really sleep with my aunt tonight?"

Pei Qinghe smiled and responded.

The puppy usually slept with Madam Feng, but sometimes it would sleep with its own mother. Pei Qinghe was afraid that the puppy would suddenly run into the bridal chamber and disturb Mao Hongling and Meng Bing's wedding night, so she simply brought the puppy back with her.

Shi Yan smiled and took the puppy's hand: "Come on, let your uncle give you a bath. You can sleep after you're clean."

Shi Yan had been in Peijia Village for several years, watching the puppy grow up little by little, and he had always liked the puppy very much. He was quite patient when bathing the puppy, and even washed its hair, dried its fur, and told it two stories.

The puppy lay happily between its aunt and uncle, like a little piglet, snoring away as it fell asleep.

Pei Qinghe chuckled and pinched the puppy's cheek. When she looked up, she saw Shi Yan looking at her with a smile in his eyes.

Why are you laughing so happily?

"I was thinking, if we have children in the future, we can sleep between each other like this," Shi Yan said, her face full of longing and anticipation. "That would be wonderful."

Da Jing practiced early marriage. It was common for girls to get married at fifteen or sixteen. Shi Li was a year younger than Shi Yan, but he was already the father of three children.

Pei Qinghe is twenty years old this year, which is also the prime of her youth and healthy age for childbearing.

"The world is in chaos, foreign enemies are not yet subdued, and the civil war continues. The situation is chaotic." Pei Qinghe said in a low voice, "I have to lead troops into battle and have no time to get pregnant and give birth. At least, I won't have any children for the next few years."

Once the child is born, there won't be a problem with finding someone to take care of it. But no one can take your place during pregnancy and childbirth. Who knows when war might break out? She can't go into battle while heavily pregnant.

Furthermore, childbirth is risky. If any unexpected accident occurs, Pei's army will be leaderless and fall apart.

This is a serious consequence that no one can afford. At least, the Pei family army cannot afford it right now.

She should wait until the war situation stabilizes and the morale of the Pei family army is high before considering getting pregnant and having children.

"I was just joking, don't take it seriously." Shi Yan chuckled softly, "You are a great general who has dominated the battlefield, and a war god in the hearts of the people of Youzhou. Tens of thousands of Pei family soldiers follow you, you have to be responsible for them and for the people."

"Having a child takes up a lot of time and energy. Even if you want to have one, I don't agree."

Pei Qinghe glanced at him with a smile, saying nothing more. She bent down and kissed the puppy's cheek: "It's too late, let's go to sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow."

……

Its daybreak.

The puppy rolled over, still half asleep, and wrapped its arms around its uncle's neck: "Where's Auntie?"

The uncle gently coaxed, "Your aunt has gone to lead the troops in morning training. You can continue sleeping."

The puppy slept for most of the next hour. Pei Qinghe returned after running ten miles, full of energy, and scooped up the puppy with one hand: "Come on, Auntie will take you to see your mother and your stepfather." The newlyweds appeared before people looking somewhat tired.

The crowd laughed good-naturedly.

Mao Hongling's cheeks flushed, but the man's skin was much thicker. He first offered tea to Madam Feng and then addressed her as "Mother."

After drinking the tea, Madam Feng gave the prepared gift to her son-in-law.

Meng Bing accepted the red envelope and naturally handed it to Mao Hongling. Everyone laughed again.

The puppy darted over. Mao Hongling smiled and grabbed the puppy's hand. The puppy held its mother's hand with one hand and its stepfather's hand with the other, and was extremely happy.

Xiao Yu'er, who was not far away, watched this scene with envy.

Pei Qinghe smiled and waved to Xiaoyuer. Xiaoyuer happily came over and stood beside her aunt and uncle.

Pei Qinghe smiled and called out, "Second Brother."

Meng Bing was somewhat flattered: "How can this be?"

“Why not?” Pei Qinghe laughed. “You married into the Pei family and became my second sister-in-law’s husband. What’s wrong with me calling you second brother?”

"This is not a military camp, you don't need to call me General, just call me Qinghe."

Meng Bing wasn't one to mince words, and immediately changed her address. The change in address made them seem much closer.

After lunch, Pei Qinghe and Meng Bing discussed serious matters: "Second brother, I plan to train five thousand cavalry."

The cost of maintaining one cavalryman is enough to support ten infantrymen. The main problem is raising warhorses. A good warhorse is worth a hundred taels of silver, and the amount of fodder it needs each year is an astonishing expense.

The Beiping army had two thousand cavalrymen, which was enough for them to stand proudly in the north. The Bohai army had four thousand cavalrymen.

Given the prestige and strength of the Pei family army, maintaining 5,000 cavalry is a suitable and reasonable number.

Meng Bing asked in a low voice, "How many warhorses will Master Zhan bring back this time?"

To train cavalry, you first need horses.

Zhanfei traveled tirelessly across the grasslands, using the cotton cloth, tea, and other supplies he brought with him to exchange for horses from various small tribes, and continuously sending them back.

Pei Qinghe laughed and said, "We had more than a thousand horses before, and this time we brought back more than seven hundred. Adding your and Lu Erlang's horses, we can make a total of three thousand warhorses."

"I plan to select 6,000 elite infantrymen to train in horseback riding and archery every day. Since there are not enough warhorses now, two men will take turns sharing one warhorse. As more warhorses are added in the future, the cavalry will gradually be trained."

The reason for selecting an extra thousand men was that cavalry suffered heavy losses and needed to be replenished at any time.

Meng Bing readily agreed, saying, "The general's considerations are thorough."

Pei Qinghe said, "I will choose people tomorrow, and my second brother will go with me."

Meng Bing nodded in agreement.

The following day, Pei Qinghe not only brought Meng Bing, but also Mao Hongling, Pei Yan, Yang Huai, Lü Erlang, and others.

The newly recruited soldiers were all beaming with joy. The veterans, on the other hand, were much calmer and more composed. They knew the general's habits; the cavalry would definitely be chosen from among the veterans first. The greenhorns would take a backseat.

It took several days to select six thousand elite soldiers.

Zhan Fei also returned, bringing back more than 700 horses, 30% of which were pregnant mares.

This is wonderful!
Pei Qinghe smiled kindly at Zhan Fei and said, "Master Zhan, you've worked hard."

(End of this chapter)