inspire-indiana Chapter 322 Since things have come to this, let's eat first.
Chapter 322 Since things have come to this, let's eat first.
Gu Zhanghua and Zhao Xuan arrived at the Prince Cheng's mansion. After getting off the carriage, they saw a recruitment office set up at the entrance of the mansion to recruit soldiers.
Two men who looked like soldiers were sitting behind a table registering people. A line of people was in front of the table, and many civilians were watching.
Gu Zhanghua turned his head and spoke to Zhao Xuan.
"Second Brother is so dedicated! He actually set up the recruitment office right at the entrance of his own residence!"
Zhao Xuan nodded in agreement and echoed, "My second brother, like Father, always prioritizes matters of state!"
But when the two met Gu Jiancheng in the living room and casually asked about the recruitment office, Gu Jiancheng was extremely embarrassed and chuckled awkwardly:
"Don't laugh at me, Fifth Brother and Fifth Sister-in-law, but I really shouldn't have set up the recruitment office at the gate of the mansion. Your Second Sister-in-law doesn't appreciate it at all."
"What does this have to do with my second sister-in-law?"
Gu Zhanghua was puzzled.
Gu Jiancheng sighed, hesitated, but ultimately, having nothing to lose, he launched into a tirade.
"I'm heading to Fengcheng in a couple of days, aren't I? I know your second sister-in-law must be reluctant to leave, so I set up a recruitment post at the gate of the mansion so that I can spend more time with her and the children. This way, I can handle both official and personal matters at the same time."
To everyone's surprise, Zhenzhen showed no reluctance whatsoever. She even said that her eldest, second, third, and fourth brothers had been stationed with General Qin in the northern border for many years, and that it was her duty as Prince Cheng to lead troops in battle to protect the southern border.
Gu Jiancheng spread his hands, looking quite helpless.
"It turns out I was just being delusional! It was all wishful thinking on my part!"
Zhao Xuan and Gu Zhanghua couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this. Indeed, there's always someone who can subdue another; only a woman like Ma Zhenzhen could make the usually calm and wise Prince Cheng stumble.
Zhao Xuan asked, "Where is Zhenzhen?"
“I took the baby back to my parents’ home. I said I was going to ask my mother-in-law for some pickled vegetables so I could take them with me on the way and not worry about them spoiling.”
"You really thought of that," Gu Zhanghua praised. "The food in the barracks gets bland after a while; it only becomes appetizing with some pickles."
Hearing Gu Zhanghua praise his wife, a gentle smile appeared on Gu Jiancheng's face.
"My father has appointed me to lead the Southern Army. This is my first time on the battlefield. I'm really afraid she'll cry. I will definitely go, but I'm worried about them. I'm afraid that if I'm not at ease, I'll be distracted while leading the troops."
"Second brother, this is only natural. Fortunately, your wife is used to it. You can go to Fengcheng with peace of mind. We will always be your strong support!"
After Gu Zhanghua finished speaking, he looked at Zhao Xuan and smiled knowingly.
"Xiao Wu is right, Second Brother. The crossbows and bolts for the Southern Army have arrived. Have someone count them and deliver them. I'll teach you how to use them after that!"
When it came to serious matters, Zhao Xuan became enthusiastic and full of energy.
"Let's go, let's go to the training ground now!"
Gu Jiancheng stood up first and excitedly greeted the two of them.
?
At this time, Ma Baoguo was in the country.
The courtyard still has the feel of a farmhouse inn.
Strings of chili peppers and garlic hung by the door. The rain had stopped, and the fresh, misty air carried the aroma of stewing meat from the kitchen.
Three large soy sauce jars were placed in a row against the kitchen wall. Li Cuihua was scooping pickled vegetables out of the middle jar and putting them into a porcelain jar at her feet.
Ma Zhenzhen stood to the side holding her son, patting him from time to time with one hand, and wiping away her tears from time to time.
Her appearance was completely different from what Gu Jiancheng had described; she looked sad, reluctant, and pitiful.
"Mother, I did as you taught me, but will Jiancheng think I'm cold-hearted and don't care about him? Don't most women worry about their husbands' safety?"
Are you an ordinary woman?
Li Cuihua picked up a piece of pickled radish and stuffed it into Ma Zhenzhen's mouth.
“When a man is fighting on the front lines, he may act like nothing's wrong, but he's definitely thinking about his family. If you keep crying in front of him, you're just holding him back!”
As he spoke, he looked at Ma Zhenzhen with expectant eyes.
"How was it? Was it good?"
"It's spicy and salty, but I like it!"
Ma Zhenzhen sniffed, chewed the pickled radish, and swallowed it.
"Mom, I know! I saw it all clearly. When you sent my four older brothers off to join the army, you would always pretend to be all smiles in front of them, but then you would cry your heart out when you got home!"
At this moment, Ma Zhenzhen completely abandoned any ladylike demeanor, wiping away the tears that had just flowed from her eyes, and pouting as she acted coquettishly towards Li Cuihua.
"Mother, what should I do? Just thinking about him leading troops into battle makes me cry uncontrollably. I don't know when he'll be back, or if he'll get hurt... what if..."
"Stop! Stop! What 'what if'? I think you're just bored!"
Li Cuihua covered Ma Zhenzhen's mouth with her hand, and then casually took out a few peanuts from her pocket and stuffed them directly into Ma Zhenzhen's mouth.
"Now that Jiancheng has gone to the southern border, you should move back immediately and learn from your four sisters-in-law!"
Li Cuihua covered the large soy sauce vat, bent down to pick up the porcelain jar from the ground, and walked towards the kitchen, but her words left no room for argument.
“Men have their responsibilities, and we women can’t just hang on to men after marriage. I think you should open a private school at home and teach the children!”
Ma Zhenzhen followed behind Li Cuihua, and upon hearing her mother's words, her eyes immediately widened.
"Yes, Mother! That's a great idea!"
Li Cuihua didn't let her daughter see her face. She put down the porcelain jar containing pickles and vigorously stirred the pork stew with vermicelli in the pot with a spoon. Listening to her daughter's voice soothing the child, her face was full of worry.
With four sons in the North and her only son-in-law going to the South, how could she not worry and be concerned?
Sending one's own loved ones to the battlefield is something no one can get used to, let alone a mother.
But Li Cuihua could only force a smile in front of her daughter and try her best to comfort her, because she was also a mother.
Damn it! That plague-ridden, damned Yue emperor! May he die a horrible death!
Li Cuihua cursed three times in her heart. She was Ma Baoguo's wife. Although she never asked about politics, she couldn't stand Ma Baoguo's nagging. Li Cuihua roughly knew the ins and outs of this battle.
The four daughters-in-law had already answered the call a few days ago and rushed off to help sew military uniforms and tents; they wouldn't return until it was completely dark.
Her husband spends every day in the palace discussing matters with the emperor, and it's common for him to stay overnight in the palace duty room when it gets too late.
Recently, Ma Baoguo has also been suffering from stomach pain. Even breathing in cold air can cause him pain. I wonder if he will be able to eat on time in the palace.
Li Cuihua was puzzled, but what else could she do?
She scooped up half a spoonful of soup, tasted the saltiness of the stew, and nodded in satisfaction. The taste was just right!
Lifting the lid of the steamer next to me, I saw large, round, steaming white buns inside, glistening with a crystalline sheen.
Li Cuihua then scooped out several more pieces of pickled vegetables, including pickled lotus root slices, pickled bamboo shoot slices, pickled radish, pickled cabbage, pickled cucumber...
In short, in her eyes, everything can be made into sauce!
She shredded some of the pickled vegetables and chopped others into pieces, then drizzled some sesame oil over them. She put the stew into a large bowl, grabbed two large steamed buns and put them in a bowl. When she turned around and looked at her daughter and grandson, she had a smile on her face again.
"Mother! We're back!"
Li Cuihua looked in the direction of the sound and saw her youngest son, the only one left at home, holding his grandson and granddaughter's hands as they returned from school and walked across the yard toward the kitchen. Her daughter was already holding her grandson and going to greet them.
She simply put a whole steamer of steamed buns on the table.
A fleeting thought crossed her mind about her son, son-in-law, and husband.
No matter how anxious you are, life goes on.
That’s it for now, let’s eat first!