From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 8 It’s done
The north wind is still blowing, but the snow has stopped, and the sky is gray and gloomy as if it had been castrated.

Meng Yuan has achieved his goal of searching for plum blossoms in the snow this time, but the outcome is still unknown.

Now that I have no power, no influence, and no sword, if I want to get things done, I have to rely on influence, and the consequences are naturally hard to control.

If Li Zhuangtou could be brought down, then everything would be fine. If not, Meng Yuan would have to find another way.

There were many people coming and going on the main road in Songhe City, all in a hurry, which showed that even in winter there was no leisure time.

Meng Yuan bought a pig's trotter, wrapped it carefully in oil paper, and put it in his arms. He also bought two large pancakes and ate them while walking.

After leaving the city, I took a ride on a charcoal seller's car and continued west.

He rode in the wind and walked on the snow, his worn-out shoes got wet, and he finally got back to the pasture after dark.

Dinner time was over, so Meng Yuan went straight back to his residence.

"You're still running outside in such a heavy snow." Jiang Tang saw that Meng Yuan's shoes and socks were wet. She felt so distressed that without waiting for Meng Yuan to say anything, she ordered Meng Yuan to sit down, took off his shoes and socks, and brought hot water for him to wash.

"Is your cough better today?" Meng Yuan took out the medicine bag and oil paper bag from his arms.

"I'm not in the way. It's you, though, who's been running around in the snow all day." Old Man Jiang didn't know Meng Yuan went to find Xun Mei, he just thought she was going to buy medicine, he smiled and said, "This girl asked Tie Niu for firewood, the stove has not been turned off, she said she would prepare hot water for you. She's not that nice to me, she kept talking about picking you up when she saw you didn't come back."

Jiang Tang sat on a small stool, lowered his head and washed Meng Yuan's feet without saying a word.

"Silly girl." Meng Yuan smiled and tapped Jiang Tang's forehead. She raised her head with a flushed face, and she didn't know why she was shy.

"I'm not stupid." Jiang Tang lowered his head again, not knowing what he was thinking about. He smiled foolishly and tickled the soles of Meng Yuan's feet.

After soaking his feet, Jiang Tang dried them carefully, then picked up the shoes and socks he had taken off and threw them into the basin, and went out to wash them.

"Don't worry." Meng Yuan held her back and said, "I bought you some meat. Eat first and then get busy."

"Meat?" Jiang Tang's dark eyes lit up, and he quickly said, "Then I'll go wash the food before eating!"

She hurriedly took the basin out, washed it quickly, and boiled the medicine. Only then did she have time to open the oil paper bag.

The pig's trotters had already gone cold, but Jiang Tang was still very happy. She let Uncle Jiang eat first, and then let Meng Yuan eat. Naturally, the two would not snatch the food from her.

The room was dim, Jiang Tang was gnawing on a pig's trotter, and old man Jiang was chatting with Meng Yuan, saying that Jiang Tang's grandmother had given birth to seven children, and several of his aunts also had both sons and daughters, which proved that Jiang Tang would be able to have children in the future.

On the second day, because the snow had not melted, there was no need to work in the fields. However, Li Zhuangtou really worked hard and made Meng Yuan shovel manure all day.

There was no movement on the third and fourth days. Seeing that the New Year was getting closer, Meng Yuan thought that there would be no results until after the New Year, but then the sound of horse hooves shook the pasture.

All the villagers came out to see, and saw a carriage escorted by six horses coming to the front of the hall.

The six guards, each carrying a sword, dismounted and guarded the carriage.

An old man got off the carriage first, and then Xunmei.

Xunmei changed her clothes, wearing a bright red cloak and a little makeup, and she actually looked quite heroic.

"Tie him up!" Before Li Zhuangtou understood what was going on, he heard Xunmei's order.

Two guards stepped forward, immediately held Li Zhuang's head and tied his hands behind his back.

"What are you doing? What are you doing?" Li Zhuangtou didn't know what was going on. He was terrified and knelt on the ground, shouting, "Xunmei, what are you doing? Why did you tie me up? I am an old man who married the princess! I want to see the princess!"

Xunmei put her hands in her sleeves and said coldly, "You also know that you are the one who married the princess? Have you ever listened to the princess's teachings? The princess has always been considerate of you old people. You usually take advantage of others and sell the chickens, ducks, meat and eggs in the farm without seeing anything."

As she spoke, Xunmei took two steps forward and continued, "But the princess has repeatedly warned us not to use the palace's name to bully the people! But you used the palace's name to collude with outsiders, bully the orphans, seize the land, and eat up the people!"

"I didn't..." Li Zhuangtou knew that something had happened, so he lowered his voice and knelt on the ground in a daze. "Last time I came here, I told you to be lenient with the villagers, but you forced them to plough the fields in winter!"

Xun Mei's tone became increasingly hostile as she spoke, "The princess said that refugees gathered to cause trouble during the disaster years. First, the officials were incompetent, and second, they were forced by people like you!"

Li Zhuang's head was shaking with fear, he couldn't utter a word, he no longer had the arrogance he once had.

"I know you are not convinced. After you return the land deeds to the victims and count what you have gained, go back home and tell the old lady about it!" Xunmei did not give Li Zhuangtou a chance to argue. It was obvious that she had received instructions from the princess.

Meng Yuan was amazed as he watched from the side. He did not expect that the princess was so insightful and acted so drastically.

The search for plums was not over yet, as he ordered people to seal off Li Zhuangtou's house as well, pending an inventory.

"He will be your new village head from now on." Xunmei pointed at the old man who came with her and warned him, "It is easy to abuse the common people. I hope you will live up to the princess' trust and do not treat the villagers harshly."

After saying this, Xunmei didn't stay any longer and got on the carriage.

The wheels crushed the snow, making a creaking sound, and when we drove out, the curtains were lifted.

Xunmei saw that the villagers were still in a trance. The young man stood in the crowd, also with a look of surprise on his face. There was a girl leaning against the young man, also confused and at a loss.

Looking at this scene, Xunmei thought that the young man probably didn't know that it was his unintentional words that led to what happened today.

"Come here." Xunmei smiled and waved at the young man. Seeing that the young man was stunned for a moment, she hurried forward.

"Sister Mei." Meng Yuan said honestly.

"Do you still want to go to the palace to learn martial arts now?" Xunmei asked with a smile.

"I want to!" Meng Yuan said immediately.

"You have a simple character. I'm afraid you will be bullied when you go to the palace." Xun Mei smiled and said, "But I will protect you. You can go to the new village head later and ask him to write you a note. Report to the palace tomorrow."

"Thank you, sister!" Meng Yuan's wish was fulfilled and he felt very happy.

The carriage drove away, and Li Zhuangtou and his son followed behind, no longer as arrogant as before.

All the villagers hurried to pay homage to the new head of the village.

The new village head was named Sun. After he inspected the village, Meng Yuan, Old Man Jiang, and Zhao Datou and his son came to visit him together.

Sun Zhuangtou was very friendly. He wrote the letter of recommendation quickly and asked Zhao Datou to deliver it in a donkey cart the next morning.

"It's different with a new person! After all, the princess is the best!" When night fell, Zhao Datou and his son came and held Meng Yuan tightly, "Tie Niu has a simple personality and doesn't think before he speaks or does things. Little Meng, please take care of him."

Zhao Datou pressed Tieniu's head again and asked him to listen to Meng Yuan in everything.

Meng Yuan agreed and asked Zhao Datou to take care of Old Man Jiang.

After seeing off Zhao Datou and his son, Meng Yuan saw that Jiang Tang had been silent, so he pinched her face.

"Brother, will you come back?" Jiang Tang asked cautiously.

"Yes." Meng Yuan said seriously, "In half a year at most, I will take you to live in the city."

Jiang Tang nodded obediently. Without saying anything more, she sat at the head of Meng Yuan's bed and sewed his cuffs. Her stitches were so fine that it seemed like they would never be worn out.

It was foggy in the morning. Meng Yuan and Tie Niu had breakfast and then, driven by Zhao Datou in a donkey cart, they disappeared into the fog together.

(End of this chapter)