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墨書 Inktalez
“Where is Mu Han? The food is already on the table.”
Xia Muxin was already seated at the table, eagerly inhaling the familiar aromas and admiring the colorful dishes laid out before her. She took a few deep breaths, savoring the scents. Aunt Xia had gone in and out several times, which she had brushed off before, but now she noticed her mother’s worried expression and began to fret. Suddenly, a dark line appeared on Xia Muxin's forehead; it seemed that Shen Muhan had quite a knack for bribing people, and this whole family had likely been won over by him.
It wasn't just her mother; her father and grandfather were also craning their necks to look out the door. Songzi was helping to serve the dishes, glancing back and forth toward the entrance as well. This made Xia Muxin feel an overwhelming sense of pressure, as if her position in the family was being challenged.
She couldn't help but frown.
“Muxin, you’ll be fourteen in a month. It’s time to settle some matters. You may not be anxious, but Mu Han is,” the Summer Old Man suddenly spoke up.
Xia Muxin spat out the tea she had just sipped, staring in shock and confusion at her family. She couldn’t help but wonder if they had all been brainwashed by Shen Muhan during this time. Why did they keep mentioning Mu Han?
Her heart raced.
“Exactly, Muxin. You’re going to get married anyway; it doesn’t matter whether it’s sooner or later. Besides, you’re of age now—don’t delay things for him,” Aunt Xia chimed in seriously as she looked at Xia Muxin.
Xia Muxin was momentarily stunned. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her aunt carrying a plate out of the kitchen and realized this must be the last dish. She greedily bit down on her chopsticks and said with a hint of grievance, “Wow, I’m starving! I haven’t had a full meal in ages.”
As she spoke, her eyes began to moisten. She thought that surely her family would let her off the hook now, but unexpectedly, her mother wiped her eyes and said with concern:
"You've suffered during this time; no wonder that child, Mu Han, has lost so much weight."
"......"
Ming Yi had long been pulled to the table by his family, but at this moment, he kept his head down. However, his subtly trembling shoulders did not escape Xia Muxin's keen eyes. Under the table, she kicked him lightly. Ming Yi was taken aback and glanced at Xia Muxin before saying something she couldn't quite hear. He then stood up and left, while her family continued to chatter away.
Xia Muxin felt an overwhelming sense of sadness mixed with frustration.
"Mom, I've lost weight too! I'm nothing but skin and bones! Aren't you all just turning your elbows outward?"
At the same time, Xia Muxin felt utterly defeated and decided to remain silent.
"Big Brother is back! Come eat; everyone is waiting for you."
Just then, someone swaggered into the courtyard, and the whole family stood up to greet him. Xia Muxin sulked as she reluctantly got off her stool. But before she could step out, a large hand pressed down on her shoulder, and a gentle voice came from above her:
"You've waited so long; you must be very hungry."
Xia Muxin wanted to complain but remembered how her family treated him with such care. She bit her lip and held back her words.
The meal was quite chaotic, with her family constantly reminding Shen Muhan to eat more, while Shen Muhan kept piling food onto her plate. As a result, she stuffed herself like a pig, eating until she felt completely full and unaware of how much she had consumed. It wasn't until the meal ended that she realized how embarrassing it was when she couldn't even get up from her seat. Sitting there, Xia Muxin began counting on her fingers how many dishes she had eaten, how much rice, and how much soup.
Of course, once her stomach settled a bit, she began to take action.
The first thing she did was pull out several bottles from her bag and pour their contents out one by one. After spending nearly half an hour organizing everything, she finally realized there were as many as eighteen different kinds.
Xia Muxin vaguely recognized some of the items: grapes, apples, pears, tomatoes, oranges, dragon fruit, watermelons, and cucumbers... but the most common were dates and peaches.
"Hahaha... I'm going to get rich."
Looking at these items, Xia Muxin's eyes sparkled with excitement, feeling as if she was staring at piles of gold.
Of course, having these was not enough. Cultivating these seedlings would require a lot of effort and care. She also needed to consider where to plant them. Moreover, some of these fruits wouldn't bear fruit in just a year or two, and she couldn't guarantee that every single seed would survive. There were many types of seeds, but the quantity was limited; for instance, there were only five seeds of a type she didn't recognize. Given her lack of experience, whether she could successfully grow them was still a question.
After sorting the seeds, she carefully made eighteen cloth bags with needle and thread to categorize and store them. Then she sewed a larger bag, about the size of a coin purse, to hold the eighteen smaller bags and tied it securely around her waist.
She carried it with her at all times, feeling like a miser guarding her treasure.
"Hehehe..."
Looking at the bag around her waist, Xia Muxin couldn't help but laugh at herself for being so anxious about these things.
Once she finished her tasks, she went to check on the chicken coop and duck pen, and even took a stroll around the fish pond to look at the lobsters.
She had just learned that during her family's absence, Shen Muhan had hired someone to take care of everything, and they had done an excellent job. In just a few months, the chickens and ducks had grown plump enough to be served on the table.
From a distance, Daimiao Village appeared lush and green. The second crop of rice had been planted for less than a month and looked shiny and vibrant. As the wind blew, waves of green rolled across the fields. The fresh rural air was invigorating.
After finishing lunch, Shen Muhan went out. Shen Muqing had been injured and was in serious condition at Tang Family Medical Hall. Yan Zhouwan was taking care of him closely. It was said that Sister Tang had taken on a new apprentice—a beautiful girl. Shen Muhan had only mentioned it briefly but seemed hesitant to elaborate. At that moment, Xia Muxin had been lost in thought; now reflecting on it made her feel something was off.
She immediately sought out Ming Yi and called for a carriage.
Ming Yi looked at Xia Muxin in confusion, but she jumped onto the carriage without a care and said, "Brother Ming Yi, I need to go to the Tang Family Medical Hall."
A flicker of complex emotions passed through Ming Yi's eyes, yet he did not stop her. He immediately jumped onto his horse, just as he was about to whip the reins, they heard the sound of galloping. Xia Muxin noticed it too, and they exchanged glances before turning their heads toward the sound. In the distance, they saw Ming Peng driving a carriage directly toward them. With a swift crack of the whip and a turn of the reins, Ming Peng's carriage came to a halt at the entrance of the courtyard, while Ming Yi parked his carriage at the side.
Xia Muxin nimbly jumped down from the carriage, only to see Shen Muhan also disembarking. Following her was a slender figure, but it was not Yan Zhouwan; instead, it was another young woman. Xia Muxin guessed that this must be Sister Tang's new apprentice.
The last to emerge were a haggard-looking Yan Zhouwan and Shen Muqing, who appeared half-conscious. He was bare-chested, with long gauze wrapped around his upper body, leaving only his strong arms exposed. Ming Yi quickly stepped forward and, along with Ming Peng and Shen Muhan, helped carry him into the house.
Yan Zhouwan and the young woman entered Yan Zhouwan's room first. Moments later, they began moving all of Yan Zhouwan's belongings out.
Xia Muxin merely observed coldly; she had already grasped the situation. There were only a few rooms downstairs: one for Sister-in-law, one for her parents, one for her grandfather, and the remaining one belonged to Yan Zhouwan. As Shen Muqing was injured, he certainly could not move up and down stairs; thus, they had no choice but to vacate Yan Zhouwan's room.
"Be careful; don't hurt him," she cautioned as several men carried Shen Muqing inside. However, Yan Zhouwan stood dazed by the door with her clothes clutched in her arms, staring blankly at her toes as if frozen in place. It was the young woman who spoke next; her voice was soft and melodious like water flowing over stones. From her brief words, Xia Muxin sensed that their relationship seemed quite special.
Feeling a pang of sympathy for Yan Zhouwan, she gently patted her frail shoulder but could only sigh heavily.
In less than a month’s time, many things could happen—one could fall deeply in love with another or develop intense hatred for someone else. The reasons behind such feelings were often tangled even for those involved; how much more so for outsiders?
Moreover, love cannot be forced; mutual affection is what brings happiness. Therefore, she refrained from voicing any opinions and simply hoped that Yan Zhouwan could see reality clearly and live her life well.
Dinner was much quieter. Yan Zhouwan did not utter a single word throughout; she had moved to the fourth floor now and barely ate a few bites before heading upstairs. Meanwhile, Shen Muqing was being cared for by the young woman named Zhou Zhou. Xia Muxin also noticed a red birthmark on Zhou Zhou's neck that matched the location of Yan Zhouwan's wound. Many times she had wondered if Yan Zhouwan was indeed the Zhou Zhou from back then; she had even tentatively brought it up before but found Yan Zhouwan unfazed by her inquiry. Thus, she dismissed that suspicion. However, with this young woman appearing and showing such enthusiasm toward Shen Muqing—even Shen Muhan acknowledged this situation and welcomed her into their home—what else could she say?
After dinner, Xia Muxin took a comfortable bath. When she entered the room, she found Shen Muhan already lying on the bed, turned to the side with one hand propping up his face, lost in thought. His deep and sharp eyes seemed to gaze into an infinite whirlpool.
Xia Muxin locked the door and walked towards him with some confusion. However, before she could get close, his long arm reached out and pulled her in. Caught off guard, she let out a surprised gasp as she fell into his embrace.
Her forehead bumped against his hard chin, and Xia Muxin cried out in pain, immediately rubbing her forehead while giving Shen Muhan a resentful glare; it was likely already bruised.
Shen Muhan rubbed his nose, not expecting to have pulled her in so forcefully. He looked at Xia Muxin with a hint of guilt and reached out to rub her forehead gently.
Xia Muxin had no intention of being coy; instead, she found a comfortable position to lie down and said with a frown, "Uncle, I'm worried about Yan Zhouwan."
She didn’t know what had happened on their journey or how Shen Muqing had gotten injured. The appearance of that woman meant something troubling to her. Yet, she felt protective over Yan Zhouwan, sensing that he had been wronged, which made her unhappy.
Thus, she also held a grudge against the so-called "Zhou Zhou."
The reason she agreed to let him recuperate here was still because of Yan Zhouwan; otherwise, he would probably run to Tang Family Medical Hall every day or even stay there, which would only worsen his injuries.
Shen Muhan's eyes flickered as he listened; his ears perked up slightly before he leaned closer to Xia Muxin's ear and said softly, "Muxin..."
After a moment, Xia Muxin looked at Shen Muhan in disbelief, her eyes wide open. Shen Muhan chuckled and playfully tapped her nose, speaking in a tone filled with affection, "You know what to do now."
At that moment, Xia Muxin sprang up, thumping her chest confidently and declaring, "Of course."
Shen Muhan smiled, a devilishly charming grin spreading across his face as he said, "I heard your family is pressuring you to get married."
His tone was certain and self-assured, laced with a hint of teasing. It was clear he was applying pressure.
Xia Muxin's eyes flickered, but she smiled sweetly. "Yeah, they say you're too old for me, so they're pushing me to find someone younger."
Upon hearing this, Shen Muhan's gaze darkened slightly as he leaned closer, his penetrating eyes locking onto Xia Muxin's flushed face.
With a gulp, Xia Muxin swallowed hard.
Did this man really have to take this issue so seriously every time?
Suddenly, she pushed against his chest playfully and chuckled, "Uncle, I heard Python Brother is pregnant. Is that true?"
She had been holding this question in for a whole day, and now she finally had the time to ask. Moreover, ever since it had welcomed her, Python Brother had not left its nest, while Crimson Plague had been guarding outside, as if protecting it.
Songzi had said that this was a reaction during pregnancy, a state of lethargy. Her sister-in-law had experienced the same thing, and Python Brother was also in the early stages of pregnancy, showing similar symptoms. Xia Muxin nearly spat out a mouthful of blood—could it get any more mythical than this?
Shen Muhan glanced at her, his voice hoarse yet tinged with a hint of frustration.
"You saw it all, didn't you?"
Um... What had she seen? She hadn't seen anything at all! Everything was just hearsay. After a pause, she continued,
"Uncle, how did you make Python Brother pregnant?"
As soon as her words fell, Shen Muhan's tall figure leaned in closer.
"I can only make you pregnant."
However, before Xia Muxin could respond, her lips were sealed by his. His kiss was urgent and domineering yet gentle at the same time. How could Xia Muxin, this tender little grass, withstand such intensity? In an instant, she melted into a puddle of water for him to claim.
But in the end, Shen Muhan restrained himself. A slight flush colored his face, and his eyes darkened as he lay on his side amidst Xia Muxin's gasps for breath. His arm slipped under her neck, replacing her pillow, while his hand caressed her slender waist, pressing her firmly against his chest with enough force to meld her into him. His tone was filled with deep longing.
"Muxin, when can we get married?"
His heat and restraint made Xia Muxin feel both shy and guilty. She nestled closer into his embrace, burying her head against his chest.
She was almost bare at that moment, caught in the embrace of Shen Muhan and Eight Lights. Surprisingly, she did not refuse; instead, she felt a flicker of anticipation, while he ultimately held back.
His hand brushed against his forehead, slick with sweat, and his lips moved, yet no answer came.
“Muxin, although we have won the battle, the people still suffer. The economy is worse than before, and the threshold of the Ouyang Family is ever higher. The common folk are struggling to survive. I believe only you can save this situation... Are you interested?”
After a long pause, Shen Muhan lowered his head and gently kissed her forehead, reluctantly speaking.
He understood Xia Muxin very well; in this regard, she would undoubtedly raise her hand in agreement without hesitation.
However, this also meant that her future days would be incredibly busy. Even if they were to marry, he could not bear to see her endure such hardships. Yet, he truly wanted to possess her completely, to make her entirely his—Shen Muhan's.
His only wife in this lifetime.
Moreover, throughout the Tianli Kingdom, perhaps only she had the courage and nature for such a task.
Xia Muxin had a rough understanding of the situation. Many resources in the Tianli Kingdom came from other countries, all monopolized by the Ouyang Family. It was rumored that the Ouyang Family had signed treaties with several nations, ensuring that apart from their own family, no other merchants in the Tianli Kingdom would receive goods. Looking across the entire Celestial Glass, only the Ouyang Family had such qualifications.
Now, with the Ouyang Family at odds with the court and backed by several other nations, Shen Muhan had already left those countries in disarray. There was no room for negotiation on this matter.
Currently, not only did those countries refuse to engage in any commercial dealings with the Tianli Kingdom, but it also meant that if agriculture in Celestial Glass could not improve, even if this nation survived for now, it would eventually become a hollow shell.
Shen Muhan understood Xia Muxin well, and Xia Muxin understood herself even better...
The next morning, Xia Muxin began to take action. She went to Dayao Village early on. Now, aside from the piece of land she had purchased herself in Daimiao Village, everything else belonged to the Ouyang Family. She was not foolish enough to plant anything on the Ouyang Family's territory.
Thus, the first place that came to mind was Dayao Village.
As soon as the incident occurred, the Ouyang Family proposed to the court to purchase Dayao Village, but Tian Ming Rui firmly rejected the idea. At that moment, Xia Muxin realized that the young man had some usefulness after all.
Small also came along and went to pay respects to his parents and grandparents.
In just a few months, Small seemed to have matured a lot. Although he appeared to have integrated into the Xia Family, Xia Muxin knew he had not truly blended in. She felt it was not her place to force anything; as long as she acted with a clear conscience, that was enough.
The villagers greeted her warmly, calling out to her in unison. Xia Muxin brought her handmade ruler to the land she had contracted and began taking rough measurements. She also brought paper and a pen, jotting down notes as she measured.
Shen Muhan stayed by her side, accompanying her closely despite only having a superficial understanding of what she was doing.
After more than two hours of work, they finally finished measuring the area. Xia Muxin's notebook was filled with circles, dots, and various sketches, all meticulously marked. Shen Muhan glanced through it and couldn't help but give her a thumbs up.
Perhaps she was destined to be a miracle in the business world.
"You must be tired. Ming Yi has started cooking at Small's house; there should be food ready by now."
Shen Muhan took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead and handed her some water.
Xia Muxin, feeling parched as if her mouth were on fire, took the water jug and gulped it down without any regard for her image.
Watching her bold action, Shen Muhan could only shake his head and chuckle.
"Uncle, I want to move here soon."
After drinking some water, Xia Muxin spoke directly.
She realized that Dayao Village was even more suitable for planting than Daimiao Village. The soil was red, clearly the kind of rich earth found in the mountains, much more fertile than regular soil, and there were fewer sandworms.
Daimiao Village, on the other hand, was only suitable for farming due to water level issues; anything else required further consideration.
Shen Muhan put away the water bottle, merely raising an eyebrow without offering any opinions. His resigned expression as a husband accepting his wife's decisions made Xia Muxin chuckle.
Then, Shen Muhan instructed Ming Yi to renovate the old house of the Small family as quickly as possible.
That evening, upon returning home, Xia Muxin asked Xia Tieshu to gather the villagers to start firing kilns, and they were to burn as many bricks as they could.
Seeing how the Ouyang Family was handling things, she decided to excavate the entire area here first. When Xia Tieshu heard that they were going to fire kilns again, he was overjoyed and rushed off to inform everyone without even finishing his dinner.
Xia Muxin was a person of her word; she had promised many red bricks before, and everyone thought her family had encountered difficulties since no one had come looking for them. Now, however, she arranged for people to come and transport the red bricks while ensuring that the Brick Factory continued its operations as usual, hoping for more publicity.
The entire village was filled with excitement, and cheers could be heard from afar.
After dinner, Shen Muhan sat alone by the fish pond, deep in thought, tossing stones into the water repeatedly.
"Uncle, let's get married!"
- End of Chapter -
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