Shangguan Fang'er's hands were covered in many bloody cuts. Her once delicate fingers had become rough and lusterless...
When winter was too cold, if not properly cared for, hands would crack and develop frostbite.
It was evident that Sister Fang'er had suffered greatly on this outing.
"Sister Fang'er, stop playing in the snow. I'll take you back inside to apply some ointment!" Gao Jingde said with a pained expression.
Shangguan Fang'er looked down at her hands and suddenly burst into tears, "But... but I don't feel any pain at all?"
Hearing this, Gao Jingde held back his tears and pulled Shangguan Fang'er to her feet. "Sister Fang'er, my father will definitely return. Don't worry about him!"
It was impossible not to worry. Shangguan Fang'er had barely slept all night, and her eyes were swollen from crying...
Back in the house, Mrs. Gu put down her work and helped Shangguan Fang'er wash her hands and apply ointment, feeling incredibly distressed.
Jin Huaihua made steamed buns with sauerkraut filling, adding crispy pork cracklings, and served them with millet porridge and pickled radishes. The family ate their fill.
Yun Daman also found the sled, harnessed it to the jujube-red horse, and after getting it ready, he set off...
"Daman, you're back! Did you make a lot of money on this trip?"
"Why don't I see Sanman? Didn't he come back with you?"
"Oh, Daman, your complexion isn't good. Did you get frostbite?"
"..."
As soon as he stepped out, Yun Daman was surrounded by villagers, who peppered him with questions.
Yun Daman couldn't tell them that Sanman had killed someone, so he brushed them off with a few words. "I'm going to the county town for some business. We'll talk later!~"
Before Sanman returned, he had no spirit for anything, even quitting smoking and drinking...
"Alright, you're busy!" Seeing Yun Daman in a hurry, the villagers didn't pester him and let him go.
As the sled disappeared into the distance, several villagers gathered again and whispered.
"Hey, do you think something happened to the Yun family?"
"What could happen to their family? Their children are all promising. Besides, with Sweet Treasure blessing them, they should be flying high already..."
"You can't say that. Didn't you see how frantic Daman looked? I went to the Yun family's house this morning and didn't see Sanman at all!"
"Does he have to tell you where he's going? Why are you so nosy?"
After chatting for a while, the villagers went back to their work.
Winter in Dashui Village was like this. Inside and outside the house, there was only so much to do: chopping wood, cooking, chatting, or having a drink. There was nothing else to occupy their time...
Yun Daman drove the sled all the way to the county town.
He first went to the post station to mail a letter, then wandered around the streets.
As he walked, he arrived at the county yamen.
As it was cold, the constables were reluctant to go out on cases and were huddled in a small office in the yamen, warming themselves by a stove. Advisor Zuo, with his sleeves tucked in, sat in the inner room, dozing against the back of his chair...
Seeing Yun Daman enter, panting, Advisor Zuo paused and looked up. "Daman is here. There's hot water in the kettle, help yourself!~"
It was too cold for anyone to want to move.
Yun Daman chuckled and asked, "Advisor Zuo, is the county magistrate in?"
Advisor Zuo shook his head and yawned. "Magistrate Chen is at his residence. Do you need him for something, Daman?"
"No... no urgent matter. I just brought some dried goods from home and wanted to give them to the magistrate!~" Yun Daman replied.
Hearing this, Advisor Zuo closed his eyes again and dozed off. "Then you can go to his residence to find him!"
Yun Daman: "..."
After leaving the yamen, Yun Daman led the sled to the Chen residence. Before he even reached the gate, he heard a quarrel from the courtyard.
"You spendthrift woman, why haven't you left yet? It's all your fault that I was demoted from prefect to county magistrate. I've already written the divorce papers, why are you still lingering here? Our Chen family doesn't welcome a parasite like you!~"
"Wuwuwu, my... my lord, I know I was wrong. What more do you want? I know you resent me, but for the sake of Xiaoran, can you bear to cast me out?"
"I can bear it very well! What's the use of you admitting your mistake? Can I get my prefect position back? Do you know how difficult it is to get a promotion? You're useless, you can't accomplish anything and only make things worse, you old hag... what else can you do?"
"Oh, Daddy, Mommy, please don't argue anymore. If you keep arguing, I'll go stay at Sister Xi Tian's house and never come back!~"
And so, the argument between Magistrate Chen and Madam Huang finally came to an end.
Madam Huang managed to keep her position as the county magistrate's wife, but from then on, her every word and action was under Magistrate Chen's supervision. She no longer dared to babble outside...
Yun Daman sighed and led the sled away.
With the magistrate's household in such disarray, it seemed inappropriate to ask for his help in rescuing someone. Yun Daman would have to find another way.
He bought some oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar, and also bought two pieces of cloth for the elders and children at home before getting on the sled to return to the village.
At the same time, far away in the capital, Little Xi Tian and Du Tieshan, after bidding farewell to Emperor Cheng, Xiao Jinheng, Xiao Xinling, Eunuch Zhao, and others, also set off in a carriage...
With over a dozen Imperial Guards escorting them, the carriage attracted the attention of many onlookers as soon as it left the palace.
"Sister Shan Shan, we don't have to worry anymore. Second Brother will definitely be alright!~" Little Xi Tian said with a smile.
The carriage was heated by a charcoal basin, so it wasn't cold at all, but Du Tieshan still wrapped her up like a dumpling. She was so round, it made one want to take a bite...
Du Tieshan handed the kettle to Little Xi Tian and said with a smile, "It's good that he's alright. Your second brother isn't foolish, he's quite resourceful. When we get back to Dashui Village, we'll just wait patiently. Your second brother will return sooner or later!~"
Although she said this, Du Tieshan's heart was pounding.
She had a lingering bad feeling in her heart...
"Sister Shan Shan, are you a little regretful that we couldn't return home for ancestral worship this time?" Little Xi Tian asked casually.
Hearing this, Du Tieshan's face was filled with helplessness. "Don't mention it. If it weren't for returning for ancestral worship, your second brother wouldn't have been captured by those ruffians. It's all my fault!~"
"Oh, Sister Shan Shan!~" Little Xi Tian sighed. "Who could have predicted we'd run into soldiers halfway? Not only your second brother, but others were captured too! If you're willing, Sister Shan Shan, we can pass by your village on the way back, and I'll accompany you for ancestral worship then, okay?"
Du Tieshan was stunned for a moment. Just as she was about to say something, the carriage suddenly jolted and stopped.
A young man wearing a black iron mask, riding a fine horse, suddenly shot past the carriage and galloped towards the Marquis of Pingyang's residence...