Embers of the Huntress

Chapter 1-2

Today, the Tong family's lunch can be considered very sumptuous, just a braised rabbit meat will make the aroma waft into the left and right neighborhoods, enviable.

Zhou Qing purposely served out half a plate of rabbit meat, and then supplemented it with half a plate of scrambled eggs with small onions, and put it into the food box with three pieces of big cakes, sweeping her daughter's eyes, she said to her nephew, “A Gui, while the food is still hot, you make a trip to the private school and deliver it to Mr. Song.”

Tong Sui's great-uncle left early, the two cousins were brought up by their mother Zhou Qing, like mother and son, and it was natural to call on them.

Tong Gui answered cheerfully, took the food box and ran out, go early and come back early to eat meat.

Tong Sui silently arranged the dishes.

Before the betrothal with the Xiao family, the job of delivering food to Mr. Song was all hers, but now it's different and she has to avoid suspicion.

After lunch, Tong Gui went to deal with rabbit skins, and Tong Youyu sat on the kang in the East Room peeling peanuts to save them for sowing in the spring.

Tong Sui and her mother continued to prepare her dowry in the west room, a set of wedding clothes, four seasons of new clothes, four beds of wedding quilts.

The marriage was finalized after the New Year, and the family sold the furs they had saved for a long time before they could prepare all the fabrics and cotton.

In this world, people are poor, many people even matchmaking this step are saved, the man slightly out of the bride price, you can marry the girl home.

Tong's son in the peach blossom ditch is considered good, parents and love her, or not to do the dowry will not be gossip.

The afternoon sun is warm, mother and daughter occasionally chat two sentences, the atmosphere is very leisurely.

East room suddenly came a violent cough.

Tong Youyu was originally a very strong body, during the charging of the army in a battle blinded an eye, since then it is often infected, but can live back is fortunate, like Tong Sui's grandfather, uncle died outside, elder brother Tong Rong so far no news, it is difficult to determine the life and death.

“You sew first, I'll go see your father.” Zhou Qing frowned, put down his needle and thread and went out.

Tong Sui looked at the slightly swaying door curtains and listened to her father not cough before she lowered her head again.

East Room.

Tong Youyu drank water, put down the rough porcelain sea bowl, and asked his wife, “How's the quilt sewing going?”

Zhou Qing couldn't stay idle, sitting cross-legged on the other side of the dustpan containing shelled peanuts, while peeling it, she said, “There's still one and a half beds left, I'm sure I can get it done before I get married.”

Tong Youyu nodded and sighed again.

Zhou Qing stared over, “A Man's happy event, why are you sighing?”

Tong Youyu looked at the door of the house behind him, and lowered his voice: “The Xiao family sounds powerful, but we have never met anyone, and we don't know if Aman will be wronged if she marries over there, which is not as good as marrying Song Zhi Shi, who knows his roots, and is sincere to Aman.”

Zhou Qing heard this, hand strength a heavy, that peanut shells cracked sound than just a few points more brittle: “know the roots, then how can you not see, Mr. Song did not want to be with us as in-laws? What's the point of having his son's satisfaction? After all, he is a scholar, bad luck did not meet the good times before temporarily avoided to the poor mountains, where is our humble hunter can climb.”

Tong Youyu froze for a moment, as Mr. Song Song Lan's gentle and modest face flashed through his mind, he subconsciously said: “Perhaps we did not show the intention of wanting to get married, Mr. Song is concerned that they still rely on you to help cook, embarrassed to mention?”

Zhou Qing's face showed sarcasm, “Mr. Song is a man of wisdom, I always told Ah Man to deliver food to the private school before, it's impossible for him not to understand. Forget it, the past is past, for the sake of his dedication to teaching Xiaoshan to read and recognize words, in the future, we will continue to live in peace and harmony.”

The groom should definitely walk in the front of the sedan chair, the three younger brothers he brought with him were in the front for a while and went to the back to talk to second brother, the sound of mule hooves going back and forth.

The road is too far, and is a warm afternoon, nothing to do Tong Sui so that against the sedan chair board doze off. Last night did not sleep well, today got up early, she really sleepy.

In front of the sedan chair, Xiao Ye came to the side of the elder brother, whispering encouragement: “Second brother, the long road, you go to accompany the second sister-in-law to talk? How boring it would be to be alone inside, just so you can familiarize yourself with her in advance.”

Xiao Zhen: “Out of order.”

Xiao Ye scanned the left and right, except for the barren mountains in the distance and the barren woods in the near distance: “We are the only people in the group, don't be silly, sister-in-law is afraid that it is her first time to go out of town, she is panicking in her heart, so hurry up and go to pacify her.”

Xiao Zhen did not move.

Xiao Ye tugged on the reins and gestured to turn back, “I'll go if you don't.”

Xiao Zhen slanted a glance at him.

Xiao Ye was instantly deflated, he had never met this second sister-in-law and did not know her temperament, and was afraid that his enthusiasm would be misconstrued as frivolity.

Seeing them chatting, Xiao Yan and Xiao Shibi, the brothers of the second house of the Xiao family, also came up from behind.

Xiao Yan asked, “What are talking about?”

Xiao Ye grunted, “I told second brother to go and talk with second sister-in-law, but he insisted on talking about rules.”

Xiao Yan took a look at Xiao Jian, stroked his chin and smiled, “Second brother is such a person, if he really doesn't talk about rules, the one your third sister-in-law married wouldn't be me.”

Last summer, their brothers left the barracks on their way back to their hometown, they came across a caravan that was robbed by bandits, the owner's family was almost killed, only a wonderful young lady and her maid were nearly humiliated. The brothers rushed up and killed them, and drove away the bandits to save the young lady and her maid.

Miss looks very beautiful, homeless can only rely on them, Xiao meticulously meant to send the two girls to the nearby villages and towns to settle, Xiao Yan can not give up, after consulting the meaning of the young lady directly after the night to sleep with the person, brought home as a daughter-in-law.

Four brothers, Xiao meticulously line two, this is for the long, temperament can also suppress the three younger brothers, if he was on the beauty of the idea of the Miss, it is not Xiao Yan turn to achieve good things.

Xiao Ye thought of his third sister-in-law at home, then looked at the sedan chair behind him, thinking that if his second sister-in-law was not as good looking as his third sister-in-law, wouldn't his second brother have lost out?

“Say less.” Xiao Zhen stopped the three younger brothers from talking more about the old story.

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow, “Is Second Brother afraid that Second Sister-in-law will hear this and eat it up in her heart?”

Xiao meticulously asked in return, “You are very honorable when there is no matchmaking?”

Xiao Yan: “......”

.

Tong Sui slept shallowly for a while, not knowing exactly how long she had slept.

She picked up the cover and approached the curtains on the west side of the window, slightly picking open a slit, she saw that the sunlight was bright on the red side of the west, and it was probably going to be another half an hour.

“Rest for a quarter of an hour.”

As Xiao Jian's words fall, the bearers stop and steadily place the sedan chair on the ground.

Tong Sui quietly pinched her legs that were about to sit stiff while listening to the sound of people's voices outside.

There were footsteps leaning this way, it was Tong Gui.

He took a look at the four brothers of the Xiao family sitting diagonally across from him, and looked down to ask his sister, “Ah Man, how are you, are you uncomfortable anywhere?”

Tong Sui: “I'm fine, where's second brother?”

Tong Gui glanced at Matchmaker Fang who was walking towards the Xiao family brothers, and his brain hurt for a moment, “That woman is too talkative, so much so that I want to throw her out.”

Tong Sui smiles, “It's almost here, right? You can bear it a little longer.”

Tong Gui: “I know, the good son of your great joy, she is living in my ears I also endure her. Are you thirsty, is there water inside?”

Tong Sui a little thirsty, just do not dare to drink water, to the Xiao family still have to work for a while, so many people staring, it is not good to propose to go to the toilet.

Tong Gui finished caring for his sister and saw Xiao Ye waving at him, so he walked over.

Xiao Ye took the initiative to give Tong Gui the seat next to his elder brother, and took out a piece of dry cake from his body: “Is your younger brother hungry? Have something to eat to cushion yourself?”

Tong Gui this year twenty, Xiao family four brothers, Xiao Jing twenty-six, Xiao Yan twenty-four, Xiao Ye twenty-three, only Xiao Shibi than him two years younger.

Fortunately, Tong Gui is tall and big, surrounded by the sturdy and upright Xiao family brothers can also hold up the scene.

“You eat, I've eaten enough at noon.” Tong Gui said, glancing at Xiao Zhen.

Xiao Zhen: “There are still a few miles to go, when we arrive home, we will entertain your brother with good wine and meat.”

Tong Gui smiled a little more sincerely.

Xiao Ye patted his knee: “Xian Di, our two families are far away from each other, not familiar with each other, now the second sister-in-law married over, you first tell us about her temperament, what she likes and what she hates, we understand, in the future to take care of her is also convenient, so as not to accidentally annoy the second sister-in-law. Originally, I wanted to ask second brother to go directly to ask second sister-in-law herself, but second brother insisted on keeping the rules.”

Xiao Shibi: “Right, right, I'm dumb and often annoy my third sister-in-law, I don't want to offend second sister-in-law again.”

Tong Gui's heart moved, jokingly asked, “What did you do to piss off your third sister-in-law?”

Xiao Shibi touched the back of his head, citing an example of an incident that just happened this morning, “The welcoming team came to our house and waited, I saw Third Sister-in-law staring at the sedan chair and asked her if she wanted to sit on it, and Third Sister-in-law's face became particularly bad, she must have gotten angry.”

Xiao Yan popped his brother with a popping chestnut, “I told you to mention which pot is not boiling.”

Xiao Zhen made a wink towards Xiao Ye, who was busy urging Tong Gui to open his mouth.

Tong Gui thought about it and said cheerfully, “My sister is quiet and hardworking, as long as you treat her like a family member, she is very good to get along with, and has no obvious likes and dislikes.”

Xiao Ye was happy: “Exactly the same as my second brother, my second brother is also a man of few words and capable, and does not lose his temper at leisure.”

Tong Gui remembers these, before leaving, he went to the sedan chair to find his sister to talk, guessed: “Before the matchmaker said, Xiao third brother's daughter-in-law is a big family lady he married outside, eighty percent is not a matchmaking, did not sit in the sedan chair.”

Tong Sui: “Well, I know, thanks to second brother for taking the trouble for me, it's leaving soon, you should go over there quickly.”

Tong Gui saw Xiao Yan frequently looking this way, patted the sedan chair and left.

Tong Sui was very awake for the second half of the journey, and when the light coming through the window dimmed, the bride-welcoming party finally arrived outside of Spirit Water Village.

Suona masters blowing up, four bearers dramatically shaking up the sedan chair, in order to call the townspeople to see the fun, the louder the applause, the more joyful.

Tong Sui hands on both sides of the sedan chair, the soles of the feet are also tightly stirred to the ground, good thing she is just a good face soft, arm and leg strength are far better than ordinary girls, they also resisted this bumps and tosses.

With a burst of firecrackers, the sedan chair landed again.

Tong Sui quickly once again on the head of the red cover, hands down when actually vaguely shaking.

“The groom kicks the door of the sedan chair!”

The sedan chair gently trembled, and in the next moment, Matchmaker Fang opened the sedan chair curtain, said a bunch of festive words, and smilingly helped Tong Sui out.

Clustered in front of the Xiao family to watch the ceremony of the villagers more than one excited, the clamor as if in Tong Sui ears.

I don't know who pushed and shoved, Fang Matchmaker bumped towards Tong Sui, Tong Sui couldn't see and stood stupidly, then a hand steadily held her shoulder and back, separating her from Fang Matchmaker.

“Hey, the groom really knows how to love his daughter-in-law, he's protecting her before he even enters the door!”

Tong Sui was shocked to realize that the hand on her back was actually Xiao Jian's.

At the same time, that hand immediately withdrew.

Matchmaker Fang, who had regained her footing, laughed and scolded and continued to officiate the new wedding.

Xiao Zhen's parents are both dead, sitting in the hall is the old man Xiao Mu.

Covered head blocked, Tong Sui did not bother to observe the legs and feet of all people, by the Fang matchmaker to help and Xiao Zhen completed the three worship.

“Ceremony completed, send to the bridal chamber!”

At the time of the marriage, Fang Matchmaker mentioned the three courtyards of the Xiao family, the center courtyard lived in the old man Xiao, the big house in the east courtyard, the second house in the west courtyard, in fact, it is the side-by-side construction of the three houses, the middle courtyard wall all open, usually eat in the old man's side.

Tong Sui followed the groom from the middle courtyard to the east courtyard, and then turned to the groom living in the east room, which is the new room tonight.

In the countryside, there are not so many formalities in a wedding, so both men and women, adults and children crowd into the room, filling the empty space under the bed, leaving only the groom's side slightly empty.

The three Xiao Ye brothers stretched out their hands to protect behind Xiao Jian, not only to help block the spectators, but also because they were eager to be the first to see their second wife's appearance.

In the midst of all the commotion, Matchmaker Fang handed Xiao Jian a scale, “Groom, quickly lift your head!”

Xiao meticulously took the scale pole, swept his eyes to the bride's slender white fingers resting on her knees, paused, and picked upward.

The cover flew down, revealing the bride's unpowdered face, thin eyebrows and dark eyes, slightly drooping cheeks as red as the evening sun.

Tong Sui simply do not dare to look up, do not dare to look at the nearest groom, but also embarrassed to face the vast piece of people.

Overcrowded room appeared for a moment of silence, the back do not know who first shouted a “beauty ah”, the crowd only lively again.

“Okay, okay, let the bride rest, let's go outside to eat!”

After the new room ceremony, several brothers of the Xiao family greeted the guests and went out.

Like a storm passing through, the new room was quiet all of a sudden, leaving only Matchmaker Fang and four women of varying ages.

Tong Sui of course did not recognize them, Matchmaker Fang smiled and introduced her.

The one in her forties with a handsome face was Xiao's aunt.

The gentle woman with almond eyes and peach blossom cheeks is the widow of Xiao Jian's elder brother, that is, Tong Sui's future sister-in-law, Liu Chu.

The beauty who looks like a lady of the house is Xiao Yan's wife, Lin Ningfang, Tong Sui's third sibling.

The shrewd woman next to Aunt Xiao is Xiao Yan's own sister, Xiao Yucan, who moved back to her mother's house after losing her husband.

Tong Sui called out to the people one by one.

Auntie Xiao thoughtfully asked, “Are you tired? There is water in the south room, go wash your face first?”

Fear Tong Sui shy, Auntie Xiao enthusiastically took people to the east room of the south room, Tong Sui came in to see, found that inside actually set a small respectful bucket.

Auntie Xiao retreated to the doorway and smiled, “Auntie is a person who has been there before, she understands everything, you quickly wash up, I will wait outside.”

Tong Sui's heart surged with warmth, although she really didn't need it at this moment.

After washing her hands and face, Tong Sui opened the door and went back to the north house with Auntie Xiao.

Everyone made her sit on the kang.

Because everyone was scrutinizing her, Tong Sui basically had a red face and droopy eyes, as new brides do, they are all like this when they first get married.

　It didn't take long for the banquet to start, a helping woman brought the food up, Aunt Xiao several people are the bride's guests tonight.

There are chickens and fish, plus a few plates of vegetarian dishes, is Tong Sui so many years have not eaten the sumptuous dishes.

Xiao Yucan said somewhat sourly, “Second brother married second sister-in-law, grandfather happy, silver sprinkled out like water.”

Matchmaker Fang didn't get involved in the Xiao family's business, and just quickly pinched the dishes.

Tong Sui glanced at Xiao Yucan's side.

Aunt Xiao scolded her niece, “You're the one who talks too much, have you forgotten that when you got married, your family had the same banquet? Hurry up and eat!”

Xiao Yucan bristled and continued to observe this second sister-in-law while eating.

After eating, it was also dark, Aunt Xiao and the others left one after another, truly leaving Tong Sui by herself.

Tong Sui let out a long breath.

After a short break, a little girl with witty eyebrows came over with a bucket of hot water and said with a smile, “Second Mistress, I'm Afu, the maid of our eldest house, bringing you hot water.”

The Xiao family's conditions weren't good enough to buy a maid, Ah Fu had fled to this side during the war and was taken in by Old Master Xiao to do some sweeping and washing.

On the second house side, there was also a maid named A Zhen, brought by Lin Ningfang, so far the two maids had served on separate sides.

Tong Sui was served for the first time, very unaccustomed, but not to compete with Ah Fu, was served by the little girl to wash her face and rinse her mouth, until she wanted to wipe her body, Ah Fu only retreated to the door to guard.

The male guests in the East Courtyard are still eating the banquet, Tong Sui just listened to those voices, trembling to undo the lapel, flew to clean up a bit.

With nothing else to do, Tong Sui sat down on the bed in the new room and waited apprehensively.

“Enter the bridal chamber, enter the bridal chamber!”

Finally, the groom was pushed over by the crowd.

Tong Sui's heart was as nervous as a drum, looking at the man who suddenly stepped in, before she had time to say anything, Xiao Jian turned around fiercely, pressing down on the two door panels that were about to be pushed open with one hand, and quickly lowering the door latch with the other.

Those men outside snapped at the door, raising their voices.

Xiao Zhen frowned slightly and looked to the bed.

Tong Sui lowered her head in panic.

The two just sat and listened, awkwardly, but fortunately those people did not really want to break in, and did not make a fuss for long before dispersing.

Xiao Jian looked at the shy bride who never dared to raise her head and whispered, “I'll go close the outside door and clean up a bit more, you, rest first.”

Tong Sui nodded.

Xiao Jian went out.

Tong Sui looked at the neatly folded large red bedding and cooperatively spread the quilt first.

Just hurriedly glanced and did not see clearly Xiao Zhen's appearance, only know that the eyebrows and eyes are a bit harsh, did not care to distinguish ugly handsome.

The more unfamiliar, the more panic, anyway, he told her to rest first, Tong Sui really into the quilt, did not take off his clothes.

Panicked and waiting, vaguely can hear the sound of water in the south room, he is also gargling? Does he also wipe his body?

The two small porcelain figures hidden inside the wooden gourd popped into her mind, and Tong Sui only felt like she was going to fall.

When Xiao Jian folded back with the dampness from his bath, the guests had already all taken their leave, and only the Xiao family's own people were clearing away the tables and chairs and cleaning up the courtyard.

Outside from time to time to come some sound, the new room is quiet as a pin drop can be heard, the ground floor red lacquered wooden cabinet set a pair of red candles, light flickering.

Xiao meticulously closed the door, his eyes fell on the new wife lying in the quilt with only the top of her head exposed.

His wife, whom he had married in the open and had brought back with great fanfare from twenty miles away.

Xiao Zhen directly went to the bed, lifted the quilt and got in, then broke the curled up girl to lie upright.