Chapter 8: Success

Chapter 8: Success

The north wind still blew, and the snow had stopped. The sky was gray, as if it had been castrated.

This time, Meng Yuan had achieved his goal of finding Xun Mei in the snow, but the outcome was yet to be determined.

Currently, without power or influence and without a sword, it was difficult to accomplish tasks without borrowing strength, and the consequences were naturally hard to control.

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

On the main road of Songhe City, many commoners were coming and going, all in a hurry, indicating that they were busy even in winter.

Meng Yuan bought a pig's trotter, carefully wrapped it in oiled paper, and tucked it into his bosom. He also bought two large buns and ate as he walked.

After leaving the city, he rode a charcoal seller's carriage for a while and then continued westward.

Riding the wind and stepping on the snow, his worn-out shoes got wet, and he didn't return to the livestock farm until nightfall.

It was past dinnertime, so Meng Yuan returned directly to his residence.

"You're still running around in this heavy snow." Jiang Tang saw that Meng Yuan's shoes and socks were wet, and she was so worried that she didn't wait for him to say anything. She immediately ordered him to sit down, removed his shoes and socks, and brought hot water for him to wash.

"Is your cough better today?" Meng Yuan took out the medicine packet and the oiled paper package from his bosom.

"I'm fine. It's you who ran around in this icy weather all day." Jiang Laobo, unaware that Meng Yuan had gone to find Xun Mei, thought he had gone to buy medicine and smiled, saying, "This girl asked Tie Niu for firewood, and the stove hasn't stopped since. I've been preparing hot water for you. She's not as nice to me as she is to you. She kept worrying about you and even wanted to go pick you up."

Jiang Tang sat on a small stool, bowed her 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, her cheeks flushed, and she didn't know what she was shy about.

"I'm not silly." Jiang Tang lowered her head again, not knowing what she was thinking, and giggled as she scratched Meng Yuan's soles.

After soaking his feet, Jiang Tang carefully dried them and then picked up the changed shoes and socks to put them in the basin before going out to wash them.

"Don't rush." Meng Yuan held her back and said, "I bought you meat. Eat first, then work."

"Meat?" Jiang Tang's big eyes lit up in the darkness, and she quickly said, "Then I'll go wash up first before eating!"

She hurriedly carried the basin out, washed quickly, and then boiled the medicine.

The pig's trotter had already cooled down, but Jiang Tang was still delighted. She first let Jiang Laobo eat, then Meng Yuan, and naturally, neither would compete with her for food.

In the dimly lit room, Jiang Tang chewed on the pig's trotter while Jiang Laobo chatted with Meng Yuan, saying that Jiang Tang's grandmother had given birth to seven children, and her aunts also had complete families, using this to prove that Jiang Tang would also be capable of giving birth in the future.

On the second day, due to the snow not melting, they didn't need to work, so Meng Yuan shoveled manure all day.

On the third and fourth days, there was no movement, and as the year-end festival approached, Meng Yuan thought the result would come after the new year. But then, hoofbeats shook the livestock farm.

All the villagers came out to see. Six noble horses guarded a carriage that arrived in front of the hall.

Six bodyguards, each carrying a sword, dismounted and surrounded the carriage.

Xun Mei stepped out of the carriage, changed into a red cloak, and with a hint of makeup, she exuded a somewhat heroic aura.

"Tie him up!" Li Zhuangtou hadn't understood what was happening when Xun Mei gave the order.

Two bodyguards stepped forward and immediately restrained Li Zhuangtou, binding his hands behind his back.

"What are you doing? What are you doing?" Li Zhuangtou didn't know what was happening, his face full of fear, and he knelt on the ground, shouting, "Xun Mei, what are you doing? What right do you have?

I came with the Empress Dowager!"

Xun Mei's hand was tucked into her sleeve, and she said coldly, "Do you also know that you came with the Empress Dowager? Have you listened to even half of her teachings?

The Empress Dowager has always been considerate of you elders, allowing you to embezzle and sell the village's poultry and eggs without interference."

Xun Mei took two steps forward as she spoke, then continued, "But the Empress Dowager has repeatedly forbidden using the Imperial Mansion's name to bully the common folk! Yet, you used the Mansion's name to collude with outsiders, bully the widowed and orphaned, seize land, and destroy families!"

"I didn't..." Li Zhuangtou knew the situation had turned, and his voice became much softer as he knelt on the ground, dazed.

"The last time I came, I told you to treat the villagers with leniency, but you forced them to plow and turn the fields in the winter!"

As Xun Mei spoke, her tone became increasingly stern, "The Empress Dowager said that in times of disaster, the gathering of homeless people causing trouble is either due to incompetent officials or people like you pushing them to it!"

Li Zhuangtou shivered and couldn't utter a word, losing his previous arrogance.

"I know you're not satisfied, but after returning the land deed to the rightful owner, you'll tally up what you've gained and go back to your hometown to report to the Elder Lady yourself!" Xun Mei didn't give Li Zhuangtou a chance to argue, clearly acting on the Empress Dowager's instructions.

Meng Yuan watched in amazement from the side. He never expected the Empress Dowager to have such insight and act with such lightning-fast methods.

Xun Mei wasn't done yet. She ordered people to seal Li Zhuangtou's house for inspection.

"From now on, he's your new village head." Xun Mei pointed to the old man who came with her and instructed him, "The villagers are easily influenced, so I hope you won't disappoint the trust the Empress Dowager has placed in you and won't be harsh on them."

After speaking, Xun Mei didn't stay longer and boarded the carriage.

The carriage wheels crushed the snow, creaking as it moved forward. When it left, the curtain was drawn aside.

Xun Mei saw the villagers were still there, all looking amazed. There was a girl beside a boy, equally bewildered and lost.

Seeing this, Xun Mei thought that this boy probably didn't know that his unintentional words had led to today's events.

"Come here." Xun Mei smiled and waved at the boy, who hesitated for a moment before hurrying over.

"Sister Xun." Meng Yuan was as honest as could be.

"Do you still want to go to the Imperial Mansion to learn martial arts?" Xun Mei smiled and asked.

"Yes!" Meng Yuan replied immediately.

"You're so pure-hearted, but at the Mansion, you'll likely be bullied." Xun Mei smiled and said, "But I'll protect you. Go find the new village head later and ask him to write you a note. You can go to the Mansion tomorrow."

"Thank you, Sister!" Meng Yuan felt his wish was fulfilled, and his heart was filled with joy.

As the carriage drove away, Li Zhuangtou and his son followed behind, their previous arrogance long gone.

The villagers quickly came to pay respects to the new village head.

This new village head was named Sun. After he inspected the village, Meng Yuan, Jiang Laobo, and Zhao Datou and his son found him together.

Sun, the village head, was amiable and quickly wrote a recommendation letter. He also asked Zhao Datou to drive the donkey cart early the next morning to deliver it.

"With a change of person, things are different! In the end, it's all thanks to the Empress Dowager!" As night fell, Zhao Datou came and grabbed Meng Yuan, not letting go, "Tie Niu is simple-minded, so I'm asking you to take good care of him."

Zhao Datou also pressed down on Tie Niu's head, making him listen to everything Meng Yuan said.

Meng Yuan agreed and asked Zhao Datou to take good care of Jiang Tang as well.

After sending Zhao Datou and his son away, Meng Yuan saw that Jiang Tang hadn't spoken a word, so he pinched her face.

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

"Yes." Meng Yuan was very serious and said solemnly, "At most half a year, and I'll bring you into the city to live."

Jiang Tang nodded obediently, and she didn't say much. She sat at Meng Yuan's bedside, sewing his cuffs with fine, dense stitches that seemed like they'd never wear out.

In the morning, there was fog. The donkey cart, driven by Zhao Datou, headed into the fog.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end