Chapter 65: Early Morning

The grandmother and grandson chatted for a long time, until late at night. After eating two bowls of steaming hot chicken soup noodles, Cheng Chengxuan and Cheng Qiuyun were shooed off to rest by Cheng Old Madam.

After Cheng Chengxuan left, Cheng Old Madam looked toward her eldest daughter-in-law, her face heavy.

"Qing Man, you heard everything just now. Although Tao'er jumped off the cliff to cover Cheng Chengxuan's safe escape, you…"

"Pomo."

Meng Shi's eyes reddened as she struggled to pull out a smile.

"Your daughter-in-law understands everything."

"Tao'er was struck by a poisoned arrow, so this truly was the best choice. What's more, Cheng Chengxuan is also blood of the Cheng Family — we're all one family. Your daughter-in-law harbors no resentment."

"It's just…"

Meng Shi's voice grew choked, tears blurring her eyes, as she reached out and pounded heavily against her own chest.

"Your daughter-in-law's heart aches — a pain like a knife cutting."

Her husband, her son — in the end, not even their bodies could be recovered.

Cheng Old Madam's heart ached even more.

Those were her son and grandson too.

Meng Shi also knew her pomo was in even greater pain, but the emotions had surged up and simply couldn't be held back. Fortunately, she only cried for a little while before forcibly suppressing her grief.

She wiped her tears dry.

"Pomo, let us see you back to your room. It's getting late — you should rest too."

Cheng Old Madam waved her hand.

"You all go ahead, I'll go back on my own."

The two sisters-in-law nodded at her words and, supporting each other, left the main hall.

After the two of them left, Cheng Old Madam also rose, leaning on her cane as she slowly walked back to her room.

The moment the door closed, Cheng Old Madam could hold back no longer. She didn't even light a candle; relying on the dim moonlight, she staggered back to the bedside, dropped onto the edge of the bed, and let tears stream down from the corners of her eyes.

But she didn't want to worry the younger generation, so she could only press her hand tightly over her mouth and sob softly.

……

Early in the morning, practicing in the courtyard — besides Yu'an waving his little wooden sword, there was now also Cheng Chengxuan practicing with his sword.

After finishing his horse stance and swinging the wooden sword a hundred times, Yu'an sat on the doorstep, chin propped in both hands, watching his little uncle practice the sword with rapt attention.

When would he ever be as amazing as his little uncle?

The sharp Long Sword sliced through the surrounding air, emitting a series of piercing sounds.

The moment An Luo opened the Live Stream Room, she saw this scene.

In the distance was the rising morning sun, its ten thousand rays of golden light dyeing the horizon a stretch of gold — but the very ray of light shooting over happened to be blocked by the great tree in the courtyard. Its branches and leaves scattered the glow, casting down dappled shadows and patches of light.

Cheng Chengxuan held his sword in one hand, every stance and movement exuding a fierce, sharp momentum. Sword Qi stirred up the yellow fallen leaves beneath the tree, sending them spinning gracefully through the air for a few turns before they drifted down…

After completing the fluid, flowing set of movements, Cheng Chengxuan breathed slightly hard, picked up the cup beside him, and took a sip of water.

A thin layer of fine sweat clung to his forehead; beads of perspiration slid from his jaw, trickling past his bobbing Adam's apple…

Perhaps feeling warm, he raised a hand and tugged slightly at his collar, as if trying to loosen it a bit to cool off.

Seeing this gesture, An Luo's cheeks flushed slightly, but she honestly held up her phone and leaned in a little closer.

Suddenly, a cheer rang out from inside.

"Wow! Little Uncle is amazing!"

Zaituan excitedly clapped his hands while bouncing up and down.

Hearing Yu'an's voice, Cheng Chengxuan lowered his hand, sheathed his sword, set it on the stone table, and quickly ran over to squat in front of him. He curled his index finger and gently scratched the little fellow's delicate, petite nose bridge.

"Does Yu'an want to learn?"

"Mm-hmm!"

Yu'an nodded like a little chick pecking at rice.

"I want to!"

An Luo set her phone down on the table, a little disappointed.

But watching the sword dance from the side was pretty nice too.

And so, under the tree, one big and one small, accompanied by the morning breeze — the elder taught earnestly, the younger learned with full focus.

Watching the figure of Xiao Yu'an gripping his little wooden sword tightly, practicing stroke by stroke with clumsy, unpracticed movements, in Cheng Chengxuan's eyes the scene before him gradually overlapped with that of many years ago, when Big Brother had taught him sword practice.

If his elder brother were still here, it should have been him personally teaching Yu'an hand in hand.

Thinking this, a strange surge of vicious fury welled up in Cheng Chengxuan's heart.

He grabbed the sword from the stone table and swung it hard; the blade sliced clean through a falling dead leaf. This time, every stance and strike was fierce and murderous.

At first Yu'an tried to follow along and learn, but later realized he simply couldn't keep up with his little uncle's movements.

He could only stop in frustration.

Hearing the commotion, Cheng Old Madam opened her door. Seeing this scene, her brow knotted tightly, and she called out in a low, stern voice.

"Cheng Chengxuan!"

Hearing her voice, Cheng Chengxuan stopped.

"Grandmother."

Cheng Old Madam's face was stern as she said sharply.

"For this period, you are not to touch a sword again!"

Such heavy vicious fury is no good sign.

"Grandmother, I…"

Seeing his grandmother's unquestionable gaze, Cheng Chengxuan could only return the sword to its sheath and hand it to Cheng Sen to put away.

"Then what should I do?"

Cheng Old Madam walked to the corner of the courtyard wall, picked up a hoe, and stuffed it into his hands.

"Go work the fields!"

Cheng Chengxuan glanced down at the hoe in his hands and muttered softly.

"But I can't just work the fields all day long, can I?"

Cheng Old Madam shot him an exasperated glare and let out a heavy breath.

"In your remaining free time, whether you copy scriptures or practice calligraphy, you're not allowed to touch a sword again!"

Cheng Chengxuan nodded helplessly and replied.

"Yes."

Meng Shi came out of Chu Fang carrying dishes, saw that the atmosphere seemed off, and spoke up to break the somewhat tense mood.

"Pomo, the food is ready."

Cheng Old Madam took Yu'an by the hand and headed toward the main hall.

"Then let's eat."

At the dining table, looking at the golden, unidentified mush in the basin, Cheng Chengxuan asked.

"What is this?"

Wang Shi ladled porridge for Pomo while explaining softly.

"Didn't you eat two ears of Corn just last night? After one night, you don't recognize it?"

Hearing her words, Cheng Chengxuan's eyes went wide.

"This is last night's Corn?!"

Meng Shi nodded.

"Yes, we ground the dried Corn into bits — the coarser ones we used to make porridge, the finer ones we mixed with some white flour, added some shredded vegetables, and pan-fried into flatbreads. Pomo, please try some."

Saying so, she picked up a palm-sized corn flatbread and placed it on the small plate beside Cheng Old Madam's hand.

Cheng Old Madam took a bite, then nodded.

"Not bad, very tasty."

Once the Ancestor had taken up her chopsticks, the others prepared to start eating as well.

Cheng Chengxuan ladled a spoonful of corn porridge, took a sip, and kept nodding.

"Mm, delicious."

After finishing one bowl, he savored it carefully and said excitedly.

"It's more filling than porridge made with millet."

"You can boil it, make porridge, or fry flatbreads — this Corn really is a wonderful thing."

"I just wonder what the yield is?"

Hearing this, those who knew the truth exchanged glances and smiled mysteriously.

"You'll find out very soon."

Cheng Chengxuan didn't press the matter — he'd know sooner or later anyway.

He looked around and showed a puzzled expression.

"Why aren't Qiu Ruo and Qiu Luo here?"

Meng Shi looked outside, a worried look on her face.

"Oh, them? They went to take care of something important."

I wonder if it's going smoothly, and whether they've run into any trouble?