Chapter 50: Just Waiting for the Day the City Walls Are Completed

“Thank you for your guidance, Uncle!” Meng Changqing took the opportunity to flatter him.

“Spare me those words. In this regard, I am not your equal,” Wei Fangyun said. “I can lead troops in battle, but if you ask me to govern a prefecture, I certainly cannot compare to learned men like you.”

“Uncle, you are being too modest,” Meng Changqing replied. “Since His Majesty has made this appointment, you must possess the capability to govern. Furthermore, the peace Liangzhou enjoys today is precisely due to your effective administration.”

Wei Fangyun shook his head with a smile. “If I didn't know my own limitations, I might actually let you blow me up to the heavens.”

By the time they finished speaking, their bowls were empty.

At the right moment, Bafang said, “Uncle, would you like another bowl?”

“No, thank you.” Wei Fangyun stood up, rubbing his stomach. “I am full. Eating too much is a waste.”

“Bafang, take Uncle’s bowl to the well house to wash it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Let’s go, Changqing. I’ll borrow a horse from you; I’ll send someone to return it once I reach Liangzhou Prefecture.”

“After you, Uncle.”

Wei Fangyun walked very slowly on the way to the stables, looking up at the sun along the way.

“The weather has been good these past few days,” Wei Fangyun remarked. “The sun has come out for several days straight. Although the snow hasn't melted, it feels warmer than before.”

Meng Changqing nodded, but before he could respond, he heard Wei Fangyun sigh. “Changqing, warm weather is not necessarily a good thing for us. As long as this city wall remains unfinished, I cannot sleep peacefully. I fear that in the middle of the night, a battle report will arrive, and all this great momentum—all your hard work—will be undone by this unpredictable weather.”

Meng Changqing said, “I share the same concern, Uncle, and like you, I cannot sleep soundly at night. But please rest assured; the vigilance on the city walls has never slackened, and there are people patrolling the beacon towers at all times.”

“You are meticulous in your work; you don't need much supervision from me. There isn't much I can do for you,” Wei Fangyun said. “A few days ago, an imperial decree arrived from the Palace asking about the progress of the wall construction. I included the official document you wrote within the memorial. There is much praise for you in the imperial court.”

Meng Changqing gave a dry laugh.

If they knew how much he enjoyed sending official documents to the capital, they would have told her to write two fewer pages.

Bafang finished washing the dishes and prepared the horses in the stables. By the time Wei Fangyun and Meng Changqing arrived, they could mount and depart immediately.

“Uncle, here are some pickled radishes,” Bafang said, handing over a wrapped jar.

“Thank you, child.” Wei Fangyun mounted his horse. “Let's go.”

He had not ridden far when he suddenly pulled on the reins, turned his horse sideways, and shouted: “Changqing! I shall wait for the day the city wall is completed to invite you to Liangzhou Prefecture for three heavy rounds of drinking!”

Meng Changqing responded loudly in kind: “Your nephew will certainly not break his promise!”

***

That night, once the hour of *Hai* had passed, the middle shift workers were dismissed.

The sky was pitch black by then, but it could not dampen the people's desire to return home.

As before, Meng Changqing arranged for people to escort them.

The Zeng brothers quickly packed their belongings and, holding their bowls, joined their group in the queue. Their group always performed well and was often among the first to eat.

Zeng the Eldest stood in line, but his eyes kept wandering elsewhere.

“Brother, you’re looking for Sister-in-law, aren't you?” Zeng the Third could tell. “The women are queuing to eat at the back, far from us. We can only eat once they have had their turn. Stop looking.”

Zeng the Eldest shoved his bowl into his younger brother's hands. “Hold this for me. I have to go see her. She doesn't talk much to others; I'm afraid no one told her she could go home today.”

“Fine, I'll hold your place.”

Zeng the Eldest quickly left the line and headed toward the pits where the women lived.

However, men were not permitted to enter the area where the women resided, regardless of whether the man was a woman's husband.

Zeng the Eldest could only say to the guard, “I am looking for Liu Meizi from Group 500. I am her man, and I have something to say to her.”

The guard stepped aside and called Meizi out loudly.

People from the same region were deliberately assigned to the same shifts so they could travel home together. Meizi was from Qianzeng Village in Liangzhou, so she naturally worked the middle shift just like the Zeng brothers.

When Meizi saw Zeng the Eldest, she spoke immediately: “Do you need something?”

“Why haven't you packed your things yet?” Zeng the Eldest said. “I knew no one would tell you. Hurry up and pack. Once you've eaten, we can head home.”

Meizi was not excited; her expression was almost indifferent.

Unaware of this, Zeng the Eldest continued, “After you eat today, you can take an extra bowl to go. Remember that.”

“I’m not going back,” Meizi said. Her voice was low, and Zeng the Eldest didn't hear her clearly at first.

“What?”

Meizi raised her voice slightly. “I said, I am not going back.”

“Why?”

A trace of mockery curled the corner of Meizi's mouth, but she spoke calmly: “My health is poor. I cannot walk such a long distance. I might faint on the way back and forth, and I'm afraid the County Magistrate will just drive me away then.”

Zeng the Eldest rubbed his hands together. “Alright.” He paused for a moment before saying, “That’s fine too. Then you can stay here. When you aren't working, you can come have some porridge. I... Third and I are going back. We'll head off now.”

“Big Brother!” Zeng the Third was already standing not far from the kitchen door. “Come here! Why are you so slow? It's almost our turn.”

Zeng the Eldest was in low spirits, and Zeng the Third quickly noticed. “Brother, what's wrong? Did something happen with Sister-in-law?”

“Your sister-in-law isn't going back.”

“Huh? Why?”

“The road is too long and her health is poor. It's better if she stays here.”

“That makes sense.” Zeng the Third held out his bowl and quickly received a large serving of rice. He began eating voraciously. He was almost finished, yet his brother's bowl was still more than half full. “Eat quickly!”

“I can't eat.”

Zeng the Third said, “We won't have anything to eat when we get home. If you don't eat your fill here, don't end up starving to death like Sister-in-law. I know you're thinking about her. Her health is poor because she was starved at home. If she goes back, who in the family will give her a kind face? She'll just go back to suffer in silence. Why bother? I wanted to persuade her to stay too, but I didn't say anything for fear of making you sad.”

“I feel as though she has grown distant from me.” For the first time, Zeng the Eldest found the food tasteless.

“If she has grown distant, it's because you did something wrong,” the Third said. “I told you back home—Sister-in-law is a person too. Why should she be bullied by Second Sister-in-law at every turn? You never helped her at home because you felt you owed Second Brother, so you didn't argue with them. But if you truly feel you owe them, you should be the one to make amends; you shouldn't make Sister-in-law suffer in your place. If I were her, I would have left home long ago.”

Zeng the Eldest's heart sank. “I just feel... she doesn't want to go back with me anymore.”

“Instead of worrying about it now, you should just be better to her in the future.” Having finished his meal, Zeng the Third urged him, “Hurry up and eat, Brother. Don't be late and miss the convoy.”