He Yunsheng always felt that his dream was a little too long.
His sister followed him up the mountain early in the morning and chopped some firewood. Finally, she took out some snacks from her cloth bag and gave him one. He Yunsheng wanted to refuse, but the sweet and greasy aroma filled the tip of his nose. He Yan had already lowered his head to bite into his own share. Unexpectedly, He Yunsheng reached out and took it.
He took a bite. The sweet taste was unfamiliar to him. He Sui was very biased. He gave all the delicious food to He Yan, but He Yan was not a person who liked to share.
He Yan saw that he ate very slowly, so she stuffed the rest of the snacks into his hands and said, "You can have the rest. I'm full."
He Yunsheng did not know what to do.
He and his sister were the only two people in the He Family. He Sui was just an armed escort who came to the capital to deliver goods. On the way, he happened to be robbed by mountain bandits. He saved the young miss of the capital's scholar's mansion and married happily. The scholar's family only had one young miss. He Sui did not have any parents, so he voluntarily became the son-in-law of the family.
Although he was the son-in-law of the family, his son and daughter still followed their husband's surname.
Later, the scholar and his wife died one after another. Madam He was depressed all day. When He Yunsheng was three years old, Madam He passed away. The three of them depended on each other for survival.
He Sui and his wife were deeply in love. He Yan looked very much like Madam He. Probably because of this, He Sui loved He Yan very much. Although the He Family was not rich, He Sui always tried her best to satisfy He Yan's needs. Over time, He Yan also became an annoying person. At least, He Yunsheng could not love this sister of his.
But since she fell ill, many of her actions had become unimaginable. He Yunsheng didn't know how to face her.
"You go up the mountain to chop firewood every day?" He Yan asked him, "What do you do in the afternoon? Don't you go to school? "
He Yunsheng was only one year younger than He Yan. He was fifteen this year. Children at this age should still be in school.
"When we get back, we'll make a large cake and sell it in the shed in the afternoon. Forget about the school." He Yunsheng casually said, "We don't have money at home, and I'm not cut out for that. I can just read a few words."
Although he tried to hide it, He Yan could still see a trace of regret and longing in the boy's eyes.
After a pause, she asked, "What do you want to do in the future?"
"Why do you ask?" He Yunsheng was suspicious but after a moment, he still answered He Yan's question, "Now I go to the martial arts arena everyday. In the future, as long as I pass the academy examinations, I will be able to enter the city's garrison army and slowly become a Lieutenant. Then I will be able to earn some silver."
"That's it? He Yan laughed. "I thought you would want to do something else."
"How can I do something else?" He Yunsheng mocked himself, "Don't tell me I'm going to be like General Feihong? We both have the same surname but he's much more powerful than us. "
Suddenly hearing his name from He Yunsheng's mouth, He Yan froze for a moment. She was silent for a moment before asking, "You know General Feihong?"
"Of course I know! Who doesn't know in Da Wei? That year General Feihong conquered the Western Qiang, General Fengyun conquered the Southern Barbarians, Northern He and Southern Xiao. That's why our Da Wei was at peace! Young men are chivalrous and high-spirited! If I can become a person like them, even if I die, it's worth it! "
He Yan laughed out loud.
He Yunsheng was flustered and exasperated, "What are you laughing at?"
"But just chopping firewood and selling large cake, you can't become a person like them. That year General Feihong and General Fengyun weren't people who could be successful just by casually learning in the martial arts arena. "
"Of course I know." He Yunsheng's face turned red, "But I …"
Which young man didn't want to make a name for themselves? He Yunsheng was at the age where he was hot-blooded. Moreover, the current situation was really holding him back.
He Yan said, "From tomorrow onwards, I'll go with you to the mountains every day to chop firewood and sell large cake."
"What?" He Yunsheng jumped up from the Shi Tou, "He Yan, are you crazy?"
Today's matter could be said to be a spur of the moment thing. If she came every day … He Yan was afraid that her brain was damaged because of her illness.
Without waiting for He Yunsheng to speak, He Yan had already stood up and patted the dust off her body, "Since you're done eating, let's continue working. Spring waits for no one."
He Yunsheng: "…"
After the spring rain, it was sunny for more than ten days.
Recently, Qing Mei had something on her mind. In the past, Eldest Miss always ordered her to do this and that. Eldest Miss, who made her serve her personally, didn't look for her anymore.
During the day, she went out with He Yunsheng. At night, when Qing Mei wanted to help He Yan freshen up, He Yan also sent her out. The only thing she could do was to get up in the morning to comb He Yan's hair.
Qing Mei was sick at heart with worry. If this went on, would she also be kicked out of the house like those manservants who were sent away by He Sui? After all, Eldest Miss didn't need her anymore!
He Yunsheng also had a lot on his mind.
For more than half a month, He Yan went to Long Huan Peak with him every morning to chop firewood. Unexpectedly, she woke up earlier than him. He Yan went up the mountain and tied a sandbag to her hands and feet. He Yunsheng secretly weighed it. It was very heavy. He Yan carried such a thing every day and went up the mountain with him to chop firewood.
She didn't complain at all. It was as if she didn't know what tiredness was. However, He Yunsheng saw that the delicate skin of her palms had been abraded many times. She simply wrapped a cloth around her hands.
The benefits of doing this were obvious. After half a month, He Yan walked faster than him and chopped more firewood than him. He Yunsheng wondered if the sandbag was really so magical. Should he secretly tie two sandbags?
Two people chopping firewood was faster than one person chopping firewood. The extra time could be used to sell more cakes. He Yan was a woman after all. It wasn't good for her to make a living in public. He Yunsheng also reminded her, but He Yan didn't care at all. He Yunsheng felt a headache coming on. If He Sui knew that He Yan had been with him these days, either chopping firewood in the mountains or going out to sell cakes, he would definitely whip him.
Fortunately, He Sui didn't know.
Not only did He Sui not know, but he was happy every day. His son and daughter, who used to quarrel endlessly, were much closer recently. They could sit at the same table and eat together. Sometimes, they would even chat. He Sui was very satisfied. He was much kinder to the new soldiers on the school field. After all, everything would prosper if the family lived in harmony.
At this moment, He Yan was sitting in front of the dressing table.
Qing Mei looked at her anxiously.
Ever since He Yan recovered from her illness, she didn't like to look in the mirror. She also didn't like to fiddle with her rouge and face powder. Now that she was fiddling with it again, Qing Mei was a little nervous. Recently, the household's expenses were very poor. He Yan wanted to buy new lipstick at this time, but she didn't have the money.
He Yan flipped through the face powder on the table and felt a headache coming on. These things had already been used. They couldn't be sold for money. She flipped through a few more times and found a few hairpins and jewelry.
They were all made of silver and the quality was average. They were not as good as the ones she used to wear in the Xu family. However, she didn't care so much now.
She found all the jewelry and handed them to Qing Mei.
"Take these to the pawnshop and pawn them. Pawn them until you die. You'll get more money."
Qing Mei's eyes widened. "But … but …"
"We're very poor now." He Yan explained to her earnestly. "These can't be eaten."
She had to pawn the jewelry and get some money. It would be best if she could get enough money for He Yunsheng to go to school.
Since she had taken over Lady He's body, she should at least do something for the He family. After she took care of these things, she could do her own things with peace of mind.
For example, she could settle an old debt.