Autumn Returns to Phoenix Mountain

Chapter 126 Autumn Returns to Phoenix Mountain

The morning mist, a frequent visitor of late autumn, now hangs like a thin veil over the moat.

Tiny frost flowers have already formed on the withered grass along the riverbank.

As soon as it was light, a long queue formed inside the fortress gate.

The carriage was piled high with bundled luggage, and servants were waiting by the roadside with horses in tow. This was the last group of people accompanying Yang Can on his return to Phoenix Mountain.

The laughter from the previous farmers' feast was still ringing in the ears of the people, and the thunderous shouts of the soldiers during the autumn hunt and military drills had not yet faded. Everyone was still immersed in the afterglow of these two grand events when Yang Can decided to return to the mountain.

Most of the valuables that could be moved had already been transported away in the first few convoys, and Qingmei was among the first to return to the mountain with a large amount of valuables.

Suo Chanzhi is now heavily pregnant, and with her childhood sweetheart taking care of her, she is in the safest position.

Later, several more convoys left Feng'anbao, and the convoy that accompanied Yang Can now is the last one.

When Balimo and the Xianbei elders saw Yang Can off, they saw some very ordinary objects piled up on the cart.

Even the tiger head specimen that Zhang Yunyi made from hunting tigers back then, and the knife that had accompanied him for half his life, were casually wrapped in an oilcloth bag and carelessly tossed on the car, showing no signs of their value.

Feng'an Fort was truly emptied out by Yang Can.

Zhang Yunyi's initial generosity stemmed from his ambition to make a comeback, while Yang Can had no such intention; for him, it meant being demoted.

"Master, would you like another bowl of hot porridge?"

An old woman dressed in coarse linen clothes, holding her grandson's hand, walked briskly over carrying a heavy earthenware pot.

She shakily scooped a bowl of porridge from the jar. The golden rice porridge was steaming, with a few red beans floating on top, which made the cracked rim of the earthenware bowl seem even warmer.

"My wife has been cooking this since before dawn. It will warm your stomach and help you avoid catching a cold on the way."

As soon as the old woman finished speaking, the people behind her surrounded her.

Some carried dried red dates wrapped in oil paper; others held bamboo baskets with eggs wrapped in straw, as if afraid of them getting bumped or knocked.

Several teenagers stood on tiptoe, holding up grasshoppers they had made themselves, wanting to give Yang Can their most treasured possessions.

Yang Can bent down to take the ceramic bowl, his fingertips touching the warmth of the rim, which then spread from his fingertips to his heart.

He tilted his head back and took a sip. The sweet and sticky porridge slid down his throat, dispelling most of the morning chill.

"Thank you for your concern, folks." Yang Can finished his porridge in one gulp, handed the bowl back to the old woman, and then reached out to pat the head of the child next to him.

Suddenly, a soft sobbing sound came from the crowd. Yang Can turned his head and saw the "Twenty-Eight Sons" dressed in matching blue cotton jackets, standing neatly behind Xin Xian, their eyes red like ripe fruit.

The youngest child couldn't help but cry out first, his tears falling onto his clothes, instantly causing the other children to sob as well. Their cries sounded like a flock of sparrows chirping, making everyone's hearts soften.

Yang Can didn't take them with him when he returned to Phoenix Mountain this time.

Phoenix Manor is the territory of the clan lord. Apart from the clan lord and his heir, no one else has a large enough independent courtyard to accommodate these twenty-eight children.

He could only settle the children in the village for the time being, and found a spacious courtyard where even the pregnant Xianbei widows who were temporarily unable to marry lived together, and were taken care of by Xin Xian and Wang Cai.

During this time, Xin Xian was able to teach the children some scout skills, and Yang Can naturally covered all the expenses.

But the children were too young. Even though Qingmei and Yang Can said they would come back to pick them up, seeing their loved ones leave one after another, panic still overwhelmed them like a tide, and they always felt that they were going to be abandoned.

Xin Xian and Wang Cai stood to the side, their faces scrunched up like kneaded buns, looking completely helpless.

When Lao Xin was training his troops, if they didn't listen or couldn't learn, they would either beat or scold them. How dare you cry?
You cowardly bastard, if you dare to cry, then hang him up and beat him. He's never seen anything like this before.
The children in front of me are all only seven years old at most; I can't hit them or scold them.

This rough-around-the-edges man, who had never been a "king of children" before, felt a headache coming on as he listened to the constant crying.

Wangcai had absolutely no experience, and he almost cried when he heard it.

Yang Can walked over and first patted Ah Xiao's head.

This little girl is seven years old. She is more mature than boys of the same age. Among the "Twenty-Eight Sons", she is obviously the leader and the eldest sister.

"It's one thing for others to cry, but why are you crying too? Have you forgotten your name is 'Xiaoxiao'?"

Yang Can squatted down, gently took Ah Xiao's hand, and said with a gentle look in his eyes, "Godfather will go back to Phoenix Mountain first, but that is not Godfather's territory."

That's like going as a guest; how can you bring so many people without the host's permission? Don't you agree?

He paused, then looked intently into Ah Xiao's eyes: "Once I've settled in over there, I'll have Uncle Xin take you there."

"You all need to behave here, study hard, practice your skills, and wait for my news, okay?"

"Father...Father, you're not lying to us, are you? You won't abandon us, will you?" Ah Xiao sniffed, tears still clinging to her eyelashes, her voice trembling with fear.

"Of course not." Yang Can smiled, gently wiping away the tears on her cheeks with his fingertips: "Xiaoxiao is such a good girl, even if your father doesn't want anyone else, he won't abandon you."

He glanced at the other children; the girls were crying relatively politely, only secretly wiping away their tears with their sleeves.

The boys, however, paid no attention; some even grinned and howled at the sky, their snot almost dripping down their chins.

Yang Can was both annoyed and amused. He deliberately put on a stern face and said, "Xiaoxiao, you keep an eye on them for Uncle Xin."

When I send someone to pick you up, they'll ask you who's the most well-behaved. If you say someone isn't well-behaved, then that person won't be allowed to see me.

Upon hearing this, Ah Xiao's eyes widened instantly, as if she had received a tremendous mission. She immediately stopped crying and even forced back her tears.

She puffed out her little chest, turned to look at her still-crying friend, furrowed her delicate brows, and crisply scolded, "Stop crying!"

Unexpectedly, the reprimand was much more effective than Yang Can's coaxing, and the originally noisy crying instantly subsided by more than half.

The children looked at Ah Xiao timidly, even softening their sobs.

This young woman certainly has the air of a "leader".

Yang Can gave Wangcai a wink, and Wangcai immediately brought over a basket of small waist tokens that had been prepared beforehand.

Each waist tag is made of peach wood, polished to a smooth and warm finish. The front is clearly engraved with the character "Yang", while the back has numbers from "one" to "twenty-eight".

The children have learned quite a few characters these days. The first one they recognized was the character "杨" (Yang), and they immediately recognized the mark on the waist tag.

Yang Can first showed Ah Xiao the waist tag engraved with the number "one", and then personally tied it to the cloth belt around her waist.

Yang Can then said to the other children, "Line up according to the order of age I arranged for you before."

The children immediately lined up obediently, even the boy who had been crying the loudest before straightened his little body.

Yang Can walked up to each of them, tied the waist tag around their waists, and whispered, "This is the mark of our Yang family. Make sure you wear it carefully and don't lose it."

The children touched the waist tags on their waists and instantly stopped crying and started laughing. Some even carefully stuffed the waist tags into their clothes, as if they were hiding some rare treasure.

In their hearts, since their father had given them the waist token and allowed them to take the surname "Yang," he would never abandon them.

After calming the children down, Yang Can went to Xin Xian's side and gave her some detailed instructions on how to take care of the children and the widows.

Then, his gaze swept over the heavily pregnant women behind the children. Seeing that they were still in a stable mood, he turned and walked towards his mount.

It was still that chestnut horse. "Qishuang" and "Saixue" had long been ridden by the two little maids, Yanzhi and Zhusha, and had gone back to Phoenix Mountain with Qingmei.

Yang Can mounted his horse and had just ridden out of the gates of Feng'an Fort when the people and workshop owners inside shouted in unison, "Take care on your journey, Master!"

The sound echoed in the morning mist, lingering for a long time.

Meanwhile, the riverbank outside the fort was already filled with villagers and her men who had come to see him off. Kang Zhengyang stood at the bridgehead, dressed in a smart outfit.

Yang Can had planned the timing of his departure from Feng'an Fort long ago.

It was chosen precisely when the joy of the farmers' feast had not yet faded and the heroic spirit of the autumn hunt and military exercises was still stirring in people's hearts.

What he wanted was this blank space of "leaving at the height of glory," so that this memory could be etched deeper in everyone's hearts.

For the people of Feng'anbao, that banquet to reward farmers was the most extravagant feast they had ever seen in their lives.

Before this, they only knew how to bury themselves in farming and depend on the weather for their livelihood; they never imagined that their labor could be treated with such solemnity.

Yang Can carried a wine bowl to the edge of the field and toasted each of the old farmers, saying, "This year's harvest is all thanks to your hard work." Many of them had tears in their eyes.

Not to mention the feasts that filled the entire street, with stewed meat until tender, fragrant pancakes, and candied fruit that the children were tasting for the first time; even the air was filled with a sweet aroma.

Even now, when people gather at the village entrance to chat, they will count the dishes on their fingers and say, "That stewed chicken, I've lived for fifty years, and it's the first time I've ever tasted anything so delicious."

The grand exercise of the Eight Villages and Four Pastures' troops was an eye-opener for everyone.

Twelve teams lined up in the field where the martial arts were being practiced, their flags fluttering in the wind, their swords and spears reflecting the autumn sun, and the sound of their footsteps, totaling two thousand four hundred men, shook the ground.

This was the first time that the Eight Villages and Four Shepherds had gathered so many men. The four hundred cavalrymen from the Four Shepherds alone, riding tall horses in formation, raised a cloud of dust that resembled a yellow city wall.

After the exercise, Yang Can stood on the high platform and personally handed the banners embroidered with "Top Player," "Deputy Top Player," and "Outstanding Person" to the three best teams, along with heavy copper coins as a reward.

He said in front of everyone, "Starting this year, this grand military exercise will be held once a year. Whoever has the ability can take this honor!"

These words were like a blazing fire, igniting everyone's passion.

The members of the champion team walked with their heads held high, and people would stop them on the street to ask about their victory.

Teams that didn't place were gritting their teeth and muttering, "We'll definitely take the championship next year."

More importantly, these soldiers, who usually only trained in their own estates, were seeing so many of their comrades for the first time.

Seeing such a massive display, they suddenly realized that we could be so powerful when we were together.

From that moment on, they saw confidence and pride in each other's eyes.

But just as the people were still reveling in the joy of the farmers' feast and the soldiers were reliving the grand military exercise, Yang Can decisively returned to Phoenix Manor.

He was like the protagonist of a lively play, quietly leaving the stage after the most exciting part, leaving behind only lingering memories.

As soon as Yang Can and his group disappeared from sight, Ba Limo turned and walked into Feng'an Fort, walking faster and faster, unable to hide the smile on his face.

Actually, when he was sending Yang Can off earlier, he couldn't help but glance at the houses in the fort several times. Now he was even more eager to "inspect" his new territory.

The hall was less or no longer furnished with exquisite decorations, but Bali Mo didn't mind at all.

In his eyes, this fortified village, which could shield him from the wind and cold, protect him from wild wolves, and keep him safe from powerful enemies, was his most precious treasure. He had even already planned in his mind to raise the chickens and ducks in the main hall and let the pigs and sheep roam freely in the courtyard, so that it would be lively enough and feel like a home.

To him, this sturdy stone fortress was nothing more than a more spacious and safer "stone tent".

"Great Chief! Wait for us!"

A group of Xianbei elders caught up with Balimo, panting, their eyes full of anticipation: "Great Chief, we also want to move into the fortified village!"

Ba Li Mo laughed heartily, slapped the elder beside him on the shoulder, and said generously, "Move! Move them all! It's no fun for me to drink alone without you all here!"

The elders immediately beamed with joy.

Soon, they will be able to smile with pride and satisfaction, lead their families, move away from the tribal settlement, and enjoy a life of leisure in Feng'an Fort with their chieftain.

……

As Yang Can left Feng'an Village, the scenery before him gradually opened up.

The autumn wind carried a chill, blowing past the poplar trees lining the road. Their bare branches resembled countless withered hands reaching towards the gray sky.

In the fields by the roadside, the crops had long been harvested, leaving only knee-high stubble, gleaming pale yellow in the wind.

Several stacks of wheat straw were piled up along the edge of the field, resembling small, earthen-yellow hills.

Yang Can rode his chestnut horse slowly, when a thought suddenly popped into his mind: the child would be born in winter, in the year of the snake, what name should he give him?
……

As the sun began to set, the golden-red glow of the sunset spread across the summit of Phoenix Mountain, like a layer of molten gold had been poured over it, bathing the courtyard's blue bricks and gray tiles in a warm glow.

On the stone steps under the corridor, two girls who looked exactly alike sat side by side, each with a blue cloth cushion under their buttocks.

Both of them were in the same posture: bent over with their knees bent, elbows resting on their knees, and hands cupping their round cheeks.

Even the curve of their eyelashes was exactly the same, just like a pair of peach blossoms blooming together.

The setting sun reflected in their dark pupils, shimmering with tiny lights, but beneath that vibrancy lay a lingering melancholy.

They had just excitedly gone to the stables to feed the horses, but were stopped by the stable master as soon as they reached the door.

The stable master, a man under Steward Deng Xun, spoke with arrogance: "There's only one stable on Phoenix Mountain, and only one steward in it. That's me, personally appointed by Steward Deng. Get out!"

The two little girls, being new to the place, dared not utter a sound and slunk away.

The stable master snorted coldly. This stable may look inconspicuous, but the hay and feed cost money.

Spending money...that's how you make money!
I flattered Steward Deng for half a year to get this job. You think you can get involved? No way!
Back at home, Rouge and Vermilion were filled with worry.

Zhu Sha twisted her fingers around Chu Bai and muttered softly, "If we're not allowed to feed the horses anymore, won't we become idle people?"
"If the master and mistress think we're useless, will they sell us off?"

Rouge was also flustered, but she still tried to comfort her sister: "Don't think nonsense, Master and Madam are not that kind of people..."

Even so, her eyes were full of worry. Who would keep a servant who's no longer useful?

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard gate, accompanied by a hearty laugh: "Ha, that's quite efficient! The two courtyards have been combined so quickly!"

Rouge and Vermilion looked up abruptly and saw Yang Canxin walking in happily, his dark robes still covered in mountain dust.

Yang Can was overjoyed. After he mentioned the matter of merging the courtyards to Suo Chanzhi last time, Suo Chanzhi instructed the head steward to do so.

The young mistress personally entrusted the task, and it was done for the head steward, so the stewards naturally took it seriously.

Sure enough, in just a few days, the earthen wall that used to separate Yang Can and Li Youcai's courtyards was completely demolished, and even the new courtyard gate was repaired.

The new gate stands between the two old gates, and the lintel is decorated with simple cloud patterns, making it much more imposing than the original.

"Master Zhuang..." Zhu Sha jumped up excitedly, about to greet him, but Yan Zhi covered her mouth.

Rouge glared at her sister quickly, then lightly stepped on the tip of her boot again.

She immediately put on a sweet smile that could melt your heart, lifted her skirt, and took small, quick steps to greet him.

"Master Steward, you're finally back!"
You must be exhausted after such a bumpy mountain road journey.

"I'll go make you a bowl of tea and give you a leg massage, sir."

Yang Can waved his hand, his gaze already drawn to the scene in the courtyard: "No rush, let me take a look first."

He stepped into the courtyard and looked at the spot where the original wall used to be, where only the newly rammed foundation remained.

The wooden pillars stood neatly, and some bricks, tiles, and timber were scattered on the ground. Although the craftsmen had finished work, they had put their tools away properly.

The newly dug pond on the west side has already taken shape, with a flat bottom and shallow lines carved by craftsmen still visible on the edges.

The water hasn't been drawn in yet, and the excavated soil is piled up by the pond, like a small earthen hill.

"At this rate, it should be completed before it freezes."

Yang Can nodded in satisfaction, his fingertips brushing against a wooden pillar. The wood felt smooth and solid, clearly indicating that it was made of good quality wood.

Rouge quickly followed, bending down to brush the dust off the hem of his robe as she smiled and said:
“The master is right! The stewards said that the trees by the pond should be planted in the spring, when they will be more likely to survive.”

This is for the master's house, so they dare not be careless in the slightest. The bricklayers and carpenters they chose are the best craftsmen in Tianshui City!

Zhu Sha followed behind, her big eyes darting around.

She was a little puzzled. Her sister was usually quiet and didn't talk much, so why was she so talkative with the master today?
Zhu Sha was honest and simple. In the past, she only knew how to follow her sister to feed the horses and do chores. Now that she had no work to do, she felt like she had lost her backbone.

The thought of possibly being sold terrified her, and she wanted to hide. How could she possibly approach the master?

Therefore, she was terrified by Rouge's current initiative.

Yang Can nodded in satisfaction: "Yes, they are very thoughtful."

Yang Can casually asked, "Where is Madam? I haven't seen her."

"The young mistress went to the inner quarters to see the young mistress, saying that the young mistress was feeling unwell and wanted to talk to someone."

Rouge quickly replied, then asked solicitously, "Should I go and invite the young mistress back?"

"No need."

Yang Can waved his hand and turned to walk out: "I'll go to the academy to see the clan leader first. You guys go to the kitchen and tell them to prepare a few more dishes tonight and bring them to the courtyard."

"Yes, this servant will go right away!" Rouge replied crisply, watching Yang Can walk away before pulling Zhu Sha towards the kitchen.

Zhu Sha finally couldn't help but ask, "Yan Zhi, what are you doing? Are you afraid the master doesn't know that we two sisters have nothing to do? Why are you deliberately getting in front of him?"

Rouge glared at Zhu Sha. "We were born from the same mother. You were only half an hour younger than me. How can you be so stupid?"
Rouge poked Zhu Sha's forehead with a look of exasperation: "Are you stupid?"

Can we hide forever? Sooner or later, the master will find out we've been idling around!

Didn't you see how big this yard has been expanded? With more people and more things to do in the future, we'll definitely need more manpower!

"With our looks, we're pretty and delicate, charming and adorable, and quick and efficient. Even if we can't feed the horses, we'd certainly be good enough to be the young mistress's personal maids, wouldn't we?"

As she spoke, she spun around on the spot, her light red dress billowing gently, like a peach blossom blooming in the wind.

"If we could somehow win the master's favor and become a concubine in the future, wouldn't we be like a phoenix rising from the ashes?"

Zhu Sha's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly: "Ah, right, right! A maid who doesn't want to be the young mistress's little servant isn't a good horse maid! You're so smart, sister!"

"Tch, this is the only time you'll call me 'sister'." Rouge chuckled and pinched her cheek. The two sisters walked hand in hand toward the kitchen.

The two girls walked side by side, their eyes crinkling with laughter, as if they were looking at themselves in a mirror.

That youthful and sweet appearance truly resembled a pair of twin peach blossoms, vibrant and beautiful.

……

Yang Can arrived at the academy, but before he could even step onto the stone steps, he was stopped by the guards on duty in the corridor:

"The clan lord is currently meeting with a manager. Deacon Yang, please wait below the steps."

Yang Can nodded and stood solemnly at the edge of the steps.

After the autumn harvest, the heads of each branch of the Yu family and the external affairs officers all had to return to Phoenix Mountain to report on their duties.

Those with good profits naturally have more confidence, but those with losses in their industries have to explain the reasons in front of the tycoon.

Yang Can stood at the foot of the steps and could faintly hear the reprimanding voices coming from the study.

Yang Can couldn't help but chuckle to himself: Everyone says that the patriarch Yu Xinglong is gentle and weak-willed.

However, since the death of his eldest son, Yu Chengye, the respect and awe that the other branches of the family have for the eldest son has gradually weakened.

Now that the clan leader is not so easy to talk to, it would be strange if he didn't take the opportunity to teach some people a lesson and rebuild his authority.

In the left wing of the academy, the window was half-open, and three people were chatting and drinking tea inside.

Among the three, a man in his fifties, with a slender face and a long beard, sat in the middle, his fingers stroking a black jade thumb ring. He was clearly a high-ranking figure who had long held a position of power.

To his right was a robust man in his forties, with thick beard and eyebrows, exuding an imposing presence even without anger; this was none other than the Second Steward Yi She.

To his left was Li Youcai, the third steward, who was short and stout with a round, smiling face resembling Maitreya.

The sprightly old man raised an eyebrow slightly when he saw Yang Can standing below the steps, stroked his beard, and asked, "Who is that standing below the steps? He looks very unfamiliar."

Yi She and Li Youcai both looked out the window, and when they saw Yang Can, they couldn't help but laugh.

They had both dealt with Yang Can before, so they naturally recognized him.

The two spoke almost simultaneously, but the meanings behind their words were completely different.

Yi She said, "Hehe, so it was him. This man is truly the most reckless person in my Yu family!"

Li Youcai: "Haha, so it's him! Among the young deacons, none can surpass his talent!"

(End of this chapter)