Former rented house, now a new home

Chapter 132 Former rented house, now a new home

Liang Shanbo led Su Wanhui to meet Xie Xuan.

Inside Xie Xuan's study, Su Wanhui and Xie Xuan talked for quite a while, discussing both the Su family of Huaibei and trade along the north-south trade routes. Liang Shanbo listened attentively, and after observing for a while, he gained a deeper understanding of Su Wanhui, finding the woman to be quite insightful, courageous, and capable.

Zhu Yingtai was not idle either; she went to the back of the general's mansion to pay her respects to Xie Xuan's wife.

Although the general's mansion is not extravagant, the back courtyard is quite elegant, with osmanthus and bamboo planted on both sides of the bluestone path, and the bamboo leaves are still green in early winter.

Xie Xuan's wife's surname was Huan, and she came from the Huan clan of Qiao State. Xie Xuan and Huan had been married for many years and had a son and a daughter. Their son was named Xie, with the nickname "Qing," and was still young.

Zhu Yingtai had become acquainted with Lady Huan at the Xie Family Manor in Shining. Xie Daoyun was the first to lead her to meet Lady Huan, and later they chatted, talked, and played chess together on several occasions.

Huan Shi was not particularly gentle or compliant, but she liked Zhu Yingtai and treated her with some kindness; otherwise, she wouldn't have been thinking about Zhu Yingtai.

As soon as Zhu Yingtai stepped into the Huan family's residence, Huan family members came to greet her, took her hand, looked her up and down, and said with a warm smile, "Yingtai, you look even more like a handsome young man in your smart attire today. If I hadn't recognized you beforehand, I probably wouldn't have been able to tell at first glance. Ever since we parted in Shiling, I've been thinking of you constantly, and I've been hoping that you and Shanbo could come to Guangling together. Well, here you are!"

It's rather strange. In this era, Zhu Yingtai was considered a rebellious woman. Yet, she was surprisingly popular with noblewomen. Xie Daoren liked her, and so did the woman before him, Lady Huan. Perhaps one reason was that she was remarkably handsome when dressed as a man.

A warm feeling welled up in Zhu Yingtai's heart. She quickly curtsied and smiled sweetly, saying, "Yingtai also misses Madam. I often think of the care and love Madam showed me when we were in Shining."

Having just arrived today, I was in such a hurry to pay my respects to Madam that I didn't even have time to change my clothes. I am still dressed in this neither-male-nor-female attire, which is extremely impolite. Please forgive me, Madam.

After settling in for two days, Yingtai will change into women's clothing and then formally pay her respects to the lady, so that she can have a pleasant conversation with her.

Let's play chess and have a good chat about how we've missed each other since we last met.

Huan smiled and shook her head, pulling her down to sit. She said, "I actually like your men's attire. It's clean and neat, and you look very spirited. It would be quite inconvenient for you to travel in women's clothing. Guangling City is a military town, and women always need to be more careful when traveling. In the future, you can see me in women's clothing or men's clothing, whichever is more convenient for you. There's no need to be bound by any formalities."

Zhu Yingtai felt a warmth in her heart and said earnestly, "Thank you for your understanding, Madam. I am relieved to hear you say that."

In the days to come, Yingtai will inevitably have to visit the Madam's residence often, keeping her company, chatting, and playing chess, so that life in the military camp on the frontier won't be so dull and lonely. If the Madam needs anything from Yingtai, please don't hesitate to ask.

Huan patted her hand gently: "I couldn't be happier. Xie Lang is busy with military affairs every day, and I don't have many people I can talk to in this inner quarters. It's good that you're here. From now on, we can keep each other company, talk to each other, and pass the time more easily."

Zhu Yingtai nodded with a smile.

In fact, she already had a plan in mind.

Xie Xuan recruited soldiers and formed a new army. As the number of generals and officers under his command increased, many of their wives and children also lived in Guangling City with their husbands.

She would inevitably have to cultivate closer ties with the Huan family and interact more with the wives of the officers and soldiers. By becoming familiar with them, she could not only find some warmth and human connection in this foreign military town, but also build more goodwill for Brother Liang within Xie Xuan's military household. In this way, her trip to Guangling would not only not be a burden to Brother Liang, but could also bring him benefits.

Xie Xuanjun's mansion had a position called "Sheren," which was a secretary or attendant who served the mansion master directly and was responsible for handling various daily affairs, such as arranging accommodations for staff.

Xiao Hu and a servant led Liang Shanbo, Zhu Yingtai, and their entourage through the dusty main street of Guangling City and turned into a quiet alley.

There are more than ten courtyards on both sides of this alley, mostly the residences of military officers and their families. The alley is paved with gravel and is quite clean. The walls of the courtyards are mostly made of rammed earth, which, although not beautiful, are neat and orderly.

The servant walked to the second courtyard at the alley entrance, took a bunch of keys from his waist, and opened the gate.

Xiao Hu pointed to the depths of the alley, grinned, and said to Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, "Brother Liang, Brother Zhu, my wife and I..."

They live right in this alley, only three houses away from you, so it's very convenient for you to walk there. I'll call my wife to come and meet you right away.”

Liang Shanbo waved his hand and declined with a smile, saying, "Brother Xiao, we have just arrived and our rooms haven't been tidied up yet. There isn't even a place to sit inside, and all our luggage hasn't been settled. It's really too kind of you to come over here now, sister-in-law. How about tomorrow?"

Xiao Hu waved his hand dismissively: "Since you're here, you should meet as soon as possible. There's no need for so much formality. To be honest, neither of you has ever met my wife. I went to your manor for your wedding banquet this February, but I went alone; she wasn't even married yet. Now that you're here, how could she not see you? She's no stranger to me. Don't stand on ceremony with me; why bother with all this formality?"

Without waiting for Liang Shanbo's reply, he turned around and gave a few instructions to a servant behind him. The servant responded and quickly walked into the depths of the alley.

Suddenly, Xiao Hu thought of something and said to Liang Shanbo in a serious tone, "Brother Liang, now that you are a military advisor, I am your military advisor and supervisor. In terms of title, you are the master and I am the assistant. From now on, you should call me Brother Xiao." It might not be good if others heard this.

If you don't mind, please call me by my courtesy name "Xiaogu" from now on; it's friendly yet appropriate.

Liang Shanbo nodded, no longer bothering with formalities, and said with a smile, "Alright then."

Xiao Hu then turned to Zhu Yingtai and cupped his hands in greeting: "Brother Zhu, from now on, please call me Xiaogu."

""

Zhu Yingtai smiled slightly and returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Alright, Xiaogu."

Xiao Hu chuckled.

Xie Xuan's arrangement was truly meticulous. Not only did he specially appoint Xiao Hu as Liang Shanbo's military advisor, but he also deliberately placed the two in the same alley. In this way, the two could not only spend every day together in the army, but also visit each other at any time after returning home, and discuss military matters only a few steps away.

Xiao Hu is now twenty years old and has just completed his coming-of-age ceremony. His grandfather and father gave him a courtesy name, "Xiao Gu".

The name comes from the phrase "The tiger roars and the valley wind blows" in the Chu Ci, which means that the tiger roars in the deep valley and its power shakes the mountains and forests. It not only corresponds to his name "Xiao Hu" but also fits the intimidation and territorial awareness of a powerful young man. The character is majestic and expansive, and the word "roar" itself carries the unrestrained style of the famous scholars of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It is both bold and elegant, and it is indeed a good name.

Also this year, Xiao Hu married a woman surnamed Sun, whose given name was Fangzhi. She came from the Sun family of Qiantang, the same family as Sun Yuangui, and was Sun Yuangui's cousin. Not long after their marriage, Xiao Hu brought his wife to Guangling to join the army. Although the young couple were newlyweds, they had to get used to the harsh life of military service on the frontier.

At this moment, Liang Shanbo, Zhu Yingtai, and Xiao Hu and their entourage filed into the courtyard.

The courtyard was quite large and square, with three main rooms in the front, featuring blue tiles and gray walls, and intact windows. A kitchen was built to the side. In the corner was a small stone well with a wooden pulley on the well curb, the edges of which were covered in a thick layer of blackened moss. The courtyard floor was paved with pebbles, and some weeds peeked out from between the stones.

Although the courtyard was a bit old, it was bright and spacious. It was a stand-alone house with three main rooms, enough to accommodate Liang Shanbo and his wife and a few personal servants. Compared to the ordinary people in Guangling City who were crammed into low shacks, it was a world of difference. In the desolate and impoverished Guangling City, it was considered a rather respectable residence, considering that even Xie Xuan's general's mansion was not luxurious.

Zhu Yingtai looked around, her eyes lighting up. She leaned closer to Liang Shanbo and whispered with a smile, "Brother Liang, look at this courtyard. There are three main rooms in the front, a kitchen on the side, and a stone well in the corner. It's quite similar to the rented house we used to live in in Qiantang County."

Liang Shanbo smiled and nodded.

The layout of this courtyard is indeed seven or eight parts similar to the rented house in Qiantang County back then, only it is a bit old, with one less clump of green bamboo in the corner of the courtyard, and several more pieces of white plaster peeling off the walls.

The two exchanged a smile, both feeling a sense of familiarity with the courtyard.

Back in Qiantang, the two would visit a rented house in the county town on their days off, a house that witnessed many of their beautiful memories. It was also in that rented house that Zhu Yingtai first met Liang Shanbo in women's clothing, and the two spoke frankly about everything, pledging their lives to each other.

Today, this courtyard and this new home will witness their new era of overcoming obstacles and making achievements in this military town north of the Yangtze River.

This can be considered a kind of fate.

Just as Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai were inspecting the layout of the rooms in the main house, Xiao Hu's wife, Sun Fangzhi, arrived.

Sun Fangzhi was seventeen years old, the same age as Zhu Yingtai. She had an oval face and, while not a stunning beauty, her features were regular and she had a friendly appearance. Because she had come in a hurry, she hadn't spent time on elaborate makeup or dressing up, and was only dressed in casual clothes, making her look plain.

A maid followed behind her, carrying a bamboo basket containing freshly steamed cakes and a pot of hot tea.

Xiao Hu tugged at his wife's sleeve and introduced her to Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai with a grin. Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai hurriedly greeted Sun Fangzhi, who returned the greeting with a slightly shy bow, her voice soft and gentle, a stark contrast to Xiao Hu's booming voice.

Zhu Yingtai was very enthusiastic towards Sun Fangzhi. She stepped forward, took her hand, and said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, when Liang Lang and I got married, Xiao Gu specially came to Shangyu to attend our wedding. Liang Lang and I have always remembered that kindness."

However, when Xiaogu married you, he didn't send an invitation to Shangyu, saying that Shangyu was far from Qiantang and there was no need for Lianglang and me to make the trip. This caused us to miss your wedding, and we only got to meet you, our sister-in-law, now.

Xiao Gu and Liang Lang are as close as brothers, and he is also a good friend of mine. Furthermore, my wife and I were classmates and close friends with your cousin, Sun Yuangui, at Wansong Academy. We should have known each other long ago, but it's only today that we've finally met. From now on, we'll be living in the same alley, so we should get to know each other well.”

Seeing Zhu Yingtai dressed in men's clothing, exuding a heroic spirit, yet speaking with such warmth and sincerity, Sun Fangzhi felt even more shy. However, she still said softly and bashfully, "Young Master Xiao often mentions Young Master Liang and Miss Zhu to me, saying that you are people he respects at the academy. I have long admired you. Today I finally get to meet you, and I hope Miss Zhu will take good care of me in the future."

Remembering something, she added, "I brought some hot tea and pastries. I thought you must be tired from your journey, so please make do with these for now. We're cooking at home right now, so please come over for dinner later."

Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai thanked each other.

Although it was only a few words and expressions, Liang Shanbo could tell that Sun Fangzhi was gentle and mild-mannered, which was in stark contrast to Xiao Hu's rough and forthright nature.

In fact, Xiao Hu is outwardly rough but inwardly meticulous, responsible and bold; Sun Fangzhi is gentle and virtuous, capable of managing the household and considerate. This couple complements each other perfectly, with strength and gentleness in harmony.

Under Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai's arrangement, their personal maid Yu Xian and personal servants Yin Xin and A Mian lived with the couple in this courtyard. There were two bedrooms, one for the couple and one for Yu Xian, Yin Xin, and A Mian.

Yin Sheng and the other eight female soldiers rented houses nearby to live in. Luo Ning, Chen An, Guo Shou, and other personal guards all stayed at the main camp outside the city, instead of staying in their private residences within the city. This arrangement both respected military regulations and facilitated their daily lives.

At that moment, Liang Shanbo instructed Luo Ning to gather his personal guards and personally lead them to the main camp outside the city to settle in, and also to take a look at the main camp. Xiao Hu accompanied them.

Meanwhile, Zhu Yingtai was naturally busy. She, along with Yu Xian, A Mian, and others, busied themselves tidying up the house and organizing luggage. They opened each trunk and placed writing implements, paper, inkstones, books, clothes, and various valuables into their proper places. Yin Xin, on the other hand, was busy renting a house nearby so that her younger brother Yin Sheng and the female soldiers could settle down as soon as possible.

Xie Xuan's main force was stationed on an open area outside Guangling City, very close to the city, a short ride away. The barracks stretched out in rows, the stables were lined up, the drill ground was spacious, watchtowers hung high, and banners fluttered in the winter wind. Soldiers moved constantly within the camp, their shouts rising and falling, creating an atmosphere of disciplined and disciplined military might.

In the military administration system of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the government offices were located inside the city and served as places for deliberation and administration; the military camps were set up outside the city and served as places for training and stationing troops. Generals usually held meetings in the military government offices inside the city, lived in their residences inside the city, and trained and led troops in the camps outside the city.

As a military advisor leading the elite vanguard, Liang Shanbo would henceforth lead a life of "training troops outside the city during the day and returning home in the evening."

However, during times of war or emergency preparedness, he must also stay overnight in the camp, sharing the hardships with the soldiers and responding to ever-changing battle situations. During night training, he naturally also stays in the camp, with campfires illuminating the tents, watchtowers signaling the time, and eating and sleeping with the soldiers.