When Ma Nantian left Cuiyun Pavilion, he turned back and took a deep look.
He planted a seed casually. This seed may grow into a dodder flower that strangles a big tree, or it may become a tough weed, or it may grow nothing at all. Frozen to death in the harsh winter.
But what does that matter?
The general endured the humiliation for twenty years and planted so many seeds. Didn’t these seeds sprout one after another?
The Ma family has waited so long, so why not wait a few more years?
Manan returned to the house in the wind and snow, and his daughter-in-law skillfully asked people to serve mutton soup.
Ma Nantian didn't eat anything in Cuiyun Pavilion, and his stomach was already empty. After eating a bowl of hot mutton soup, the warmth flowed from his stomach to his limbs.
Ma Nantian felt like he was alive.
"Dad, don't you despise Heda the most? Why did you take the initiative to ask him out again?"
Ma Nantian explained to his daughter-in-law in detail: "Because I want him to give me With cotton seeds. I looked at the kapok he gave me last time and said that it would be much warmer if filled with flower bones.”
Today's fabrics are either brocade or linen, and cotton did not appear.
Although linen is breathable, it is extremely fragile and not warm enough.
Many civilians use dry straw to keep warm, which is why more people freeze to death as you go further north.
"Dad, do you want to do the cotton business? I'm afraid this business won't be very profitable, so you might as well go to a caravan."
Ma Nantian shook his head: "No, this is me It’s for the general.”
The daughter-in-law of the Ma family looked back and forth, and when she saw that everyone was retreating, she whispered: "Is this useful to the general?"
Ma Nantian's eyes were deep.
Unlike others, Ma Nantian believes that the more knowledgeable her daughter-in-law is, the stronger the children she will raise.
Taking a step back, if something happens to me one day, a wise daughter-in-law will be able to support the whole family better than a daughter-in-law who is short-sighted.
So, Ma Nantian treats his daughter-in-law as he treats his own son, and he can't wait to teach her everything he has learned in his life.
"The general once posted a recruitment order in the city. But except for Aunt Geng, no one took the job. The Yunzhou city the general wants is not available, so I will bring it to her from Wuzhou and the Western Regions!"
The daughter-in-law of the Ma family holds Ma Dang Return and have dinner with Ma Nantian: "Today, the Sang family sent someone. The head of the Sang family wants to invite you to come over and have a talk."
When the Ma family's daughter-in-law said this, her expression was calm. Yes, there is Ma Dalang's life between the Ma family and the Sang family.
The two families no longer have the close relationship they once had under Gu Zhanshen.
Ma Nantian paused for a moment, then drank the entire bowl of mutton soup calmly.
After taking the horse Angelica and teasing it for a while, he got into the carriage in the wind and snow and went to Sang's house.
The Sang family is highly regarded by big families, and they also live in a large courtyard in the inner city.
The entrance of Sang's house is clean and tidy. Pedestrians passing by will lower their heads and speed up their steps.
"Master Madang is here, please come this way. The master is already waiting for you in the lobby." The concierge greeted Madang Nantian into the inner courtyard attentively.
Many years ago, the Ma family and the Sang family had a good relationship, and the servants were very familiar with the masters on both sides.
However, things are different and people are different.
The head of the Sang family is about the same age as Ma Nantian, but he looks younger than Ma Nantian. "Nantian, you're here, please take a seat!" The head of the Sang family sat with him, and the servants filed out after serving wine and food.
In the entire lobby, only Ma Nantian and the head of the Sang family were left.
The head of the Sang family poured two glasses of warm wine and handed one to Ma Nantian.
"The friendship between our two families for so many years has reached this point. I really didn't want it to happen. I didn't think carefully about Dalang's matter! I thought Dalang would confess that family, but I didn't expect him. I can't bear it anymore."
The Sang family took a sip of wine and coughed from the spicy taste: "I was watching. When Dalang grew up, in my mind, he was just like my nephew. After Dalang was imprisoned, I tried to persuade him, but he didn’t listen. Who did this kid follow? Such a stubborn person?"
"Is this why you are looking for me?" Ma Nantian did not touch the wine or food.
The Sang family smiled bitterly: "Brother Ma, you are still blaming me. But I can understand that you only have this one seedling, and if it is gone, half of your life will be lost."
Ma Nantian remained silent, watching the head of the Sang family singing and beating, which he found quite absurd.
Both families knew that this was a deadly feud, so why should they maintain superficial harmony?
Seeing that Ma Nantian was like a sculpture, neither eating nor drinking, nor making a sound, the head of the Sang family knew that his play was in vain, so he simply spread his words.
“The lion king on the grassland has lost his beloved son. He is already old. The lions must follow the new lion king before they can continue to conquer the grassland. Looking at all the tribes, only the two wise kings on the left and right are the best. A strong contender for the throne."
"You have taken refuge in King Zuo Xian." What Ma Nantian said was not a question, but an affirmation.
"Yes!" The head of the Sang family simply stopped pretending, "You are all thinking about the south! Look at the court in the south, is it thinking about you? Yes, Yunzhou has a great general, Gu Nanxi! But I I heard that the emperor of the Zhou Dynasty no longer loved her as much as before! This Gu Nanxi might have returned to the inner palace before she became the second god of war."
"Our Ma family will not get involved in these things. We only do business to make money and support our family. We have no control over other things."
Ma Nantian's attitude is very firm. He will never let the Ma family follow. Behind the Sang family, they contributed money and efforts to King Zuoxian.
The Sang family had an idea: "It's not up to you. Under the violent storm, no stone can survive alone."
Ma Nantian did not answer his words, but silence was rejection. .
Fortunately, the Sang family did not plan to resolve the knot with the Ma family at once, let alone win over the Ma family with just one conversation.
The head of the Sang family clapped his hands and saw a few servants walking in carrying a wooden box.
The Sang family said very generously: "You, the Ma family, have always admired the skills of our Sang family. This is a drawing that we have saved with great difficulty. Now I will give it to you. You can treat me as the eldest son." Sorry."
Ma Nantian wanted to walk away, but when he thought of something, he stood up, opened the wooden box, and looked through the scrolls one by one.
The Sang family is a carpenter, and their carpentry work is so lifelike that they are known as Lu Ban of the Great Zhou Dynasty.
But since the Sang family surrendered to the Tatars, they burned those exquisite woodwork products.
Unexpectedly, they actually kept these drawings.
This blueprint is just a hot potato in the hands of the Sang family and can only eat dust in the box.
But if it is sent to Yunzhou and in the hands of the general, it will benefit everyone!
With all his thoughts on his mind, Ma Nantian still bent down once and accepted the gift.
With a smile on his face, the head of the Sang family sent Ma Nantian out: "Good brothers, let's meet again when we have time." (End of this chapter)