After leaving Beggar Haizi, Zhu Shenzui and others headed south. They originally planned to enter the Great Wall via Yanghewei or Gaoshanwei and finally return to Shanxi. This was also the return route he had planned before.
However, because Lin Dan Khan gathered troops in the grassland, the Ming Dynasty also got the news. In order to prevent Lin Dan Khan from directly sending troops south to attack the Ming Dynasty, Xuanfu and Datong felt like they were facing a formidable enemy, and border inspections suddenly became much stricter. This situation It's not that easy to get down into the Great Wall.
Because of this, they were delayed for a while. Zhu Shenzhui finally made a circle along the north of the Great Wall and passed Yulin before entering the Great Wall through Yunyoubao. After entering the Great Wall, Zhu Shenzui and others were relieved.
Then, we headed south, and it was already early May when we returned to Pingyang Mansion.
Although this trip to the grassland was different from what I originally planned, it went smoothly overall.
All the goods I brought have been sold out, and the harvest is also full. In addition to the cattle and sheep skins and other items exchanged in trade, there is also a lot of gold, silver, jewelry, etc. Even if it takes a little time to take care of the border on the return trip, the profit will be extremely generous.
No wonder all the Shanxi merchants are rich and wealthy. You must know that Zhu Shenzui and the others are just a small caravan, and this trip to the grassland is just a preliminary test. If it were replaced by the caravans of other large merchants, it would be unimaginable to calculate the profit from a trip to the grassland based on the proportion.
Back in Pingyang, Zhu Shenzhui first found a place to place the people and goods, and then returned home.
This trip lasted more than two months. After being away from home for so long, Zhu Shenzui really felt homesick.
When he got home, the door was still the same as when he left. The door was closed tightly. Zhu Shenzui stepped forward and opened the door.
Opening the door inside, she saw Zhu Shenzui standing at the door covered in dust. Zhang was stunned at first, then surprised, and then she couldn't help but be happy.
"Sister-in-law, I'm back!" Zhu Shenzui said with a smile as he looked at Mrs. Zhang who had lost some weight.
"It's good to be back, it's good to be back. My uncle has been back for so long, and I have been worried in my heart. Amitabha, I wish I could see you back safely." Zhang's eyes were moist, and her voice was trembling slightly.
In the past, Zhu Shenzui would often go out for a few days, but at that time, no matter what happened, he would only be back for more than half a month at most.
But this time, before Zhu Shenzui left, she told Ms. Zhang that her trip to the grassland would take a long time. Originally, Ms. Zhang wanted to stop her because she never expected that Zhu Shenzui would suddenly run to the grassland.
In Zhang's heart, the grassland is not the Ming Dynasty. The people living there are barbaric Mongols. If Zhu Shenzui went to the grassland and there was something wrong there, what would happen to his family?
In her heart, Ms. Zhang didn't want Zhu Shenzui to go, but she knew Zhu Shenzui's temperament, and she knew even more clearly that she couldn't stop Zhu Shenzui's decision. After Zhu Shenzui left, Mrs. Zhang was worried every day at home, whether she could eat or sleep well, wondering where Zhu Shenzui was now, how he was doing, was he in danger, would something happen...?
Day by day, Mrs. Zhang worried about Zhu Shenzui, but could not do anything. She could only set up a small Buddhist hall in the main house, burn incense and chant sutras in front of the Buddha every day, hoping that the Buddha would bless Zhu Shenzui and come back safely as soon as possible.
Finally, today, Zhu Shenzui came back. Mrs. Zhang was extremely happy. She quickly called Zhu Shenzui to come in. When she heard the noise outside, Qiaoer, who was playing in the house, ran out. When she saw Zhu Shenzui, she was even more excited. He cheered and ran over on his little legs.
"Father! Father! Where have you been? Don't you want Qiao'er? I miss you... I miss you so much..." The little girl threw herself into Zhu Shenzui's arms, crying and complaining loudly. He also beat Zhu Shenzui several times with his fist to express his inner dissatisfaction after not seeing Zhu Shenzui for so many days.
"Okay, okay, stop crying. Isn't father back? We've cried like little kittens. If we keep crying, our Qiao'er won't be beautiful." Zhu Shenzui hugged Qiao'er with a smile, and Zhu Shenzui helped her lovingly. Wiping away tears, he comforted her softly.
Feeling Zhu Shenzui's broad shoulders and the reassuring breath and warmth, Qiaoer pressed her face tightly against Zhu Shenzui's neck and hugged him tightly with her hands.
"Qiao'er, come down. My uncle has just come home. Let him rest first."
"I don't! I want my father!" Qiao'er, who was usually well-behaved, refused to let go today. It seemed as if Zhu Shenzui disappeared as soon as she let go.
These days, the little girl missed him. As Zhu Shenzhui never came back day by day, the little girl kept thinking about him. Sometimes she would even sit on the threshold of the main house and look at the courtyard for a long time. In the direction of the door, expecting Zhu Shenzui to appear suddenly.
But as time went by, Zhu Shenzui never came back, and Qiaoer's heart became more and more worried day by day.
Today I finally saw him back. Qiao'er was happy but complained about him in her heart, and refused to let go of the hand holding him tightly. Because only in Zhu Shenzui's arms could Qiaoer feel truly safe.
After being apart for so many days, Zhu Shenzhui missed them too. He hugged Qiaoer and comforted her, and then teased her with the toys he brought back from the grassland. The child's emotions went away as quickly as they came. Qiao'er, who was still crying just now, saw the rare thing Zhu Shenzui gave her, her eyes widened in surprise, and she started to giggle again while playing with it.
"Uncle, is this...?"
Only then did Ms. Zhang on the side notice Dali who had returned with Zhu Shenzhui. Dali was no longer the sloppy and pitiful look he had been before. These days, Dali's clothes were no different from those of ordinary Ming Dynasty people. Along the way, Zhu Shenzui ate well, and the half-grown boy gained nutritional supplements, and his face no longer looked sallow and thin.
Ma Shizhou and several others were placed in other places in the city by Zhu Shenzui. As for how to arrange Dali, Zhu Shenzui had already considered it on the way back, so he simply brought them back when he returned home this time.
When he entered the door just now, Dali had been following Zhu Shenzui silently. When Mrs. Zhang saw Zhu Shenzui's excitement, she didn't notice the short Dali. When she came to her senses, she realized that there was such an extra person, and couldn't help but ask about Zhu Shenzui.
"This is Dali. I brought him back from the grassland. He will live with us at home from now on."
"Dali? Are they Mongolians...?" Zhang asked in surprise.
Zhu Shenzui nodded and explained: "Dali is his Mongolian name, but I gave him a Chinese name, Wang Hai."
As a Mongolian slave, Dali naturally had no household registration. Placing him elsewhere might cause trouble. It would be much safer for Zhu Shenzui to take him home directly. In addition, although Dali has begun to learn Chinese, he can barely speak a few words in such a short period of time, and he also has a stiff tone, which sounds strange. weird.
"I have seen the mistress and the young master..." Wang Hai (Dali will use this name from now on) heard Zhu Shenzui mention his name, and quickly knelt down to Mrs. Zhang and said respectfully in fluent Chinese. Kowtow respectfully.
"This...this..." Wang Hai's actions shocked Mrs. Zhang. Mrs. Zhang was just the daughter of an ordinary family. Even if she married into the Zhu family, the Zhu family as a clan had long since declined. There had never been anyone in the family. Servants, let alone masters and slaves.
Seeing Wang Hai's humble and respectful look, Mrs. Zhang didn't know what to do for a moment. She was a woman. Although Wang Hai looked young, she couldn't help her, so she could only look at her for help. He threw himself at Zhu Shenzui.
"Get up, you stay here for the time being. Don't go out casually these days. Learn Chinese first. After a few days, you will be fine after getting your household registration." Zhu Shenzui said this, and Wang Hai responded, and then He kowtowed to them and then stood up.
"Uncle, what's going on?" Zhang asked doubtfully. This Mongolian boy was so weird that Zhang couldn't understand it.
"I'll talk to you in detail later." Zhu Shenzui replied, and then asked Mrs. Zhang: "Sister-in-law, is there anything to eat at home? I just entered the city and haven't had time to eat yet, so I'm a little hungry... .”
Only then did Mrs. Zhang come back to her senses. She quickly blamed herself, then nodded and said, "Yes! Yes! Just wait, I'll give it to you later."
"Excuse me, sister-in-law. By the way, sister-in-law, please make more. Wang Hai hasn't eaten either."
"I understand. You go back to the house and rest first. I'll be ready here soon." Mrs. Zhang said, and then went to the kitchen to work.
Holding Qiao'er in his arms, he took Wang Hai to his house.
After entering the house, Zhu Shenzui asked Wang Hai to put down the things he brought back, and then took him to the side room next to him.
The side room is right next to Zhu Shenzui. This room is not usually occupied, but it has furniture and everything. The weather is getting hotter now, so there is no need for the kang head or anything like that. I can just find a quilt later. Wang Hai has no problem living here.
After explaining a few words, Wang Hai quickly packed up. While he was packing, Mrs. Zhang outside shouted to Zhu Shenzui that the noodles had been cooked. Zhu Shenzui casually invited Wang Hai to eat. Wang Hai shook his head and said that he was a slave and could not Having dinner with his master, Zhu Shenzui didn't say anything and took Qiaoer over first.
When they arrived at the main room, Ms. Zhang was surprised that Wang Hai didn't come with her. Zhu Shenzui told her that she didn't have to wait for him and would just leave a bowl of noodles for Wang Hai later. Seeing Ms. Zhang's confusion, Zhu Shenzui simply told Ms. Zhang about Wang Hai's situation. After hearing this, Ms. Zhang understood Wang Hai's origin and then thought about Wang Hai's life as a slave at a young age. Living a precarious life, as a woman, I couldn't help but feel a little pity for this child.
"Uncle, please use it slowly." Mrs. Zhang said a word, got up and returned to the kitchen. After getting a bowl of steaming noodles from the kitchen, he went to the side room. Wang Hai never expected that the hostess, whom he met for the first time today, would actually bring the noodles to him personally. For a moment, Wang Hai was a little at a loss. .
"Eat it, my child. From now on, you will consider this your home." Mrs. Zhang said to Wang Hai with a smile. Seeing Wang Hai's dazed look, she didn't stay long, put down the bowl and turned around to leave.
Only then did Wang Hai come back to his senses. His eyes were red, and he knelt down to Mrs. Zhang who had already walked to the door. He kowtowed several times. After getting up from the ground, Wang Hai picked up the bowl of fragrant fragrance with tears in his eyes. I picked up the noodles, picked up the chopsticks, and ate them with big mouthfuls.
