Chapter 936: Chapter 932: A Year of Abundance (Part 2)

Zhi laughed, "Definitely!" After saying this, he turned to Tong Quanzi and said, "I have a pony, a gift from my father. Third Uncle, would you like to go see it?"

"A gift from the Great Governor must be something special. Come on, take me to see it!" Tong Quanzi stood up, eager to see the horse. Zhi also jumped off and Xiqiu followed behind, reminding them, "Have dinner here tonight. Once Fourth Master is free, you should have a chat with him. I’m sure he has something to tell you."

"Got it." Tong Quanzi said as he walked, "I also have many things to share with him. We’ll be back soon." Then he turned back to Tong Minzhi and added, "It’s cold outside, you wait here for us."

Tong Minzhi agreed, and Xiqiu saw the two off.

"I heard you moved back to the academy?" Xiqiu and Tong Minzhi sat down, and she said gently, looking at him with warmth. Tong Minzhi nodded and replied, "In the academy, everyone is focused on studying, and I really like the atmosphere." After speaking, he quickly glanced at Xiqiu, hesitating to speak further.

Xiqiu understood what he wanted to ask and after a pause, she said casually, "Madam Le sent a letter, saying she has arrived in Huainan." She paused again and added, "She’s arranging a marriage proposal for Le Yao."

Tong Minzhi’s body stiffened, his face tensed slightly. He lowered his head and responded in a low voice, "Hmm." He looked somewhat despondent.

"Minzhi!" Xiqiu called softly to him. Tong Minzhi lifted his head again and shook his head at Xiqiu, smiling, "I’m fine, I just feel empty inside, not sure what this feeling is." He paused again and said, "It’s good that she’s getting engaged, it’ll save her from wild imaginations."

Xiqiu smiled, understanding the feeling of emptiness, but had no idea what else to say. Such feelings couldn’t be resolved in a few words; she could only hope they would gradually fade away with time.

"How is Mr. Zhao?" Xiqiu shifted the topic with a smile, and Tong Minzhi nodded, "However, there have been no classes these past days. The teachers went to the Jiang Mansion to see Lord Jiang. I don’t know how Lord Jiang is doing now."

Regardless of whether Jiang Shilin was related to the Tong Family or not, the academy is still his. It has hardly ever been profitable over the years and only admits students from poor backgrounds. Jiang Shilin remains a revered and admired figure in the minds of those scholars.

Jiang Shilin being suspended from the Imperial Supervision Office is directly related to Fourth Master Xiao, which Tong Minzhi knew, so he looked somewhat wistful when talking about the teachers.

"Let’s not discuss this." Xiqiu smiled, just about to say more when Biwu entered hurriedly carrying a plate of snacks and, seeing no sign of Tong Quanzi, asked, "Madam, where is Third Master?"

Xiqiu raised an eyebrow and saw Biwu’s bright smiling eyes. Her mind suddenly became clear, looking at Biwu meaningfully, she replied, "He went with Zhi to see the pony. Do you have something?"

"Oh, I made the favorite snacks for Third Master. He likely can’t get them while in the military." After saying this, Biwu looked down at the snacks, then smiled and placed them in front of Xiqiu, "Seventh Master is here too, for you and Seventh Master to enjoy."

"You only think of me when he’s not around." Xiqiu laughed and gave Biwu a playful glare, "Leave them here."

Biwu nodded, bowed to Tong Minzhi, and exited.

At noon, Fourth Master Xiao returned from the outer courtyard, and Tong Quanzi and Zhi came back drenched in sweat. Xiqiu helped Zhi change clothes while Fourth Master Xiao, Tong Quanzi, and Tong Minzhi talked in the Warm Pavilion, "Is everything alright over there? How is General Qin?"

"General Qin was injured by an arrow while suppressing bandits in the mountains last year and healed over two months. He’s much better now," Tong Quanzi replied, then continued, "Outside the border, we had minor incidents earlier this year, nothing major. The brothers’ hands are itching for action."

"Oh?" Fourth Master Xiao raised an eyebrow, "I heard you led a small team out of the city gates, chasing Mongolian soldiers for nearly a hundred li. How is that just a minor incident?"

Xiqiu stopped what she was doing and looked at Tong Quanzi, sensing that Fourth Master Xiao meant he had taken matters into his own hands and led his men out of the border.

This Tong Quanzi, indeed still restless.

Tong Quanzi looked a bit ashamed, "Because of that, the General fined me for half a year’s worth of silver and gave me sixty military strikes. I’ve realized my actions were reckless." He looked down, feeling embarrassed as he said this.

"Why so many strikes?" Tong Minzhi looked at Tong Quanzi with concern, "General Qin certainly doesn’t go easy with punishment."

Tong Quanzi chuckled, "I deserved it, deserved it, it’s not too harsh!" Fourth Master Xiao coughed and added, "He only received ten strikes; the other fifty were for the rest of the men."

"Third Brother." Tong Minzhi’s eyes widened. Sixty military strikes are no joke for most people. It’s a relief he’s still alive.

Zhi, over at the side, while adjusting his trousers, gave Tong Quanzi a thumbs up from across the kang, "Third Uncle, you really have a sense of loyalty."

Tong Quanzi laughed heartily, and even Xiqiu couldn’t help but giggle at Zhi’s earnest expression.

Fourth Master Xiao talked more with Tong Quanzi about Xuantong matters, saying, "Before you returned, General Qin had already written two recommendation letters. One is in my hands, and the other has gone to Liaodong. He intends for you to go to Liaodong, where battles are ongoing, and you can earn military merits sooner."

Tong Quanzi was taken aback as he had no idea about this. Although Fourth Master Xiao had once mentioned letting him train in Xuantong for two years before heading to Liaodong, he didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. He was a bit caught off guard and asked, "Recommended by General Qin?"

Fourth Master Xiao nodded appreciatively at Tong Quanzi, "Qin Mu is very meticulous. Since he’s recommended you personally, he surely thinks highly of you. Given that, you should head to Liaodong after the New Year. I’ll handle the arrangements with the Ministry of War for you."

"Thank you, Grand Commander." Tong Quanzi rose with enthusiasm and saluted Fourth Master Xiao, "I will not let you and Lord Qin’s efforts go to waste."

Fourth Master Xiao smiled and nodded, but Xiqiu looked worried, dreading another round of complaints from the Second Lady.

Indeed, within seven or eight days, the Second Lady arrived in the Capital and came to the Governor Mansion, pulling Xiqiu aside for a tearful complaint. Tong Quanzi listened impatiently and interrupted her, "Mother, I’ve said before, unless I reach the Hundred Households, I won’t marry. You don’t need to pressure me."

The Second Lady angrily retorted, "Before you were young and in Xuantong, I didn’t push you. But now you’re fifteen, turning sixteen after the New Year. If you still don’t settle down, your father and I can’t expect grandchildren in our lifetime. Besides, in such harsh conditions in Liaodong, without someone by your side to care for you, how could I be at ease?"

In other words, she’s agreed that Tong Quanzi can go to Liaodong but wants him to marry first and take his wife along.

This was already a compromise.

But Tong Quanzi replied, "Mother, you said Liaodong is harsh; which young lady would be willing to go and suffer there with me?"

That sentence left the Second Lady speechless.