Is this what her father taught her?
Yang Jing's expression became even more uncomfortable upon hearing Niuniu ask this question.
"That, it was taught to Miss Jun by her master," he said.
Niuniu sat on a stone looking down the mountain.
"Uncle Yang, everyone knows who her master is. It's only that my mother doesn't acknowledge it, and neither do you dare to," she said, pausing for a bit, "Uncle Yang, rest assured, I won't speak of it in front of my mother."
Yes, now the problem is not about whether it's true or not, but about acknowledging it, Yang Jing thought with a wry smile.
"Niuniu is the most sensible," he said.
Niuniu hung her head.
"What's the use of being sensible," she murmured, "my father doesn't want me either."
Yang Jing's expression became instantly uneasy.
"It's not like that," he quickly said.
He wanted to say something comforting but didn't know how, and while he was at a loss, someone came running from the foot of the mountain, raising their hands high when they saw them.
"Brother Yang, Brother Yang, come and see!" he shouted, his voice trembling with excitement, "Miss Jun says she's going to give Iron Foot a new foot."
In any other place, these words would sound like a joke.
How could a man's foot be changed at will? But upon hearing these words, Yang Jing also became instantly excited.
"Really?" he asked.
"Yes, really, Miss Jun just went to deliver medicine to Old Lai's wife and met Iron Foot. She saw Iron Foot's foot and suddenly said it was time to replace it. He's had that foot for too long," the man shouted from the foot of the mountain, waving at Yang Jing as he turned and ran, "Everyone's going over to watch."
Yang Jing hurried down the mountain and looked back after a few steps.
"Niuniu, I'll go check it out first," he said.
Niuniu nodded at him, watching as Yang Jing ran down the mountain, then looking further away, she saw many villagers running in one direction.
A new foot, huh.
Why Iron Foot Uncle was called Iron Foot, she had known the story since she was a child. It was a brutal battle, but like other times, they emerged victorious. There is always injury and disability in battle, and Uncle Iron Foot lost a foot.
Uncle Iron Foot was heartbroken because he became disabled, so father said it's just a foot, I'll make you another, you'll be able to walk again, don't think about being lazy and deserting.
Then father indeed made a foot and fitted it to Uncle Iron Foot.
From then on, Uncle Iron Foot could continue walking, riding horses, drawing bows, shooting arrows, and killing enemies.
However, these are just stories told by adults, the same as those other stories every child knows by heart, stories about her father and all of them.
The reason they are called stories is that she has never seen them with her own eyes.
In her memory, Uncle Iron Foot is just a thin, silent, and middle-aged man who sits with crutches every day, unable to even herd sheep, and can only do work like picking wild fruits and drying wild vegetables that women do.
She couldn't imagine this person riding horses, drawing bows, shooting arrows, and killing enemies.
Her father made him a foot, now Miss Jun says she is going to replace it. Her father is incredible, Miss Jun is incredible too.
And Miss Jun is so beautiful, so smart, so formidable, everyone likes her.
Niuniu lowered her head to look at her own hands, then slowly raised her hands to cover her face, even through a layer of fabric, she could feel the ruggedness and unevenness of her face.
She stood up and ran into the forest, startling the birds and wild rabbits causing them to scatter in panic.
..............
Several sharp bird cries came from afar. This was the signal from the village sentinels conveying messages. Hearing the one long and two short calls, the children who were crouching on the ground pulling up grass roots sprang up.
"The peddler's cart has arrived."
They shouted loudly and joyfully ran towards the road.
Three horse-drawn wagons stopped at the entrance of the village surrounded by the children. Xia Yong's wife, along with the women, also came over, and while the men returning from work didn't crowd around, they too stopped and chatted and laughed while squatting on the large rocks.
"There's no food this time," one of the peddlers said.
This was as Miss Jun had said; the regular shipments were a reward for the guards' training and used to include food.
It didn't matter if there was nothing this time; they were accustomed to frugality, and the previous shipments of rice, vegetables, and meat were enough to last them until New Year.
"Because winter is coming, we have brought some fabrics and cotton batting so that everyone can make winter clothes," the peddler continued, pulling back the cover on his cart to reveal cloths of various bright colors.
For the children and women, these vibrant pieces of new fabric were like rare treasures, and a burst of amazed exclamations erupted at the village entrance. The children crowded around, touching the fabric with their hands.
These fabrics were different from what they were used to wearing; smooth and finely textured.
"Take your dirty hands off."
Women hastily scolded the children, protecting the cloths on the cart, their eyes gleaming with joy as they looked over them.
"Are these for making quilts? That would be such a waste."
"Isn't this too much? How could we possibly use it all up?"
"Aunt San is good with needlework; she can stitch quickly. We should ask her for help."
Chattering discussions and inquiries filled the air nonstop.
Even the men who had been sitting or squatting couldn't help but crane their necks to look, and the village head was filled with laughter and cheerful voices.
"Come to think of it, it really has been a long time since we last wore new clothes," a woman's gentle voice sounded from behind.
This woman seldom left the mountain, so Miss Jun was pleasantly surprised to hear her voice.
"Aunt Xiao," she turned around and called out joyfully, "You've come."
The woman smiled.
"My surname is Xiao, my name is Zhi," she said.
This was the exchange of names. Miss Jun quickly straightened up and gave her respects.
"Miss Jun," she said.
"Thank you for your thoughtfulness," Xiao Zhi said with a smile, "everyone has never been so happy."
Miss Jun hurriedly shook her head, saying she didn't deserve such praise, and hesitated for a moment before glancing at the medicine chest.
"Teacher's wife..." she began, intending to fetch the handwritten notes.
Xiao Zhi extended her hand to stop her.
"I told you my name so that you could address me by it," she said, "and the gratitude I want to express is for you, for your sincere kindness toward us. As for other matters, let's not speak about them."
It was no use; but it was still much better than the total rejection from before. There was no rush. They had waited for more than ten years, and she had only been around for a month; so, patiently, Miss Jun retracted her hand, smiling and nodding.
The other women over there also saw Xiao Zhi and greeted her warmly with smiles, and Xiao Zhi smiled back at Miss Jun before she walked over to them.
Miss Jun didn't follow. She picked up her medicine box and headed up the mountain.
Most things could be delivered from the city, but to avoid making the villagers feel uncomfortable, she often gathered herbs in the mountains, using the opportunity to acquaint herself with the many "toys" her master had hidden on Zhangqing Mountain.
"Toys" referred to Hidden Weapons, Hidden Formations, and secret mechanisms, many of which were broken. Miss Jun, like seeing her master do in the past, was now carefully rearranging them.
After placing down a tube of bamboo arrows, Miss Jun took a moment to sit and rest on a mountain rock when a rustling sound came from behind her. She turned her head to see a girl with her face covered, standing behind a tree.
"Niuniu," she called out with a smile as she stood up.
"Hanqing," the girl suddenly said.
Her voice was low and she spoke quickly; Miss Jun was slightly taken aback and didn't understand.
"My name is Zhao Hanqing," the girl said again, this time louder.
Today was quite a good day; two people were willing to get close to her. Miss Jun's smile deepened.
"I am Miss Jun," she said, and bent her knee to the girl in a gesture of respect.
Though the girl's expression was timid, she instinctively bent the knee in return.
Her movements were awkward, clearly not used to such formalities around others, but still proper, obviously having been well taught.
"Please, have a seat," Miss Jun gestured to the rock beside her.
Zhao Hanqing didn't move closer, resting her hand against the tree trunk and lifting her eyes slightly to look at her.
"What is he like?" she asked.