Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

Having grown accustomed to the days with Chen Mo around, in his absence, Han Anniang, Liang Xue, Nangong Ru, Ning Wan, and the other women found themselves uninterested in food and drink.

With Xia Zhiqing, Xia Zhining, and Yi Shiyin also away, the place felt less lively, and the festive atmosphere was greatly diminished.

Even though it was already 1 a.m., Han Anniang and the other women were still awake. Since they couldn't sleep well, Han Anniang led her "sisters" to make dumplings together in the master bedroom.

Liang Xue, being a noble family lady, had never dipped her fingers into household chores, let alone made dumplings, so Han Anniang taught her hand-in-hand.

Ning Wan was also called over, but she was different from Liang Xue; she had learned to make them by hand to please Liang Song in the past.

Nangong Ru, on the other hand, had undergone training in the Nangong family.

"Ru'Er sister, did Erlang tell you before that he would bring your father back to Yu State to celebrate the New Year together?" Han Anniang asked as she rolled the dough, looking at Nangong Ru.

Nangong Ru nodded, "What's the matter, Ms. An'niang?"

"Erlang rarely breaks his promises. Since he promised you this, he won't go back on his word. But he hasn't returned home yet, and I worry something might have happened to him," Han Anniang said anxiously. She had heard that war was still raging in Fengzhou, and it might spread to Qingzhou.

Nangong Ru paused in her dumpling making and said, "My husband might be delayed by something. He is strong and traveled with soldiers, so it's unlikely anything happened to him."

"It's hard to say. When war breaks out, swords and spears have no eyes." Among the women, Han Anniang was undoubtedly the most concerned about Chen Mo.

"Ms. An'niang, don't scare yourself. The heavens protect good people like my husband," Nangong Ru comforted her.

Just then, a loud booming sound came from outside. Han Anniang lost her balance, and if not for Liang Xue's support, she would have fallen to the ground.

Susurred...

The roof tiles above shook, and dust fell.

The women's faces turned pale with shock. Ning Wan's pupils narrowed slightly, "Could it be an earthquake?"

"Quick, let's get outside, it's an earthquake!"

Ning Wan had experienced an earthquake when she was young, during which many people died. She remembered it vividly and hurriedly urged Han Anniang and the others to run out to the open yard.

Looking up, they saw thick black smoke rising from the southwest, with flames flickering.

"What is this?" The women widened their eyes; it was their first time witnessing such a scene.

...

Meanwhile, a secret workshop outside the city was almost leveled to the ground. Most of the craftsmen living inside suffered injuries and casualties.

The Divine Brave Guard stationed in the valley rushed over to rescue upon hearing the commotion, investigated the issue, and secretly reported the incident.

At 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., a fast horse galloped out of the valley, racing towards Qingzhou.

...

Pingting County.

After a night of violent wind and rain, the sky gradually brightened, and some light and shadow cast into the house.

Chen Mo lay on his side on the pillow. After all, he wasn't made of iron, so he stopped at 1 a.m., embracing Xia Zhining into a dream.

By the end, Xia Zhining relaxed wholeheartedly to adapt, ultimately becoming engrossed and forgetting everything, clinging tightly to Chen Mo without knowing when she fell asleep, her cheek pressed against his chest, the two tightly embraced.

With the winter sunlight streaming through the window onto her cheek, Xia Zhining's eyelashes fluttered, and then she opened her eyes in a residual soft aftertaste, her cheek glistening with a dewy glow.

"Awake..." Chen Mo looked at Xia Zhining's opened eyes, raised his hand to brush away her tears at the corners of her eyes, and said, "Always trying to be strong."

Xia Zhining froze slightly, then memories of the previous night surged into her mind.

She had been provoked by Chen Mo, and since her sister and Xiaolu had drained his energy, she insisted on competing with him, but in the end, this scoundrel teased her in different ways, even learning a few things she had never done before...

Now she guessed she hadn't even slept for an hour yet.

Recalling the events of last night, Xia Zhining's face flushed crimson. She pinched Chen Mo hard and, in embarrassment and anger, pushed him away coldly. The sound of a bottle cap opening echoed in the room.

"You bastard, you only know how to bully me..."

Xia Zhining, with a stern face, sat up, teeth clenched, glaring at Chen Mo, though if one ignored her chest exposed to the winter sunlight, white and dazzling, with movements causing it to bounce slightly, creating a rhythm that evoked ripples on a calm lake, it indeed resembled quite a scene.

Chen Mo glanced at Xia Zhiqing and Yi Shiyin, still sleeping soundly, grabbed Xia Zhining's jade-like hand and pulled her back into his embrace, murmuring:

"How is this bullying? It's a sign of love for you. See how I'm not as obsessed with Zhiqing and Xiaolu as I am with you. Plus, I want you to conceive before them. If we don't put in more effort, how can that happen?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhining, despite knowing Chen Mo was tricking her again, found herself helpless. She just couldn't resist his ways and let out a light hum, "Enough of that, who wants to have your child."

"If not for me, then for whom?" Chen Mo kissed the corner of her mouth and then said softly, "Alright, enough rest, let's put in some effort again and hope for a quick conception."

Xia Zhining was stunned, then a hint of panic appeared in her eyes as she scolded angrily, "Be a decent person."

"Then I'll call Zhiqing," Chen Mo teased.

"No way... don't bully my sister," Xia Zhining blocked Chen Mo.

Chen Mo's lips curled upwards as he lay down with his arms behind his head on the bed, "I'm a bit tired now."

Xia Zhining: "..."

...

When Chen Mo received the news from Longmen County, it was already January 20th.

Upon learning that his secret workshop had been affected, with most craftsmen dead or injured, he frowned deeply, hoping that the research achievements during this time wouldn't be entirely ruined; otherwise, it would truly be a complete waste.

Since his twentieth birthday was in February, it was about time to return to Longmen County.

Geng Songfu would accompany him.

As previously agreed, Geng Songfu was to personally visit the Shu Residence to discuss forming an alliance with Captain Yang.

To reach the Shu Residence, they would need to pass through Yu State, then travel by water route to Linzhou, and finally cross Huai State...

Overall, it was a long journey.

In fact, passing through Fengzhou would be the quickest, but since the Huai Army had just dealt with the Celestial Master Army and was now solidifying control over Fengzhou with the entire state under lockdown, the Huai Army would certainly become suspicious and conduct thorough checks if someone were to come from Qingzhou at this time.

Chen Mo regarded Geng Songfu as his confidant and right arm and naturally didn't want him to take such risks. If it weren't for his strong insistence, Chen Mo would not even consider sending him personally to the Shu Residence.

However, since Linzhou and Huai State had already established trade relations, with businessmen frequently traveling between the two states, it would be cumbersome for Prince Huai's side to conduct checks. For Geng Songfu to reach the Shu Residence smoothly, he needed to disguise himself as a merchant when arriving in Linzhou and proceed to Huai State under the guise of a businessman.

It also conveniently aligned that perhaps the day they reached Yu State would coincide with Chen Mo's birthday, ensuring Geng Songfu wouldn't miss it.