MHNEB 25

Book 2: Generals die after a hundred battles; heroes return after ten years’ time.

Chapter 25: New Troubles

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He Mulan sent Gao JinLong and his bunch of people away. She clenched her fists as she counted her marriage proposals, and after deducting those “unlucky love” proposals from people like Liu family's lad, she gauged that there were 15 men who had proposed to her. 

15 men. 

No matter whether it’s in ancient times or modern times, it's considered a great “accomplishment”.

However, regardless of how one looks at the situation, He Mulan always felt that they were "chasing idols", and it had nothing to do with “falling in love”. 

It's no different from the girls in the modern eras shouting, “my male god, please marry me”. 

Well, it's like "please marry me" instead?

A group of Gao Jinlong and his people left. Yuan-shi came out of Hua younger brother's room nervously and immediately asked her daughter what they came here for. 

In the eyes of housewives like Yuan-shi, the wandering swordsmen are akin to people like "scoundrels, ruffians, gangsters and lazy bastards". She is just an ordinary housewife. If she is still a little excited to see her daughter making friends with men like YuLin lads, in comparison, she is only left with feelings of worry when she saw the wandering swordsmen coming to look for her daughter. 

Even if she accepted that she should not force her daughter to matchmake, it doesn't mean that she doesn't care about “friends” that her daughter “made”.

He Mulan knew that Hua Mother was timid, so she downplayed the purpose of Gao JinLong and his party’s visit, and roughly described how these wandering swordsmen came to steal her things. Gao JinLong came to apologize with the thieves and promised that in the future, the wandering swordsmen in Liang county would not touch her things, and would help her pay heed to strangers out of her house to not let her worry about it.

In this era, the “promise made by a swordsmen” is heavily accorded to. Since the wandering swordsmen promised, they would do it even at the cost of their life. 

"That is to say, these wandering swordsmen are reasonable, and they didn’t let your risky efforts a few days ago to go down to waste." Yuan-shi grabbed He Mulan's hand as she muttered, "I said you are already in your thirties. Even if you are a man, at this age, you should be calm and stable. How can you go out to fight at the request of others? You don't know what I heard about you and that Gai…Gai something, fighting and didn’t sleep the whole night. What should you do if you lose? It was with much difficulty that I had abided till the time you came home……”

“Mom, Hua Mulan will never lose.” He Mulan grasped Yuan-shi’s hand with a flip of her hand and patted on Yuan-shi’s hand. 

She gazed into Yuan-shi’s eyes and seriously said: "I have a sense of propriety. Hua Mulan will not lose."

“I” am He Mulan.

“I” will never allow “Hua Mulan” to lose. 

“You siblings are grown up. Already, I am unable to care for you.”

Yuan-shi once again lost under He Mulan’s serious expression and somewhat awkwardly withdrew her hands.

"By the way, Mulan, your sister-in-law is pregnant again…..."

"Eh?" He Mulan just thought about it for a while, and immediately knew why Fang-shi called for assistance when helping Hua younger brother up, "How many months has it been? Did you invite a doctor to take a look?”

In this era, giving birth is considered an extremely dangerous act.

"Her menstruation cycle has always been regular. However, she has stopped menstruating for two months now, so, she should be pregnant. Fang-shi’s body and bones are rather well developed. When she is carrying her last child, she did not have morning sickness. But this child that she is carrying is not stable. Since it behaves naughtily, it might be a big fat boy! " Yuan-shi’s eyes curved as she smiled. She joyfully said, "Your younger brother and sister-in-law have discussed, if this child is a boy, it will be passed on to you as a son......"

"What? Mother, what are you blindly talking about! " He Mulan was shocked, "What do I want my younger brother's child for?"

Why will she want to snatch other people's children for!

Every once in a while, the act of hugging Hua ChangLe has tortured her to death already! 

"Didn’t you not want to get married? Your father said that it’s your choice if you do not want to get married.”

Yuan-shi sighed faintly. "But while it is acceptable not to get married when you get older, there should always be a child to wait upon you, right? MuTuo and your sister-in-law are both young and strong. There will still be more children for them in the future. What's more, your brother's children will be adopted by you. They are also surnamed Hua and will not be an outsider."

"Don’t mention this sort of issue to me again, Mother. I won't ask anyone's children to be my heir." He Mulan firmly denied Hua Mother’s suggestion. 

Hearing He Mulan’s straightforward rebuttal, Yuan-shi’s tears trickled down as she covered her face. 

Unlike Hua Father, she can't accept the truth that her daughter is going to be alone in the future after all.

Seeing Yuan-shi acting so depressed, He Mulan felt a little stifled in her heart. She started to ponder whether her tone was a little too tough. 

She doesn't like children and doesn't intend to rob the children that were carried 10 months by a mother, but what Hua Mulan’s family had intended for her own good. Hua younger brother made such a sacrifice. He probably would have experienced quite a battle of wills in his heart for an entire day. 

It was no wonder that in these few days, when he was invited to “exchange toasts”, he came back drunk, appearing like slush. Thinking about how Fang-shi had discussed with Hua younger brother about the matter of her pregnancy, and how Hua younger brother was thinking about the matter of “handing over his child to be adopted by his relative”.

But after all, it's his own flesh and blood. He should be reluctant in his heart. 

In order not to allow Hua family members to be too upset, she had to be energetic, and said perfunctorily: "Mom, didn’t younger bro want a son too? I can't rob my younger brother's son. Anyway, they are still young. If they have more sons in the future, we can discuss it then? "

"What you are saying is……you agreed to it?”

"Didn't I say it? I'm not in a hurry at all. I'll wait till my younger brother and sister-in-law have more children to discuss this issue, alright?"

"Eh! Alright! Alright!”

He Mulan looked at Hua Mother that was smiling and crying. She can't help but sigh.

She had thought before that if there was nothing major occurring in her home, she would go out and travel, and she would not waste her time when she arrived in ancient times.

It seems that this matter should be placed on her schedule soon. 

At that time, when Hua mother has a new grandchild, and by taking care of her grandchild and granddaughter everyday, it is estimated that she would probably not be paying heed to her marriage and the matters about her children. 

She decided to set off when Fang-shi gives birth to the child.

Hua Mother probably told Hua younger brother and Fang-shi about He Mulan's perfunctory reply. In the next few days, he was obviously in a better mood. Fang-shi’s attitude towards her had also abruptly changed, which scared He Mulan a lot. 

Her sister-in-law who had always treated her enigmatically suddenly began to ask her to help with carrying rice and water in a warm tone. Although her sister-in-law’s tone seemed to be instructive, she often instructs her brother to do work in her home this way. Naturally, He Mulan knew that it was a gesture of intimacy and it was also showing that she regarded He Mulan as her own family. 

She-she-she what did she say?

She didn't remember saying that she was going to bring up Hua younger brother’s son?!

Why is the difference so big prior to speaking about it and after speaking about it?

Is he afraid that she would abuse his son in the future, so he’s now trying to maintain a good “diplomatic” relationship with her?

Could it be that Fang-shi’s feels that it is akin to the act of her marrying a daughter off?

Hua father is also smiling all day long. Yuan-shi and Hua Father even took Hua ChangLe, their little granddaughter, to sleep in their house so as not to disturb Fang-shi’s rest.

Fang-shi used to oversee tasks like igniting firewood and cooking. Now, Hua younger brother took charge of those tasks as well, appearing diligent like a mule digging in a mill.

He Mulan used to go to the market to buy vegetables and grains, but because of her battle with Gai Wu, "Hua Mulan" had shot up to fame instantly. After she was surrounded by onlookers a few times, she fled in dire straits and did not dare to go to the market as she wishes. 

Many people know that Hua KeHu, also known as Hua Mulan's cousin, is a borrowed identity. Even Hua KeHu, who is still in the army, has sent a letter complaining that his family was somehow discovered by many matchmakers. All of the matchmakers were sent by families with a daughter to ask if he could accept a concubine. His legal wife felt that her female visage was threatened, and violently beat him up. 

Later, when one inquired about it, it turned out that it one saw “Hua KeHu”, who was a female in Liang county and this attracted many people to inquire about this matter.

Hua KeHu knew that his cousin often roamed around under his name in the countryside. Seeing this situation, he knew that it was his cousin Hua Mulan who had stirred such trouble. In the letter, he reminded his cousin that he was someone with a family, not to flirt with others under his name. He also righteously declared that he was someone with a wife and did not want to be surrounded by onlookers. 

At first glance, it could be seen that this letter was written when he was being watched over by his wife. He Mulan replied with distress. She swore that she was not sexually promiscuous and did not interact with more than a couple of women. 

In the past, when she was roaming around in men’s garbs, many young women in the countryside ran away with red faces when they saw her. How can she interact with them this way?!

In other words, even though she didn’t even have the chance to speak to them, they dared to pursue her. (0) The women of the Northern Wei Dynasty are very open!

.

.

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Yet another few days later.

When He Mulan was so bored that she went to count the gold and the like that she possesses, a young man went to the County Yamen of Yu City and claimed to be looking for "Hua Mulan". He was sent to Hua family's house by an official of Yu City County Yamen.

The official sent the young man to Hua family's house and left. He Mulan invited him in the house.

He Mulan sat on her heels at the back, squinting at the robust, tanned and fat boy in front of him.

This boy is only 17 or 18 years old. His shoulders, back and upper arms are very thick. Obviously, he is engaged in the sort of work that requires him to wave his upper arms frequently, or he often carries heavy objects.

He appears very alike someone.

Who exactly is the someone?

She tried hard to search in her memories. She constantly felt that there was something that was going to jump out, but after a long moment, nothing appeared. 

This young man acted like this is his first time seeing how a “person” looks like. He carefully observed the appearance of “Hua Mulan”.

He Mulan found that he seemed to be immersed in some kind of imagination, so she slightly nodded, and started to speak first: “I heard that you were looking for me? I am the one known as Hua Mulan.”

The youth was probably thinking about something, so he got up in a hurry as soon as he heard the words of He Mulan.

"I'm A-Dan Zhuo, son of A-Dan ZhiQi."

A-Dan Zhuo.

A-Dan ZhiQi.

As these two names sounded out, she felt like some kind of distant memory was suddenly awakened, and in He Mulan’s brain, a “boom” suddenly sounded out, causing her brain to hurt. 

She closed her eyes tightly and endured all kinds of memories and emotions that flowed into her mind and heart like a huge tide, but she was still knocked down by the strong and frightening emotions. Her body collapsed on the table in front of her. 

She found it.

A-Dan ZhiQi. 

Hua Mulan’s first "companion" that had sacrificed.

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The author has something to say: 

Mini Theatre:

There are already 15 men who came to propose to her.

Gai Wu: ……16 men.

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(0) They (the girls) assumed she’s a male.  

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Fleur's Corner: 

Stay safe and take care in this period, my dear readers! 

We are getting into the interesting part of the novel. Do look forward to it! 

Next update: next week. 

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