Chapter 72 : Whether or not it has a name doesn’t matter, at least we’ve tasted this cup of tea.

The Old Madam Gu had been locked in her bedroom for some time. When the housekeeper wasn’t busy, she would come to keep an eye on her, when she was busy, she would lock the door, not allowing the Old Madam Gu to go anywhere. Perhaps realizing that it was futile to struggle, the Old Madam Gu behaved relatively well today, not daring to cry or make a scene.

When the family finally came to open the door, the Old Madam Gu, alone inside, became a bit agitated. She exclaimed, “How can you lock me up like this?” The smell in the bedroom was unpleasant, clearly indicating that the Old Madam Gu hadn’t been behaving well.

Cui Yunzhao stopped Lin Xiu Gu from following Huo Xinzhi inside and said to the housekeeper, “You’ve worked hard.” The housekeeper smiled and, with an unchanged expression, entered the bedroom. Soon, sounds of commotion came from within. After a short while, the housekeeper emerged, helping the Old Madam Gu out. The Old Madam Gu’s expression was still tense, and she didn’t dare move, her arm firmly gripped by the housekeeper.

Cui Yunzhao noted with some surprise the fear on the Old Madam Gu’s face. The housekeeper addressed the group, “The Old Madam Gu couldn’t come out just now, perhaps she was a bit anxious. No worries, once she’s settled, I’ll come back to tidy up.” Cui Yunzhao replied that it wasn’t necessary, as Liu Sanniang and the others could handle it.

Then the housekeeper smiled warmly at the Old Madam Gu, saying, “ Madam Gu, shall we go?” Her already gaunt face looked particularly serious when not smiling, which oddly wasn’t intimidating. However, her smile held a strange twist that startled the Old Madam Gu, causing her to stop resisting.

Mainly, the housekeeper was quite strong, her thin hands gripped the Old Madam Gu’s arm tightly, causing pain that rendered her speechless. The others watched as the Old Madam Gu obediently followed the housekeeper.

Once the two figures disappeared, Lin Xiu Gu sighed, “Truly, one thing subdues another, this housekeeper is quite skilled.” Cui Yunzhao, while inviting the housekeeper and Liu Sanniang to clean the Old Madam Gu’s bedroom, joked, “Mother, every profession has its own expertise. The housekeeper specializes in this, so of course she’s more capable than us.”

After the room was tidied up and aired out, Cui Yunzhao accompanied Lin Xiu Gu inside. The Old Madam Gu’s room was the best in the house, facing south with bright windows and elegantly arranged furniture, clearly specially prepared for her.

Cui Yunzhao said, “I remember you like sewing, Mother? How about we move the tea table by the window and replace it with a sewing table? It would be much more comfortable for you.” Lin Xiu Gu was about to refuse when Huo Xinzhi chimed in, “Good idea! I’ll have someone make a sewing table tomorrow.”

Lin Xiu Gu glanced around, then couldn’t help but laugh. Her laughter was bright and clear, echoing in the room, prompting Huo Xinliu from the little kitchen to peek out curiously and join in the laughter. “How wonderful! Mother is so happy, it’s best to have a daughter at home, the most thoughtful.”

Cui Yunzhao also felt included as a daughter. The three women tidied up the Old Madam Gu’s belongings, moving them to the back room. At this point, the Old Madam Gu had changed into a plain garment, her silver accessories removed, with only a wooden hairpin keeping her hair up.

Frowning, she sat on the mat with a troubled expression, her eyes cast down, avoiding the memorial tablets on the altar. The housekeeper stood at the door, watching her quietly.

When the mother-daughter trio arrived, the Old Madam Gu turned to look. The housekeeper slowly opened her eyes and glanced at the Old Madam Gu. “ Madam Gu, when worshiping, one must follow the rules, focus and be sincere.”

The Old Madam Gu, having just been chastised by the housekeeper, now seemed ready to cause trouble again. Hearing the housekeeper’s words, she sprang up and shouted, “Who is this crazy woman? How dare you treat me like this? You even hit me!”

“Look!” she exclaimed, rolling up her sleeve. Everyone leaned in to see that aside from age-related scars, there were no other marks on her arm. The Old Madam Gu was stunned.

The housekeeper sighed and said, “Madam Gu, if you don’t like me, you can just say so. There’s no need to slander me, I won’t accept that.”

Over the years, Lin Xiu Gu had rarely seen the Old Madam Gu unable to handle others. Initially, she was quite angry about the situation, but as it turned around and she watched the three of them squabble, she felt immense satisfaction. Especially since Huo Tan had thought of such a method to avoid living under the same roof as the Old Madam Gu and dealing with her demands daily, Lin Xiu Gu felt completely at ease.

Seeing the Old Madam Gu’s astonishment and disbelief made Lin Xiu Gu want to laugh, but she held back. Stepping forward, she said to the Old Madam Gu, “Mother, the housekeeper was specifically brought back to take care of you. She’s very skilled at looking after the elderly and understands Buddhism, she’s the most suitable person for you.”

Lin Xiu Gu supported the Old Madam Gu and turned her around, prompting her to kneel back on the mat with a thud. “Mother, since she invited you to worship, you should do so sincerely. If the housekeeper neglects anything in the future, just let me know, and I’ll deal with her.”

With just a few words, Lin Xiu Gu managed to cut off the Old Madam Gu’s protest. The Old Madam Gu’s eyes widened in disbelief as she looked at Lin Xiu Gu. Her gaze slowly passed over everyone, and at that moment, she suddenly realized that this household no longer belonged to her.

Once Huo Tan lost patience completely, all she would be left with was this small Buddhist hall and the looming figure of the housekeeper behind her.

The Old Madam Gu finally felt fear creep into her heart. Instinctively, she reached out and grasped Lin Xiu Gu’s sleeve in a plea for help. “Xiu Gu,” she rarely used Lin Xiu Gu’s given name, “Did Huo Tan say how long this worship will last?”

Lin Xiu Gu smiled and replied, “I don’t know.” She turned to Cui Yunzhao, who stepped forward and said with a smile, “Grandmother, my husband said that when you are sincere, and both grandfather and father hear our family’s longing and prayers, then there will be no need for this anymore.”

The Old Madam Gu was speechless. The implication was that she would be locked away until her death?

The Old Madam Gu gradually released her grip on Lin Xiu Gu’s sleeve, feeling defeated as she sank to the ground, aging more than ten years in an instant. “How could it come to this?”

The Old Madam Gu rarely spoke in such a formal manner. “It’s just trivial family matters, why go to such extremes? This is a matter of life and death for me.” Unable to hold back, the Old Madam Gu began to cry, though her sobs weren’t as distressing as before, nor did they invoke pity.

This time, she was genuinely heartbroken and fearful. Lin Xiu Gu slowly stood up. She took a step back, distancing herself more and more, her posture becoming straighter. By the time she returned to the children, she had regained the tall, upright figure of her younger days. The years of hardship had not completely extinguished the spirit within her.

Looking at the Old Madam Gu slumped over, Lin Xiu Gu finally smiled. Her smile was silent but incredibly beautiful. She said to the Old Madam Gu, “Mother, please pray sincerely for Father and my husband, and tell them that the family is doing well so they can rest easy on the other side.” After that, she nodded to the housekeeper and led the children outside.

There were two bolts on the door between the back and front courtyards. Lin Xiu Gu had one key, Cui Yunzhao had another, and the housekeeper had her own. The one the housekeeper held was for her personal comings and goings. Normally, during mealtimes, the housekeeper would bring food to the door and knock to call for her. Every five days, the Old Madam Gu’s clean laundry would be sent out to Liu Sanniang for washing. As long as the housekeeper took good care of the Old Madam Gu, she wouldn’t need to attend to anything else.

This arrangement allowed her to focus better. Cui Yunzhao also agreed to let Liu Sanniang take a day to help her every ten days, so she could go out and relax, chatting with others. The thoughtfulness of Cui Yunzhao surprised even the housekeeper. Having endured hardships herself, she felt that just looking after the Old Madam Gu in the Huo household was already a good job, without worries for food or clothing, plus a monthly salary. What job could be better than this?

She quickly declined the offer, but Cui Yunzhao insisted, “The household isn’t lacking anyone, you’re part of the family. It wouldn’t be right for you to serve the Old Madam Gu all the time, she’s not an easy person to care for. If you can do this well, it’ll put everyone at ease.”

The housekeeper stopped refusing upon hearing this and promised to take better care of the Old Madam Gu. Once everything in the household was settled, Cui Yunzhao finally felt exhausted. Last night had been her wedding night with Huo Tan; the two of them had been busy until dawn, and she was already quite tired. Although she took a nap in the morning, after running around in the afternoon, she returned feeling drained.

Mother Xia was busy in the little kitchen that day and hadn’t gone out with her. Seeing her like this, she couldn’t help but say, “Miss, you should have rested at home this afternoon.”

Cui Yunzhao smiled but didn’t reply. Mother Xia had no choice but to bring her a cup of warm brown sugar water, saying, “Drink this to warm yourself up.”

Cui Yunzhao curled up on the rattan couch, cradling a hand warmer in her arms and holding the steaming osmanthus brown sugar water, feeling completely comfortable. “You’re the best, Mother.”

Mother Xia smiled as she arranged soft cushions for her. Once Cui Yunzhao finished her drink, she covered her with a quilt, allowing her to rest for a bit. In just a moment, Cui Yunzhao had drifted off to sleep, not even realizing it.

Huo Tan had left for work early that day. He insisted he was fine, but after being drugged and experiencing the wedding night, he felt tired during the day. The military doctor had checked on him and assured him the medicine was harmless, advising him to take it easy during the day and not exhaust himself all at once. The doctor spoke earnestly: “Gradual progress is the way to go.”

Huo Tan felt embarrassed by the doctor’s words. When he returned home, he couldn’t calm down even after drinking two bowls of tea, so he decided to head home early.

When he got home, he found the house filled with laughter and joy. His normally quiet younger sister was in the little kitchen learning to make dumplings from their mother, occasionally gasping in surprise. In the front yard, his elder sister was attentively listening to Liu Sanniang recount stories about the neighbors on Boling Street. In the side room, Huo Chenzhang was animatedly explaining today’s new martial arts moves to Huo Chengpu, who was now able to respond with a few comments. Though his voice was soft, he was no longer silent.

As Huo Tan looked around, when he returned to the east wing, a smile remained on his face. It didn’t fade until he saw the sleeping beauty on the rattan couch. Cui Yunzhao looked incredibly comfortable, leaning against a soft pillow, her face flushed and her lips curled in a smile, clearly in a good mood.

Huo Tan quietly approached and sat at one end of the rattan couch, watching her peacefully. At that moment, he suddenly understood what happiness meant: a family united, harmonious and beautiful, with a loved one by his side to share the rest of his life. This was happiness.

Cui Yunzhao wasn’t actually asleep; she was just tired. After a while, she woke up, feeling hungry. When she opened her eyes and blinked in a daze, she saw Huo Tan sitting beside her, quietly reading.

Huo Tan actually loved reading, which was something Cui Yunzhao had recently discovered. He was indeed different from others. For example, those military strategy books that were only superficially covered in martial arts classes, while they were taught in a shallow manner for the children to read, Huo Tan could memorize the content effortlessly.

Cui Yunzhao had also browsed through his collection and noticed that his annotations and reflections were very thoughtful, indicating he had been diligently contemplating and internalizing the material. He not only read military strategy but also history. When he encountered unfamiliar characters, he would mark them and, after a few pages, come to ask Cui Yunzhao about them. She would then explain simply.

After half a month of this, Cui Yunzhao noticed he was asking fewer questions, which meant he was retaining what she had explained. He truly was a prodigy. Cui Yunzhao thought that if he weren’t from a military family, he could probably excel in the imperial examinations.

Now, when Cui Yunzhao saw Huo Tan reading, she had grown accustomed to it. Perhaps hearing the change in her breathing, Huo Tan set his book down, smiling as he looked over at her. “You’re awake?”

Cui Yunzhao nodded and yawned. She propped herself up on her elbows, rubbed her eyes, and looked outside. “Is it too late? Have we missed dinner?”

Huo Tan shook his head, helped her fold the thin blanket, and then said, “There’s still a moment left my lady hasn’t slept for long.”

“Tired from all the running around today, right?”

At the mention of being tired, the young couple exchanged a glance, their cheeks flushing in unison. Cui Yunzhao cleared her throat, saying, “Today has been quite busy, running back and forth all day.”

She redirected the topic: “We’ve hired two maids and…”

Just as she was waking up, her voice was a bit hoarse. Huo Tan set his book down and poured her a bowl of hot tea. Cui Yunzhao took a sip and continued speaking.

Once she finished talking about Liu Sanniang and the housekeeper and mentioned that the Old Madam Gu was well cared for, Huo Tan’s smile widened. “To have such a wife, what more could a husband want? You really are capable.”

Cui Yunzhao shot him a playful glare, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. She then mentioned letting Lin Xiu Gu teach Huo Xinliu some tasks, and Huo Tan sighed. “I haven’t been attentive enough, I didn’t care for my mother well,” he admitted. “You’re the thoughtful one.”

He looked at Cui Yunzhao earnestly. “I don’t even know how to thank you.”

Cui Yunzhao met his gaze seriously and finally said, “Then let’s save the thanks for later, when I want something, I’ll tell you, my husband.”

Huo Tan nodded. “Alright.”

As they talked, Cui Yunzhao tidied her hair and stepped out with Huo Tan.

It was still quite cold outside, and the warmth that had built up in the house dissipated immediately as they opened the door. Just a few steps out, and her cheeks began to feel numb from the cold.

As evening approached, candlelight flickered, and the lights of a thousand homes began to glow.

Cui Yunzhao sighed, “This year, Boling is especially cold.”

Huo Tan nodded in agreement.

The couple chatted as they lifted the heavy curtain and bent down to enter the main hall.

The hall was lively now. Huo Chenzhang and Huo Chengpu were setting the table, while Huo Xinzhi and Liu Sanniang were arranging the meal. Lin Xiu Gu sat nearby, intently focused on something in her hands, though it wasn’t clear what she was reading.

Seeing them enter, the two younger brothers stepped forward to greet them, and Lin Xiu Gu called out cheerfully, “Come, come! Today, the Twelfth Master received an award!”

Cui Yunzhao smiled as she approached and saw that Lin Xiu Gu held a book, an ancient poetry collection.

Cui Yunzhao was pleasantly surprised. “Twelfth Master, you’re amazing!”

The young boy, with his back to them, felt his ears heat up.

Lin Xiu Gu was thrilled, her eyes shining. “The Twelfth Master said it’s because he performed well in his studies and memorized his books, so the teacher recognized his efforts and gave him a special reward.”

Cui Yunzhao beamed with enthusiasm. “Wow, that’s impressive!”

Even Huo Tan turned to Huo Chengpu, ruffling his hair. “Not bad.”

Huo Chengpu’s face turned bright red with joy. He lowered his head, pressing his lips together, but the corners of his mouth betrayed a hint of a smile.

Beside him, Huo Chenzhang didn’t join in the excitement. He tightly clutched the plate in his hands and, after a moment, said, “The Twelfth Master is simply clever.”

Huo Tan glanced at him and praised him as well. “Eleventh Master is clever too.”

Huo Chenzhang looked up, smiling at Huo Tan, appearing a bit more composed.

Soon, the dishes were ready.

The family gathered around the round table, and with two fewer people, the atmosphere felt lighter.

Huo Chenzhang and Huo Chengpu had left for school early and were unaware of what had happened at home that day.

Huo Chengpu, observant and sensitive, immediately noticed that the Old Madam Gu’s room was dark, and no one was there. He suspected something was amiss but didn’t ask.

It was only at that moment that Huo Chenzhang realized both the Old Madam Gu and Gu Yinhong were absent.

Before Lin Xiu Gu could speak, he directly asked, “Mother, where are Grandmother and Cousin?”

Lin Xiu Gu paused before replying, “Your cousin has gone home and won’t be coming back.”

Huo Chenzhang didn’t particularly care about Gu Yinhong and simply said, “Got it.”

Lin Xiu Gu then glanced at the empty chair beside her and continued, “Your grandmother has been dreaming about your grandfather lately. She wants to practice Buddhism, so I’ve arranged for her to stay in the back room. Your grandmother will be offering prayers and eating vegetarian food every day, so she won’t join us for dinner.”

Huo Chenzhang was taken aback.

He hadn’t expected that response and was left speechless for a moment.

Lin Xiu Gu asked, “What’s wrong?”

Huo Chenzhang looked at his mother and siblings’ expressions, lowered his gaze, and asked, “Grandmother isn’t ill, is she?”

Lin Xiu Gu laughed, “No, your grandmother is doing well, so don’t worry.”

She then looked at Cui Yunzhao, who nodded in agreement. “When you have a day off, you can go see your grandmother, alright?”

Gu Yinhong had always treated Huo Chenzhang very well, even better than Huo Xinzhi.

When Huo Chenzhang was born, because Huo Xinliu was weak and needed more care, their parents spent a lot of time looking after her, and it was Gu Yinhong who took care of Huo Chenzhang the most.

His concern for Gu Yinhong was understandable, which made him seem like a thoughtful and caring child.

Huo Chenzhang was relieved to hear he could visit his grandmother and smiled gently.

“Alright, let’s listen to Mother.”

As the family began to eat, Huo Chengpu’s expression changed. Today’s meal was truly wonderful, featuring Lin Xiu Gu’s specialty chicken soup with silver noodles, Huo Xinliu’s newly learned sweet and sour lotus root, and Mother Xia’s renowned braised pork.

Since it was a home-cooked meal, the presentation wasn’t fancy, but the flavors were excellent. Huo Chenzhang also ate in silence, enjoying the food.

Lin Xiu Gu watched the children eat happily, and the pleasant atmosphere filled her with joy.

After the meal, Lin Xiu Gu sent the children outside and then discussed matters with Huo Tan.

“I can see that the Old Madam Gu can hold on for now, but over time, she might start causing trouble.”

“However, that housekeeper seems capable of managing her. We’ll need to come up with some strategies moving forward.”

Huo Tan nodded and smiled, “Don’t worry, Mother, I understand.”

There were some things he couldn’t directly explain to his mother, so he spoke vaguely “In the future, once we’ve moved Grandmother to a larger courtyard and added a few more servants, she’ll naturally be happy and can stay comfortably.”

Lin Xiu Gu thought for a moment and agreed, saying, “Then I’ll leave the hard work to you and Yunzhao.”

After chatting for a while, Huo Tan and Cui Yunzhao returned to the eastern courtyard.

The hot water had already been prepared, and Cui Yunzhao took a nice, relaxing bath.

After cleaning up and changing into fresh undergarments, she curled up on the rattan bed, feeling completely at ease.

Huo Tan finished washing up quickly.

Once they both sat on the rattan bed, Huo Tan began to brew tea over a small stove.

“Today, General Lu rewarded me with some tea called Qihong, it smells wonderful. I’ll brew it for you.”

Cui Yunzhao, who had been half-asleep, opened her eyes at this and looked at Huo Tan. “Did Guo Jiezhang agree to the matter of clearing the river?”

Huo Tan raised an eyebrow, not at all surprised. He sat cross-legged on the rattan bed, relaxed yet graceful in his movements, and the way he brewed tea was very precise and elegant,clearly someone experienced.

“Yesterday, Guo Jiezhang replied, entrusting General Lu with the matter entirely, and he specifically praised him. Along with the letter, he sent special gifts for the New Year.”

This certainly flattered Lu Jiming.

Among the many defensive generals and militia leaders under Guo Ziqian, it seemed that only Lu Jiming received such recognition during this time.

Of course, Lu Jiming was very pleased.

The black tea Huo Tan held was likely also a reward from Guo Ziqian to Lu Jiming.

General Lu knew who his benefactor was.

Without needing Cui Yunzhao to ask further, Huo Tan continued, “Guo Jiezhang means that it’s getting colder, and the astrologers from Qiyang predict a heavy snowstorm in about five or six days. He wants General Lu to quickly gather the refugees and have them build shelters by the riverbank.”

Building shelters is quite straightforward; generally, it only requires timber for the framework and thatch for the roof and walls. The riverbank has accumulated silt over the years, with plenty of overgrown grass, so there’s no shortage of wood.

They can clean up while constructing the shelters, and in five or six days, a settlement can be established.

It seems Guo Ziqian must have visited the area around Chang’an before, taking a good look at the terrain.

Since he had seen it, he must have had such thoughts before.

However, because the river channel was difficult to dredge and involved the riverbanks of Fulu, Guo Ziqian had not taken action for many years.

This year’s heavy snow and the increasing number of refugees gave Guo Ziqian the perfect excuse.

The current emperor is originally from a military background, compassionate by nature, and cannot bear to see the common people suffer. Guo Ziqian likely bypassed the Tianxiong Jiedushi and wrote directly to the emperor, receiving a response before ordering Lu Jiming to proceed.

In this way, even if Feng Duo opposed, he wouldn’t be able to defy the imperial command.

Cui Yunzhao paused, then asked, “Did General Lu mention you in the military report?”

Huo Tan replied nonchalantly, “General Lu is busy with important matters and naturally wouldn’t remember.”

Even if he didn’t mention it, Lu Jiming would take full credit for this achievement.

That was quite interesting.

Huo Tan was an open and forthright person, this approach was suggested by Cui Yunzhao, and when he spoke to Lu Jiming, he had emphasized that it was his wife’s idea.

He even specifically mentioned that Cui Yunzhao was concerned about the refugees and had researched this method.

Huo Tan didn’t feel ashamed to credit his wife, but Lu Jiming completely overlooked him.

Cui Yunzhao raised her gaze to look at Huo Tan.

Huo Tan simply smiled, unbothered.

He poured the brewed tea into a cup and gently pushed it toward Cui Yunzhao. “Whether or not it has a name doesn’t matter, at least we’ve tasted this cup of tea.”

“The refugees will also be able to get through this cold winter.”