novelhk Chapter 83 Hurt each other
Chapter 83 Hurt each other
Beyond the vast grassland, the lush green grass stretched out like a giant green carpet. The clear blue sky resembled a crystal-clear sapphire mirror, with snow-white clouds drifting lazily across it, seemingly light and airy. The sunlight poured down without reservation, bathing the entire grassland in a bright and warm glow.
In the distance, rows of yurts stand neatly arranged. Outside the yurts, colorful flags flutter in the wind, as if joyfully dancing to welcome the guests from afar. A group of maids in brightly colored clothes dance like beautiful butterflies on the grass, their clear and melodious songs like celestial music, lingering in the ears. All of this is to welcome the distinguished guest—Lady Nangong and her two adorable children.
Finally, the long-awaited moment arrived. Nangong Xiawu saw her mother and younger siblings, whom she had missed day and night, in the distance. Her eyes instantly welled up with tears, and an indescribable joy and excitement surged within her. She couldn't wait any longer and ran towards them like a joyful little deer.
"Mother, younger brother and sister, welcome to the grassland!" Nangong Xiawu shouted loudly as she ran towards her relatives with open arms.
At the same time, the leader of the grassland alliance, also smiling, strode forward to greet them. His handsome face radiated warmth and joy: "Welcome, Mother-in-law! Welcome, younger brother and sister!"
Dressed in magnificent attire, Lady Nangong nodded slightly, a graceful and kind smile blooming on her face. Then, she clapped her hands lightly, and her attendants immediately presented carefully prepared gifts. Lady Nangong personally took the gifts and handed them to the Grassland Alliance Leader and the Grassland Lady, respectfully saying, "A small token of our appreciation; please accept them with a smile, Grassland Alliance Leader and Grassland Lady."
The leader of the grassland alliance quickly accepted the gift and replied with a smile, "You're too kind. Please come in and have a seat!" With that, he extended his right hand in an inviting gesture, leading his mother-in-law and younger siblings into the spacious and comfortable yurt and into their seats.
The vast grasslands are like a magnificent painting, their breathtaking scenery captivating all who behold them. However, this magical land offers more than just stunning landscapes; its abundant culinary delights and diverse beverages are truly mouthwatering.
Look! Steaming hot milk tea exudes a rich aroma, with both sweet and delicious traditional hot milk tea and unique savory milk tea; tender and juicy stuffed pork belly, one bite and the meaty aroma bursts forth; perfectly pan-fried beef steak, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a rich and mellow taste; golden and tempting slices of cheese, with an irresistible milky aroma and an unforgettable aftertaste; a whole roasted lamb, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, is the star of the feast; fragrant lamb soup, nutritious and nourishing; and there are also crispy and delicious fried dough sticks and lamb buns with thin skin and generous filling, among many other delicious dishes.
Although Lady Nangong had always lived a life of wealth and luxury, when she saw this extremely sumptuous feast before her eyes, she couldn't help but exclaim in sincere admiration:
"The delicacies of the grasslands are truly countless! Many of them are quite different from the food in our northern desert! For example, our northern milk tea has always been only sweet, and many older people are hesitant to try it because they worry about the high sugar content and its potential health risks. But this unique savory milk tea, combined with that distinctive cheese, is a treasure unique to your grasslands!"
At this moment, the smiling leader of the grassland alliance asked with great interest, "Mother-in-law, what do you think of this salty milk tea? Compared to the sweet milk tea you usually drink, which one suits your taste better?"
After a moment's thought, Madam Nangong smiled and replied, "Although both types of milk tea are steaming hot and incredibly fragrant, I personally prefer the salty milk tea. Its unique salty and savory flavor dances on the tongue, offering a distinctive charm."
Hearing this, the leader of the grassland alliance smiled even more broadly, and he quickly nodded in response, "I'm glad my mother-in-law likes it." As he spoke, he thoughtfully poured another cup of hot tea for Madam Nangong.
Looking at her third sister, whose belly was already slightly protruding, Nangong Xiawu felt a pang of indescribable sorrow. Her once bright and beautiful face was now shrouded in gloom, making her appear somewhat melancholy. She parted her lips slightly and asked in a low voice, "Judging from my little sister's figure, she must be six months pregnant, right?"
Standing to the side, Xiaodoukou was a straightforward person. Upon hearing her sister's question, she nodded without hesitation and replied softly, "Yes, big sister."
At this moment, the look of desolation on Nangong Xiawu's face became even more pronounced. She sighed softly and said slowly, "Alas... I really envy you, my sister! In just a few months, you will be able to see your child. But look at me, I have been married for quite some time now, but I still haven't been able to conceive. How can I not be anxious?" As she spoke, tears welled up in her beautiful eyes.
Seeing this, Xiaodoukou quickly turned her gaze to her brother-in-law, who also looked disappointed. After a slight hesitation, she turned back to him and gently comforted him, "Sister, don't be too sad! Although you are not pregnant yet, you have a husband who cherishes you so much, and your status and position in the household are enviable. Thinking about it this way, aren't you much happier than I am?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Nangong quickly went to her eldest daughter's side, gently patted her shoulder, and softly comforted her, "My child, you must take things easy and let nature take its course. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Pregnancy varies from person to person. Some people may conceive very early, while others may have good news a little later. So, just relax and live happily every day, and believe that your little baby will come into this world sooner or later. Look at your younger sister, although she is pregnant now, her husband is completely unreliable! Ever since he gave your younger sister a title, he has ignored her completely. Alas, my poor youngest daughter, I have personally taken care of her every need during her pregnancy."
Hearing her mother's words, Nangong Xiawu was filled with curiosity. She blinked her bright eyes and eagerly asked, "Mother, please tell me, who is the man my little sister married? How could he be so irresponsible?"
Madam Nangong rolled her eyes and replied irritably, "Hmph, who else could it be but Ye Beichen?"
The moment she finished speaking, Nangong Xiawu's face darkened instantly, a surge of jealousy welling up inside her. She gritted her teeth and angrily questioned, "What? It was him! He was so cold and heartless to me back then, even swearing in front of everyone that he only loved Su Yuning. Why has he turned around and married my little sister now? Does he have any integrity at all? He's so unreliable!"
"Cough, cough, cough!" Madam Nangong coughed a few times in a hurry, quickly casting a warning glance at Nangong Xiawu and waving her hands repeatedly to signal her to shut up. She knew that the leader of the grassland alliance was sitting right next to her; if she was allowed to keep talking, she might accidentally say something wrong, which could easily damage their relationship.
Fortunately, the leader of the grassland alliance seemed to be immersed in the aroma of the fine wine, drinking one cup after another without paying any attention to the commotion, let alone hearing what they were talking about.
Little Doukou, who had been silent with her head down, slowly raised her head, her eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment. Seeing this, Madam Nangong sighed softly and said slowly, "Alas, this matter is truly a long story. In fact, the reason why Ye Beichen married your sister had a complicated history. Back then, your sister was scolded by his family for some reason. After feeling wronged, she became angry and resolutely left home. Your father and I were extremely anxious when we found out and rushed to persuade her to come home, but no matter how we tried to persuade her, she refused to listen and insisted on wandering outside. In desperation, Ye Beichen decided to marry your sister."
At this moment, the younger brother, who had been standing silently to the side, suddenly interjected, complaining indignantly, "Hmph, speaking of that Ye Beichen, he's truly outrageous! Ever since he married our third sister, he's completely ignored her, showing absolutely no concern for her. And not only that, he's also extremely cold and indifferent to our family. Back then, at their wedding, Father generously presented a whole chest full of gold and silver jewelry as a wedding gift. Yet, so much time has passed, and he hasn't even bought Father a few packets of tonics. It's truly disheartening!"
Just then, the leader of the grassland alliance, who was also the eldest sister's husband, asked with a smile and a friendly tone, "Hey, brother, tell me, in your heart, who is better, me or that second brother-in-law?"
Hearing this, the younger brother thought for a moment before replying slowly, "Of course, you, brother-in-law, are better! Look at you, this time when we came, you went to great lengths to prepare all sorts of delicious food and fine wine for us. And you were exceptionally warm and friendly to us, always chatting and laughing with us, making us feel like we were bathed in a spring breeze. But look at my second brother-in-law, he always has that tense face, as if the whole world owes him something, it's really hard for anyone to get close to him!"
The younger brother's words instantly cheered up his previously somewhat sullen brother-in-law. Without a word, he quickly took off the string of beads he was wearing on his wrist and handed it to his younger brother, saying, "Haha, good lad, you're quite the smooth talker! In that case, consider this string of beads my reward for you. It's the most popular accessory on our grasslands right now—a dzi bead bracelet! It's not only luxurious and elegant in appearance, but also rich in cultural significance, and has extremely high collectible value. Now, I'm giving it to you!"
"Oh, that's wonderful! Thank you so much, brother-in-law, for your generosity!" The younger brother quickly accepted the dzi bead bracelet with both hands, his face full of joy. At the same time, he didn't forget to bow to his brother-in-law to express his gratitude.
At this moment, Nangong Xiawu, who was standing to the side, also stepped forward and said, "Mother, and younger brothers and sisters, since you've all come all this way to the grasslands, why don't you stay here a few more days? In a couple of days, I'll personally take you to explore our bustling market and let you all relax and unwind!" Her words were full of enthusiasm and anticipation, as if she couldn't wait to take her family to experience the unique charm of the grassland market.
Madam Nangong smiled and nodded gently, her eyes sparkling with joy. She said softly, "That would be wonderful! We'll have nothing to do on the way back anyway. I've always been quite interested in how milk tea is made on the grasslands, and I was thinking of learning the craft here so I could show off to my family when I get back. Also, I'll buy a few packs of delicious beef jerky to take home so everyone can try this unique flavor."
Upon hearing this, the younger brother immediately became excited, gesturing wildly and shouting, "Haha, that's great! I don't want to just learn to cook like you guys. I want to learn archery, to feel the thrill of an arrow leaving the bowstring and whistling through the air; I also want to learn horseback riding, to gallop across the vast grasslands on a fine steed—that would be so exhilarating! And best of all, I want to learn to ride a camel too! I've heard that riding on a camel's back and enjoying the scenery is a unique experience!"
At this moment, the younger sister smiled gently and said softly, "Alas, unlike my younger brother who is full of energy, my body is getting heavier and heavier these days, so it's really not suitable for activities like horseback riding, nor is it convenient for me to go out shopping. But if I could participate in a lively bonfire party, singing and laughing with everyone around the fire, that would be quite a pleasure."