Insufficient balance

  In early spring of February, the cold is still piercing, but the peach buds on the branches have already burst forth, and the small grass on the ground has sprouted tender green new shoots.

  On the flat and tidy courtyard, a strong smell of grain was emitted. The station soldiers transported all the grain from the warehouse to the courtyard, barefoot, holding wooden rakes, and sun-drying the rice.

  Yang Ling followed the busy scene, saw that the grain was evenly distributed, and then put on his shoes and walked out of the post office. His current work is very leisurely, Ji Ming Yi has just fought a battle, except for some letters there are no reception tasks. On the contrary, Jin Yiwei's secret intelligence is flowing continuously.

  According to the intelligence, there were also constant disputes among the tribes on the grasslands. When they joined forces to attack the Great Ming border cities, they were like a group of robbers working together in harmony. Once they retreated back, they would immediately start quarreling with each other over the division of spoils. The Tatars constantly fought each other and also frequently clashed with other ethnic groups.

  It is said that the Jurchen, Xifan and some small tribes of Tatars were weak and isolated, although they also participated in the looting. As a result, their losses were heavy, but the property they received was the least. After this battle, their lives became even more difficult. They had no iron pots for cooking, no salt for seasoning, and not even a complete set of clothes. However, at this time, the grass was growing and the swallows were flying, and the nomadic life that the herdsmen relied on for survival was about to begin. In this season, it is unlikely that they will attack the Ming Dynasty.

  Min County Magistrate has already taken office in Haining, and Bi Dousi will also set off to return to Jiangnan soon. As for Han Lin father and son, they originally had no land and were hunters in the mountains. After the battle at Jimingyi, nearly 30% of the station soldiers were killed or injured, and there was a shortage of manpower, so Yang Ling arranged for his father-in-law and elder brother-in-law to enter the station. As for his younger brother-in-law Han Man Cang, although he insisted on becoming a station soldier, even if he lied about his age, his baby face was too obvious, so he had to give up.

  Thanks to Yang Ling's efforts and the assistance of Huang Xiancheng and Wang Zhu, the rumor that had been circulating in the yamen about 'Yang Ling staying overnight with a beautiful woman on a snowy night' was finally brought under control and did not spread to the civilians or the army.

  Yang Ling thought that after a while, Ma Lian'er's heart would calm down and the matter would be over. Who would have expected that Han Youniang, either because of their same age or because Ma Lian'er was the only female companion living in the post house, got extremely familiar with Ma Lian'er just a few days after moving to the post house.

  Although Ma Lian'er avoided Yang Ling and didn't see him, her interactions with Han Youniang became increasingly close. Two days ago, Yang Ling accidentally saw her once, and in just over a month, Ma Lian'er's cheeks had become thinner, her chin sharper, her eyes larger, but the sparkle in her eyes was less.

  Yang Ling didn't know whether to feel heartbroken or guilty, he could only instruct people within his ability to take good care of her in life. He couldn't do more than that. His own life was too short-lived, Ma Lian'er still had choices, with her beauty, she would undoubtedly find a husband who doted on and loved her. Accepting her? That was too selfish, accepting her without her knowledge, was that loving her or harming her? That was unfair to her.

  For the young lady, he thought seriously and understood that from the moment he opened his eyes, she was destined to be his. These days of understanding made him realize that she was a very traditional and simple girl, even when she was completely unfamiliar with her husband at first and couldn't talk about emotions, she had already decided to devote herself to him for life, let alone now they have such deep feelings between them?

  The thoughts that I once thought were right, are actually impractical. If things go on like this and we spend two years together with a relationship similar to familial love or romantic love, he will definitely start a new cycle with deep regret. And what about YOUNG DAUGHTER? All I can leave her is endless sorrow and more thoughts of me.

  Why not let each other spend two happy and sweet years together? If he could give her another crystal of love...... Yang Ling's eyes became moist, as a husband and father, just thinking about it made him excited with a sense of heavy responsibility and accomplishment.

  Although life is short, their lives are still colorful. If they have another baby, even if the young mother loses herself, she will have something to rely on and be able to live bravely. Their common child will still bring her joy and happiness.

  But when he made up his mind to do something that thrilled him, that damn lie became a stumbling block. How could he tell YOUNG MAID? Even if Young Maid had always been obedient to him, it was likely that she would rather die than submit to him, especially when it came to matters of life and death. Was he going to resort to rape? Ha! Let's wait until I can beat her before considering it.

  Yang Ling stroked his chin with a bitter smile, he was originally a carefree and frivolous person, but since meeting the young lady, he had become more and more steady and down-to-earth, almost unrecognizable to himself. This simple yet elegant, gentle and refined little jade...

  Yang Ling walked while thinking of Nian Nang, sometimes with a smile at the corner of his lips and sometimes with a slight frown. By the small river outside the East City, the river water had completely thawed, and the clear river water was jumping and running happily. He dipped his hand in to test the temperature, and although the water was still icy cold, it was now bearable.

  He felt that his body had become much more solid recently, and the medicinal wine brewed by his father-in-law was indeed effective. He didn't know if it was a secret recipe from the Shaolin Temple monks, but when he asked, his father-in-law just said that the wine was made with precious mountain herbs, which could consolidate the foundation, nourish the source, strengthen the body and build up health.

  It's true that the medicinal wine is really effective. The first time he drank it, he didn't know its potency, and he had three cups in a row. As a result, that night was extremely comfortable, with his lower back feeling warm like two hot water bottles had been applied to it, and he was so full of energy that he couldn't sleep until midnight. Now every evening after dinner, the young lady would brew him a cup, and Yang Ling felt more energized with each drink.

  A young woman with a basket slung over her arm lightly jumped over the stones in the river, saw a young man standing by the river looking at her, and couldn't help but blush as she floated past him, being caught by his bright eyes for a moment, her waist momentarily unable to move.

  Yang Ling's gaze followed her youthful and beautiful figure drifting far away, only to be blown awake by a gust of wind. He slapped himself on the face: damn it, what's wrong with me lately? Why do I always like staring at women with good figures, has spring arrived, or have people also become...

  Yang Ling looked ahead and saw a small pond, he was about to take out his fishing rod to pass the time when suddenly he heard a clear and tender cry: "Sir, are you waiting for us to come back?"

  Yang Ling heard the sound and raised his head, only to see Han Youniang and Ma Lian'er walking along the mountain path, Han Youniang had a flat basket slung over her left arm, and in her right hand she was shaking a branch of bright red flowers, her smile as lovely as a flower, her beauty like a mountain spring. Ma Lian'er accompanied her at her side, dressed in white, slender and elegant, with charm emanating from every part of her body.

  Two people just came back from picking wild vegetables on the mountain, and suddenly saw Yang Ling standing by the river. Han Youniang was overjoyed and rushed forward hastily. Ma Lian'er chased after her for two steps, then slowed down her pace, carefully considering Han Youniang's words: "Master, are you waiting for us to come back?"

  These days, Han Youniang has been intentionally getting close to her, and Ma Lian'er is clever and intelligent, so how could she not know in her heart? She thought it was Yang Ling's arrangement for Youniang to take care of herself, but now she feels more and more that Han Youniang seems to be intentionally promoting her relationship with Yang Ling. Does she really want to let herself enter the Yang family door?

  Ma Lian'er thought of this possibility, her heart couldn't help but beat faster. She knew too well the position of You Nang in Yang Ling's heart. If she agreed, then there was great hope for this matter. She was really foolish; Yang Ling's path was not feasible, how could she not think of pleasing You Nang? In the future, even if they became sisters, it would still depend on whether You Nang accepted and got close to her. Since that was the case, now was the time to get along with her.

  Han Youniang didn't realize her own speech impediment, she smiled and ran to Yang Ling's side, holding up the basket and saying: "Master, I picked a lot of wild vegetables, look, cat ear, shepherd's purse, mouse tail grass, and this one, isn't this root of sour soup big? I'll wash it for you to try, it tastes good!"

  Han Youniang excitedly put down the basket, picked out the thickest and largest sour plum branch, and ran to the river bank to wash it. At this time, Ma Lian'er also walked over and smiled unnaturally at Yang Ling.

  Yang Ling looked at her, Ma Lian'er was dressed in white, and her attire was much simpler than before. The soft sunlight of spring day shone on her delicate and tender face, as if it were transparent. On her slender waist that could hardly be grasped, the light blue belt was blown up by the mountain wind, as if a slight pull would make her body fall. Yang Ling's mouth crooked: What's wrong with me lately? Why do I always think of evil things?

  More than a month had passed without seeing her, and Malan didn't change much, with fine sweat on her lips, still looking like an immature girl. However, the experiences and maturity of her heart made her transform, just like a delicate and elegant peony that was weak and couldn't withstand the wind.

  “She has become too thin!”

  "He has become stronger!"

  Ma Lian'er really looked like what Yu Niang said, with a pointed chin and big eyes, that melon face almost as beautiful as the fox spirit in cartoons, pale and thin to the point of being exaggerated. And Yang Ling, originally elegant and refined, but full of bookish air, a bit weak. Now his waist was straighter, his eyes were darker and brighter, and his eyebrows were more heroic.

  He is now wearing a blue shirt, with red lips and white teeth, and his eyes are as bright as the stars. He looks like a handsome young man. His pale face has also become rosy. As soon as he mentions the word "red", I really see red... um... too... red!

  Yang Ling felt a chill on the tip of his nose, and when he wiped it with his hand, it was covered in fresh blood. He thought to himself that this was too embarrassing. Lately, he had been feeling like his nose was always dry, and he had assumed it was because the heating was still on at home or because of the dry spring weather. But now that he saw other people, he had started bleeding from the nose, which was not easy to explain.

  He awkwardly raised his hand, blood still flowing, already overflowing from his mouth, so he didn't dare open it. Ma Lian'er cried out in alarm: "Yang brother, you're bleeding!"

  Yang Ling helplessly rolled his eyes, wasn't this the same as not saying anything? Han Youniang looked up and was startled, hastily running over to say: "What's wrong, husband? Quickly, quickly, lift your head," As she spoke, she used her water-dampened hand to gently pat Yang Ling's forehead.

  Yang Ling raised his head, the sky was so blue, white clouds were rolling, like silk curtains, thinking of the vastness of heaven and earth... Yang Ling was speechless, asking the heavens, when suddenly someone stuffed a soft and fluffy thing into his hand. He pinched it, it was a handkerchief. Yang Ling quickly covered his nose with it, wiping away the fresh blood. The handkerchief was spotlessly white, emitting a faint fragrance.

  This isn't the scent of a young girl, a young girl's body has that light and refreshing fragrance like jasmine, but this is a high-quality and elegant fragrance. Yang Ling's heart skipped a beat: "This belongs to Lian'er."

  The bleeding stopped, and under the worried gaze of two little beauties, Yang Ling ran to the river bank in a sorry state, washing his face with water. Ma Lian'er and Han Youniang looked at Yang Ling, then looked at each other, both turning their heads away in embarrassment.

  Ma Lian'er bit her lip, feeling a little guilty, wanting to laugh, and also somewhat triumphant. A month's separation, unexpectedly meeting again in such a scene, he saw himself and his blood rushed up.

  Han Youniang anxiously looked at Yang Ling, thinking to herself: "It's bad, Father said that this medicinal wine made from ginseng, tiger bone, deer antler and Chinese wolfberry is for nourishing the body, but its potency is too strong. Master's foundation is weak, he needs to be careful when drinking it. But I see Master loves to drink, every day pouring a bit more... didn't expect... really can't take the supplement, will Master be alright?"

  She stole a glance and saw that Mali's eyes were shining, also staring at her husband. Han Youniang thought to herself: "My brother didn't lie, Mali really has feelings for her husband." The words of her little brother, Man Cang'er, floated back into her ears: "Sister, I'm telling you, we saved your sister-in-law in the mountains, and he was with that beautiful girl who lives in the post house... oh, Mali was kissing him."

  Han Youniang let out a soft sigh, and thought of her father's words: "You Niang, husbands have their own principles, wives have their own virtues. Have you forgotten what your husband taught you? Being overly jealous will lead to being abandoned! Look at all the women throughout history who relied on their favors and became arrogant, which one of them had a good ending?"

  Our Da Ming law stipulates that a man must be forty years old and childless before he can take a concubine, but that only applies to commoners. Officials are exempt from this rule, your future prospects are boundless! Child, in our dynasty, many women have taken the initiative to find their husbands concubines, who wouldn't praise her for being virtuous and generous? You mustn't earn a reputation for being jealous, or it would be a loss.

  "Our family is of humble origin, you can marry a scholar because I saved Old Man Yang's life from the tiger's mouth back then, and that's why this marriage was arranged. You have this good fortune, look at our village neighbors who don't envy us?"

  Your father's eyes are quite accurate, your husband is a kind-hearted person and he treats you well. As long as you serve him wholeheartedly and give birth to a child for the Yang family soon, even if Miss Ma from the Ma family is prettier than you and has a better background, your position will be unshakeable, no one can take it away from you.

  It's not going to work if you're jealous and eat vinegar, in my opinion. Since your brother-in-law also likes Miss Ma, why don't you take the initiative to help her? If they become sisters-in-law in the future, they'll get along well, and your brother-in-law will only respect you more, which can't be bad for you, right?

  Han Youniang sighed silently, for a wife who doesn't wish her husband to rise above others? But once the husband has made a name for himself and becomes a superior being, "Regret teaching one's husband to be cautious", people gain something but also lose something.