A Farm Girl: Three Acres of Fertile Land Can Be Exchanged for a Country

Chapter 5 A Reply Has Arrived

To the northwest, there is a region smaller than the southern frontier, called Western Qi.

Both Western Qi and Southern Xinjiang are marked in light green, signifying vassal states. The kings of Western Qi and Southern Xinjiang were both brothers of the reigning emperor.

To the north of the Central Plains lies a vast land called the Frontier, and to the east lies the Eastern Qi.

Both of these places were independent countries with a warlike culture, and they would often clash with the Central Plains. Nearly a hundred years ago, they even joined forces to launch a large-scale war, intending to occupy the fertile land of the Central Plains, but were ultimately defeated and forced to retreat.

That's roughly the situation, but there are a few things that Wutong finds puzzling.

According to the map, this dynasty had an emperor, and the King of Southern Xinjiang was just a vassal king. Why does everyone say that the King of Southern Xinjiang is good? Doesn't the emperor care?

The refugees I met in Nan'an City had come from the north. If they were just trying to survive, they should have gone to Xiqi, which was closer. Why did they travel thousands of kilometers to come to the southern border?

The last one... Where is Zhoujia Village? She looked until her eyes were almost blind, but she still couldn't find those three characters.

Queensland was found, but it's too big to determine exactly where Zhoujia Village is.

The thought of her elusive letter filled her with heartache.

As if on cue, Zhao Sanyang appeared. Just as she was thinking about the letter, Zhao Sanyang came running over.

"Wutong! Wutong!"

Upon hearing the sound, Wutong hurriedly ran out and found him standing in the courtyard, panting heavily.

"What's wrong?" she asked, stepping forward anxiously.

Zhao Sanyang grinned at her and held up what he was holding: "Your letter... is back!"

Very good!

In that instant, Wutong felt a warmth spreading from the back of her head, and she felt incredibly happy and joyful. Her heart was filled with blossoms and sweet as honey.

Zhao Sanyang shoved the letter into her hand: "Read it yourself. I still have to feed the horses, so I can't stay any longer."

He finished speaking and left. Wutong shouted after him, "Thank you! I'll treat you to something delicious another day!"

Zhao Sanyang raised his right hand and waved it to indicate that he had heard.

With an uncontrollable smile on her face, Wutong happily took the letter and ran back to her room.

It was still light out, so there was no need to turn on the lights. She moved a chair to the window and took out the letter.

The letter paper was rolled up into a single roll because it was to be hung on the pigeon's leg.

As it slowly unfolds, familiar handwriting is revealed inside.

Ruolan.

Even without seeing the signature, she knew that Ruolan must have replied to the letter herself.

In this day and age, there are probably only two of them who can use simplified Chinese characters.

"Wutong, I'm so glad to receive your letter..."

She read it aloud, as if Ruolan were sitting in front of her and talking to her.

Through this letter, she learned that Ruolan was doing quite well now. Zhou Pan'an treated her even better than his first wife, and both Master Zhou and Madam Zhou had changed their opinions of her and treated her as a good daughter-in-law.

The fire that Wutong set off when she left burned down her aunt's family's food supply for three years. She went everywhere to ask people for food, and in the end, only Ruolan asked Zhou Pan'an to lend her some. After that, no one in the village gossiped about her anymore.

At the end of the letter, Ruolan invited Wutong to return to live with her, saying that life outside was dangerous and arduous, and that she might even have to go to the battlefield.

A young girl like her is really not suited to living a life of hardship and deprivation. She should go back and get married and live a peaceful life.

If Wutong doesn't want to marry Zhou Pan'an and share a husband with her, she can help with the dowry and find Wutong a respectable husband.

"Wutong, I really miss you. You're my best friend. Please think carefully about what I'm saying, okay? Sincerely, Ruolan..."

After reading the letter, Wutong leaned back in her chair, lost in thought.

Ruolan was undoubtedly doing this for her own good, hoping she would be happy and safe.

But whenever Wutong thinks of Zhoujia Village, he recalls the cold words and sarcastic remarks he heard from the villagers when he was there, which were truly disheartening.

They may not dare to say anything out loud now, but what about their true feelings?

People can't change that quickly; ignorance remains ignorance.

In contrast, the military has a much more open atmosphere.

She didn't know about other places, but within Abdo's army, there were indeed no restrictions.

The life of a soldier is tough, but only physically; in spirit, she sings freely and roams the world.

Abuduo, Li Duwei, Zhao Sanyang... these people are all very good, and she never wants to return to their sights again.

Therefore, she did not intend to respond to Ruolan's invitation.

The letters must be replied to; they are the only way the two of them can communicate, and they cannot be cut off easily.

However, she has been staying in Dagua Town every day recently, and nothing has changed. It takes a long time for a pigeon to fly there, so it's better to wait until it's necessary to write a letter.

She put the letter away neatly in the drawer, then took out some loose silver coins, put them in her pocket, and went out to see if there was anything suitable to buy for Zhao Sanyang.

Zhao Sanyang really did her a big favor this time.

Wutong leisurely went out the door, looked at the azure sky above Dagua Town, and couldn't help but smile knowingly, thinking that Ruolan was probably missing her at this moment.

The streets were still bustling with activity, and the air was filled with the fragrance of fruits.

It was late autumn, and the weather was getting colder. Lieutenant Li had begun preparations, having people sew winter uniforms, which should be issued soon.

Although life in the army is a bit rough, it is still very humane. The only thing that is worrying is that there is a high possibility of war in the future.

In war, people get hurt; and when they get hurt, they die.

Wutong's family has always been healthy; no one has ever been seriously ill, and they have never seen a dead person.

She needed to be mentally prepared, she thought.

As we were walking, a commotion arose ahead.

"You brat, get it out now! Or I'll kick you to death!"

"I didn't...I didn't..."

The crowd surged forward, as if something had happened.

Wutong also went over, but before she could stand up, someone fell from the sky and bumped into her, and the two of them fell heavily to the ground together.

I was just out shopping, did this unexpected disaster really have to happen...?

Wutong was speechless and choked with emotion. She rubbed her chest, which felt stuffy from the impact, and tried to stand up.

Two soldiers suddenly walked into her line of sight, and with a large hand, they lifted the person who was pressing down on her off.

Only then did Wutong realize that the person who had just flown over was a boy who was no more than seven or eight years old.

The boy was filthy, dressed in tattered clothes, and his dirty face looked like it hadn't been seen in a long time; his features were barely recognizable.

Is he a beggar? Or is he being abused?

Before she could figure it out, the two soldiers threw the boy to the ground and started punching and kicking him, yelling, "Give it to me! Give it to me!"

End of this chapter