CHAPTER 83: CHAPTER 83: SISTER-IN-LAW, LET ME SOOTHE YOU

"Uncle, what’s wrong?"

To be honest, Han Anniang’s mind still hasn’t calmed down yet. Originally a straightforward, honest farmer’s wife, she suddenly learned that the rogue third uncle killed an official, causing her to become part of the rebellion. Then her uncle also rebelled and became the leader of over eight hundred people. Fear, unease, apprehension, and uncertainty about the future instantly weighed heavily on her heart.

"Sister-in-law, please sit down first."

Chen Mo stepped aside and led Han Anniang to the table to sit down, poured her a glass of water. He could completely understand Han Anniang’s feelings and apologized with a face full of guilt, "Sister-in-law, I’m really sorry to have made you so worried."

"Uncle, why are you saying that again?" Han Anniang quickly waved her hand to explain, "Uncle, you mustn’t blame yourself. No matter what happens, I will face it together with you. It’s just that so many things suddenly occurred over the past few days, making my heart... heavy with anxiety."

"Then let me ease your mind." Chen Mo grasped Han Anniang’s small hand, playing with it in his palm, jokingly staring at her clothes.

Han Anniang was flustered by Chen Mo’s meaningful gaze, quickly turned her head aside, her face flushed red, "Uncle, don’t say such embarrassing things."

Originally, Chen Mo didn’t have that thought, but seeing his sister-in-law’s shy appearance, flames in his heart were instantly ignited. The pressure bottled up over the past couple of days was also wanting to be released.

He let go of Han Anniang’s hand, got up and closed the door. Under Han Anniang’s anxious gaze, he lifted her by the waist in a princess carry and walked towards the master bedroom.

"Uncle, don’t..."

Han Anniang, seeing Chen Mo intending to carry her into the master bedroom, trembled all over and began to struggle. Before she could finish speaking, Chen Mo kissed her.

Han Anniang struggled even more vigorously, her calves still swaying and kicking beneath the soft dress.

Chen Mo was puzzled as to why his sister-in-law was struggling so intensely today. Upon entering the master bedroom, he found Song Min sleeping in his room.

Coincidentally, Song Min happened to wake up, rubbing her somewhat drowsy eyes, surprisingly looking at the two, "Brother Mo, Sister Han, you..."

"Min’Er, why are you in my room?" Chen Mo was stunned.

"Ah..." Han Anniang shyly closed her eyes, burying her head in Chen Mo’s chest. Her gemlike face blushed crimson, even her earlobes gradually turned rosy red, softly patting Chen Mo’s shoulder, her voice buzzing like a mosquito, "Uncle, I told you not to, Min’Er is sleeping in your room, you didn’t even wait for me to... finish speaking, and then..."

However, Chen Mo, being thick-skinned, wasn’t embarrassed at all. With anger rising, he told the little girl who had just woken up to go watch the door.

Song Min was indeed very obedient and did as told.

Chen Mo placed Han Anniang on the kang, took off her embroidered shoes, embraced her fragrant shoulder, whispered teasingly close to the beautiful woman’s ear, with a voice clear and cool as mountain spring, "Sister-in-law, you can open your eyes now, Min’Er has already left, it’s alright."

Han Anniang: "..."

The warm breath and teasing at her ear made Han Anniang’s heart shy, she turned her delicate head aside, tremblingly said, "Uncle, what nonsense are you talking? Didn’t you have something you wanted to say to me, perhaps you should..."

Just then, she noticed a shadow approaching, warmth spreading to her lips. After a moment, the callused fingertips gently caressed her cheek.

During the pause, a voice entered her ear, "Sister-in-law, let me ease your mind first."

Upon hearing this, Han Anniang’s face, already as pale and smooth as snow, almost entirely flushed crimson. She lifted her hand against Chen Mo’s shoulder, gently pushed, "Uncle, it’s... it’s not dark yet, people might drop by, better to wait until evening..."

"But isn’t sister-in-law feeling heavy-hearted?"

"Uncle."

"Alright then." Chen Mo didn’t insist, said, "Watermelon can relieve heat and ease one’s mind, I’m a bit thirsty myself, so let’s have some watermelon."

The watermelons of the Great Song Dynasty matured a bit early.

You could eat ripe watermelon in the spring.

To prevent Chen Mo from keeping busy, Han Anniang eagerly shared the watermelon with him.

Chen Mo ate two bites of watermelon, the bright red flesh deliciously sweet and juicy.

After finishing the watermelon, not only did Han Anniang feel less heavy-hearted, but Chen Mo also felt much less pressure.

Truly, there’s nothing like just snacking on watermelon to ease your worries.

"Alright, time to talk business then." After giving Chen Mo a towel, Han Anniang wiped his mouth with wifely care, gazing at him with slight resentment in her eyes.

For a moment, Chen Mo paused, previously it was always him taking care of Han Anniang. Lowering his head, he kissed the corner of Han Anniang’s lips, softly said, "Sister-in-law, I have something to trouble you with."

Han Anniang quietly listened.

"Sister-in-law, lately you should have become acquainted with Shui’s wife, Liu Clan, right? Tomorrow, take Liu Clan with you to gather the women from the surrounding villages. Try to make them listen to you..." Chen Mo began speaking slowly, his hands continuing their playful caress.

Though the precise number of households hasn’t been tallied, based on the more than eight hundred people with him, subtracting those from other villages, their family members should easily number close to two thousand.

During the early stage of development, Chen Mo couldn’t allow them to sit idle, he needed to figure out ways to keep them busy. Heavy labor may not be feasible, but the tasks of spring plowing and cooking for the troops certainly had to be entrusted to them.

Indeed, Chen Mo was organizing the logistics for his team.

Furthermore, if he could gain their cooperation, he’d have access to all the news channels within the village. Internally, no matter the affairs, these women practically made up the intelligence department.

"Uncle, can I manage it?" Seeing Chen Mo entrust such a significant responsibility, Han Anniang suddenly felt a bit nervous, afraid of messing things up.

"Sister-in-law, you must have confidence in yourself, you can even manage me, there’s definitely no problem with this task. Besides, I’ll inform Shui to have his wife fully support you." Chen Mo said.

"Uncle, how annoying..." Hearing Chen Mo’s teasing words, Han Anniang couldn’t help shyly sulkingly slap Chen Mo’s arm once.

Yet contemplating how much faith Uncle had in her, her heart blossomed with joy and sweetness, silently cheering herself on. She looked seriously into Chen Mo’s eyes and said, "Uncle, don’t worry, I won’t let you down."

...

At night, after Chen Mo finished laying out the rules to be announced the next day, time had already reached the latter half of the night.

"Uncle, it’s getting late, you didn’t sleep last night, nor did you rest today. You should sleep, or else you might not be able to get up tomorrow morning." On the kang, Han Anniang saw Chen Mo wrap up his work and quickly scooted inside, leaving a warmed spot for him.

"Coming."

He blew out the candle, but soon after Chen Mo lay down undressed to sleep, noise started emanating from outside.

"Brother Mo, Han Wu has returned."

In the yard, Zhang River’s voice echoed.

Before he could knock, the main door was pulled open. Chen Mo, holding the Tang Blade, strode outside, his brow lightly furrowed, "Did something happen at Qingtian County?"

"No, Brother Mo, Han Wu returned with many people." Zhang River replied.