Li Xia, eager to start, raised her hand to go first. Li Xin held her back, "Xia Xia, let me go first." As the older sister, it was her duty to lead.
"Sis, would you let me go first? I want to ride the horse first," Li Xia said as she broke free from Li Xin's grip and walked to the horse.
Animals are the most sensitive. The horse, feeling the hidden momentum from Li Xia, became uneasy and began to back away, trying to distance itself from her.
Li Xia didn't expect the horse to be this sensitive. She released her aura to envelop it. The horse dared not move as Li Xia approached it, stroking its back, "Very good, good horse." With that, she skillfully mounted the horse, her smooth movements causing Escort Li to question whether she had ridden before. Watching her, Li Xin and the maidservants quietly applauded.
Once on the horse, Li Xia looked at Escort Li, as if waiting for his instructions. Escort Li put aside his doubts and began to instruct Li Xia. Under his guidance, Li Xia quickly mastered horse riding and even tried a light trot.
"Second Miss, are you sure you've never ridden a horse before?" asked the maid, recalling her own experience that took five days to dare to trot. But Li Xia was already running smoothly in less than an hour.
"No," Li Xia confirmed that she had never ridden. In this life, she had never ridden a horse, but in her previous life, Li Xia had ridden much more formidable mutated beasts.
Seeing Li Xia riding skillfully, Li Xin was also eager to try. Li Xia dismounted and let Li Xin learn.
Approaching the horse, Li Xin tried to imitate Li Xia's movements, but it was too high for her. Escort Li stepped forward to help her onto the horse. The height from the horseback made Li Xin a bit nervous.
"Don't be nervous, relax. I'm holding the reins, it will be fine," Escort Li reassured her as he tugged on the reins and the horse began to walk slowly.
Li Xin gripped tightly, her eyes fixated on the horse, fearing that any false step would throw her off. The more she thought about it, the tighter she unconsciously gripped the horse.
Li Xin's actions made the horse uncomfortable and it neighed. Escort Li soothed the horse and comforted Li Xin, "Eldest Miss, relax."
"Sis, look straight ahead," Li Xia also spoke, trying to relax Li Xin. Li Xin responded with a nod, no longer fixated on the horse, but looking forward instead.
It was winter now, with no leaves to obstruct the view, and through the branches, she could see even further. The feeling of looking far into the distance was very novel, and gradually, Li Xin was no longer afraid.
Escort Li led the horse for a while before Li Xin dismounted. Her legs were a bit weak, but her face was full of excitement, "Xia Xia, riding a horse is really fun."
"Of course, Sis. Wait until you learn to ride. We'll see who can run faster."
"Okay, just wait for me," Li Xin nodded.
With the promise of a race with Li Xia, Li Xin studied harder. After a day, her inner thighs were chafed red and raw.
Liu Mian and Dan Mo carefully applied medicine to Li Xin's wounds. Seeing the white smooth skin now red and raw, Dan Mo felt heartache and after several days of holding back, finally said, "Miss, maybe we shouldn't learn to ride anymore."
"Escort Li said, it's a rite of passage for beginners. It will get better once the wound forms a scab." The thought of the pain from her swollen and bruised thigh made Li Xin wince, but the prospect of being able to try running on horseback tomorrow, as Escort Li had said, filled her with excitement. Unable to contain her impatience, she urged, "Dan Mo, apply the medication quickly. I need to get some sleep early." Rest was necessary for her to be able to ride the horse tomorrow.
Dan Mo wanted to say something more, but the medicine bottle in his hand was taken by Liu Mian. Liu Mian carefully applied the medicine to Li Xin, then lowered her trouser leg. "Miss, the medicine has been applied. You should rest now."
Li Xin nodded and quickly fell asleep once she lay down on the bed. Liu Mian blew out the lamp and instructed Dan Hong and Dan Ting, who were on night duty in the room, "Stay alert throughout the night."
Dan Hong and Dan Ting acknowledged the order and stayed in the room.
Liu Mian took Dan Mo back to their room. On the way, they saw Qiu Chan and Qiu Kui eating steamed buns. Seeing them, they both stood up, "Aunt Liu Mian, sister Dan Mo, have some steamed buns."
"You go ahead and eat. We've already eaten," said Liu Mian, pulling Dan Mo, who was glaring at them, away.
Qiu Chan, who was puzzled by the glaring, asked Qiu Kui, "Sister Qiu Kui, does sister Dan Mo have a problem with her eyes? Why does she glower so much?"
Qiu Kui stuffed the bun she was holding into Qiu Chan's mouth, "Just eat your bun."
Qiu Chan swallowed the bun that was stuffed into her mouth and nodded. Qiu Kui then went to Li Xia's room. Li Xia was not sleepy yet and was playing a game of pick-up sticks with Qiu Ling. Qiu Shui was mending Li Xia's clothes on the side. During the day, Li Xia had brushed against a tree branch while riding a horse, causing a tear in her sleeve.
Pick-up sticks is a game where one person scatters a handful of thin sticks on the ground, and the other person picks them up. During the process, the person cannot move or touch any other sticks. If they do, it's the other person's turn.
They had seen some children playing this game in the town they passed by a couple of days ago. Li Xia then asked Qiu Ling if she could play it. So, whenever they had nothing to do in the evening, Li Xia would play this game with Qiu Ling. Qiu Ling had no interest in this game meant for a five-year-old.
Seeing Qiu Kui come in, Qiu Ling quickly cautioned Li Xia, who was carefully picking up a stick, "Miss, sister Qiu Kui is here." Li Xia's hand twitched, and she touched a stick nearby. "Qiu Ling, you spoke. This doesn't count. Let me try again."
"Miss, I beg you. Can you please play with someone else?" Qiu Ling had stopped playing this game when she was three. She really didn't want to play it. Seeing Qiu Ling's forlorn expression, Qiu Shui and Qiu Kui couldn't help but laugh.
Li Xia also knew that she had messed up the game too many times. "Alright, I won't mess up next time."
Seeing Qiu Ling's pleading eyes, Qiu Kui stepped forward and said, "Miss, I have something to say."
Li Xia put down the stick and got up to pour a cup of tea.
Qiu Kui spoke about the incident that had just occurred. Qiu Ling, who was mumbling on the side, grumbled, "What's wrong with learning to ride a horse? I want to learn it too." Seeing her master ride a horse, Qiu Ling was extremely envious. Seeing the three people in the room look at her, Qiu Ling shut up.
Li Xia stood up and went to Qiu Kui, "Let me see, where did she glare at you?"
"Miss, at this time, you still have the mood to joke around." Qiu Kui couldn't help but stamp her foot.
"So when should I?" Li Xia's words left Qiu Kui at a loss for words.
"I understand that Dan Mo is worried about his master, and you're worried about your girl, Qiu Kui. We all have our own masters," Li Xia said, patting Qiu Kui's head. Li Xia's words left the three people in the room unsure of what to say. Was Li Xia being magnanimous, or just indifferent?
The sound of the night watchman's gong came from outside, "It's late, everyone should go back to rest." The three of them left the room in response, and Li Xia collected the wooden strips scattered on the table.
In the morning, Li Xin had learned about the situation from Liu Mian. She was unhappy with Dan Mo's actions, and ordered Dan Qing to follow her to learn horse riding. Dan Qing was delighted; ever since the spring plowing incident in Bailang County, Li Xin had reduced her reliance on Dan Qing. Dan Qing regretted not keeping her mouth shut, but Liu Mian and Dan Mo didn't give her the opportunity. Later, with the addition of Dan Hong and Dan Ting, her chances of personally serving Li Xin had diminished even further.
Without Escort Li's protection, Li Xin expertly mounted the horse. Holding the reins, she urged the horse forward. Li Xia rode another horse over.
"Xia Xia, I'm sorry," Dan Mo was her maid, and Li Xin didn't want Li Xia to think she had ordered Dan Mo to act this way.
Li Xia didn't mind these things, but asked, "Sister, do you regret learning to ride a horse?"
"Not at all." Li Xin immediately replied. Initially, learning to ride a horse was just something to do. But after these days, she had grown fond of horse riding. She loved the feeling of running free, it was particularly relaxing for her.
"Then why apologize?" Li Xia's words made Li Xin laugh, "Xia Xia, just wait. Once I've learned to run, we’ll have a race."
"Alright." After saying this, Li Xia spurred her horse to run towards the front. Passing Li Hui, she dropped a sentence, "Big brother, I'm going to scout the road ahead."
