137: Chapter 17 Mu Nianci's Background

Guo Jing?

Hearing this name that he had been yearning for over many years, Yang Tiexin felt as if he had been struck by lightning.

Once he regained his senses, he grabbed Guo Jing and asked with a face full of anticipation, "Where are you from?"

Guo Jing was confused, but he still answered truthfully, "I grew up in the Great Desert, but my mother told me that my ancestral home is in Qilu, and my old home is in Niu Family Village of Linan Prefecture."

"Ancestral home in Qilu, old home in Niu Family Village of Linan Prefecture?" Yang Tiexin murmured softly, then said with an excited face, "That's right, it matches!"

Following that, he asked Guo Jing, "What are your parents' names?"

Guo Jing replied, "My father's name is Guo Xiaotian, and my mother's name is Li Ping."

Yang Tiexin immediately burst into laughter, "As expected, you are Brother Guo's son. I have finally found you!"

Guo Jing said in surprise, "Uncle Mu, you knew my father?"

Yang Tiexin wanted to reveal his identity upon hearing this, but was interrupted by Meng Li before he could speak: "The things are packed up. Why don't we find a quiet place to talk?"

Yang Tiexin snapped out of his excitement and realized the things were indeed packed, so he prepared to take them back to the Inn.

Seeing this, Guo Jing hurriedly said, "Uncle Mu, let me help you."

After saying that, he went over to help carry the weapon rack.

Under Mu Nianci's stunned gaze, Meng Li took the bundles of weapons from her hands, weighed them, and placed them on his own shoulder.

"Carrying these things every day must be very tiring," he asked warmly.

Mu Nianci was somewhat surprised, then lowered her eyelids slightly and replied softly, "It's alright, I'm used to it."

Yang Tiexin saw that only the flag for the martial arts marriage recruitment was left. He instinctively went to take it, but realized as soon as he held it that the recruitment already had a result; the flag was useless and there was no need to take it back.

Thinking of this, he directly snapped the flagpole, rolled the flag into a bundle, and put it away.

A moment later, Meng Li and Guo Jing followed Yang Tiexin and Mu Nianci to the Inn where they were staying.

Once the things were settled, Yang Tiexin began to tell Guo Jing the story of what happened back then.

"Mu Yi is my pseudonym; my real name is Yang Tiexin."

"Your father Guo Xiaotian and I were sworn brothers. We originally settled in Qilu, but later the Jin people invaded and the north fell. Your father and I were unable to resist the enemy effectively and had to drift from place to place, eventually settling in Niu Family Village of Linan Prefecture. Not long after, we each got married and made a living by farming and hunting, practicing weapons and martial arts in our spare time."

"Two years passed like this."

"Soon, Sister-in-law Guo—that is, your mother—and my wife Bao Xiruo both became pregnant."

"Your father and I were both very happy."

"But after a while, an accident occurred."

"The snow was very heavy that day. We saw a Daoist passing by, so we invited him into the house for a cup of hot wine."

"That Daoist was named Qiu Chuji, and he had killed the traitor Wang Daoqian who had conspired with the Jin people. When your father and I learned of this, we were deeply impressed and felt like old friends at first sight."

"I never expected that this accidental acquaintance would lead to your father and me being branded as rebels, pursued and surrounded by government soldiers."

"In the end, your father was killed, and I was seriously injured and unconscious, saved by a farming couple from Hotang Village."

At this point, Yang Tiexin paused and glanced at Mu Nianci.

Meng Li noticed this, and a trace of thought flashed in his eyes.

The original story did not explain Mu Nianci's origins, but looking at Yang Tiexin's behavior, she was most likely related to the couple who saved him, perhaps even their daughter. Then some misfortune must have happened for Yang Tiexin to adopt her as his foster daughter and name her Mu Nianci.

Thinking of this, he asked directly, "Uncle Yang, is that farming couple related to Miss Mu?"

Mu Nianci was startled and immediately looked toward Yang Tiexin.

For so many years, she only knew she was adopted by Yang Tiexin; she knew very little about her biological parents and hadn't asked much. Because she was busy making a living all day, she had no extra time or energy to think about such things.

Furthermore, she guessed her parents were likely no longer in this world; otherwise, given Yang Tiexin's character, it would be impossible for him not to tell her.

Consequently, she didn't ask further, and over time, the desire to search for them faded.

But they were her biological parents, after all.

Now that they were suddenly mentioned, besides her surprise, Mu Nianci also wanted to know the answer.

Yang Tiexin was somewhat surprised by Meng Li's question, but nodded a moment later: "That's right. That couple was actually Nianci's biological parents. After I recovered from my injuries, I immediately rushed back to Niu Family Village and found that Sister-in-law Guo and my wife were missing, so I began searching."

"In the end, I searched all over Linan Prefecture with no results, but instead heard on the way that a plague had broken out in Hotang Village."

"Nianci's parents had saved my life. When I heard the news, I hurried to inquire about the situation."

"But when I arrived, they were already infected with the plague and beyond help, leaving behind only a daughter who had just been born."

"So, I took her with me, adopted her as my foster daughter, and named her Mu Nianci."

"'Mu' was her biological father's surname, and 'Nianci' means to remember kindness."

Meng Li nodded slightly, looked at Mu Nianci, who was enlightened by learning her origins, and said with a smile, "So, you are a native of Hotang Village in Linan Prefecture."

Mu Nianci nodded.

Then, Meng Li added, "I am from Shanyin County of Shaoxing Prefecture. My father passed away early, my mother is still alive, and I have an Uncle and aunt, as well as an elder brother."

Hearing Meng Li state his background and introduce his relatives, Mu Nianci's face turned slightly red, and she lowered her head.

This was because this gesture, combined with the previous result of the martial arts marriage recruitment, was clearly a prelude to discussing marriage.

Yang Tiexin saw it too.

He glanced at Guo Jing, wanting to say something.

Unexpectedly, Guo Jing spoke first, "Elder Brother Meng, why are you and Miss Mu suddenly stating your family backgrounds to each other?"

Meng Li laughed and said, "Because I am fond of Miss Mu and I won the martial arts marriage recruitment. According to the process, the next step is to discuss marriage. Stating one's background and explaining one's family situation is the most basic part of this stage."

Then, as if remembering something, he asked in confusion, "I remember you also have a marriage contract; you should be clear about this."

"So that's how it is." Guo Jing looked enlightened, then scratched the back of his head and explained, "My marriage contract was set by the Khan, my mother, and my several Masters. Besides, the customs of the Great Desert and the Central Plains are different, so I really didn't know what needs to be done to discuss marriage."

Yang Tiexin was startled and asked, "Jing'er, you have a marriage contract? What's going on?"

Hearing this, Guo Jing did not hide anything and briefly explained his marriage contract with Hua Zheng.

Roughly, he had performed great deeds in the Great Desert and showed excellent performance, so the Khan of his tribe, Temujin, betrothed his daughter Hua Zheng to him. However, because he had to avenge his father's death, find Yang Tiexin's family, and accompany the Jiangnan Six Monsters to the eighteen-year appointment, he hadn't married yet, only establishing the contract.

"So that's how it is."

After hearing the story, Yang Tiexin was first enlightened, then showed a look of regret, and finally felt relieved.

Guo Jing noticed his change in expression and immediately asked, "Uncle, is there a problem?"