Chapter 56 - I Can Walk by Myself (1/2)
“Brother!” Ling Maomao ran hurriedly to Ling Zhang the moment he saw his brother far away.
Ling Zhang was immediately attracted by Ling Maomao, and looked at the little boy who was running fast. Unlike in Tanyang, it was easy to trip over in this herb farmland. Ling Zhang did not shout to stop Ling Maomao, but just kept his eyes on Ling Maomao’s step.
Ling Maomao rushed straight into Ling Zhang’s arms without stopping a second.
With a slight frown, Yuwen Tong quickly moved and stood behind Ling Zhang.
As expected, Ling Zhang, who had tightened his body rigidly all the way back and was aching all over, could not afford Ling Maomao’s weight, and directly jerked backward.
Being a little startled, Ling Zhang held Ling Maomao steadily, with the determination to act as a cus.h.i.+on to protect Ling Maomao being hurt. But instead of the expected fall to the ground, he fell onto a broad chest, greeted by the familiar, cold scent.
Yuwen Tong steadily held Ling Zhang and Ling Maomao in Ling Zhang’s arms, looking down while saying, “One rushed mindlessly, while the other didn’t know clearly about his terrible physical condition and dared to pick up a kid.”
Ling Zhang, “…”
He didn’t ask Yuwen Tong to catch him.
Ling Maomao raised his head from Ling Zhang’s arms, curiously looking at Yuwen Tong, “Who are you?”
Coming back from his thoughts, Ling Zhang hurriedly straightened his back, and let Ling Maomao stand on the ground, “I have told you many times, do not rush around.”
Ling Maomao chuckled and made faces, after that he looked at Yuwen Tong and asked, “Brother, who is this uncle?”
Uncle, “…”
Yuwen Tong’s face became rigid.
Ling Zhang felt so good and almost laughed after hearing that. In fact, although Yuwen Tong had been to the battlefield early, he was only twenty-six years old now; besides, he looked even younger for his age. But in Ling Maomao’s view, he should call Yuwen Tong “uncle” because he was so tall and strong.
“This uncle…” Ling Zhang deliberately elongated the word “uncle”, “He is the guest of our family.”
Giving Ling Zhang a meaningful glance, Yuwen Tong said to Ling Maomao, “Call me ‘brother’, and my last name is Yuwen.” Ling Maomao looked at Ling Zhang, and then at Yuwen Tong, finally changed to call him, “Brother Yuwen.”
Ling Zhang snorted with discontent in his mind. But it was not wise to set himself against Yuwen Tong openly, so he could only let Ling Maomao change to call him “Brother Yuwen”.
Yuwen Tong reached out his hand to rub Ling Maomao’s head, and incidentally took out a piece of white jade, placing it on Ling Maomao’s hand, “A gift for our first meeting.”
Ling Zhang subconsciously wanted to refuse this gift on behalf of Ling Maomao. Yuwen Tong looked at Ling Zhang, as if knowing what he would say, “This is just a common gift for first-time meeting. Why must you refuse?”
‘If you say so…What else can I say?’ Ling Zhang compressed his lips for a moment, and then said, “This jade is too valuable.”
“That’s why I sent it. Or what else should I give him, a blade of gra.s.s?” Yuwen Tong asked.
Ling Zhang, “…”
Nonsense and sophistry!
“Take it.” Yuwen Tong looked at Ling Maomao and said.
Ling Maomao looked at his brother and took the jade after seeing that his brother did not say anything to refuse it, “Thank you Brother Yuwen.” His eyes were still full of curiosity about Yuwen Tong.
Yuwen Tong nodded, and then scanned around the herb farm, “This herb farm is quite large. I have already heard that medical herbs grow in abundance in Tanyang, and it is true.”
As some of the herbs were frequently used in the battlefield, Yuwen Tong asked Ling Zhang to show him around the farm to get a better knowledge of them.
Ling Zhang, however, just wanted to sit down and have a rest now with his sore legs and back.
But because of the reluctance to show weakness in front of Yuwen Tong, he still agreed.
Leading Yuwen Tong into the herb field, Ling Zhang was quite surprised by Yuwen Tong’s comprehensive knowledge of almost all the herbs, some of which even he himself wasn’t familiar with.
It seemed that Yuwen Tong had seen through the doubt in Ling Zhang’s eyes, and explained, “Medical herbs are indispensable on the battlefield. And as a marshal, it is necessary for me to learn more about medical herbs so that I can save the lives of soldiers at critical moments.”
Ling Zhang felt so shocked. ‘Yuwen Tong, the great marshal, who commands nearly a million military forces. Yet he still cares for common soldiers?’
After walking for a long time, Ling Zhang’s legs started to tremble. Actually, he could barely stand when he got down from the horse. He had tried so hard to insist, and now had reached his limit.
Accidentally tripping over a stone, Ling Zhang almost got down on his knees.
Yuwen Tong was fast in action, and held him up quickly, “Be careful.”
After holding Ling Zhang up, Yuwen Tong realized that Ling Zhang’s legs were weak and trembling. With a brief thinking, he figured out the reason in a second, so he could not help but frown, “Why didn’t you tell me you can’t walk?”
Ling Zhang gritted his teeth and said, “I can.”
Yuwen Tong looked at him in disapproval, and at the same time, he also blamed himself because after so many years’ battlefield life, the short horse riding was nothing to him. But he forgot that Ling Zhang hadn’t experienced the tough training as he had.
“Let’s go back.” Yuwen Tong said in a low voice.
Ling Zhang nodded, turned around and got ready to go after standing still. But his leg felt weak again when he lifted his foot to take a step.
Taking him in arms, Yuwen Tong picked up Ling Zhang directly, and then carried him to walk back.
Ling Zhang’s face burned with shame, and he had never expected himself being so weak. Since he had taken exercises every morning, he was much stronger than the time of his rebirth! Besides, it was such a shame to be held by Yuwen Tong like this.
“Put me down, and I can walk by myself.” Noticing someone was looking at him, Ling Zhang felt hot with shame and said with teeth gritted.
Yuwen Tong lowered his head and gave him a serious stare, “Don’t move.”