Xie Liangchen slowly reined in the horse.
Tian HuiZhen was about to signal Xie Liangchen to go aside, Xie Liangchen said, "That is General Song."
Tian HuiZhen looked carefully, and as the team of horses and people drew closer, only then did Tian HuiZhen see clearly—it was indeed Song Xian.
But from such a distance just now, round or flat, it’s unknown how Xie Liangchen saw it?
Xie Liangchen and Tian HuiZhen dismounted and walked forward to greet Song Xian.
"General," Xie Liangchen said, "You returned to Zhenzhou."
It was a casual remark, without intending to inquire further, yet Song Xian replied carefully after dismounting: "I returned from Yingzhou early this morning, went to the Chen Family Village, heard from Chen Lizheng that you haven’t returned to the village yet."
Tian HuiZhen hung her head, wondering if she was too suspicious, always feeling that General Song’s manner of speaking with Liangchen was different from others, unusually gentle.
Xie Liangchen said, "Sir, are you going to inspect the camp?"
Song Xian nodded: "Yes, but not now. I’ll return to Chen Family Village with you."
Tian HuiZhen was surprised, secretly glancing at Xie Liangchen.
Song Xian continued: "There’s a matter concerning the finished medicine that I need to discuss with you."
After speaking, the group mounted their horses.
Song Xian looked impassively at Xie Liangchen not far away, after some days without seeing her, she seemed different again, dressed in men’s robes, with her hair tied up. From afar, she truly resembled a handsome young man.
Chang An also sighed for the sir, longing for Miss Xie, finally meeting her only to find that Miss Xie had someone beside her.
That Miss Tian was afraid Miss Xie might be left alone, following step by step behind her.
If it were Chen Zigeng, Chang An could use the few books in his arms to draw him over; with Hei Dan, he could use dim sum; with Chen Lizheng, he could inquire about the spring planting situation. But with a young lady, to engage in conversation would be a breach of etiquette.
Chang An deeply felt his helplessness, holding various items in his coat completely without use.
The group arrived at Chen Family Village.
Xie Liangchen saw that the village was bustling, with people at the entrance unloading straw from Yellow Oxen.
Xie Liangchen turned her head to find Song Xian: "General, is this..."
Song Xian said: "It’s the court’s reward."
Spring planting is imminent, and it’s already very difficult to buy oxen. Moreover, those few oxen looked more robust than the ones carefully raised by the Chen Family Village for several months.
Xie Liangchen was still pondering and didn’t notice when Song Xian walked over to her side and whispered: "Besides oxen, there’s something else."
Song Xian spoke so softly, Xie Liangchen instinctively looked at Tian HuiZhen not far away, worried she might overhear some words.
"Let’s go," Song Xian said, "Old Mrs. Chen is waiting."
Xie Liangchen saw Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Zigeng coming to greet them, took a deep breath, blaming herself just now for making a fuss over nothing.
"General Song." Chen Zigeng’s face was full of joy; the General sent rewards and then left in a hurry with his people, he didn’t even get to say a few words to the General. Unexpectedly, General Song returned with Sister Chen so quickly.
Song Xian said: "I remembered there were some matters at the Official Medicine Bureau I need to ask your Sister."
Chen Zigeng held onto Song Xian: "General Song, you can’t just turn around and leave this time, we’ve not seen the General for a long time, please stay and have a meal in the village!"
Song Xian looked at Xie Liangchen: "I know you all are busy with spring planting, I brought quite a few people, which might inevitably be inconvenient." Official source ıs NoveI★Fire.net
Xie Liangchen said: "The meal will be ready soon, if General Song doesn’t mind, please stay a while longer."
Old Mrs. Chen smiled and said: "That’s right, we’re quick with our hands, the meal will be on the table soon."
Everyone welcomed Song Xian into the village.
Old Mrs. Chen took Xie Liangchen aside, her eyes flashing, looking different from usual, seeming as if something was added: "Miss Chen, the court gave silver ingots as a reward, a full two hundred taels of silver."
Only then did Xie Liangchen come to her senses, realizing that the extra in her grandmother’s eyes was silver.
Old Mrs. Chen continued: "Two hundred taels for our Chen Family Village, one hundred taels for Mr. Xu, and many fabrics. Those things are being watched by your fourth uncle and others."
Miss Chen didn’t witness the scene when General Song brought the rewards, everyone was stunned seeing the silver, only after General Song left did Old Mrs. Chen remember to grab an ingot to bite down.
The toothless Old Mrs. Chen only managed to leave a clear bite mark on the silver ingot with difficulty.
Mrs. Gao looked on with distress, such a beautiful ingot being marred by a mark.
Xie Liangchen walked into the kitchen and saw Mrs. Gao kneading dough.
Mrs. Gao’s heart rejoiced upon seeing Xie Liangchen, washing her hands clean and pulling Xie Liangchen aside: "Did your aunt tell you? The court’s rewards..."
Xie Liangchen nodded: "She did."
Mrs. Gao said: "What’s to be done with those ingots?"
Under several watchful eyes, Xie Liangchen calmly said: "What else can we do? Spend it."
As the Chen Family Village received such rewards for the first time, after Xie Liangchen said this, it suddenly sobered up.
Xie Liangchen continued: "Silver is, of course, meant to be spent. The village has many places needing silver, even counting them all might not be enough."
Old Mrs. Chen sighed deeply, watching her granddaughter spend hundreds of copper coins to several tens of strings, then to dozens of taels of silver, now beginning to ponder over hundreds of taels in ingots.
It’s truly not surprising.
Ah, they rejoiced too soon.
Old Mrs. Chen looked at Mrs. Gao: "Enough, let’s not talk about it, let’s cook! Don’t keep General Song waiting."
Xie Liangchen brewed tea and left the kitchen, seeing Gouzi and Liu Erniang standing in the courtyard.
Liu Erniang was looking towards the main house.
Upon hearing Xie Liangchen’s voice, Liu Erniang seemed to have finally found her anchor, she swiftly walked up, wanting to take the tray but hesitating whether it was appropriate, unsure of what to do.
Xie Liangchen said: "You want to see General Song?"
Not hearing Sister’s voice, Gouzi was somewhat anxious: "We want to thank the General." But they weren’t sure if their status was appropriate, whether it would cause trouble for the Chen Family Village and the General, they hesitated for quite some time before coming.
Xie Liangchen smiled and said: "The General is just inside the house."
They knew the General was there, but Sister Chen’s words added courage to Gouzi.
Chen Yuyu and Tian HuiZhen lifted the curtain, Xie Liangchen entered with the hot tea, placing the teacup in front of Song Xian herself.
The fragrance of the tea leaves was refreshing.
Xie Liangchen said: "This tea has just been bought from town."
Song Xian recognized it, the tea was good, but not as nice as her homemade "Bright Moon Tea." Wondering when he could avoid these people to savor tea with her under the moon again.
Song Xian said: "Thanks to Miss Xie."
Xie Liangchen returned the gesture and stood aside, intending to check on Gouzi and Liu Erniang, but her hand was gripped by Tian HuiZhen.
Tian HuiZhen moved a few steps aside, lowered her voice and said: "When you went to the kitchen, my family’s employee came, saying the woven wool transported out might have some issues, suddenly those few shops don’t want our goods.
You don’t need to worry, my father will sell the goods no matter what, just keep it in mind, my father will try to find out the reason."