Reborn Together: The General and I Reach for Power
Chapter 22 - 21 Important Person

Chapter 22: Chapter 21 Important Person

Chen Family Village.

Old Mrs. Chen kept looking towards the kitchen.

Fragrant aromas wafted out from the kitchen.

Old Mrs. Chen’s stomach growled, followed by a pang of heartache. How much silver coin would Miss Chen spend to make something so fragrant?

Old Mrs. Chen originally wanted to avoid seeing it to stay calm, but eventually couldn’t resist going in to take a look.

Eggs were fried to a golden yellow, neatly stacked on a plate.

Chen Zigeng stood beside, swallowing his saliva.

Old Mrs. Chen counted repeatedly, all six eggs were here, not a single one left.

Old Mrs. Chen blamed her granddaughter in her heart, sighing at how wasteful she was. Next time, she definitely won’t let her into the kitchen.

The pot still emitted fragrance and there was plenty of oil left. Old Mrs. Chen was about to find something to scoop out the oil, but her granddaughter swiftly poured the leftover rice from last night into the pot.

Old Mrs. Chen’s eyes blazed, she slapped her thigh. No matter how rich, one shouldn’t be this wasteful.

The rice was stir-fried evenly in the pot, each grain became more lustrous and finally sprinkled with chopped green onions, the aroma struck the nose.

The rice was served in a bowl, topped with two fried eggs.

Chen Zigeng stared blankly at the food in front of him, unsure of how to start.

"Just cut open the eggs and you can eat," Xie Liangchen said while demonstrating, the golden egg yolk immediately flowed down, covering the rice.

Xie Liangchen put the rice covered with egg yolk into her mouth, her eyebrows relaxed, showing a delicious expression.

Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Zigeng were still stunned, Xie Liangchen urged with puffed cheeks, "Eat quickly, those who are going to pick herbs will be here soon."

Xie Liangchen meant not to delay picking herbs.

In the ears of Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Zigeng, it sounded like people were coming to seize the food.

Old Mrs. Chen still wanted to save some for her grandchildren, but Xie Liangchen’s voice came from the side, "Grandmother, if you leave any, I’ll take it and give it to others."

Old Mrs. Chen regretted not being able to bury her face in the bowl upon hearing this.

In the yard, the sound of three generations eating could be heard.

This is too delicious, Old Mrs. Chen sighed internally while eating. She didn’t want her granddaughter to notice though, lest she continue wasting her eggs, oil, and rice.

After finishing the meal, the bowls of Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Zigeng were cleaner than washed.

Old Mrs. Chen couldn’t help but smack her lips, relishing in the taste. She still watched Xie Liangchen, who was carrying a bamboo basket, "Miss Chen, you must not do this in the future."

Xie Liangchen said nothing.

Old Mrs. Chen regretted giving her granddaughter the silver from selling her daughter’s dowry.

As she pondered, Old Mrs. Chen noticed one thing: her words started leaking even more severely.

Old Mrs. Chen licked her lips, "My tooth fell out again." It had tasted so good, she inadvertently swallowed her tooth.

She couldn’t distinguish the taste of rice from the taste of her tooth.

Old Mrs. Chen wanted to cry. Her granddaughter’s food was delicious but too hard on her teeth.

Until Chen Yongsheng brought several villagers to the door, Old Mrs. Chen hadn’t come out of her dejection.

Chen Yongsheng introduced Xie Liangchen to everyone.

"This is Yu’yu, from my elder brother’s family."

Chen Yuyu wore a coarse cloth skirt, spent most of her time working outside, her face was tanned, she stood there simple and shy.

Chen Yuyu smiled at Xie Liangchen, "What herbs do we need to pick, Sister Chen? Tell me, I’m a bit slow, but I can do well."

When Xie Liangchen treated Hei Dan’s illness, Chen Yuyu went to the neighboring village to find the bell doctor, but didn’t find anyone, so she returned home disappointed.

Entering, she saw Hei Dan awakened, and upon questioning, found out that Sister Xie had made medicine for Hei Dan to drink.

Chen Yuyu believed Sister Xie to be capable, so when she heard the sister was going to pick herbs, she hurried to follow.

Xie Liangchen nodded, "I’ll teach you."

Chen Yuyu quickly responded, "Thank you, Sister Chen."

Xie Liangchen followed Chen Yongsheng to meet several aunts.

The Chen Family Village mostly consisted of Chen clan members. After the previous dynasty fell and the war continued, everyone fled together and eventually settled in Zhenzhou. Having experienced life and death together, their relationships were deeper. The village had twenty-five Chen-surnamed households, seven non-Chen-surnamed relatives by marriage, and later thirteen more families moved in. Everyone got along harmoniously.

On the first day of herb picking, Chen Yongsheng brought six people, all from the Chen clan. These women were usually on good terms with Old Mrs. Chen and addressed her as "Aunt."

Old Mrs. Chen looked over everyone; yes, they were all capable of working.

The group headed towards the mountains.

Xie Liangchen said while walking, "Once we find the Yangtao Vine, I’ll inform everyone. Remember not to take small plants; it’s best to take two-year-old ones."

Picking Yangtao Vine and Huang Shu Kui was because trading them could quickly bring silver, which they could continuously send to the papermaking workshop.

With some silver coin in hand, they could eat well and dress warmly, and then tackle other matters well.

Xie Liangchen certainly wouldn’t think that helping the papermaking workshop could simply write off her debt with Song Xian.

She had to grow up quickly to avoid constantly worrying about her safety.

Xie Liangchen thought about looking back, remembering Song Xian, and always feeling like there were eyes watching her.

Xie Liangchen quickened her pace. Let them watch; maybe the creditor seeing her working hard would reduce his hostility and add comfort.

Xie Liangchen certainly didn’t know Song Xian was right there in Chen Family Village.

Chang Yue continued accompanying Xie Liangchen, while Chang An inspected the village and found nothing unusual.

Xie Liangchen led the villagers up the mountain to pick herbs, remaining consistent in her words and actions.

Song Xian knew why he was there, because everything was under control except for Xie Liangchen, who was a variable.

He had to go to patrol training and could return to the city after a day. While he was away, he didn’t worry about Song Qizheng and Li You.

He had handed the evidence to Li You, who would surely hold onto it. After the war, the Emperor wanted the father and son to be estranged so that the Song Family wouldn’t grow too large at the Northern Border.

Song Qizheng was the same; Song Yu and Song Min were caught with evidence, and now Song Xian was trying hard to reduce the Emperor’s anger towards him.

He took this time to organize his troops and kept trustworthy people beside him.

So the only one needing more instructions was Xie Liangchen.

Song Xian instructed Chang An, "While I’m away, station more people here, no mistakes allowed."

Chang An replied, further understanding Miss Xie’s importance to the master.

...

Xie Liangchen soon found the Yangtao Vine.

Chen Yongsheng said, "You say this is medicinal and can make paper?"

Xie Liangchen nodded, "Yes."

Chen Yongsheng wasn’t disbelieving but truly couldn’t imagine how this related to paper.

"Second Uncle," Xie Liangchen said, "I’ll go back to test the juice once I collect some. You should gather more, so we won’t be short when going to the papermaking workshop."

Xie Liangchen had seen the slick water made from these two herbs, but it was her first time making it herself. Before going to the workshop, she needed to practice, lest she fail.

"I’ll accompany Sister back." Chen Zigeng picked up the bamboo basket.

The siblings headed down the mountain.

Watching their figures grow distant, Chen Yongsheng looked down at the Yangtao Vine in the basket; could it really be useful?

As the sun set, Chen Yongsheng and Old Mrs. Chen finally returned to the village with the others.

Old Mrs. Chen returned home, ready to ask Miss Chen if the herbs were useful, but saw Chen Zigeng waving at her, "Grandmother, speak quietly, Sister is drawing, don’t disturb her, or she might make a mistake."

Old Mrs. Chen’s heart nearly stopped; a mistake meant loss of silver coin.

Just then, a sudden thunderclap startled Old Mrs. Chen, making her wish she had some cloth to cover the sky to prevent more noises.

Almost simultaneously, the door opened, Xie Liangchen revealed a smile, "Grandmother, Brother, the herbs are fine. We’ll go to the papermaking workshop early in the morning the day after tomorrow."