Reborn Together: The General and I Reach for Power
Chapter 23 - 22 Hope

Chapter 23: Chapter 22 Hope

Old Mrs. Chen, Chen Yongsheng, and Chen Zigeng gathered around a wooden tub, watching the water soaked with Yangtao Vine.

Old Mrs. Chen thought the water was nothing special besides being sticky.

If the paper-making workshop doesn’t want it, can it be eaten? If it can’t be sold, everyone can use it as food, so the effort won’t be wasted.

Chen Zigeng was without Old Mrs. Chen’s worries and said crisply, "Sister said that the roots of this medicine can be sold to the pharmacy, and the stalks to the paper-making workshop."

Sister is amazing, one medicinal plant can be sold in two places, making two profits.

Old Mrs. Chen wanted to secretly tell her grandson, don’t just believe anything your sister says, but when she looked up, she saw children in the yard each playing with a stalk of Yangtao Vine.

Old Mrs. Chen got anxious, "Don’t ruin it, both the stalk and the root can be sold."

Chen Yongsheng increasingly believed that what Liangchen previously said about "slick water" might be true; if you don’t understand anything, you wouldn’t arrange things so clearly.

"Second Uncle," Xie Liangchen said, "Let’s go inside and talk!"

Chen Yongsheng was led into the house by Xie Liangchen, and they sat down on the earthen bed.

Xie Liangchen spoke directly, "Earlier, my father bought some mountainous land not far from the Chen Family Village. Can you go with me and Brother to take a look tomorrow?"

Chen Yongsheng was slightly surprised, "Isn’t tomorrow reserved for continuing to gather medicinal plants?"

Xie Liangchen replied, "Everyone already recognizes the medicinal plants, so it’s sufficient if Grandmother goes with them."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yongsheng nodded, "I’ll go ask your grandmother about the situation with that mountainous land and take you there first thing tomorrow."

As Chen Yongsheng exited the house, Chen Zigeng immediately approached, "Sister, are you planning to find better medicinal plants?"

Xie Liangchen looked at Chen Zigeng, thinking how her Brother could always guess what was on her mind.

Chen Zigeng said, "Today in the mountains, wasn’t Sister looking everywhere for medicinal plants? But Sister didn’t gather anything; she must not have found anything satisfactory.

Father-in-law’s mountainous land is even further from the village, it’s been barren for many years, and Sister has said good medicine comes from deep mountains, so Sister wants to search for good medicine there."

Xie Liangchen reached out to pat Chen Zigeng’s head, "My Brother is so smart, he’ll be able to become a top scholar someday."

However, Chen Zigeng was uninterested, "What’s so good about staying at home all day reading and writing? When I grow up, I want to see beyond the sea."

Xie Liangchen responded, "Brother can do it." She also wanted to go to the sea; it’s said her parents died at sea, but their bodies were never found. She always held a glimmer of hope.

Someday, their family would board a big ship, sailing across the sea. Even if their debt collectors pursued them, they wouldn’t be able to catch them. But this matter needs to be planned slowly.

"Sister," Chen Zigeng asked quietly, "What medicine are we looking for tomorrow?"

Xie Liangchen picked up the paper from the table; it was a fresh drawing she had just completed, though it wasn’t of any flowers, birds, or landscapes, but rather a medicinal plant.

Chen Zigeng watched the drawing intently, "Its leaves, the color of the flowers, is this where it bears fruit? What is this medicine called?"

Xie Liangchen said, "Huang Jing."

Chen Zigeng asked, "Is this medicine very valuable?"

Xie Liangchen nodded, "Only wealthy families buy it. Processed Huang Jing is even more precious."

Chen Zigeng’s face couldn’t hide his excitement; he took a deep breath and examined the drawing of Huang Jing again, "Sister’s drawing is so detailed, anyone can recognize it at a glance."

Xie Liangchen said, "People gathering medicine must recognize it to know what they’re selling and at what price."

Suddenly, Chen Zigeng stood up to close the door, afraid the wind blowing into the house might damage the drawing, "Sister, how many do you want to draw?"

"I will draw all I know," Xie Liangchen replied, "Those I don’t know now, I will draw once I know them in the future."

Chen Zigeng’s face flushed with excitement, "Sister is destined for great things."

Old Mrs. Chen didn’t know what her granddaughter and grandson were whispering about; she only knew that Miss Chen arranged tasks for her and Chen Yongsheng.

Miss Chen was so adept at directing people; she must be destined to become a lady.

Early the next morning, Chen Yongsheng took the siblings out of Chen Family Village, and Old Mrs. Chen continued gathering herbs with the village wives.

"Don’t be lazy. When it’s sold for silver, those who gathered more will get a larger share," Old Mrs. Chen straightened her back, eyes bright with determination, "I’m watching everyone; whoever deceives me won’t eat rice for life."

...

Once Song Xian left the city, everyone in the Song Family breathed a sigh of relief.

Madam Rong wanted to seize this chance to speak up for her two sons, trivializing the major issues and minimizing the minor ones.

But this time, it was not up to Song Qizheng alone to decide.

Li You unexpectedly appeared at the Zhenzhou Government Office with his entourage, interrogating those detained by Song Xian in the great hall.

The officials and merchants were so frightened by Song Xian that they confessed to their abuses, implicating both Steward Xu and Song Yu.

Although Li You gave Song Qizheng some face by not punishing Song Yu immediately, the matter could not escape being reported to the Emperor.

Song Qizheng could only praise his eldest son Song Xian publicly for promptly investigating and handling the matter decisively, thus preventing harm to the citizens of Zhenzhou.

Song Qizheng instructed the steward, "Take Song Yu to the government office for twenty lashes."

Hearing this, Madam Rong’s face changed dramatically and she grabbed Song Qizheng’s sleeve, "My lord, Yu’s body hasn’t recovered yet. Such punishment would be his doom!"

Song Qizheng shook free from Madam Rong, "Do you want to protect him now so that Li You has to come to fetch him personally? Twenty lashes are to let Li You know I’ve already punished him."

Madam Rong covered her face and cried, "I know I shouldn’t have spoken for them... If Yu and Min weren’t captured by the Liao people and endured such suffering in their youth, I wouldn’t feel such anguish for them."

Song Qizheng frowned; back then, the Liao people held his two young sons as hostages to persuade him to surrender. He was unmoved and continued to lead his troops, nearly costing the children’s lives at the hands of the Liao people—a guilt he harbored ever since, leading to years of indulgence.

Song Qizheng stood up and said, "If they continue to act recklessly, I shall not excuse them."

Song Qizheng left the courtyard, and Madam Rong’s crying gradually ceased.

"Mother," Song Min emerged from a corner to help Madam Rong up, "Don’t worry, I’ll make arrangements at the government office to ensure the lashes are gentler."

As Song Min spoke, his face was filled with resentment; they sought to establish connections with officials in Zhenzhou so that Second Brother could defend Zhenzhou, but it’s now impossible.

However, Song Xian wouldn’t easily take control of Zhenzhou.

Song Min said, "I hear the Northwest Pass is unsettled; you should discuss with Father that Big Brother should be sent to guard the pass." With Song Xian’s notorious reputation as a martial artist, it’s truly unwise to keep him here.

After all, besides fighting and killing, Song Xian is good for nothing else.

Madam Rong’s mind instantly cleared; yes, since Song Xian is causing trouble, he should be pushed away.

Even if Song Xian returns in a few years, Yu and Min will have long solidified their footing, so why fear him?

...

When Li You returned to his residence from the Zhenzhou Government Office, night had fallen.

Sitting in his study, Li You looked at his steward, "Is the gentleman still unwilling to see me?"

The steward shook his head, "The gentleman says he’s feeling unwell and won’t see anyone."

Li You sighed; besides examining the situation at the Northern Border this time, he must meet that gentleman—the Emperor is eagerly waiting in the capital, and he cannot disappoint Imperial grace.

Though the gentleman was unwilling to meet, Li You knew where he was now, so he would address it slowly and manage matters at hand first.

Song Xian was conducting numerous activities in Zhenzhou, and Li You needed to observe more before reporting to the Emperor.

Li You opened the report compiled by his subordinates, assessing that after detaining several stewards at the paper-making workshop, Song Xian plans to try a new paper-making method there tomorrow.