Reborn Together: The General and I Reach for Power
Chapter 26 - 25: Stay Away from Her

Chapter 26: Chapter 25: Stay Away from Her

The appearance is too striking, making it inevitable to attract some unnecessary troubles when walking outside.

Xie Liangchen naturally wouldn’t accept Cheng Yanzhao’s handkerchief.

"I... I’ll wipe it myself." Xie Liangchen raised her arm and randomly wiped her face with her sleeve, not removing a bit of the dirt.

But it didn’t stop her from showing a bright smile, her clear eyes looking at Cheng Yanzhao: "Are you the steward of the Paper Workshop?"

Cheng Yanzhao replied: "I am someone by General Song’s side."

Upon hearing the words "General Song," Cheng Yanzhao noticed the young girl’s eyes in front of him became even brighter.

Xie Liangchen became fully alert: "Does General Song have any instructions?"

Although Cheng Yanzhao still hadn’t clearly seen the young girl’s true face, comparing her stature, he was certain this Miss Xie was the "chef" who entered Song Xian’s courtyard the other night.

Because that night Chang Yue protected the "chef" as they left, and today Chang Yue’s people appeared in the Paper Workshop again.

The task that Song Xian arranged for Chang Yue to handle should be this one.

Faced with such a simple gaze, Cheng Yanzhao felt embarrassed to speak further, as saying one more word seemed to trouble this young girl.

Finding such a young girl to handle things, Cheng Yanzhao always felt it wasn’t Song Xian’s style. He decided to ask Song Xian, as the young girl seemed quite pitiful.

Cheng Yanzhao said: "You have worked hard; as long as the task is completed well, there will be a reward from the government office."

Xie Liangchen, although wanting those rewards, understood one truth better: except for the good intentions of the "creditor," one should not accept anything from anyone else.

The creditor said two days ago that she was only allowed to sell medicine at market price.

Xie Liangchen hurriedly waved her hands: "If the formula can be used, we don’t want silver coins, just hope that herbs can be delivered to the Paper Workshop."

Cheng Yanzhao asked: "Will the Paper Workshop only accept the herbs you deliver from now on?"

Surprised, Xie Liangchen quickly shook her head: "How could that be... Herbs grow in the mountains and can be picked by anyone. I just fear the workshop will only accept those sold by merchants. Don’t worry, sir, we understand these herbs and will pick the best ones to deliver."

Chen Zigeng, seizing the opportunity, enthusiastically pushed the Yangtao Vine in his hand towards Cheng Yanzhao and squeezed himself in between Xie Liangchen and Cheng Yanzhao, separating the two.

Chen Zigeng raised his little face and said: "Sir, look, this is the best herb."

Cheng Yanzhao, not knowing what to say as he was handed the herbs, heard the Paper Workshop steward say: "The paper has been revealed."

Cheng Yanzhao turned his head to take a look, catching sight of Chang An returning.

Chang An said: "Mr. Cheng, my master wants you to bring the paper to the government office."

Upon hearing this, not only Cheng Yanzhao but also other people in the Paper Workshop, including Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Yongsheng, hurried outside to check.

"Sister," Chen Zigeng whispered in the chaos, "Are you afraid of General Song?"

Xie Liangchen looked at her brother: "Why do you say that?"

Chen Zigeng explained: "Sister’s smile is so happy; it’s either genuine liking or pandering. Sister hasn’t known General Song before."

So it could only be the latter.

Xie Liangchen reached out to swipe Chen Zigeng’s ear, trying to cover it up: "Thinking too much will stunt your growth."

"Why are you afraid of General Song?" Chen Zigeng pursued relentlessly.

Xie Liangchen replied: "With so many people around him and swords hanging at his waist, it’s naturally intimidating."

"Sister, don’t be afraid," Chen Zigeng held Xie Liangchen’s hand, "General Song fought the Liao people and used our formula, he must be a good official."

Xie Liangchen nodded. Although her brother was so young, he had to worry like this, and he could see any emotional fluctuation in her. That’s why, in the previous life, even when she managed part of the Su Family’s caravans, her brother knew she was not happy and wanted to take her away from the Su Family.

Song Xian is a good man.

He helped her avenge her brother; she would always remember this.

But Song Xian is more like a tiger, ready to take her life at any moment.

Taking advantage of when the tiger is surrounded by wolves, she must seize the opportunity to help, and move past the task of touching the tiger’s backside quickly. This would make her more grateful to Song Xian.

Erecting a longevity tablet for Song Xian, treating him like an ancestral patron, and offering day-and-night worship would be perfectly fine.

Xie Liangchen’s mind drifted, and suddenly a scenario flashed before her eyes: Song Xian sitting in the main seat, while she knelt to worship: General Song’s great kindness is hard to repay, henceforth I wish to honor him as a foster father...

Xie Liangchen was startled by her own thoughts, realizing it’s not easy to fool Song Xian. Before strengthening her wings, she could only diligently repay her debt.

...

The newly revealed wet paper was carefully held and examined by Li You.

The paper was even and delicate.

Li You nodded with satisfaction: "Does the wet paper stack together but not stick?"

The Paper Workshop’s Manager Li replied: "It doesn’t stick."

Li You looked at Manager Li: "Has this formula been purchased?"

Manager Li hurriedly said: "That Miss Xie has already taught us the method for making slippery water, just hoping the Paper Workshop can receive the herbs they collect in the future."

A thought occurred to Li You: "From now on, all the herbs used in the Paper Workshop will be delivered by them?" Merchants are accustomed to such tactics; selling a prescription is just a transaction for silver coins, but continuously delivering herbs is a long-term business.

Manager Li said: "No. I asked, and the villagers have no other thoughts; they just want to pick herbs to sell to the Paper Workshop. They spoke up because they feared we would only accept herbs from merchants."

Li You was taken aback, then sighed: "The common people are still honest; if it were those merchants, they would have figured out how to profit long ago."

Hearing this, Song Xian raised his eyes: "Since a formula has been offered, the court cannot go unrewarded. Why not send some rice to Chen Family Village?"

In Li You’s mind, he pictured the villagers, one by one thin as a rake, most in need of food. _{f\ree webn ovel(.)com}

Li You nodded: "It was General Song who found the new paper-making method, so it should be entrusted to General Song to handle."

After saying this, Li You again cast his gaze on the wet paper: "Have the Paper Workshop dry the paper quickly; I want someone to send it to the Capital to present it to the Emperor."

Song Xian waited until Li You laid the paper down before saying: "Mr. Li has just arrived in Zhenzhou; let me lead the way and take you around."

Li You gladly agreed: "That would be best."

Song Xian knew why Li You came to the Northern Border, just as he mentioned to Song Qizheng, it was for the position of Military Governor.

But Song Qizheng believed the court had not yet appointed him as Military Governor because the Emperor feared the Song Family’s troops, concerned that the Song Family’s power was too great to be controlled by the court.

In fact, thinking carefully about it, the court had already appointed so many Military Governors, why would it specifically worry about the Song Family?

In the previous life, Song Xian sent people to investigate in the Capital, only to discover that someone secretly accused the Song Family of colluding with Liao. The reason Liao could retreat this time was also due to secret negotiations with the Song Family, waiting for Song Qizheng to take the position of Military Governor. Then he could openly increase troops, swallow the Northwest’s remnants of the previous dynasty and occupy the entire North.

The Song Family truly needed to resolve the people plotting behind the scenes. If even this point couldn’t be seen, Song Qizheng wasn’t fit to lead the Song Family army.

Song Xian and Li You rode out of the city.

While resting halfway, Cheng Yanzhao came forward, saying: "A Xian, where did you find the person? She’s quite impressive."

Song Xian immediately understood who Cheng Yanzhao was talking about.

Cheng Yanzhao said: "Besides knowing this slippery water formula, what else does she understand? Her cooking is so good, unlike what a village upbringing would suggest."

Before Cheng Yanzhao could finish speaking, Song Xian said lightly: "She is just someone who works for me; do not probe, and stay away from her."