Reborn Together: The General and I Reach for Power
Chapter 33 - 31: Sell First, Then Fight

Chapter 33: Chapter 31: Sell First, Then Fight

Xie Liangchen glanced at Second Master Xie and noticed he had brought along two stewards.

Those two stewards are people whom Second Master Xie heavily relies on, and at the moment, their eyes were quietly examining the surroundings.

Xie Liangchen already had a sense of the situation in her heart; such a grand gathering, Second Uncle likely didn’t come solely because of her.

The second branch of the Xie Family is always thinking about profits, exchanging how much cost for how much benefit. If it was due to her bringing people from Chen Family Village to trade medicinal herbs, Second Master Xie could first come to get a sense of things. Now that he came prepared, it’s clear he knows the situation on their side well.

Someone must have said something to Second Master Xie.

"Chen," Xie Shaoshan spotted Xie Liangchen and a friendly smile appeared on his face.

Xie Liangchen did not approach, she just advised Chen Yuyu and the others not to pay attention, and continue sorting the herbs.

Xie Shaoshan’s smile froze, his gaze swept over everyone in the courtyard, and not seeing Old Mrs. Chen, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Xie Liangchen may not have deep thoughts, but the truly difficult person is Old Mrs. Chen.

Xie Liangchen wants to retrieve the property and moving from the Xie Family to Chen Family Village was mostly Old Mrs. Chen’s idea.

So he thought as long as he could persuade Xie Liangchen, he could achieve his goal.

"I only just heard about your ’ministry proposal’," Xie Shaoshan looked at the piled-up medicinal herbs in the courtyard, his expression particularly joyous, "I heard the court also awarded rice and grain?"

Xie Liangchen still didn’t respond.

Xie Shaoshan felt touched: "If your father and mother knew, they would certainly be happy."

Xie Liangchen raised her eyes; those unaware of the inside story might think their uncle and niece have deep affection, as if Xie Shaoshan had forgotten how ferocious and terrifying his expression was when she walked out the door of the Xie Family.

Xie Liangchen maintained a calm expression while Xie Shaoshan moved himself, his eyes slightly reddening: "Liangchen, you don’t blame Second Uncle, do you? When you left the Xie Family, Second Uncle tried to stop you because he was worried about you."

Xie Liangchen didn’t reply, and Xie Shaoshan continued: "Chen Family Village isn’t as good as the Xie Family, are you used to living there? It’s fine for now, but come winter..." When the cold wind blows, he doubts Xie Liangchen can endure it.

Xie Liangchen finally spoke plainly: "As long as it’s one’s own home, it’s better than anything else."

The stubborn girl is still being defiant.

Xie Shaoshan suppressed his anger and remained calm: "In a few days, I’ll have someone repair the house and send over some coal; although you’ve returned to the Chen Family, I’m still your Second Uncle. If you need anything at home, just come to me.

In the family, there are only me and your father, you’re the only heir of the main branch. Now that you’re not in the Xie Family, I always feel sorry for your father when I think about it."

Xie Shaoshan watched as Xie Liangchen lowered her head, thinking he had touched on her concerns; no matter how clever she is, she’s still just a young girl. Who knew Xie Liangchen merely advised the villagers nearby: "These herb cores are spoiled and can’t be used."

Who was she mocking? Xie Shaoshan knew well.

"Rest assured, Second Master Xie, we’ll manage by ourselves," Xie Liangchen raised her head, "It’s not poverty we fear, but being coveted by others."

Xie Shaoshan’s throat tightened, nearly unable to hold back from cursing.

But soon, he remembered what Mr. Dong said, that handling the matter well now could lead to aligning with the Song Family in the future.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; if missed, it won’t come again.

Xie Liangchen left Xie Shaoshan aside and reached for the Yangtao Vine on the ground, busy without wanting to waste a single moment.

Xie Shaoshan clenched his fists, secretly taking a deep breath to calm down: "Are all these herbs to be sent into the city?"

The steward next to Xie Shaoshan stepped forward: "Sending herbs by human labor is too troublesome; using a mule cart would be much more convenient. Transporting more herbs means earning more silver coins."

At the mention of mule carts, Xie Liangchen looked up, a hint of hope flickering in her eyes.

Xie Shaoshan secretly rejoiced, he finally understood Xie Liangchen’s thoughts.

Xie Shaoshan said: "We have a few mule carts at home, usually for transporting goods; I’ll have employees drive them over to help."

Xie Liangchen refused: "No need, we’ll figure it out ourselves."

With an attitude as if keeping people a thousand miles away.

Xie Shaoshan regretted it a bit; had he known Xie Liangchen could still be useful, he wouldn’t have lost his temper so badly when she left.

Xie Shaoshan said: "Liangchen, are you still holding a grudge against Second Uncle?"

Xie Liangchen shook her head: "This is our own business; outsiders need not intervene."

"How can I be an outsider?" Xie Shaoshan deliberately raised his voice, "I am your Second Uncle."

Not waiting for Xie Liangchen to say more, Xie Shaoshan instructed the steward: "Go, have the carts driven over to help."

The steward responded and went to make arrangements.

Xie Liangchen met Xie Shaoshan’s gaze, her eyes full of vigilance: "We can’t afford to pay Second Uncle silver coins."

"No need to pay," said Xie Shaoshan, "this is what Second Uncle should do."

Xie Liangchen coldly replied: "I also won’t hand over this business to Second Uncle."

Xie Shaoshan’s expression fully darkened: "What are you saying? Not to mention the Xie Family has shops, even if we didn’t, I wouldn’t snatch business from your hands."

Xie Liangchen remained unmoved: "Second Master Xie swore he wasn’t scheming for my family’s property."

Xie Shaoshan’s face turned as red as a pig’s liver, as if he had been slapped: "Is this how you talk to your second uncle?"

Xie Liangchen smiled as if anticipating it: "Hasn’t Second Master Xie done it before?"

Xie Shaoshan had never been so humiliated: "I care about you wholeheartedly. Do you know that doing business with the government office isn’t easy? If things go wrong, not only will there be no silver coins, but also punishment. I’m here to support you today because you’re a part of the Xie Family. If I were eyeing your herbs, I’d be struck by lightning and die miserably."

Listening to Xie Shaoshan’s fierce words, Xie Liangchen confirmed her suspicion that Xie Shaoshan had an ulterior motive.

What could drive him to bear such humiliation and even curse himself?

"Second Master Xie need not worry, the government office doesn’t expect us to succeed immediately," Xie Liangchen said, "General Song gave us ten days."

Xie Liangchen’s brows raised, showing a hint of smugness.

Xie Shaoshan finally gleaned the information he wanted, unable to suppress a smile at the corners of his mouth.

So it was indeed for her creditor. Then who sent Xie Shaoshan? Xie Liangchen looked at Xie Shaoshan, who seemed oily-faced, and his complexion seemed dark and foreboding.

Xie Shaoshan struggled to suppress his delight: "Do you know Song Xian?"

Xie Liangchen said, "Grandmother, Zigeng, and many people in the village know General Song."

Speaking of Song Xian, Xie Liangchen seemed to stand a bit straighter.

He knew this matter wasn’t simple. If Old Mrs. Chen had known Song Xian first, then the people of Chen Family Village might have already colluded with Song Xian, merely using Xie Liangchen as a channel to "offer a recipe" to the Paper Workshop.

Xie Shaoshan’s mind was racing: "General Song has always been stern, so you must not make any mistakes. Are you sure the formula you submitted is error-free?"

"Of course not," Xie Liangchen replied without a second thought, "even if the Paper Workshop hadn’t tried it, I would still know it wouldn’t have errors."

Xie Shaoshan asked, "Why?"

Xie Liangchen opened her mouth to speak, but then reconsidered and quickly changed her reply: "Because I understand herbs."

Xie Shaoshan was adept at reading expressions and noticed a clue, preparing to press the advantage when he saw a villager beside him take an herb from a bamboo basket and say, "Liangchen, what is this herb? When I picked it, Third Aunt said it’s medicinal and told me to bring it..."

Xie Liangchen was stunned for a moment, stammering, "This should be medicinal, set it aside for now."

Chen Yuyu was somewhat puzzled as Chen clearly knew all the herbs on the mountain. Thinking so, she glanced over and blurted out, "Isn’t this Huang Shu Kui, but it’s not fully grown yet? Both Aunt and Second Uncle said that it shouldn’t be picked before it’s fully grown."

Xie Shaoshan noticed Xie Liangchen’s quick glance at him and then covered it up by instructing the villagers, "Hurry and sort through them; Second Uncle and the others will be back soon."

Xie Shaoshan was overjoyed; Xie Liangchen indeed didn’t recognize herbs. Both Yangtao Vine and Huang Shu Kui were meant to be sold to the Paper Workshop. How could someone who didn’t even know medicinal herbs know a papermaking recipe?

However, it wasn’t appropriate to continue probing for information today, lest the wretched girl grows suspicious. He would come to help for the next couple of days, slowly prying everything out.

Xie Shaoshan thought of this just as he saw Old Mrs. Chen approaching with a few women.

Xie Shaoshan was about to speak when he noticed Xie Liangchen lifting her skirt and running over.

"Grandmother," Xie Liangchen pulled Old Mrs. Chen aside, "a yellow fox has come to steal chickens."

Old Mrs. Chen looked towards Xie Shaoshan, recalling the fire poker she kept next to the stove.

"Don’t hit it yet," Xie Liangchen said, "sell it first, then hit it."

Old Mrs. Chen whispered to her granddaughter, "Can it be sold for money?"

Xie Liangchen nodded, "Yes."

Old Mrs. Chen took a deep breath, "For the sake of some silver coins."

Xie Shaoshan smiled and walked towards Old Mrs. Chen, sure that Xie Liangchen had told her about the slip-up earlier, but no matter how they tried to conceal it, it was futile.

Xie Shaoshan was somewhat eager to see the look on their faces when disaster struck them.

...

Song Xian emerged from the government office and went straight back to his small courtyard.

Cheng Yanzhao stepped forward: "Did Chang An tell you? Song Min had people find Xie Shaoshan, Miss Xie’s second uncle."

Song Xian nodded.

Cheng Yanzhao asked, "Shouldn’t we make preparations?"

"No need," Song Xian said calmly, "if she wants to seal this deal, she must have the abilities to match. I’ve already given her ten days."

Hearing this, Cheng Yanzhao’s expression suddenly changed, staring at Song Xian in shock for a while.

Song Xian frowned, "What is it?"

"What’s with you?" Cheng Yanzhao asked, "Hearing this news, shouldn’t you be worried that Miss Xie might conspire with her second uncle against you? How long have you known her? Why... trust her so much?"