Reborn Together: The General and I Reach for Power
Chapter 39 - 37: Moving

Chapter 39: Chapter 37: Moving

The guard beside Li You followed closely, reaching out to grab Chen Zigeng.

Li You hurriedly stretched out his hand to stop him; he had seen this child at the Papermaking Workshop and knew he was from Chen Family Village.

Chen Zigeng’s eyes were red, his arms tightly wrapped as if afraid Li You would disappear in a blink.

Li You asked softly, "Child, what happened to your sister?"

Li You’s low voice carried a certain warmth, causing the tears in Chen Zigeng’s eyes to overflow instantly; he opened his mouth but made no sound, seemingly unsure of how to begin.

"Let go of me first," Li You comforted, "Let’s go inside and talk slowly."

Only then did Chen Zigeng release his arms, but as soon as his hands fell, Li You immediately took hold of them.

Wearing an official uniform, Li You led the child in coarse cloth clothing, one big and one small, into the office at the entrance of the government office.

Upon seeing Mr. Li arrive, the clerk in the office hurriedly stood up to salute and was about to step out.

Li You called out, "You stay." Today he had heard a lot, and with Chen Zigeng in front of him, he had some suspicions that might require documentation.

Li You sat on the chair, and Chen Zigeng quickly released his hand, took two steps back, then knelt respectfully and straightened his back eagerly: "Sir, I am from Chen Family Village, my name is Chen Zigeng. The one who offered the papermaking formula was my sister. Today, on our way back from delivering herbs to the Paper Workshop, my sister suddenly disappeared."

Upon hearing this, Li You’s gaze slightly deepened, signaling the nearby clerk to help Chen Zigeng up to speak.

Chen Zigeng stood up and continued, "We searched everywhere but couldn’t find a trace of her. My sister doesn’t know many people in Zhenzhou. The person most likely to have taken her is my sister’s second uncle, Second Master Xie, because she disappeared from his mule cart."

Saying this, Chen Zigeng wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve: "That Second Master Xie is a heartless man. He once forcibly took my aunt’s dowry and my uncle’s wealth. Hearing about my sister’s offering, he brought people to cling on at Chen Family Village.

My sister knew Second Master Xie had bad intentions but, as he was an elder of the Xie Family, could not just force him to leave.

This soft-heartedness brought disaster."

Li You, hearing Chen Zigeng speak with certainty, couldn’t help but ask, "Your sister disappeared from Second Master Xie’s mule cart, so you suspect him? Do you have any other evidence?"

Chen Zigeng nodded: "When we went to the Xie Family to ask for her, Second Master Xie’s words slipped. He went to our Chen Family Village to eavesdrop on conversations between Grandmother and my sister. He also claimed my sister didn’t know herbs and was only following others’ instructions to go to the Paper Workshop, accusing the people of Chen Family Village of deceiving the court, worrying that disaster would soon fall upon us."

Hearing this, Chen Zigeng clenched his fists: "If my sister were here, she could certainly refute Second Master Xie; now that he dares slander us like this, is he certain my sister will not return?"

Fear and panic engulfed Chen Zigeng’s eyes; he knelt down again, knocking his head on the ground with a "thud": "Please, Mr. Li, save my sister. As long as she’s alive, we can stop selling herbs; we won’t want anything else."

Li You, ignoring the need to instruct the clerk, stood up to help Chen Zigeng: "I will have the government officials search for your sister’s whereabouts."

Chen Zigeng’s frail body was trembling continuously, his tearful eyes unable to see anything clearly, genuinely terrified for his sister’s safety.

"Sir, my father died on the battlefield, and many uncles and elder brothers from Chen Family Village didn’t return either. During times of famine, many village children were lost, rumored to have been taken and eaten.

Every family in the village has lost someone; there’s even a family that’s lost entirely.

My sister was kidnapped by a trafficker, and both my uncle and aunt died at sea searching for her.

After much hardship, the war was over, my sister was found, the court supplied disaster relief grain, rewarding us with rice. I... I even ate rice and eggs last night.

My sister said peace had come, everything would get better.

She talked about repairing the village houses once we earned money from selling herbs so no one would freeze to death in winter again.

I believe my sister’s words. In these past days, we’ve made a considerable amount of money."

While speaking, Chen Zigeng took out a cloth bag from his bosom. When opened, it revealed several dozen coins.

His rough hands, with numerous cuts from harvesting herbs, were trembling as he offered the money to Li You.

Chen Zigeng said: "Sir, if we knew selling herbs would attract attention, we... we wouldn’t have sold them. Now, I want none of this money. I just want my sister back. Will you help us? We don’t need rice, won’t repair the houses; we’ll live like before..."

Chen Zigeng was sobbing uncontrollably.

Li You felt a pang in his heart and reached out to embrace the small Chen Zigeng.

Chen Zigeng cried out loud, and after a while, he said, "Sir, living, why must it be so hard."

Li You’s eyes were also filled with tears. Having served as an official for many years, he was not one to easily show emotions, yet Chen Zigeng’s words struck a chord in his heart.

Chen Zigeng was not older than seven or eight, and Li You suspected that someone might be manipulating the child from behind. But after listening to him, all those suspicions vanished.

He could tell that Chen Zigeng genuinely felt fear; without firsthand experience, such emotions wouldn’t come from the heart.

Li You wiped the tears from his eyes and instructed the clerk: "Record everything Chen Zigeng said."

He then used a handkerchief to wipe the tears from Chen Zigeng’s face: "Come, let’s go find your sister."

Chen Zigeng nodded, following Li You as they prepared to leave.

At that moment, someone from the Prefecture came to report: "Mr. Li, the Xie Family is here to report that people from Chen Family Village are causing trouble."

Li You resumed his usual solemn expression: "I witnessed the Chen Family Village offering the papermaking formula at the Paper Workshop myself. Now that something has happened, I want to go there and take a look. Bring some men and follow me to the Xie Family."

When Xie Shaoshan received the news, Old Mrs. Chen was still hurling abuse.

The steward ran up and said: "Second Master, people from the government office have arrived."

A smile finally appeared on Xie Shaoshan’s stern face.

The steward continued: "It’s Mr. Li."

Li You traveled north on behalf of the Emperor, his importance was clear.

Xie Shaoshan’s eyes lit up, as if decades of accumulated good fortune had been released in an instant. His decision was indeed correct; not only did he connect with the Song Family, but he also gained an audience with Mr. Li. If Mr. Li esteemed him, perhaps he could even embark on an official career, for he already held the title of Scholar.

Xie Shaoshan swept his anger away and hastened to greet Li You with the steward in tow.

Old Mrs. Chen tried to step forward and block.

Xie Shaoshan showed a fierce expression: "What are you doing? The Prefecture’s officials are here; if you dare to act rashly again, you’ll all be thrown into the Prefecture’s prison."