Reborn Together: The General and I Reach for Power
Chapter 49 - 47 Close

Chapter 49: Chapter 47 Close

Xie Liangchen nodded and whispered to Chang Yue: "Wait for me a moment."

Chang Yue could guess what Miss Xie intended to do. Sure enough, after a short while, Miss Xie retrieved a bamboo basket from the corner, and inside it, a chicken fluttered lightly.

Chang Yue, not fond of speaking, couldn’t help but inwardly mock, Miss Xie was sincerely intent on gifting Grandpa; but who knows if Grandpa will like it?

Xie Liangchen found Chen Zigeng and instructed: "I will take these things to General Song and will be back shortly. Don’t let word spread, if someone comes looking for me, handle it."

Little Brother was always smart, entrusting him with this matter was best.

Chen Zigeng nodded. Sister had mentioned yesterday both to him and Grandmother about delivering some goods to General Song as a token of gratitude.

Xie Liangchen carried the bamboo basket out the door, and Chen Zigeng glanced at the contents, gently breathed a sigh of relief, Sister brought along the sun-dried toads.

Now, he need not stare blankly at the toads any longer; it’s truly a good thing.

...

Outside Song Xian’s small courtyard.

Song Xian sat in a chair reading official documents, Cheng Yanzhao kept gazing outside.

Wondering when Miss Xie might arrive.

"The people of Chen Family Village have done well," Cheng Yanzhao spoke intentionally to Song Xian, "I noticed over the past few days more and more medicinal herbs being delivered to the paper workshop."

Not expecting Song Xian to respond, Cheng Yanzhao continued: "The village is bustling with activity now, gathering herbs, delivering herbs, with everyone old and young busy working.

Miss Xie straightforwardly stayed at the paper workshop, it’s only been a few days? Now they are doing so well that merchants find it hard to gain an advantage.

Chen Family Village’s purchase prices aren’t low; buying and selling is truly hard-earned money. For merchants to outperform them is almost impossible, and villages near Zhenzhou can benefit from this to some extent, truly a good thing; no wonder even Li You is willing to speak for them."

Cheng Yanzhao looked intently at Song Xian: "Did you foresee this outcome? Because of the Chen Family Village matter, Li You elaborated in detail the northern situation with you, and even submitted confidential reports to the court twice. Can you guess what those reports contain?"

Song Xian didn’t move a brow.

As he spoke, they heard Chang Yue’s voice outside: "Miss Xie is here."

Xie Liangchen entered the room, seeing Song Xian holding a writing brush and working on documents.

"General Song Xian." Xie Liangchen greeted, Song Xian remained indifferent, his brows expressing detachment.

It was Cheng Yanzhao who set down his documents with a smile: "You’ve worked hard these days."

Xie Liangchen replied: "General Song Xian helped. This business with the paper workshop means Chen Family Village can buy rice and grain, and everyone in our village is very grateful to General Song Xian."

That’s the truth, nowadays the names often mentioned by the Chen Family Village elders are Song Xian and Li You.

Song Xian finally raised his eyes: "This business was secured by yourselves."

Implying it had nothing to do with him.

Despite Song Xian’s words, Xie Liangchen couldn’t think that way. Who knows what a creditor is really thinking? Moreover, Song Xian indeed helped Chen Family Village; she’s not heartless and besides, Song Xian scolded the Xie Family clan members, regardless of his intention, he vented for them.

Xie Liangchen said: "Last time General Song Xian visited the village, the village was unprepared; but this time I’ve brought something as a token of gratitude.

General, have you eaten?"

Song Xian frowned slightly, about to say he hadn’t. Why does she like cooking so much? She made noodles the first time, and now this.

Before Song Xian’s voice could come out, Cheng Yanzhao hurriedly said: "Not long ago, after a trip to Qi State, Song Xian hasn’t had much appetite, merely eating some dry food on the road; this can’t go on. I was considering whether to call in the chef or buy some dishes from a restaurant."

Cheng Yanzhao had just eaten plenty of dried meat, now thinking about that bowl of noodles, his belly promptly felt half-empty.

"No need to buy," Song Xian’s voice was cold, "I’m full."

Cheng Yanzhao raised an eyebrow, rubbing his stomach, with a look of bitterness.

Since Xie Liangchen came to deliver a gift, she was determined to finish and leave, without hesitation decisively saying: "I’ll use the kitchen."

Saying this, she politely inclined towards Song Xian and Cheng Yanzhao, then turned and walked out.

Cheng Yanzhao quickly stood to send off Xie Liangchen. Once she moved away from the room, Cheng Yanzhao looked at Song Xian and said: "She really doesn’t remember past events? It’s a shame." If they could now confirm she was Song Xian’s lifesaver, wouldn’t it be more interesting?

Inside the house, Cheng Yanzhao fell silent, yet Song Xian could hear faint activity outside the door. Having eaten dry food upon returning to town, he wasn’t hungry and naturally wouldn’t eat her prepared meals.

She believed doing this could make him forget that matter?

Suddenly, Song Xian’s mind flashed to a scene where he saw Song Qizheng’s face change drastically, retreating unconsciously by two steps.

This move left Song Qizheng starkly rooted, momentarily unsure of what to say.

Only he knew she was intentional.

Song Xian resumed writing with his pen, not knowing how long passed when he heard Cheng Yanzhao’s voice utter: "Finally done."

The door swung open again, with an aroma wafting in.

Song Xian also raised his eyes and saw Xie Liangchen carrying a tray into the room, Chang An was helping set up the food on the eight-immortal table.

Cheng Yanzhao eyed the steaming chicken soup and swallowed hard.

"What is this?"

"Huang Jing stewed chicken, it can nourish energy."

Cheng Yanzhao placed his hand on an egg: "I won’t ask about this, it’s an egg, but your preparation method is quite novel."

A few eggs had been opened from the top, with a layer of minced meat placed on them.

Cheng Yanzhao urged: "A Xian, are you eating?"

Without a word from Song Xian, Cheng Yanzhao was already eager to dig in. He courteously looked at Xie Liangchen: "Then I won’t stand on ceremony."

Inside the room, the sound of Cheng Yanzhao sipping soup and eating meat was heard.

Xie Liangchen stepped outside, Song Xian and Cheng Yanzhao couldn’t eat that much, so better to serve the rest to Chang Yue and Chang An.

Song Xian finally put down what he was holding, stood up, and walked towards the table. He hadn’t felt anything before, yet now somehow he felt a bit hungry.

Song Xian’s gaze fell onto the chicken soup, the chicken being stewed till soft. In the soup, one could see the medicinal herbs and rice grains.

Putting rice in soup?

Song Xian pushed aside his robe to sit and tasted the chicken soup. The flavor was indeed good, with a faint hint of medicinal fragrance, but not overpowering, preserving the soothing aroma of chicken broth.

Next to him, Cheng Yanzhao put down his chopsticks, looked at Song Xian in surprise: "How is it? Pretty good, right?"

Song Xian replied coolly: "Edible." He usually didn’t care about the taste or appearance of dishes, often feeling the bustle in the kitchen merely added trouble.

Cheng Yanzhao observed Song Xian eating bite after bite, inwardly sneering at those who spoke contrary to their feelings.

Without realizing it, a bowl of soup emptied.

Cheng Yanzhao said: "Not sure how this egg is made, it’s my first time having it."

An egg topped with minced meat, with no yolk inside, just a smooth and delicate substance that melted in the mouth.

Just then Xie Liangchen returned to the room.

Cheng Yanzhao raised the eggshell in inquiry: "Miss Xie, what’s inside this egg?"

Xie Liangchen answered without hesitation: "Toad oil."

"Oh," Cheng Yanzhao nodded instinctively, but soon he realized, "What oil did you say?"

Toad? Could it be...In Cheng Yanzhao’s mind appeared the scene of a string of something hung in Old Mrs. Chen’s yard...

Xie Liangchen explained: "Toads, caught from the mountain by us villagers, dried and then extracted. Before use, soak them and steam with eggs.

This is a great medicine, I brought it for General Song Xian to try."

Song Xian’s eyebrow visibly twitched.