CHAPTER 144: CHAPTER 142 UNHAPPY

Xie Liangchen watched the long tongue of flame spewing from Song Xian’s Fierce Fire Oil Cabinet.

The fire was fiercer than any flames she had seen before, reaching a distance of at least ten feet.

Xie Liangchen gazed at the firelight.

"Master," Chang An stepped forward and whispered, "Miss Xie asks if she can come closer to take a look."

Seeing the straw man not far off, ignited by the Fierce Fire Oil Cabinet, ordinary women would have already fled the scene, but she wanted to approach.

This is why he did not place the Fierce Fire Oil Cabinet in her hands.

Seeing Song Xian nod, Xie Liangchen eagerly walked forward.

Xie Liangchen probably understood why the Daoist said that seeing the Fierce Fire Oil Cabinet inspired the idea for a wind box. If a wind box could have such powerful airflow, it would be enough to make the blacksmith’s furnace burn even stronger.

Xie Liangchen stepped forward, and Song Xian warned, "Be careful, this fierce fire oil cannot be extinguished with water."

In her past life, Xie Liangchen had heard of Fierce Fire Oil, but this was the first time she was seeing it up close.

The copper cabinet holding the fire oil was large and looked very cumbersome.

"Used often for defending the city," Song Xian said, "and not easy to move."

Xie Liangchen responded while carefully examining the copper oil cabinet, uncertain if it could be opened.

Song Xian naturally guessed her intention: "Wait until the oil is used up, then you can take a look."

"No trouble at all, Master," Xie Liangchen said, "I might have to look for a while."

Once it was used up, he would simply set it aside. Song Xian looked towards the craftsmen of the Military Workshop: "If there’s anything unclear, you can ask him."

Song Xian turned away to speak with Chang An, who still had several matters needing his disposition; the Military Governor’s men had been captured.

Song Xian glanced at the long list, his gaze occasionally drifting to the nearby figure; lately, as long as Xie Liangchen was nearby, he would become distracted while attending to business.

Perhaps it was because he found it rare for a woman to examine firearms, as if she were tinkering with a loom in the house. Song Xian recalled the joke Xie Liangchen told his grandmother, saying that examining firearms might be easier for her than using the loom.

Watching her listen to the craftsman, tilting her head and staring without blinking at the object before her, Song Xian never paid much attention to a person’s appearance, yet he felt a hint of elegance about her features.

"Master," a household general beside Chang An whispered uncomprehendingly, "the people dispatched to Zhaozhou are examining the military situation there. Everyone thought you would take Qi State first, but you’ve turned to Zhaozhou instead."

The household general dared not speculate about the Master’s thought process and could only privately consult Chang An, ensuring he hadn’t misunderstood the Master’s intentions.

Song Xian listened to the household general’s words; occasionally, he raised his eyes to look at the distant scene, using the Fierce Fire Oil Cabinet twice more. By the third time, the flames were significantly smaller.

When it couldn’t spray out any more fire, Xie Liangchen reached out to test the nozzle, feeling a breeze rush out from the spout...

Xie Liangchen, delighted, did not notice Song Xian’s slightly furrowed brow.

Song Xian knew the oil had been depleted, and placing one’s hand near the nozzle was safe, yet her actions inevitably made him tense.

She truly was bold; others are fearless young calves, while she doesn’t flinch even when seeing the tiger.

The household general beside him only felt that the Master was particularly quiet today. Usually, he’d give a look to show whether he was right, yet today he hadn’t looked at him, his expression slightly stern.

Could it be something he did wrong? The household general began to doubt himself, wondering if the progress in Zhaozhou was too slow.

...

Xie Liangchen fiddled with the copper oil cabinet a bit longer, roughly realizing where the problem with her wind box lay, she turned to look at Song Xian.

Just as Song Xian averted his gaze to instruct the household general: "Repeat what you just said."

The household general broke out in a cold sweat immediately; did he report something incorrectly? Otherwise, why would the Master ask him to repeat?

The household general could only carefully repeat his previous words.

Song Xian nodded: "Understood."

Only then did the household general’s heart settle back into his chest.

Song Xian said, "Keep the Fierce Fire Oil Cabinet for now."

The household general agreed, thinking the Master seemed suddenly interested in firearms.

"Master," the household general said, "perhaps we should request more firearms from the court’s workshop; they might be useful for defending the city."

The Master didn’t like these things before because most of the time it was necessary to besiege the city and reclaim lost land. Now it’s different; he hadn’t prepared properly.

"No need," Song Xian said indifferently, "We need to take Zhaozhou early and set up more blacksmith workshops there."

Looks like her wind box has a direction now.

...

Xie Liangchen rode the carriage all the way back to Chen Family Village; as they approached the village entrance from the official road, Xie Liangchen called out to Song Xian.

"Master, let’s stop here!" Xie Liangchen said, "The road into the village is hard for the carriage to travel."

Song Xian looked towards Chen Family Village, seeing figures of a few children, around seven or eight years old, running towards them.

Xie Liangchen lifted her skirt and jumped off the carriage, politely bowing: "Once I have made the wind box, I’ll bring it for you to see."

"General Song," Chen Zigeng stepped forward to salute Song Xian, "You’ve come too. Would you like to come into the village? I’ll serve tea for the General."

Xie Liangchen knew there were many matters needing attention at the government office. Inviting him now seemed overly insincere, so she stood by smiling without speaking.

Song Xian glanced at Xie Liangchen; now she didn’t even bother with niceties.

"No need," Song Xian said to Chen Zigeng, "I have matters at the office; I’ll come another day."

Chen Zigeng responded, going forward affectionately to stand beside Xie Liangchen, sizing up his sister.

The siblings exchanged glances; Xie Liangchen nodded, and Chen Zigeng smiled broadly in delight.

Hei Dan and the others gathered to pay respects to Song Xian.

After greetings, they surrounded Xie Liangchen protectively.

In an instant, Song Xian’s group became outsiders.

Song Xian urged his horse forward.

The carriage and horse left the official road like a gust of wind.

"So fast," Hei Dan exclaimed.

In the dust cloud, Song Xian’s figure quickly disappeared from everyone’s view.

Xie Liangchen also agreed: "Indeed, quite fast." It seemed faster than usual.

"Sister, did you ride the carriage back?"

"What’s it like riding a carriage? Is it like a mule cart?"

"When will we get to ride a carriage?"

Listening to Hei Dan and the others speak, Xie Liangchen laughed: "Don’t know about the carriage, but we’ll surely ride a cart next year."

Hei Dan was surprised: "Is the village buying an ox?"

Xie Liangchen nodded: "Yes." With the wind box, more farm tools can be made, and buying a big Yellow Ox is natural.

The group chatted as they arrived at the village, where Old Mrs. Chen had been waiting in the courtyard.

"Aunt," Hei Dan, with excitement still on his face, grabbed Old Mrs. Chen, "Our village is going to buy an ox, and we’ll have a cart."

Old Mrs. Chen felt a sinking feeling: "When? Who said that?"

"Sister," Hei Dan pointed at Xie Liangchen, "If Sister says it, it will surely be."

Before Grandmother could react, Xie Liangchen pulled Hei Dan: "Go find Fourth Uncle; we need to modify the wind box."