CHAPTER 162: CHAPTER 160 FRUSTRATION

Song Xian pondered for a long while before coming up with the idea of gifting a piece of mountain land.

Given the current situation, giving it to Chen Family Village, the village chief wouldn’t dare to accept it, and giving it to Old Mrs. Chen was also not feasible. Buying clothes and accessories would be too obvious, and perhaps Xie Liangchen would immediately change her attitude.

Of course, he wasn’t afraid of her changing her attitude.

But since he was going to give something, it had to be well-given.

After thinking it over, the most suitable gift was a piece of mountain land, adjacent to her father’s two mountains, and something she needed at the moment.

When Xie Liangchen accepted the land deed, Song Xian felt quite relieved.

Chang An was talking to Chang Yue when he saw his master coming out from the Familiar Medicine Institute.

Seeing the two wooden sticks in Song Xian’s mouth, Chang An was taken aback. The master was... eating malt candy? It wasn’t that he was quick-witted, it’s just that the children of Chen Family Village held the same kind of thing.

Chang An opened his mouth and was immediately choked by his saliva, almost blurting out to ask his master: "Is the malt candy tasty?"

Using every ounce of his strength, Chang An managed to swallow the question.

Song Xian walked right up to him, frowning slightly at the situation.

Chang An cleared his throat, pretending not to see it, lest his master feel embarrassed.

But it might not be the case, since his master could walk around with it, perhaps it was him who was overreacting.

"Is there something going on in the army?" Song Xian asked.

Chang An replied, "No, it’s the same as usual. The National Guardian General’s people are secretly watching us, which shows they don’t trust us."

Song Xian nodded. Although Song Qizheng temporarily handed over his troops to him, he was still wary that he might use the opportunity to win over the generals. Song Xian would not do so; those who were loyal to him, he knew in his heart. There was no need for secret plots; he wouldn’t desire anyone forced upon him either.

After their conversation, Chang An saw Miss Xie walking towards them, and just as he was about to pull Chang Yue aside, Chen Yongsheng hurriedly came forward: "The food is ready, please follow me to the table, General!"

As he hadn’t finished eating the malt candy, Song Xian simply bit off the rest to finish it.

Seeing this, Chang An was also happy. Eating so carefully meant the master was in a great mood.

Old Mrs. Song, Old Mrs. Chen, and the elders of the village sat together; then it was the men of Chen Family Village, followed by the women and younger generations.

Song Xian glanced over; there was no seat left beside Old Mrs. Chen, obviously Xie Liangchen was to sit with Chen Yuyu and the others.

Song Xian lifted his robe and sat beside Old Mrs. Song.

Old Mrs. Chen, smiling, remarked to Old Mrs. Song, "The Grand Dowager is used to the chefs from the Prefecture; have a taste of ours, though we can’t make anything too fancy, please accept our goodwill."

Old Mrs. Song, already familiar with Old Mrs. Chen, laughed and said, "Every dish looks delicious."

Old Mrs. Chen said, "Come, you first, please."

Knowing it was useless to refuse, Old Mrs. Song simply picked up her chopsticks and took a glutinous rice date, thus commencing the feast.

This was the first time Song Xian celebrated the new year like this. When he was young at the Song Family, he was always cautious, often causing incidents on family reunion days.

The methods Mrs. Rong used in secret were more than enough to deal with him as a child.

Later on, whenever his father saw him, he’d frown and have the steward watch over him to prevent further mistakes.

After leaving the Song Family, every year was spent in the military camp. Although he had to reward the troops, he was on constant alert. To him, it was no different from any other day.

In Chen Family Village, having the elderly and the young together without many rules, the laughter and joy felt reminiscent of a victorious celebration in camp, yet it was different.

Here it felt more like home.

Xie Liangchen had reminded in advance, so Chen Yongsheng didn’t serve wine to Song Xian but rather a bowl of red bean and jujube soup.

Once the bowls in front of everyone were filled, Chen Yongsheng raised his bowl to thank Old Mrs. Song and Song Xian: "Thank you, Grand Dowager, and General Song, for coming to Chen Family Village.

This year, the prosperity of Chen Family Village is all thanks to General Song. If you hadn’t let us send medicinal herbs to the Paper Workshop, there wouldn’t be the later developments of selling, collecting herbs, and the Familiar Medicine Institute."

Chen Yongsheng, originally straightforward, was forced to think further after becoming the village chief. At this moment, facing Song Xian, he was full of gratitude but could only bow respectfully and drain his cup.

Chen Yongyi and others did the same.

Song Xian drank the red bean and jujube soup in his hand, and next to him, Chen Zigeng immediately refilled his bowl.

Song Xian rubbed the top of Chen Zigeng’s head.

He glanced again towards the women, unable to see her through the crowd, but the place with the highest concentration of laughter surely marked where she sat.

She was Chen Zigeng’s Sister and also the Sister of Chen Family Village.

Song Xian ate a few more bites of fish.

When Chen Zigeng refilled the soup, he said, "Does the General find the fish delicious? It was made by my Sister, using pickled mint leaves to rid it of any fishy smell. I like it too."

Unconsciously, eating a bit more than usual, Song Xian was feeling quite full when he spotted Xie Liangchen and Chen Yuyu bringing over two bowls of noodles.

Xie Liangchen presented the noodles to Old Mrs. Song and Song Xian: "Grand Dowager, Master, please try the plain noodles I made."

Song Xian, looking at the steaming noodles, felt his heart grow even softer. He turned to Xie Liangchen: "Thank you, Miss Xie. No matter how she joked with him, she remembered his words and personally made noodles to bring to him.

She’s definitely different towards him. If he put a little more thought into it, things might just get better.

In secret thought, the plain noodles in front of him tasted exceptionally good, as if the noodle soup was sweeter than the malt candy, though with a hint of bitterness and sourness.

In this feeling, General Song quickly finished the plain noodles before him.

On New Year’s Eve, while the north wind whistled outside, the room felt warm as spring.

After eating the noodles, Song Xian got up to check on the household generals eating in another room and then sat down again, exchanging a few words with those around him.

Only when the feast was nearly over did he turn and head back. Passing by the kitchen outside, Song Xian hesitated briefly before walking over, pulling aside the curtain to take a look.

The chefs from the kitchen had already gone to eat.

Xie Liangchen sat by a small earthen stove.

Facing away from the entrance, Xie Liangchen held a handwritten book with elegant and neat handwriting.

Song Xian said, "What are you reading?"

Xie Liangchen was engrossed in the book, unaware of Song Xian’s entry, and on suddenly hearing his voice, she immediately closed the book and stood up.

"Master," she greeted him before continuing, "I’m reading a book the Su Family sent today."

Knowing Song Xian’s dislike for the Su Family, Xie Liangchen didn’t lie about such matters.

Song Xian, in a rare good mood, didn’t mind and simply said, "Are you brewing tea? No need to busy yourself further; I’ll soon be leaving to return home with Grandmother." With them leaving sooner, the people of Chen Family Village could rest.

As Song Xian was about to leave, Xie Liangchen called out: "Master, the land deed you gave me earlier is for a piece of mountain land."

Song Xian responded.

Xie Liangchen pulled out the land deed from her sleeve: "Thank you, Master. If you trust us, next year we’ll try planting medicinal herbs on that land. The herbs harvested can be split, seventy percent for you, thirty percent for us. Please take the land deed back, and once your steward has time, we can go to the government office to draft an agreement."

Song Xian furrowed his brows. What did this mean? She wouldn’t accept the land he presented?

Silence filled the room.

Song Xian looked at Xie Liangchen, her hand holding out the land deed, her youthful, clear gaze firm with determination.

The warm feeling in his chest suddenly dissipated, leaving a cold void.