CHAPTER 212: CHAPTER 210: RETURNING HOME

Xie Liangchen had a hard time falling asleep.

Song Xian led his men to patrol the camp. The peaceful spring farming in Zhenzhou was thanks to the soldiers defending the border. Even as the night grew deep and the townsfolk rested, they dared not relax for a moment.

Chang An watched his imposing master, thinking about the newly crafted map. Who would have thought, if not seen with one’s own eyes, that his master would even draw a moon on the map just to please Miss Xie.

He had followed his master for many years, yet only now did he see his true colors. The master hadn’t even gotten an answer yet and was already this eager. Who knows how he would show off once he brought the lady home.

After the spring farming began, there were about two or three rains. As most of the mountain fields in Zhenzhou were sown, another rain came.

Before dawn, Xie Liangchen opened her eyes and vaguely heard her grandmother say, "It’s raining, we’re not going up the mountain, just rest at home."

Old Mrs. Chen tucked the quilt around her granddaughter after speaking.

Xie Liangchen closed her eyes and went back to sleep. When she awoke again, the sound of pattering rain still came from the window.

"Grandmother," Xie Liangchen murmured, "Is the rain still heavy?"

Old Mrs. Chen knew her granddaughter was concerned about the fields, so she quickly replied, "Not anymore, it’s just right, a good rain."

Accompanied by this rain, Xie Liangchen slept well. When she woke again, her eyes seemed brighter than usual.

The meals were prepared.

Old Mrs. Chen fried eggs according to her granddaughter’s recipe, made crispy rice crust, and stewed a small rooster with dried mushrooms from last autumn.

While eating, Chen Yuyu brought over vegetable pancakes made by Mrs. Gao.

Old Mrs. Chen asked Chen Yuyu to stay for the meal. Chen Yuyu smiled and said, "I already ate, but the pancakes are freshly made, please try them, they smell delicious."

Xie Liangchen handed Chen Yuyu a pair of chopsticks, and Old Mrs. Chen served some chicken, while Chen Zigeng gave a piece of crispy rice crust, insisting Yuyu have more.

Chen Yuyu’s eyes suddenly reddened.

Old Mrs. Chen noticed and asked, "What’s wrong?"

Chen Yuyu shook her head, "Nothing."

Old Mrs. Chen asked, "Who’s bullying you?"

Afraid of being misunderstood, Chen Yuyu quickly replied, "No, it’s just...just...there’s a matchmaker who came, and...I don’t want to get married."

So it was that matter. Old Mrs. Chen sighed with relief, "Then don’t get married. I heard from your second aunt that you don’t want to, and no one will force you. We’ll talk about it in a few years when things are better."

Chen Yuyu nodded, and Xie Liangchen held her hand, "Anything else you’re worrying about?"

Chen Yuyu pursed her lips and said, "I heard from the matchmaker that when I’m older, it will be hard to marry, and it might disgrace Chen Family Village. I’m not afraid of other things, just that it might harm the village’s reputation."

"That’s nonsense," Old Mrs. Chen widened her eyes, "When our village couldn’t even eat, traffickers came, but no one here sold their children. Now the village has no food worries, how can one matchmaker’s gossip defeat us? Don’t listen to their nonsense, I’ll make sure they never come to Chen Family Village again."

Chen Zigeng raised his head and looked at his sister, even General Song might like his sister.

Chen Yuyu felt comforted, "I just think marrying into another family wouldn’t be as good as staying in our village. At home, there’s always hope. I can grow herbs, pick them to help with making medicine, and earn silver coins without worry.

I don’t want to go to someone else’s home, spending all day doing laundry, cooking, serving others, waiting to see their mood to eat."

Old Mrs. Chen nodded, "If it’s just you left at home, it’s fine to find someone good to marry in and have them come to Chen Family Village."

Chen Zigeng nodded along, "Yuyu sister, Grandmother’s right, if he truly cares for you, he will come to Chen Family Village. Even General Song would do this, let alone others."

Just as Chen Zigeng finished speaking, Old Mrs. Chen hit him on the head with a chopstick, "What do you know, boy? Don’t speak anymore."

Chen Yuyu blushed from Zigeng’s words, but her heart’s knot was untied.

After eating, the rain stopped, and Xie Liangchen was about to head to the Familiar Medicine Institute when Hei Dan came running over.

"Sister," Hei Dan said, "Fourth Uncle and the others are back."

Chen Yongyi and the two youths from the village had rented a mule cart in Xingzhou and rushed back to Chen Family Village.

Chen Yongyi had gone to Daming Prefecture for woolen fabrics. After completing the tasks Xie Liangchen assigned, he hurried back, eager to reach Zhenzhou, only to encounter heavy rain. His urgency to return led him through the rain without stopping until he reached the village.

Chen Yongsheng and others received them at the village entrance.

Despite being soaked, Chen Yongyi and the others were all smiles. Upon seeing Xie Liangchen, he immediately stepped forward and said, "Liangchen, I’ve brought back the loom and teacher."

Mrs. Gao and a few other women had the veiled nanny from the mule cart step down. The nanny, about fifty years old, had her eyes on the faces of the Chen Family Village people, and seeing their friendly smiles, she couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Mrs. Gao said, "I’ll take the teacher to change clothes, it’s been quite a hardship on him during this trip."

"No," Nanny Miao urgently responded, "No need to call me teacher, just call me Nanny Miao. I only know how to weave a little, not worthy of such a title. It was fate that brought me to Chen Family Village. My nephew was saved by the medicine from your Familiar Medicine Institute."

Mrs. Gao, confused, looked at Chen Yongyi.

Chen Yongyi nodded, "Mr. Miao’s nephew was a merchant, fell ill on the road, couldn’t find a doctor, and Mr. Tian gave him medicine pills, helping him make it into town. I was searching everywhere for someone who could use a loom, and Miao’s brother recommended them, helping us find this teacher."

Old Mrs. Chen heard this and went forward to hold Nanny Miao’s hand, "It seems you are here to bless us."

Old Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Gao then led Nanny Miao further into the village.

Chen Yongyi wiped sweat from his forehead and carefully uncovered the oilcloth on the mule cart.

Beneath the oilcloth was straw, covering the looms and spinning wheels they brought back.

Chen Yongyi’s eyes shone brightly, "This is the best we found, similar to what Liangchen described, if we learn well, it won’t delay our wool purchasing."

It’s the perfect time to collect wool, missing it means waiting till August or September.

The weaving room had been idle for some time. Hearing this, the few women from the weaving room, including Mrs. Zheng, were moved to tears. They had been anticipating good news from Chen Yongyi.

Xie Liangchen said, "Second Aunt, open the weaving room, let’s bring the loom and spinning wheel inside."

Mrs. Gao cheerfully responded.

As they lifted the loom, Xie Liangchen looked at Chen Yongyi, "Fourth Uncle, did you learn how to repair looms from anyone?"

Chen Yongyi nodded, "I even had the loom diagrams drawn up."

Saying this, Chen Yongyi carefully took out the paper wrapped in oilcloth from his coat and handed it to Xie Liangchen.

Regarding the woolen fabric matter, everyone’s chest felt constricted until now. Chen Yongyi said, "This time we’ll do it well, recover all the silver lost previously."