CHAPTER 214: CHAPTER 212 THOUGHTS

After the spinning wheel returned, Xie Liangchen stayed in the village, either going to the weaving house or the Familiar Medicine Institute.

The people in the village were also divided into two groups, one going to the fields, and the other staying in the village.

Mrs. Gao led people to follow Xie Liangchen at the Familiar Medicine Institute, while Mrs. Zheng together with the women from outside the village learned spinning and weaving from Nanny Miao.

When everyone was quietly working, standing at the village entrance and looking inside, it seemed as if no one was there, but after a while, the sound of reading from the clan school could be heard.

Old Mrs. Song came to Chen Family Village without notifying anyone in advance, and it wasn’t until she reached the village entrance for a while that people in the village got the news and came out to greet her.

Seeing the smiling Old Mrs. Chen, Old Mrs. Song said in a low voice, "I heard you got some good things? I came to take a look too."

After Chen Yongyi returned, Xie Liangchen had visited Old Mrs. Song and talked about the weaving machines.

Old Mrs. Song originally wanted to wait for her grandson to return and then go to Chen Family Village together, but in the morning, she couldn’t hold back any longer and wanted to see for herself what changes had occurred in Chen Family Village.

The weather was warming up, and although the villagers’ houses hadn’t been renovated yet, a clan school was built on the west side of the village.

Old Mrs. Chen and Xie Liangchen accompanied Old Mrs. Song to the clan school.

Old Mrs. Chen said, "When it was just being built, General Song came to see it and even had people help transport lumber."

Old Mrs. Song calculated in her mind; it seemed her grandson often came to Chen Family Village, at least she had heard of it many times.

Old Mrs. Song said, "Does Xian come often?"

Old Mrs. Chen smiled, "He used to come to teach the young boys in the village how to ride and shoot arrows. After spring plowing, he came less often, as everyone was in the fields, and the General went directly to the mountains to check the situation."

Old Mrs. Song felt a bit suspicious; when did her grandson become so enthusiastic? Yesterday, the Cheng Family’s boy came to see her and said that the court had granted Zhaozhou and Baimaling to them, and they were so busy and overwhelmed, with Xian training troops at Baimaling, looking ready for war at any moment.

The Cheng Family’s boy even wanted to escape back to the Capital City.

Being so busy, how could he find time to come to Chen Family Village to teach people? And still have time to visit the clan school?

On the surface, Old Mrs. Song remained calm, but her mind was quietly pondering, always feeling something was off; was she overthinking? It was only natural for her grandson to value Chen Family Village since they sold medicinal herbs and made finished medicine.

However, her grandson had changed a lot during this period; no matter how busy things were outside, he would return to Zhenzhou every three or five days. When he returned to the Prefecture to see her, she caught him once looking out the window at the moon while smiling with a teacup in hand.

She hadn’t seen him smile like that in a long time; she stood and watched for a while, but he didn’t notice her, lost in his thoughts.

Her grandson seemed obedient and gentle in front of her, sometimes showing a slight smile, but it wasn’t heartfelt. Now, he seemed to have more expression.

What exactly was the reason?

Old Mrs. Song walked into the weaving house and saw pictures of spinning wheels drawn inside.

"All drawn by Miss Chen," Old Mrs. Chen said with a smile, "they’re not finished yet; I don’t know what she’s tinkering with."

Old Mrs. Song looked at Xie Liangchen, "This child is really capable, hasn’t had a break since the start of the year, has she? Just planted the medicinal herbs and now started working on these."

Old Mrs. Chen whispered Xie Liangchen’s plans into Old Mrs. Song’s ear.

Old Mrs. Song’s eyes lit up; now Zhenzhou planted medicinal herbs, processed them, and Zhaozhou increased its ironwork. The North had abundant mulberry and hemp, and Miss Xie had already been preparing for these.

Not only Chen Family Village but even people from other villages listened to her, that was a skill.

Old Mrs. Song suddenly thought of the chaotic inner residence of the Song Family. If her daughter-in-law had even a bit of Miss Xie’s insight, the Song Family wouldn’t be in such a state.

Back in Old Mrs. Chen’s room, Xie Liangchen and the others were sent away, and the two old ladies sat and talked.

"What’s bothering you?" Old Mrs. Chen asked in a low voice, "Is something troubling you?"

Old Mrs. Song sighed, "It’s nothing but that unfilial son of mine." She didn’t wish to speak of the family’s troubles to outsiders; she only knew that Song Qi was investigating the details of the assassination attempt from years ago.

Old Mrs. Song didn’t want to deal with her son, but she also hoped he could uncover the truth, not letting her grandson suffer unjustly for so many years.

"He’s my own, and yet there’s nothing I can do," Old Mrs. Song said, "I just hope to catch his mistakes and give him a good scolding to see if he has any shame left after."

After saying this, Old Mrs. Song smiled at Old Mrs. Chen, "Hope I didn’t make you laugh."

Old Mrs. Chen said, "What nonsense, you talking to me like this shows you don’t see me as an outsider."

Old Mrs. Song smiled, "Getting old, my mind’s not what it used to be, and my body doesn’t feel well, I should be hiding at home, not worrying about those things. But... I’m afraid I can’t avoid it, even my grandson I worry about every day."

Old Mrs. Chen said, "Anyone who hears you would be surprised."

Old Mrs. Song was curious to hear more.

Old Mrs. Chen said, "General Song, young as he is, became Commander at a young age. I think he seems to do everything well, my grandson says General Song is like that high mountain, only to be looked up to, don’t laugh at me, my grandson learned riding and archery from General Song a few times, and dreams of serving under the general when he grows up.

Many times in his sleep, he talks in his dreams, always shouting ’General’ constantly."

Old Mrs. Song laughed along, liking the clever and endearing Eldest Master Chen, "My grandson usually keeps a stern face, not letting ordinary people near, it’s rare that Geng doesn’t mind."

"That’s not right," Old Mrs. Chen said, "not just Zigeng, our whole Chen Family Village likes General Song."

Old Mrs. Song suddenly had a thought, wondering what Miss Xie thought? But then she was stunned for a moment; why did she suddenly have such a thought?

Once that thought was in her mind, it couldn’t be stopped like a runaway horse. Images of Miss Xie kept appearing in Old Mrs. Song’s mind, the more she thought about it, the more she found Miss Xie wonderful.

If she became her granddaughter-in-law, nothing would make her happier.

Old Mrs. Song looked at Old Mrs. Chen, feeling that Old Mrs. Chen’s eyes were clear, obviously having no other intentions with the previous words. This matter might not be easy to make happen, perhaps only she alone had this thought?

Old Mrs. Song continued conversing with Old Mrs. Chen.

Outside Chen Family Village, Chang Yue noticed some figures approaching.

Since the start of spring plowing, Chang Yue had discovered several informants near Chen Family Village, and this time the informants moved particularly swiftly, as if they would discover his position with even the slightest noise.

Were these people targeting Chen Family Village or following Old Mrs. Song?

Chang Yue remained calm, only watching the informants’ every move.

A moment later, the informants quietly retreated.

Chang Yue instructed, "Follow them, see where they go."