CHAPTER 249: CHAPTER 246: IN BIG TROUBLE

Xie Liangchen returned to the courtyard, and Chang Yue explained everything Song Xian had arranged beside her.

When mentioning the women rescued from the mountain stronghold, Chang Yue noticeably paused.

Xie Liangchen asked, "What’s wrong?"

Chang Yue replied, "I’ve heard that Mr. Song ordered the women to be temporarily settled in a courtyard outside the city so that no one would know they had been abducted to the mountains."

Xie Liangchen nodded. This would at least save them from being pointed at by others. Sometimes, overcoming hardship isn’t about how much one is injured but whether one can cross that barrier.

The perceptions of those around and those outside sometimes determine the height of that barrier.

Xie Liangchen said, "Mr. Song is very thoughtful."

Chang Yue couldn’t help but say, "It’s unlike Mr. Song to manage such things. He usually isn’t good at these matters because he doesn’t think of them; many times, Chang An has to remind him."

Xie Liangchen felt like laughing but then remembered Song Xian’s words.

Has the world changed, or have I? Have I changed for the better or for the worse?

Hopefully, it’s for the better! Unlike the past life’s General Song, he’s no longer that cold, filled with the smell of blood. Often, he allows others to feel the softness of his heart.

Perhaps he was always this person, just obscured by too many events.

Xie Liangchen returned to the courtyard, cleaned up, slept, and woke when it was already bright. She dressed, washed, and Liu Erniang brought over meals.

"I didn’t disturb you since you returned too late yesterday," Liu Erniang said, "Chang Yue said everything is almost settled, so we don’t need to rush back to the warehouse."

Xie Liangchen nodded, as Chang Yue had said yesterday that everything went smoothly after receiving news from Mingzhou.

Xie Liangchen took a bite of millet porridge and narrated the situation of the mountain stronghold while eating.

Liu Erniang said, "It’s fortunate you discovered them; otherwise, who knows how many more people they would harm."

Xie Liangchen mentioned the women: "When you go back, check on them, and if anyone wants to come to the warehouse to work, let them come. The silver coin isn’t much, but at least it offers a place to stay."

Liu Erniang nodded: "Alright, the warehouse is indeed short-handed now. I’ll select the right ones and show you."

"No need to show me," Xie Liangchen laughed, "in a couple of days, I will return to Zhenzhou, and you’ll have to watch over things here."

Liu Erniang paused: "What if I choose the wrong ones..."

"Those who are well-behaved, steady, and sincerely willing to come are fine," Xie Liangchen said, "you’ll be able to tell."

Liu Erniang, having been through great adversity, could see through everything clearly. Genuine willingness versus hidden intentions could not escape her eyes.

Liu Erniang was silent for a moment before seriously nodding, "Alright, then I will go."

This trip involved dangers, but everyone improved a lot. After returning to the warehouse, Chen Yongsheng and Miao Zigui also came back.

During these few days, Chen Yongsheng and Miao Zigui secretly went to Beizhou.

Before coming to Xingzhou, they knew this time could be perilous, so they let the Tian Family Trading Team bring what should have been brought to Xingzhou to Beizhou.

Beizhou is on the way to the Zhaozhou warehouse, not far from Xingzhou. Mr. Tian waited in Beizhou for Chen Yongsheng and the Miao Family Trading Team to fetch the goods before continuing.

Although this trip took some extra effort, it went smoothly in the end. When the goods were retrieved, the issues were resolved, and no one was behind-the-scenes causing trouble to hinder their sale of thread tassels.

Miao Zigui knew General Song and the Chen Family Village had prepared in advance, yet he couldn’t let go and ended up with two painful blisters on his lips after a few days of fussing. Seeing Xie Liangchen sitting there calmly, he felt a bit abashed. Despite his age, in critical moments, he fell short compared to Miss Xie, so it was no wonder Chen Yuyu would talk about Miss Xie every day.

Miao Zigui coughed to pull his thoughts back, "This morning, I took a walk outside, and the government office has already captured the embroidery workshop’s and that needlework shop’s shopkeeper. Although it still needs to be conclusively judged in court, everyone already knows the situation more or less. I reckon within two days, more people will come to buy our thread tassels."

Xie Liangchen nodded, "Let’s quickly separate the thread tassels and record them into the accounts; these two days will be busy."

Everyone acknowledged.

Miao Zigui went to organize the goods, and Chen Yongsheng watched Miao Zigui’s back, "This young man from the Miao Family is commendable; he took care of everything on this journey without needing my help and took care of people as well. He will surely do well in the future."

At this point, Chen Yongsheng changed the topic, "I saw Chang Yue earlier; is there still some unfinished business? Is that why Mr. Song asked Chang Yue to continue helping?"

Xie Liangchen nodded, "Chang Yue will go back with us to Chen Family Village."

Chen Yongsheng said, "That’s good, to avoid any trouble on the road."

Xie Liangchen pursed her lips: "Chang Yue will be living in Chen Family Village in the future."

"That’s quite good too," Chen Yongsheng said offhandedly, but then he paused, "What did you say? Living in Chen Family Village?"

Xie Liangchen nodded, "General Song said to help guard the Familiar Medicine Institute, possibly staying for a while, dispatched as personnel from the prefecture."

Chen Yongsheng took a long while to process this. Chen Family Village... a little village in Zhenzhou, now even needed protection by government officials? It was truly... unimaginable.

Moreover, those guarding Chen Family Village aren’t just any ordinary officials but General Song’s trusted aides, figures capable of handling things independently in the army.

After a long silence, Chen Yongsheng finally spoke, "Don’t we need to thank General Song?"

Xie Liangchen’s grip on the cup tightened slightly, "I have thanked him."

Chen Yongsheng responded with an "Oh," stood up to help Miao Zigui, but after a couple of steps, he paused again, "Should we build a separate house?"

Xie Liangchen replied, "The Familiar Medicine Institute has space; it just needs some tidying up." She felt that her uncle’s words sounded strange, and if left unchecked... would he suggest arranging a marriage for Chang Yue as well? As if Chang Yue were settling in Chen Family Village.

Chen Yongsheng turned at the door, and before he could speak, Xie Liangchen said, "Uncle, everything remains as it is."

Only then did Chen Yongsheng leave.

Beside her, Liu Erniang smiled slightly, as if understanding something, or perhaps not understanding anything at all.

"Erniang," Xie Liangchen said, "you still need to go with me to see that Cui He."

...

Du Zhuo brought Du Yi and Miss Lin back to Xingzhou from Mingzhou, and he wrote a report overnight, sending it into the Military Governor’s secret box, delivered to the Capital City in the morning.

Next, he had to wait for the imperial command to arrive in the Capital City. This incident involved Song Xian and the Du Family, and the court must thoroughly investigate it; otherwise, they cannot appease the people’s hearts.

Du Yi, having been injured and soaked in river water, seemed to have lost half his life, huddled and trembling continuously.

Du Zhuo looked at his disappointing third brother, feeling a mess of emotions within himself, so he chose not to see, instructing someone to guard Du Yi and others while he took his trusted aides to look for Song Xian.

Song Xian was presently at the Xingzhou government office.

The Xingzhou County Magistrate hadn’t managed to completely display his reverence towards the might of General Song when he heard that Military Governor Du had arrived.

The three sat in the second hall, and the Xingzhou County Magistrate didn’t dare sit firmly, softly asking General Song and Military Governor Du for guidance, "What should I do next?"

Many offenders were indeed captured. The Xingzhou County Magistrate initially thought this case, at worst, would scrape against the Du Family, but then he heard Princess Jiahui’s name.

The Xingzhou County Magistrate shivered all over; wasn’t it just about selling woven goods and thread tassels? How did it become such a major affair?