CHAPTER 271: CHAPTER 268: WARNING

Xie Liangchen said, "It’s just the beginning, so I’m not sure yet. But it should be temporary, grandmother doesn’t need to worry."

How could Old Mrs. Chen not worry? Ever since she took the accounts to distribute money, her right eye has been twitching uncontrollably.

No matter.

Old Mrs. Chen thought to herself, seeing her granddaughter’s ability to remain unfazed, even if the sky fell, asking her would do no good.

"Aunt."

Old Mrs. Chen heard a shout nearby. Chen Yuyu quickly approached and said, "Fourth uncle wants you to come and take a look."

Chen Yongyi was leading people in digging semi-underground shelters in Chen Family Village. Everyone knew something about storing grain; the village folks were somewhat skilled in it, but none were as proficient as Old Mrs. Chen.

"Let’s go and see," Old Mrs. Chen said, "Back in the days on the mountain, I led everyone in hiding supplies. Once, even mountain bandits couldn’t find our grain when they attacked the fortress."

That was when Old Master Chen had led everyone to occupy the mountain fortress. Years have passed, and now those old skills are needed again. Once the village shelters are finished, they will seek spots on the mountain outside the village to store the purchased millet.

Old Mrs. Chen tucked the empty money bag under her arm and followed Chen Yuyu with small steps.

Xie Liangchen watched her grandmother leave and smiled briefly. Then, she quickly turned to speak with Xu Tingzhen.

Xu Tingzhen stood in the Familiar Medicine Institute, looking at several idle large pots. This was the first time since the institute was built that they stopped work due to insufficient medicinal herbs.

Xu Tingzhen said, "It seems these medicinal herbs are truly insufficient for use."

Lately, the border garrisons in Longzhou, Liao State, including Baimaling, have been restless. War is imminent. Various official medicine bureaus have been gathering medicine and preparing military supplies. The medicinal herbs from the south to the north were first sent to Xingzhou, which drastically reduced the amount sent to Zhenzhou.

Xie Liangchen handed a tea to Xu Tingzhen: "Don’t worry, Mr. Xu. We planted some herbs in spring, and in another month, most will be harvested."

Xu Tingzhen nodded: "Fortunately, you were prepared in advance."

After saying this, Xu Tingzhen thought for a moment and continued, "Logically, the court’s preparation of military supplies is for the troops going to suppress the remnants of the previous regime, which naturally includes General Song’s forces. Xingzhou is a major hub, more convenient than Zhenzhou, so making finished medicine in Xingzhou is understandable."

"Recovering the Eight States is a major affair. It’s unlikely that Xingzhou would withhold military supplies. I’ve visited Zhenzhou’s Official Medicine Bureau now and then and have seen the military supplies sent from Xingzhou arrived on time. Many have already been sent to Baimaling. With General Song there, they wouldn’t dare be careless."

Xie Liangchen nodded. For now, the action in the Northwest had yet to begin. With Song Xian overseeing at Baimaling, no one dared make a move. But once the battle began, and Song Xian became occupied, they might delay the military supplies could still be delayed from Xingzhou, couldn’t they?

Xu Tingzhen became restless too: "Since there’s nothing going on at the Familiar Medicine Institute, I’ll go and check on the refugee settlement outside the city."

Many refugees had come from Baimaling, settled thirty miles outside Zhenzhou City.

These were people from the Eight States, and recently Xu Tingzhen frequently visited them to check their conditions.

Xu Tingzhen packed his things and set out from Chen Family Village with Chang Yue’s group.

Xie Liangchen advised Xu Tingzhen: "Be careful, Mr. Xu."

Master and disciple exchanged glances before parting at the village entrance.

Xu Tingzhen set off in a mule cart. Before a war, many things must be prepared, making it impossible to keep secrets. The people from the Eight States began quietly escaping to Daqi a month ago.

Hundreds had already escaped from just Baimaling.

Xu Tingzhen wasn’t only providing medical care but also gathering information.

The court had specially built compounds and houses thirty miles outside Zhenzhou City to accommodate the refugees. If the battle went smoothly, and the court recovered the Eight States, these people could return home.

Xu Tingzhen jumped off the mule cart to tend to the sick, busying himself for two hours. As he prepared for a drink and rest, he found a note slipped into his medicine box.

Finding a secluded spot, Xu Tingzhen opened the note under the lamp. It read, "Be careful, someone has eyes on Chen Family Village. Xie Liangchen is in danger."

Xu Tingzhen frowned; merchants couldn’t be trusted.

Today, Liangchen would take the merchants to the mountain to view the herbs.

Looking to his side, Xu Tingzhen said to his guard, "Quick... we must return first." Regardless of the note’s truth, they needed to return and find Liangchen.

...

The medicinal herbs on the Zhenzhou mountain were thriving.

The village folks were constantly busy in the fields, drawing many merchants attracted by the herbs.

Some herbs were suitable for planting in the North, though the North couldn’t use them all, so some had to be sold.

Knowing that Zhenzhou had its own trade caravans, merchants came early to the fields, thinking to gather first-hand information and possibly gain an advantage, earning silver coins.

Xie Liangchen wasn’t surprised to see merchants when she went up the mountain.

"Sister, look at these herbs here, maybe because of the shady side of the mountain, they aren’t growing as well as those on the sunny slope. Will they be ready for harvest in a month?"

Xie Liangchen surveyed two mountain plots. As she looked up, she realized it was late.

"Sister, more merchants have come to ask prices," said a villager from Beishan Village, "This time, they offered the highest price. Would you like to check it out?"

Xie Liangchen glanced at the red sun in the west: "Where are they?"

The villager from Beishan Village replied, "Just over on that mountain, still inspecting the herbs!"

Xie Liangchen nodded: "Let’s make it quick."

The villager from Beishan Village led the way, having often traveled mountain paths, they moved swiftly, soon reaching the other side’s plots upon leaving the pine forest below.

As Xie Liangchen listened to the villager talk, suddenly, from not far away, the treetops shook, and two figures leapt down and lunged toward her.

...

Once again, Old Mrs. Chen rubbed her jumping eye with her sleeve. It certainly wasn’t a good omen.

If only General Song were in Zhenzhou, since his departure to Baimaling, she’s been uneasy, feeling like something was missing.

General Song isn’t some village guardian of Chen Family Village. How could she expect him to always be around?

From deep inside, Old Mrs. Chen scorned her cowardice, picked up the fallen firewood to help Mrs. Gao start a fire. Her granddaughter would always bathe after returning from the mountain, as though avoiding lice.

Old Mrs. Chen sighed while dutifully watching over the stove.

It’s already dark. Why hasn’t Liangchen come back?

"Sister." Chen Zigeng’s voice echoed from the courtyard.

Old Mrs. Chen shouted, "Not back yet."

Chen Zigeng responded, "Then I’ll wait at the village entrance."

Before leaving, Chen Zigeng glanced into the kitchen and saw his grandmother’s furrowed brow.

"Grandmother," Chen Zigeng remarked, "Are you worried about Sister? No need to worry; this is Zhenzhou, not Xingzhou, General Song’s place. No one would dare cause trouble."

Chen Zigeng had just finished speaking with a smile when he heard Mr. Xu’s voice.

"Hasn’t Liangchen returned yet?"