CHAPTER 79: CHAPTER 77 CHANGED

When Song Xian entered the village, he happened to catch Chen Zigeng returning from his studies with Mr. Dongli.

Chen Zigeng was helping everyone try on woolen hats. Hearing that General Song had arrived, he hurried to meet him with Hei Dan and the others, not bothering to take off his hat.

"General Song."

The villagers of Chen Family Village all bowed in respect to Song Xian.

It had been some time since his last visit, and the village had undergone some changes. The houses had all been newly renovated. In the past, there were still children running around without clothes, but now they were dressed. Every household had its doors open, with medicinal herbs drying in the yards.

Most noticeably, the villagers’ faces were all smiling, their spirits markedly different from before. The past’s sorrows, brought on by war, had disappeared from their faces, replaced now with eyes gleaming with hope.

"General Song, what brings you here?" Chen Zigeng stepped forward and said, "Second Uncle and Grandmother are at the granary. I will take you there!"

Song Xian nodded, surrounded by the people as they walked towards the granary.

The village roads had also been repaired, making them exceptionally solid. Carts and horses could now move through the village smoothly and steadily, clearly prepared for the comings and goings of trade caravans.

Almost at the granary, Chen Zigeng felt the warmth and removed the woolen hat from his head, smiling as he looked at Song Xian, "General Song, these woolen goods sell very well now. A caravan from the south came yesterday and took quite a lot. This hat alone sells for four hundred wen."

Chen Zigeng cherished the hat in his hands; it was meant for the teacher. Sister promised to make him woolen hats, socks, and clothes too, though he refused, thinking that Grandmother and Sister should have them first. Grandmother was old, and her back and legs would ache during winter. With these woolen items, she’d surely feel much more comfortable.

For the first time, Song Xian spoke, "These woolen goods are well made. Who taught you to make them?"

Chen Zigeng straightened his chest, "My sister. The patterns on them are drawn by her. She said that selling raw wool doesn’t make much money; turning the wool into goods sells better. When it’s cold and there’s no work outside, we should find livelihoods we can do at home."

Song Xian glanced towards the women washing wool in the yard, "People from the nearby villages came to learn the craft too?"

Chen Zigeng felt a sense of pride, "Sister said anyone willing to learn, we would teach. In the past, in Chen Family Village, people helped each other, and now we’re extending that beyond the village.

But our village’s designs are the best, thanks to my sister. She always comes up with patterns no one else has seen. Now, traders dealing in hides know about Chen Family Village, and many people skip going to the city to sell wool, coming straight to our village to ask.

Our village can sell herbs and woolen goods. When the Familiar Medicine Institute gets up and running, our lives will get even better. Many families in the village are planning to start raising piglets once it warms up next year. By next year’s New Year, our village will be able to slaughter pigs and eat pork."

Speaking of pork, Chen Zigeng couldn’t help but swallow hard.

Chang An, following behind Song Xian, felt warmed listening to these words. Somehow, Chen Family Village gave him a sense of coming home.

Perhaps it was because they were all born into poverty, with family members who perished in war. When fighting outside, there was always a thought in his mind: protecting the people of Daqi was like protecting their own family.

It was still the same now. Seeing people living good lives, all those days and nights of battle were worth it.

Song Xian conversed with Chen Zigeng, and soon, Chen Yongsheng, Old Mrs. Chen, and Xie Liangchen arrived at the granary.

Everyone stepped forward to greet Song Xian.

Xie Liangchen was balancing the accounts with Wang Jian when she heard Song Xian had arrived and put aside her calculations. Standing behind Old Mrs. Chen, she glanced at Song Xian, whose expression remained as composed as ever.

Song Xian exchanged a few words with Chen Yongsheng, then naturally let his gaze fall on her. Their eyes met briefly and glanced away quickly, but each saw through the thoughts of the other.

With one glance, Song Xian could see she was doing well. Somehow, she’d gotten a dried flower to stick in her chignon, and her brows carried a bright smile, indicating that preparations at the Familiar Medicine Institute were going smoothly.

It hadn’t been long, yet her actions had been swift. Each time he came to Chen Family Village, the village took on a new look.

Song Xian knew that Xie Liangchen was smart. In a past life, she took charge of the Su Family’s northern pharmacy and trade caravan, which naturally meant she had her skills. But seeing this village now, he still had to acknowledge that she had exceeded his expectations.

"General Song," Xie Liangchen stepped out from behind Old Mrs. Chen, "I will take you to see the Familiar Medicine Institute we’ve built!"

Xie Liangchen thought ahead of Song Xian’s intentions; he hadn’t come to Chen Family Village just to see the woolen goods and repaired houses. Surely, it was for the Familiar Medicine Institute.

The group walked to the house beside the granary.

That was the Familiar Medicine Institute built by the early risers and hard workers of Chen Family Village.

"It’s getting colder, and there’s no time to build it better. We’re just making do this year," Chen Yongsheng pointed to the house, "Next year, we’ll buy more materials from the brick and tile kiln to make the house more solid."

All the wood from the village had been used for these few houses. Chen Yongsheng had exerted all his efforts to build even this semblance of a proper house.

Selecting, steaming, and frying medicines, each room had its purpose.

Song Xian said, "With so many stoves, you’ll need many pots."

Xie Liangchen responded, "I took the document to the smith to have them made." Yet, civilian iron usage couldn’t be too excessive at once, so they had to procure gradually.

After looking through it all, Song Xian realized that all the silver coins Chen Family Village had earned recently had gone into this Familiar Medicine Institute.

Xie Liangchen pointed to show Song Xian the equipment for processing medicines, "Now we have about thirty to forty percent set up."

Upon hearing the thirty to forty percent, Old Mrs. Chen felt a pang. Yesterday, Miss Chen had told her they’d bought seventy to eighty percent. How had that become thirty to forty now?

This girl’s words were certainly not to be trusted.

Old Mrs. Chen thought to herself but said aloud, "Miss Chen is the best at these things." Wasn’t it true? She was the best at spending money; no one dared spend as she did.

After looking through the Familiar Medicine Institute, Xie Liangchen recalled Song Xian’s words from his last visit and took the initiative to say, "General Song, have you eaten? If you do not mind, please join us for some food in the village."

Song Xian turned his head to meet Xie Liangchen’s clear eyes.

Xie Liangchen added, "There’s nothing special, just if you don’t mind."

Chen Yongsheng thought Song Xian would refuse. Even the government officials would not look kindly upon their village meals, and inviting them to stay for a meal was merely a courtesy. But Song Xian said, "No need to prepare specially; we’ll eat whatever the village eats."

Chen Yongsheng was surprised. Song Xian wanting to eat from Chen Family Village’s bowls could only mean closer ties with the village.

As Chen Yongsheng and Old Mrs. Chen went to prepare the food, Xie Liangchen specially reminded her grandmother, "Just bring the dried mushrooms and the wild rabbit from the mountains. I’ll handle the cooking." She intended to stew the rabbit with mushrooms.

Old Mrs. Chen agreed, knowing her granddaughter’s skills were top-notch.

After everyone went off to their tasks, Xie Liangchen approached Song Xian, "General, were people from the Imperial Hospital in the capital coming to visit?"

Song Xian nodded, "In the next few days, the Vice Envoy Jia Si from the Imperial Hospital will come to check Chen Family Village."

Xie Liangchen nodded, "Thank you for coming specially to inform us."

Song Xian lowered his head to look at Xie Liangchen, "Is there anything I can assist with?"