CHAPTER 86: CHAPTER 84 HAPPINESS

Old Mrs. Chen mentioned wool, and Chen Zigeng scratched the small satchel on his shoulder.

Chen Zigeng said, "Sister took it to Grandpa Sun. If there’s an issue, I’ll take it to General Song."

Old Mrs. Chen was a bit stunned: "When did your sister go?"

"Just now," Chen Zigeng replied, "when you came out of the house."

Old Mrs. Chen was dumbfounded; how did she not see? Her granddaughter and grandson were really clever, anyone who tried to scheme against them was truly blind.

Chen Zigeng had to see the teacher every day, and sister said that those outside had already assumed they were in league with General Song. Seeing him go to General Song wouldn’t seem strange; rather, it would be reassuring.

In the time it took to burn an incense stick, Xie Liangchen handed the cloth-wrapped wool to Chen Zigeng: "It’s different now."

"This time, the wool is clearly longer in fiber and fluffier. Similar quality wool can be found near the Daqi Northern Border, but it’s scarce. North of the Juma River is where you’ll find wool like this."

Chen Yongsheng, upon hearing the news, rushed over and was surprised to see that Miss Chen’s previous worries had become a reality when he saw the wool in Xie Liangchen’s hands.

Xie Liangchen looked at Chen Zigeng: "To Wang Jian, our Chen Family Village has staked everything on the Familiar Medicine Institute. We’ll do anything to ensure the institute’s success, and right now, it’s easiest to make mistakes amidst the rush."

Chen Yongsheng broke out in a cold sweat. If they hadn’t guarded against Wang Jian and treated him like the Tian Family Trading Team, they would have been schemed against this time.

Chen Zigeng packed the wool into his small satchel: "I’m going to the city right now."

Xie Liangchen watched her brother’s figure walk farther away with less worry, knowing that at this moment, Chang Yue would arrange for someone to protect her brother.

Xie Liangchen turned to Chen Yongsheng: "Now that we’ve discovered their intent, there’s no need to fear. During this time, Uncle should lead the villagers on more patrols around the village."

Chen Yongsheng nodded.

After everything was arranged, Xie Liangchen returned to the Familiar Medicine Institute, and as she looked at the medicines laid out on the table, she momentarily lost her thoughts.

"What are you thinking about?" Xu Tingzhen asked Xie Liangchen.

After the Familiar Medicine Institute got busy, Xu Tingzhen simply moved to the Chen Family Village. Previously, she only thought that Xie Liangchen had a good grasp of pharmaceutical knowledge and materials and was quick-witted, sure she would learn easily, but she didn’t expect Xie Liangchen to be even more formidable than she thought.

When processing herbs and using some traditional remedies, Xie Liangchen could memorize everything after seeing it once; she was also very familiar with acupuncture points.

Aside from the difficulty in learning pulse diagnosis, everything else came naturally.

Xu Tingzhen sometimes felt bewildered, wondering whether Miss Xie was naturally gifted or if there was another opportunity. She didn’t doubt Xie Liangchen, but Xie Liangchen’s lack of memory of past events affected her judgment.

If Xie Liangchen had studied herbs, pharmacology, pulse formulas, and acupuncture before, how many books would she have had to read? Xu Tingzhen couldn’t help but think of Princess Guangyang’s library.

Unless she had access to those books, it would be difficult to nurture such a child.

Xie Liangchen’s adoptive parents only had medical knowledge, not such capabilities. Now it seemed that Xie Liangchen might have an extraordinary memory, unlike ordinary people.

Xu Tingzhen gathered her thoughts back.

Xie Liangchen also spoke up: "Teacher, someone is scheming against us."

Xu Tingzhen raised her eyebrows: "Who?"

Xie Liangchen shook her head: "It might be related to the Liao people. It’s unclear whether they are targeting our Familiar Medicine Institute or have another motive."

Xu Tingzhen became more solemn: "What do you plan to do?"

Xie Liangchen replied: "We’ve had dealings with General Song. I think the Liao matter should be reported to General Song."

Xie Liangchen told Xu Tingzhen about Wang Jian’s wool business: "Maybe I’m unjustly suspecting Manager Wang with malicious intent, but it seems that the timing of his visit and the items he brought are no coincidence."

Xu Tingzhen usually detested such scheming, and when she encountered situations like this, she would think of Mr. Dongli, as he was most skilled at it.

"Have Brother Geng explain this matter to Mr. Dongli," Xu Tingzhen said. "He can consider things more thoroughly."

Xie Liangchen nodded: "Once brother reports to General Song, he’ll go to see the teacher."

Xu Tingzhen felt relieved, glad to have Dongli around: "Let’s keep going. We’ll have to send medicines to the Official Medicine Bureau for selection in five days, so we have to process as much material as possible before then."

...

Chen Zigeng went alone to Song Xian’s estate.

After drinking half a cup of tea in the main hall, Song Xian and Cheng Yanzhao entered the room.

Chen Zigeng immediately jumped off the chair, removed his small satchel from his back, and took out the wool that Wang Jian had sent to the Chen Family Village.

Song Xian’s gaze lingered on Chen Zigeng’s face for a moment, noticing his wind-reddened cheeks, the thin clothes on his back, and the half-new, half-old cloth shoes he wore without wool socks.

This winter has been particularly cold; at least he had to ask the court for some grain so the people of the Northern Border could eat their fill. In a past life, Song Xian often fought in the military and had been stationed at the Northwest Frontier at this moment, without the opportunity for such close contact with the populace. Now, by fate, reliving this life with Xie Liangchen, he was in charge of Zhenzhou, witnessing the circumstances of the Zhenzhou people...

Some things in his heart subtly changed; beyond warfare, he also cared more about the people perpetually ravaged by war.

Chen Zigeng said, "Sister said the wool is different, more like those north of the Juma River."

Song Xian examined the wool before him and handed it to Cheng Yanzhao beside him. Since Wang Jian has taken action, the big fish at the bottom of the river will also need to surface.

Song Xian instructed Chen Zigeng: "I understand, be careful on your way back."

Chen Zigeng nodded and took out a woolen pad from his small satchel, handing it to Song Xian: "General Song, this is for you, made with the leftover wool from the village. It can be placed on the horse’s back, as a small token of the villagers’ gratitude for the mutton you previously sent to the village."

Last time, after Song Xian left the Chen Family Village, he had sent a sheep.

The sheepskin was sold, the mutton was eaten, and Xie Liangchen added some wool to make such a pad.

Song Xian reached out to accept the pad, his deep eyes softening: "Convey my thanks to the villagers for me. I’ll take the pad."

Chen Zigeng was overjoyed.

Song Xian looked at the satchel bulging when Chen Zigeng arrived and empty upon leaving. Instinctively, he looked around the room; there was only tea prepared here regularly, nothing else.

With nothing he could give Chen Zigeng, Song Xian promised: "I’ll teach you archery when I get the chance."

Chen Zigeng expressed his gratitude: "Thank you, General Song."

After Chen Zigeng left, Cheng Yanzhao observed Song Xian: "You’re happier today, why is that?"

Song Xian sat down behind the desk: "No need to keep people after the New Year." Wang Jian and those behind him could be dealt with before the New Year, naturally a cause for celebration.

Song Xian picked up a pen and wrote a letter for Cheng Yanzhao: "Li You hasn’t been gone long. Deliver this letter to him and ask Mr. Li to return to the Northern Border to capture the traitors with me."