Madam Su appeared here not only because she was concerned about the marriage between Xie Liangchen and Su Huaiqing but also to set up the Su Family's medicine shop in the Northern County Government.
In the past life, the Su family's herbal business began smoothly in places like Zhenzhou and Dingzhou, but Song Xian couldn't tolerate any deceit. He took action to rectify the North, naturally exposing Madam Su's unscrupulous means, leaving the Su family nearly at a dead end in the North.
Xie Liangchen, under the trust of Old Master Su, slowly took over the Su family's medicine shop in the North. She put a lot of thought into it before gaining Song Xian's trust and supplying him with herbs.
She was very familiar with the Su family and knew that although Song Xian had a fierce reputation, he was righteous, completely different from people like Ji Yuan.
Xie Liangchen looked at Chen Yongsheng: "How much would Baiji Hall pay for herbs like Chaihu and Fangfeng?"
Chen Yongsheng was taken aback by the question: "The medicine shop always values herbs altogether, never telling us how much silver coin each herb sells for."
They knew only that ginseng sold at a high price; for the rest, it depended on the medicine shop's assessment after checking.
This was precisely why Chen Yongsheng, the village chief, was reluctant to sell herbs, as they had no choice but to accept whatever was offered.
Chen Yongsheng said: "But it's not surprising; we can't distinguish herbs, as many look very similar.
Even those who often gather herbs only roughly recognize a few and can still make mistakes, plus the price of herbs changes every year."
He wasn't determined to sell herbs but had no other way to make money now.
The court's relief food was insufficient; with so many in the village to feed, he needed to ensure everyone in Chen Family Village could survive this winter, and next year they might clear more wasteland so no one would starve again.
"Second Uncle, I recognize herbs."
Chen Yongsheng was deep in his thoughts and didn't react at first, only raising his eyes after a moment.
Chen Yongsheng uncertainly said: "Liangchen, what did you say?"
Old Mrs. Chen, without waiting for her granddaughter to speak, laughed toothlessly: "Miss Chen knows herbs, and she also..."
Old Mrs. Chen paused slightly, and Chen Zigeng immediately continued: "We're selling Huang Shu Kui and Yangtao Vine to the Paper Workshop; Mr. Song promised us personally."
Chen Yongsheng showed a look of astonishment at these words.
Chen Zigeng, fearing Chen Yongsheng wouldn't be surprised enough, added: "Mr. Song, the eldest son of the National Guardian General, who previously led troops past us."
"Song… Song Xian?"
Chen Yongsheng couldn't believe Old Mrs. Chen and her grandchildren met Song Xian and even spoke with him.
Chen Yongsheng turned to Old Mrs. Chen: "Elder Sister, please tell me precisely."
Old Mrs. Chen was naturally eager to share this; she had to let people know her granddaughter's capabilities.
Chen Yongsheng listened intently, yet his mind couldn't quite catch up.
That was Song Xian, after all.
Anyone who had been in the army knew of Song Xian, and just hearing his name made Chen Yongsheng sit up straighter, as if Song Xian could see him.
Song Xian was strict and disciplined, his soldiers brave and skilled. Over several battles, the Liao army would flee upon seeing Song Xian's banner.
The battlefield was always cruel, and wherever Song Xian went, bloodshed followed.
Besides fearing Song Xian, Chen Yongsheng admired him greatly, believing that had they been scouts under Song Xian, they wouldn't have returned only as cripples.
Seeing Chen Yongsheng's expression, Chen Zigeng couldn't help but worry: "Second Uncle, are you afraid of Mr. Song?"
Chen Zigeng took a deep breath; it was good news that Song Xian agreed, but they needed to avoid mistakes. Liangchen didn't know Song Xian's character and seemed unworried.
Chen Yongsheng pondered for a moment and said: "Do you have a plan in mind? As the village chief of Chen Family Village, I can help." If anything went wrong, he could take Song Xian's anger, but if it succeeded, there was no need to say more.
Xie Liangchen nodded decisively: "Our family can't gather enough herbs on our own; we need others from the village to help. Once we've settled prices with the Paper Workshop, I'll distribute payment based on what everyone gathers."
Xie Liangchen estimated at least five wen per pound for Huang Shu Kui and three wen for Yangtao Vine, but she didn't disclose this to Chen Yongsheng to avoid mistakes.
Chen Yongsheng looked at Xie Liangchen, who, despite her young age, spoke with such familiarity, inexplicably earning trust.
To him, earning money was a secondary concern; the primary goal was not to displease Song Xian or bring trouble upon Liangchen.
Xie Liangchen understood Chen Yongsheng's concern and didn't argue further.
Actions speak louder than words, after all.
Xie Liangchen said: "Second Uncle, help me find seven or eight people to go up the mountain with us tomorrow."
Chen Yongsheng was still sorting through everything in his mind, when Xie Liangchen's voice came through again: "Second Uncle, there's no rush to sell the village's herbs. Let's wait and see; I believe Mr. Song is kind-hearted and will consider the people. Eventually, there should be a medicine shop that lists official prices for purchasing herbs." Once she had capital, she could buy the herbs.
Xie Liangchen spoke as if such a medicine shop would undeniably exist.
Chen Yongsheng looked at Old Mrs. Chen; her eyes were filled only with her granddaughter, all else forgotten.
Old Mrs. Chen thought to herself that her granddaughter's ability to boast was getting stronger and stronger. Even though she knew it was almost impossible, it was comforting and soothing to hear.
Mrs. Gao prepared the meal, and Old Mrs. Chen asked her to take a bowl back.
"It's not for you, it's for Hei Dan to nourish his body."
Mrs. Gao's eyes welled up. This rice, without mixed grains or wild vegetables, was a rare delicacy she had never tasted. When she smelled its aroma while cooking in the kitchen, she almost swallowed her tongue.
Now Old Mrs. Chen was telling her to take a bowl back.
Mrs. Gao wanted to refuse but couldn't bear to.
Seeing this, Old Mrs. Chen reprimanded Mrs. Gao: "Quickly take it back. It's a good thing Hei Dan didn't turn out like you. Otherwise, by the time he made up his mind to save Brother Geng, he would have been swept away by the water."
Mrs. Gao quickly expressed her gratitude.
Old Mrs. Chen said, "Hei Dan was the one who saved Brother Geng first."
Mrs. Gao lowered her eyes and said, "During the war, you shared all the household's rice and grains with the villagers. Without you, we would all be dead."
Old Mrs. Chen disliked such meekness and hesitation, waving to dismiss them: "You all go now. We three are tired, we need to rest after eating."
After seeing off Chen Yongsheng and Mrs. Gao, the three grandchildren sat at the small table for their meal.
Xie Liangchen found this meal particularly delicious, and even when lying down on the kang to sleep, Xie Liangchen's lips were curled upwards.
Old Mrs. Chen slept in the middle, with her grandson and granddaughter on either side, and her eyes were somewhat moist again.
After a whole day of exhaustion, Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Zigeng quickly fell asleep. Xie Liangchen got up quietly, opened the door, and went outside to check, a vigilance she's developed over the years.
They successfully returned to Chen Family Village, but still needed to be wary of the second house of the Xie Family and the Su Family. Even though Song Xian's men were guarding outside, she couldn't fully rely on others, planning to do some arrangements in the yard as soon as she had the time.
As she was thinking, she heard footsteps approaching, and turning her head, saw Chen Zigeng drowsily heading towards the chicken coop.
Xie Liangchen quickly followed to see what was happening.
She saw Chen Zigeng crouching in front of the chicken coop, his eyes half-closed, mumbling two sentences repeatedly.
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, I'm here watching, the yellow fox won't come."
"Lay your eggs properly, and when you've laid enough, I can give them to Xie Er Grandpa to ask about Sister's news."
Xie Liangchen felt her eyes burning and waited for a while to confirm that Chen Zigeng was not sleepwalking but rather in a sleepy haze.
"Brother," Xie Liangchen called softly, "you don't need to keep watch, let's go back inside and sleep!"
Chen Zigeng finally turned his head, his bewildered gaze landed on Xie Liangchen's face, and it took a while for his eyes to clear, realizing the situation before him.
"Sister," Chen Zigeng rubbed his eyes and then reached out to hug Xie Liangchen, "you're back."
"Yes," Xie Liangchen gently patted Chen Zigeng's back.
"It's not a dream?"
"No."
"Sister." Chen Zigeng finally burst into tears, "You finally came back."
Xie Liangchen wanted to carry Chen Zigeng on her back, but Chen Zigeng absolutely refused.
"Just this once," Xie Liangchen said, "let Sister carry you."
Chen Zigeng finally, blushing, agreed and lay softly on Xie Liangchen's back.
Chen Zigeng let his face rest against the back of Xie Liangchen's neck: "Sister is even better than I imagined. From now on, Grandmother, Sister, and I will always be together."
"Alright," Xie Liangchen readily agreed, "we'll always be together."
...
Zhenzhou Song Mansion.
A few people knelt outside Old Mrs. Song's room, led by Jiao, the wife of Steward Xu.
Jiao's forehead was bloody and bruised, and she had fainted twice, waking only to kowtow: "Please, Old Madam, for the sake of us being long-standing members of the Song Family, spare our lives."
Inside the room, Madam Rong, the wife of the National Guardian General, looked displeased, eyes fixed on the door, because Song Xian could appear at any moment.
She both hoped the General would see Song Xian's brutality and feared that Song Xian, heedless, might harm her two sons.
"Old Madam, Master has returned."
Upon hearing the report, Old Mrs. Song lifted her gaze.