CHAPTER 311: AFTER MODIFICATION: CHAPTER 308 TRACE

Zhang Weihe gazed into the distance. Someone like Xue Ke, who fears death and is desperate to survive, coming to Guangyang County to seek him out made perfect sense.

He had always kept an eye on Xue Ke, and after talking to him about the Chen Family Village incident, Xue Ke stayed in the courtyard Zhang arranged and never left.

Logically, he should feel at ease, as Xue Ke hadn’t caused him any trouble.

Zhang Weihe frowned slightly. It was the same feeling as watching the enemy set up camp without knowing what formation they were practicing.

He just felt that behind this calm facade, there lurked some danger that he hadn’t yet figured out.

Zhang Weihe withdrew his gaze and turned back towards the military tent.

Perhaps because everything else was ready and this matter was the only worry on his mind, he kept thinking it over.

Now he was more convinced that Miss Xie was a descendant of Prince Guangyang, making him even more concerned about her safety.

Would Miss Xie be safe in Dai State?

Did Song Xian know about Miss Xie’s identity? By bringing Miss Xie to the Eight States, did Song Xian have other intentions?

"General," Zhuang Xing walked swiftly into the tent, "General Song sent a message that there are movements at Taiyuan Prefecture. The Pseudo King might intend to attack Song Xian before Du Zhuo arrives."

This was expected by Song Xian and Zhang Weihe. When the Pseudo King made his move, they would encircle his forces together, and even if they couldn’t capture the Pseudo King in one go, they would trap him firmly in Taiyuan Prefecture.

"Go prepare," Zhang Weihe instructed, "Wait for Song Xian’s signal to deploy the troops at any moment."

...

Dai State, Wang Family Village.

Hu Zi squatted by a small mud stove, constantly swallowing. His eyes sparkled with excitement. He rubbed the corner of his eyes hard with the back of his hand, feeling like he was dreaming.

Someone in the village had a stomachache, and Sister Chen ground millet into powder for them to take. Hu Zi watched with great envy, wishing he had a stomachache too so he could taste the millet powder.

Having followed Sister Chen all day, Hu Zi was about to go home when Sister Chen took out soaked millet and said she would make him millet cakes.

Hu Zi had never tasted millet cakes and didn’t know what they would be like, but just the thought of them seemed incredibly delicious. Just one bite, and he was sure he’d remember it for a lifetime.

Chen Zhongdong looked at Gouzi and couldn’t help but laugh. Beside him, Chen Yongsheng cleared his throat: "Why are you laughing? Last year, when Sister Chen returned to the Chen Family Village, you wouldn’t leave the kitchen door, fighting with Hei Dan for the aroma."

"That’s different," Chen Zhongdong didn’t want to lose face in front of Hu Zi and also wanted to boast a little, "We were eating rice then."

Hu Zi was taken aback and turned to Chen Zhongdong: "Rice?"

"Rice," Chen Zhongdong replied, "A meal cooked from rice."

"I’ve had rice before," Hu Zi said, "Rice."

Chen Zhongdong shook his head: "A pot of rice, cooked with nothing else in it, no bran, no husk, I could eat three bowls of it."

Hu Zi incredulously said, "They let you eat three bowls?"

Chen Zhongdong grew even more proud: "Why wouldn’t they? My second uncle eats more than me and needs four bowls."

Hu Zi looked at Chen Yongsheng with eyes as if gazing at a deity.

Talking about this made Chen Zhongdong hungry too: "Sister also cooks chicken for us, chicken soup can be used for noodles or to soak cakes."

"My sister can make so many things, pressing rice into cakes and pan-frying until golden brown, making it crunchy to eat. Her noodles are also delicious. She first fries an egg, then adds boiling water. After cooking, the soup turns milky white, and the noodles cooked in that soup are incredibly fragrant... Even General Song often dined in our village."

Chen Zhongdong felt his mouth watering.

The people in Wang Family Village showed expressions of envy.

Chen Yongsheng quickly explained: "Miss Chen just loves tinkering with these things. At first, all the silver coin from selling herbs was used to buy food. Miss Chen said nothing is more important than life. We went through years of war, with those left in the village becoming emaciated, too tired to climb the mountains to gather herbs."

"Later, after being well-fed, everyone became stronger and could run back and forth several times without tire."

Wang Family Village people had heard too many stories about Chen Family Village. Whenever people from Chen Family Village came, they habitually gathered around to listen to Miss Xie and village chief Chen talk.

At first, it was just curiosity. Then it became amazement when they heard them speak of collecting herbs, making paper for medicine, supplying the Official Medicine Bureau with familiar medicines, and collecting wool to make woven goods.

A small village busy with all these tasks managed to sell all the woven goods, leaving only a pair of woolen socks and a hat.

Upon hearing this, the people of Wang Family Village shared a knowing smile. They would have done the same – who would wear such things? Having a full belly was enough.

Later, they heard that Chen Family Village people bought cloth, repaired houses, built a bigger Familiar Medicine Institute, bought cows and mules, and set up trade depots in several states to do business with the Northwest. It seemed like a dream.

But this wasn’t a dream; it was real.

If Chen Family Village hadn’t set up trade depots, where would they have gotten the silver coin to stockpile millet, and how could they have delivered these military supplies to Xinzhou?

When Xie Liangchen and the villagers from Zhenzhou left, many from Wang Family Village asked their village chief if their village could do what Zhenzhou Village did.

Now, Wang Family Village no longer carried any resentment or barrier towards Xie Liangchen and the villagers of Zhenzhou, recognizing Miss Xie as a truly capable person and General Song as a devoted and considerate official for the people.

This was far more genuine than the words of officials who came to the village, promising them grain, tax exemptions, victories in battle, and rewards of silver coin, urging them to willingly hand over their people and taxes.

But when villagers starved or died of illness, the court did nothing.

Before leaving, Xie Liangchen reminded Village Chief Wang: "The battle is not over yet. The Liao people’s forces are by the pass, and you should be prepared just in case."

Village Chief Wang nodded in gratitude.

Xie Liangchen and Chen Yongsheng then led the people away.

After they left, Hu Zi quietly asked, "Second Uncle, when the war is over, can we also learn to do business with Sister Chen?"

Village Chief Wang didn’t know, but many in the village had thought about what Hu Zi said.

They no longer wanted these types of days; they wanted the life of the Zhenzhou villagers.

...

Before Xie Liangchen reached the military camp, she saw one of Chang Yue’s men walking quickly towards her.

The man spoke a few words to Chang Yue before leaving, and Chang Yue turned to Xie Liangchen: "There is now definitive news about the person Miss Xie was looking for."

Xie Liangchen’s heart leapt with joy. Earlier, she learned that the person who warned Mr. Xu might have gone to Yizhou, and she asked Chang Yue to investigate. Now, there was finally news.

Chang Yue said, "The person is in Lingqiu, not far from us."

Xie Liangchen had always believed that this person knew the whereabouts of her parents. Now, she was finally about to find them.