CHAPTER 423: CHAPTER 420: RETURNING HOME

Facing Cheng Yanzhao’s inquiry, the Song Family’s household general didn’t know what to say.

In the past, even if the master had any business, he would return to camp as soon as it was done. Now, it’s hard to say. After all, before leaving, the master tirelessly arranged official duties, assigning each task appropriately.

Matters with the government office should seek Prefect Qu, military matters were handed to Mr. Cheng, and if there was any movement at the pass, they should send him a message while not forgetting to inform Military Governor Du.

"I heard that Military Governor Du also didn’t attend the banquet," Chang Tong said, "He only ordered Mr. Du to go."

Cheng Yanzhao felt slightly more at ease. It seemed that Du Zhuo, as a military governor, was no better off than he was.

All right, Cheng Yanzhao took a long breath; he would wait two more days. He had a score to settle with Song Xian. When he got married, he wouldn’t invite Song Xian, letting Song Xian...

All right, it had always been him working for Song Xian, not the other way around.

After speaking, a gust of wind filled his mouth. Cheng Yanzhao still felt something was off: "I think he’s deliberately getting back at me. Could you think it over for me?"

Cheng Yanzhao pulled Chang Tong aside and said: "Old General Zhang went to Zhenzhou to attend a wedding banquet. Zhenzhou is not far from Xinzhou. Is it possible for me to go and have a drink and then return?"

Chang Tong said: "Maybe the master is worried about your exhaustion."

Cheng Yanzhao said: "I’m not afraid! I can have a drink, and running till my legs give out is nothing."

Chang Tong chuckled.

Cheng Yanzhao continued: "He also left me in the Capital for half a month, and only after two days started sending me to the ink and paper shop, worrying someone might steal Chen Family Village’s precious pink wax paper. The shopkeeper is a good person, and we drank some wine together. After returning to the shop, I wanted to try the new paper and inadvertently wrote a few extra words..."

Chang Tong knew there was a story here: "And then?"

Cheng Yanzhao, slightly ashamed, recounted how, under the influence of alcohol, he boasted to the shopkeeper, and someone caught sight of him. It so happened that the person who saw him was also holding a piece of calligraphy with elegant writing, which utterly humiliated him in comparison. Later, thinking it over, he realized Song Xian most likely did it on purpose, sending him to the ink and paper shop to make a fool of him, knowing well there would come a day when he would be embarrassed.

Moreover, the person he encountered, by sheer coincidence, was Miss Meng from the Meng Family.

Cheng Yanzhao didn’t continue, but Chang Tong could guess the outcome. Mr. Cheng’s calligraphy, to put it mildly, was not something one could boast of.

Cheng Yanzhao said: "Do you think it’s because the Commandery Princess once made noodles for your master, and I ended up eating them? Has your master always held a grudge, wanting to retaliate against me at every turn?"

Upon hearing this, Chang Tong’s face changed, but he forced himself to say: "No, it can’t be. My master isn’t such a petty person."

Though he insisted it wasn’t true, he moved farther away from Cheng Yanzhao, as if fearing that Cheng Yanzhao’s bad luck might rub off on him.

Cheng Yanzhao said: "Since there’s nothing, why are you running so far?"

As if not hearing Cheng Yanzhao, Chang Tong shouted: "Mr. Cheng, it’s windy here; what did you say? I can’t hear you."

...

Xie Liangchen slept until noon and, in the afternoon, had a meal with Old Mrs. Song. After returning to her room and checking some accounts, she went to bed early.

Just as she felt somewhat rejuvenated, the large warm stove beside her pulled her into its embrace.

"We have to visit tomorrow," Xie Liangchen said.

"I know," Song Xian replied softly, "just hugging for a bit."

Though claiming to hug for only a moment, he quickly became restless, leaning towards her ear repeatedly, his arm tight around her waist, pulling her closer...

Xie Liangchen, half-asleep, mused about needing to make a small garment with many ties tomorrow, akin to the boxes in the capital, wrapped in layers, taking a moment to untie.

The next day when she got up, Xie Liangchen still felt a bit weak in her legs. Sitting in the carriage, she still felt a bit drowsy. Song Jiedu, having no shame, chose not to ride his horse and instead shared the carriage with her, pulling her head onto his shoulder.

Xie Liangchen leaned against him and even managed to nap for a bit.

When the carriage arrived at the Chen Family Village, Song Xian straightened her cloak before carrying her out of the carriage.

They had returned.

Chen Zigeng ran over.

"Brother-in-law."

Song Xian was about to speak to Chen Zigeng but had no opportunity to open his mouth before Chen burst past him and grabbed Xie Liangchen, chatting affectionately.

Song Xian secretly sighed. It turned out that the greeting was just perfunctory; the real longing was for his sister.

"Sister," Chen Zigeng said, "how were these two days?"

Xie Liangchen smiled: "Quite good."

Hei Dan on the side said: "I told you, with Sister traveling so much, she certainly wouldn’t decline a place to stay, not to mention brother-in-law’s well-repaired residence..."

Mrs. Gao wished she could cover her foolish son’s mouth.

Gouzi, laughing nearby: "Big Sister, Brother-in-law, you’re back."

Song Xian said: "We’re back." At last, someone seriously acknowledged his return.

"Alright," Chen Yongsheng said, "let’s welcome your brother-in-law and sister back into the village."

The Song Family had sent many gifts for the return visit, and Hei Dan struggled to direct people to carry them into Old Mrs. Chen’s courtyard.

Song Xian and Xie Liangchen bowed to Old Mrs. Chen and Xie Shao Yuan, then went to pay respects with incense to Old Master Chen and the couple of Prince Guangyang, the Commandery Princess.

Song Xian and Xie Liangchen arranged the pastries brought from the Song Family, then served wine and tea.

Xie Shao Yuan watched the smoke curl up silently without saying much; it was Old Mrs. Chen who spoke: "Alright, it’s cold here, don’t linger. Let’s go inside and talk."

Xie Liangchen reached out to support Old Mrs. Chen.

"When do you plan to go to the eight states?" Old Mrs. Chen asked.

"No rush."

Everyone sat down, and Song Xian spoke: "We need to handle the affairs in Zhenzhou and Zhaozhou first."

"That’s true," Old Mrs. Chen said, "with spring sowing coming up, there’s a shortage of hands everywhere."

Xie Liangchen said: "After spring sowing, the Zhaozhou cocoons will come down. This year, it’s our first time using new spinning wheels for silk reeling. If it doesn’t go well, it might be hard to sell."

Apart from the cocoons, they also need to make wool felt with the spring hair. Once all this is arranged, half the year will be gone.

Everyone talked for a while, and Mrs. Gao organized to have a meal at the Familiar Medicine Institute.

Listening to the liveliness outside, Old Mrs. Chen smiled and said: "Let’s go, everyone is waiting."

As everyone moved outside, Xie Liangchen walked up to Xie Shao Yuan: "Father, is something the matter?" Earlier, when speaking, father hadn’t said a word, seemingly pondering something.

"It’s nothing," Xie Shao Yuan reached out to tidy the cloak on his daughter, "A certain elder cousin of Liu Ji named Liu Xi is well-versed in sailing on the sea. Liu Ji wrote him a letter asking him to meet in Zhenzhou, but the agreed day has come and gone without his arrival. I worry something might have happened on the way."

Xie Shao Yuan said: "I’m somewhat acquainted with Liu Xi and can’t shake off my worries; I might need to join Liu Ji in searching for him."