Chapter 66: Not As If We Have to Choose Them

Just as they were talking, a lively commotion came from outside.

Meng Shi peered outward.

"Why do I hear what sounds like sheep bleating?"

Wang Shi quickly stood up, her face full of anticipation.

"I heard it too."

Sure enough, the next moment, the voices of the two Cheng Qiuruo sisters drifted in.

"Grandmother! We're back!"

Hearing the voices, everyone rose and went out the door.

They saw the hillside outside, among the thickets, densely packed with sheep—some lowering their heads to graze, some lying on the ground.

At a rough glance, there were several hundred head.

In the back, Cheng Feng and Cheng Lei were settling payment with the herders who had helped drive the sheep.

The herders took the silver, thanked them repeatedly in their not-very-fluent Dayin Dynasty official tongue, and left overjoyed.

Cheng Old Madam gave an instruction.

"Cheng Yu, go into the city and notify the Chen Family—tell them the sheep have been bought."

The two sisters were chatting about what they had seen along the way when they suddenly caught sight of Cheng Chengxuan and immediately stopped talking.

"Brother!"

The two sisters cried out in surprise and rushed to his side.

"Brother's back—that's wonderful!"

Looking at his two sisters with misty eyes, Cheng Chengxuan's throat tightened.

Qiuluo and Qiuruo were only fourteen or fifteen years old; on this journey they had to look after their elders and deal with assassins and killers—it had truly been hard on them.

His eyes reddened slightly; he reached out and ruffled the two sisters' heads, his voice catching and slightly hoarse.

"I've already heard from Grandmother and Mother—Qiuruo and Qiuluo are really impressive."

"Don't be afraid. Brother is back now, and from now on Brother will protect you."

Hearing this, the two sisters could hold back no longer; tears went pattering down without stop.

Wang Shi at the side wiped the corner of her eye.

"Enough, don't just stand here foolishly. Have you eaten? Let's have some more together."

The group went back inside again, and the two sisters chattered back and forth, recounting their experiences this time in Muyuan Kingdom.

"What?!"

"You handed over the method for refining refined salt?!"

Wang Shi had just stepped through the door carrying bowls and plates when she heard this and, in a fury, set them down heavily on the table.

"Something so important—how could you hand it over so lightly?!"

Cheng Old Madam raised a hand toward her, pointed at a stool, and gestured for her to sit down first.

"All right, calm yourself."

Then she looked toward her second granddaughter.

"Qiuruo, continue."

"... We also bought a residence and two shops in Ducheng, the capital of Muyuan Kingdom."

Hearing this, Cheng Old Madam nodded.

"Qiuruo did right."

"Since ancient times, salt has been forbidden from private trade—especially refined salt of such good quality, which draws too much attention. Handing over the method in exchange for the protection of a Muyuan Prince is indeed a fine choice."

Wang Shi frowned.

"But that means letting go of so much silver!"

Cheng Old Madam, however, looked perfectly composed.

"The more profit he gains, the more he will fear us, and the less he will dare to act rashly."

Hearing this, Cheng Qiuruo lowered her eyes in thought, her expression somewhat solemn.

"Grandmother, Shang Xiaomin has probably already guessed our identities."

Hearing this, Wang Shi clenched her lapel tightly, her face changing slightly.

Muyuan Kingdom is a vassal state of Da Yin—if word that they were still alive reached the Emperor, wouldn't they be robbed of their peaceful days once more?

Seeing her tense look, Meng Shi patted her hand, gave her a reassuring look, and said softly.

"Don't panic."

Cheng Old Madam's eyes flickered, but she was not surprised.

"Did he say anything?"

Cheng Qiuruo shook her head.

"He didn't, but he mentioned the composite bow twice, whether intentionally or not."

Cheng Old Madam smiled faintly.

"Since he hasn't laid it bare, we'll carry on as usual. As for the composite bow, the time to bring it out hasn't come yet."

Yes—even the Chen Family still knew nothing of the composite bow.

"Ha ha ha, wonderful! To think that in just half a month, Old Madam has truly bought so many sheep!"

It was the Chen Family father and son who had arrived.

Wang Shi took Cheng Chengxuan's hand and turned to look at Cheng Old Madam.

"Pomo, should we have Cheng Chengxuan step aside?"

Cheng Old Madam looked toward her eldest granddaughter.

"When you arrived at Beihuang City yesterday, didn't you see anyone from the Chen Family?"

Cheng Qiuyun shook her head.

"At the time, afraid of being discovered by people with ill intentions, Cheng Chengxuan kept his face covered the whole way."

Cheng Old Madam thought for a moment, then shook her head.

"No need!"

Once outside, Chen Delin was just instructing the garrison soldiers he'd brought to drive the sheep.

Hearing the movement, he turned his head and saw the figure behind Cheng Old Madam.

He hurriedly waved for the garrison soldiers and guards to move farther away, then walked forward excitedly.

"Cheng Chengxuan? Is that Cheng Chengxuan?!"

Cheng Chengxuan stepped forward a few paces, came out, and cupped his fists and bowed to him.

"General Chen, it's been a long time. Cheng Chengxuan pays his respects to you."

Chen Delin quickly raised him up with both hands supporting his arms.

"Good, good, good. As long as you've come back safely, that's all that matters."

An Luo wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but Chen Ying, who was following behind Chen Delin, had a subtle shift in expression the moment he saw Cheng Chengxuan.

Unfortunately, that emotion flashed by in an instant. Before she could examine it closely, a smile had already settled on Chen Ying's face.

"Cheng Chengxuan, so the masked person last night was you!"

Cheng Chengxuan lowered his head and called out.

"Uncle Chen, it's been a long time."

Chen Ying smiled and patted his shoulder.

"Being able to come back is all that matters."

Suddenly, his gaze fell on the corn stalks piled by the courtyard wall.

"What is that? I've never seen it before."

Hearing this, Meng Shi's brow furrowed slightly, and a look of vexation crossed her face.

Crap—she'd actually forgotten to put it away.

Cheng Old Madam also glanced over in that direction and said casually.

"Oh, we happened to come across it on the mountain some days ago. We saw quite a few birds and sparrows feeding on it, so we brought some back. We didn't expect the porridge boiled from it to be surprisingly delicious, so we cut down the rest and brought it all back."

Chen Ying walked over, picked up a stalk, and tossed it into the sheep. Soon the dried leaves on it were snatched up and eaten by the sheep.

"It seems these leaves can also be used as fodder for livestock."

Cheng Old Madam smiled.

"What of it?"

She had Cheng Yu bring over an ear of corn, and pointed at the cob in the middle.

"This corn cob can even be used as firewood."

"Corn?"

Chen Ying took the corn and examined it carefully.

"Like gold, like jade—how fitting."

"I wonder how much of this corn there is? When spring comes next year, we could try planting some."

Cheng Old Madam lowered her eyelids, the corners of her mouth curving up slightly.

"That was exactly my thought as well."

Chen Ying seemed to want to say something more.

Chen Delin suddenly said to him.

"Enough, we should head back. Now it's our turn to get busy."

Father and son cupped their fists in farewell to the Cheng Family, then boarded the horse carriage.

Gu Shang, who should have left with them, hesitated and walked over.

"My Master said this winter probably won't be a peaceful one."

After saying that, he jogged off to catch up with the horse carriage.

The winter won't be peaceful.

What does that mean?

Cheng Old Madam was pondering when Meng Shi's somewhat uncertain voice sounded beside her ear.

"Pomo, your daughter-in-law feels that Chen Ying is a bit strange?"

Cheng Old Madam smiled.

"Is that so? I don't find it strange at all."

Then she sighed softly.

"He's simply made the mistake that most people who hold heavy military power tend to make."

After figuring out the meaning of those words, the expressions of the few people changed slightly.

"Then what about us?"

Cheng Old Madam showed a meaningful smile, turned, and led Yu'an back inside the house.

"Isn't there still his father?"

"Lao Chen is a sensible man."

"Besides, we don't necessarily have to cooperate with the Chen Family."