Chapter 161: with translation of chapter title

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan were escorted by the crowd, not knowing whose house they had eaten at.

By the time they returned to the small courtyard, it was already night.

Gu Xixi flung herself onto her bed, swearing in her heart that she would never again say things like "just idling away."

The two closed their eyes and immediately sank into dreamland.

The next day, there was no noticeable movement from the military camp.

Gu Xixi and He Jinglan also managed to spend a leisurely day in the Dependents Village.

In the evening they decided to cook porridge, and He Jinglan had already succeeded in lighting the fire on her eighth attempt.

She proudly said, "Xixi, haven't you washed the rice yet? The grit in the small flat beans must be picked out cleanly; last time I bit into it on the first mouthful and my teeth hurt."

Gu Xixi focused on picking the beans, saying, "Don't rush me, the rice is already washed; you start the pot and boil water. I'm fine here."

He Jinglan decided that the more capable should do more work, "Okay, I'll wash some more pickled greens."

"We had greasy braised pork at noon, so tonight we'll eat something light to cleanse the palate."

The actual reason was that the meat they cooked was oily and salty, making one feel sick after a bite, but since it was hard-won, they couldn't waste food, and not eating would leave them hungry; they could only force themselves to eat it.

By the time they finished dinner, it was already lamp-lighting hour.

He Jinglan took a sip of porridge and said, "I suddenly want to go home."

Gu Xixi held her porridge bowl and murmured, "You're missing the cooking skills of the He family's chief chef, aren't you?"

He Jinglan was exposed, gave a hehe laugh, and said, "You weren't also muttering at noon about how delicious Aunt Zhang's food is, were you?"

Both fell silent.

After eating a while longer, He Jinglan said, "The village sentries all say we won the battle; in the army no one died, only a few were injured, and there were no fatal wounds like broken arms or legs, so everyone can relax."

"But I still feel uneasy in my heart."

Gu Xixi nodded, "Given Meng Chengping's personality, after winning a battle and being in a rest period, he should have come dancing before you to show off, act cute, and seek praise."

"That he hasn't shown up yet is not right, unless..."

He Jinglan said, "Unless he is seriously injured and unable to move."

Gu Xixi hurried to comfort her, "It's not necessarily so; the war hasn't ended yet, this is just the beginning."

"The military must be busy discussing the next steps in tactics."

"Perhaps General Meng is burdened with an important duty and can't get away."

He Jinglan spoke in a muffled voice, "I understand; I don't know where he is now or what he's doing, and such random worrying is not good."

She sighed, forcing a smile to console herself, "Right, maybe he's happily somewhere discussing military tactics with his comrades; what am I worrying about him doing!"

"Anyway, the worst case is just being injured and lying up for ten days or half a month."

In the room where He Jinglan lives there are also some books, all of which Meng Chengping had specially sought out earlier because he feared she would be bored.

There are strange tales of ghosts and monsters passed down from the previous dynasty, as well as popular street-readings that are currently in vogue and had been popular last year.

Gu Xixi intended to keep He Jinglan company longer tonight so she wouldn't be alone overthinking, so she casually picked a few books to read.

"I never expected that you, a lady from an aristocratic family, would also read these books?"

He Jinglan said, "It's because at home I can only read proper books, over and over the same things, plus things like women's rules; if I didn't have to attend to duties, I wouldn't even touch them, just thinking about it makes me annoyed."

"Fortunately my elder brother couldn't resist my pleas, occasionally bringing me a few miscellaneous books, instructing me to keep them hidden in my inner chambers, read them secretly, and return them to him after reading; I must never let outsiders know, or let the news reach the elders of the clan."

Gu Xixi sighed, "Being a lady from an aristocratic family is indeed not easy."

He Jinglan lifted the book in her hand, *Secret Affairs of the Peach Blossom Hermitage*, shook it proudly, and said, "So taking advantage of being out here with no one supervising, I want to read to my heart's content and make up for all the ones I haven't read before!"

Gu Xixi nodded in her heart; it seems Meng Chengping went to considerable trouble to gather these books.

The two sat opposite each other reading, gaining a moment of peace.

When Gu Xixi finished the first volume and was about to look for the second, a knocking sounded outside.

He Jinglan looked up, "These past two days there's been nothing, I had already bolted the courtyard gate in advance."

The knocking sounded, not as urgent as the previous few times.

Gu Xixi picked up the oil lamp, "Let's go see."

When the door opened, outside stood only Aunt Lin.

She held a round little lantern in her hand, smiling and asking, "You haven't gone to sleep yet, have you?"

Gu Xixi knew Aunt Lin's visit must have a reason, and smilingly invited her, "It's just right that we're both still awake; please come in and have a cup of hot osmanthus honey tea together."

A pinch of dried osmanthus was placed into the pottery jar, warm water rinsed away the dust, then boiling water was poured in again.

The osmanthus fragrance instantly diffused through the room, making one unable to resist taking a deep breath.

While pouring the osmanthus infusion, Gu Xixi added honey to the cup and said, "Aunt Lin specially brought the lantern over; surely you have some interesting tale to share for our night chat?"

Aunt Lin hesitated a moment, then said, "Just now I saw what seemed like a point of fire flying from the Bei direction into our border; but it was only that instant, and the distance was great, so I couldn't see clearly."

"I originally thought it was an enemy night raid, so I waited a long while, but I saw nothing else."

Gu Xixi's hand stirring the tea paused.

"You suspect... an enemy night attack?"

Aunt Lin nodded, "As a woman of proper conduct, I really shouldn't be speculating like this."

"Besides, I couldn't see it clearly."

"So I didn't dare tell anyone, and came first to consult you."

Gu Xixi placed a cup of water before Aunt Lin, gesturing for her not to stand on ceremony.

She pondered, "Logically, what blocks us ahead is precisely the Northwest Army camp."

"But up to now the camp seems to have had no movement, right?"

Aunt Lin nodded, "Exactly so; perhaps I was seeing things, or overthinking."

He Jinglan suddenly said, "What if they attacked not the camp, but somewhere else?"

Gu Xixi suddenly realized.

This time the Northwest Army's momentum is strong; they are unwilling to retreat and defend the cities, swearing to hold every inch of this northwestern wasteland.

Therefore, the Northwest Army's camp has advanced a distance forward, forming a standoff with the Bei Li Army's camp across the border.

Thus, neither side has walls or high ground to defend.

In between, they took the midpoint of the border line as the central line, leaving ample space for the battlefield.

This includes the fields that Huo Jiang had considered clearing for a scorched-earth policy, as well as the small hill hidden in the southernmost corner……Gu Xixi's Pinpo Fruit Grove.

Gu Xixi stood up, muttering to herself, "Fire… fire…"

"The crops in these places have all grown now; from late winter to early spring the climate has been dry, and up to now there hasn't been a heavy rain, relying entirely on artificial irrigation—if a fire started…"

Lin Damu and He Jinglan also understood, and they both turned pale with shock.

Lin Damu said, "Recently there's been a sandstorm blowing in from the west; the fire would spread with the wind, impossible to control."

He Jinglan: "Those barbarians wouldn't be that clever, would they?"

The three exchanged a glance, all sharing the same thought.

Gu Xixi said, "Better safe than sorry, Lin Damu; let's go take a look together."

"At least let's hold watch through tonight."