Chapter 208

Village Chief Lao Qian has always been well-informed; he hurriedly ran to Gu Xixi's house, saying that something major had happened in Qing Tian County.

Those inside the house looked at each other.

Zhang Shen immediately went out and greeted Lao Qian to come inside to talk.

Gu Xixi smiled and said, "Uncle Qian, don't rush; sit down and rest a bit. It's such a hot day—look at all the sweat you've worked up running."

She said and then to Shitou, "Is there any more plum honey tea? Go fetch a bowl to cool the Village Chief."

Shitou obediently stood up, and meanwhile finished the last sip left in his own bowl, then said with a smile:

"I could use another bowl myself."

Qinger buried her small face in the bowl, gulping loudly, and while hastily raising her hand she said, "Shitou brother, wait for Qinger; Qinger hasn't had enough."

Children, after all, inevitably crave sour-sweet, ice-cold things in summer.

But the adults right now have little appetite.

Especially He Jinglan, An Qinghe, and Meng Dangni zi, these three who are in the know, all look somewhat grave.

Gu Xixi, however, was unusually calm, even wearing a faint smile on her face.

The more critical the moment, as the head of the household she absolutely must not let her side fall into disorder first.

Lao Qian caught his breath, took the water-wrung cloth from Zhang Shen, wiped his face twice, and then said,

"Qing Tian County is under martial law; the city gates are closed, and the people see many troops stationed both outside and inside the city."

Lao Langzhong pondered, "With so many troops being moved, it looks like they're going to fight."

Zhang Shen exclaimed in surprise, "Didn't we already drive the Beili people away? Why fight again?"

"Besides, Qing Tian County is the nearest to us; aren't we in great danger?"

Gu Xixi pressed Zhang Shen's hand, comforting her with a pat, "Don't panic; first hear Lao Qian out."

Lao Qian then continued, "The entire Northwest is guarded by the Northwest Army; seeing the Northwest Army's banner is nothing unusual, but the problem is that everyone sees another banner with the Ho character clearly hanging beside it."

"The Ho family's three generations of martial generals have guarded the Northwest for decades; this Ho banner has never appeared before."

Although they were speaking inside the house, Lao Qian still cautiously lowered his voice.

"So many people in the streets speculate whether General Ho is going to lead the Northwest Army in rebellion."

Although Gu Xixi already knew the answer in her heart, she still put on a look of surprise.

"If that is truly the case, wouldn't it plunge the whole realm into great chaos?"

Lao Qian sighed, "Exactly, my great-niece; you always see farther than ordinary people—what do you think of this matter?"

Gu Xixi countered, "If the rumors are true, Uncle Qian, you have watched this land longer than I have and have seen more people and events; what is your take on General Ho's action?"

As soon as she said that, everyone in the house turned their gaze to Gu Xixi.

Merely asking this question, even if only voiced, is a grave act of defiance against the current Imperial Court.

If Lao Qian's answer showed any sympathy or appreciation, even the slightest, it would be considered support for rebellion—a capital crime punishable by extermination of nine kin!

Lao Qian also gazed at Gu Xixi with a complex expression, hesitating to speak.

The door curtain was lifted; Shitou came in holding a bowl of plum honey tea, with Qinger trailing behind him like a little tail.

The two of them didn't notice the unusual atmosphere inside the house.

Shitou laughed heartily, "We each drank half a bowl in the kitchen, restraining ourselves to leave some for everyone."

"Gu Xixi sister didn't let us go to the wellside; I thought the water in the vat was cool enough, so I scooped some and soaked the jar in the vegetable-washing basin to keep it from getting warm and unpleasant to drink."

Shitou said this while walking up to Lao Qian and presenting the soup bowl with both hands.

"Village Chief Grandpa, this is Gu Xixi sister's exclusive secret-recipe sweet soup; it's cooling and delicious."

"Drink some quickly to dispel your body's heat."

Lao Qian looked at the children's eager eyes, smiled, and took the bowl, saying, "Thank you."

He gulped two big mouthfuls, his brows and eyes suddenly relaxing, "Mmm, delicious! So satisfying!"

Qinger innocently said, "If we could skip meals and just drink sweet soup, that would be perfect."

It must be said that the children's return was perfectly timed; everyone laughed, and the atmosphere eased.

An Qinghe felt that his presence might make Lao Qian and Gu Xixi hesitant to speak, so he made an excuse to take the two kids out to play in the courtyard.

Just when everyone thought Lao Qian would not answer Gu Xixi's question any further,

he suddenly smiled, looked at Gu Xixi, and said, "Compared to two years ago, I dislike the Northwest of these past two years even more."

"As a commoner, I naturally side with whoever lets me live well."

The answer is already clear enough.

Gu Xixi was not intentionally trying to set a trap for Lao Qian.

Although she had her own judgment about local livelihood, she still lacked a comparison over the past few years.

Meanwhile, Lao Qian, a native of the area for generations, is the Village Chief and the person who knows the surrounding livelihood best.

Gu Xixi simply wanted to hear what a local like Lao Qian truly thinks.

Fortunately, after hesitating, Lao Qian chose to trust Gu Xixi.

Gu Xixi said solemnly, "What I think matches what Uncle Qian thinks."

The Northwest Army's quelling of disorder and restoration of order has two greatest advantages.

First, the people's hearts' orientation.

The former emperor died suddenly; after the young emperor ascended the throne, one edict after another that disregarded people's livelihood and sentiments was issued to the localities.

Not to mention far-flung places; even Qing Tian County, to which Huachi Du Cun belongs, has clearly seen its commerce and agriculture decline from former prosperity.

Every spring, grain prices rise a bit, yet the common folk's silver in their pockets and the grain in their storerooms do not increase but decrease.

As Lao Qian just said, whoever attends to the people's livelihood will earn their support.

Second, the lack of proper justification and righteousness.

The sovereign is young and the state uncertain; although the Empress Dowager accompanies the young emperor in ruling from behind the curtain, this Empress Dowager knows nothing of governance.

In fact, real power actually lies with her maternal relatives' family behind her.

The young emperor is nothing but a puppet of his maternal grandfather and uncles.

Furthermore, there are even rumors that the late emperor died suddenly without any omen, and that the Empress Dowager conspired with her father and brothers to murder him.

Otherwise, how could it be that overnight, the late emperor's trusted aides and close officials either died or were demoted?

At this moment, Gu Xixi actually felt a bit more confidence in Mu Nan Zhao and them.

She steadied her mind and asked, "If some things are unavoidable, what we should consider now is how our village will conduct itself and how it will protect itself."

Lao Qian nodded, "My eldest niece understands me; I came mainly for this."

Gu Xixi said, "Uncle Qian knows that I have dealings with the Northwest Army."

According to my understanding, the General governs the army strictly, cares for the people; with him present, no matter how the troops act, at least the people's safety will be guaranteed.

Besides some initial inconvenience in travel, other daily life should not be greatly affected.

Moreover, as we are within Xi Bei territory, as long as the Northwest Army keeps winning, outsiders cannot break in, and we will be safe.

Lao Qian pondered and said, "That makes sense; I believe what you said."

The Imperial Court permits localities to appropriately increase taxes on the common people.

But General Ho has never done so.

Thinking that the village's future days would still pass, Lao Qian's face showed a hint of a smile.

Gu Xixi, however, changed the subject: "But we still cannot rest easy just yet."