Song Xian stood in the courtyard. The housekeeper wanted to go inside to announce him, but he stopped her with a gesture.
The conversation inside the house continued.
Song Xian couldn’t recall the last ti he heard his grandmother speak with such enthusiasm, her voice more spirited than usual. He didn’t want anything to disturb the atmosphere inside.
Old Mrs. Song and Xie Liangchen were engrossed in conversation, unaware of the commotion outside.
Old Mrs. Song had just finished a bowl of sweet toad oil with milk. She didn’t want to eat it, but after hearing the story of gathering and selling dicine in Chen Family Village, she couldn’t bear to waste sothing so good.
Old Mrs. Song looked at Xie Liangchen, "Anything else interesting?"
Xie Liangchen sat on the Jinwu chair and laughed, "There is one thing. Do you know about woolen textiles?"
Old Mrs. Song said, "We have woolen blankets at ho. When I was young and traveling around with my husband, our family bought woolen textiles. They were expensive at the ti, but warm."
Xie Liangchen said, "Our Chen Family Village made quite a few woolen textiles this year. I bought the wool to make them."
Old Mrs. Song listened carefully, not expecting Xie Liangchen to lightly "shush" with her finger, as if she didn’t want anyone to know: "Even my grandmother doesn’t know about this; the woolen textiles almost didn’t get made."
"Oh?" Old Mrs. Song beca interested, "Why?"
Xie Liangchen chuckled, "I couldn’t use the weaving machine my uncle bought at all. It was so old. I learned from a granny who knew how to use it for a long ti, but I couldn’t grasp it.
It was frustrating. We spent a lot of silver coins on the old weaving machine and wool. I drew patterns for days, got everything ready, and still couldn’t make it.
I was stuck at ho for several days and finally gave up. But my grandmother asked how I was doing every day. Afraid she’d worry, I didn’t tell her until I figured out a solution, just reassured her everything was fine.
Later, because I was busy selling herbs, I was preoccupied for two days. When I got ho, I found my grandmother, several aunts, and cousin in the yard. My cousin’s eyes were red from crying, and my heart sank, fearing sothing was wrong."
Xie Liangchen stopped there, capturing Old Mrs. Song’s full attention: "What happened?"
Xie Liangchen said, "My cousin tried to tidy up my room and accidentally broke my fabric on the weaving machine. She told grandmother, who then tried to help, but they both got overwheld and called the village won to co look.
It was finally an aunt from our clan who wove it again according to my patterns."
Old Mrs. Song was surprised, "Didn’t you fail to weave it?"
Xie Liangchen nodded, "Yes, I failed, but everyone assud I succeeded. Later, I claid I couldn’t make it, but no one believed , thinking I was comforting my cousin.
While I couldn’t weave completely, I could instruct but not execute. Later, I left the weaving to my aunts, only drawing patterns for them."
Old Mrs. Song’s eyes sparkled with amusent, "And they still don’t know you can’t weave?"
Xie Liangchen shook her head, "They don’t know. I thought about learning from my aunts, but they wouldn’t teach . When I made a mistake in front of the weaving machine, my cousin burst into tears before my aunt could say anything.
My cousin said I pretended not to know to protect her."
Old Mrs. Song felt both sympathy and humor, "No one believes the truth, seems like the misunderstanding will continue."
Xie Liangchen nodded, "Now, not only does Chen Family Village think I can weave woolen textiles, but so do the surrounding villages. I just hope there’s no day I’m asked to do it again, or I don’t know how much my cousin will cry."
Old Mrs. Song had already laughed, and hearing this, she once again couldn’t hold back her laughter.
Xie Liangchen said, "A trading caravan placed an order with for next year’s woolen textiles, saying they like my craftsmanship. That night, I had a dream where soone threatened with a knife to weave on the machine myself."
Even the housekeeper standing nearby couldn’t help but smile.
Old Mrs. Song laughed for a while, then carefully observed Xie Liangchen again. Chen Family Village’s trust in Miss Xie, at such a young age, was remarkable.
They’d heard Miss Xie ca to make dicinal als, and Old Mrs. Song had initially wanted to refuse. It didn’t seem right to let a young lady handle all the work. But after Chang An repeatedly assured her that the prepared dicines from Chen Family Village were the best and Miss Xie’s dicinal als were unique, not like those from restaurants.
Old Mrs. Song knew her grandson was worried about her health. With Song Min apprehended and the house in chaos, she truly felt suffocated, unable to muster any energy, much less eat, so she agreed.
She let several chefs assist, not expecting Miss Xie to manage everything on her own.
Miss Xie not only served the food but also chatted with her, gradually opening up the conversation, easing so of the burdens from her heart.
Xie Liangchen said, "Old Mrs. Song, the als are ready. Please enjoy them while they’re hot!"
Old Mrs. Song, having talked for a while, felt a bit of appetite, "It’s been hard on you, preparing dicinal als and keeping this old lady company."
Xie Liangchen laughed, "General Song has helped Chen Family Village a lot. We didn’t know how to thank you. Since we’ve heard Old Mrs. Song would have dicinal als, it was only natural for us to do our best.
After visiting today, I found Old Mrs. Song to be kind and warm. I enjoy talking with you."
Old Mrs. Song heard this and deliberately put on a serious face, "That grandson of mine is quite distant with people. He didn’t use his official authority to pressure you, did he?"
Xie Liangchen glanced out the window, as if Song Xian was eavesdropping under the veranda. She lowered her voice, "He did. General Song said if I refused, he’d send soone to bring here. If I didn’t make good dicinal als, he’d imprison , never letting return to see my grandmother and brother."
Old Mrs. Song covered her mouth with her handkerchief, laughing, "Yes, that sounds like sothing Xian would do."
The steward who had just entered to announce the master’s return froze, hearing Old Mrs. Song and Miss Xie "criticizing" the master behind his back, unsure of what to do.
"What’s the matter?" Old Mrs. Song noticed sothing.
The steward glanced outside, "The master has returned," standing under the veranda for a while.
Old Mrs. Song raised her eyebrows, "He’s been watching the ti and only ca ho when he knew the food was ready."
As she spoke, Song Xian entered the room.
Xie Liangchen stood up and greeted Song Xian.
Song Xian looked at his grandmother’s smile, her recent words still echoing in his ears. Inviting her ho was indeed the right decision.
Seeing her talking with Old Mrs. Chen and Chen Zigeng in Chen Family Village, he couldn’t help but think of his grandmother.
She hadn’t disappointed him; she could charm elders and manage younger ones.
Old Mrs. Song sighed, playfully blaming her grandson, "So young and always with a stern face. You sit here, and the atmosphere changes."
Song Xian looked at Xie Liangchen again, yes, they were just joyfully chatting and laughing not long ago. As soon as he entered, she stood there with a stiff face, pretending to be afraid. Was he a beast in the woods or the grim reaper?
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