Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 795 Where did I come from?

"I'm back~!"

Outside Yang County, in front of a long row of archways resembling a corridor, Chen Xuan stood at the front of a carriage, suddenly raised his hands, and let out a loud shout, attracting the attention of passersby. He looked as if he had been away from home for many years.

His sudden action left the little princesses in the car somewhat bewildered and amused.

She couldn't resist reaching out through the carriage curtain to pinch his bottom. The little princess said irritably, "You're back, so what? Husband, why are you yelling like that? Do you like being the center of attention?"

With a chuckle, Chen Xuan scratched his backside, ignoring the stares of those around him, and said nonchalantly, "Having been away from home for so long, I'm just expressing my feelings. What's that saying again? 'Leaving home young, returning old...' Pshaw, the closer to home, the more apprehensive.'"

"How come I don't see any shyness in you, my husband?" The little princess was immediately amused by him, and even Du Juan and the others couldn't help but laugh.

Chen Xuan plopped down and waved his hand, saying, "Let's go home, I'm going to lie down for a couple of days!"

Anyone who didn't know better would think he had been working away from home for years and had just come back to relax.

After saying goodbye to Jiang Liuer that day, they traveled back to Yang County, which they hadn't seen for several months. They enjoyed the scenery along the way without feeling tired. However, you know what? The feeling of being home was different. As for why it was different, it was probably because home is where the heart is.

Chen Xuan and his group didn't deal with the bandits in Ape's Lost Hoof Gorge. They only heard from people on the boats that passed them over the next few days that the bandits there seemed to have vanished overnight, leaving no trace. No one was extorting passing boats under the pretext of selling amulets anymore.

Some say they saw the bodies of the bandits downstream, saying they were punished by heaven for their many sins. Others say they were wiped out by a passing hero. There are many different opinions, and no one knows the specific details.

Chen Xuan knew that those river bandits had definitely been killed by Jiang Liuer. Given his hatred for river bandits, he would never let them go. As long as they weren't far from the riverbank, Jiang Liuer could easily deal with them. They probably wouldn't even have a chance to react before being swept into the water and fed to the fish.

It's worth mentioning that in the days after they left that canyon, Jiang Liuer was often seen around the ship, carrying the playful little girl and Guo Qingxue on a boat trip. Even the little princess tried it out. Chen Xuan said that only children are playful, and then he and Jiang Liuer played in the water for a few days.

Jiang Liuer reluctantly left when their ship docked at the pier in Shanglinping County, unable to continue following them.

Walking in familiar surroundings he hadn't seen for months, Chen Xuan didn't feel much except for a nervous howl at the beginning. His only feeling was that his bones seemed to be going weak and he was inexplicably sleepy. After all, he used to just lie around and do nothing at home. The familiar feeling was back.

Leaning back against the carriage with his legs crossed, Chen Xuan pointed around and said, "Good heavens, there are more than ten memorial archways here, each one more magnificent than the last. Xiao Gao made the main contribution to their construction."

Of course! Xiao Gao passed the imperial examinations, becoming a Juren, Jinshi, and Zhuangyuan. He had to achieve this at each stage. In addition, he was appointed to an official post and sent to govern a region. The local government had to show its appreciation.

In response, the little princess said, "My husband, instead of envying others, you can also build a few memorial arches yourself if you work hard. It's not impossible for you to surpass Mingde."

Mingde is Gao Jingming's courtesy name, given to him by Mr. Yushan. The little princess often addresses Gao Jingming by his courtesy name, since it would be inappropriate for her to call him Young Master Gao like Chen Xuan, and calling him Lord Gao would be too formal.

Waving his hand dismissively, Chen Xuan said, "Why would I envy him? To be frank, I deserve half the credit for his current achievements."

"Yes, yes, yes, you've even given your husband a sense of accomplishment," the little princess chuckled.

As they passed through a row of memorial archways and approached the city gate, Chen Xuan saw a large crowd gathered in an open space nearby, and the smile on his face gradually faded.

It was clearly a government relief effort, distributing porridge. Chen Xuan could smell the food from afar, and people lined up in an orderly fashion without any disorder.

"Has the disaster spread to Yang County already?" Chen Xuan asked thoughtfully.

That's not right. Before I left, I manually brought down a heavy rain. Although the crops in the surrounding fields didn't grow as well as they would normally under favorable weather conditions, they didn't look like a complete crop failure either. At most, the yield was reduced by half, but it was still much better than other places.

His brows quickly relaxed, and he roughly understood what was going on.

The whole country is providing disaster relief, so Yang County, you have to do something, right? Otherwise, you'll seem a bit special. People accept relief not because they can't survive, but because it's free, so they save every penny they can and maybe even squeeze some money out of the government.

Having experienced so many places, Chen Xuan had to say that the disaster relief scene in Yang County was the smallest, with less than one-tenth of the number of people queuing for relief in other places.

The prolonged drought had a huge and wide-ranging impact; even Rongguo was nearly torn apart. Overall, Jingguo was in the best situation, as long as people had enough to eat, things wouldn't get chaotic.

As for where the food comes from, it's because Jing Kingdom has a natural treasure trove—the underground caves beneath Wanku Mountain—that it's practically inexhaustible. As Lao Gao mentioned in Mo City last time, the reason Jing Kingdom can maintain stability is because it continuously supplies enough food to fill its stomach.

After paying close attention and gathering information, Chen Xuan learned that almost all the grain needed to relieve disaster victims in the entire Jing Kingdom was distributed uniformly by the imperial court, with no discrimination except in a few places like the capital that were concerned with appearances.

He casually conjured up a portion of disaster relief food issued by the imperial court, and examined it in his hand; it looked like a brick.

"Wow, it's compressed! There are quite a few clever people here. This one 'brick' weighing two pounds can be boiled into a big pot, enough for a hundred people to have a bowl. But don't even think about eating your fill. Hmm, this stuff is even more filling than a big bowl of white rice." After a brief look, Chen Xuan saw the trick and couldn't help but show a speechless expression.

At this moment, the little maid curiously came over and asked, "Master, what are you holding?"

"It's the lives of countless people, the foundation upon which the country can maintain relative stability. Well, this is the disaster relief grain issued by the imperial court," Chen Xuan explained.

The little girl stared at the brick in his hand for a moment, then nodded and said, "It looks like something I could eat."

As she spoke, the little girl did not show any disgust, even though she knew from the look and smell that it was definitely not good. She even seemed eager to try it. She had been used to a hard life since she was a child, and even though her life improved after following Chen Xuan, she never forgot her roots. What right did she have to complain about something edible?

The little girl is very good at being prepared for danger even in times of peace. On the way back, she said more than once that she wanted to go back to her old job of growing mushrooms and sell the ones she couldn't eat, even though she knew it was pointless. But being lazy and gluttonous would make her look bad, and she would despise herself for that.

This is a matter of great importance to people's livelihood, and even the little princess couldn't help but look at the brick in Chen Xuan's hand and ask, "Husband, is there any explanation for this?"

She wasn't prejudiced just because it was merely a 'brick'. Crushing a small piece under her fingernail and grinding it between her fingers, Chen Xuan said, "Don't let its unappealing appearance fool you. Not only is it edible, it's actually quite nutritious. It's a blessing for ordinary people. Less than 20% of it is made up of real grains, including chaff and other byproducts. The remaining 30% is various edible, non-toxic plant powders, and the rest is a mixture of edible animal powders. It definitely comes from underground caves, where the creatures are enormous—one is enough to feed many people. Although they are ferocious, the imperial court isn't easily deterred; organized, large-scale hunting isn't difficult for them."

Upon hearing this, the little princess said in surprise, "So, if we use this as disaster relief food, not only will it not be unfair to the disaster victims, but they might even be able to eat meat, which is a rare treat?"

“You could say that,” Chen Xuan nodded, and quietly returned the relief grain he had taken.

At this moment, an absurd thought popped into his head: perhaps this drought was a blessing in disguise for the entire Jing Kingdom? At least for the common people. Look, the common people can eat meat now. Over time, their overall physical condition will surely improve, right?

Of course, that's not how it works. Special times call for special measures, and the government can't support its people forever.

"This is truly a blessing for all people. My brother the emperor is a man of great courage," the little princess exclaimed.

Her status was special, so she wouldn't judge the current emperor. She only said that he had the courage to use the underground cave resources to stabilize the people's hearts regardless of the cost. In this light, it seemed that her father's decision to entrust the country to him was truly farsighted.

Chen Xuan didn't comment on the actions of those in power, only saying, "Xiao Gao's disaster relief methods are becoming increasingly effective."

The so-called disaster relief grain, aside from being edible, is really not worth praising. Because it is a specially made disaster relief grain, the possibility of embezzlement and resale is greatly eliminated. The imperial court is not blind. Try putting it anywhere else except at the disaster relief site.

Who was the brilliant strategist who came up with this idea?

Chen Xuan guessed it was Xiao Gao, because he couldn't even remember how many things he had told Xiao Gao over the years. For example, Xiao Gao had popularized the disaster relief method during the palace examination. Thinking about this, Chen Xuan felt a little pleased and didn't feel any displeasure at being used by Xiao Gao. They were all friends, so it didn't matter who used it for good. It would save him trouble. Just thinking about the obstacles and troubles he might encounter gave Chen Xuan a headache.

After successfully entering the city, they did not see County Magistrate Shu Yao, who was personally inspecting the disaster relief work, at the disaster relief office. When they met Chen Xuan, an acquaintance, they greeted him and exchanged a few pleasantries as usual. Chen Xuan was a well-known scoundrel in Yang County, but not the kind of scoundrel that people disliked.

"Once we get home, send two truckloads of the local specialties we brought back along the way to the Gao family, and also send some to Erdan's family. Oh, and don't forget Uncle Geng and the others. Also, send some to Shu Yao's family. We'll see how you arrange it," Chen Xuan instructed on the way.

I brought back five or six truckloads of local specialties from all over the country, but they're useless sitting at home.

They soon returned to the streets near Taoyuanju.

He Hongyi's wine shop at the corner had already opened for business, and a long queue had formed outside the door, with people waiting to buy wine. It was no surprise that they were there for He Hongyi; beautiful women attract attention wherever they are. Yet, no one dared to be disrespectful in the slightest. They were all very well-behaved, not daring to steal a glance. They would be secretly delighted to be able to exchange a few words with her.

Unfortunately, few people had the honor of speaking with He Hongyi. The wine shop employed a manager and a sales assistant, and she rarely appeared in person, almost always staying upstairs to keep order.

When Chen Xuan and the others arrived, He Hongyi stood by the window on the second floor, gazing into the distance, lost in thought. Her red dress was as fiery as fire, her figure was graceful and her face was stunningly beautiful. In particular, her crimson eyes were both eerie and alluring, exuding an arrogant charm. Just standing there, she was incredibly dazzling and the center of attention.

Almost all the customers who come to buy wine are there just to take a look from afar. Such opportunities are rare, and for this reason alone, it's no wonder that the wine shop's business is booming.

A faint, lingering melancholy hung between her brows, making one want to soothe her sorrow.

Wait, has the woman in red killed someone recently? Her imposing aura hasn't completely subsided yet. Who offended her? But then again, it would be strange if a beauty like her didn't cause trouble wherever she went. She's one of the ten most beautiful women in Yuhua Kingdom.

Muttering to himself, Chen Xuan saw her figure and waved as if he hadn't left, saying, "Hongyi, good afternoon! Your business is doing well. I apologize for not being able to attend the opening. I'll make you pay for it with a drink later."

Lost in thought, He Hongyi heard someone call her name, using the affectionate term "Hongyi." She immediately frowned, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. But when she heard the familiar voice she had longed for, her expression instantly brightened with joy, and a smile involuntarily bloomed on her face. All traces of resentment vanished, and her smile made her even more radiant.

His gaze instantly locked onto the source of the voice. Sure enough, it was the person he had been longing for day and night. After several months apart, he returned looking exactly the same as before, without the slightest change.

Upon seeing her beloved, her heart stirred, but soon a bittersweet feeling welled up within her, and her eyes filled with a misty, aggrieved look.

You've been away for so long and haven't even sent me a letter. Do you know how much I think about you and miss you?

Suppressing the urge to jump out the window and into his arms, He Hongyi quickly composed herself, trying to remain calm and natural as ever. She even teased him in a playful tone, saying, "Master Chen, it's been a long time. You've been away for so long, and you've finally decided to come back. Weren't you blinded by the allure of the outside world?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan blinked. He could sense He Hongyi's emotional change. No, what am I doing? Why is she acting like a little wife who has been taken advantage of and then abandoned?

Anyone who didn't know better would think I did something terribly wrong to her.

"It hasn't been long, my home is right here, of course I have to come back. We're not home yet, let's go back and settle in, then come over for drinks tonight," Chen Xuan said, pointing in the direction of his home without trying to upset her.

She nodded and said, "Okay, I'll bring some good wine over later to treat you to a meal."

"Okay, it's settled then. Let's head back now."

After a brief exchange of pleasantries and a wave goodbye, He Hongyi only looked away when their carriage disappeared around the corner. Her eyes were filled with eager joy, and then, like a bewildered little girl, she rushed back to her room like a whirlwind.

Ah Xuan is back! That's great! What should I wear? I need to dress up nicely. Ugh, I don't have any clothes.

Inside the carriage, Guo Qingxue, who had originally planned to go out and greet He Hongyi, held back, intending to give her a surprise later. She never expected that such an action would make He Hongyi feel even more resentful and aggrieved.

So all this time, I've been waiting here day and night for Ah Xuan to return, only to have you, you little girl, beat me to it?

Walking home, in an environment that was all too familiar, Chen Xuan's expression gradually turned to astonishment.

No, my house? How come my big house looks different?

There used to be a small grove of trees around his house, but when Chen Xuan returned after several months, he found that the area of ​​the grove had expanded by at least ten times!

The surrounding neighbors and residents had all disappeared, replaced by a lush forest in front of him.

Where did this come from? I'm already home, not abroad!

The little princess inside the carriage covered her mouth and giggled. Under the bewildered gazes of the women around her, she made a shushing gesture, pointed outside, and indicated that it was a surprise prepared for her husband.

...(End of this chapter)