Chapter 314: Mother, You Are So Foolish
Several Deputy Generals from Changliu Country gathered around.
"What is this Spirit Grass?"
Great General Mucun explained, based on the letter, "I hear that eating this Spirit Grass helps one resist the cold."
"It’s as if your body and mind are enveloped by spring. You won’t just be unafraid of the cold—you could sleep out in the ice and snow without feeling a thing, and you wouldn’t even get hurt!"
The Deputy Generals were stunned.
"I’ve always heard that Cangyun Country is vast and resource-rich, but to think they actually have such a miraculous herb."
A complex look appeared in Mucun’s eyes as he murmured, "No wonder its effects last for three days."
"And in Lion Head City, the cooking smoke rises exactly once every three days."
One of the Deputy Generals grew anxious. "At this rate, they’ll wear us down to nothing!" he said, his voice rough.
Another agreed, "That’s right. They have Spirit Grass, and we have nothing."
"But if we retreat, how will we answer to the Great Sun King?"
Mucun waved his hand forcefully. "No! We absolutely cannot retreat."
Before they set out, they had all made bold promises and signed military pledges.
They had guaranteed the Great Sun King that they would occupy Lion Head City, kill the sixty thousand citizens of Cangyun Country within its walls, and display the might of Changliu Country.
Returning in defeat like this would not only be a disgrace, but it would also be a capital offense.
Mucun paced back and forth.
Suddenly, he picked up the letter and read it again.
"The spy has confirmed it. The one constantly providing Xie Mingxu with Spirit Grass is a blessed girl from Cangyun Country named Shen Ningning."
The Deputy Generals exchanged a look. "A blessed girl? Could that be Princess Funing? Now I remember, she’s General Xie Mingxu’s adoptive younger sister!"
"I’ve heard of her, too. She’s the one who commanded a pack of wolves and made our Lord Taizheng, Matsuboto, lose an arm."
Mucun frowned and sighed. "So, the legends about the blessed girl are actually true."
After a long silence, the cold wind rustled the flaps of the command tent.
Mucun’s eyes turned sinister. "Relay my secret order. Have our warriors lying in ambush in Cangyun Country find an opportunity to assassinate Princess Funing."
"They must bring her head to the border. Once we raise the blessed girl’s skull for all to see, Xie Mingxu is bound to be enraged and recklessly declare battle. When that happens, we will have our chance to breach the city."
’Besides,’ he thought, ’it will cut off Xie Mingxu’s supply of Spirit Grass. Without the blessed girl’s help, Lion Head City will crumble on its own.’
...
In the Capital City, even in August, snow still drifted down, and the cold was unbearable.
Shen Ningning had already received good news from Jiangnan on two separate occasions.
Mr. Zhang Liu’s sweet potatoes were growing exceptionally well! A small crop had already yielded tubers. Although they were small and thin, they gave everyone hope.
Shen Ningning immediately wrote back with encouragement and arranged for a convoy to escort several hundred pieces of quilted clothing to Jiangnan.
The little girl was in high spirits, humming a tune as she went to inspect her shop.
Today happened to be the day the shop was giving out free soup to the public.
Aunt Yun had prepared a radish and shredded chicken soup.
Every person who came for soup received a steaming hot bowl.
The shop also provided two large wooden barrels of rice.
Many people took their soup, mixed in the rice, and could happily SLURP down two large bowls.
The radish was invigorating, and the soup base contained the effects of Spirit Grass. The moment it hit their stomachs, they felt a soothing warmth spread through their entire bodies!
And the shredded chicken was so tender it melted in the mouth—absolutely delicious.
Shen Ningning brought over a small stool and sat to the side, watching Wuer and Aunt Yun at their busy work.
Interestingly, the people in line, after receiving their steaming soup, would make a point to walk over to Shen Ningning, bow, and thank her.
Some even tried to kneel and kowtow.
But the little girl stopped them with an outstretched hand.
"Uncles, aunties, what are you all doing?"
"Lady Blessed Girl, you have the kindest heart in the whole city. It’s our blessing to have you here," the surrounding people chimed in, one after another.
Just then, a little three-year-old tyke with two pigtails sticking straight up wobbled over to Shen Ningning, led by her father.
She called out in a tiny, squeaky voice, "Sister Blessed Girl, do you want a little brother?"
"My little brother is three months old. He’s really cute, but he drinks a lot of milk every day. If you don’t mind, I’ll give him to you!"
Her father stood beside her, covering his mouth to hide a laugh.
Shen Ningning blinked her big eyes. "Your little brother is so cute, so why would you give him to me?"
The little tyke shook her head proudly. "It’s *because* he’s cute that I have to give him to you."
"My mommy says my little brother is the most precious thing in our family."
Her father quickly explained, "She’s just a child, she doesn’t know any better. She just wants to give you the best thing she has, Lady Blessed Girl."
A sweet smile spread across Shen Ningning’s face, her plump little cheeks glowing with life.
She picked up two red fruits from nearby and handed them to the girl.
She gave the little tyke’s head a gentle pat.
"Why don’t you take these and go share them with your little brother and your family, okay?"
"I don’t need your little brother. He’s so cute, you have to protect him."
The little tyke could barely hold the large fruits in her small hands.
Shen Ningning herself wasn’t much older, and the onlookers couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of one small child trying to reason with an even smaller one.
"Thank you, Sister Blessed Girl," the little tyke mumbled.
"Everyone at home says that as long as you’re here, Sister Blessed Girl, the sky won’t fall."
"And it turns out, not only will the sky not fall, but we get fruit to eat, too!"
Her big, round eyes were fixed on the red fruits in her arms, and she looked like she was about to start drooling!
Her father laughed in embarrassment, offered his apologies to Shen Ningning, and carried his daughter away.
By evening, all the soup had been given out, and everyone at the shop was exhausted.
Shen Ningning distributed the supplies she had brought—some thick cotton clothes and quilts—among them.
Everyone thanked her happily and went to their rooms to rest.
Only Wuer remained, holding his clothes and squatting dejectedly in a corner.
Shen Ningning took her little steps over to him, copied his posture, and squatted down beside him, facing the corner.
"Wuer, why are you unhappy? Are you tired from today’s work?" the little girl asked.
Wuer just shook his head.
It was only then that Shen Ningning noticed his eyes were welling up with tears.
The little boy clenched his fists tightly, as if troubled by something he couldn’t say.
Shen Ningning plopped down on the floor. The two children facing the wall looked like two adorable little dumplings.
"Wuer, come on, tell me what’s wrong. If you don’t, I’m just going to ignore you!"
That got a reaction. "Sister Ningning, don’t ignore me!" Wuer said anxiously.
"It’s just..." he mumbled. "It’s nothing, really. I just... I didn’t like what those people were saying today."
"Why not?"
"Because they all depend on you to bring them food and happiness, but not one of them asked if you were tired."
Shen Ningning’s eyes widened in surprise.
She never expected it. Wuer seemed so young and naive.
But he was so perceptive.
’His heart ached for me!’
Shen Ningning reached out and put an arm around Wuer’s shoulders, giving him a gentle pat.
"My dear Wuer, but you asked me, didn’t you? I am a little tired, but I think it’s completely worth it!"
As soon as she said that, Wuer quickly wiped away his tears and stood up.
He ran behind her and began to massage her shoulders with his small hands.
"Don’t be too tired, Sister Ningning. Wuer will give you a massage."
Shen Ningning enjoyed it immensely, swaying her little head and closing her eyes in comfort.
After a moment, she spoke, her voice soft and sweet.
"Wuer, sometimes I feel like I was born with a responsibility to help everyone get through hard times."
Wuer’s eyes sparkled. "Of course! Sister Ningning is a blessed girl!"
Then he pouted. "But if one day you don’t want to be a blessed girl anymore, I’ll be the first to support you."
Wuer was young, but he had witnessed Shen Ningning’s hardships firsthand.
He saw how she planned everything and took care of matters from every angle.
Xiangyun Village depended on her. The workers at the shop depended on her.
Now, even the entire Cangyun Country was relying on her blessings for its survival.
How could Wuer’s heart not ache for her?
After all, Miss Ningning wasn’t that much older than he was.
Shen Ningning was just about to comfort Wuer and tell him not to worry about her, when he spoke up first. "I’m not going to be sad anymore!"
"I’m going to be a big boy! I can’t let Sister Ningning be so tired and still have to worry about cheering me up!"
Shen Ningning was taken aback for a moment, then let out a laugh as clear as a silver bell.
She stood up and took Wuer’s small hand.
"Alright then, little man. You barely ate anything tonight. How about we go share a roast chicken?"
Wuer immediately lit up and joyfully agreed.
Seeing how happy he was, Shen Ningning’s heart filled with joy as well.
’Perhaps I was never fated to have parents,’ she thought.
’But the heavens haven’t been unkind. They’ve given me family that isn’t bound by blood.’
...
「Xie Mansion」
Second Madam Xie received a letter from Xie Yuanjiu.
She closed the door to read it in private.
She had expected Xie Yuanjiu to write about how much she missed her mother.
Instead, the very first line of the letter was a scolding!
"Mother, how could you be so foolish!"