Chapter 408: Chapter 230:

It must be said, even though he is regarded as a general by the Xiao family, Xia Guangcheng only considers himself a son-in-law of the Xiao family.

He came wearing everyday clothes, greeted everyone with the courtesy of a younger generation, and respectfully addressed his mother-in-law, displaying a very proper attitude.

He even seriously requested Chun Ning to call him brother-in-law.

Zhao Minghua thought that although he was a formidable general, he still carried a touch of childishness.

However, he was also very down-to-earth.

During the conversation, he mainly talked to the Xiao family about the situation of Chunyu and the two children.

Because he knew, what the Xiao family cared most about was their eldest daughter who stayed in the Capital.

“Panpan is very cute, everyone in the mansion likes her,” Xia Guangcheng said. “Yu’er’s health has improved a lot after giving birth to her son; she says it’s all thanks to the efforts of her second sister.”

Xiao Chunyu’s health issues were due to complications during her confinement period.

A confinement ailment needs to be treated during the confinement period.

The reason she was once set aside was because she was said to be jealous and unable to bear children anymore.

Plus, rolling on the iron spike board when she petitioned left her body like a rag doll.

It was Chun Nuan who promptly sent her herbal pills to recuperate, and later her health improved, and despite being diagnosed by the physician as infertile, Xiao Chunyu was again with child and gave birth to a son.

This time during confinement, everyone at the Xia Mansion paid great attention, truly providing whatever was desired to completely cure the ailments that had remained from the last confinement period.

As such, Chunyu’s health is now very good.

“Mother-in-law, please see, these are portraits of Yu’er and the two children.”

Xia Guangcheng had come prepared, and he took out portraits painted by an artist to show the Xiao family.

“Yu’er has put on quite a bit of weight.”

Mrs. Xu hadn’t seen her daughter for five years, and the daughter in the portrait no longer looked like the little girl she remembered, but appeared as a lady of wealth, typical of those seen in the upper circles of the Capital.

“Yu’er is doing excellently.”

Being able to nourish a frail woman into someone exuding prosperity made Xia Guangcheng feel a sense of accomplishment, and he loved having such a wife.

“Indeed, both the General and Mrs. Xia have shown great consideration.”

Mrs. Xu was particularly grateful for Xia Guangcheng’s sincere treatment of her daughter.

Who would have thought that after such a calamity, her daughter would experience such fortune.

The thoughtfulness of Xia Guangcheng was also reflected in the gifts he brought.

All necessities like food and clothing were complete.

“Here are two century-old ginseng roots. These were brought by me from the Capital, as it’s difficult to find such precious medicines in the remote Shu City.”

Xia Guangcheng offered the ginseng, along with gastrodia, cordyceps, and various other precious herbs.

These were specially brought along as gifts for his mother-in-law’s family when he left the Capital.

He also knew that Chun Nuan, being involved in pharmaceutical preparations, could make use of many of these herbs.

True to form, Chun Nuan was very pleased to see these valuable herbs.

Just then, she also had some pills that could be given as a reciprocation.

“Second sister is very skilled in pharmaceuticals and specially seeks your advice on a matter.”

“Please speak, General.”

Chun Nuan still preferred to address him as General.

“My mother has been getting up frequently at night and has more gray hair in recent years. The Imperial Physician says it’s nothing serious, but couldn’t identify the cause. Is there any way to resolve this?”

Frequent night waking and gray hair—Chun Nuan asked about Mrs. Xia’s age and quickly understood the issue.

“Since the Imperial Physician has assessed there’s no serious problem, I shouldn’t prescribe any medicine,” Chun Nuan said. “However, I have some pills here that the General can take back for the old lady to try. If they prove effective, I will make more to send to the Capital.”

“Thank you so much, second sister.”

Xia Guangcheng intended to pay silver, but Chun Nuan was genuinely embarrassed to accept it.

The pills she gave him were not made from expensive materials.

They were actually made from black sesame, black mulberry, black beans, black rice, and black peanuts—ingredients beneficial for the kidneys. This could be considered a dietary supplement suitable for all ages, without any medicinal properties.

“Madam, the meal is ready.”

Nanny Wu came to report.

“In that case, please, General, join us at the table.”

The Xiao family had prepared two tables of Nine Bowl Meal, one for male guests and one for female guests.

Even the soldiers Xia Guangcheng had brought with him were invited to join the meal.

They seemed rather reserved.

“Since the family has already prepared everything, don’t be so reserved, come and take your seats,” he said.

In the strictly hierarchical military camp, without Xia Guangcheng’s word, they wouldn’t dare to join the meal.

Chun Ning had also prepared rice wine.

However, Xia Guangcheng did not allow them to pour drinks.

“We still have official business to attend to in the county in the afternoon, so drinking is inappropriate.”

It must be said, Xia Guangcheng was very strict in military discipline, leading by example.

Soldiers, when entering the city, must not disturb the people or seize their possessions, a principle that earned them the affection of the populace.

With this, things in Changzhou were going smoothly, and he needed to return to consult with the County Magistrate about restoring production.

Indeed, the grain provided by Zhao Minghua could sustain them for a month, and after that, it would be the autumn harvest. The government would need to step in to purchase the grain, stabilizing the future market price.

Merchants must not be allowed to take advantage and profit from the crisis.

On this issue, Xia Guangcheng sought advice from Zhao Minghua.

“First, set government procurement prices slightly higher than the merchants; second, purchase from other places.”

Zhao Minghua spoke of places in Han State rich in grain.

“Although it is rather far, with soldiers escorting, it shouldn’t be much of a problem.”

Most importantly, it would address the people’s concerns about food scarcity.

Once affordable grain is available daily, the panic will subside.

What Zhao Minghua didn’t say was: even if you haven’t purchased much grain, you must pretend as if an abundance has been secured, so the public won’t rush to stockpile.

This is an understanding that cannot be spoken.

Hope Xia Guangcheng can grasp it.

After paying respects to his mother-in-law, Xia Guangcheng returned to Changzhou that afternoon.

Shuikou Village was such a small place, and everyone knew that was General Xia, an official of the court, and knew he was the son-in-law of the Xiao family. People couldn’t help but sigh: once indifferent to the Xiao family, now they were beyond reach.

The elders of the grand Xiao clan also regretted deeply, stomping their feet: they shouldn’t have excluded them from the clan back then!

Otherwise, how grand it would be now, with the General visiting the grand Xiao clan for a stay.

However, regrets don’t come cheap, and there’s no remedy for them in the world.

What the grand Xiao clan hadn’t anticipated was that the next day, something happened at the Xiao Family Pier.

“Harboring traitors?”

Third Master Xiao and Sixth Master Xiao were stunned.

How could something like this happen?

Their first reaction was that General Xia was settling personal scores, possibly standing up for the Xiao family members who were cast out of the clan.

However, when Xia Guangcheng’s deputy led the team and found broadswords in the pier’s inn, they were left speechless.

The Xiao family’s stewards, Third Master Xiao and Sixth Master Xiao, were arrested as accomplices and taken to jail.

“Third brother, did you really not know about this situation?”

Sixth Master Xiao was furious: “I walk around the pier all day and haven’t found anything suspicious.” “If you haven’t discovered anything, how would I?” Third Master Xiao sneered: “What could the situation be? Someone just wants us finished off.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep