Chapter 78: A Small Scheme
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
In the afternoon.
After loading the ice cream bars, the young general prepared to go back.
Chu Qingzhi sent them off. After taking two steps, she said with the intention of giving it a try, “Brother Xu, can we talk in private?”
She happened to learn that the young general’s surname was Xu, but she did not know his full name.
Young General Xu came to Chu Qingzhi’s house every day. They were already familiar with each other. Hearing this, he nodded. “Okay.”
The two of them walked a little further. After confirming that only the two of them could hear each other, Chu Qingzhi said solemnly, “Brother Xu, it’s actually nothing serious. 1 just want to ask you about someone.”
Li Shengfeng joined the army, so it was naturally the most suitable to ask someone in the army.
Young General Xu was a little interested, but he said cautiously, “Who do you want to ask? But let me make things clear first. You can’t casually ask about what happened in the army, or we’ll lose our heads.”
Upon hearing this, Chu Qingzhi pretended to look serious. “The person 1 want to ask about is called Li Shengfeng. He shouldn’t be a big shot, right?”
Young General Xu sized Chu Qingzhi up and seemed to understand something. He thought that Chu Qingzhi liked Li Shengfeng. “Oh, you’re asking about him. He’s already married. You’re such a good girl. Don’t take a fancy to him.”
“What are you thinking…” Chu Qingzhi understood what Young General Xu meant. She wanted to say that she didn’t like Li Shengfeng, but she swallowed her words. Let the young general misunderstand so that it would be easier for her to ask. “I want to know why he suddenly got married?”
“You asked the right person.” Xu Xiao recalled. “When we first joined the army, Li Shengfeng was in the same camp as me. We even slept in the same tent and went to the battlefield together. He was relatively lucky. Not only did he return alive from the first battlefield, but he also killed ten enemies and made military contributions.”
“The next year, he obtained the recognition of the centurion”
“At the end of the second year, he became the son-in-law by the chiliarch and was later made a centurion. He was called a young general in the military camp, just like me.”
“Now that the border is temporarily peaceful, many soldiers have been sent to other military camps. He and I came back like this.”
Hearing Young General Xu’s words, Chu Qingzhi understood. “Brother Xu, thank you.”
Young General Xu continued, “Miss Chu, when we first met Li Shengfeng, he told us that someone was waiting for him at home…”
He glanced at Chu Qingzhi and decided to make her give up. Falling in love with a married man was not going to get her anywhere.
He said euphemistically, “Miss Chu, it’s easy for men to have a change of heart, especially some people.” What he meant was already clear.
In the beginning, he had a good relationship with Li Shengfeng, but ever since Li Shengfeng married the chiliarch’s daughter, he had become arrogant.
Chu Qingzhi felt that this young general’s personality was really good. She nodded and said, “Does the chiliarch know about Li Shengfeng’s past?”
Young General Xu said with certainty, “He doesn’t know. The chiliarch is an upright person. If he knew that someone was waiting for Li Shengfeng, he wouldn’t have married his daughter to him.”
Chu Qingzhi was deep in thought. “Brother Xu, can you help me with something?”
This person was sent by Tang Jinghong, so it wouldn’t be a problem for her to ask him for help.
Young General Xu looked at Chu Qingzhi curiously. “What is it?”
Chu Qingzhi said, “Let me ask you first. Can Li Shengfeng read?”
Young General Xu nodded. “He can read. There’s a teacher in the military camp. Those who want to read can learn. He also went to learn.”
That would be easy. Chu Qingzhi said, “Brother Xu, I want you to help me send a letter to Li Shengfeng. I won’t write my name on the letter. When you send the letter, don’t let anyone know. Do you understand what I mean?”
Young General Xu said readily, “No problem.”
“Then wait for me.” Chu Qingzhi turned around and returned to her room.
“Alright.” Young General Xu looked up at Chu Qingzhi and guessed what letter Miss Chu would send Li Shengfeng.
Chu Qingzhi returned to her room and quickly wrote a letter to Young General Xu. “Brother Xu, sorry to trouble you. The next time you come, I’ll give you Zongzi.”
“It’s no trouble.” Young General Xu smiled and cupped his fists at Chu Qingzhi. “We’ll get going first.”
Chu Qingzhi said politely, “Brother Xu, take care.”
Chu Qingzhi stood on the spot and watched the convoy leave. A happy smile appeared on her face. It was done!
She returned home and happily began to prepare the ingredients for making Zongzi.
The main ingredients are glutinous rice, fillings and bamboo leaves.
The fillings include green beans, pork belly, red dates, ham, winter mushrooms, egg yolk, and so on.
This time, Chu Qingzhi chose three fillings. One was green beans, one was pork belly, and the other was red dates.
Glutinous rice could be bought in the village. Chu Qingzhi asked Chu Qingning to be her helper. They bought 50 kilograms of glutinous rice and planned to soak them in water for four hours when they got back.
Chu Qingning was confused all the way and finally had the time to ask, “Fifth Sister, why are you buying so much rice?”
Chu Qingzhi blinked at Chu Qingning. “I’m going to make zongzi.”
Chu Qingning asked in confusion, “Fifth Sister, did you read it in a book too?”
Now, the Chu family attributed Chu Qingzhi’s knowledge to the fact that she had read many books.
Chu Qingzhi said naturally, “That’s right. I saw it in a very ancient book.” Others had already found an excuse for her, so there was no reason not to use it.
Chu Qingning’s eyes were filled with admiration. “Fifth Sister, what are we going to do next?”
Chu Qingzhi said, “I’m going to the mountains to pick bamboo leaves.”
Chu Qingning asked, “Then what should I do?”
Chu Qingzhi said, “Fourth Sister, go to the county to buy green beans and red dates. Buy 20 catties of each.”
As for the pork belly, she would hunt two wild boars at night. Wild boars were fresh.
Chu Qingning’s eyes lit up as she replied, “Alright, 1’11 go immediately.”
Next, the two of them went their separate ways.
Chu Qingning went to the county city while Chu Qingzhi carried a huge basket on her back and walked unsteadily into the mountains. She did not tell her family that she was going to the mountains. Otherwise, no one would let her go-
Chu Qingzhi had already explored the entire mountain and remembered everything in the mountain. Now, she went straight to the place where the bamboo leaves were.
She stretched out her hand and made some strange gestures. A light flashed and flew into the forest.
Not long after, a large group of monkeys ran over.
They surrounded Chu Qingzhi and looked at her, as if they were waiting for an order.
She instructed, “All of you, help me pick the bamboo leaves. Pick the bigger and tender ones.”
After the monkeys dispersed to carry out their task, Chu Qingzhi found a place to slack off.
She sat on a rock under the shade of a tree. Leaning against a big tree, she started dozing off..
Chapter end