The Daily Life of a Down-on-Hard-Life Medicine Girl Supporting Her Family

Chapter 269

Upon hearing that her son was going to the border, Madam Xia immediately instructed her servants to make preparations.

"The border is so cold in winter that people can't go out. We need to prepare more warm clothes," said Madam Xia. "Tell the embroidery workshop to put aside other work and do their best to make winter clothes for the general. Also, prepare two sets for each of the people who go to the border with him."

"Yes, old lady."

Madam Xia had lived on the border for many years and knew the situation there well, and she also had great sympathy for the soldiers.

Some elderly people have their own sons and others who take care of them; this is why the elderly are respected.

Xiao Chunyu is also making preparations.

"Take out all the medicine Nuannuan gave me, let me take a look."

Xiao Chunyu was filled with a million worries as the man was heading to the border.

Chunnuan brought her a lot of good medicine, and she divided each one in half for Xia Guangcheng to take with him.

"In addition, instruct the steward to buy two hundred catties of pork, and also see if there is any beef or mutton for sale. If so, buy two hundred catties of each."

"Madam, are you buying so much meat for a banquet?"

The girl was very puzzled.

"No, we bought it to steam and make jerky, so the general can take it with him as rations."

This method was told to her by Nuannuan in a letter.

Nuannuan said she was going to visit her father and the others in the northern desert, so she prepared this type of dry food, which is convenient and nutritious.

When Madam Xia heard that the steward had made a large purchase and learned that it was dry food prepared by Chunyu for her son, she was very pleased.

"This child, Cheng'er's devotion to her is truly worthwhile."

There is nothing more joyful than seeing my son and daughter-in-law happy and loving.

The old lady was relieved that her daughter-in-law cared for her son and that he was being taken care of.

In the past, whenever my son went to war, I would only make warm clothes for him and never thought about food.

After all, she knew that the army was provided with supplies and would not go hungry.

I really didn't expect my daughter-in-law to prepare so much meat for my son.

In this dynasty, water buffaloes were used for plowing and could not be slaughtered indiscriminately, but yellow cattle could.

Having received instructions from his wife, the steward went to great lengths to buy beef and mutton, and then bought pork.

"Just cut it into cubes and boil or steam it."

Xiao Chunyu rolled up her sleeves and personally went to the kitchen to give instructions: "It must be cooked today."

"Madam, there are only two pots in the main kitchen and two pots in the small kitchen. We can't cook this many."

The person in charge was in a dilemma.

No one buys more than 600 jin of meat at a time, and it takes a whole day to cook it. They don't even have that many pots and pans.

"Go buy two big pots and set up a stove here to cook," Xiao Chunyu instructed. "After cooking, we need to cut them into strips and bake them. Yes, we must set up a stove."

So the steward sent someone to buy pots and firewood.

Xiao Chunyu then had someone go to the pharmacy to buy about ten kinds of spices, including star anise, cinnamon, nard, fennel, white cardamom, nutmeg, amomum villosum, and bay leaves. He wrapped them in a white cloth and put them in a large pot to boil.

In an instant, the entire general's mansion was in chaos.

About half an hour later, a rich fragrance filled the air in the General's Mansion.

"Mother, what delicious food are you making?"

Panpan woke up from her afternoon nap still half asleep. She could have slept for another half hour, but she was woken up by the smell.

"Meatball." Xiao Chunyu hugged her daughter tightly. "Father is going to the border. Mother has someone prepare some dried meat for Father to take with him."

"Is Father going to the border?" Panpan's drowsiness vanished instantly: "There's going to be a war."

"No, Father is going to guard the border."

"No, there's going to be a war." Xiao Chunyu was startled when she heard Panpan emphasize the words "war" again: every word this child said was worth scrutinizing.

"Then why don't you go and talk to your father?"

Panpan immediately ran to Xia Guangcheng's study.

"Miss, the general has important business in his study. Please come and see him later."

Deputy General Song Panpan stopped them outside the study, because the general was discussing the current situation with several gentlemen, which was a very confidential matter and should not be disturbed.

"Okay, Panpan will wait for her father."

Panpan is a good girl, and she sat quietly on the chair next to her waiting.

The two maids stood silently behind her, keeping her company.

They already understood that although this young lady was young, she was still a mistress in the General's Mansion and absolutely could not be ignored.

Putting everything else aside, just take the general's study. Only the old lady, the madam, and this young lady are allowed to enter.

In other words, her status in the general's mansion was no less than that of the lady.

Sometimes I think, life is just like that. The Wu family is really stupid. They disliked her because she was a girl and kicked her and her mother out of the house after her one-month celebration.

But they didn't expect to run into a tough opponent who dragged the Wu family down with him.

Everyone in the capital knew very well about the General's wife's past.

Back then, everyone kept their distance from her, thinking she was a vicious woman.

But who would have thought that her ruthlessness might not have been forced upon her by others?
Who would have thought how miserable those days were when the mother and daughter, along with their three loyal servants, were wandering the streets?

Of course, they never imagined that Xiao Chunyu, after being isolated, would have an opportunity, be noticed by General Xia, be personally betrothed by the emperor, and become the wife of a second-rank general.

This young lady also rose in status, even surpassing the lady, and became a distinguished guest of the Crown Prince's Palace.

Having received the young lady's favor, they often accompanied her to the palace. The Eastern Palace, which was mysterious to outsiders, was a place that these two maids knew very well, even with their eyes closed.

The aunts in the Eastern Palace treated them both very politely, often inviting them to eat pastries and drink tea, and occasionally giving them gifts.

It's no exaggeration to say that their private belongings were the most substantial among all the servants in the entire household.

The kind of master you follow is really important.

Their masters are blessed, and they too can enjoy happiness.

When the girl saw that Panpan was dozing off in the chair, she quickly went up and hugged her.

Panpan opened her eyes, saw that it was her, and then went back to sleep reassured.

I don't know how much time passed, but the study door opened and several advisors came out.

"Student, take your leave."

Several gentlemen bowed to General Xia.

"Thank you, gentlemen. Please rest well in your residence."

Xia Guangcheng was a smart man, and of course, he understood the principle that "among three people walking together, there must be one who can teach me." So he specially invited several gentlemen to analyze the current situation inside and outside the court.

Of course, there are some things you can say and some things you should never say, no matter what.

To Xia Guangcheng's surprise, his gentlemen all had very impressive sources of information. Although they didn't say it explicitly, they generally knew about the current emperor's situation.

Sometimes I think, if even his advisors know this, how could the imperial relatives and powerful officials in the capital not know it?

Therefore, many things cannot be kept from those who are interested.

The capital city is about to undergo a major upheaval.

Just as I was about to turn around, I spotted Panpan being held by the girl on the stool.

"Why is the young lady asleep here?"

Xia Guangcheng frowned and asked the maid, "Why don't you carry him back to bed to sleep?"