Chapter 181 Food
There was enough charcoal burning in the house, and it was very hot.
Cui Yongan took off his helmet, and beads of sweat appeared on his head.
Chen Shiyi took a pair of tongs and poked the red-hot charcoal fire.
"Brother Cui, it's not that I don't want to. More than half of my assets are invested in this batch of grain. When I came here, I was thinking of making a fortune. Although we know each other and you have helped me a lot in the past, I will repay you in other ways. But let's put it this way, I still have many people who rely on me for their livelihood."
Cui Yongan seemed a little upset.
He came out this time with a military warrant, and when he couldn't get any food, he went back to get fifty military sticks.
Originally, he brought so many people with him, and he had to take all the food back even if he had to rob them.
Now, having met Chen Shiyi, he could not do such a thing no matter what.
Just like back then, she asked timidly.
Are you bandits?
Of course not, but now he is ready to become a bandit.
"If someone else came today..."
Chen Shiyi said with a smile.
"If there is a big commotion, it will be even more fatal to the army, right?"
Cui Yongan lowered his head and touched his nose, with a hint of surprise on his resolute face.
"Eleven, Brother Lan is here too, do you want to go see him?"
"good."
Green walls and red tiles, the thick snow covered the original ruggedness, leaving only a piece of white.
Chen Shiyi was wearing a red veil and standing under the majestic gate. Above her head, two large characters "Lan Mansion" were written loud and powerfully.
This time, Fu Da and Mo Xunyan came with him.
The rest of the people and their food were left in an inn at the border of Yunzhou and Liangzhou. Cui Yongan left a team of men to guard it.
They were led by local soldiers to the reception hall in the palace.
A woman with gentle features received them.
"He is still in the barracks. Please sit here for a while."
Chen Shiyi carefully looked at the woman in front of him. She was wearing plain clothes and a wooden hairpin, and she exuded a sense of calmness and elegance.
"Are you Mrs. Lan?"
"Exactly."
Chen Shiyi smiled.
"I'm Chen Shiyi. I met Brother Lan in Fangling. I've heard Brother Lan mention that he has a virtuous wife and a naughty son named Yuanfeng who is afraid of caterpillars."
Mrs. Lan smiled, and dimples appeared on her face.
"You are Eleven? You look so young. You must have suffered a lot when you were in Fangling, right?"
"Has Brother Lan ever mentioned me to you?"
"Of course, when Xiao Cui came to our house for dinner, your elder brother Lan always felt sorry for him, saying that he should have asked Eleven to come over back then, at least Eleven would not have despised him. Now at his age, he still doesn't have a caring woman around him."
"Sister-in-law, who are you talking about?"
A mellow voice came in from outside the door, and the thick cotton curtain was lifted. Two people walked in, followed by a gust of extremely cold wind, which made Chen Shiyi shiver.
Lan Qinghe walked to Chen Shiyi's side with steady steps and couldn't help but nodded.
"Not bad, you are getting more and more beautiful. It seems that Wen Zhiheng treats you very well."
Chen Shiyi looked embarrassed.
"I, I am no longer in the Marquis' Mansion. I live in Anzhou now."
Lan Qinghe was stunned for a moment, then turned and spoke gently to Mrs. Lan.
"Pingzhen, is dinner ready? Bring some more side dishes so we can have a drink."
Mrs. Lan smiled gently and took off Lan Qinghe's helmet and armor.
"Don't worry, go and seat the guests."
After the six people were seated, the maidservants behind them poured wine for them one by one.
Chen Shiyi said hurriedly.
"Don't drink too much. I'll get drunk after just a few sips."
Cui Yongan said carelessly.
"You are drunk, but Brother Lan's house is short of a guest room for you, right?"
Mrs. Lan continued.
"It's common sense that women should drink less when they are out. Don't talk nonsense, Xiao Cui."
Lan Qinghe called Chen Shiyi and pointed at the thick soup in the white porcelain bowl.
"People here often drink mutton soup, which is the best way to warm up in winter."
Chen Shiyi looked at the gentle and elegant Lan Qinghe standing beside him, and marveled that the years seemed to have left no trace on him.
She tasted it and it was delicious.
The eyes suddenly brightened.
"Mm, it's delicious."
Cui Yongan laughed at the side.
"Well, nothing has changed. She is still the same little girl."
Several people burst into laughter.
Lan Qinghe took a bite of the food and ate it, then put down his chopsticks.
"Eleven, you are in Anzhou, aren't you with Wen Zhiheng anymore?"
Chen Shiyi shook his head.
"no."
Lan Qinghe had a smile on his face.
"Very good. Xiao Cui is not married yet. What he said to you back then can be counted now."
Cui Yongan said shamelessly.
"That's right, we can get along well."
Chen Shiyi pursed his lips and smiled.
"Want to marry me? You have to wait in line."
Cui Yongan raised his eyebrows slightly.
"I still remember what I said all those years ago. Look how much I must bear a grudge."
Mo Xunyan and Fu Da looked at each other, one with a smile on his face, and the other with a puzzled look on his face.
"I've always thought you were capable. How could a woman make such a big fortune in this chaotic world?"
Chen Shiyi put down his wine glass and said with a serious expression.
"Brother Lan, weren't you in Mobei before? How come you are in Liangzhou?"
Lan Qinghe smiled helplessly.
“This is the court’s decision.”
Chen Shiyi thought Lan Qinghe would talk to her about food, but he didn't.
He just told her about the customs and practices of Liangzhou, the hardships people faced during the cold season, and the stories of the warriors who guarded the border of Daye...
In the guest room of the Lan Mansion, Chen Shiyi took off his outer robe, sat by the window, and looked out quietly. Snowflakes were flying all over the sky, and the rustling sound was like a goblin whispering in his ear.
Inside the house, the charcoal fire was red.
Mo Xunyan had already been lying on the kang, calling on Chen Shiyi to go to bed and rest.
The bed was warm.
Chen Shiyi seemed not to hear anything and just stared at the wind and snow outside in a daze.
Mo Xunyan put on his clothes and walked up to Chen Shiyi and asked.
"Eleven, what's wrong with you?"
"What do you think I should do?"
Mo Xunyan asked doubtfully.
"What should we do? You mean food? Just do whatever we need to do. Just give us the money."
Chen Shiyi sighed.
"Why does an army need a general to collect food? Books always say that food and fodder must be prepared before troops move. Having enough food and clothes is the lifeblood of an army."
Mo Xunyan nodded and said seriously.
"I've heard something about the Lan Family Army. Can I tell you about it?"
The Lan family was originally a founding hero of Daye and a high-ranking official. The Lan family's army was an eagle-like force that had been stationed in the northern desert for a long time, making it impossible for the enemy to invade Daye's territory.
The Lan family army of just 200,000 has always been a major concern for the current emperor.
The Lan Family Army is deeply loved by the people and has lived in the city of Mobei for a long time, so that people on the border only know the Lan Family Army and do not know the current emperor.
The king's bed is not suitable for others to snore.
When the emperor was worried, he always found ways to gain power. He would divide the Lan family army into several parts and transfer them to various places and assign new generals to take over. Or he would make up an excuse and send Lan Qinghe, the third generation of the Lan family, to Fangling. Now he has sent him to Liangzhou.
"Although I don't understand the affairs of the court, Your Majesty's actions are tantamount to exposing your borders to the eyes of other countries. If the Lan family army is transferred away, how can other armies that take over win the battle if they are not familiar with the combat habits of other countries?"