Captain Yuan led his group of soldiers, all of whom were drooling with envy.
"The Eighth Deputy General is the best. Thanks to you, the soldiers will have mutton to eat tonight, haha."
Like Qiu Yan and the others, they had come to the Western Regions and had long since run out of money.
As a result, they ate nothing but naan every day.
It wasn't until the arrival of the two deputy generals, Ling Qi and Ling Ba, that their meals were improved.
Keep in mind, they have over six hundred mouths to feed.
Previously, their soldiers numbered over two thousand.
Initially, more than 600 people returned. A few days ago, the seventh deputy general led another 600 people back.
Excluding those who suffered losses, as well as some who died from illness or acclimatization problems, there are still more than 600 people left.
The soldiers laughed after hearing what Captain Yuan said.
Ling Ba smiled calmly.
"It's all thanks to Xiaoyan that she made all this mutton."
"You bought this mutton, didn't you?" Qiu Yan smiled and shook her head, implying that without Ling Ba's purchasing, they wouldn't have any meat to eat.
Qin Susu pouted.
"And I'm here too."
During the meal, Commandant Yuan and his soldiers sat around the fire, their mouths brimming with the aroma of food, praising it endlessly.
"Miss Qiu, Miss Qin, on behalf of all the soldiers, I express my gratitude."
Ordinary people, who would treat these soldiers so well for no reason, even cooking stewed mutton for them?
As Lieutenant Yuan spoke, he put down his bowl and chopsticks, stood up, and clasped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Qiu Yan.
The soldiers also stood up, each with a warm smile on their face.
"Thank you, Miss Qiu. We haven't had a proper meal in a long time."
"Thank you, Miss Qiu!"
Even if each soldier could only get a piece of meat to eat, they were satisfied as long as they had soup.
Qiu Yan smiled and waved her hand.
"The soldiers have worked hard for the country, and we have only done our part. We must not express our gratitude again."
Qin Susu stood to the side, happily eating the pieces of mutton in her bowl.
Ling Ba smiled as she looked at Qiu Yan. Under the bright moonlight, she was like a firefly, illuminating the soldiers' long-suppressed anxiety.
If the general knew, he would surely be very pleased.
After dinner, Qiu Yan and Qin Susu naturally went to the inn, as there was no place for them to stay here.
Moreover, Vera is still at the inn.
Ling Ba went along with them.
He took the lead of Qiu Yan's horse, savoring the quiet and fleeting moment of beauty.
Living is not easy; enjoying the present moment is the norm.
After a long silence, Qiu Yan said:
"Cousin Ling, in a few days, you will set off back and deliver the available saltpeter to Gu Qian. Remember to take plenty of men with you; leaving one or two hundred men here will be enough."
Time was of the essence, and Qiu Yan wished her soldiers could sprout wings and fly back immediately.
There was no time to lose; she didn't want to linger for even a moment longer.
Ling Ba seemed surprised that Qiu Yan wanted to send her away so soon after their meeting.
"No, we'll go together!"
He waited there so that he could go back with Qiu Yan.
Xiao Yan didn't usually call him "cousin".
She always refers to herself by her own name.
Today, meeting again in a foreign land, their feelings for each other have deepened.
"You go back first."
Qiu Yan traveled a long way to this place, so how could she leave so easily?
She saw the worry in Ling Ba's eyes. "Don't worry, with Su Su here, we've been very fortunate to have her along the way."
Ling Ba thought for a moment, "Commander Yuan is brave and skilled in battle, and possesses both wisdom and strategy. Let him go back with the five hundred soldiers."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
