Commander Xiao looked intently at the battalion commander standing to the side, a hint of doubt on his face, and asked, "Who is this?"
His voice was steady and powerful, carrying an invisible authority.
Upon hearing Commander Xiao's question, Shen Xiaochuan quickly stepped forward and respectfully said, "Commander, this is our village's brigade leader!"
As he spoke, he didn't forget to give the captain a meaningful look.
Commander Xiao nodded slightly, then took a few steady steps forward, extending his broad hand and smiling at the battalion commander, saying, "Thank you for supporting our work, Battalion Commander!"
Upon seeing this, the battalion commander hurriedly stepped forward, grasped Commander Xiao's hand, shook it vigorously a few times, and replied with some excitement, "It's all the duty of our battalion. It's an honor for our battalion to cooperate with the troops in completing the mission!"
At this moment, the team leader seemed to remember something, turned around and shouted loudly to the villagers who were curiously watching from the doorway: "Disperse, everyone! There's nothing to see! Stop just watching the show and not doing your work! Go do what you're supposed to be doing!"
As he finished speaking, the villagers who had gathered together began to disperse, muttering under their breath, but obediently getting back to their own tasks.
"Distinguished leaders, as you can see, it's getting late and the light is dim, making it really difficult to continue this delicate work of gathering herbs."
"Why don't we rest for the night and conserve our energy, and then go up the mountain to gather herbs after dawn tomorrow?" Shen Xiaoxiao suggested to everyone with a sincere expression.
"Hmm, that makes sense! Comrade Shen has been busy all day, he must be exhausted. Well then, let's do as you say and start work again first thing tomorrow morning." Commander Xiao readily agreed.
After a moment's thought, Shen Xiaoxiao spoke again: "Actually, this season is when all kinds of medicinal herbs on the mountain are growing most luxuriantly."
"Tomorrow, I plan to personally lead you all up the mountain to pick some of the urgently needed medicinal herbs, and then we'll go to a nearby pharmacy to buy some other kinds of herbs. This two-pronged approach will ensure that we successfully obtain all the herbs we need."
"Okay, we'll do it your way! I'll go settle everyone in first, then find a suitable open space nearby to set up camp and get some rest."
After Commander Xiao finished speaking, he turned around and began to direct the soldiers to move in an orderly manner.
In the following days, Shen Xiaoxiao took the lead and guided Commander Xiao and the accompanying experts deep into the mountains and forests.
Like an experienced guide, she moved effortlessly through the dense vegetation, stopping occasionally to carefully dig out the precious herbs by the roots.
Whenever a new herb is discovered, Shen Xiaoxiao patiently and meticulously introduces its name, effects, and preparation method to everyone, who listen with great interest and fascination.
Under her careful guidance, everyone not only gained a lot, but also learned a great deal about herbs.
The experts took careful notes and raised questions from time to time, which Shen Xiaoxiao answered patiently.
Her professional knowledge and skillful techniques impressed all the professors.
At the same time, Dai Xingyun was not idle either. As long as he finished the work in the fields, he took the initiative to help arrange the logistics work and ensure everyone's food and rest.
He also often stayed by Shen Xiaoxiao's side, silently supporting her work.
Shen Xiaoxiao felt his thoughtfulness and felt even sweeter inside.
As experienced individuals, Shen Zishan and Ma Aning understood the situation perfectly well. If their daughter didn't object, it meant she liked it too. The two simply observed the subsequent developments silently without any opposition.
When Shen Xiaochuan saw the man who was always following behind his younger sister and fawning over her from afar, an inexplicable anger welled up in his heart, and his face instantly darkened.
He rushed forward, grabbed Shen Xiaoxiao and pulled her aside, angrily demanding in a low voice, "You brat, tell me the truth, what exactly is going on with that man?"
Shen Xiaoxiao's gaze darted away, avoiding eye contact with her brother, and she stammered, "Wh...what happened?"
Seeing this, Shen Xiaochuan became even angrier and glared at him, shouting angrily, "Stop pretending in front of me! I can guess what you're thinking with just one glance! Tell the truth now!"
Startled by her brother's harsh words, Shen Xiaoxiao panicked. Knowing she couldn't hide it, she pouted and playfully tugged at Shen Xiaochuan's sleeve.
"Oh, okay, okay, bro~ I'll tell you in detail later when I have time. Look, everyone's still waiting for me!"
As she spoke, she pointed to the crowd of people looking in their direction from a distance.
Looking at his younger sister's pitiful appearance, Shen Xiaochuan, though still dissatisfied, ultimately softened. He sighed helplessly, waved his hand, and said, "Alright, alright, go and do your work! Don't you dare hide anything from me again!"
After receiving her brother's permission, Shen Xiaoxiao stuck out her tongue as if relieved, then turned and walked quickly toward Commander Xiao.
She looked at Commander Xiao with a serious expression and said, "Commander Xiao, the medicinal herbs have been almost collected, and we can start making medicine today!"
Then, Shen Xiaoxiao methodically directed the professors to move various medicinal herbs, and patiently explained the properties and effects of each herb she picked up.
After all the ingredients for the hemostatic drug have been prepared.
Shen Xiaoxiao stood focused in front of everyone, gently and meticulously moving her hands, demonstrating step by step how to properly make medicine.
She demonstrated every subtle movement and every precise operation clearly and distinctly.
The people present followed Shen Xiaoxiao's instructions closely, imitating her movements and steps with complete concentration.
Gradually, the group, who were originally clueless about medicine making, became more skilled, and the medicinal herbs in their hands gradually blended together, emitting a faint herbal fragrance.
Commander Xiao stared intently at the medicine that was gradually taking shape before him, a surge of excitement welling up within him.
However, at that moment, his bodyguard, Xiao Wang, suddenly raised his knife and, without hesitation, slashed a deep gash in his own arm. Blood gushed out instantly, staining his sleeve crimson.
"Xiao Wang, what are you doing?" Commander Xiao's expression changed drastically upon seeing this, and he questioned him angrily.
Xiao Wang raised his head, a simple and honest smile on his face: "Commander, my little injury is nothing. Seeing the soldiers on the border suffering from injuries, I also want to do my part."
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