Chapter 17: I’m Reluctant To Change My Underpants Even When They’re Worn Through
Xie Chong confirmed that the little cub’s skin didn’t seem to tan or get hurt.
Could it be because she’s a little spirit?
“General, we’ve arrived!”
With an invigorating, rough shout, seeing the dilapidated city within reach, the thirty thousand soldiers following Xie Chong erupted in cheers.
In this life, besides home, this was their second home, even though they could lose their lives here at any moment.
The border conditions were harsh, and due to frequent wars, merchant caravans dared not come here. Moreover, a war had occurred here just two years ago and was only completely resolved this year.
Therefore, it was also very poor here, with the walls patched up and looking dilapidated.
But this was a place they fought for and defended.
After joining the army, besides their birthplace, this was their second home where they could eat, rest, and put down roots.
These thirty thousand soldiers were returning to Shangjing with Xie Chong to report their mission, and they thought they would enjoy life in Shangjing.
But in reality, while they admired it, they also felt stifled.
After a long time, they missed this dilapidated city even more.
After all, they were accustomed to a rough life and couldn’t tolerate life in Shangjing where a fallen roof tile could hit a noble, leading to insults or even a beating, and one could easily end up in prison.
Here, if they offended someone, they could just fight, and then share drinks and call each other brothers.
Going to Shangjing, they, without background, money, or status, could easily lose their lives out of sheer frustration.
Qin Wanwan was also uplifted by everyone’s emotions.
Although the city walls looked gray, and the city gate looked poor, perhaps things would be better inside the city.
After all, it’s still a city.
“Daddy, is there delicious food in the city? Are there baozi? Is there meat? Is there fragrant flatbread?”
Qin Wanwan’s eyes were full of anticipation.
Xie Chong: “…Sometimes there is.”
Qin Wanwan didn’t yet understand the weight of that statement.
Not until the city gate opened and they entered the city.
Qin Wanwan looked at the exceptionally desolate scene within the city and fell silent.
The ground was yellow mud, the houses in the city were low adobe houses, and there were few shops on the streets.
There weren’t even many people walking on the street.
The commotion of their return was quite significant, after all, there were so many of them.
However, the commoners in Shahe City were like startled birds, quickly closing their shops and even their windows.
It wasn’t until they peeked through the cracks in the windows that they saw that the people entering the city were the guardians of their Shahe City.
“It’s the border army, General Xie and the border army are back!”
Instantly, the previously tightly shut doors and windows opened.
The commoners, with sallow faces, wearing coarse cloth shirts, some children even unclothed, excitedly came out.
“General Xie is back!!!”
This news spread to every corner of Shahe City at lightning speed.
Regardless of age or health, everyone in this city looked at Xie Chong and his army with admiration and fervent eyes.
Although Qin Wanwan didn’t understand what was happening, it didn’t stop her from being proud of her daddy.
“Daddy, they all seem to like you a lot.”
“Of course.”
Xie Chong remained silent, but there was someone who couldn’t help but chatter.
The Deputy General further back said proudly, “Two years ago, when the Tartars invaded, hundreds of thousands of troops besieged the city. Our General led all the soldiers out and, in just one year, routed those Tartars and even went deep into the grasslands to capture many Tartar nobles, including several princes. Our main purpose for returning to Shangjing this time is to escort those prisoners back.”
After such a victory, the Emperor naturally had to reward the merits.
Xie Chong’s military power continued to grow. The officials in the Imperial Court looked down on their General, who came from a grassroots background, yet they feared the military power in his hands.
This time, they almost left their General in Shangjing.
Fortunately, the Emperor, likely fearing death, knew that this time they had only eliminated a portion of the Tartars’ influence, and that more Grassland Tribes were coveting the Central Plains. The Imperial Court also had no military generals more capable than Xie Chong. In the end, the Emperor still let General Xie return with his soldiers.
The air of their Shahe City felt more comfortable.
As soon as General Xie returned, Shahe City changed from its previous desolate and empty state. Everyone who was inside came out, and the shops reopened.
But even so, the population of the entire Shahe City was pitifully small, let alone the shops selling goods.
There were hardly any shops here; everyone would only gather at a market during market days to sell some goods.
Qin Wanwan looked for a long time but didn’t see any food being sold, and she was a little disappointed.
The soldiers went to the military camp, and Qin Wanwan was sent to the General’s Mansion.
The General’s Mansion was just a brick and tile house slightly grander than other adobe houses.
There were no pavilions or towers because suitable building wood was scarce here, and making such elaborate and beautiful houses was not cost-effective.
No one knew when the Tartars or other Grassland Tribes would invade. If they set fire to it, adobe or brick houses might leave a few walls standing, but wooden houses would burn down silently.
Moreover, although the exterior of the General’s Mansion looked somewhat decent, the interior… was so poor it was visible at a glance.
The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, so messy it was almost as tall as Qin Wanwan.
Due to being vacant for a long time, the house looked very dilapidated.
The most outrageous thing was that Xie Chong didn’t even have a key.
Qin Wanwan looked at her daddy with her clear big eyes.
“Daddy, will this be where we live from now on?”
Are you sure?
Keke circled back, flapping its wings, and its little mouth jabbed at Xie Chong’s chest.
“Heavens, if you hadn’t brought us here, I would have thought this was an abandoned old house, only slightly better than a mass grave. This run-down place screams poverty from the inside out. General, you’re so reluctant to change your underpants even when they’re torn, at least get this house maintained!”
Xie Chong’s face darkened.
The Deputy General following him: “!!!”
What? General’s underpants are torn and he’s reluctant to change them? Is that true? How does this bird know?!
Everyone behind Xie Chong perked up their ears.
“Shut up!”
Keke quickly flew a bit further away: “Sorry, I let it slip!”
Fearing that Xie Chong would grab it the next second and pluck all its beautiful feathers.
Xie Chong glanced back, and everyone else immediately looked at the sky and the ground, pretending they hadn’t heard anything.
“Find a few people to pull out the weeds in the courtyard and clean up the house.”
He forcibly tried to save face and explained to Qin Wanwan: “It’s fine for me to live anywhere alone. I’ve been living in the military camp, so this house has been vacant.”
So it wasn’t because they were too poor!
Actually, Xie Chong had considered renting out this house, but it was the General’s Mansion, and even a dilapidated General’s Mansion, no one dared to presumptuously live in it.
So it could only remain vacant.
