Chapter 46: This Woman Packs A Punch
Seeing Xiao Yanyan’s expression, Li Xiao was also a bit baffled.
But when he noticed that Xiao Yanyan’s gaze had been fixed on this saber, Li Xiao couldn’t help but probe.
“Miss Xiao, is there a problem with this saber?”
Xiao Yanyan gently shook her head, let out a slight sigh, raised her head, and when she looked at Li Xiao, there was even more gratitude in her eyes.
“Thank you, Li Xiao!”
Li Xiao was slightly stunned. It was just a saber!
Although it was forged from Wootz Steel and gold, given Xiao Yanyan’s status, it wasn’t necessarily that valuable.
It shouldn’t make Xiao Yanyan suddenly become so emotional!
“Do you know what these two characters mean?”
Xiao Yanyan stroked the two characters on the saber, her voice ethereal as she spoke.
“Characters?”
Li Xiao looked at the spot her finger was stroking.
Earlier, Li Xiao had noticed these two characters, but he didn’t recognize them.
He guessed they might be Geluolu script!
“This is Khitan script, it’s a person’s name.” Xiao Yanyan gave Li Xiao the answer.
Khitan script?
Li Xiao suddenly understood. No wonder!
So that means this saber isn’t the Geluolu People’s, it might be from…
Li Xiao’s gaze deeply fixed on Xiao Yanyan.
And the woman continued to lower her head looking at the Golden Saber, softly saying, “This saber is my mother’s keepsake.”
“It was given to her by my grandfather when she was born.”
“These two characters on the saber are my mother’s milk name.”
“After Mother passed away, I’ve always carried it with me.”
“But not long ago, on the North Mountain Battlefield, I unexpectedly lost it.”
Xiao Yanyan’s gaze turned to Li Xiao as she said, “So, Li Xiao, thank you for helping me find it.”
Hearing this, Li Xiao was also a bit dumbfounded. Xiao Yanyan’s mother at birth?
Damn, this is a real antique!
It’s well-preserved, with no trace of age at all.
It seems both Xiao Yanyan and her mother cherished this saber very much.
Li Xiao gently shook his head with a smile: “No problem, this is also because your blessings run deep.”
“Your grandfather and mother are watching over you from heaven!”
The effect was even better than Li Xiao had imagined.
For Xiao Yanyan, the value of her mother’s keepsake definitely far exceeded that of an ordinary Golden Saber.
Although curious about what these two Khitan characters were, thinking it was her mother’s milk name, Li Xiao felt too embarrassed to ask.
“In any case, I owe you another favor.” Xiao Yanyan held the Golden Saber to her chest, looking solemnly at Li Xiao.
She, Xiao Yanyan, would repay both grudges and kindness.
Previously at Dragon Bone River, Li Xiao had led people to save her life, and now he had helped her recover her mother’s keepsake.
She already owed Li Xiao two favors.
“Alright, although I don’t care, if you insist on repaying me shamelessly, I can only reluctantly accept.” Li Xiao shook his head and said.
“Pfft~”
Xiao Yanyan suddenly laughed out loud, her grief for her mother mostly dispelled: “Reluctantly? You’re not old, but your airs are big!”
“I’m just stating facts.” Li Xiao chuckled lightly.
Joking, he said: “Among us Han People, the best way for a woman to repay is with her body.”
“Hmph~ glib tongue~” Xiao Yanyan scoffed, naturally understanding Li Xiao was joking.
But these words made her heart skip a beat, a special emotion surging for a moment, but she quickly shook her head inwardly.
Impossible.
Afterward, the two’s relationship became even more harmonious, and during chats, Xiao Yanyan’s laughter could always be heard, as if she was very happy.
This woman seemed to have found someone to confide in, unknowingly telling Li Xiao many things.
Her parents had passed away not long after she was born, and she had no impression of them at all.
After she became a bit sensible, the only thing she remembered was Grandfather’s constant coldness and annoyance toward her.
Fortunately, Elder Brother doted on her greatly and took care of her in every way.
After Grandfather passed away, the brother and sister’s lives changed dramatically; those who once fawned over them began to mock and suppress them.
After her brother grew up, he gradually took over Grandfather’s remaining political legacy, and the brother and sister’s situation began to improve.
So, although Xiao Yanyan was called Princess, her life wasn’t easy.
She even had it worse than children like Li Xiao, the herdsmen, with a more carefree childhood.
It was very late when Li Xiao and the other finally parted ways.
Walking out of Second Uncle’s door, Li Xiao looked at the night sky and took a deep breath, suppressing the thoughts in his heart.
“This woman~”
“The aftereffects are strong.”
Li Xiao looked back, but Xiao Yanyan’s figure was already gone, so he could only shake his head inwardly.
For now, this woman could only be admired from afar, not played with.
Just as he was about to go find Huang Xiuer to vent some fire, passing by his home, he vaguely heard Grandmother’s sobbing from inside.
Li Xiao reined in his horse and gently shook his head.
“Forget it.”
“In a few days. Not appropriate now.”
With that, he walked into the house.
Sleep.
The next day, Li Xiao got up quite late, almost noon.
First, he checked on Second Uncle’s wound.
As soon as they returned to Hexi Fort last night, the Old Master immediately cleaned his wound and cut away the rotten flesh.
The Old Master was adept at handling such external injuries.
The most important thing next was to ensure the wound didn’t get reinfected.
So, Li Xiao continued to refine allicin.
Soak it in water and pour it into Second Uncle’s mouth uninterrupted every day.
Allicin’s bactericidal effect was average, so he could only make up for it with quantity.
After doing all this, Li Xiao left home and rode his horse leisurely through the village.
“Fort Master, have you eaten?”
A middle-aged woman stood in her courtyard, greeting Li Xiao from afar.
“Just ate.” Li Xiao smiled.
“Aunt Zhou, what are you doing?”
The woman smiled and pointed at the cattle and sheep in the courtyard, saying, “The newly distributed cattle and sheep have filled the courtyard. I’m planning to expand the sheep pen.”
“Too many, not enough space.”
Though complaining, Aunt Zhou’s tone was full of pride and happiness.
In the Sanhe Fort battle, her husband and son both participated and got a share of cattle and sheep and spoils of war.
In the Hou Village battle, her son also participated and got another share of cattle and sheep.
Too many, the courtyard was almost not enough.
This was happiness and trouble at the same time.
“Hahaha, if you really can’t manage, hire some people to help watch them.” Li Xiao said.
Comparatively, people from Sanhe Fort and Hou Village could only be considered modestly well-off.
Idle is idle; if they could help the old Hexi people herd, earning some pay would be good.
For Hexi Fort’s development, herdsmen integration, and common prosperity, Li Xiao had many ideas.
After leaving, he met many more people on the road greeting Li Xiao.
What he could clearly feel was different from before: after these two battles, the people of Hexi Fort revered Li Xiao even more.
Before, most people called Li Xiao ‘Da Long’ directly.
Now, except for a few elders, most called him ‘Fort Master’.
This showed that Li Xiao’s prestige was now firmly established in Hexi Fort.
Completely earned through his own ability, convincing everyone, not just because of the Old Master and his father’s face like before.
“This feeling is pretty good.”
Li Xiao smiled faintly and continued riding leisurely through the village.
Like a lord inspecting his private territory.
But when he reached the east side, he spotted a familiar figure.
“Is that her?”
It was the girl Li Xiao had saved at Sanhe Fort.
He remembered it was dark then, and Li Xiao hadn’t seen her face clearly, only that she was a little girl covered in dirt.
Now, even though she had completely changed, washed off the dust, looking like a different person, Li Xiao could still recognize her at a glance.
Very pretty.
She had a youthful white moonlight vibe.
But at this moment, there was also a woman beside the girl.
Wearing tattered men’s clothes, with bruises and stains visible on exposed skin.
Bare long legs walking on the cold muddy ground, feet covered in mud and blood, disheveled like a ghost, her appearance and age completely unrecognizable.
At this moment, she was excitedly grabbing the girl and shouting something loudly.
