Rebirth of a Star General Chapter 212

Chapter 212: Snatch First

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The winter in Shuojing became colder day by day.

It rained at night, and on the morning of the second day, the ground was covered with a layer of damp chill. On the tenth day of October, He Yan got up early.

He Sui and He Yunsheng left before dawn. One had to go to work, and the other had to go to school. After they left, He Yan got up quietly, lit a candle, finished grooming herself, and sneaked out of the house.

Qingmei was still sleeping soundly; it was not yet time for her to get up and cook. He Yan knew that Chiwu lived in an empty room in the courtyard. He stayed awake during the first half of the night and rested during the second half. However, he was quite alert. Fearing she might be discovered, He Yan used her skills acquired in the Vanguard Camp, walking the short distance from the courtyard to the outside without being noticed.

Xiang Xiang looked at her with some confusion, seemingly puzzled by her actions. He Yan patted the horse’s head. He Yan really cherished this horse. She even specially prepared a saddle, but she was reluctant to ride it. The saddle was still brand new. Today, He Yan was genuinely short of money to hire a carriage, so she had to ask Xiang Xiang to help her with a ride.

He Yan mounted the horse, riding towards the direction outside the city in the hazy winter morning in Shuojing.

When the third rooster crowed, Qingmei yawned, got up, and went to boil water. The water boiler was placed outside the courtyard, and the water kettle emitted steam, bringing a bit of warmth to the cold morning. She went to the kitchen, cooked porridge, and then added water to the trough in the stable in the courtyard.

He Yunsheng loved his horse dearly. In the past, he used to feed the horse himself. However, due to the heavy workload in his studies, he couldn’t take care of it all the time, so he assigned this honorable task to Qingmei. Qingmei didn’t dare to neglect, treating Xiang Xiang as the third young master in the house, taking good care of him.

When she walked to the “stable,” Xiang Xiang usually heard her voice and would come back and forth. Today, however, it was unusually quiet. Qingmei was somewhat worried. Could it be that he was sick? The weather had been very cold recently, and people were prone to catching a cold, let alone a horse. As she approached the stable, carrying a wind lamp, she took a look and was instantly stunned. After a moment, she came back to her senses, and in a hurry, she ran towards He Yan’s room, shouting, “Miss, Miss is in trouble! Xiang Xiang… Xiang Xiang has been stolen!”

The door was pushed open, and a male voice appeared in the courtyard. “What happened?”

Chiwu rubbed his temples, he had to say that the He Yan family was indeed very poor. In the courtyard, apart from three rooms, there were no other guest rooms. He Sui was an honest person; he wanted to vacate his room for Chiwu, and Heyunsheng reluctantly agreed to share a room with Chiwu, but Chiwu firmly refused. Although he was casual in his daily life, he wasn’t so desperate as to live like this. He was protecting the safety of the He Yan family, even if it meant protecting them in the main house. After thinking it over, He Sui could only clear out the innermost room in the courtyard, which was used for storing miscellaneous items.

The room was very small, and after removing the miscellaneous items, it could only accommodate a bed. If Chiwu wanted to leave, he had to squeeze through. Although he was a guard in the Xiao family as well, the treatment was worlds apart. Even though the He Yan family tried their best to provide the best conditions, many times Chiwu wished he could take money out of his own pocket and have the He Yan family change to a larger house.

He had stayed awake during the first half of the night, rested during the second half, and when he woke up now, he heard the little maid crying her heart out. He got up and asked about it.

Qingmei turned around and was startled to see Chiwu. Chiwu was usually silent in the courtyard, not eating with them but sleeping in the storage room at night, making him quite inconspicuous. Sometimes, Qingmei almost forgot that there was someone else living in the room. Now that Chiwu appeared, Qingmei seemed to have found a lifesaving straw. She rushed up and said, “Lord Chiwu! Miss and Xiang Xiang are both gone, taken away!”

Chiwu: “…”

He said, “I’ll go take a look.”

He Yan’s bedroom was quite extravagant, with decorative sachets and red curtains hanging everywhere. Chiwu was quite shocked. If it weren’t for the fact that he had to go in, he wouldn’t want to see these things. Unexpectedly, beneath He Yan’s casual appearance, she was so coquettish. He had to inform Bai Rongwei about this later so that when Bai Rongwei arranged a new room, it would be just to He Yan’s liking.

He only took a few glances before walking out of the room. Qingmei followed up, “Lord Chiwu, how is it?”

“She wasn’t taken away; she left on her own.”

“How is that possible?” Qingmei didn’t believe it. “Why would Miss leave without saying a word? Even if she wants to leave, she would say goodbye. Lord Chiwu, are you afraid of not being able to explain to Commander Xiao, so you’re pushing the responsibility onto our Miss?”

Chiwu couldn’t take it anymore. “Miss, look carefully. Before she was taken away, she even folded the bedding neatly.” The bedding was folded in the way of the new soldiers of the Liangzhou Garrison, square and square, like a square tofu block, clearly done by He Yan herself. “Please tell me which assassin needs the person to fold the bedding neatly before taking her away? Please, enlighten me.”

Qingmei: “But…”

“The act of capturing people is one thing, but capturing both people and horses together is unheard of.”

Qingmei remained silent.

After a while, as if she had forgotten all the accusations and suspicions against Chiwu, she politely asked, “So, Lord Chiwu, can you think of any reason why Miss left without informing anyone?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t know.”

Chiwu was also quite frustrated. There were only two people in the courtyard, Qingmei and him. Seeing Qingmei’s silly appearance, it was clear that He Yan had left secretly to prevent him from following her!

Now that the person was missing, when the young master asked about it later, he would undoubtedly be in trouble. He Yan left so easily and left him in a difficult situation. He already knew that going to the He Yan family was not a good job, and it turned out to be true!

“What should we do now? Should we report it to the authorities?” Qingmei, at a loss, could only focus on the only person who could speak.

Chiwu said, “No need, I’ll go out and look for her.” Since He Yan had left secretly, it was highly likely that she was doing something she didn’t want others to know about. Reporting to the authorities and making the matter bigger would not be beneficial.

Just as he took a step, his sleeve was grabbed. Chiwu turned around and saw Qingmei holding onto him, as if afraid that he would also leave without a word at any moment. “I’ll go with you.”

“No need.”

“There’s only me left in this courtyard now, even Xiang Xiang is gone,” the little maid’s mouth puckered, as if she wanted to cry but held back, “Lord Chiwu, I’ll go with you to find them!”

Chiwu: “…”

Helpless, he said, “Alright.”

…

He Yan could guess how chaotic the house would be after she left. However, she trusted Chiwu to be able to calm Qingmei down, the crybaby.

She had no choice. If it weren’t for Qin Momo’s lover – Niu Tiejiang only came down the mountain to the “Changmao Ironworks” on the tenth of each month – she wouldn’t have thought of this method. She couldn’t let Chiwu follow her, so she had to sneak out. As for the rest, she would deal with it after finding Qin Momo and resolving this matter.

Since coming to the He Yan family, Xiang Xiang had been well-fed and taken care of by He Yunsheng. Occasionally, when there was no school, she would be taken to run along the nearby river. The little horse could run quite fast, and He Yan left the city smoothly. She inquired with pedestrians along the way and finally arrived at the market at the foot of the desolate mountain.

It wasn’t as lively here as in the city. There was only this large market in the nearby villages and towns. On the tenth of each month, various businessmen would set up stalls here. There were sellers of herbs, sellers of old clothes, sellers of cattle and sheep – it was quite lively, dazzling to the eyes.

He Yan led the horse to a liquor store. The shopkeeper smiled and greeted, “Young sir, are you here to buy wine?”

He Yan, dressed as a man today for convenience, smiled and replied, “I’m going to get horseshoes for my horse. I heard there’s a blacksmith shop nearby called ‘Changmao Ironworks.’ Do you know where it is?”

The shopkeeper, upon hearing this, pointed in a direction. “Just follow this road straight ahead. When you reach the end, look to the right, and that’s Changmao Ironworks.”

After thanking the shopkeeper, He Yan walked in that direction, leading Xiang Xiang. When this road reached its end and turned back, she saw a shop with the words “Changmao Blacksmith” written crudely.

He Yan tied the horse outside and walked in. There was only an old master with graying hair sitting in front of a black iron forge, rhythmically hammering on a black iron anvil.

“Master.” He Yan called out to him.

The old master looked up at He Yan and asked, “What does the guest want to forge?”

“Sorry,” He Yan said, “I’m not here to forge anything. I came to ask the master about someone, Niu Tiejiang. I heard he comes here every tenth of the month. Has he been here today?”

He Yan felt uncertain. Fuwang had only mentioned that Niu Tiejiang comes on the tenth of every month, but he didn’t specify the time. Given Niu’s cautious nature, he would likely leave after finishing his business. She had arrived here from the city, and it was almost noon; perhaps Niu Tiejiang had already been here and left.

The old master, upon hearing her inquiry, stopped his work, stood up, grabbed a wet cloth from the side, wiped away the dirt from his hands, and said, “Old Niu hasn’t come today. However, he is late, and this is the first time.”

He Yan asked, “Late?”

“Every tenth morning, he comes here to deliver goods. Old Niu’s craftsmanship is excellent,” the old master said with some emotion, “I originally wanted him to work in my shop, offering much higher pay than he makes working on his own each month, but he refused. By the time, this morning around the hour of Chen, he should have been here, delivering ten iron sickles I asked him to make last month. But now it’s almost noon,” the old master glanced at the sun outside, “and he still hasn’t arrived.”

“Perhaps something happened on the way.” He Yan said, but her heart sank. She feared that Xu Zhiheng had already found out about Qin Momo’s whereabouts ahead of her, and that’s why she couldn’t see Niu Tiejiang.

“Old Niu is a cautious person. If there’s nothing urgent, he won’t be late.” The old master then asked He Yan, “Young master, why are you looking for him? I’ve known him for a long time; he’s always a lone individual. Does the young master know Old Niu?”

He Yan smiled and replied, “Not really acquainted. I’m looking for him just to ask about something.”

The old master nodded, gesturing towards a nearby wooden waiting area, “Then, sir, please wait here until Old Niu arrives.”

Following his suggestion, He Yan sat down. Little did she expect that this would turn into a whole day’s wait.

The sun gradually set, and the sky began to darken. The old master, having finished his day’s work, washed his hands, changed his clothes, and stood up, saying to He Yan, “Young master, it seems Old Niu won’t be coming today.”

“The market is almost closing, and I need to close the shop too,” he subtly hinted to He Yan that it was time to leave.

He Yan’s heart sank like a stone but managed a forced smile, saying, “Alright.” However, unable to shake off her worries, she earnestly told the old master, “Master, please don’t mention today’s matter to others, including Niu Tiejiang. In a few days, I’ll come again.”

The master agreed, and only then did He Yan lead her horse away.

The people in the market dispersed, leaving behind a mess after the lively daytime scene. A poor mother and son were bending over to pick up leftover vegetables and fruits. Lanterns in the distance began to light up. He Yan slowly walked, leading her horse, and found it difficult to feel any joy.

She had hoped that Fuwang had discovered a clue and that following Niu Tiejiang would lead them to Qin Momo’s whereabouts. Unexpectedly, nothing had been gained.

For the past few months, the blacksmith had delivered on time each month, but today he hadn’t shown up. Waiting from morning till dusk with no sign of him, it was not simply a matter of being late. Either Niu Tiejiang had moved again with Qin Momo, or he could no longer come.

He Yan’s gaze slightly darkened.

…

Upon returning home, chaos had erupted. He Sui hadn’t returned yet, He Yunsheng was preparing to leave, and the whole family was in a commotion. When He Yan led her horse back, Qingmei was at the door. At first glance, she thought she was mistaken and rubbed her eyes before rushing over, exclaiming, “Miss is back!”

He Yan hadn’t had a chance to speak when He Yunsheng, taking the lead, adopted a stern expression, asking, “Where did you go? And you took Xiang Xiang with you!”

He Yan was momentarily unsure whether he was concerned about Xiang Xiang or herself. After some thought, she said, “I just happened to have some free time today. I haven’t been out for these days, so I took Xiang Xiang out for a walk.”

“If you’re going out, why not bring someone with you?” He Yunsheng glanced at the silent Chiwu on the side. “You didn’t even say anything.”

“Ah,” He Yan pretended to be surprised, “I left a note on the table when I left. Didn’t you see it? If you didn’t, maybe a swallow from outside took it away.”

“In the harsh winter, where would swallows come from?” He Yunsheng looked coldly at her fabricated story. “What exactly did you do?”

“I just went out for a stroll, didn’t do anything. I thought it was still early, and Chiwu was still asleep. I didn’t want to wake him up, and I thought I’d come back soon. I didn’t expect that after not going out for a long time, I forgot about the time as soon as I went out. I’m sorry, this time I was just playing around, I won’t do this again next time.” He Yan apologized insincerely.

Chiwu: “…” Is she saying he slept too soundly?

He Yunsheng was angry and annoyed, “He Yan!”

“I’m hungry, has Qingmei cooked?” He Yan touched her stomach. This was true; she had spent the whole day guarding the blacksmith’s shop today, not leaving for a moment. She was afraid of missing the blacksmith, so she even bought two steamed buns at the door to solve her meals.

“It’s done, it’s done.” Qing Mei quickly went to the kitchen to bring out the food. “Miss, eat first if you’re hungry. I’ve been keeping the porridge warm, it’s just right now.”

“Thank you.” He Yan smiled and thanked.

He Yunsheng could do nothing about He Yan’s actions, he couldn’t control her. Angry and helpless, he had to sit down with He Yan at the table and ate without tasting the food.

Chiwu stood by the door, also puzzled. He Yan had been out for a whole day, and during this time, he and Qingmei had searched everywhere, but couldn’t find any trace of He Yan. He Yunsheng was almost about to report it to the authorities. Now, He Yan seemed safe and sound, with no apparent flaws in her expression.

However… what exactly did she go out to do?

….

In a secluded courtyard, in a room, a man and a woman sat facing each other. Both of them were not young anymore. The man had dark skin, wrinkled face, and dirty fingers, indicating strong physical labor. The woman was in her forties, dressed inconspicuously but with delicate skin and a hint of charm, not looking like someone who had suffered.

The man was better off; the woman looked particularly panicked. Both of them were tied up with ropes, unable to move a step. They could still speak, but since they arrived here, they had been calling for a long time without anyone answering.

“Old Niu, what’s going on?” The woman spoke, her voice full of panic.

Niu Tiejiang shook his head. Despite his seemingly dull appearance, his eyes were sharp. After looking around, he said, “Perhaps it’s someone from the Xu family.”

As soon as the word “Xu family” was mentioned, the woman, Qin Momo, couldn’t help but tremble all over.

When she followed He Wanru into the Xu family, He Wanru was favored, and as a result, she, as the wet nurse, also had a good time for a while. The living conditions were much better than in the He family. Unfortunately, the good times didn’t last long. Since He Wanru’s death, she had been living a life of wandering and hiding, escaping from place to place.

Thinking of He Wanru’s death, Qin Momo couldn’t help but shiver.

Wanru was a child she had nurtured from infancy, and although her temperament was a bit unruly, she trusted Qin Momo deeply. Qin Momo had warned He Wanru before that some things were better kept secret, and the fewer people who knew, the better. If someone openly told you the secret without any cover, it wasn’t trust; it meant that in the eyes of the other person, you were already a dead person.

A dead person was the best at keeping secrets.

She had advised He Wanru to pack up her belongings and escape with her. Unfortunately, He Wanru didn’t believe her words, so He Wanru died in the Xu family. Before He Wanru’s death, Qin Momo anticipated her own fate, so she wrote a letter to her old acquaintance, hoping that after her death, Niu Tiejiang could help take care of her family.

Although Niu Tiejiang was a laborer doing rough work, he had a sharp mind and had some genuine feelings for Qin Momo. He suggested to Qin Momo that if she was dead, her children and grandchildren might still be in danger. It would be better to escape; perhaps Xu Zhiheng would hesitate to harm Qin Momo’s family if she was not around.

Qin Momo thought Niu Tiejiang’s suggestion made sense. As for where to escape to, Niu Tiejiang’s decision would naturally be final.

In the past year, they had hidden in the wilderness, indeed experiencing a period of calm days. However, last night, for some unknown reason, a group of strangers suddenly invaded their grass hut on the mountain, easily subdued them, and brought them here. When they woke up, they were already in this room.

“Old Niu, are we going to die?” Qin Momo timidly spoke, “They found us, they won’t spare us… my grandson… and you, I have implicated you all.”

Niu Tiejiang said, “Ah Qin, don’t be afraid. I don’t think they necessarily want to take our lives.”

Qin Momo raised her head, “What are you saying?”

If there was a glimmer of hope, who would easily think of death? Qin Momo didn’t want to die either. When she heard Niu Tiejiang say this, a glimmer of light immediately flashed in her eyes.

“If it were Xu Zhiheng, he would have taken action when he found us, and he wouldn’t have spared our lives until now.” Niu Tiejiang comforted her, “At least, we are not in danger for now.”

“Then… are you saying that the person who caught us is not Master Xu?” Qin Momo asked in confusion, “Then what exactly do they want to do by capturing us?”

“I don’t know about that.”

Qin Momo fell silent. Sometimes, the fear of the unknown was the most terrifying. The other party left them here like this, ignoring them, made people more suspicious than if they had revealed their identities from the beginning.

After an unknown amount of time, there was the sound of someone outside. Qin Momo’s spirit lifted, looking expectantly at the tightly closed door.

The door was pushed open, and someone walked in. The first to enter were two people in black, a man and a woman, with inscrutable expressions. The one who entered last was a young man, exceptionally handsome, and judging by his attire, he should not be from an ordinary family.

Having served in the Xu family for many years, Qin Momo still had some insights. Upon seeing these three people, she knew that the handsome young man was the master. She immediately spoke, “Lord, spare us, Lord, spare us!”

Niu Tiejiang remained silent, just quietly observing the newcomers.

The handsome young man sat down on a chair in the middle of the room, with the two people in black standing beside him. His gaze swept over the two, finally resting on Qin Momo.

Despite his calm expression, Qin Momo couldn’t help but shiver.

“Are you the wet nurse of He Wanru from the Xu family?” the man asked.

Qin Momo’s heart sank. She had harbored a slight hope, but as soon as this person spoke, she understood that he had come for the secret of the Xu family. She replied, “Indeed… Young Master…”

She hadn’t finished her words when she was interrupted by the man. The young man spoke indifferently, “How did He Wanru die?”

“I…”

“Lies will lead to his death.” He raised his chin slightly, looking towards the direction of Niu Tiejiang.

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