NOVEL NEXT Chapter 25: Farewell, Brothers!
The soldier climbed back to his war horse and waited for them. Seeing that it was time to leave, Xu Xiang also climbed into the mule cart driver's seat. As soon as she took the mule's reins, Xiao Shao walked to her.
She looked at him and asked, "Young Master Xiao, what's the matter?"
He looked at her for a few seconds and said, "Miss Xu, you don't need to follow us. Go east, follow the river, and you will arrive at Dong He City. Although this city is not as prosperous as before, it is still a good place to live."
She looked at his calm eyes and said, "Thank you for the information, but I will follow your family for the time being. Unless Young Master Xiao don't welcome me."
Xiao Shao raised his eyebrows when he heard her words. After a short moment of silence, he said, "Let's go."
"Okay."
He looked at her for a few more seconds, then returned to the sleigh. Following the soldier, they drove to the northern border. They drove fast, and under the escort of the soldier, the journey was smooth and they reached the northern border before sunset.
The soldier sat at his war horse and looked at Xiao Shao. Pointing at the high gate, he said, "Supreme General, if you pass through this gate, you will leave the territory of the Shang Empire."
Everyone looked at the high wall in front of them and knew that this was the beginning of their life in exile. Xiao Shao nodded to the soldiers calmly.
"Mhm."
The soldier nodded at him, then approached the guarding soldier on the gate. They chatted for a few minutes, before the soldier came back and said, "Supreme General, you can pass now."
The guarding soldiers opened the high gate to let them pass. After they passed the gate, the escort soldier dismounted and knelt down with all the soldiers guarding the gate and the walls.
"Sending off the Supreme General!"
Their voices are loud and powerful, but there is a trace of sadness hidden under their majestic voices. Looking at the kneeling soldiers, Xiao Shao got off the sleigh. He turned around, cupped his fists and bowed slightly to the soldiers.
He lowered his head and loudly said, "Farewell, brothers!"
After a few seconds of silence, he raised his head, and there was only a calm expression on his handsome face. He sat on the sleigh without looking back as they departed. Xu Xiang turned her head and saw that the soldiers were still kneeling on the ground.
With the blowing winds, she could hear the faint sobbing coming from the soldiers behind them. Even after they were far away from the city gate, none of the soldiers stood up. When she couldn't see the wall anymore, she turned her head and looked at Xiao Shao who was sitting on the sleigh in front of her.
She couldn't help but think: 'He has the aura of a ruler.'
Xu Xiang and Xiao's family drove for another hour before stopping for the night. Parking the mule cart beside the sleigh, she jumped down from the driver's seat. She glanced at Xiao Shao and felt that he was not as calm as he showed.
Looking at the other members of the Xiao family, she found that everyone looked sad and depressed. After thinking about it, she climbed into her mule cart and lowered the cover. Sitting inside the cart, she took out a bundle of firewood that she picked up along the way.
She then opened the wooden barrel and looked inside. Seeing that the water was running out, she filled it with her own lake water. After filling up the wooden barrel, she took out the cured meat and smoked sausages that she had bought from Bei Qiang City. She also took out the ingredients for making scallion pancakes.
She put everything into a big wooden basin, and got out of the mule cart. Unexpectedly, Xiao Shao was waiting for her outside her mule cart. Seeing her come out, without saying a word, he took the wooden basin containing cooking ingredients from her hand.
Looking at his tall and straight back, she raised her eyebrows, scratched her nose in doubt, then went back to her mule cart, before bringing out the firewood, iron pan and iron pot. After getting out of the mule cart, she walked towards the Xiao family with those items in her hands.
She put the things in her hands on the ground and skillfully lit a bonfire. When the fire was lit, she went back to the mule cart and took out a small wooden basin half-full with water. She washed the ingredients and her hands with the water in the small wooden basin.
The Xiao family sat around the bonfire, watching her pour water into the iron pot and hang it on top of the fire with a simple hanger she just made from wood. After that, she started kneading the dough to make scallion pancakes. Before the water boils, the scallion pancakes are ready to be pan-fried.
Seeing that the water had boiled, she prepared the ingredients for the soup. Pouring the ingredients into the boiling water, she seasons the soup, then letting it boil for a deeper flavor. Afterwards, she took a few branches from the bonfire to make the fire smaller. She used the lit up firewood she took out from the bonfire to build another bonfire for frying scallion pancakes.
After a while, a plate of scallion pancakes was ready. She used the same pan to make a simple dish of sautéed cured meat and sausage. Seeing that there was still oil in the pan, she decided to make a dipping sauce for the scallion pancakes. After everything was ready, the Xiao family sitting there was already salivating.
Putting down the sauce, Xu Xiang looked at them and said, "Let's have a good meal today."
Xiao Shao nodded to her and said, "Thank you for the food."
When they already started eating, she filled up their bowl with soup. Seeing that she filled up those bowls, Xiao Han and Xiao Jing quickly helped her distribute the soup to their parents and elder brother. Drinking hot soup, eating delicious food, and chatting under the starry sky, the mood of the Xiao family slowly recovered.