Farm Girl's Manor
Chapter 321 Someone Has Ideas: A Well-Intentioned Warning (2)_1

Chapter 321: Chapter 321 Someone Has Ideas: A Well-Intentioned Warning (2)_1

The carriage had just entered the north gate when Mo Yan stepped down from it and told Lizhong that she would go to the rice shop for lunch at noon.

Lizhong nodded in response, thinking to himself that he should cook a couple of extra good dishes at noon, and after cautioning Mo Yan to be careful, he drove the carriage towards the Eastern Market.

Looking at the still quiet streets, Mo Yan turned and walked into a tea house.

It was early, and in the tea house, there was only the shopkeeper and a few busy attendants. Learning that the elegant rooms on the second floor facing the street had already been reserved, Mo Yan had no choice but to find a seat by a street-facing window in the main hall and ordered a pot of Biluochun tea, four types of dried fruits, and four types of pastries.

Before long, more people began to fill the tea house. Many were young ladies escorted by maids and old servants, who upon arrival were eagerly ushered into the elegant rooms on the second floor, unclear whether they came simply to join the excitement or to gaze upon someone they admired.

As the crowd grew, the main hall gradually became full. Those who arrived late, unable to find a seat, could only leave with regret. A few young men who looked like students noticed Mo Yan sitting alone at a table, and wanted to offer silver to take her seat, but Mo Yan politely refused them.

With the increase of people, the main hall, originally quiet, became especially noisy with all sorts of riveting gossip pouring into Mo Yan’s ears, serving as a pleasant way to pass the time.

At the neighboring table sat a group of students, who, without knowing who started it, eventually shifted their conversation to the military affairs at the border. Listening to their analysis, which sounded quite sensible, Mo Yan put down her melon seeds and pricked up her ears to listen.

"Who knows if the 100,000 Army sent over will be able to drive out the despicable Bai people from beyond the border. It’s said that innocent civilians affected by the war are fleeing towards Jing City; such a pitiable situation, alas!" Student A said indignantly, with a righteous academic air.

"The commander of the 100,000 Army is General Xiao. He went to battle at the age of thirteen and has fought the Bai people countless times with an unbroken record of victories. He is sure to win this time too!" Student B said with full confidence, his tone full of adulation for Xiao Ruiyuan.

"Tsk, General Xiao is the role model for us young people. When I was thirteen, I was still spoiled by my parents, only knowing how to read a few books, while he had already accumulated significant military achievements and became a young general," Student A also repeatedly nodded in agreement.

Hearing this, Mo Yan’s mouth curved into a smile. She had not expected such a cold person to earn the adoration of students. But as soon as she remembered what he had said to her at her house the day before yesterday, she felt uncomfortable and quickly took a sip of tea, shifting her attention elsewhere.

That’s when Student C couldn’t help but throw cold water on the conversation: "The battlefield is unpredictable, who can guarantee that General Xiao will always be the ’Invincible General’? This time is different from the usual minor skirmishes; the Bai people came prepared. Didn’t they capture three forts in just over a month? It’s said that the number of the dead is in the tens of thousands. The bodies of the fallen soldiers stacked up are higher than our city gates. This battle will not be easy!"

Student C’s analysis made sense, and the other two students fell silent, offering no objection.

A middle-aged man at the next table, hearing their conversation, turned around with a laugh and said, "You scholars should just focus on your studies, why worry about so much? The Bai people, no matter how formidable, cannot reach Jing City! Moreover, the Court has spent so much silver coin to support those soldiers; they should be the first ones to rush forward, protect the safety of the Great Chu’s citizens, and it is their duty to die for the country if need be."

Although there was nothing terribly wrong with these words, they were especially grating to the ears of the students.

Student A, slamming the table as he stood up, raised his voice in anger, "We students, though we may not have the strength to truss a chicken and cannot go to battle to kill the enemy, we cannot just sit here, comfortably enjoying the protection of those soldiers! Those soldiers have parents and siblings too. If they die, what would you have their families do?"