Chapter 253: The Blacksmith - Rebirth of the Noble Daughter

 Chapter 253: The Blacksmith

Although the monthly salary wasn’t as high as that of an embroiderer, it was still enough to make a living.

With the women’s employment settled, several men were eager to show their worth. They rolled up their sleeves and spoke in rapid, indistinct speech. A few didn’t even need An Li to translate; their intentions were clear.

They were strong and capable workers.

Coincidentally, there was a shortage of hands for the city wall repairs, so Xiao Mu Qian assigned them to the task.

The rest, depending on their skills, were placed accordingly: those with medical knowledge went to the pharmacy, those with swift feet went to the post station. However, the blacksmith, who quietly stayed in the corner and made no effort to showcase his abilities, remained calm.

Seeing this, Xiao Ji noticed him and felt there was something unusual about him.

He signaled An Li to help with translation to find out his skills.

“You don’t need to use him as an intermediary; I speak Great Jin’s language,” the blacksmith said smoothly.

Xiao Mu Qian raised an eyebrow. Why had such a capable person not volunteered himself?

The blacksmith then stood up and walked over. Though not tall, his arms were notably muscular—evidence of his skill in blacksmithing.

Given An Li’s previous high praise, Xiao Mu Qian was curious to test the blacksmith’s abilities. However, the blacksmith said, “I won’t stay. I’ll leave early tomorrow morning. There’s no need to trouble yourselves.”

This statement intrigued the four of them.

Such a proud and talented person seemed somewhat out of place among his more rustic and straightforward tribe.

An Li, who deeply respected the blacksmith and had even learned his limited Great Jin language from him, was anxious and asked, “Uncle Nie He, why do you want to leave? Isn’t it better for us to stay in Liangzhou together?”

The blacksmith glanced at him and replied, “Mountains are high and waters are long; perhaps we’ll meet again by fate in the future.” He then left the shelter to get some fresh air outside.

Everyone was puzzled by his words.

“Alright, we’ll discuss the blacksmith later. For now, we can’t delay with these children. I remember that Elder Chen has established a school in the city. An Li, you should go there with them. If you want to integrate here for generations to come, you must first understand the local language.”

Reading and writing could wait, but simple communication was urgent.

Otherwise, relying solely on An Li for translation wouldn’t be sustainable for long.

Xiao Ji’s arrangement was appropriate, and the three others agreed. Feng Shan then sent some clean clothes, and after changing and freshening up, they went to their respective destinations.

The tribe had never been separated before. For years, they had always stayed together. While men could hunt, women, elders, and children usually stayed at home. The sudden separation was quite unsettling, and many were in tears.

“It’s not feasible to stay in these shelters for long. The Feng family has an empty house in the west of the city. It’s not large, but if we squeeze a bit, we can accommodate everyone. If General Xiao has no objections, I’ll make these arrangements?”

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This novel is translated by the Eternal Novel Hits translators. Please read it at https://eternalnovelhits.blogspot.com

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Feng Shan often found solutions to problems for Xiao Ji.

The old governor of Liangzhou had passed away six months ago, and a new governor had not yet been appointed. The Zhu family’s assistant prefect was a promising candidate, but he was a bit young. Appointing him as governor without broader support might be problematic.

Therefore, Xiao Ji had submitted a memorial to the Emperor before the New Year, waiting for the new governor to be appointed. However, the new year had brought unexpected battles, and with no one in charge, Xiao Ji had to make the decisions.

“Good. Head of the Feng family, your action has solved a major problem for Liangzhou. In the reports of our recent victories, I will also speak well of the Feng family to His Majesty!”

Although the Feng and Xiao families were related through marriage, they were closely tied through their connections with the Bai family. Naturally, they were more inclined to support each other.

Moreover, due to the long-standing friendship between Xiao Ji and Feng Shan, it was only reasonable to speak favorably of them to the Emperor.

Feng Shan and Hua Shi’s contributions to business and charity had earned them high regard. Their generosity and good deeds in Liangzhou had made them well-respected in the commercial world.

If this report reached the Emperor, it could elevate the Feng family’s status even further.

In Liangzhou, the merchants admired the Feng family but didn’t question their honor.

“General Xiao, you’re too kind. Liangzhou City is also my home.”

At this moment, Feng Shan was unaware that his noble gesture nearly jeopardized his entire tribe.

Thus, the foreigners officially settled in Liangzhou City.

In Elder Chen’s school, new names were given to the children. Hearing that their ancestors were skilled in swift raids, they adopted the surname 'Su,' and future generations would be known as the Su tribe.

A month later, Liangzhou had almost fully recovered from its previous decline. Various industries were nearly back to normal, although the city walls were still being reinforced, and the armory was slowly being stocked.

The bridge between Ganzhou and Liangzhou, under the personal supervision of the Ninth Prince, was halfway completed and faster than expected.

Unfortunately, despite this progress, the Ninth Prince still felt it was too slow.

He punished a few craftsmen to intimidate others, ensuring no one dared to slack off.

General Su, accompanying the Ninth Prince for the first time, had clearly observed the Prince’s harsh and ruthless nature.

The Ninth Prince was stubborn, brutal, and lacked compassion for the people and soldiers. His disregard for defending the city and mountains was evident, though he excelled in matters of fame and intrigue.

It was apparent that he inherited the ruthlessness and insensitivity of the Wei family.

General Su felt that if this person became emperor, it would spell disaster for Great Jin and its people.

Having this thought, he saw himself as opposed to the Wei family, but he needed to endure for now and focus on finishing the bridge.

While the bridge construction continued, the victory reports had already reached the Prince Ding’s residence.

The Iron Eagle Squadron’s intervention had indeed alleviated Liangzhou’s crisis.

Moreover, they brought back a significant gift.

When Luo Hong was awakened by cold water, he found himself bound in a dark cell in the Prince Ding’s residence.

Dazed and disoriented, he was suddenly jolted awake by a fierce whip from Yang Zhao, whose harshness cleared his mind.

Luo Hong stared at Yang Zhao in shock.

“Why? Don’t you recognize me?”

“You—you're the one sent by Xiao Tingyi to capture me?”

Luo Hong was surprised, but more than that, he was terrified.

Over the years, he had been hiding and evading to avoid retaliation from the Prince Ding’s residence.