Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

"You think about it first, I'll go check the kitchen." After saying that, Xia Yu stepped out of the flower hall, asked the guard on duty, and headed towards the kitchen.

There was no mistress in the general's mansion. Apart from a few cooks in the kitchen and cleaning women, all the other chores were done by Zhao Bei's personal guards. As a result, the entire general's mansion looked very cold and austere. The flowers and trees were neglected and grew very sparsely, and there was nothing worth appreciating.

"Miss, that orchid was a very precious Cymbidium goeringii. It was just left out in the sun. Aren't you afraid it will die?" Nineteen whispered to Xia Yu when no one was around.

Hearing what Nineteen said, Xia Yu thought of Zhao Bei's expression when he mentioned dumplings earlier, and smiled.

"Giving a military general an orchid is less pleasing than giving him a bunch of chives."

"What Miss said is so true. When General Zhao heard that we could have dumplings today, his expression was hilarious. He was just like a little kid." Da Niu couldn't help but laugh when she thought of Zhao Bei's expression when Xia Yu mentioned having dumplings. He didn't look like a general at all.

Hearing Da Niu's words, Xia Yu turned around and looked at her with some curiosity, asking...

"Don't you think General Zhao looks adorable?"

"Cute? What is cute?" the young woman asked, puzzled. The young lady was using a word she didn't understand.

"It's that kind of feeling..." Xia Yu racked her brains trying to explain what cuteness felt like.

Da Niu stared at Xia Yu, waiting for her to continue. But Xia Yu couldn't find the right words to explain the meaning of the word. Then, her gaze shifted and she saw Shi Jiu staring at the two of them with wide, round eyes.

"Yes, just like Nineteen. Nineteen is so cute, it makes you want to pinch her cheeks." As she spoke, Xia Yu actually reached out and pinched Nineteen's cheek.

After hearing Xia Yu's explanation, Da Niu started racking her brains to figure out the problem. After a while, she nodded emphatically.

"Hmm, the general looked quite cute just now."

The three of them continued walking, but Xia Yu kept turning her head to look at Da Niu. She actually found Zhao Bei, with his full beard, adorable! Could it be that this iron tree beside her, who only ever knew how to eat, was finally going to bloom?

Although she thought this way, Xia Yu didn't ask. Regardless of the truth, Da Niu and Shi Jiu were both getting on in years, and it seemed she should consider finding them husbands. Xia Yu kept this in mind, planning to give it serious thought once the Jialing Pass matter was resolved.

In the kitchen, several cooks had already peeled all the shrimp from a bucket. The white, translucent shrimp meat looked delicious in the bowl.

When they saw Xia Yu enter, they quickly stood up and bowed to her.

"Get up, everyone. I just had a craving and came to see how the dumplings are coming along."

As soon as Xia Yu finished speaking, she saw that the others looked embarrassed, as if they wanted to speak but dared not.

"What's wrong? Just tell me what's wrong."

"Your Highness, we servants have never made shrimp dumplings before, we're afraid..." The one who spoke was probably the head cook in the kitchen. She looked neat and efficient. Although she was afraid of being scolded by the princess, it was better than ruining the filling.

Seeing that Xia Yu showed no sign of blame, the old woman continued...

“Princess, we servants are all locals and rarely make dumplings or other wheat-based dishes. Shrimp is also a delicacy, and we are afraid that the taste will not suit Your Highness’s palate. Therefore, we would like to ask the two ladies beside Your Highness for some guidance.”

Since she had already spoken, the old woman boldly voiced all her questions.

Hearing her words, Xia Yu nodded in agreement. She glanced at Da Niu, who immediately understood Xia Yu's meaning, took a step forward, and, smiling, said to the old woman.

“I know the princess’s taste best, let me teach you.”

"Thank you, young lady! Thank you, young lady!"

Xia Yu looked around the kitchen and saw that it was quite clean. Xia Yu nodded with satisfaction and took Nineteen back home first.

Upon returning to the flower hall, it was empty. One of the guards reported to Xia Yu.

“Princess, the general is in his study. He said that if you return, please come there as well.”

"Okay," Xia Yu nodded in response.

Following the soldier to the study, Xia Yu heard several people arguing before even entering. Stepping over the threshold, Xia Yu saw Zhao Bei and three other soldiers, who were probably Zhao Bei's confidants.

At this moment, the group was discussing a strategy for retreating their troops while looking at a map of Jialing Pass, but they couldn't agree on a plan. Upon seeing Xia Yu enter, they all bowed to him.

"You guys continue, I've come over to hear what you have to say," Xia Yu said, sitting down in a round-backed chair and looking at the map in front of her.

"I think we can go out of the city at night and carry out several small-scale harassments, so that they can experience sleepless nights," one of the generals suggested.

“But the two armies are too close. If we go out, we may not be able to retreat in time. I don’t think this method is good. Wouldn’t that be sending our soldiers to their deaths for nothing? Besides, our weapons in the city are limited. Now that we can’t get reinforcements, we must use them sparingly.” Another person voiced his opposition.

"Then what do you suggest we do? We can't just stay holed up and never come out, can we?"

"Our mission is to defend Jialing Pass. As long as Jialing Pass remains intact, we will have succeeded. I think this is the best strategy right now."

"So you're planning to keep dragging this out indefinitely?"

“If the Prince of Ding’an can afford to hold out with his 100,000 troops, what can’t we afford to do? I don’t believe he has enough food to sustain this dragging on. Besides, we have Princess Wenfu protecting us now. We can stay here and wait until the Prince of Ding’an can’t hold out any longer, then we can open the city gates and catch him off guard.”

"Hmph, 'A fine horse sees no ditch, but a coward sees only obstacles.' The Prince of Ding'an is a wolf in sheep's clothing, and everyone has the right to kill him. Everything you just said was just an excuse for your cowardice. You just want to cower here like a turtle."

"I'm cowardly? When I was fighting on the battlefield, you were still playing in the mud with your piss! I stayed in the city for the sake of the lives of all the soldiers. I'm not like some people who are greedy for merit and reckless, stepping on the blood and bones of soldiers just to accumulate military merit for themselves."

"A soldier should be honored to die on the battlefield wrapped in a horse's hide. If you're afraid of death, what's the point of coming to the army? Go home and sleep with your wife!"

"you……"

"Alright, stop arguing!" Seeing that the two were about to come to blows, Zhao Bei quickly spoke up to stop them.

"The princess is still here, and you're making such a racket! I'm ashamed for you!"

Zhao Bei's words made the two excited men suddenly realize that Xia Yu was still sitting to the side, and they hurriedly knelt down to beg for forgiveness from Xia Yu.