Chapter 112

Chapter 112

The food here really was much more plentiful.

Sometimes, while Tang Qingsong and the others were eating, they would start chatting about other things, such as the fighting over in Qiusha.

Jiang Yunsui happened to overhear a little. She heard them say that Ji Yan’an had defended Qiusha Prefecture City, and there was clear relief in several people’s voices.

“As expected of the Old Duke’s grandson.”

“What a pity, though. I heard he used to have an incredible gift for martial arts. He wasn’t the least bit inferior to his father or his grandfather.”

Such an outstanding child, yet his body had been ruined by force.

“The Barbarians suddenly attacked Qiusha. Have they found out why? And has that fleeing Prefect been caught yet?”

“Not yet. That dog Ouyang Can seems to have seen it coming and ran ahead of time.”

“As for the reason, Young Master Ji’s side might have found something, but no word has come out yet.”

As they kept talking, the topic gradually shifted elsewhere.

Most of it had to do with military affairs, and Jiang Yunsui’s tiny little head couldn’t understand any of it at all.

She was full too, so she held her little belly, let out a quiet burp, and softly told Old General Tang that she was leaving first.

Tang Qingsong said, “Don’t run around. Go wait over at the Dog Camp.”

Jiang Yunsui nodded.

But she did not return to the Dog Camp right away. Instead, she went to the Cook Battalion first.

She wanted to see what the place where Fat Chef used to work was like.

She did not try to hide herself either. Like a little kitten that had wandered in by mistake, she poked her head around curiously.

After all, Fat Chef had said before that his brothers in the Cook Battalion were all very nice.

An old man who looked to be in his fifties spotted her. “Where’d this little doll come from?”

His voice was loud, and his build was not small either.

Mainly, he was a little fat.

It had to be said, when it came to being able to eat their fill, the people of the Cook Battalion might not hold any lofty positions, but sneaking a bite here and there to get a little more oil and meat into their own mouths was still very doable.

Before Jiang Yunsui could react, that old man had already scooped her up by her little arms.

The tiny thing hung there with both legs off the ground, staring at everyone with wide, dazed eyes.

“This little doll looks blessed as can be. So chubby.”

“Look at those plump little arms. She’s been raised really well.”

“Little doll, whose family are you from?”

Jiang Yunsui’s voice was timid and soft. “I-I’m Jiang Yunsui.”

Why did everyone in the Cook Battalion look so big?

“Why does that name sound so familiar?”

A chubby uncle slapped his thigh. “I remember now. Boss Pang told me about her. Didn’t he go work for the Young Master? He mentioned this little girl to me.”

“You’re that little doll from Young Master Ji’s side, aren’t you?”

Jiang Yunsui nodded.

“Heh, Boss Pang really wasn’t pulling my leg. This little doll is downright lovable just to look at.”

Most of the people working in the Cook Battalion were here to retire.

The kitchens were very important. Back then, when Old General Ji had chosen people, he had picked those loyal to the Ji Family, who cared little for fame or fortune. Some had been wounded and simply wanted to find a place to spend their later years.

The Cook Battalion was the retirement place arranged for people like them. There was little trouble here, the food was good, and they could learn a cooking skill. With a group of old buddies gathered together, their days were not boring either.

So after something went wrong with the cook on Ji Yan’an’s side, the first thing they did was choose someone from the Cook Battalion to send over.

Mm, most of them were still bachelors.

When they were young, they charged at the front lines, never knowing when they might die, so they had never planned to marry. They felt it would only hold a woman back.

Now that they were older, they had no intention of marrying and having children either.

Mainly because, before this, one of them had actually met a woman willing to marry him. She was so gentle, and pretty too.
But later, they found out that woman was a spy, and that brother of theirs lost his life because of it.

After that, they came to terms with things. What was the point of finding wives? The brothers might as well stay bachelors and live together, looking after one another.

Now, looking at Jiang Yunsui, this plump, fair, soft, pretty little doll of a child, they were all utterly smitten.

“Boss Pang came over as soon as he got here, showing off to us that he met an especially well-behaved little doll at the Young Master’s Mansion. Looks like he really wasn’t lying.”

“Little doll, are you full? Us grandpas can make you something tasty.”

Jiang Yunsui quickly shook her head. “I’m full.”

“If you’re full, then have a few snacks.”

“Here, this pear is delicious.”

Jiang Yunsui was left dizzy by their enthusiasm.

“Little doll, do you call Boss Pang Fat Grandpa?”

Jiang Yunsui blinked and answered in her soft, milky little voice, “Sometimes, but most of the time I call him Fat Chef.”

“Heh, then you can’t play favorites. My surname is Mu. How about you call me Grandpa Mu from now on?”

“And me, my surname is Liu. From now on, little girl, you can call me Grandpa Liu.”

When Jiang Yunsui heard that, she obediently called each of them Grandpa one by one.

That made the men so happy that they stuffed even more things into her arms.

“Little girl, don’t be afraid of trouble in the army camp. If you run into any problems, come find us. Us grandpas will settle it for you.”

They had seniority. Back then, they had followed General Ji onto the battlefield and fought their way through with real blades and spears. They seemed much more peaceful now, but if it came down to a real fight, those young, strong-looking lads were no match for them.

The man in charge of their Cook Battalion had also once been a deputy general at General Ji’s side.

So people like them could still get a word in with the higher-ups.

“Little one, do you want to hear a story?”

Jiang Yunsui’s eyes lit up, and she nodded rapidly. She loved listening to stories most of all.

So the men held her and began telling her stories about fighting wars when they were young.

Jiang Yunsui listened attentively too.

Some odd-job soldiers from the Cook Battalion passed by and stared at them as if they had seen ghosts.

These old fellows actually had such kind and gentle moments?

Who was that little child?

Jiang Yunsui listened with great relish as they told stories for quite a while.

It was getting late. She had to go back.

“Grandpa Mu, Grandpa Liu, Grandpa Shen… I’m going back now. I’ll come visit you again next time.”

The men were rather reluctant to part with her.

“Little one, you must remember to come see us.”

Jiang Yunsui nodded seriously. “Okay. Next time, I’ll bring tasty things for you.”

“Hahaha, then we’ll be waiting.”

Holding a pile of food, Jiang Yunsui hummed a little tune as she left the Cook Battalion.

She was about to head back toward the Dog Camp.

As she passed a hidden grove, she heard people talking.

At first, she didn’t pay it any mind, but then she suddenly heard the three words Ji Yan’an.

Jiang Yunsui: Did I just stumble onto another conspiracy scene?

Whatever. She would listen first.

Jiang Yunsui immediately lowered her presence, lightened her footsteps, and crept over quietly.

She didn’t dare get too close, so she found a place to hide.

“Qiusha… grain… sweet potatoes…”

She caught bits and pieces.

Her little head spun rapidly.

The people over there soon stopped talking. They came out from their hidden spot, looked around warily, and only left after making sure there was no one nearby.

Jiang Yunsui clearly saw their faces. One of them was actually someone from the dining table today!

Jiang Yunsui’s little brows wrinkled up. Forget it. She would take this information to Grandpa Tang first and let him analyze what was going on.