It’s hard to break a phoenix’s destiny

Chapter 665: Mother and Son's Deep Love

Still no rain, and as hot as ever.

Because the fireworks Liu Cheng brought last time were very beautiful, Yang Xianrong asked Liu Cheng to go and get some back.

There were indeed people in Chang'an who were making this, but because there was not much demand at the moment, they only gave him a small amount of finished product inventory. Moreover, they asked Liu Cheng if he could make it himself, as a large amount of saltpeter piled up in his shop would take up too much space, so it would be better to give it to him for free.

When Liu Cheng heard it was free, he immediately agreed, and regardless of anything, he pulled several carts back to the General's Mansion and directly piled them in the front hall yard. Cui Xi was so angry that she yelled at him several times, but since she had pulled them back, she could only leave them there.

Cui Xi repeatedly told Yang Ruoxi not to bring Xiao Futian over and only let him play in the backyard. Liu Cheng smiled and led the Shaoying group to inquire about the grain storage situation of the rich merchants and gentry.

They acted quickly. After all, many people were defenseless against children in ragged clothes. Liu Cheng now knew this well, so he asked the younger but smarter generals to sneak into the homes of wealthy businessmen and carefully count their stored grain. Even if they couldn't tell the quantity, they could always describe the volume and area clearly.

A day later, the data was collected by Yang Xianrong. She sat in Liu Yao's study, seemingly practicing calligraphy with a brush, and smilingly discussing with Cui Xi what was written in those extremely complicated bamboo slips. In fact, she identified the various circles and crosses sent by the Shaoying Group one by one, and compiled a very detailed data.

After finishing the arrangement, she was secretly shocked.

The grain stored by these wealthy merchants and gentry was seven or eight times more than she had imagined. Some families even bought a lot of fine flour and red beans. In the Great Jin Dynasty, these should be tribute to the imperial palace and are almost not available to ordinary people.

If we calculate based on this total amount, it would be enough for the people of Chang'an to eat for at least half a month. So, their current act of hoarding food is really excessive. Although it is for the purpose of making money, there should always be a limit.

Thinking of this, she asked Cui Xi to call Liu Cheng over.

Liu Cheng had just finished his midnight snack and was happily playing with his younger brother and sister. When he heard Yang Xianrong calling him, he immediately stood up and was about to leave. Yang Ruoxi refused to let go and even hung around his neck, insisting on going with him no matter what.

Liu Cheng had no way to deal with this soft and fragrant little girl, so he had to carry her to Yang Xianrong's study.

However, halfway through the journey, Yang Ruoxi had already fallen asleep. Liu Cheng had no choice but to turn around and send her back. When he passed the pile of saltpeter in the front yard, he laughed himself. Several large baskets were indeed a lot.

When he entered the study, Yang Xianrong was still calculating the amount of food and fodder. Without even raising her head, she asked him, "Has anyone gone to the granary in the palace to check the situation?"

"No, the guards in the palace are too strict. Cao Zheng wanted to go back to get some things, but he was stopped outside." Liu Cheng was naturally more relaxed because Liu Yao was not there. "I thought of finding an excuse to go in tomorrow to take a look." "That's not necessary. Go to the camp in the south of the city first and find your father. Ask him to prepare for the third prayer for rain." Yang Xianrong lit the candle, and Liu Cheng only then noticed that there were a few unfinished firecrackers on Yang Xianrong's table, which he took back to study the production method.

"What? Didn't we just finish praying for rain? They said that after a while..." Before he could finish his words, Liu Cheng stopped talking in time and asked in a low voice: "Does mother have any ideas? I heard Yuan Jianshuo and others say that mother had solved many big problems before, such as the day we caught the tiger... I think mother must have a way to make it rain."

"You..." Yang Xianrong couldn't help laughing, "How can I be that powerful? Do you think I'm a fairy?"

"You are either a fairy or an immortal. Anyway, you are a phoenix, so you are naturally different from us ordinary people." Liu Cheng's eyes were full of admiration. "Mom, can it rain? I really want to take a good bath. It's really hot."

"Go to the camp south of the city and take a bath with your father." Yang Xianrong covered her mouth and nose in disgust. "Why do I hear you say that you haven't taken a bath for a long time?"

"There's no water, isn't it? There's not enough water to drink, who dares to take a bath?" Liu Cheng was still aggrieved, "Don't worry, I took a bath before I came back, it doesn't stink."

"Well, I'm afraid we still have to wait for a while for it to rain. Steward Zhang said that his old cold legs don't feel any pain, which means it won't rain in the next two days." Yang Xianrong took out another water bag and handed it to Liu Cheng, "This is for your father. It's the rice wine that Steward Mao made. Tell him to drink it sparingly."

"Mother is always the best to father." Liu Cheng smiled with his eyes curved and was in a good mood.

"When did your mouth become so sweet?" Yang Xianrong smiled and took out another small water bag, "There is some sweet-scented osmanthus wine in it, it won't be that strong, drink it secretly, don't let your friends see it."

"My mother is the best to me." Now, Liu Cheng's smile came from the heart.

"Of course I have to be good to you. You are my eldest son, and you still have to help me with things." Yang Xianrong spoke the truth without hiding anything. "I even thought that you should not go to Xiangyang, but stay by my side, especially in the next few days, there are still many things to do."

"But my father asked us to go and gain some experience as a young hero." Liu Cheng hesitated.

"What is there to experience?" Yang Xianrong raised an eyebrow. "Going through fire and water every day, isn't that enough experience? You might as well do things by my side. There are really a lot of things to do. Besides, you are still young, and I can't bear you getting hurt at all."

"Mother~~" Liu Cheng didn't know what to say. On the one hand, Yang Xianrong was really good to him. She was concerned about him, but the important thing was that she was willing to talk to him calmly, guide him, and teach him many principles of life and work. This was much better than an ordinary mother. On the other hand, he wanted to make some military achievements like Liu Yao, so that he could not only make a name for himself, but also become Liu Yao's right-hand man as soon as possible to help him do things.

"Okay, you listen to me on this matter. Besides, we are going to play a big one and make these wealthy merchants hand over all the grain." Yang Xianrong smiled a bit evilly, which made Liu Cheng's heart skip a beat. Then he agreed excitedly: "Whatever mother says is right!"