Chapter 74

Before this, Jiang Xingchen had already heard Shi Wazi say that expanding territory was even harder than advancing one's noble rank, but he didn't expect the old man to react so strongly.

After the old man explained, he became even more aware of the difficulties in expanding territory.

Although curing a terminal illness was a significant achievement, it absolutely did not warrant the reward of expanding territory! In the entire empire's history, only a few people had received such an honor, and it was either for opening up new territories or for major advancements like improving smelting techniques... Although the abdominal pain could now be treated, the requirements for the medicine were too high, and the Cold Yuan Ice Flower was not something an ordinary person could afford! This meant that while the method could be promoted, it was far from being widely available!

In the end, Jiang Xingchen could only send a letter to Duke Dingshou, trying to make a case, but he no longer held any hope!

Indeed, the reality was as he had expected. When Duke Dingshou saw his request, he was so angry that he laughed. This little rascal really dared to think of anything.

Even Tang Chuxue, upon learning about it later, felt her forehead throb. This kid was really overestimating himself. Expanding territory was something even an emperor couldn't casually mention, otherwise, the stubborn officials in the noble management department might die by banging their heads against the palace hall...

Ten days after the surgery, Xin'er finally recovered under the careful care of the old man and Jiang Xingchen, but it would take some time for her to return to her pre-surgery state.

This made Jiang Xingchen sigh. Appendicitis on Earth was not a serious illness; even without surgery, it could be controlled with medication. If surgery was performed, a healthy young adult would be discharged in three to five days, but here...

"If only we had antibiotics! This expensive Cold Yuan Ice Flower doesn't even match the effectiveness of penicillin... What am I thinking, don't daydream!" The thought flashed through his mind, and Jiang Xingchen quickly shook his head, discarding the impractical idea. He only knew the name of penicillin.

The doctors, after confirming that Xin'er was fine, finally left Green Mountain Village with great joy. They were eager to return and share the new concepts and methods with their colleagues.

Before leaving, Huangshi and Qingyun pestered Jiang Xingchen for several days to make more distilled alcohol. However, Jiang Xingchen refused, as he still needed it for the restaurant. In the end, the two had to return empty-handed.

"Everyone's gone! Finally, some peace and quiet!" After everyone left, Jiang Xingchen stretched lazily.

For over half a month, the entire village had been in chaos, with people and horses consuming everything, leaving no trace of the former tranquility. He didn't even have the heart to take Meier out to play!

Standing in the courtyard, Jiang Xingchen looked up at the sky, his mood sinking. "It's been nearly a month, and it still hasn't cleared up. Is this snow really going to last until spring?"

After some thought, Jiang Xingchen called for Du Rui.

"Your Excellency!" At this moment, Du Rui seemed like a different person. His sister's illness had been cured, and all his worries were gone. He felt like he had been reborn, radiating energy from within.

He bowed respectfully and waited for Jiang Xingchen's instructions. He had already decided to stay. Initially, he wanted to stay to repay his debt, as he owed Jiang Xingchen a lot. But seeing his sister truly cured, his gratitude deepened, and his original thoughts changed.

Previously, he had been preoccupied with his sister's illness and had no time to think about other things. But now, looking back, he suddenly realized that Jiang Xingchen was truly a legend. Despite being unable to practice martial arts, he could defeat a blind assassin, and his severe injuries were easily treated by him. He also created various delicious dishes and cured his sister's terminal illness. Such a person would definitely have a bright future, and following him would be far more promising than being a mercenary.

Over the past few days, he had carefully analyzed the situation with Han Xiaowu and the others, and without exception, everyone agreed to stay.

Seeing the current Du Rui, Jiang Xingchen was very pleased. The Sky-Shaking Mercenary Group had finally decided to stay sincerely, and he now had many more capable people around him.

"These doctors have been eating and staying in the village, consuming a lot of food. You should go and buy more supplies!" Jiang Xingchen said.

"Alright! I'll go right away!" Du Rui nodded and was about to leave when Jiang Xingchen called him back. "Oh, and buy more charcoal too!"

"Yes!" Du Rui replied, looking up at the sky and sighing. "It's been nearly a month without sunlight. I've never seen such weather! We'll need a lot of charcoal this winter..."

After Du Rui left with over ten brothers, Jiang Xingchen brushed off the snow on his clothes and turned back to his room.

Inside, Xin'er was playing Go with Meier. Seeing Jiang Xingchen enter, Xin'er quickly stood up, her face slightly flushed.

As soon as she saw Jiang Xingchen, she couldn't help but think about her pants being pulled down during the surgery, making her feel embarrassed.

Jiang Xingchen, however, was very natural. As a doctor, he had a parental heart, and during the surgery, he had no time to look at anything else.

"Xin'er, you should rest more. Although your external wound has healed, your internal intestines haven't fully recovered. Too much movement can cause your small intestine to drop!" Jiang Xingchen advised.

"Okay!" Xin'er nodded, seemingly embarrassed to see others, and hurriedly returned to her room without even saying goodbye to Meier.

"Brother! Come play Go with me, and if you lose, you have to be my horse!" Meier laughed and jumped over, grabbing Jiang Xingchen.

"Alright! I'll go first with the black pieces!" Jiang Xingchen said quickly.

"No way, I'll use the black pieces, and you use the white ones!" Meier said, hugging his arm and shaking it. "Brother~ Just let me win a little~"

"Ah!" Jiang Xingchen's skin crawled. When did this girl start being so coquettish, and her voice was so sweet.

"No!" Jiang Xingchen shook his head firmly. He had no chance of winning against Meier in Go.

"Hmph!" Meier pouted, her cheeks puffing up.

"Let's not play Go! How about I draw you some comics?" Jiang Xingchen's eyes twinkled, and he pinched Meier's puffed-up cheeks.

"Poof!" The air in her mouth burst out, and she dodged Jiang Xingchen's hand. "What are comics?"

"Hehe, you'll see! I'll go get the charcoal!" Jiang Xingchen turned and left the room.

When he returned, he had a stack of white silk and a charcoal pencil he had just sharpened.

"Wow! We need so much white silk!" Meier sighed. It was quite expensive.

"No problem, do we lack this much money?" Jiang Xingchen took off his shoes and climbed onto the heated bed, leaning against the folded quilt and starting to draw.

Meier, holding a doll, leaned in, watching with great interest.

The room was warm and peaceful, and the only sound was the scratching of the charcoal pencil on the white silk. The world seemed to come to a standstill...

After a long while, Meier's delighted exclamation broke the silence.

"Wow! This is the skyscraper you mentioned, it looks so tall... What a strange car, can it really move without horses... Brother, why are they dressed like that... This Mei Ya's hair is curly... Ah! This thing called a telephone, is it the tool you mentioned that can talk from far away... How can there be pictures in a box, it's Dynamic Man... They actually put food in a big box..."

Although Jiang Xingchen's drawings weren't great, his skillful hands made them somewhat interesting. The various new and strange things he drew made Meier exclaim in delight.

"Hehe, this is Crayon Shin-chan, isn't it fun?" Jiang Xingchen said.

"Um!" Meier nodded and laughed happily. "Hehehe... This kid is so funny, he says 'You're back' when he gets home... Ah! This kid is so naughty, how can he... Elephants, are they the wild animals with long noses..."

At this point, Meier suddenly looked up, fluttering her long eyelashes, and her gaze fixed on Jiang Xingchen.

"What are you doing!" Jiang Xingchen was taken aback, and his forehead throbbed. Mo Hongxian and the others calling him "little brother" was fine, as it was just a joke. But why was Meier looking at him like this after mentioning elephants? Did he really look like...

"Damn! What am I thinking!" Jiang Xingchen shook his head and pushed Meier's head to the side. "What are you looking at? If you keep looking, I won't draw for you!"

"Hehehe... The elephant song, I don't know how to sing it! Can you sing it, brother?" Meier didn't care about his threat.

"Uh!" Jiang Xingchen's mouth twitched. He regretted drawing this for Meier. This girl was starting to act up again.

"This is for children to perform, how can I sing it..." Jiang Xingchen stopped drawing and pinched the white silk.

"Right! Brother is already grown up, not a child anymore, so he can't..."

"Little girl, shut up!" Seeing Meier getting more excited, Jiang Xingchen quickly interrupted her, afraid she would say something embarrassing.

Seeing her brother's angry face, Meier couldn't hold back her laughter and fell onto the bed, rolling around and laughing.

"This girl..." Jiang Xingchen was both helpless and speechless. He should have known better than to draw this. He had only thought Crayon Shin-chan would be funny and that Meier would like it. Who knew the little girl would use it to tease him.

After Meier had her fill of laughing, Jiang Xingchen got up to prepare dinner. He had been drawing for the entire afternoon without realizing it.

"Brother! Let's have dumplings for dinner!" Meier jumped up and said loudly.

"You want dumplings?" Jiang Xingchen asked.

"Um!" Meier nodded and said, "Today we'll make them together, I've already learned how to roll the dough!"

"Alright!" Jiang Xingchen patted Meier's head. The little girl had been focusing on cooking lately and was already quite good at it!

Just as the two were about to head to the kitchen, the door opened with a bang, and the old man walked in, bringing a cold breeze. He asked, "Kid! What are we having for dinner?"

Seeing the old man, Jiang Xingchen suddenly had an idea, and his eyes lit up!