Volume 1 Chapter 86: Ghostly Hound

  PS plus more seeking pink powder

  He said one item, and before several people realized it, they arrived at the back door. Autumn Chrysanthemum was just walking out, saw Shen Zhongge and others, frightened pale face, "General is well!" His body subconsciously blocked the door, looking anxiously at Zhen Shiniang.

  Jian Wu Jian Wen is back, right in the backyard!

  Zhen Shining's heart skipped a beat, and she secretly glanced at Shen Zhongjie.

  Shen Zhongge didn't notice these things at all, his eyelids didn't even lift, and he pointed to the two rows of bamboo fences at the back door, "All demolished, repair a flower wall and separate it from the front...". She likes quietness, so she simply separated the entire backyard, "...and then repair the moon gate." Let someone in charge take care of the key, and people in the backyard can't run around randomly.

  "General, why don't you go take a look at the house on the other side of the pond first?" Seeing Shen Zhongge lift his foot to enter the backyard, Zhen Shimu blocked him.

  Zhang Luo was in high spirits, and Shen Zhongge had originally planned to take advantage of the situation to go inside and take a look at the houses in the backyard, letting Rong Sheng bring people to decorate them. After hearing Zhen Shi Niang's words, seeing her small face frozen red, guessing that she was probably cold, thinking of hurrying to finish looking at the house and returning, he lifted his foot and walked forward, just taking two steps, when he heard a burst of children's laughter coming from inside the courtyard, and stopped again. "Who is inside?"

  It was an unintentional question, and as soon as he looked up, he saw Qiujie's face change color. Without saying another word, he lifted his foot and walked into the courtyard.

  "General..." Zhen Shi Niang called out, seeing Shen Zhong Jie stop in his tracks. She calmed herself and said, "It's the child of a tenant... I... I rented out the backyard."

  Is it rented out?

  Shen Zhong Xiao didn't understand what Zhen Shi Niang meant for a long time, and he walked towards the courtyard. "Not enough room for ourselves, what's the point of renting? Get them all out!" His tone was filled with an air of unquestionable dominance.

  "General." Zhen Shining grabbed Shen Zhongge, seeing his cold gaze looking over, she blurted out, "She's a widow!"

  This sentence works, Shen Zhongge plops down, a hint of embarrassment flashing in his eyes, and he mutters, "There's not enough room at home either, let's all get kicked out tomorrow." His tone finally softens.

  Zhen Shi Niang pulled him by the arm and moved forward, “...In this first month of the year, it's not easy for widows and orphans either. General, at least let them find a place to live after the New Year before driving them out.” This action was also unprecedented in her previous life, and she was anxious. Zhen Shi Niang didn't think much about it, only wanting to get rid of this unlucky star as soon as possible.

  But it scared Rong Sheng badly, men and women should not be so intimate with each other, even if they are husband and wife.

  What is this all about in broad daylight?

  Rong Sheng's face turned red as he turned his head away, but his eyes secretly glanced at Shen Zhongjie's expression, and in his heart, he silently worried for Zhen Shi'niang.

  The general of his family hated women who were so unruly and unscrupulous.

  Shen Zhong's body shook slightly. His eyes coldly swept towards the small hand on his arm, hesitating for a long time. In the end, he didn't shake it off, but only slowed down his pace.

  After being tossed around like this, Shen Zhongge also lost his mood, and he hastily glanced at the house on the west side of the pond before returning to the main house.

  At noon, Xu Fenglan had already prepared the ingredients according to Zhen Shiniang's arrangement, and Zhen Shiniang personally stir-fried them. After lunch, Shen Zhongge took Rong Sheng out.

  Zhen Shining had Dong Ju call in Ji Huaifeng and three others.

  "Miss An." Ji Huai Feng and the others were much more courteous than before. After entering the house to pay respects to Zhen Shi Niang, they stood respectfully on one side, stealing glances at Zhen Shi Niang's expression.

  Zhen Shining sat upright and proper beside the desk, gently stirring the charcoal fire in the brazier with a small copper poker. Upon hearing them enter, she didn't even lift her head, only slightly furrowing her brow as if deep in thought.

  An eerily quiet atmosphere.

  "Miss..." Dong Ju called out anxiously.

  Zhen Shining suddenly came back to her senses, looked at Ji Huai Feng and the other three, cleared her throat and said slowly, "...... The general values you very much. If you want to go to the general's mansion to seek employment, I can help you get a word in." This small temple couldn't raise big fish, rather than letting them be in Cao's camp with their hearts in Han, serving as Shen Zhongjie's mole, it was better to drive them out early.

  Shen Zhong and Qiu were in charge of their coming and going, and she had the final say.

  Ji Huai Feng secretly sighed in frustration.

  The couple were at odds with each other; as soon as they said a word more on this side, they wouldn't do it on that side!

  The four of them looked at each other in dismay, and finally Ji Huai Feng stepped forward. "Miss, you've misunderstood. The general left us after only asking who our master was and whose house we had stayed at. He didn't say anything else."

  Zhen Shining quietly looked at him.

  Ji Huai Feng thought for a moment, then said, "Knowing that the old master was in the same government as him, General Shen was very pleased and rewarded us with silver to protect Miss well. If there's anything, please notify him immediately." His master is the Emperor himself, saying he served in the same government as Shen Zhongjie wasn't an exaggeration. Ji Huai Feng only omitted their identity as imperial guards, but said everything else without reserve. He looked at Zhen Shi Niang sincerely, "Miss, rest assured, we didn't mention a word about Young Master's affairs to General Shen. In the future, if there's anything you don't want General Shen to know, we guarantee we won't say it."

  Joke, if it's true that they were driven out like this, how can they still hold their heads up in front of Wan Sui and the other brothers?

  Half of what they said, Zhen Niang had already learned from Shen Zhongjie's mouth. Judging by their expressions, they didn't seem to be lying either. She also thought that they indeed hadn't leaked out the matter of Jian Wu and Jian Wen. Only then did she nod her head. The topic was turned around, "......If you want to stay here, it's also possible, but remember, the only master here is me." Her voice wasn't loud, yet extremely severe.

  Ji Huai Feng's four faces changed color, Sun Qing Liang's forehead veins bulged, thinking that they couldn't be driven away by this woman no matter what, and barely endured it, responding with a yes.

  After striking a few more blows, Zhen Shiniang waved her hand and let them out.

  Although it wasn't a strenuous task, accompanying Shen Zhongge was also a tiring job that consumed her mental energy. Zhen Shiniang had originally wanted to rest and calm her mind, but unexpectedly fell asleep for over an hour. When she woke up, it was already late afternoon, and Shen Zhongge still hadn't returned. Autumn Chrysanthemum told her that Jian Wu and Jian Wen hadn't gone out all afternoon, so they came to the backyard.

  Jian Wu was excitedly playing with a small dog when he saw Zhen Shi Niang enter. He immediately ran up to her, "Mother, Li Da Bo's big black puppy has been born! He said that as long as you agree, I can have it." Shaking Zhen Shi Niang's arm, "Mother, Li Da Bo said this is a rare breed of dog, extremely loyal to its owner. When it grows up, it can guard the house and even go hunting. He wouldn't give it to anyone else..." The Li Da Bo in Jian Wu's words was actually Li Qi. This breed of dog was precious, if not for Zhen Shi Niang's face, he would never have let Jian Wu bring the puppy back.

  No wonder she didn't go out, she thought these two had changed their ways, but it turns out they just got a new pet.

  Zhen Shiniang lowered her head to look at the little puppy being held like a pet on the kang, wrapped in a quilt. Except for a patch of dark yellow fur on its paws, its whole body was black and fluffy, with an ugly head that didn't quite resemble other dogs. Zhen Shiniang had seen many pets in her past life, some even uglier than this one, so she didn't think it strange. She reached out to touch the puppy, which immediately turned its head sharply, stuck out its tongue and started licking, making Jian Wu and Jian Wen burst into laughter.

  Jian Wu Jian Wen took advantage of the situation and pulled her hand, "Mother..."

  Looking at her son's pitiful appearance, Zhen Shiniang's heart melted, "Alright, if you like it, keep it."

  They were not allowed to raise them before because there was no food to feed them.

  Never having raised a dog, Zhen Shiniang didn't know what a Tibetan Mastiff or a Dobermann was, she just thought this little dog was quite cute. If she had known that the Tibetan Mastiff was actually the true king of dogs, even more ferocious than the Dobermann, and that it had bitten to death several guard dogs in the General's residence when it was still half-grown, she would never have allowed Jian Wu to keep it.

  "Thank you, Mother!" Jian Wu suddenly jumped up and bounced around on the kang with the little dog in his arms.

  It took a long time to calm down, and then sat down with the little dog next to Zhen Shiniang, "Mother, I've thought about it, let's just call him Xiao Hei."

  Her mother is called Big Black, and she is called Little Black.

  This simple-minded child is also quite lazy, Zhen Shining felt helpless in her heart, but didn't say anything was wrong. Since the child could take charge of things herself, let her do so. She just stroked the little dog's head, "However, you can't raise it on the kang."

  "Will he freeze to death?"

  "Doesn't matter..." Zhen Shi Niang smiled and patted Xiao Hei's head, "This fur is their clothing, warmer than Wu Ge's little down jacket."

  Thinking of Li Dabo's dog skin hat is especially warm, Jian Wu nodded, "Then I'll let Ji Dage make a small dog house for it!"

  Zhen Shining nodded, "You can just tell him yourself."

  Just then, Qiujie hastily came in, "The general has returned."

  Jian Wu's eyes lit up, Shen Zhongjie's name was renowned far and wide, having heard many stories of his battles on the battlefield, Jian Wu deeply admired him. Hearing that he had returned, he looked at Zhen Shiniang with a mixture of emotions, "Mother..."

  Zhen Shining's face sank down, "......you can only choose one between me and him."

  Zhen Shining never lied to scare the children, and she was rarely so serious. Jian Wu and Jian Wen were both hugging her tightly, "Mother..." Jian Wen glared at Jian Wu with all his might, "Don't worry, Mother, we'll listen and play only in this courtyard, we won't go anywhere else."

  Zhen Shi Niang's face relaxed a bit, and she instructed a few more sentences before getting up and leaving with Qiu Ju.

  "The general's face looked very unpleasant..." said Qiujie quietly as they exited the gate.

  "That face of his has never been good-looking!" Zhen Shi Niang retorted, casually asking, "What's wrong, why aren't you happy?"

  “……The slave saw that he was gloomy and his legs were cramping, who dared to ask these things?” Qiuju muttered, “Dongjue sister was scared to tears and refused to go in to serve tea, it was the slave who took a big risk to bring the tea in.”

  Shen Zhong's appearance was handsome, but he had an aura of intimidation without even being angry. Especially after experiencing countless battles, the evil energy accumulated in his body would make anyone tremble with fear. Not to mention Dong Ju, a small servant girl, even the high-ranking generals under his command didn't dare get close to him.

  As soon as Zhen Shi Niang thought of Shen Zhong Que's face, which was like a thousand-year-old iceberg, she let out a sigh. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Later you go ask Rong Sheng about it."

  Chrysanthemum nodded and responded with a "yes".

  Arriving at the east house, she saw Dong Ju standing nervously at the door. Zhen Shi Niang sent her to the kitchen to help Xu Fenglan and pushed open the door herself to enter.

  Shen Zhongge had already washed up, changed into a casual outfit and sat cross-legged on the kang, holding an empty tea cup in his hand, his thumb rubbing back and forth against the wall of the cup. When he saw her come in, he raised his head, with a hint of inquiry in his eyes.