OFTLHFRO C150
by NininiaChapter 150: Relying on One’s Own Abilities
Beneath Hancheng lies a vast network of tunnels, many of which have existed for years, rarely cleaned and serving as the city’s drainage system.
Therefore, Luo Mingchen sent his three children home to wait, choosing not to take them into the tunnels to avoid encountering anything unsanitary that would require washing afterward.
If someone were bitten by insects inside, it would be troublesome indeed.
Sensing Huo Yan’s location, Luo Mingchen found an entrance and descended.
The soldiers following him had no idea how he found Huo Yan; after walking for some time, they indeed saw Huo Yan inspecting the tunnels, the group holding torches, conspicuous in the dark passage.
“Huo Yan!”
Luo Mingchen called out, and though Huo Yan’s face was unclear, his figure was recognizable.
Huo Yan stopped and waited for Luo Mingchen, then asked, “Something happen?”
Luo Mingchen answered honestly, “A group of refugees arrived outside the city, said to be from near Conch City in the west.”
“West… it should be more than this batch. Once they’ve eaten, record them. If no place to go, let them stay in Hancheng.”
Upon hearing this, Luo Mingchen was puzzled, “You know there’s more than this batch and yet let them stay?”
Huo Yan noticed cobwebs on Luo Mingchen’s hair, brushing them off. “We’re short on people. Keeping them if under six thousand is acceptable.”
In war-torn regions, the elderly, women, and children are most common, with few young men—Hancheng included. Accepting a group of outsiders might be good for development.
After all, commoners and camp soldiers differ greatly in status.
Soldiers can be relocated; if they all returned to the capital, Hancheng would be largely emptied.
Their food supplies were low, but the first batch of rice should mature in about a month and a half, enough to last two more months comfortably.
This estimate assumed five thousand additional people.
“Alright.”
Luo Mingchen looked at the dark tunnels, “Are some parts blocked or what?”
Just as Huo Yan was about to answer, he recalled Luo Mingchen’s abilities and said, “Some parts are blocked, others have collapsed from neglect and a two-year-old earthquake. A few days ago, soldiers patrolling fell into a pit. I want to find all such hazardous spots to prevent innocent people from falling later.”
Understanding, Luo Mingchen said, “Let me check.”
“Good.”
Huo Yan gave him the tunnel map.
Luo Mingchen memorized the map and closed his eyes.
Others found it puzzling.
Soon, Luo Mingchen opened his eyes and accurately circled several spots. “Here, these need repairs.”
The group: “…”
How could he tell?!
Doubt aside, seeing no further words from Huo Yan, they took the map and searched the marked places.
The couple ascended the tunnels and settled the refugees.
Inside the Bingcheng camp, a deputy general said, “General, isn’t it harsh to send all refugees to Hancheng?”
Wu Qing, drinking lightly, rolled his eyes and sneered, “What’s wrong? They have nothing to do; let them fix roads. Maybe they’ll thank me later. Order everyone seeking aid in Bingcheng to be sent to Hancheng.”
Though uneasy, the deputy general obeyed. “Yes!”
Watching the retreating figure, Wu Qing snorted coldly.
Those from Hancheng were ungenerous. He only wanted to pick a cucumber but was treated like a thief by soldiers who forbade him near it, as if cucumbers were precious.
Wu Qing had expected Huo Yan to come reprimand them but after two days heard that Hancheng indeed took in the refugees…
The city gradually grew by over three thousand people.
Luo Mingchen was summoned by Huo Yan to distribute food and arrange the newcomers’ tasks.
The refugees were so grateful they choked on their thanks repeatedly.
After finishing, Luo Mingchen returned home to find Huo Yan comfortably reading letters sent by Huo Yuntao. He patted him and sat opposite. “You generals pass work to me but take it easy.”
Huo Yan smiled faintly and poured him a cup of water. “My dear husband, you work hard.”
Luo Mingchen took the cup and casually said, “Call me Luo Ge.”
“All right, Luo Ge.”
Luo Mingchen was suddenly choked. “Cough cough… you really said it?”
Huo Yan looked innocent, implying, “Didn’t you tell me to?”
Seeing Luo Mingchen had nothing else to say, Huo Yan felt like laughing. “I let you do so much, and you just call me ‘brother’?”
Luo Mingchen looked at him, exchanging glances, then suddenly excited, “Are you planning to sleep with me?”
Huo Yan said, “Each to their own skills.”
Upon hearing that, Luo Mingchen pouted and lost interest, lazily saying, “Then what was that?”
“Has your space grown?”
“Huh?”
Seeing Huo Yan wasn’t joking, Luo Mingchen checked the space.
Seeing the marker had moved, he asked after, “Do you know something?”
Huo Yan said, “Just guessing. Maybe the space’s size relates to the good deeds you do.”
“No way? That mystical?”
Luo Mingchen felt skeptical.
Huo Yan said, “Then keep trying?”
“Oh…”
Anyway, there was no other way.
Just having Luo Mingchen purposely do good deeds made him feel a bit guilty facing those warm eyes.
Unable to really perform such deeds, Luo Mingchen gave up.
After two days, Xiao Lin finally returned but brought people from Wolf King’s Fort.
When Luo Mingchen went to find the boy, he saw Huo Xiang pulling someone to play blind man’s buff.
The three siblings perhaps couldn’t tell, but Luo Mingchen saw the boy trying hard to play dumb, missing them several times before pretending to have struggled greatly to catch Huo Xiang.
Nearby watching, Ziyan and Bai Xue noticed something but dared not be sure.
The boy was very young—who would think a child nearly Huo Xiang’s age, even blindfolded, could accurately know their directions?
Though the boy acted well, as a child, he couldn’t be flawless, so he was discovered.
It was unimaginable what kind of person the boy would be when grown up…
When it was Huo Xiang’s turn to be blindfolded, Luo Mingchen approached quickly and hugged him.
“Ha! I got you, brother!”
Afterward, Huo Xiang tiptoed and touched him, puzzled, “Eh? Brother, how did you get so tall?”
Luo Mingchen smiled, removed his blindfold, placed his hands on Huo Xiang’s shoulders, and spun him around. “Your brother is over there.”
Huo Xiang saw Huo Yuhui then looked back at Luo Mingchen happily. “Little Daddy! Are you coming to play with us too?”
“No,” Luo Mingchen looked at the boy. “People from Wolf King’s Fort have come, probably his kin.”
“Baozi’s kin are here?”
Huo Xiang was even happier than the boy upon hearing this. “Let’s go see together?”
Hearing the name Baozi, Luo Mingchen fell silent.
He thought Huo Xiang was joking, but the boy really called someone that.