Reborn and returned, sisters swapped

Chapter 150 General Zhao, please rest assured

Gu Jinyan gently patted his hand, feeling a pang of sadness in her heart.

But there was a hint of determination in his eyes: "This is just something I can do. Don't thank me. Taking good care of yourself is the most important thing."

Just then, a little girl timidly stepped out from the crowd, her mother holding her hand, her face filled with anxiety.

The little girl's cheeks were flushed, her lips were chapped, and her weak eyes revealed the helplessness of her illness.

Gu Jinyan squatted down and gently stroked the little girl's forehead, feeling its burning heat.

"Don't be afraid, little sister, it will be over soon," Gu Jinyan gently comforted her.

She quickly grabbed a handful of dandelions and honeysuckle, boiled them into a refreshing medicinal soup, and gently fed it to the child with a small spoon.

After the little girl drank it, her pale face gradually regained some life, and she smiled timidly.

She whispered, "Sister, the medicine is a bit bitter, but... I feel much better."

Seeing the little girl finally smile, Gu Jinyan felt a warmth in his heart, and his hard work instantly became worthwhile.

Just as Gu Jinyan was busy, a young man walked up to her with a limp.

His legs were wrapped in strips of cloth, soaked with blood, and he wore an embarrassed smile: "Miss, I'm sorry to have bothered you..."

My injury has been there for several days now, but I haven't been willing to see a doctor because I'm afraid of spending too much money..."

Gu Jinyan shook his head, his eyes gentle yet firm: "Here, anyone can receive help without worrying about the cost."

She bent down, carefully untied the bandage, gently cleaned the wound, and applied her own homemade hemostatic ointment.

The moment the ointment touched his skin, the cool sensation made the young man let out a long sigh of relief, his eyes filled with gratitude.

She smiled slightly and gently instructed, "The wound will take time to heal. Remember to clean it daily and avoid infection."

The young man nodded gratefully, bowed deeply, and said with slightly red eyes, "Young lady, you have helped me so much, and I have nothing to repay you with. I only wish you all the best."

After a busy day, the teahouse gradually quieted down, and the people, with the help of Gu Jinyan, left one by one with a sense of relief and gratitude.

Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, the teahouse owner inadvertently noticed an extra basket of eggs, several pieces of homemade pastries, and a bundle of freshly picked vegetables on the table.

Old Liu patted her shoulder gently and said with a smile, "This was sent by the people in town. They may not say any words of gratitude, but in their hearts, they already consider you family."

Looking at the basket of eggs, Gu Jinyan felt a warmth he had never felt before.

Those things were expressions of the people's most sincere feelings.

Even when life is tough, they are still willing to give back a little something in return.

She gently held the egg in her hand, as if she were holding the expectations and trust of countless people, and felt a deep sense of fulfillment in her heart.

A few days later, an elderly woman came to the teahouse, leaning on a cane.

She was one of the town's long-time residents and had previously fallen, causing her knee to swell and making it impossible for her to put weight on it.

Gu Jinyan applied pain-relieving and swelling-reducing ointment to her and instructed her to change the dressing daily.

Now, the old woman can walk with a cane and comes to express her gratitude to Gu Jinyan.

The old woman grasped her hands, tears welling in her wrinkled eyes: "Young lady, you are a good person. We haven't met someone like you in Caomo Town for a long time."

We thought that no one in this world would care about us ordinary people anymore.

Gu Jinyan's eyes welled up with tears as he listened to her words.

She squeezed the old woman's hand back and said softly, "As long as there is someone who can help, I will never give up."

With her herbal help and selfless dedication, the townspeople gradually gained her complete trust.

They began to offer help spontaneously, some bringing fresh food, others helping her find more herbs.

Seeing their rekindled hope, Gu Jinyan felt a power quietly growing within him.

I am not merely a secret agent delivering intelligence, but a traveler carrying redemption and hope.

This war is tearing our homes apart.

But as long as one is willing to put in the effort, a glimmer of light can be lit for the people in this ruin.

One evening, a thin young man rushed over and anxiously told her.

In a small hut on the outskirts of town, several wounded soldiers who had fled the battlefield were seriously injured and needed immediate medical attention.

When Gu Jinyan arrived, he saw a room full of wounded soldiers.

Their clothes were soaked in blood, and some of them were unconscious.

Her heart tightened; she knew that not all of these people could be saved.

She quickly calmed herself down and used the limited amount of herbs available to treat the most serious wounds, trying her best to alleviate their pain.

However, faced with those lives that could not be saved, she felt utterly helpless.

A young soldier held her hand tightly, his breath weak: "Doctor... I'm afraid I won't survive."

Please... help me deliver this letter to my mother... she lives in a small village outside Hesha City..."

As he spoke, his voice became almost inaudible, and his eyes revealed a final lingering attachment to life.

Gu Jinyan choked up, her eyes welling up with tears. She held his hand tightly and nodded gently: "I will fulfill your wish. Go in peace."

The soldier smiled, closed his eyes, and gradually loosened his grip on her hand.

During this period, Gu Jinyan deeply felt the cruelty of war.

Her hands not only delivered medicine and treatment to the people.

I also came into contact with their pain, hope, helplessness and longing for the future.

This caused a huge change in her mindset.

She no longer served simply for the sake of the mission and the dynasty, but found her true mission in this ravaged land.

During his time in Caomo Town, Gu Jinyan gradually earned the respect and trust of the local people.

Children, the elderly, and even those who once doubted her are now all filled with gratitude towards her.

She began to think that war was not just a struggle for power and land, but also the destruction of people's lives.

In this war, ordinary people with no power or influence became the most direct victims.

When Gu Jinyan left Caomo Town, her package was filled with herbs and small gifts given to her by the people who saw her off—some of them were dry rations.

Some are hand-knitted scarves.

These seemingly insignificant items carry people's gratitude.

Gu Jinyan embarked on his journey to Xiangyue Village.

Xiangyue Village is located in the hilly area outside Hesha City. The journey is not easy, as she has to cross sandy areas, shallow streams, and several dense forests.

Along the way, the wind and sand of the northern desert swept through her hair, their howling sound lingering in her ears like a mournful song.

She couldn't help but think of the soldier's last glance: filled with deep longing for his hometown and his mother.

She tightened her grip on the letter, silently praying, "Rest assured, I will definitely deliver this message to your mother."

This promise became her driving force, supporting her to keep going even in the wind and sand.

As evening approached, the clouds on the horizon turned blood red, staining the entire sky.

Her shadow was stretched long, extending forward with a lonely yet resolute air.

On the evening of the second day, Gu Jinyan finally arrived at Xiangyue Village.

It is built on the mountainside and surrounded by low hills.

At the entrance of the village, several old locust trees stand quietly, their branches and leaves swaying gently in the wind, as if welcoming returning travelers.

She slowed her pace, feeling both relieved and heavy-hearted—she had finally arrived at the soldier's hometown.

But what awaited them was the poignant mission of delivering a last letter.

The village was simple and peaceful, with smoke curling from chimneys, seemingly untouched by the ravages of war.

The villagers looked at her with gentle eyes, but when they saw her, this outsider, they all cast questioning glances at her.

A peasant woman stepped forward and asked, "Young lady, are you here to look for someone?"

Gu Jinyan nodded and whispered the soldier's name to her.

The peasant woman was slightly taken aback, then sighed.

Pointing to a small house on a hillside: "His mother lives there."

She lives alone; you should go find her.

As Gu Jinyan stepped onto the slope, his mood grew increasingly heavy.

The small house on the hillside was simple but tidy, with several bundles of dried herbs hanging under the eaves.

Several lush green vegetable seedlings were planted in the small courtyard in front of the door.

She imagined the soldier's mother waiting for her son's return here, and a pang of sorrow gripped her heart—had that mother been waiting for a long time?

Does she have endless anticipation for the day her son returns?

She knocked gently on the door, her heart pounding.

A moment later, the door opened, and a thin old woman stood in the doorway, her full head of silver hair casually tied behind her head, her eyes cloudy but carrying a warm smile.

Upon seeing Gu Jinyan, she was slightly taken aback, a hint of disappointment flashing across her face, as if a vague expectation had vanished in an instant.

Gu Jinyan tried hard to suppress his emotions.

He said in a low voice, "Are you the owner of this house? I... brought a letter from an old friend from the front lines."

The old woman's expression changed drastically; her face turned pale, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She took the letter with trembling hands, her fingers tracing the words on the envelope.

She murmured softly, "It's my child... Is he alright?"

Will he come back?

Faced with her hopeful inquiry, Gu Jinyan felt as if his heart was being torn apart.

He could only whisper, "He... in his final moments he was thinking of you and gave me this letter, asking me to make sure it reaches you."

He...he passed away peacefully, please...take care.

By the end, she was almost choked up, and her hands were trembling slightly.

The old woman's knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground, clutching the letter tightly in her arms, tears streaming silently down her face.

Her fingers slowly traced the words on the envelope.

He murmured to himself, "My child... I've waited so long, how could this be the news..."

Gu Jinyan stood silently to the side, his heart filled with helplessness and sorrow.

Quietly keeping this mother company as she lost her son.

She whispered, "Your son was most worried about you before he passed away. You will always be the most important person in his heart."

If he has a spirit in heaven, he would surely want you to live a good life.

The old woman raised her head, her eyes filled with endless sorrow and stubbornness.

She nodded gently and took Gu Jinyan's hand.

He choked up as he said, "Girl... thank you for bringing me his last wishes."

I will always remember your kindness.

Upon returning to Hesha City, Gu Jinyan still felt the lingering effects of Xiangyue Village.

The old woman's aged and desperate face followed him everywhere.

However, he had no time to indulge in his emotions; the current situation could not be delayed.

She entered the general's mansion in the city, covered in dust. When she saw Zhao Lingfeng, he had just finished patrolling the city and looked exhausted.

"Jinyan, you're finally back." Zhao Lingfeng's brows relaxed slightly when he saw her.

But after noticing the deep weariness in her eyes, his expression turned serious. "Did you have a safe journey?"

"It went smoothly, but the price was not light." Gu Jinyan didn't say much, but directly spread a roll of map on the table, his expression calm and focused.

Seeing this, Zhao Lingfeng didn't ask any more questions and immediately summoned several generals to listen to her report.