Rebirth of a star general |LK|

176-177

176: Food Depletion

He Lisa smiled at her and said, "So, saving those captives makes me a true hero?"

"A true hero sees things others don't. Many men speak for men, and many women speak for women," Qiluo said. "But there are few men who speak for women."

He Lisa looked at her sincere expression and couldn't help but smile wryly. However, she was not a real man, so what Qiluo wanted, she couldn't truly provide.

The world is like this; shaking it up is not an overnight task.

Seeing He Lisa's silence, Qiluo seized the opportunity to say, "Young Lord He, after you left last night, many ladies in the city came to inquire about you. The county magistrate's wife also asked about you. They said if you could come back alive, they'd like to introduce their daughters to you. It doesn't necessarily have to be marriage; being your concubine is also an option."

The topic changed too fast for He Lisa to respond. Facing Qiluo's hopeful gaze, He Lisa could only use the excuse he often employed, "Thank you all for your kindness, but I already have someone in my heart."

"Already have someone?" Qiluo looked disappointed, but quickly turned curious. "Young Lord He's beloved, who is it? Is she beautiful? What kind of person is she?"

A faint smile appeared on He Lisa's lips. "Yes, she's very beautiful. She may seem cold, but she's a very gentle person."

The usually calm and gentle young man seemed a bit shy and nervous at this moment.

Qiluo became even more curious. "By the way you describe her, she must be outstanding. Does she like you?"

He Lisa hesitated for a moment and shook his head.

"Not interested?" Qiluo was surprised. "Young Lord He, you're skilled, handsome, kind-hearted, and even appointed as a military officer by His Majesty. Such a person not being liked—why is that?"

"Because she is very good, and there are better people around her," He Lisa shrugged. "And I have things to take care of on my own; I don't want to burden others."

Qiluo looked at him and laughed, "Young Lord He, you're good in every aspect, just not in this one. As long as your beloved hasn't made a decision yet, the situation isn't final. Just go for it. When the master was choosing concubines back then, there were dozens of us sisters in the yard. I flaunted in front of the master every day, dressing up carefully. The master's most beloved concubine was also won over by me. If you truly like that girl, don't worry about the rest. People better than you might lose out to you due to their high status. A virtuous woman fears a persistent man. If you persist day and night, it's not guaranteed that the girl won't fall for you."

Unexpectedly, He Lisa could hear "a virtuous woman fears a persistent man" here. He thought of the urgency in Jiyang at the time and couldn't help but smile to himself. Qiluo seemed to be eager to give advice on how to win the heart of a loved one, but He Lisa had to stop her: "Miss Qiluo, thank you for your kind intentions. However, we are still struggling to protect ourselves. If Rundu can be defended, and the Wutuo people are driven away, I will follow your advice. But for now... let's leave it at that."

Upon hearing this, Qiluo sighed and said, "True."

She fell silent, looking melancholic and disheartened. He Lisa felt a bit sorry; she had come in such high spirits, and with just a few words from him, she became so emotional. Thinking about this, he took out a piece of dried apricot from his belongings and handed it to her. "Don't worry, we will defend the city."