Return of the General's Daughter-Chapter 31: The Chieftain

"How much do they owe you? I’ll pay for it," Lara asked firmly, her voice slicing through the tension in the air like a blade.

Healer U-Mao tilted his head upward to look at her. Being short and wiry, his piercing eyes barely reached her neck, but they held a cold, calculating sharpness that made him seem taller in her presence.

Before the healer could respond, his wife, a stout woman with flushed cheeks and greedy eyes, stepped forward. "In that case, you’ll owe us 100 silver coins," she declared, her voice smug and cutting.

Abel’s face turned red. "Grandma Melba, how did it jump to 100 silvers? Healer U-Mao only made a few visits and gave us a few sachets of herbs!" His voice rose, frustration spilling over.

Lara’s lips curled into a wry, mocking smile as she glanced at the old couple. So, even in this era, there are people who take advantage of others in desperate situations, she thought bitterly. Though she now doubted the healer’s competence, she knew calling him out outright might make things harder for the Lenard family.

Without a word, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a gleaming silver ingot, holding it between her fingers. She extended it toward the healer.

"This should be more than enough to cover the debt. But in return, send over a cluster of garlic."

The audacity of her request made Melba bristle. "What? Who do you think you are to order us around?" the fat woman snapped, her tone shrill.

Lara’s expression hardened as she pulled the ingot back toward her chest. "Then give me change."

Lara felt the healer’s eyes linger on her, searching, prying as if trying to peel back her disguise. She suppressed a shiver. Did he suspect she was a woman?

She glared back at him, her eyes equally icy and unyielding, mirroring the intense focus her father used to have when practicing darts with the photo of that ’military family’ as his target.

Eventually, U-Mao broke the standoff; his lips pressed into a tight line. He shot his wife a sharp look. "Go get some garlic. Hurry. Don’t keep the soldier waiting."

Despite her fat body, the old woman moved with surprising speed, disappearing down the road. Fifteen minutes later, she returned, clutching a cluster of garlic heads. Her face betrayed no gratitude—only greed. She held out her free hand expectantly, her palm wide open.

Lara dropped the silver ingot into her hand with deliberate slowness. Melba’s eyes gleamed as she clutched it tightly, tucking it into her blouse with a satisfied smirk.

"Young man," the healer said suddenly, his tone shifting to something softer but no less unsettling. "That tiger’s bones can work wonders. They’ll help the youngest boy of the Lenard family heal faster." His eyes were still cold, and Lara swore she caught a flash of something darker—resentment, perhaps?

Her brows furrowed. Why does this man give her such a creepy feeling?

"I’ll negotiate to keep the bones when the tiger is sold, but I can’t guarantee the buyer would agree," she replied evenly, though her tone carried a subtle edge.

The healer’s expression darkened, his eyes flashing momentarily with fury before he forced his face into a neutral mask. "Hmph. Don’t blame me if something happens to that boy," he muttered before turning on his heel and walking away with his wife.

Lara stood still, her mind racing. She won’t let that man near Darius again, she vowed silently.

As the couple disappeared from view, she turned her attention to the tiger lying sprawled in the yard. It was a magnificent beast, its striped fur still gleaming despite the dust. This tiger will bring trouble if it stays here too long, she thought grimly.

She wondered if there was a horse-driven cart available.

"Abel, we need to take the tiger to town and sell it," Lara announced, her voice briskly commanding.

"Actually, Barett should call the village chief to help us sell it in town. You and your brothers stay here to guard Darius. Make sure no one gets near him, especially that healer and his wife."

Abel’s eyes widened. "Sir Kane, what do you mean?"

Lara’s gaze hardened. "The healer looked vengeful. He wanted that tiger. He might try to harm Darius to get back at me."

Abel hesitated, his brow furrowing as he thought about the healer’s reputation. Indeed, U-Mao was known to hold grudges, and his family—especially his domineering wife—was infamous for their ambition and greed.

In addition, that shrew bore him two overly ambitious sons and a haughty daughter. If not for the fact that he was the only medicine man in the village, Abel would not dare approach their family.

Lara stepped inside the house, following the smell of cooking. In the kitchen, Lina and Barett were finishing preparations for lunch.

"Lunch is ready!" Barett called out cheerfully.

The table was set with simple but neatly arranged dishes. Most of the utensils were wooden, though a few pieces of porcelain were scattered among them.

Lara raised an eyebrow. So, porcelain already existed in this era.

Lina came from Delia’s room. She must have brought her food. The two sisters flanked her, clutching the hem of her skirt, while the little boy was still nestled on her hips.

As she sat at the head of the table, she took in the meal. A large pot of chicken soup was steamed at the center, its fragrant aroma filled with the sharpness of ginger and the enticing smell of lemongrass. There was also the papaya. They did not have that plant at the plateau.

"You have moringa in your backyard," Lara commented between bites. "You can add the leaves to the soup. It’s highly nutritious and can help the sick recover faster."

Lina’s eyes widened. "Really? We only use moringa for medicine."

"It’s great for soups like this. Add it after cooking and simmer briefly. It’ll keep its nutrients."

Lina’s face lit up. "Wonderful! I’ll do that for dinner. I killed the bigger pheasant, so there are a lot left. Thank you for the advice, Sir Kane," then she added in a gentle tone, "Children, you eat while the soup is still hot."

The two girls did not stand in the ceremony. They occupied their places around the table. They have a specially made chair, high enough to reach the table.

The family must have fared better compared to the others in the village. The table was long and could accommodate ten people. Other than the two high chairs, and regular chair located at the head of the table, everyone else sat on a long bench placed on both sides of the table.

The bench could accommodate three people.

Just as Lara finished her meal, Abel returned, accompanied by the village chief, who arrived on a horse-drawn cart. The chief, a tall and bulky man with sharp eyes and a stern countenance, entered the house and locked eyes with Lara.

Lara froze mid-step.

How could it be him?