They called it a discussion, but really, Shen Tang listened from the side and guided them toward letting go of their nervousness. She had no idea what her subordinates had told them. The moment these people saw her, they nearly shrank their heads into their shoulders. It had left Shen Tang wondering if her reputation had gone rotten out in the world. Ever since she'd made her debut, her reputation had been positive. Even when she had to do something bad, she'd made sure to keep it under wraps.
After thinking it over, she understood.
No matter how good her reputation was, how humble her origins, or how hastily assembled her staff, she was still a leader of a force with a large army at her command. She had fought every battle that needed fighting and killed everyone who needed killing. Of course ordinary people would be afraid of her.
But—
That was only how things had been at first.
Shen Tang's warmth and approachability gradually melted away their tension. She humbly asked for their advice and treated them as honored guests, and before long, she had them focused on the fields they knew best. The old farmer couldn't read a single character, had a heavy accent, and spoke in a rambling, disjointed way. Her thoughts far outstripped her ability to express them, and she grew so anxious her face flushed red. Shen Tang still listened patiently and pieced together what she meant.
The old farmer's knowledge had been accumulated over a lifetime.
She relied on the fields beside the river to feed her family. When the river was mild, she could enjoy an easy year. If it grew temperamental, she and her children would have to go hungry. To the old farmer, she had to read the river's moods