Chapter 174: Food Issues

Wang Sanniang frowned, wanting to speak but stopping herself. Finally, she decided she should tell Xu Zhenying about the rumor so he could be on guard. "City Lord, my mother told me when I went back that there's a rumor going around in the city that you're a girl! You're naturally gentle and immature, so it's easy for people to misunderstand you. And now you're wearing a woman's dress. If other people see you, won't they start to talk and criticize you?"

Xu Zhenying was slightly stunned.

When had there ever been such a rumor in the city?

She had never deliberately concealed her female identity, and although she dressed in men's clothing, it was simply because it was convenient. Ultimately, it was her male identity that was most convenient.

But the truth will eventually come out.

Her identity will be revealed sooner or later.

However, those who were exiled to Qianzhou with them were all honest and reliable, and should not be so talkative.

Xu Zhenying then asked, "What else are the rumors?"

"Nothing else was said, except that you're a girl and it's inappropriate for you to show up in public. I think this rumor is being promoted by someone with ulterior motives. City Lord, you must be on guard—"

"Oh, no need, I am indeed a woman."

…

Wang Sanniang stood there in a daze.

Xu Zhenying said, "I just think men's clothes are more convenient for work, so I often wear men's clothes."

Wang Sanniang's brain seemed to stop working instantly.

Wait, what did she just hear?

The city lord...she is a woman?

The little flame of her first love that could not be seen by others was extinguished just like that?

Also, why were her hands faster than her brain? By the time she reacted, her hands had already covered the city lord's chest!

Oh my god, what is she doing—

It was obvious that Xu Zhenying was also stunned.

Two people, two pairs of eyes, both widened slightly inaudibly.

The atmosphere suddenly became weird and awkward.

Xu Zhenying coughed softly, gently moved her hand away, and said seriously: "My penis is not as big as yours, touch your own!"

"City Lord, I...I didn't mean it!" Wang Sanniang's face suddenly turned red, and for a moment she didn't know where to put her hands and feet!

Oh my God, the city lord is really a woman!

Where in the world can there be such a tough woman!

The fact that Xu Zhenying was a woman shocked Wang Sanniang. Her eyes were a little dull, as if she couldn't digest it for a long time.

But what Xu Zhenying said next made her unable to calm down for a long time, and she couldn't sleep for several nights.

Xu Zhenying smiled and said, "The reason you don't believe I'm a woman is because you subconsciously think girls shouldn't be as reckless as I am, right?"

"No, that's not the case." Wang Sanniang hastily defended herself, "I just think there's no girl in the world who can be as... as... as the City Lord..."

"how?"

"So daring to be the first in the world! So brave! So happy and carefree, not caring about the eyes of the world!"

Xu Zhenying smiled. "Look, I've been teaching you about gender equality for so long, and I've always encouraged you not to underestimate yourselves. But deep down, you still think that achieving success is a man's job. Sanniang, when will you girls become truly strong-minded? It seems we still have a long way to go."

Wang Sanniang was immediately filled with shame and wished there was a crack in the ground for her to crawl into.

Yes, as a woman, the city lord dared to attack the city, set up a female barracks, and encourage women to read and learn calligraphy. Isn't all this for the women in the world to be able to be independent?

Even though Wang Sanniang had been in the army for more than four months and felt that she had been reborn and was completely different from other delicate girls in the world, when she thought about it now, she was once one of them. Why did she despise those girls who had not been transformed?

Xu Zhenying finally found a place to change her clothes. It was because women's clothes were too complicated, which made it inconvenient for her to ride a horse, walk, or work.

Therefore, Xu Zhenying secretly made up his mind that he must reform women's clothing after returning. These clothes simply trapped women, forcing them to behave chastely and unable to escape when encountering danger.

Oh, and this hair needs to be cut too.

Xu Zhenying really couldn't stand having her hair down in hot weather, especially since women in the Zhou Dynasty had hair that was longer than their waists, which was very difficult to manage and style.

Since she encourages girls to go out of their homes, she has to create a suitable social environment, otherwise what is the point of just shouting slogans.

Xu Zhenying decided to cut her hair when the weather got hot.

Even the Jade Emperor can’t do it.

The team transporting food and fodder traveled for a day and a night, and it was already late at night when they returned to Lan County.

Although there was no curfew in Lan County, they arrived late at night, so there was almost no one in the city except the guards on the city walls.

After entering the city, Miao had received instructions in advance and had brought more than a hundred strong men to wait here.

As soon as Xu Zhenying's food arrived, there was unstoppable cheering from under the city wall!

Even Miao was excited. She never expected that Xu Zhenying would actually get so much food as he said he would.

Where did this come from?

Miao was no longer the same as before. She had noticed something fishy about the food and fodder's origins. She approached without questioning, simply saying, "We've been traveling for two days and two nights. Let's all rest. I've brought some people to exchange with you. Go get something to eat first! Your second aunt has already had someone prepare a meal in the backyard of the county government office. They'll already be cooking once you get there. Hurry!"

Xu Zhenying called out to his brothers, "Zhou Bo, take them downstairs to eat and rest. You've all worked hard. Go back and get a good night's sleep tonight. You'll have a day off tomorrow."

Wang Sanniang immediately said, "Thank you for your kindness, City Lord. The demonstration base has been short of manpower, and I am ready to lead my troops to support them."

Zhou Bo glanced at Wang Sanniang and said, "If that's the case, I'll also bring some male soldiers to support. We have some experience in dividing land in Ye County before, so maybe we can help Master Shuang."

"Okay, do as you please. Take care of yourself while you work."

The city gate is very lively tonight.

Although the city was quiet, some people who paid close attention could still hear the continuous cheers and the sounds of carriages and horses.

Miao brought more than a hundred strong men to put the carts of grain into the warehouse, and then took a few aunts to count them several times. The grain and grass area was brightly lit and full of people, as if it were daytime.

This incident naturally alarmed the Xu family's political team. Xu Yinxi and Qian Zhenniang had already gone to bed, but at this moment they hurriedly put on an outer coat and walked out of the room with messy hair. They then carried a lantern and traveled alone across half the city to reach Lan County.

As luck would have it, when I was about to reach the granary, I saw a few familiar faces at the corner of the street.

Fang Xun, Fang Ningmo, Qian Zhenniang, as well as my eldest cousin, Mo Jinchun and others.

They all looked disheveled and it was obvious that they were in a hurry to get out.

Everyone looked at each other, and then smiled in tacit understanding.

Xu Yinxi said, "I heard that the city lord took his men out to get food two days ago. There was a commotion in the city tonight, so I thought it must be the city lord and his men returning. I thought I was the only one awake waiting for news, but it turns out you were waiting too."

Fang Xun asked, "Lan County is about to run out of food and supplies. How can we not be anxious? But you guys!"

Although Fang Xun was young, he was quite dignified after these few months of experience. He glanced at the girls and scolded them, "It's even darker now and the dew is heavy. How dare you go out alone? What if you encounter danger?"

Qian Zhenniang smiled, "Master Fang, even though you care about us girls, don't forget that we are colleagues. What's more, Lan County is peaceful now. Girls dare to go out alone at night, so why shouldn't we dare? If any villain dares to come, the dagger in my hand can just draw blood!"

Cousin Xu Huijia looked at Qian Zhenniang, who was smiling and confident, and suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

Fang Ningmo also laughed, "Look at our sister Zhenniang. She didn't even dare to kill a chicken before, but now she dares to kill people!"

Fang Xun sighed helplessly, "You guys, after following the City Lord, you've become more and more courageous!"

"The City Lord has taught us how to survive. If we continue to be timid and cowardly like before, wouldn't that be a betrayal of his kindness?" Xu Yinxi interrupted everyone at the right moment, urging them, "Hurry up, let's go check out the situation first. Fourth Aunt must need help as well."

Mo Jinchun followed behind him but said nothing.

He knew very well that he was a follower of Xu Zhenying and was not yet a core member of the government team. Therefore, he was mostly polite when meeting them, and his politeness was more like that of a subordinate towards a superior.

Mo Jinchun rarely spoke about what they were talking about.

He is currently helping to organize the land distribution affairs in Ye County. Although he has done a good job, the city lord has many capable people under his command, and he has not yet had a particularly prominent opportunity.

Several people hurried towards the granary.

The voices of Miao and others could be heard from a long distance away.

As we got closer, we saw that it was crowded with people. The granary was lit by torches, making it as bright as day, illuminating the busy figures of countless people.

The food piled up at the door like a mountain, blocking everyone's view, was the food that Xu Zhenying brought back.

They carried the granary on their shoulders or pushed it on carts, and soon the granary was filled again.

Xu Yinxi couldn't help but be shocked, and subconsciously said: "My God, how much food and grass did they bring back!"

Who among those present could not be amazed?

The food crisis was like a sword hanging over everyone's head. Even with everyone working together, no one could come up with a solution.

But today, looking at the piles of food and fodder piled up like mountains, everyone couldn't help but admire and fear Xu Zhenying.

Fang Xun then added: "City Lord...really..."

He really couldn't find the words to describe it.

He even wanted to use the word "ghostly and mysterious" to describe it, but when he remembered that Xu Zhenying had said that he was an atheist, he stopped in time.

"City Lord!"

Fang Ningmo had sharp eyes and immediately spotted Xu Zhenying.

At this time, Xu Zhenying was sitting casually on the steps, holding a bowl in her arms without any image. The bowl contained plain noodles with a rather watery soup, but she ate it with relish.

Xu Yinxi immediately said angrily, "Where are the logistics people? The City Lord finally came back, how can he just settle for a bowl of plain noodles?!"

Miao stood not far away, head bowed, registering the grain with a pencil. She didn't even look up when she heard Xu Yinxi's questioning. "She wanted to eat and said it was convenient. What's there to be afraid of? Your city lord won't starve!"

Xu Yinxi felt a little embarrassed and said, "Aunt Si, you've worked hard tonight."

Miao finally raised her eyelids and looked at the scantily clad girls before her. Frowning, she scolded, "I told you she'd be back tonight. Why are you all so anxious? Qian Zhenniang, where are your socks? Xu Yinxi, how can you be so disheveled? Fang Xun, you ran out without even a coat on!"

Those whose names were called blushed and immediately became timid and didn't dare to answer like quails.

That’s the city lord’s mother.

After several months of experience, and with the added bonus of managing logistics, food, and money, Miao's power has grown. He's been busier and busier, and has been in charge of more and more people, so his temper has naturally gotten worse.

Therefore, when she spoke, even Xu Zhenying did not dare to refute her.

Mo Jinchun rarely saw someone in the government team being humiliated like this, and he felt envious.

He also had to work hard to get into the core circle so that the city lord's mother could scold him like this.

"The logistics department is already a mess, and you little bastards are messing with it! Go back and get some rest!"

Xu Yinxi was sweet-talking and immediately coaxed Miao with a smile: "Fourth Aunt, you've been working hard, and we just want to help. Come on, a few of you men who are strong and can write and count, go help Fourth Aunt, and we girls will have a chat!"

Fang Xun glared at Xu Yinxi.

Xu Huijia also glared at Xu Yinxi.

Well, you knew that everyone was curious about where the city lord got the food, but you sent us away with just one sentence, wanting to enjoy the first-hand information yourself.

This is too unfair.

Xu Yinxi quickly made a look, indicating that the information should be shared together later. The boys' complexion improved, and they went to help Miao with the work with a smile.

Several girls immediately surrounded Xu Zhenying.

Xu Zhenying looked at the eagerly smiling girls in front of her. Suddenly, the noodles in her hand didn't taste as good anymore. She simply took two quick bites. Qian Zhenniang immediately took the bowl away. "City Lord, when we left, you refused to tell me no matter how much I asked you. Now that the food has returned, can you please tell us how you got so much food?"

Xu Zhenying sighed, "Think about it, where can we find food in this southwest area?"

Everyone pondered over it, and Qian Zhenniang said, "It can only be in the mountain stronghold or in the imperial army."

Several people were stunned. Xu Zhenying immediately made a gesture to silence them, then lowered his voice and said, "This is the grain sent by the court to the front line of Qianzhou Prefecture. We intercepted it when it passed through the waterway of Jinzhou Prefecture."

The three people's expressions changed slightly. Food from the court?

This shock only lasted for a few seconds. Yes, they were all people who wanted to rebel, and would fight against the imperial court sooner or later. Now they were just intercepting the food supply. What was there to be afraid of?

However, what surprised everyone was that Xu Zhenying was so well-informed now.

"Where did the city lord get the information?"

"Remember Hu Wei, the dog-headed military advisor beside Li Datou? He told me."

Everyone still had some impression of him, but it was not a good impression.

Xu Yinxi asked, "I remember him. Does the city lord want to use him?"

"Now is the time to use people, why not use them?"

"But that person..."

"I know he's too cunning, too wild, and too arrogant. You're worried I won't be able to control him." Xu Zhenying smiled. "But don't be afraid. Such people are double-edged swords. It all depends on the ability of the person who wields them."