Upon returning from her border patrol, Qi Mingyue fell ill. The border winds and sandstorms were biting, and she was ultimately unable to fully adapt, suffering from a low-grade fever and cough for several days, forcing her to rest in bed.

Yao Xiuyan visited her every day, sometimes bringing herbs unique to the border region, and sometimes simply sitting quietly by her bed reading. On this particular day, when he arrived, Qi Mingyue was staring intently at a stack of blueprints.

"Still restless even when you're sick?" Yao Xiuyan took the drawings away, his brows furrowing slightly. "Chen Yu said you've been drawing these for the past few days."

The drawing was a modified spinning wheel design, with dimensions and material specifications densely marked next to it. Qi Mingyue coughed lightly a few times: "I saw how hard the military families were working spinning thread the other day, and I thought maybe I could improve it a bit."

Yao Xiuyan examined the drawing closely: "You know how to do this?"

“My mother taught me this,” Qi Mingyue said nostalgically. “She once said that women should not only read books, but also understand the people’s livelihood.” She pointed to the blueprints. “This reform can save 30% of the effort.”

Yao Xiuyan stared at her for a moment, then suddenly said, "I have ordered people to set up schools in various military garrisons, and as you said, provide one lunch every day."

Qi Mingyue's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"Hmm." Yao Xiuyan's lips curled up slightly. "We selected three military settlements as the first batch for pilot projects. If they prove successful, we will expand the program further."

Overjoyed, Qi Mingyue began to cough again. Yao Xiuyan quickly patted her back, saying, "Take it slow. Border matters can't be rushed."

Just then, Lin Qiuyan burst in. Seeing the two of them being so intimate, her face darkened: "Brother Xiuyan, there's something important at the military camp!"

Yao Xiuyan stood up and said, "Take good rest." He then left with Lin Qiuyan.

After the person left, Zhishu couldn't help but say, "Miss Lin was clearly doing it on purpose! She can't stand the young master being nice to you!"

Qi Mingyue remained calm: "She was also worried that Brother Xiuyan would neglect his important business."

Once her illness improved slightly, Qi Mingyue wanted to go to Langyantun to check on the progress of the school. Yao Xiuyan couldn't dissuade her, so he sent a troop of personal guards to accompany her.

Langyan Village was one of the pilot sites, and conditions there were the most difficult. When Qi Mingyue arrived, she saw several children squatting under the earthen wall, drawing characters on the ground with twigs. A young woman was teaching them to read, and upon seeing Qi Mingyue, she quickly stood up and bowed.

"No need for formalities," Qi Mingyue said gently. "Was it all right?"

The woman looked troubled: "There's food, but the children can't sit still. They want to play as soon as they learn a few words..."

Qi Mingyue looked around. The so-called school was nothing more than a dilapidated mud hut, without even a decent table. The children used sand as "paper" and twigs as "pens."

She pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "I will give a lecture today."

When the children heard that Miss Qi was giving a lesson in person, they all gathered around curiously. However, Qi Mingyue did not teach them to recognize characters, but instead told them stories—the legend of the lone smoke rising from the desert, the setting sun over the long river, and the soldiers guarding the border to defend their country.

The children listened intently, and even the adults gathered around to listen. At an exciting point, Qi Mingyue suddenly stopped: "To find out what happens next, please listen to the next chapter."

The children asked anxiously, "What happened next? Did the little soldier find water in the end?"

Qi Mingyue smiled and said, "Come back tomorrow and I'll tell you." She winked, "But you'll have to learn five characters first."

The children immediately perked up and urged the woman to teach them to read. Qi Mingyue quietly withdrew from the crowd and said to Chen Yu, "From now on, I will tell you a story every day. Children who know more characters can hear more stories."

Chen Yu suddenly realized: "Brilliant! Miss Qi really knows how to do things!"

On the way back, Qi Mingyue went to Black Wind Village again. The school there was well set up, but the women said that spinning thread was too time-consuming and they didn't have time to attend the classes.

Qi Mingyue took out the blueprint for the improved spinning wheel: "If we use this, it might save some time?"

The old spinner observed for a long time, then suddenly slapped her thigh: "Brilliant! This modification really saves effort!" She took Qi Mingyue's hand, "Miss Qi, how do you know this?"

Qi Mingyue smiled faintly: "My mother taught me that."

They immediately found a carpenter and modified the spinning wheel according to the design. When they tried spinning, it was indeed much easier. The women gathered around, asking all at once if they could modify one for their own homes.

Qi Mingyue then said, "Each household should send one person to learn to read for ten days, and then we will help them modify a spinning wheel."

As the news spread, the number of people coming to learn suddenly increased.

Upon learning this, Yao Xiuyan came to find Qi Mingyue: "You certainly know how to come up with ideas."

Qi Mingyue was teaching the children to sing a literacy song when she turned around and smiled, "It's just taking advantage of the situation."

In the setting sun, she stood among a group of children, her skirt dusty, but her smile was brighter than the evening glow. Yao Xiuyan was momentarily stunned, forgetting what he was going to say.

…………

Good things often come with difficulties. That day, Qi Mingyue was preparing her lessons at the villa when she suddenly heard a commotion outside. Chen Yu rushed in: "Miss Qi, something terrible has happened! The Langyantun school has been vandalized!"

Qi Mingyue was startled: "What happened?"

When they arrived at Langyan Village, they found that the mud houses had collapsed and the textbooks were scattered all over the ground. Several old people were squatting by and sighing, while the children were crying in fear.

"They're bandits!" a man shouted angrily. "They're saying we're doing this useless thing and delaying our business!"

Qi Mingyue examined the scene closely and found that the destruction was very methodical—only the school points were destroyed, and no food or supplies were seized, which was clearly a warning.

On the way back to the city, she remained silent. Chen Yu said angrily, "Someone must have instigated this! Ordinary bandits don't care about these things."

Qi Mingyue suddenly asked, "Have you offended anyone recently?"

Chen Yu was taken aback: "Miss means..."

“Setting up a school has affected the interests of some people.” Qi Mingyue’s eyes were clear. “The distribution of provisions and pay at the border has always been shady. By providing lunch for the school, we have cut off the source of income for many people.”

Chen Yu suddenly realized: "No wonder General Li always obstructs us!"

That evening, Qi Mingyue went to see Yao Xiuyan. He was reading a military report when he saw her. He put down the file and asked, "About the school?"

Qi Mingyue nodded: "Did Brother Xiuyan know this would happen?"

This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!