Before we knew it, it was mid-March. Qin Xiaozhou had the wooden board removed from her left calf, and a scab had formed on the wound.

Li Changpu took out a porcelain bottle. "This is a medicated ointment I developed myself. It's used to remove scars. Apply it three times a day, morning, noon, and night. Give it a try."

Qin Xiaozhou thanked him, got up and walked a few steps. Her calves were still a little sore when she walked, but she didn't feel anything when she didn't move.

Li Changpu continued to instruct, "You should still move around as little as possible these next few months. If the pain occurs on rainy or cloudy days, I will come back to prescribe medicine for you."

Lu Yu busied herself with helping, saying, "Yes, Xiao Zhou, if you feel any pain, go find your uncle."

It's only been three months since the Lunar New Year, and Lu Yu has already visited her parents' home five or six times, more frequently than any other married woman. Both Zhao Fang and Qin Xiaozhou greeted her warmly, which made her very happy.

Having been sidelined for so long due to a leg injury, Qin Xiaozhou was now able to walk and move around again, so she rushed to the county town to check the accounts and businesses. Unexpectedly, the first person to arrive was Gu Yunyao, who had been rumored to be dating Lu Yunfeng.

Gu Yunyao had bright eyes and white teeth; she was truly a beautiful and refined woman.

Even though she already had a son and a daughter, she was still like a young girl, full of youthful energy, but with a kind of contemptuous disdain in her eyes. "Please do not take offense at my sudden visit, Madam Lu."

Qin Xiaozhou shook her head, "Mrs. Gu, you're too kind."

“I am not Mrs. Gu, I am Miss Gu.” Gu Yunyao raised her chin arrogantly. “Mrs. Lu, please don’t get it wrong.”

Qin Xiaozhou smiled, "In that case, Miss Gu, please call me Manager Qin."

She hadn't heard the title "shopkeeper" for several months and was starting to miss it.

Gu Yunyao remained noncommittal. "I've come today to explain the rumors about me and your husband. All those rumors in the county are nonsense."

I've been married and had children, and I just didn't want to compete with other women for my affections, so I took my child and stayed away from that scumbag.

So you can rest assured, I will not overstep any boundaries with Lu Yunfeng. Even if he were single, let alone already being married, I wouldn't be interested in him.

Qin Xiaozhou took a sip of milk tea, hiding the smile on her lips, and became even more certain that Gu Yunyao was a time traveler. "I know you should disdain competing with other women for a man's favor. You have your pride."

Gu Yunyao was taken aback, then looked at her properly, "You're quite different from those women who only know how to hide in the men's courtyard and fight over men's affections."

I've heard a lot about you, and I originally thought you just held the title while Lu Yunfeng did all the work behind the scenes. But after meeting you today, I see you have your own opinions.

Qin Xiaozhou frowned almost imperceptibly. "Since Miss Gu doesn't like the way those women behave, why not create conditions so that more women can be like you and me?"

They might not have genuinely enjoyed jealousy and rivalry, but rather felt compelled to act that way. Confined to their courtyards, without a source of income, and without a man's favor, they would undoubtedly face certain death. However, if they could be self-reliant and have access to a wider world, I think few would willingly confine themselves to a small courtyard.

Gu Yunyao was completely stunned, and after a long while, her lips trembled as she said, "You mean..."

Qin Xiaozhou had roughly figured out Gu Yunyao's personality. She had a natural sense of superiority that modern people possessed, and her mind wasn't particularly deep. "Open a school to create more employment opportunities for women."

"You—" Gu Yunyao suddenly stood up, incredulous, "You too?"

Qin Xiaozhou nodded, "Same as you."

"Aaaaaaaahhhhhh!" Gu Yunyao screamed and rushed over to hug Qin Xiaozhou. "Waaaaaah, sister, I thought I was the only transmigrator this year."

Qin Xiaozhou asked, puzzled, "This year? Weren't you surprised when you came to Fenggu County and saw milk tea and cakes?"

Gu Yunyao took a big sip of milk tea. "I transmigrated into the body of the Third Prince's Consort. There are things like soap and toothbrushes in the upper circles of the capital. I heard that they were invented by the daughter of the former Prime Minister's family. Moreover, what she left behind were the most military weapons, such as bows, crossbows and firearms. So when I saw cake and milk tea, I assumed that it was the masterpiece of the former."

No wonder.

Qin Xiaozhou asked, "So what were you before?"

Gu Yunyao proudly patted her chest, "I'm a science and engineering major. I even made a bicycle in the capital. I also made the sewing machine for your house. How is it? The effect is good, right? I heard that Xiulou can sew clothes ten times faster than before."

Qin Xiaozhou took a deep breath. Awesome!!

All you can think of is that she just prepared some food, which is actually the least noticeable thing about her.

Gu Yunyao completely relaxed. "Do you have any plans to open a school?"

Qin Xiaozhou explained the plan: "To open a school, we need money and government approval. It's not an easy thing. Women already have a hard life, so opening a girls' school probably won't be feasible in the short term."

In an era when even men struggled to get an education, there were only a few hundred or a thousand men in a county town who had received an education. Under a patriarchal society, women would not be allowed to compete for such a valuable resource as education.

Gu Yunyao, however, still had a cheerful expression. "Money is something that can be earned. As for the government, it doesn't necessarily have to be called a school."

They only said they would recruit seven- or eight-year-old girls as apprentices in the embroidery workshop. Reading and writing were part of the assessment; those who failed could not stay to learn embroidery. Therefore, no one could say anything.

That's feasible; it really makes a difference to have someone to work with.

Qin Xiaozhou laughed and said, "Women should not study and write to take the imperial examinations. They should focus on practical matters. Since you know a lot, why don't you go and teach? Maybe you can even improve the spinning machine."

Having settled an important matter today, Qin Xiaozhou was in a good mood and invited Gu Yunyao to stay for dinner at her home. The two chatted happily and agreed to go to the embroidery tower the next day.

Early in the morning, Qin Xiaozhou walked around the embroidery building and the textile factory, inside and out, to recruit a large number of apprentices and expand her territory.

However, the current magistrate of Fenggu County has just taken office and we've never even met him. Let alone having a relationship with him, we don't know if the land will be approved.

Lu Yunfeng pondered for a moment, "I'll go find Constable Li and ask him about this county magistrate. I'll find out as much as I can."

Since Magistrate Sun went to Wanzhou to take up his post, the position of Magistrate of Fenggu County was vacant for two months until the beginning of March when it was heard that a new Magistrate had arrived.

When Lu Yunfeng returned that evening, he said, "The magistrate's surname is Wang. He's from Peishan County. I heard he served as a county assistant there for three years. He came to our county this year as a promotion. He's only twenty-three years old."

Qin Xiaozhou was taken aback. Only twenty-three years old?

He was promoted from county assistant to county magistrate in just three years, which must mean he wanted to make a name for himself and continue to climb the ranks. Moreover, judging from Magistrate Sun's promotion at the beginning of the year, the position of magistrate of Fenggu County is now a lucrative one, and the fact that Magistrate Wang can come here shows that he has a strong background.

"First, go to the county government's land deeds office to see if we can buy the mountain west of the embroidered tower. If we can't, go to the county magistrate's residence and send a visiting card. Maybe we can smooth things over."

Lu Yunfeng acted quickly, taking the silver to the county government office.