The truck was loaded not only with staple foods such as rice, soybeans, red beans, sweet potatoes, and potatoes, but also with various sauces, dehydrated vegetables, and dried fruits made by Liu Yingying and her team.

The aroma of fried potato chips and fries gradually wafted from the entrance of the military camp. If the soldiers inside weren't bound by military discipline, they probably would have rushed out to grab the food long ago...

"Madam Liu, as far as I know, Furong County suffered a severe drought last year, the worst in twenty years. Where did you get all this grain?"

Huo Huaizhi knew that Liu Yingying had previously extorted a large sum of money from high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital.

He had assumed that Liu Yingying had bought all the grain out of her own pocket, but the result was not so.

Liu Yingying said, "These are all grown by ourselves. We still have a lot at home, far more than we can eat, so we brought them over for General Huo to have a taste!"

Since she said that, Huo Huaizhi naturally wouldn't refuse her kindness, and ordered his men to take all the grain from the carts into the camp.

During this process, Huo Huaizhi also noticed some things in the car that he had never seen before, and casually picked up a potato and asked in confusion.

"What's this?"

“These are new varieties that I grafted myself, called potatoes, that’s sweet potato, and corn…” Liu Yingying introduced them to him one by one.

Huo Huaizhi exclaimed in amazement, "I never imagined that Madam Liu, besides being a skilled physician, would also have such expertise in agriculture!"

"Not at all, General Huo, you flatter me... I come from a humble background, and these are merely means of making a living!"

Liu Yingying was being modest, but Huo Huaizhi couldn't help but think of her heartless husband.

He received word that Zhu Ziqian would arrive in Furong County no later than the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

Huo Huaizhi couldn't help but glance at Liu Yingying again, but it was a pity that Madam Liu was still unaware of the truth!

Liu Yingying always felt that Huo Huaizhi seemed to want to say something but didn't want to, but since he didn't say anything, she didn't press him further.

Huo Huaizhi originally wanted her to stay for a meal at the military camp, but Liu Yingying declined, saying she had things to do at home. Huo Huaizhi didn't insist, as he had military business to attend to at that moment, so he sent Dongqing to see her off.

Liu Yingying always felt that Huo Huaizhi seemed to have something he wanted to say to her.

Once outside the military camp, she finally couldn't resist asking Dongqing, "Have you encountered any difficulties in your camp lately?"

"The Lady of Ning'an County truly has a keen eye!" Dong Qing couldn't help but glance at her, and then subtly mentioned the shortage of food supplies in the army.

"I'm only telling you this because you're one of my own, Lady Xian, but please don't tell anyone else, it won't sound good if word gets out..."

"Okay, don't worry, I won't tell anyone," Liu Yingying solemnly assured him.

After thinking for a moment, she couldn't help but say, "But this can't go on forever. If the imperial court keeps cutting off your supplies, we can't just let the soldiers of Zhennan Army sit and wait to die, can we?"

"Sigh!" Dongqing continued dejectedly, "Our master has already submitted a memorial to the court, and I believe some supplies will arrive soon..."

Liu Yingying remained silent. Having been involved in officialdom herself, she knew that such things were unpredictable.

If the imperial court intends to make things difficult for Huo Huaizhi, and delays the supply of provisions for another few months, then what will happen to the soldiers of Zhennan Army during those months?

This can't go on; we have to find a way to save ourselves...

Just then, the group passed through an abandoned village, and before Liu Yingying could ask any questions, Dong Qing took the initiative to explain.

"Three months ago, this place was ravaged by foreign tribes from southern Xinjiang. A fire burned down two or three adjacent villages, leaving nothing but wasteland."

Such incidents occurred frequently on the borders of the Xia Kingdom. Over the centuries, the imperial court's attitude towards the various ethnic groups in the southern border regions changed several times, but in the end, it was the ordinary people at the bottom who suffered.

Liu Yingying's gaze swept over the abandoned farmland, but suddenly she noticed something and asked Dong Qing.

"I see that this area is relatively flat. These fields should total three or four hundred acres. Is anyone taking care of them now?"

"No, the villagers in the vicinity were all slaughtered by the foreign tribes. The government wants to find someone to take over these lands as soon as possible, but who dares to take them over..."

Indeed, if foreign tribes frequently harass the area, the people who have settled here will not have any security. Who would be willing to risk their lives to buy these properties?

However, just because others wouldn't dare to do this doesn't mean Liu Yingying wouldn't dare either. Fortunately, she currently has some extra money and wants to do what she can to help Huo Huaizhi solve the food problem.

If we could buy these hundreds of acres of land, the problem would be solved.

Liu Yingying then shared her thoughts with Dong Qing.

Dong Qing initially thought it was unfeasible, but upon closer examination, he realized that the magistrate of Ning'an County was actually the most suitable person to buy this land.

At worst, she could just tell her master after she bought the land and instruct the brothers to keep a close watch on it. That way, those foreign tribes wouldn't dare to invade easily.

Besides, even without them, Dong Qing had witnessed the methods of the Lady of Ning'an County firsthand.

Anyone who dares to mess with her is simply asking for death!

And so, on the same day, he personally led Liu Yingying to the clerk in charge and bought all the farmland in this area.

On the way back, Wang Dabing eagerly approached and asked with a smile, "Sister-in-law, Jinwu is busy managing the farm in front of our house and can't spare any time for anything else. So who do you plan to have take charge of the fields here?"

Liu Yingying glanced at him, understanding dawning on her, and said indifferently, "Yes, I'm currently lacking a capable assistant like this. Who do you think would be suitable?"

Her feigned reluctance made Wang Dabing pause slightly, but when it came to competition, Wang Dabing would never hesitate and immediately volunteered.

"Sister-in-law, how do I look?"

"You?" Liu Yingying looked at him with a puzzled expression.

Wang Dabing swore to the heavens, "Sister-in-law, I promise you, from now on I am your man. No matter who comes, it won't matter. I, Wang Dabing, am only loyal to you. So, please, sister-in-law, when you rise to the top, give your brother a ride!"

These days, Liu Yingying has been managing her business very well, making money like water, which Wang Dabing has seen.

Although Liu Yingying did not mistreat the Wang family.

However, compared to Lu Daikui, Jin Wu and the others were still a step behind, and now that such a good opportunity was available, Wang Dabing naturally couldn't let it go!

Liu Yingying pretended to ponder for a moment, then smiled and said, "Then I'll give you that chance. Tomorrow, bring your people over and turn over these fields. Once the soil is turned over, I'll tell you what crops to plant."

"Okay!" Wang Dabing grinned and readily agreed.

Finally, Liu Yingying gave him another warning, "Dabing, if you can't even handle this, don't blame me for not giving you a chance!"

Wang Dabing: "Sister-in-law, I understand what you mean. You can rest assured!"