If Qiao Rui hadn't laughed and shouted, "Brother is back," Miao Wan would have thought she was drunk and dizzy.
She murmured in her heart, how could it be such a coincidence, even if you had come back a little earlier, there would at least be half a glass of wine left for Qiao Bailao, so that she could pretend that the couple has a good relationship in front of her parents-in-law.
Miao Wan's heart raced. As long as she ran fast, Embarrassment would not be able to catch up with her.
Even if you are not drunk, you have to pretend to be drunk!
Qiao Ruichen stepped forward and supported Miao Wan's shaking body, "Did you drink too much?"
"Well... this is the first time I've drunk alcohol since I was a child, hehe..." Miao Wan leaned on Qiao Ruichen and smiled, feeling a little drunk.
Shouldn't Qiao Bailao understand what I'm saying? It's time to help her go back and rest!
But Qiao Ruichen didn't move. "The first time you drank alcohol, it should be a wedding wine."
Miao Wan: "..." These brother and sister should be thrown away. What truth are they talking about?
The whole yard was halfway through eating and drinking, and everyone was chatting leisurely, watching the excitement here. Several women covered their mouths and laughed.
It's always interesting to see this young couple every time we meet.
Miao Wan didn't make any more excuses and turned away, "Taotao should be awake now. I'll go check on her."
Geng pulled Aunt Geng behind her, "Let's boil some water for Ruichen so he can wash off the dirt all over his body."
As a result, after entering the house, Geng took Aunt Geng, one holding the baby and the other taking the baby's food, and then went out.
Miao Wan was a little dumbfounded. She had to admit that this body had indeed never drunk much alcohol. After drinking one cup of Shaodaozi and two cups of green plum wine, her mind was still clear, but her body was a little slow to react.
Before she had time to figure out why she had to take the baby out, she subconsciously followed her mother-in-law.
Geng was at a loss for words. "Stay in the room. I'll make you some hangover soup. Taotao will sleep with me tonight so she won't be bothered by your alcohol."
Miao Wan: "...Then I'll sleep alone?"
"Didn't Awan say that you missed Ruichen? Ruichen finally came back, so ask him to sleep with you." Aunt Geng said, trying not to laugh.
Miao Wan: “…”
Even when Qiao Ruichen came into the room, covered in steam, Miao Wan still couldn't figure out why she wanted to drink tonight. It was all because of the alcohol!
"Awan?" Qiao Ruichen stepped forward.
Miao Wan stood up quickly and assumed a not-so-standard Wing Chun stance. "What?"
There was a smile in Qiao Ruichen's eyes. Seeing that his wife was like a little mantis with her claws shaking uncontrollably, he knew in his heart that she was drunk.
His voice was unnaturally gentle. "I've prepared some water for you in the bathroom. Go wash up and I'll keep watch for you."
Miao Wan was really at a loss, especially because she was scared to death by Jiangjiang Nianniang, who could scare her original self away. Although she had thought many times that this day would come sooner or later, but... it's better to die later than sooner!
After hearing what Qiao Ruichen said, Miao Wan nodded vigorously and walked out, "Okay, okay, my husband is right!"
But as soon as I finished drinking, I took a bath and the heat came out, and the alcohol took effect.
She was nervous again, so she mumbled to Qiao Ruichen at the top of her voice:
"Bai Lao, you are so thoughtful!"
"It is my blessing to marry you!"
"Bai Lao, are you still there? Go check on Taotao. Taotao must be missing you too..."
"How about we sleep together tonight? Oh, that's right, we can sleep together as a family of three. How come I'm so smart, hahaha..."
Qiao Ruichen outside the door: "..."
He was still wondering how he got the name Bai Lao when Geng came over with some hangover soup.
Hearing his daughter-in-law mumbling incoherently inside, he smiled helplessly and shook his head.
"Your wife seems well-behaved and capable on weekdays, but when she's not being watched, she suddenly becomes mischievous, just like Donkey Egg and the others."
Qiao Ruichen thought it was understandable. "She had no one to teach her since she was little in the Marquis of Jingyang's mansion. It wasn't easy for her to grow up. She would be more capable than others, but since no one was watching over her, she would inevitably have some childish innocence. This is also a good thing."
She is so genuine and pure that at least she doesn't feel tortured by all the suffering she has endured. What he likes is Miao Wan's liveliness like a little sun.
Geng thought about it and realized that this was indeed the case. She couldn't help but feel distressed and said, "Then you can serve her some hangover soup later. Um... ahem, if she gets scared, don't be too anxious. There's still a lot of time to go."
Qiao Ruichen: "...Okay, mother, I understand." Before, he could tell that she was his biological mother, but now he almost couldn't tell whose biological mother she was.
Miao Wan soaked in the water for a while, letting the heat dissipate some of the alcohol. When she came out of the bathroom, she felt much more sober.
After drinking the sobering soup, she was no longer drunk and could no longer perform Wing Chun. She sat on the head of the kang, looking at Qiao Ruichen, wanting to say something but stopping herself.
Qiao Ruichen didn't force her. He just smiled and took off his coat, made the kang, sat opposite Miao Wan, and looked at her gently.
Miao Wan felt that it was really painful to remain silent. She said dryly, "Husband, how about... let's go to bed? We have to get up early tomorrow."
"What are you doing up so early?" Qiao Ruichen poured her another bowl of warm water and placed it in front of her.
When it came to arranging work, Miao Wan stopped stuttering. Holding the bowl, she immediately said, "I promised my second sister-in-law that I would go check on their piglets tomorrow. It's just right that you're back, my husband. Ada said he's found some good fertile fields. You can go with us and take a look. If they're good enough, buy them."
Miao Wan had been waiting for a long time to discuss farming. "It would be best if our fields and the Zhang family's fields were together. When the time comes, we can build a few kang houses on the edge of the fields and let A-Dun and the others live there.
I've decided that one of us will grow beets, and the other will grow sunflowers and chrysanthemums. Sunflowers can be made into snacks, and chrysanthemums have a particularly long flowering period and are very useful."
Qiao Ruichen had no objection. "Let's do as you say, but there's no need to get up early. Ada and Dad have been drinking a lot tonight. I heard from Mom that the restaurant will be closed tomorrow, so I don't think anyone will be able to get up."
Miao Wan: “…” Having dinner tonight was a bad idea.
Think about it, what else can I say? I can go to bed right away and get up early...
"Awan." Qiao Ruichen held Miao Wan's hand and felt her tremble slightly. He felt a little... helpless and embarrassed about what happened when they first got married.
He suppressed his embarrassment and tried to calm his wife down, "If Wan doesn't like it... I won't force you. It's good enough to sleep with you."
"Really?" Miao Wan's eyes lit up and she pulled Qiao Ruichen's arm. "Then let's go to bed quickly. Oh, I'm so sleepy after drinking."
The smile began to spread in Qiao Ruichen's eyes again. Although it was Miao Wan who drank the wine, Qiao Ruichen felt a surge of joy in his heart. His wife was so lovable.
After lying down and extinguishing the candle, in the darkness, after a rustling, Qiao Ruichen hugged his delicate wife in his arms and couldn't help but kiss her on the forehead.
Miao Wan felt a warm current running through her body. It might be the alcohol that had not yet dissipated, making her whole body feel a little weak, especially her abdomen. The strange feeling made her want to curl up and sleep.
Is it possible that Shaodaozi and green plum wine cannot be mixed together?
Qiao Ruichen suddenly felt a pair of knees pressing against him. He took a deep breath without making any sound, and his whole body became a little stiff.
"Awan, why do you call me Bailao?" Qiao Ruichen spoke softly, thinking of chatting with his wife.
Miao Wan, who was trying to curl up, paused: "..." If she said it was a nickname between husband and wife, would Comrade Bai Lao believe it?
Qiao Ruichen had good hearing and heard everything Miao Wan said just now. He just felt strange, "Your name is Shiren? It doesn't sound like a nickname for a girl in the boudoir."
Miao Shiren: “…” The colleague who was shot was a bastard, but he was not from the boudoir. What could she do?
"Are you asleep?" Qiao Ruichen lowered his head and couldn't help but kiss Miao Wan's forehead.
He felt Miao Wan shrink her neck, and he knew that she was not asleep. She was just leaning obediently in his arms, half curled up like a child.
This posture made Qiao Ruichen feel more pity for his wife. It was all his fault that his wife was left with such a deep shadow.
He sighed silently, his face flushed, but he still whispered, "Awan, don't be afraid. I... I know I wasn't good in the past. I've carefully inquired about the affairs of my colleagues in the army. It won't be the same again."
Hmm? Speaking of this, Miao Wan was no longer sleepy.
She raised her head slightly and asked softly, "Husband, have you looked at the Fire Avoidance Chart?"
"...Yes, it's a fire avoidance booklet." Qiao Ruichen also imitated her and answered in a whisper.
Miao Wan: So that means a lot of them?
There were clearly only two people in the room, but the couple chatted like thieves.
However, this sneaky feeling actually boosted someone's courage in the dark, and he stood up again.
Miao Wan asked softly, "Does it look good?"
Qiao Ruichen pondered for a moment, then answered with his clever intuition, "I haven't paid much attention to this, but I just feel that I have gained a lot."
"Hmm..." Miao Wan breathed a sigh of relief, her body also relaxed a lot. "It's a traditional virtue to keep learning throughout life. My husband, you are really great!"
This way, no matter what happens in the future, it won't be as tragic as the original body, right?
But when Qiao Ruichen heard the long-awaited flattery, he was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, and he also felt Miao Wan's relaxation. He didn't plan for what would happen next.
"How about, Awan, give me a chance?" Qiao Ruichen lifted her up lightly and gently soothed her soft body in the quilt. "As long as you say you're uncomfortable, we'll stop."
Miao Wan was fiddling with the buttons on Qiao Ruichen's shirt with her fingers. Perhaps she knew this would happen sooner or later, or perhaps it was the alcohol that emboldened her, but she didn't say a word when Qiao Ruichen kissed her.
Then the air in the room suddenly became hot and chaotic, and by the time she wanted to say something, it was too late.
"Um... big liar!" This was the only sentence Miao Wan could say before she fell asleep from exhaustion.
The next day, after Qiao Ruichen and Zhang the Butcher bought the land and went to Xiyong County Government Office ten miles away to handle the land tax, they returned home and found that they had been driven back to Qiao Shengwen's house again.
Miao Wan didn't even have to help Yang look after the piglets; she even had to feed Taotao while lying on the kang.
Either I couldn't get up, or I felt like a loser after running 1,500 meters. The next day, my whole body was sore and weak, which was more annoying than a toothache.
Geng hadn't noticed it at first, but when Taotao was breastfeeding, she looked up from her needlework and suddenly thought that Taotao had scratched the grain bag. After a closer look, she realized that she had wrongly accused her granddaughter.
This is clearly the mark left by Taotao's father's great strength, because Miao Wan opened her clothes to feed the child, and there were tiny traces extending from the food bag upwards. I don't know how much strength he used.
So Miao Wan held the child in her arms with tears in her eyes and said, "Mom, I still want to sleep with you and Xiao Rui at night..."
Geng was embarrassed and didn't have the nerve to refuse. After all, the son was hers and it was his fault... Let the father and son reflect on it themselves.
In the evening, Qiao Ruichen sent Butcher Zhang back home, and as soon as he got home, he was called over by Geng.
"You sleep with your father, and you're like a hungry wolf. You'd better be gentle and hurt your wife. How will Taotao continue to breastfeed? You two should stay away from the same room until she's weaned."
Qiao Ruichen: "..." He really didn't use much strength, it was just that he had been absent for too long, more than once.
In the evening, the father and son looked at each other. Qiao Shengwen couldn't bear to look at his son. He felt it was such a disgrace to the Qiao family.
"Don't say that Dad won't help you. Our family is not that pedantic and doesn't care what others say." Qiao Shengwen thought that he had to help his son one last time, he pondered.
"I think there should be prostitutes in the brothels of the county town, right?"
Qiao Ruichen: “…”
Qiao Shengwen pretended not to notice his son's helplessness and coughed lightly. "Alright, there were a lot of people at home last night, and I saw you looked happy. Is it Bayin's place?"
Qiao Ruichen suppressed his complex feelings and nodded, "Our guess was correct. Xining Town was massacred by the Xiban people eleven years ago. Chen Sixu must have been involved, so Wuliangha has been investigating him."
"No evidence found, right?" Qiao Shengwen asked as expected, and then said with a firm expression, "But you found something."
Otherwise, the Wuliangha clan would not have given up the pursuit for so many years.
"Chen Sixu had no dealings with the Xifan people, but among his twelve retainers, three had Xifan concubines in their homes. Bayin discovered that one of them, although a concubine, resembled the daughter of the Xifan Protector General."
The duties of the Protectorate General of Western Regions were similar to those of Dayue's Outer Region Court. They were officials in charge of foreign reconnaissance and expeditions, and even spies were under their management.
Qiao Shengwen's expression became much more serious. "Like?"
Qiao Ruichen nodded. "Xifan is in turmoil. The king and Khan changed four times in ten years, and the Protector General changed several times. In Xifan, daughters born to maids and concubines are not counted in the family tree. The relationship between Northern Mongolia and Xifan is also tense. We have never been able to confirm the identity of Agula and Bayin."
Qiao Shengwen sneered, "Everyone thinks Chen Sixu is a reckless man, but he's no less cunning than that old fox, Duke Chen. Even if we find out that the woman is indeed the daughter of the Protector General of Western Regions, capturing Western Regions and using them as slaves is a common occurrence, and since she's in his mansion, we still can't do anything to him."
Qiao Ruichen was very calm. "But if he wants to use his subordinates, there will inevitably be shackles between them. Now I have become the captain of the Anti-Humiliation Army. I just need to wait for Chen Sixu to come to me and gain his trust. Sooner or later, I will get the evidence."
"This old fox is too cautious. It will be difficult to gain his trust." Qiao Shengwen sighed.
Qiao Ruichen had already found out through the centurion named Chen Wu, "Chen Sixu is indeed brave and skilled in battle, as well as meticulous and thorough, but he also has a flaw: he is fond of women. General Dingbei has no fewer than thirty concubines in his mansion, and even more children."
Because he has many children, his daughters can marry his subordinates, and his sons can marry his subordinates' daughters. Only with such complicated connections can Chen Sixu's position as General Dingbei be as stable as a rock.
The person above Chen Wu was his cousin who had married into the Dingbei General's Mansion. Although she was not favored, the daughter of his cousin married a fifth-rank cavalry captain of the Gubei Army, which was why she was able to be so successful in the county border army.
Qiao Shengwen thought thoughtfully: "Are you planning to start from his backyard?"
Qiao Ruichen nodded and said calmly, "I was just thinking of discussing this with Awan tonight. If I can come up with some more things that fascinate women, I can go to the Dingbei General's Mansion to deliver them regularly. There will definitely be a chance."
After finding evidence of Qin Mao's corruption through the essential oils and soaps sent to Qin Mao's backyard, Qiao Ruichen felt that this method was quite useful.
So, we have to give him the opportunity to talk more with his wife.
He looked at Qiao Shengwen: Dad, do you understand what I mean?
Qiao Shengwen: "..." It wasn't me who had you kicked out by your own wife. Do you think I'm useful?
At this moment, Miao Wan was holding the land deed sent back by Qiao Ruichen and discussing the future farming plan with Madam Zhang.
Madam Zhang scolded her husband, "We've harvested two crops of barley in that medium-sized field, but the soil is a bit barren this year. You, Ada, still don't know how to live. You bought the land too expensively. At least we can't plant this spring crop. We need to take care of the land."
Geng comforted her, "After all, it's the land of Tongsheng's family. My Ruichen doesn't understand, but he bought the inferior land too. I don't know what to grow on it. I heard from Old Zhang and the others that although the inferior land pays less tax, the yield is also very little."
The two old masters who were bought to farm were named Zhang and Wu.
In fact, Qiao Ruichen and Zhang the Butcher were quite lucky. They met a landlord who was moving to Xiping County, so they were able to buy so much land.
I heard that the boy in the family has passed the examination for the position of Tongsheng, and he is only fourteen years old. He is obviously a seed for a rapid rise to fame, so the whole family pays special attention to him.
The father of the boy's family decided to keep only the old house and sell all the other land. He then went to the county town to buy a house and do business. This way, the other sons in the family would have a way out. The most important thing was that he could continue to study.
Butcher Zhang and Qiao Ruichen did not bargain for the price. Firstly, the price was fair. Secondly, if they bought the land from a boy's family, it might become the ancestral land of a scholar or a juren in the future. So they could not lower the price too much just to get some good luck.
This landlord owned ten acres of top-quality fertile land, twenty acres of medium-quality land, and ten acres of hilly terraced fields, which, because the land was barren, could only be considered low-quality land.
The best land costs fifteen taels of silver per mu, and the medium land costs ten taels of silver.
As for the ten mu of hilly fields, although they are barren, they are also divided into plots. The fertility of some plots is not much worse than that of the better fields, but it is unevenly distributed. The crops they produce are considered miscellaneous grains, and the price they command is not low, six taels of silver per mu.
Butcher Zhang asked about it and was told that inferior farmland could only cost three taels of silver per mu at most. This was double the price, and he felt it was not worth it.
He discussed it with Qiao Ruichen and decided to buy the top-quality and medium-quality fields in equal parts.
But Qiao Ruichen remembered that tea could be grown on the hills, and his wife might be able to turn waste into treasure, so he simply bought it for forty taels.
At this moment, while her mother-in-law and godmother were talking, Miao Wan looked at Tian Qi and smiled so much that her eyes narrowed into slits.
She doesn't know how to grow tea trees, but she knows how to fertilize the fields!
Few children who grew up in the countryside have never worked in the fields.
When grandma was still alive, she was the one who took care of the family land. She didn't go to the orphanage so that she could rent out the land to pay off the debt. Although she may not be very familiar with the work in the farm, at least she knows how to make compost!
As long as the land is fertile and there are experienced farmers familiar with Northwest planting, what can't be planted?
The author has something to say:
Well... Qiao Bailao has a lot of roles today.
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