"Dad, what you mean is that the Sage intends to send my husband on a diplomatic mission from Northern Mongolia to the outer frontier after the New Year?"
When asking this question, Miao Wan was confused for a moment. She had never thought that the idea she and Gu Shuyao came up with would send Qiao Bailao abroad.
Going on a business trip at this time is not a good job, nor can it be solved by just taking a flight. Don't even think about coming back for at least a year or two.
Even if Miao Shiren was a wealthy landlord, she couldn't do such a cruel thing.
When Taotao was born, his father was still around, although he left soon after.
This time, it’s good enough for the child to see his father on the 100th day. Normally, a child may not even know what his father looks like when he reaches the age of the "Zhuazhou" ceremony?
Seeing that his daughter-in-law was distracted, Qiao Shengwen's expression softened a lot and he sighed softly. Doesn't he feel sorry for his own son?
But there are many things that Miao Wan can ignore, and as a father, he has to think carefully for the young couple.
Awan can make money, and she is making more and more money, and she has also had a great influence on the Gubei Army.
Now that the regent is still alive, the royal family has no energy to think about the threat posed by Qiao Ruichen and his wife. When power returns to the hands of the saint, the royal family will inevitably turn their attention to the Qiao family.
Qiao Ruichen cannot be a third-rank military general forever. He will return to the capital or he may guard a region.
By then, because of Miao Wan's existence, if the Qiao family becomes rich enough to rival a country, even if the saint does not want to target the Qiao family, as long as Qiao Ruichen and Miao Wan's influence grows, the royal family will inevitably have a way to check and balance them.
Fortunately, Miao Wan knew how to raise the banner, and Cheng Shao and Qiao Ruichen also understood the importance of this. Throughout history, those who have been linked to military power have been feared by the royal family without exception, and they also need to hand the initiative to the saint.
The Silk Road had to be run by the Qiao family under the order of the emperor, with the assistance of the Gubei Army.
Even if the logistics center in the northwest were to flow into the interior, the imperial court would have to take the lead and allow the Qiao family to operate as an imperial merchant, and most of the profits would have to flow into the national treasury or the saint's private treasury.
He patiently thought about it and explained it to Miao Wan in soft words.
Miao Wan was not stupid, of course she understood. Thinking of the saint who looked lazy but easy to talk to, she puffed out her cheeks. She had misjudged her cousin-in-law.
In the past, the old thief Chen Sixu was hanging over her head, making it impossible for her to make money properly, and most of the money had to be given to the old thief.
Now the royal family is putting pressure on her, preventing her from earning the most money, and she has to give most of it to the royal family.
What's the difference between the two? Birds of a feather.
"There is still a difference. At least saints have face and are easy to fool. They won't let you pay 80% or 90%. 30% or 40% is enough." Qiao Shengwen said with a smile.
"Oh, there's a slight difference. Chen Sixu still has to find excuses to kill us, but the saints don't need to make excuses. As long as we show our dissatisfaction, there will be people who want to kill us."
Miao Wan: "..." Oh, for the first time, she felt so clearly that she had traveled to a feudal society.
Of course, she has always been very clear that this place is different from the future, and no one would be so naive as to believe in the idea of equality for all. Otherwise, the indenture she holds in her hand would be enough to make her face swell up.
But in the past, Miao Wan thought that she could improve this rule of disregarding human life to a certain extent through her efforts.
For example, buy people and let them work hard to sign contracts, or build good relationships with saints to expand your influence, so that the people can learn that labor is the most glorious before they respect gods and the emperor.
Her father-in-law's words made her understand that as long as the imperial power allowed, she could do whatever she wanted, but once the imperial power did not allow, everything she did was wrong.
What she relies on is not hard work, but well-planned flattery.
Okay, I get it. It’s not enough to just cover herself with the quilt and eat meat. She also has to practice the art of petting fur and be a cunning... ahem, cunning Miao Shiren.
But she was still a little reluctant. "Can't we wait until the weather is warmer before asking my husband to leave? You know how cold it is in the northwest. January is the coldest time. It's impossible to live a leisurely life outside. I'm worried that my husband will get hurt."
Qiao Ruichen had been sitting quietly beside him. He was used to the fangirl atmosphere when his wife met his father, which was so intense that no one else could get in on the situation. When he heard this, his heart was filled with joy.
He gently put his arm around Miao Wan's shoulders. "It's okay. Didn't you and Madam Cheng make some thermal underwear? Also, bring some sweaters, trousers, down jackets, and snow boots. Also, bring some snacks and plenty of clean water. It's much more comfortable to go outside the Great Wall now."
It's not that we can't wait until Miao Wan gives birth to the child before setting off, but the saint is becoming more and more powerful now, and no one knows how long the regent can resist, and it will take time to see results from going out of the border.
The Qiao family needs to realize this achievement as soon as possible and provide Miao Wan with an environment where she can perform freely.
For this reason, Qiao Ruichen is not afraid at all even if there is more wind and snow blocking his way.
Miao Wan ignored her father-in-law's presence and clung to Qiao Ruichen's waist. After a long while, she hummed a long, drawn-out "Hmm," and asked, "Were you busy coordinating military affairs with Minister Ayao before the Lunar New Year?
Qiao Shengwen coughed lightly a few times and said that he was going to play chess with Zhang the Butcher and left first.
Before the old couple returned to Beijing, the young couple were always so affectionate that it made people laugh and cry.
I didn't expect that after they left for a while, the couple would become so attached to each other that their elders couldn't bear to watch.
Qiao Ruichen was also a little uncomfortable, but he really liked his wife's closeness to him.
After his father left, Qiao Ruichen kissed Miao Wan's heart and said, "It's not too busy. As long as the competition of the Gubei Army at the foot of the Goddess Peak is over in a few days, I will have nothing to do here. Ajian has already asked someone to take over my work."
When Cheng Shao sent the memorial back to the capital, they knew this day would come, so Qiao Ruichen took the Cheng family's staunch supporter, Zheng Yuan, the cavalry commander of the Western Camp, to do what he should do.
After he leaves, Zheng Yuan will be promoted from the fifth rank to the fourth rank of General Zhongwu, and will be fully responsible for the political affairs that originally belonged to General Yunhui.
Eh? Miao Wan became more interested when she heard about the competition, and she wasn't so sad anymore.
She looked up with curiosity and asked, "Can we invite the families of the Gubei Army to visit?"
Qiao Ruichen pinched her cheek and said, "No, the Xiban people might show up by then. Swords and guns are blind. Even if others can go, you can't go."
A hint of regret flashed across Miao Wan's eyes, but as a pregnant woman, she was not so willful.
Qiao Ruichen brought up this matter just to divert her attention, and certainly not to make his wife feel regretful.
"Don't worry. I heard from Ah Jian that the official gazette will be published soon. This competition will be the first issue of the gazette... Is it called the headline? It will be written by Xu Yiqing, General Xu's subordinate. You will definitely know about all the exciting events that will happen then."
"Really?" Miao Wan laughed. "I've been suggesting this for so long, but he refused to publish a court newspaper. Why is he agreeing now?"
Because the official gazette will be divided into four sections - Northwest headlines, business information, gossip tabloids and message notices.
Cheng Shao felt that he would become the most miserable general in the headlines and gossips, because it was no longer a secret that General Dingbei was tortured to death by his wife!
This was also his own fault. When he drank too much, he liked to mutter to others, tossing and turning like Xianglin Sao, and then he would be punished by Gu Shuyao when he got home.
Even when he wasn't drinking, he loved to throw around jealousies, causing many soldiers with happy families to be afraid to approach him. As a result, the general's despicable personality was established.
Therefore, he was reluctant to set up a court newspaper earlier.
As for Miao Wan, based on the analysis of her husband and Gu Shuyao, she also felt that the current situation was different from the future. It was better for newspapers to be controlled by the generals than by ordinary people.
At least the possibility of outsiders taking advantage of the loophole to carry out secret communications or incitement is basically zero.
"Maybe it's because Madam Cheng wants to have a baby?" Qiao Ruichen answered uncertainly.
The reason why Cheng Shao knew about this matter was that he was very proud of himself and spread it throughout the military camp.
Therefore, Qiao Ruichen was not sure whether Madam Cheng would still be willing to give birth after knowing this.
Miao Wan was even more surprised, and almost jumped up holding her big belly, "What? Ah Yao is going to give birth? Why didn't I know? When did it happen?"
Qiao Ruichen: "..." Why does this sound so strange?
"Whether she can have children or not...what does it have to do with you?" Qiao Ruichen was careful, tentative, and gently sprinkled a little vinegar.
Miao Wan was choked. "Then, then we are handkerchief friends? Shouldn't handkerchief friends talk about everything?"
She told Gu Shuyao everything, and even asked her to be the godmother of Taotao and the two children.
As a result, Gu Shuyao didn't tell her that she wanted to have a baby.
It was as if three kids were playing house, two of them decided to play husband and wife, and only one kid was left out of the decision.
But Miao Wan was too embarrassed to say such a childish idea out loud.
Her pregnancy this time was different from her last time. Last time, she vomited constantly and it took almost five months for her to feel better.
This time during pregnancy, apart from a period of loss of appetite, everything else was fine. The only difference was that she lost control of her emotions easily. Even Miao Wan had never thought that she would be so emotional.
If she said she was unhappy, she would be sad, and if she said she was happy, she would want to jump three feet high. She felt that her IQ had been lowered to the level of her daughter, which must have been affected by the babies in her belly.
Qiao Ruichen also knew that his wife was very sensitive after she became pregnant, so he was just joking with her.
He was amused after hearing Miao Wan's words, "You're talking as if which of you two has a handkerchief."
One of them has account books and money in his hands every day, while the other has weapons and materials in his hands every day. If they were to become friends...they might have to sew two handkerchiefs first.
Miao Wan: “…” It means exactly what it says, nothing wrong with it.
But this did not prevent her from stomping on Qiao Ruichen in anger and walking out with her chin raised.
Since Qiao Ruichen is leaving after the Chinese New Year, the surprise originally planned for the Lantern Festival will have to be moved to New Year's Eve. She doesn't want Qiao Ruichen to miss any good things.
Just as Miao Wan was thinking that her IQ was on par with her daughter's, her daughter did something that almost scared the adults to death.
Miao Wan had promised to show Madam Zhang the fireworks, so when Cheng Shao and his companions came to the northwest, and when her parents-in-law came to the northwest, they all asked the saint for some fireworks and brought them over.
The principle of fireworks is not complicated after knowing the principle of gunpowder, and Gu Shuyao can make it. However, she also knows that gunpowder is the secret weapon of the saints at that time and has not been announced to the public.
If she rashly produced it and leaked it, it would very likely affect the course of the world, and the bloodshed caused by a war would be too great.
Moreover, it would be a question whether the Cheng family could survive by then. Gu Shuyao, who had served in the army, was more cautious than Miao Wan about the world where the king's power was granted by God.
But since the fireworks have been transported to the northwest, it would be okay for Gu Shuyao to take the opportunity to make more, as long as they are all set off in Xining Town.
The main reason is that there are not many fireworks to begin with, and they are also used during the Lantern Festival in the imperial city. The fireworks that can be brought to the northwest are too monotonous.
Miao Wan was the type of person who wanted to do everything well. Since she had the ability, she thought it was okay to do a little more, so she asked Gu Shuyao to make some nice-looking ones that she had seen in Beijing.
This was indeed very simple for Gu Shuyao. She only needed to use thicker paper, such as many layers of newspaper or kraft paper, roll them into a tube, fill the bottom with soil, and then fill it with gunpowder.
The reason why fireworks can be made is that the gunpowder is filled with beads of metal elements. After being launched, different chemical reactions occur when burning according to the different metal elements, resulting in fireworks of various colors.
Apart from other things, the Northwest has a lot of various minerals, so it is very easy to make flowers as beautiful as those in the capital. Gu Shuyao made ten in two days.
She didn't make any more because there wasn't enough gunpowder material, and she had to save some for making ammunition for the muskets.
The things were placed in the most heavily guarded cellar of the garrison, in an uninhabited side yard, so if anything went wrong, no one would be hurt.
It was almost the end of the year, and Miao Wan was thinking about setting off fireworks on New Year's Eve, so she took people to arrange the place for the fireworks and also had to count the fireworks.
But no one would let Miao Wan do something like counting the fireworks. She was a pregnant woman with a big belly and couldn't even go in front of the stove, let alone something that could explode.
So Aya and Adun were responsible for the work.
It has nothing to do with Taotao. She is still in class and should not know about this at all.
But don’t forget, Taotao has always liked Adun.
As long as A-dun has time, she likes to ask A-dun to carry her around.
Adun is a kind-hearted person who likes to communicate with others. He actually plays well with the little kid.
Before he was in charge of counting the fireworks, Taotao had just finished lunch and didn't want to take a nap, so he pestered him to go play in the snow.
Adun comforted Taotao, "I have to go and do something the boss asked me to do. I have to show the little boss some beautiful flowers during the New Year."
When it comes to beauty, Taotao becomes excited because she likes beautiful things.
But no matter how hard he tried to ask, Adun had never seen fireworks before, so he could only stammer and explain that they were very beautiful, flowers that no one in the northwest had ever seen before.
Good heavens, how could the little carrot head resist this temptation? It’s beautiful, but no one has ever seen her. Isn’t this challenging Qiao Aqian’s curiosity?
Taotao was coaxed into taking a nap. After the maids left, Taotao sneaked out through the side door with Qiaoya, Tiedan and Ludan.
She knew where Adun had gone, to the side yard.
A few little kids hid in the corner of the side yard, and because they were short, they were not noticed at all.
After Adun left, the little guys worked together. Some were responsible for stealing Miao Wan's keys (Qiao Aqian), some were responsible for keeping watch (Zhang Qiaoya), and some were responsible for working hard (Zhang Tiedan and Zhang Ludan).
The twelfth lunar month was already busy, and because Qiao Ruichen was going to travel after the Chinese New Year, everyone in the family had to prepare his travel luggage and guards. Everyone was extremely busy, and these four little guys actually succeeded.
Moreover, the little carrot heads claim that they are very smart. If they take too much, won’t the adults find out soon?
Wouldn't that mean getting beaten? Absolutely not!
The most important thing is that a big firework is very heavy and they can't lift it or carry it out.
So a few idiots discussed it and took out a fairy wand that Miao Wan had specially asked Gu Shuyao to make for her.
In fact, there were several more, but they were all placed inside the fireworks. It was dark in the cellar and they couldn't see clearly, so they just picked up one that was easy to take out and came out.
But after taking it out, Taotao and the others were dumbfounded. What does this black and fragrant thing have to do with flowers?
Instead, Zhang Tiedan suddenly had an idea, recalling a past experience related to his buttocks. "Should I light it with fire? Don't adults like playing with fire?"
The others were stunned for a moment, then nodded hesitantly, as if that was the case.
Of course, it is not ruled out that they are particularly interested in things that adults can do but they are not allowed to do, and they would suffer if they had the slightest intention to do them!
Qiaoya was the oldest, so she went to the kitchen and stole a fire starter.
Tiedan took the fairy wand and, just like lighting incense, he held the wand in one hand and the fire starter in the other, and calmly poked the fairy wand into the fire.
Then--
"Crackle!" This is the slight sound of the fairy wand.
"Ahhh——" This is Tiedan whose hand was burned by sparks.
"Ahhhh——" This is the braised egg thrown onto the cotton-padded jacket by the fire starter.
“Wow——!!!” This is Taotao, whose beautiful down jacket was full of holes after being blown up by the fairy wand.
"Wuwuwu..." In the end, because of the sudden situation, Qiaoya was so scared that she rubbed her hands and didn't know what to do.
The guard heard the noise and came over, but the fairy wand was not yet completely burned.
When a few people saw the miserable state of the young masters, they were so frightened that their souls almost flew away. They quickly extinguished the fairy wands, picked up the children and hurried to the inner courtyard.
A guard ran out quickly. No matter what, a doctor had to be called over immediately.
Naturally, no one forgot to send the evidence to the backyard.
Miao Wan and Geng were startled when they were woken up from their nap. Qiao Shengwen and Zhang the Butcher couple, who came back after hearing the news, looked a little pale, as they were frightened because they thought something bad had happened to their child.
After figuring out what happened, Miao Wan immediately stood up and looked around.
The adults hadn't reacted yet, and the little kids, even those who were burned, skillfully covered their buttocks and tried to run away... but they couldn't run away because the maids were there.
Although Miao Wan and Geng both stated that kneeling was not a custom in their family.
But such a big thing happened. No matter whether the children slipped out or someone easily broke into Miao Wan's house, it would be a crime punishable by death in other wealthy families.
So the maids all knelt at the door, just in time to stop the little rascals.
Taotao was the first to speak, clutching his butt and rushing into Geng's arms, "Wuwuwu... Grandma, help me, Taotao can't do it, Taotao is wrong."
Geng wanted to plead for her granddaughter, but when she bent down to wipe her tears, she saw the small black holes all over her body, and she could no longer utter the words of pleading.
Fortunately, the explosion didn't hit her body, only her clothes. If her skin was damaged or her face was disfigured, it would have been a disaster for the young lady.
Geng closed her eyes cruelly and said nothing. Sometimes you have to beat a naughty child.
Miao Wan was really angry. She thought, she was definitely not so stupid as to play with dangerous goods that she didn't know about, and the surprise she had left was exposed in advance.
How could these naughty kids be so capable? They could steal things from such a remote cellar, which is even locked... That's right.
"Stealing, huh?" Miao Wan slammed the tape measure on the table, scaring the children so much that they shivered.
"Down to the cellar, huh?"
"You still dare to play with fire, huh?"
Tiedan covered his wrapped little hands and argued softly, "If adults can play with fire, why can't we..."
"Adults can give birth to children, but you can?!" Miao Wan shouted angrily.
Lu Dan blinked his clear eyes, showing a bit of Zhang Sanzhuang's intelligence, "We can pee on the kang, can you?"
Everyone: “…”
Zhang Sanzhuang and his wife and Yu Shi who were called over: "..."
Miao Wan covered her head and pretended to stumble back to sit. When everyone looked at her with concern, she waved her hands and said weakly, "I'm fine. I'm just very angry. I need to hear the sound of a fire stick or a measuring tape frying meat to feel better."
Everyone said again: "..."
In short, they were all very scared, and were also choked by the conversation between Miao Wan and the children.
After a long pause, it was Madam Zhang, the ancestor who took care of the children, who took the tape measure. The ruthless Madam Sun fixed the children and began to "kiss" them.
The useless bystanders who were soft-hearted but wanted to save face, including but not limited to Geng's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, Zhang the butcher and his father, and Qiao Shengwen, all turned their heads away and did not look.
Miao Wan sent the maids back to soak in hot water. "Just keep a close eye on them from now on. Don't let this happen again. Two points will be deducted. Go back and soak in hot water quickly. Don't hurt your knees."
Regardless of how the maids felt grateful for their master's kindness, the little rascals didn't feel it at all.
The other kids were almost implicated because Taotao and the others left them to play and they were cheering them on.
In the end, Miao Wan ate her afternoon tea with her forehead pinched, amid the screams and cries of the naughty children.
Then the children who need to dry their butts go back to dry their butts, and those who need to go to class go to class.
After things calmed down, Madam Zhang held Miao Wan's hand and comforted her, "Don't be angry with them. Am knows that you are filial... your thoughts are with them, they are still young."
Before Miao Wan could finish her humble words, Madam Zhang continued, "You're already this old, and you're still so angry that your mother beats you. It's understandable that they're so mean, right? Once these two are born in your belly, there will be more mean people."
What I mean is, it's a bit early for you to be angry now.
Miao Wan, holding her belly: "..."
The author has something to say:
Well, the new clothes I wore for the New Year were all full of holes, and I had to hang them out to dry... ahem, the author isn't the only one who had this experience, right?
Oh, I was so engrossed in writing that I didn’t see anything. My attendance is gone~ Please comment~
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