“Since you’ve made up your mind, Grandma won’t force you. But child, you need to understand that our family is actually much better off now than before. If you don’t want to stay at the academy anymore, come back. We’ll be waiting for you at home.”
After saying that, she told them the address of the house she bought, and the family chatted for a long time before slowly leaving.
Once outside the gates of Lushan Academy, Xiao Muxing finally couldn't help but ask.
"Grandma, we're not poor anymore, why don't you tell my brother? He'll be bullied here."
Upon hearing this, Qin Qing smiled and shook her head.
Seeing that she didn't speak, Peony couldn't help but explain.
“Xingxing, the reason your mother didn’t say anything is mainly because she wants your brother to maintain his current determination and persistence. There’s still a month until the exam. If he leaves the academy now and changes his environment to study, and something goes wrong, all his efforts will be in vain! Once your brother passes the exam, we can bring him back. If he doesn’t pass, it doesn’t matter. Your mother isn’t short of money. We can do other things to make a living.”
Xiao Muxing listened attentively, roughly understood what she meant, and nodded.
Qin Zifeng stared blankly at the door in front of him…
Qin Qing happened to see that look in his eyes, and only then did she remember that her godson was of school age...
"Zifeng, do you want to study? Grandma can send you here to study too."
Qin Zifeng snapped out of his daze upon hearing this and looked at Qin Qing in surprise, seemingly not expecting her to see through his thoughts. After a long while, he shook his head.
"I think I'll pass. It's enough that my younger brother is in school. I can learn other skills or something."
Qin Qing smiled.
"Silly child, you're not stupid, on the contrary, you're quite smart and your math skills are pretty good. If you can fill in the gaps in your knowledge, I believe you won't do too badly whether you become an official or a merchant in the future, don't you think?"
Xiao Muxing thought it made sense, and started shaking her head like a rattle drum.
Qin Zifeng was initially hesitant, but now that he had Qin Qing's consent and Xiao Muxing's support, his heart was filled with endless possibilities, and his gaze gradually became firm.
"Okay! I will definitely live up to Grandma's expectations. Xingxing, you wait and see, I will definitely achieve something!"
Xiao Muxing was stunned by his sudden promise, and seeing his look in his eyes, she didn't really understand what he meant, so she could only nod blankly in agreement.
Thus, a second study fanatic emerged in this family!
It was just past noon when Qin Qing got home. In a great mood, she suddenly had the idea to make a pure meat pancake!
Meanwhile, Xiao Muyue and Xiao Muxing started playing in the yard, while Qin Zifeng watched from the side. Shaoyao came into the kitchen to help her knead dough...
She took out chives, scallions, and some seasonings from her storage space and began washing, marinating, and chopping the meat…
Add minced ginger, chopped scallions, salt, chicken powder, cooking wine, light soy sauce, and thirteen-spice powder to the minced meat, mix well, and marinate for 10 minutes. Knead flour with water to form a smooth dough, and let it rest for 30 minutes. Press the dough into a round disc, then roll it out into a wrapper. Cut off a small triangle from one side of the wrapper, place the minced meat on one side, cover with the wrapper, trim off any excess dough, and press the edges together to form a patty. Heat oil in a frying pan, place the patties in the pan, and fry until the meat filling is cooked through!
The whole process took an hour before we knew it... The three little ones were already starving, sitting by the door with their eyes wide open, gazing intently at the aroma...
A moment later, Qin Qing finished making the pancakes. Although they were a bit dark on the outside, they were crispy and flavorful with a hint of pepper.
The aroma was irresistible, and as soon as it was served, it made the three little ones drool.
The family ate porridge and meat pies, each person enjoying the rare peace and comfort.
After eating and drinking her fill, Qin Qing began to tend to the weeds in the yard, and then planted seeds she had obtained from who-knows-where in the flowerbed…
The others cleared out some unwanted items from the room and then began cleaning...
Because there were so many rooms, they didn't clear out even one room until nightfall!
Helpless, Qin Qing simply gave up on tidying up and decided to find someone to come and clean it up tomorrow.
As soon as it was light, the family tidied themselves up and headed to the military camp to visit. However, Qin Qing knew that military camps were not places that could be entered and exited at will, so she was prepared for the possibility that she might not be able to get in. Today, she decided to go outside the city first...
The carriage traveled to a place outside the city, and after the group got off, they were immediately blocked at the entrance...
"Go away, go away! We're all busy farming today, we don't have time to visit our families!"
The soldiers under the tent were also tanned dark, their foreheads were sweating, and perhaps they had just finished drinking water, as there was still a drop of water on the corner of their lips. They were impatiently shooing them away.
Although she had inquired beforehand and knew what the soldiers did when they weren't fighting, she hadn't expected it to be this busy…
Roughly, every morning after waking up, the soldiers would be summoned and given a schedule for the day by their commanders. After breakfast, some soldiers would be sent out on "errands," mainly to tend horses or buy and sell goods. Furthermore, since the country was in peacetime, military pay was not as high as during wartime, so the soldiers would grow their own vegetables, exercise their horses, chop wood, and fetch water to reduce the army's expenses…
What Qin Qing saw was a vast expanse of farmland outside the city! After asking a few more questions, he learned that two battalions in the military camp were having a competition, lasting half a month, to see who could cultivate the most land. The winner would receive a special reward from the imperial court…
At this moment, many young and middle-aged men dressed in ordinary clothes were working in the fields; almost none of them were idle…
Before Qin Qing could even ask, she was constantly urged to leave. Seeing that everyone was exhausted and covered in sweat, she had no choice but to leave.
She was startled when a rough voice reached her ears and she quickly turned her head.
Before my eyes was still a large group of soldiers tilling the land. Following the sound, I saw a black-bearded man in a coarse linen coat with his arms exposed, who had dug a large hole with a forceful shovel. After scattering the seeds, he effortlessly raised his hoe and struck again!
He was more than twice as fast as others! Clearly, the strong man was no mere showman!
Qin Qing's eyes lit up; wasn't that Huang Zhong? Then, realizing something, she froze…
Almost forgot, this guy has always disliked her, especially since he has repeatedly suspected her of committing adultery in the army. He even brought General Wang Yan to arrest her and repeatedly reported her to the authorities. Don't let his muscular physique and imposing appearance fool you; he's more cunning than any woman!
After thinking it over, since her two sons were safe and sound, there was no rush to find them. At worst, they could go to the military camp to apply for permission first, and then let her two sons go home to visit their families.
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