When Jiayin saw that they didn't speak, she thought they didn't believe her, a child, but she didn't try to persuade them any further and was willing to give them time to think it over.
So she added, “The houses for all the uncles and elders in the second village are ready. Let’s go and rest for a few days first. It’s not too late to think about this matter carefully before making a decision.”
Upon hearing this, Dongmei quickly stepped forward to call the veterans to go to the second village.
In just a few days, the doors and windows of the row houses in the second village have been installed, the kang (heated brick bed) has been set up, and golden kang mats and snow-white window paper have been laid out. The sunlight shining in from outside has created a warm and cozy atmosphere inside the houses.
It has a hint of earthy smell and a touch of reed fragrance, which makes people feel particularly at ease.
The 30-year-old veteran stood in the room, slightly dazed.
Xiao Cui was the one who received Dongmei and the veterans.
Xiao Cui and Wei Erniu moved in yesterday. She is quick and efficient, and knows all the wounded soldiers well; they are truly family.
At this moment, she smiled and greeted the veterans, "Brothers, please sit down! Don't be shy, this will be your home from now on. The princess specifically instructed us that although we didn't know when you would be arriving, this kang (heated brick bed) has been heated for three days and is ready to be used."
"We need too many tables and chairs, so we asked the carpenters in Xiaowangzhuang to make them. It's taking a while, so you'll have to make do for a few more days."
The veterans quickly waved their hands and said one after another.
"No, no, this is fine."
"Yes, this is a new house, so we can't just make do."
Dongmei noticed their slight awkwardness, so she pulled Xiaocui aside and said, "Brothers, take a rest. We'll go back to the new village to prepare the meal. You should also think about what the princess said and discuss it further."
“I’ve been serving the princess for two years now. Don’t worry that she won’t keep her word just because she’s a child. Actually, the princess is the one who has the final say in the Li family and with the Marquis. As long as you do your duty, you’ll be living in a dream world.”
After saying that, they went out.
The veterans were left sitting carefully on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), rubbing the brand-new kang mat with their hands. One of them said, "I've been wanting to sleep on this warm kang for years. If I could sleep on it for a few nights, I would die happy."
“Me too,” someone else chimed in. “It would be even better if I had a chubby wife to hug.”
"Haha, you really dare to dream. For killers like us, it's good enough if we get a good death." Some people laughed, but their words were full of bitterness.
The dark-faced man who had previously led the Ye family spoke up, "I dare to dream! I dare to dream of marrying a wife, having a few mischievous boys, and settling down here. We've survived so many near-death experiences out here; it's only right that we dream of any kind of happiness afterward!"
"But I'm not sure if I can just settle down here and enjoy this new house and these good days without feeling guilty. I need to sign a life-or-death contract and serve the princess for a few years before I can feel at ease."
"I'm not saying that the Marquis and the Li family are untrustworthy, but I trust the Princess more! Such a young child, yet so exceptionally intelligent and sensible—have any of you ever seen anything like it? I certainly haven't!"
“I have a feeling that if we choose this master, we’re guaranteed a good life! If you trust me, Old Black, then sign a life-or-death contract with me.”
The veterans were silent for a while, and then a few of them stood next to Lao Hei.
"I listened to Brother Black. Last time the barbarians launched a night attack, it was Brother Black who said he felt something was wrong, so we didn't sleep and that's how we avoided having our heads chopped off in our dreams!"
“Yes, I believe in Brother Hei too! The princess does look extraordinary. Besides, she has such a large fiefdom. We won’t go hungry if we help her farm.”
They all spoke at once, but they were all determined to stay.
Upon seeing this, the others also stood up and spoke up.
“If you’re going to stay, then stay together. I just came back from the north, and I’m terrified of carrying a knife. Staying here will definitely cause trouble. Why don’t we go out for a walk first?”
"That's true. It would be unfair to go into the workshop and compete with those brothers who have lost their arms and legs for jobs."
"Go out for a walk, come back for a while, and then go out for a walk again. That's the best way. We don't have to stay cooped up in one place. All the skills we've developed over the years haven't been wasted."
Old Hei nodded, and seeing that everyone agreed, he said, "Then let's go. Let's tell the Marquis and the Princess that we can settle down in peace from now on, so we can feel at ease."
"Okay, let's go!" Everyone agreed, and then they returned to the new village together.
Jiayin pouted and whined to her godfather, "Godfather, is there something Fu Niu'er didn't say? They don't seem to believe Fu Niu'er."
The Marquis pulled her to sit beside him and said, "No, what you said just now was very good. That's how those in power should be—using both soft and hard tactics."
“Treat servants like you would a horse. You must first give them fodder to make them feel close to you before you can use them. If they are disobedient, you must crack the whip, and after cracking the whip, you must soothe them.”
"Good people usually need three to five years of training before they can be used. You are still young, so it's normal for them not to trust you. Things will get better with time."
Jiayin nodded and said, "I know, Godfather. There's a story in the book about buying a horse's bones for a thousand pieces of gold. Even if only a few of these people sign a life-or-death contract and are willing to work for me, I won't be angry. I'll definitely treat them well. When others see this, they'll be more willing to trust me in the future, right?"
“Yes,” the Marquis patted the little girl’s forehead and laughed, “but remember, you are their master, and their lives are entirely in your hands. If you are unhappy, it is their fault.”
Never forget the saying, "Never compromise yourself for anyone!"
"I understand, Godfather!" Jiayin hugged her godfather's arm and finally smiled.
Being unconditionally favored is truly the happiest thing in the world.
At this moment, the thirty veterans returned, knelt down in unison, and demanded to sign a death contract.
Jiayin smiled even more broadly, stepped forward to help them up, and said happily, "Thank you for trusting me, uncles. Tonight, I'll host a banquet to welcome you back. We can sign the contract tomorrow!"
"As for going south, it's best to wait another half month. We need to prepare clothes, shoes, and socks for everyone, make weapons, medicine, and poison for self-defense, draw up a book of medicinal herbs, and buy carriages and horses. Everything must be complete and thoughtful so that everyone can suffer less while they are away."
Everyone was delighted to hear this, and felt even more strongly that the decision was absolutely correct.
Even in Jiangbei, where it's so dangerous, they don't have many ways to protect themselves.
They're just going to find some herbs, and the princess is taking such good care of them; she really values them.
Old Hei took the lead, bowed, and expressed his determination: "Princess, rest assured, we will definitely do a good job in the task you have assigned."
At this moment, the Marquis also stood up and stood next to Jiayin, looking at everyone and saying, "You used to be my soldiers, but from now on you will only have the Princess as your master! Her orders are everything, and neither I nor the Li family can order you around, understand?"
"Understood! Don't worry, Your Excellency! We will entrust our lives to the Princess from now on!" This time, all the veterans knelt down.
Jiayin helped them up again.
Dongmei and Xiaocui had just finished cooking, so they asked everyone to help set the table and eat.
The veterans felt relieved and much more at ease, bustling about with smiles, and the courtyard immediately became lively.
Jiayin was overjoyed. Dongmei Yeshan, Granny He, Shuiling Shuiyun, and even Zhengjiazhuang, strictly speaking, were not her people.
But these thirty veterans, having signed under her name, would become her servants, her private army, and sharp swords that acted entirely according to her will!
She tugged at her godfather's hand and thanked him, "Godfather, thank you for giving me such a wonderful birthday gift!"
The Marquis laughed, “You’re wrong. Your godfather has other plans for your birthday gift, but it’s still out there and you won’t see it for a few years.”
Jiayin, curious, kept pestering her godfather for more information, "Godfather, what gift is it? We won't see it for several more years?"
It's past midnight! Thanks to the painkiller injection from the little clinic downstairs, I was able to stay up past midnight today! My editor praised me for my strong will despite my disability, haha! The update is a little late, I'll try to be earlier tomorrow! Keep it up!
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