"Did you think of something, or guess something?" Jiang Huaifu asked.
Song He'er didn't want to tell him about her maternal grandparents' family affairs, so she could only pick up an excuse to brush it off.
"It's nothing, I just find it unbelievable."
Jiang Huaifu smiled and lowered his head. “Your father’s actions have always been unbelievable. If you say he’s greedy, the emperors of the Central Plains have given him many rewards in the past. It’s just that he was too insatiable and always wanted to seize land for his own benefit and acquire ill-gotten gains, which led to today’s disaster.”
“The impression he had of a good father in my heart has long been gone. If it weren’t for the need to negotiate with him, I really wouldn’t want to see him even once.”
Jiang Huaifu tapped his index finger on the table, as if he was thinking of a plan.
"Last time you mentioned the matter of leaving the family genealogy, I don't think it's feasible. The best way now is to imprison Song Xiaoqi so that he can no longer do such things, cutting off all contact at the source. Naturally, your Central Plains emperor won't know about it. Anyway, judging from the current situation, my father has not yet taken any action to report to the Central Plains emperor."
Song He'er was genuinely grateful to Jiang Huaifu. Regardless of his motives, he had helped her a lot, both openly and secretly. If he encountered any trouble in the future, she would lend a helping hand as well.
"Thank you for everything you've done for me. I will remember this kindness. If you ever encounter any trouble in the future, I will risk my life to help you."
Jiang Huaifu smiled wickedly, "I'd rather die than lose my life. What would I do with yours?"
Song He'er felt a little embarrassed. When she looked outside, she realized that Li Qiang, Song Xiaoyu, and the others had already gone far away and would probably come looking for her soon. She had to hurry back.
"Your Highness, please don't joke with me. I'm going back now."
Jiang Huaifu continued to stare at her intently, as if looking at a rare object. "It is indeed rare to see someone with such insight at such a young age. Even if you were born into the General's Mansion, as a concubine's daughter, you should rarely be in public, right? Who carefully raised you so that your speech, behavior and style are completely unlike those of a girl who has not yet reached marriageable age?"
Jiang Huaifu always had such a sharp eye for people. Song He'er was certainly not a teenage girl; she had simply taken over the original owner's body by accident.
"I've loved secretly reading military books since I was little. In the general's mansion, my elder sister is domineering and the mistress is powerful. If I, as a concubine's daughter, don't learn some ways to protect myself, wouldn't I be at the mercy of others and not even have the right to live? So don't be surprised, these are all skills I learned in secret."
Song He'er knew the ancient customs that a girl could marry after she turned fifteen and reached the age of marriage. So, given her current age, she was still of marriageable age and it wouldn't be surprising if she had one or two childhood sweethearts or suitors.
Jiang Huaifu wasn't very old, but he was four or five years older than Song He'er, and he was very decisive in his speech and actions.
“Your mother didn’t raise you for nothing.”
"I should go, or they'll find out."
After saying that, Song He'er was about to get up and get off the boat.
"It's too dark outside, shall I have someone take you there?"
"No need, I can walk there myself."
With that, Song He'er jogged away from the riverbank...
Qin Xiaoniang waited anxiously outside the tent until she saw Song He'er return with her own eyes, and only then did she breathe a sigh of relief.
"You child, you've been gone for so long, I was so worried about you."
“I have an upset stomach,” Song He’er replied.
Zhang Xiue smiled at the mother and daughter, "I say, little mother, your daughter is smart and resourceful. Even if she runs to the ends of the earth, she won't get lost. You don't need to worry about her."
While sorting through the grain they had just exchanged, Li Qiang chimed in, "I think Madam Zhang is right. It was He'er who came up with that idea today. Otherwise, how could we have gotten rid of that scourge Zhao Changming so quickly!"
Mentioning this makes the people around us curious.
As Chundi brought in the hot water, she asked, "But I'm curious, where did you hide Zhao Changming's concubine? She should have gone back by now, right?"
Li Qiang laughed heartily, "That woman was quite pretty, but she wasn't very bright. All she knew was how to act cute and charming. I told her that Zhao Changming had found a way to buy her some fabric to make clothes, and asked her to come down and choose the color. So she followed me down the street with a smug look on her face."
"As for where to hide her, I figured there wasn't a sealed place, so I trapped her in a deep pit. Zhao Changming will definitely pass by on his way back, and then the mother and daughter will be rescued."
Zhang Xiue couldn't help but give a thumbs up, "Impressive, truly impressive! A strategist and a general! Each of us in this group has our own unique strengths."
Song He'er yawned. "Third Aunt, let's get some rest. By the way, is there no work tomorrow? Why didn't Third Uncle bring back any raw materials?"
Song Xiaoyu replied, "They said the merchant delivering goods to Nanzhao is sick and won't be delivering today. We can rest for a day tomorrow."
"Oh, then everyone go to sleep."
"That's right. If we don't have oiled paper umbrellas to make, then we'll start building the house tomorrow. We'll build the frame first, and then we can buy clay and paste it on later."
"Uh-huh."
After saying this, everyone returned to their respective residences...
The next morning, Zhang Xiue took Nianjie to the nearby woods to collect branches, while Li Qiang and Song Xiaoyu stayed where they were to build a house.
With nothing to do, Song He'er found a quiet place and secretly took out the book to study it carefully.
The book discusses no fewer than a hundred ways of doing business, as well as historical currency rules and regional divisions, all listed in great detail. If one wants to thoroughly study it, it is not something that can be done overnight.
No wonder Song Xiaoqi went to great lengths to find this book; it turns out that's what he was after. Selling smuggled salt wasn't enough for him; he also wanted to make a fortune through this book!
They're truly obsessed with money; they must have been a poor ghost in their past life!
"Fifth sister, look, that looks like Maotou's father over there."
Nianjie came running from a distance, carrying a small bundle of dry branches.
'Maotou' is the name that everyone gave to Wang San's child. He originally had a name, but because his hair was sparse, this name was easy to pronounce, so they continued to call him that.
"Uncle Wang? Where is he?"
Zhang Xiu'e replied, "Nian'er is right, I saw him too, it is Wang San, but there are far fewer people with him, only a few left, and he is very thin, he is negotiating with the soldiers over there!"
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