After writing the divorce papers, Shen Qingyu and Qi Yunxiao accompanied Qi Han to the back mountain.
Qi Han was too weak to walk, so the Dragon Guards carried him up on a sedan chair.
Poor Qi Han thought that these masked men were all close ministers of the emperor, and he was so frightened that he dared not move and kept saying that he did not deserve such praise.
Upon reaching the top of the mountain, Qi Han was somewhat surprised to see the neat rows of thatched-roof wooden huts and the bustling crowd: these people were actually refugees.
Although they were thin, they looked quite energetic, and their eyes shone brightly.
Although the clothes had patches, they were mostly clean.
Upon seeing Qi Yunxiao, Shen Qingyu, and the others approach, they all bowed in greeting, but made sure not to move closer.
The Dragon Guards kept Shen Qingyu and Qi Yunxiao's group under tight protection, fearing that anyone might offend their master.
Qi Han was shocked: This was different from what the people in town had said.
The arrival of these more than 10,000 refugees caused a great deal of discussion and rumors in the town.
Some say that many of these people starved to death.
Some say they'll get beaten up.
Some say they are living better than when they were refugees.
After saying it too much, you won't know which of your statements are true.
However, most people tend to believe that they are not doing well.
After all, these people are all migrants; it's impossible and unreasonable for them to be living better than the locals!
But Qi Han observed that they were not much worse off than the people in the villages outside.
After all, in these famine years, many remote villages have reached the point where they have no rice to cook.
Shen Qingyu explained: "There are scholars and craftsmen here, but most of them are villagers who only know how to farm."
As the chili peppers and soybeans grow, they will use these two things to exchange for grain, cloth, and cotton to prepare for the winter.
Qi Han watched all this, and seeing the bustling sweet potato starch workshop behind Shen Qingyu's house that he had seen before, he couldn't help but feel deeply moved.
“Niece Qingyu, I’ve heard about your sweet potato vermicelli business. It’s really benefited eight villages in the vicinity!”
“Almost every household in the village grows sweet potatoes, and each family grows several hundred kilograms of them. They use the money from selling the sweet potatoes to buy some coarse grains, and that's enough to get by.”
"Your dedication to the country and its people is something I, Qi, truly cannot match!"
Shen Qingyu was truly ashamed and didn't deserve it: "Not at all, we're just...we're all from the same village after all!"
Qi Han thought she was being modest: "You have served the country and its people, and I, Qi Han, have great respect for you. If these things are to be transported to the neighboring prefecture, just put them on my ship and take them away. I won't charge you for the transport."
How can this be!
Shen Qingyu quickly smiled and declined, "Don't worry, if I really need your help, I will definitely ask. However, if we let you transport the goods, we have to pay for the shipping."
"Although I don't make much money from these sweet potato noodles, the total amount is there, so overall I can still make a profit. So you don't have to give them away for free."
Qi Han admired her even more: she could remain unmoved by free transportation offered to her door; what incredible self-control that took!
However, at this point, Shen Qingyu had a change of heart, and she turned to look at Qi Yunxiao.
Qi Yunxiao understood immediately and replied, "We do have a lot of things to ship out later. Shipping by ship is more stable and faster than by land. If needed, I'll contact you then."
"That's great!" Qi Han was even happier.
If he could get close to this powerful figure, what else would he have to worry about?
He'd be happy even if he didn't earn a single penny!
As they talked, they passed through the neat little wooden houses and arrived at the bottom of the cliff.
Two ferocious-looking dragon guards emerged from a huge cave at the bottom of the cliff and bowed in greeting.
This is where the Dragon Guards live.
"It's right down here." Chen San led the way, guiding everyone down.
The cave was tall and the echoes inside were very loud. We continued deeper and finally saw a small opening.
The entrance, which resembled a dog hole, was fitted with an iron door welded from cast iron bars, allowing a glimpse inside through a fist-sized gap.
"Shen Qingyao!" Chen San called out, and a rustling sound came from inside, heading towards the cave entrance.
Shen Qingyu covered her nose: It stinks.
Chen San's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly apologized, "I'm so sorry, Master. She eats, drinks, and relieves herself in there, and the smell... has offended you masters!"
Through the small hole, a woman with messy hair finally appeared in everyone's sight.
Upon seeing the people inside, both Qi Han and Shen Qingyu gasped in shock!
Shen Qingyao became so fat that she turned into a ball. In less than two months, she became obese, with a face full of fat and acne.
In addition, he was filthy and smelly, making him unbearable to look at!
Where is that alluring second young mistress of the Qi family, dressed in red and green?!
Upon seeing Shen Qingyu and her husband, along with Qi Han, Shen Qingyao inside was initially stunned, and then suddenly burst into tears.
"Father! I was wrong! I deserve it! Please, please save me! For Da Niu's sake, please save me too! Da Niu can't be without her mother..."
A thick, fat arm reached out from the hole, trying to grab Qi Han's clothes.
Qi Han took two steps back and stumbled, falling to the ground!
He originally thought that Shen Qingyao, who was locked up, would be skin and bones, but who would have thought that she would be so obese!
This sight inevitably reminded him of Shen Qingyu from back then.
Back then, she was also obese and had acne.
Even so, she wasn't this slovenly.
Qi Han's evasive maneuvers made Shen Qingyao realize how terrifying she looked. She stopped trying to grab him and started playing the victim: "Father! I beg you, please get me out of here..."
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