"Brother, have you thought about how to develop this town in the future?" The two ate slowly, and Li Mai took advantage of this rare opportunity to sit down and eat together to ask him.
Now, the Heaven and Earth Alliance has also begun to establish its own sect. Zhou Quan said that some buildings have already been built, and some disciples and members have been recruited.
Once their martial arts school opens, the town will become much more lively. In addition, the gold mine in the back mountain is currently being prepared and will begin large-scale mining in at most six months. The subsequent gold panning and smelting processes will also be arranged. The town will become increasingly populated.
"I have already discussed this with the town magistrate. The town will be expanded by two miles to the east, west and south, and the boundaries of Qing Shi Town will be redrawn. The land that has been reclaimed will be developed into residential land and sold to those who are willing to do business in the town and officials who plan to build their mansions here."
"Oh, really? That's great! This is exactly what we've been hoping for since we discovered the gold mine!" Li Mai was relieved to hear this.
Yun Chang nodded, "Yes, don't worry. As long as there is no war, this matter will basically be settled. I will be stationed here for the next three years. The town will develop into a military stronghold to the north, but the area in front will become more and more prosperous."
Li Mai nodded and said with a smile, "That's for sure. It seems that after I open the flower shop for Xiao Tao this year, I'll have to open the inn next year too."
Yun Chang raised an eyebrow. "You want to open an inn?"
“Yes, it’s a different kind of inn from other ones,” Li Mai said with a smile.
"Your industry spans quite a wide range," Yun Chang said with a helpless smile.
"Well, it's alright. I only decided to open one because the Lu and Xu families don't have inns," Li Mai said with a smile.
"The Chu family owns an inn," Yun Chang reminded her.
Li Mai exclaimed, "Ah, right!"
After thinking for a moment, she shook her head. "But it doesn't matter. I'm sure my inn will eventually bring down the Chu family."
"Hahaha, if Chu Yan heard you say that, she'd be furious." Yun Chang couldn't help but burst into laughter at her younger sister's words.
Li Mai grinned. "So, I won't tell him beforehand. I'll let him know after I open for business."
"Hehe, sure, I'll keep it a secret for you too." Yun Chang chuckled.
At that moment, the door was pushed open, and Zhou Quan walked in.
Li Mai saw him and raised an eyebrow, "Just got back?"
Zhou Quan nodded, glanced at the table, saw that the portions were large enough for him, then washed his hands and sat down next to Li Mai.
Li Mai had already brought him a bowl and chopsticks and placed them in front of him.
She asked that the amount prepared be for three people, because she guessed that Zhou Quan would rush back to have dinner with her.
Yun Chang was still eating when she turned to look at him and asked, "Has the Xu family set a date for the burial?"
"February 22nd," Zhou Quan replied. "How's it going on your end? Has the camp been basically cordoned off yet?"
"Yes, it's marked out, and they're building a house there," Yun Chang said softly.
Zhou Quan nodded. The people from the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of War were busy there, so they didn't need to help. They could only use their help when they needed to buy some building materials.
"Be careful with Xiaomai. Dr. Niu said it's possible she'll give birth at the end of February," Yun Chang reminded Zhou Quan again. She was always worried about her sister; how could she be pregnant with twins? The births are so dangerous!
Zhou Quan nodded, "I know you can rest assured, brother. The midwife and everything else are ready. After I finish the funeral with my brother-in-law, I'll come back and stay by Xiaomai's side."
Yun Chang thought about it for a moment and figured it would only take a few days, so it should be fine.
“I’ll go pick Huanhuan up tomorrow,” he said to Li Mai and Zhou Quan.
The two nodded in agreement.
After Yun Chang finished eating, she left.
Zhou Quan was a little tired, so he took Li Mai to rest.
Lying in bed, he gently stroked Li Mai's large belly with his large hand. He was also very worried, but he couldn't express his worries and anxieties, otherwise Xiao Mai would worry about him.
"Has Gu Zhe come back recently?" Zhou Quan asked Li Mai softly.
Li Mai nodded, "Yes, he came once on New Year's Eve and hasn't come since. I guess the situation is very tense on his side!"
"Is your brother-in-law feeling better?" Li Mai asked.
Yesterday, Zhou Quan came back and said that Xu Shun's chest hurt from crying these past few days. She gave him a medicinal herb and asked Zhou Quan to go over and make him a medicinal soup to drink, which would help him.
"He's much better now. For his older sister's sake and their child's sake, he's slowly coming to terms with things and doesn't dare to cry too much anymore." Zhou Quan shook his head.
"Well, you just have to try to think more positively about these things. By the way, what's going on with the bamboo garden? Has it been stopped or is construction continuing?" Li Mai asked.
“We’re not building anymore. We’re tidying up the inner courtyard. We’ll finish building the other courtyard in half a month. First, we’ll tidy up the courtyard where they’ll be staying. My brother-in-law plans to move to town with my older sister and the children after he’s taken care of my parents’ affairs. The house they’ll be staying in has been tidied up these past few days. We’re turning on the underfloor heating and drying the house,” Zhou Quan said softly.
He was keeping an eye on the bamboo garden area, shuttling back and forth between Xujia Village and the bamboo garden.
Li Mai nodded, "That's good too, so that I won't feel bad looking at the old couple's house while living in that courtyard."
"Um!"
"Oh, by the way, how far is Xujia Village from the town?" Li Mai remembered what her older brother had just said.
“It’s probably nearly three miles!” Zhou Quan said.
“The town might expand eastward by about two miles,” Li Mai said.
Zhou Quan thought for a moment, "Then it's basically connected to Xujia Village."
“Tell your brother-in-law not to give away or sell those houses and land. After the new town is formed, Xujia Village will become more and more valuable. Don’t tell me the specific reasons yet.” Li Mai thought of this.
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