"Take care on the road, Yi. Any heavy or tiring work at home can wait until my son and I get back," Huo Shuwen said as he tied her cloak.
"Okay, don't worry, Long'er, let's go home."
He Yi called out to her daughter, who was still whispering with Xiao Lanyi. She wondered why the two, who were so far apart in age, still had so much to talk about.
When the little dumpling arrived at the brothel, Zhang's mother had just finished preparing dinner.
"Aunt Zhang! What delicious food have you made this time? I can smell it from the alleyway!"
"Oh my, our Long'er is back!"
"Is military camp fun?"
Cen Ang picked up Huo Xiaolong and kept stroking her fur. She had never been away from her daughter for so long. Although it was only for two days, the woman felt that something was missing in her heart.
"That's fun! That general is so kind; he even gave me this!"
Huo Xiaolong took the letter out of his pocket and handed it to Cen Ang.
What is this?
After returning home and putting down her luggage, He Yi went to the brothel and said to Cen Ang.
"General Xiao saw that the military rations our Long'er made were delicious, so he entrusted us with the task of preparing military rations for the expeditions. Here, sister, these are silver notes."
"Ten thousand taels?"
"Yes, make them all into fried noodles and jerky."
"Why are military salaries being paid out so quickly this year? In previous years..."
Cen Ang still remembered that when he was in the palace, the military pay was always delayed until mid-June. After the commander of the border army was replaced, the Ministry of Revenue started to treat people differently based on their status.
"Yes, this is just the price for the military rations sent out. Once this batch is done well, General Xiao said that all future military rations will pass through our hands."
Mrs. Cen nodded and said
"We still need to ask Miss He to come over tomorrow."
Even if the three of them worked together, they couldn't handle such a huge task; they didn't have enough wheat, cattle, or sheep. Cattle weren't particularly valuable in Pingyang County, given its proximity to the grasslands, but even with money, these animals were hard to buy due to the high rate of damage during transport.
"Why don't we raise them ourselves, Mom?"
"Raise them yourself?"
"That's right, I see there's a huge grassland between the military camp and our house, who would dare to rob the military camp?"
Indeed, the two women sat at the table with their daughter in their arms, feeding her without stopping, while pondering the feasibility of Huo Xiaolong's earlier words.
"I think it's a good idea," He Yi said.
Cen Ang nodded in agreement.
"That's possible, but we need to get this batch out first before considering anything else."
"Aunt Cen, Madam Hua has arrived!" Ah Cai came to report.
What is Luan'er doing here so late? Cen Ang nodded to A Cai and told him to welcome her in.
"A-Cen"
He Yi stood up and bowed to her, and Hua Luan quickly returned the bow. The maid also added a set of chopsticks and a bowl for her.
"What's wrong? Why are you in such a hurry?"
"I heard the border troops have received their pay."
"So many people know?"
Hua Luan nodded. For some reason, the Emperor personally ordered the distribution of military pay this time, and everyone in the border army wanted to squeeze a piece of the money out of them.
Only Huo Xiaolong, who was mechanically fed, knew what was going on.
This emperor is quite the scoundrel; he slaps you and then gives you a sweet treat, but the treat isn't even given properly—it's laced with needles. His torture of Liu Cheng and sending him back to Xiao Lanyi was a warning.
The warning was given to the Xiao family to refrain from having any inappropriate thoughts.
This year, he personally ordered the distribution of military pay as a reward, telling Xiao Lanyi, "Although you made a mistake, I still don't blame you. Not only do I not blame you, but I'm also good to you. You should know how to repay me."
He also gave the order to spread the news about the military pay, not for any other reason than to let Xiao Lanyi know whose dog he was. He could give Xiao Lanyi money, or he could cause him trouble. Xiao Lanyi should know better than to be ungrateful.
If it weren't for some issues between Cen Ang and the capital, Huo Xiaolong would have stood up and applauded the emperor right now.
You old schemer, you're still the most cunning one.
Even those with wicked hearts command respect.
"Now, the imperial merchants, several wealthy merchants from Jiangnan, and the Wang family from Beining have all arrived in Pingyang County."
Cen Ang frowned and said
"What are they doing here? Aren't military rations supplied by imperial merchants?"
"That's the problem! Ah Cen, the Jiangnan region is suffering from drought this year, and many places have had no harvest!"
They're not here to do business; they're here to rob us. These people are trying to collude to raise the price of military rations.
"..."
"This...this is utterly heartless!" He Yi exclaimed.
"Mother, merchants have no conscience; merchants only care about profit."
Yes, my daughter is right. When it comes to their own interests, who has the heart to spread kindness everywhere?
"Ah Cen, we absolutely cannot let them raise prices. I know that Huaxuetang in Beining is jointly owned by you and the Wang family, isn't it?"
Cen Ang nodded, and Hua Luan continued.
"Could we bring the Wang family over? If they lose an ally, Wang Zheng and General Xiao will face less pressure."
What use is the Wang family alone? The Wang family's roots are in Beining. Where are they going to get so much grain?
"It's possible, but I'm afraid it would be a drop in the ocean..."
"Every little bit helps; we can't let the border troops go hungry."
They would rather tighten their belts than let the border troops go hungry. They were the shield of the Great Yan and the sharp sword that blocked the first blow from the Xiongnu.
Without them, the entire border town and even Beining would have become a hell.
Upstairs, Liu Xu sat blankly in front of the bronze mirror, thinking of the person she had met during the day.
It's been a long time, Uncle Huan.
After a long while, the girl stood up, went downstairs, and called out.
"Mom, there is a way."
Willow catkins?
The girl sat below Cen's mother and spoke to her.
"I went out shopping today and saw an old friend. I wonder if I could exchange a few words with him."
"Who is it?" Hua Luan asked anxiously. This matter concerned the people of the border town, and she didn't have time for formalities.
"Jiangnan Liu Family"
"..."
Cen Ang remembered that this child had been sold here by his stepmother. The past was a wound, and his current life was a disgrace.
If it weren't for that incident with the stepmother, Liu Xu would now be a proper young lady from a wealthy family, and could be betrothed to a good family to become the matriarch.
Cen's mother was reluctant to let Liu Xu go. What if the people who came bullied her daughter? Although the girls in the building were not as favored as Huo Xiaolong, they were still girls she had bought and raised herself. Cen Ang couldn't bear to part with them.
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