Feng Chang stayed at Mo Xing's residence to recuperate. Shang Shaoyan was busy inspecting cotton fields, selling glass transported from Shu Prefecture, and making floral soap every day. He had little time to visit Feng Chang, but he kept sending people to deliver medicine and food, making sure Feng Chang didn't feel neglected.
Qiao Xiuyu asked Shang Shaoyan with some concern, "Won't this seem too perfunctory? After all, he's one of your parents' old subordinates..."
Shang Shaoyan curled his lips and said while writing, "Feng Chang has a problem, and it's not a small one. I won't make any rash moves until I figure out his secrets... I'll leave him hanging for a while and make him live in fear."
As a result, Feng Chang failed to see Shang Shaoyan for more than ten days. Even after Granny Li and Shang Yunlan arrived in the Northwest, he still couldn't see this war goddess county princess.
Shang Shaoyan and Qiao Xiuyu waited for Shang Yunlan at the city gate. Granny Li had made a lot of delicious snacks these past few days, which made her complexion rosy and healthy, unlike when she first arrived in the Northwest.
Shang Yunlan's health has improved considerably, and her face has become fuller. She is no longer as sickly as she was when she first came into this world. At this moment, she is riding in on horseback, looking exceptionally spirited.
Before she knew it, tears welled up in Shang Shaoyan's eyes. She stood on tiptoe, smiling, and waved to Shang Yunlan, who was running towards her from afar: "Brother—"
Shang Yunlan laughed loudly, dismounted from her horse decisively, then hugged Shang Shaoyan and patted her back.
Qiao Xiuyu flattered him from the side, saying, "Brother, you've finally arrived."
Shang Yunlan had already seen Qiao Xiuyu next to Shang Shaoyan, but she hadn't really wanted to pay attention to him. Upon hearing this, she lazily lifted her eyelids and said, "Hmm."
Qiao Xiuyu touched his nose, unsure of what to say. Shang Shaoyan, however, was quite displeased and glared at Shang Yunlan: "Brother, can you please not be so cold?"
Shang Yunlan ultimately felt sorry for Shang Shaoyan and always listened to her. Hearing this, she could only reluctantly say, "Qiao Zhuo, it's been a long time."
Shang Shaoyan was finally satisfied. She smiled and looked at Qiao Xiuyu, winking at him.
The three returned to the manor and exchanged pleasantries for a while before starting to discuss serious matters. Qiao Xiuyu wanted to leave, but Shang Shaoyan stopped her, saying, "Seventh Brother, you can listen in too."
Qiao Xiuyu's eyes lit up, but she quickly looked at Shang Yunlan timidly and asked, "Brother, will you be angry?"
Shang Yunlan: "..."
It has a strong green tea flavor.
Unfortunately, Shang Shaoyan was easily swayed by this act. Even though she knew Qiao Xiuyu was faking it, she still felt extremely sorry for him. She immediately glared at Shang Yunlan and said, "Brother, you scared Qilang! Why are you being so fierce?"
Shang Yunlan had no choice but to accept it, glancing at the smug Qiao Xiuyu and rolling his eyes: "Sit down."
Shang Shaoyan took out his Northwest planning document, opened the first page, pondered for a moment, and said, "Then let's begin."
...
Nanchen refers to southern Yunnan.
Tao Yingshi, wearing a veiled hat, was led by Li Langhuan along a country road.
Through her veil, she curiously surveyed her surroundings—the country roads were mostly muddy, and the fields in southern Yunnan grew strangely, in tiers like stairs, filled with lush green vegetables or tea trees.
Li Langhuan explained, "These are terraced fields. Southern Yunnan is mostly mountainous, and this shape of field can make the most of land resources."
Tao Ying looked at her with some admiration: "The general knows so much."
Li Langhuan smiled, deftly leaping over a hurdle with Tao Ying in tow, and said easily, "This was told to me by the Princess of Heyang. How would I know anything about this?"
Tao Yingshi was very curious upon hearing this, and before she knew it, her attention had shifted to the pleasant scenery of the countryside: "I've heard you talk about Princess Heyang many times... What kind of person is Princess Heyang?"
Li Langhuan replied, "You'll know when you see her."
Having said that, before Tao Ying could ask any further questions, he pointed to a farmhouse and said, "We've arrived."
Tao Ying looked around the farmhouse.
The messy, haphazardly built thatched roof and the neatly constructed walls made up the whole picture of this little house. Tao Ying was a little puzzled, wondering how anyone could live in such a house.
In addition, there was a row of rough fences in front of the house, which enclosed a small patch of land where a few chickens hopped around.
Just as Tao Ying was about to say something, she heard the sound of water boiling inside the house, followed by an old but kind female voice: "Nannan is here?"
Li Langhuan squeezed Tao Yingshi's hand, signaling her not to speak, and then went into the house and helped an old lady out: "...Grandma, I've told you so many times, you should come out for a walk from time to time, don't stay cooped up in the house all the time, it's not good for your health."
The old woman was thin and frail, but her hair was neatly combed. Her aged and wrinkled face was full of smiles. She patted Li Langhuan's hand helplessly: "I can't see. What if I cause trouble for others when I come out?"
Tao Ying then realized that the old lady was blind.
Li Langhuan smiled and said to the old lady, "Grandma, I brought a friend over today. We can work together much faster."
Upon hearing this, Tao Ying stepped forward to support the old lady, saying softly, "Grandma, I am Nannan's friend."
The old lady patted Tao Yingshi's hand happily. Tao Yingshi felt that although her hand was dry and old, it was very warm.
The old lady said kindly, "You're my daughter's friend? Oh my, our daughter has friends!"
This was clearly a joke, and Li Langhuan laughed, even acting unusually coquettishly: "Grandma, don't make fun of me like that!"
The old lady laughed and said, "You, after going out and making your way in the world, you've become quite the smooth talker!"
After saying that, she turned to Tao Ying and said with some emotion, "My daughter suffered a lot outside before. After returning to Xiaoyan Village, she started working for General Li. General Li is a good man. He is very kind to young ladies. My daughter is responsible for washing clothes for General Li. She can earn two strings of copper coins a month."
Tao Yingshi was puzzled, so she didn't dare to speak and just softly echoed her.
Li Langhuan helped the old lady to a tree in front of the farmhouse. There was a small chair there, and the old lady sat on the chair, fanning herself with a palm leaf fan, and happily "watching" the two sisters.
She raised her voice and said, "Little girl, you're not allowed to be sly, do you hear me? Even though Grandma can't see, she knows everything!"
Li Langhuan happily agreed, and then took Tao Ying along to feed the chickens, clean the room, and water the plants...
They finished their work quickly, and Li Langhuan then pestered the old lady, saying that she would go to the city another day to buy her a gold bracelet, which made the old lady very happy.
Li Langhuan used the excuse of picking vegetables to pull Tao Yingshi into the inner room. After they entered the inner room, Tao Yingshi asked in confusion, "General, what's going on here?"
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