"Do the people here feel unwell?" Yang Youxue wanted to confirm whether there was really an iron mine here.
“It’s really strange that Master asked this.
In several villages near us, many villagers often suffer from abdominal pain and bloating.
Some also experience chest tightness and shortness of breath. They have seen many doctors but the cause cannot be found.
Sometimes people die from chest tightness and shortness of breath." Du Hu described the villagers' symptoms.
"These symptoms indicate there's something wrong with the water. In a few days, I'll send some slaked lime over and sprinkle it in the well, and then the drinking water will be safe," said Yang Youxue.
"Is the water poisonous?" When Du Hu heard his master's words, the first thing he thought of was poisoning.
"It's okay. As long as you don't take too much, you won't be poisoned. Once you sprinkle quicklime on it, you won't be poisoned anymore." Yang Youxue comforted Du Hu.
"Also, regarding the poisoning I just mentioned, I hope the village head won't tell anyone else, so as not to cause unnecessary panic." Yang Youxue said warningly.
"Master, don't worry. I won't say anything nonsense." Du Hu assured.
"What are the names of the nearby hills? Is anyone interested in buying them?" Yang Youxue asked Du Hu.
Since there is iron ore here, if no one knows about it, she wants to buy it and mine it secretly.
Or, sell it to the imperial court at a high price and make a profit.
"There are four mountains here. The two nearby are Fengming Mountain and Tianlun Mountain. Beyond Fengming Mountain is Laoying Mountain, and to the right of Tianlun Mountain is Tianhen Mountain. No one wants to buy these mountains.
"Master, are you looking to buy some mountains? These mountains are inhabited by ferocious beasts, and you can't grow crops there." Du Hu told Yang Youxue the names of the four mountains, looking puzzled.
"I'm planning to buy a mountain. I'm not afraid of wild beasts. I'll ask some experts to hunt them." Yang Youxue said happily when she heard that no one wanted to buy it.
"Okay, the master has a way to hunt the beast, so I don't have to worry anymore." Du Hu said.
"Let's go back and see what decision they have made." Yang Youxue took the lead and walked back.
Before returning to the yard, the farmhands had already thought it through and told Yang Youxue the result.
Yang Youxue told the farmhands who were leaving that she would give them three days to pack their things and would give each of them ten taels of silver as travel expenses.
After finishing the work in the village, Yang Youxue took Bai Chen and Wang Chuhang away from the village and went to the nearest mountain.
After entering the forest, it was exactly as I had guessed. This was where the iron mine was located.
The deeper they went into the mountains, the happier Yang Youxue became. Finally, she found the location of the iron mine on a small hill.
Looking at the rare treasures and stones on the ground, Yang Youxue treasured them very much.
This iron mine is not small. If we can mine the iron, we will definitely make a lot of money.
Unfortunately, iron was relatively important in ancient times. Only with iron could many cold weapons be made and the country be defended.
"Miss, what are we doing here? These stones are very strange?" Bai Chen looked at the stones around him and asked Yang Youxue in confusion.
"Nothing. I just want to buy a few hills to plant flowers and fruit trees." Yang Youxue said perfunctorily.
It is not appropriate to let too many people know for the time being. After all, illegal iron ore mining will result in beheading.
Bai Chen looked at Yang Youxue with an expression that said, "I don't believe you." However, Yang Youxue acted as if she didn't see anything and remained calm as if nothing had happened.
Yang Youxue took Bai Chen and Wang Chuhang down the mountain and then went home.
"Bai Chen, go to Shuntian Prefecture tomorrow and buy back all four mountains." Yang Youxue said to Bai Chen on the way.
"Yes, master!" Bai Chen said.
Back in the courtyard, Yang Youxue went back to her room and wrote about the process of quicklime turning into slaked lime, and asked Bai Chen to buy quicklime.
The next day, Bai Chen arranged for people to buy quicklime, and he went to Shuntian Prefecture to buy four hills.
Yang Youxue immediately took Xue Ruobing back to the Marquis of Chang'an's Mansion because the Marquis of Chang'an had already returned to the capital.
This time, Yang Youxue only brought Xue Qing and Xue Lian.
The carriage stopped in front of the Marquis's mansion and the guards at the gate came over to drive it away.
"You can't park here, please leave." A guard said to the coachman.
"We really can't stop?" Xue Ruobing said in the car.
Yang Youxue jumped off the carriage and helped Xue Ruobing get off, followed by Xue Qing and Xue Lian.
"Your servant greets the county lady. I didn't know it was your carriage just now. Please forgive me!" The guard apologized to Xue Ruobing.
He believed that the county lady would forgive him because she was the easiest to control.
"According to you, if it's not the county lady's carriage, it can't be parked here? Is this the rule of the Marquis of Chang'an?" Yang Youxue said angrily.
What a dog-like slave who looks down on others. No wonder my sister is bullied.
"Who are you? How dare you meddle in the affairs of our Marquis' Mansion?" When the guard heard that the other party, a young girl, dared to scold him, he became so angry that his face turned black and he scolded arrogantly.
"How dare you! How dare you question this county lady's sister? You are so bold." Xue Ruobing was furious when she saw that a small guard dared to scold her sister in front of her. It was the first time that she scolded a servant.
"Please spare my life, my lady. I didn't know she was your sister. Please spare my life, my lady." The guard pleaded for Xue Ruobing desperately.
When Xue Ruobing heard the guard begging for mercy, her kindness got the better of her and she wanted to forgive him.
"If I forgive you, where will the county lady's dignity be? Where will her dignity be?" Yang Youxue saw that Xue Ruobing wanted to forgive her, and without waiting for her to speak, she started to scold her.
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