Chapter 73
Regardless of whether the request for the contraceptive soup formula was true or not, privately beating someone out of jealousy was not much different from bullying in later generations. Ye Jia had come here simply to pick a few people to do the work, but now that he had stopped the men's violence, he was no longer interested in meddling in their affairs. Seeing the girl named Lin Xiyue looking somewhat pitiful, Ye Jia asked the old servant of the Shen Mansion to take her aside.
"Call out all the girls." To be honest, Ye Jia had lost interest in picking people.
But the work cannot be left unfinished, and the trip cannot be in vain.
A dozen girls lined up in a row. Last time, the lighting was dim, so I couldn't see them clearly. This time, in broad daylight, they were indeed a beauties. Especially the girl named Liuxi, standing out from the crowd with her beauty. Ye Jia glanced at her and saw only her. He asked her name, and it turned out to be Liuxi.
Her gaze then fell on Lin Xiyue's face again, and she guessed that her appearance should be not much different from Liu Xi's.
While Ye Jia had no idea what Zhou Jingchen was planning by singling these people out, she wasn't one to be so easily provoked by a few words. Zhou Jingchen could actually be quite cold and icy at times, with a certain arrogance at heart. If he truly had feelings for these women, he'd certainly not hide it. After a brief moment of deliberation, she made her own assessment, avoiding Lin Xiyue and Liu Xi.
She glanced at the other eighteen girls and took in all their expressions.
Ye Jia asked these girls to introduce themselves one by one, just like in later generations' interviews, and emphasized the skills they each possessed.
The girls looked at each other, some unaccustomed to Ye Jia's questioning style. They couldn't guess Ye Jia's purpose in asking such questions, but they instinctively knew that the mistress wouldn't appreciate their proficiency in sex. For a moment, they hesitated, no one daring to speak.
Ye Jia could roughly discern their concerns, but honestly, she didn't feel threatened. If Zhou Jingchen really could be seduced so easily, she wouldn't mind finding someone else. With so many men in the world, the worries of these girls were beyond her consideration. After a pause, she asked bluntly, "Who among you can do manual labor? Or perhaps be articulate?"
As soon as this was said, the others immediately understood. The last time the male master asked them to work for the female master, he was serious about it, not just to please her. It was just that they had never done any physical work, and their eloquence was also about pleasing the male master.
After much hesitation, a skinny girl finally stood up. Despite her small stature, she spoke with a loud voice: "Master, I am strong and can do manual labor. I can also embroider, mend, and even secretly learned the skill of perfumery. If you are worthy of me, I am willing to work for you."
When one person stood up, several others followed suit: "Master, I may not be very strong, but I am quite skillful. I can sew and cook. I can also make snacks, wash clothes, and mend quilts."
"I wouldn't say I'm eloquent, but I know a few words and a bit about accounting."
"I'm not as clever as you sisters, nor do you have so many skills. I only have a clever tongue." A rather charming woman stepped out. Hidden in the crowd, she was now strikingly beautiful. She had narrow eyes and high cheekbones. Perhaps due to a change in fate, she dressed very conservatively. Her clothes were a dull gray, suppressing the frivolous air in her brow.
Ye Jia carefully examined the girls, his eyes clear and honest. Xilai, in particular, seemed to have a certain naiveté about her. Regardless of whether the skills they claimed were genuine, Ye Jia initially gave them affirmation.
As soon as these girls stood out, the others hung their heads, afraid that Ye Jia would see them.
Ye Jia looked like she wanted to laugh. Since they were unwilling, she certainly wouldn't force them. She just asked a few girls' names.
The first girl who stepped forward was named Xilai. It was said that she wasn't particularly pretty, but her name was auspicious. The second was Chunhua, and the third was Qiuyue. Ye Jia then asked if anyone could read. After someone spoke and wrote down their names, he explained that he was looking for workers for his workshop. "The chosen ones will work in my workshop, and the wages will be one hundred wen a day."
This price was calculated based on the wages paid to Old Man Sun, including food and lodging. Now that Ye Jia had money, he paid the highest salary available in the market.
Those who knew what was going on could see Ye Jia's kindness, while those who didn't could only sneer at him behind his back. Of course, the girls who stepped forward were naturally happy to do so. If it weren't for their miserable fate, who would want to be reduced to a prostitute? Some of them immediately became annoyed when they saw Ye Jia instruct the gatekeepers of the Shen Mansion to arrange separate accommodations for these girls and take them away.
Some are willing to become good women, while others are unwilling. After all, they have been pampered since they became prostitutes and have never done any rough work.
Now that they've returned to their status as mistresses, many have trouble adjusting. This is especially true for several of the attractive women in this group, who are brimming with pride. They've seen countless times more beautiful things than what Ye Jia uses. Although Ye Jia is now their mistress, she hasn't been to the Shen Residence in recent times. They've been pampered by the Shen Residence, living in the mud houses in the North Camp instead.
Some people with shortsighted thoughts were aroused, and naturally did not even look at Ye Jia straight in the eye, let alone be interested in what Ye Jia said.
Ye Jia could tell what they were thinking, but she just smiled and didn't take it to heart.
Ye Jia never cared about the opinions of worthless people. She believed that the words of those who couldn't help her life and future were worthless. She had come here to try her luck and see if there were any capable people. If she found one, she would take him with her. If not, forget it.
"Okay then," Ye Jia also made it clear in public, "I'll come back in a few days."
She didn't care how to settle the rest of the people. She said a few words to the old servant and then went back with Old Man Sun. Before leaving, she glanced at the so-called Yangzhou skinny horse. Looking at its appearance, it really couldn't be seen.
"Never mind, let's go."
The Shen Mansion was left with old slaves. The Shenhai clan had been imprisoned, and the numerous slaves they kept were confiscated. Four or five elderly slaves, unable to be sold, were left to guard the mansion, and were also awarded to Zhou Jingchen. Naturally, they were now Ye Jia's slaves, and they took Ye Jia's words to heart.
After leaving the Chen residence and returning to the Zhou residence, several people were waiting in the courtyard. They were there to give Ye Jia a gift. Ye Jia was a little unaccustomed to this, but then she understood. Zhou Jingchen had become the resident captain, and her status had also risen accordingly.
In fact, it wasn't just Ye Jia; the Yu family had people inviting her as guests every day. Ye Jia roughly understood that this was what later generations called "madam diplomacy," but Zhou Jingchen had no intention of forcing Ye Jia to attend social events; he simply asked Ye Jia to follow his own wishes.
"If my wife still needs to worry about these things, then I am incompetent."
These were Zhou Jingchen's original words, and Ye Jia felt that they made a lot of sense.
Speaking of which, after Lin Zeyu went to the Western Regions with Ajiu, the house on the west side became vacant. Ye Jia went in to take a look and planned to place any more people who came in this room.
Actually, it's okay not to arrange for someone to live here, as the Shen Mansion is also in town. But sometimes things are urgent, and distance makes it inconvenient to operate. After much thought, at least two people should be arranged here. Ye Jia's favorite is naturally Xilai, the girl who said she is strong. Usually when Zhou Jingchen is not at home, only Old Man Sun does the rough work. But Ye Jia occasionally needs a strong woman to help.
But if someone really moved in, Yu had to be informed. After all, the west wing was only separated from Yu's house by a wall, so Yu had to be mentally prepared for someone moving in next door.
Yu Shi had no objection to Ye Jia's arrangement. She was used to having servants waiting on her in the side room at all times. Ye Jia's arrangement was the most acceptable to her: "After bringing the person here, I will train him for two days."
Ye Jia naturally agreed: "Transfer one here first, and then transfer more when we need more people later."
With the matter settled, Ye Jia brought up another matter with Yu. He couldn't let go of the pear blossom cream. It was far more effective than the body lotions and creams of later generations. This skincare product, made from genuine medicinal herbs, not only had no side effects but could even heal wounds and treat frostbite. Of course, he had to discuss this good thing before anyone else found out.
Under Ye Jia's guidance, Yu Shi gradually understood the importance of seizing business opportunities. After listening to Ye Jia's words, she pondered, "Why don't I go negotiate this deal? I know a little bit about medicinal herbs, so it will be easier for me to negotiate."
Ye Jia thought for a moment, but didn't refuse. So he asked Yu to give it a try.
Not to mention that this was Yu's first time taking on such a task, she felt both excited and nervous. Fourth Sister Ye had already taken over from Fifth Sister Ye's job frying crispy crackers, preparing to open the breakfast stall tomorrow morning. Ye Jia watched from the side, and seeing that her food tasted just as good as Fifth Sister Ye's, she felt relieved. After a busy day, they finally had a break at nightfall.
After dinner, Ye Jia was wiping her hair in the room. Zhou Jingchen, dressed in military uniform, returned late at night.
The door creaked open from outside, and he stood by it, holding a lantern in one hand. Ye Jia glanced up at the noise. He wondered where this man had been during the day, but he reeked of blood. His uniform was intact, with no visible wounds. Ye Jia paused while wiping his hair, looking at him in surprise. He seemed to be holding something in his other hand, and he walked over to the table and set it down.
His hair was a little loose, with scattered strands falling on his temples. Although there were no wounds on his face, he slowly removed the thick armor, and Ye Jia still saw a red mark on his back that was covered by the thick armor.
Ye Jia placed the cloth on the edge of the kang and asked curiously, "What happened to you?"
"Hmm?" Zhou Jingchen turned to look over, "Nothing, just a minor injury."
"Minor injury? A minor injury that's bleeding?" Ye Jia frowned at him. Her long, dark hair was heavily dampened, hanging heavy and wet across her shoulders. Without a hair dryer or a cotton absorbent towel, the thin cloth she used to twist her hair simply couldn't keep up with the speed at which her clothes were soaking through. Soon, Ye Jia's underwear was soaked through, clinging uncomfortably to her body.
Zhou Jingchen curled his lips and smiled, then looked up at her. Noticing her appearance, his eyes unconsciously deepened.
After a pause, he slowly walked over and picked up the cloth that Ye Jia had draped over the edge of the kang. The light made his figure appear taller. Zhou Jingchen looked thin, but every time he approached Ye Jia, he gave Ye Jia the intimidating feeling of an approaching beast.
He gently sat down beside Ye Jia, raised his hand to gather up the wet hair hanging on Ye Jia's shoulders and neck, and gently wiped it.
Ye Jia was stunned and turned her head to look at him.
Zhou Jingchen had been so busy that he hadn't stayed at home overnight for a long time. There were times when he just passed by and didn't even come in. The occasional late night return was something he had squeezed out with all his might.
He was now slowly wringing Ye Jia's hair. His gaze drifted unconsciously to her watery eyes and red lips, gleaming beneath the lamplight. Ye Jia had just washed and soaked in the hot water for a long time, her skin rosy and fair. The collar of her plain undergarment was loosened, revealing her slender neck and collarbone. A thin red string was tied in a slipknot around her neck... Zhou Jingchen closed his eyes, suppressing the surging desire.
He was now like any other man, unable to restrain himself after starting to indulge in sexual pleasure. Ever since he had tasted the sweetness of sex on their wedding night, he had always dreamed of Jia Niang. The charming and sweet Jia Niang, the coquettish Jia Niang with her beautiful eyes, the lively and charming... and more often, the naked Ye Jia.
But Jia Niang was probably hurt and was a little hesitant to get close to him. Zhou Jingchen was also distressed, but he never forced anything.
He had finally grasped Ye Jia's weakness. Jia Niang was a softie, not a hardie. So, the only way they could get along was to wait for her to resolve the situation. So, even though he often got angry, Zhou Jingchen managed to be patient and take his time. But days when things didn't go his way were also difficult. So, even if it was hard to squeeze in, Zhou Jingchen would always find time to go home, just to see Ye Jia.
Zhou Jingchen lowered his eyelids silently, suppressing the gloom in his eyes. His breathing was so calm that no clues could be heard. "Jia Niang, tomorrow I will take people to Libei Town to garrison there for at least a month."
In reality, Zhou Jingchen had been appointed garrison commander. This garrison commander wasn't just the top-tier Shen Hai Niu Buqun, but rather the entire Kashgar County garrison. The five towns under Kashgar County had a combined force of nearly 25,000 men. Suletu boldly consolidated Kashgar County's scattered military power into the hands of Zhou Jingchen alone.
Taking on so many people at once naturally required time and effort. This was especially true given that only a small number of these men were new recruits who had arrived at the same time as Zhou Jingchen. The majority were veterans who had been in the barracks for years. Naturally, the veterans were not impressed by Zhou Jingchen, a new lieutenant.
Stabilize Dongxiang Town as soon as possible, and Libei Town will naturally be the next. Stabilize the forces in these two towns, and then deal with the people behind them bit by bit.
Of course, Zhou Jingchen chose Libei Town as his target not just because of its similarities to Dongxiang Town, but also because it was the town furthest north from the border, facing the grasslands to the north and the Gobi Desert to the west. It served as the gateway to the northwestern border of Great Yan. Years of war and banditry had plagued the area, leaving numerous problems accumulating and failing to be effectively addressed. Now that this crucial responsibility had fallen upon Zhou Jingchen, he would not let things slide.
Ye Jia knew. As soon as he mentioned Li Beizhen, Ye Jia immediately guessed what he was going to do.
After thinking for a moment, he nodded: "Go ahead. I'll keep an eye on the Zhou family."
Zhou Jingchen watched her readily agree, feeling an indescribable emotion. He'd initially worried that Jia Niang's feelings for him were superficial, and thought that accepting her would bring him peace of mind. But as time went on, their time apart grew longer, and Zhou Jingchen felt no comfort, only growing increasingly worried. Sometimes, he even entertained the absurd thought that if Jia Niang bore his child, she would pay more attention to him. But he quickly suppressed the thought; he would never use a child to control Ye Jia.
Seeing Ye Jia's eyes rolling around, occasionally landing on him and then retracting, Zhou Jingchen couldn't help but sigh: "Jia Niang, Libei Town is not far away. Remember to come and see me when you have some free time."
"Yeah," Ye Jia waited for him to wring out her hair until there was no water left before she raised her hand to touch his belt.
Zhou Jingchen paused while folding the towel, then looked at her in surprise.
"What's wrong with you?"
Zhou Jingchen blinked: "I got a little hurt."
"Take off your shirt and let me see it." It is inevitable for soldiers to get injured. Ye Jia understands this but is still a little worried.
Zhou Jingchen coughed twice, supporting his lips with one hand, and the corner of his mouth curled up slightly. He said reservedly, "Jia Niang, I haven't washed up yet. How about you wait for a moment, I'll go to the bathroom to wash up and then take it off for you to see."
Although Ye Jia thought that what he said was a bit strange, he thought it was okay and let him go.
Zhou Jingchen stood up and walked to the table, picked up a large bundle on the table, and turned to walk out. Ye Jia did some calculations in the room and allocated the budget for the future. He also cleaned up the things on the kang and took out the ointment. After waiting for a long time and not seeing Zhou Jingchen come back, he felt even more puzzled. He went to the toilet to check, but he was not there either. Thinking about it, he went to the kitchen to look for him.
Sure enough, the man was in the kitchen. When Ye Jia went over, he was making something black, and there was an unpleasant smell of medicine everywhere.
"What are you doing so late at night?"
The sudden sound made Zhou Jingchen, who was drinking medicine, stiffen and stand still.
Ye Jia stepped into the back kitchen and was quiet in private.
She circled the group, then walked up to Zhou Jingchen and looked up at him. Seeing him calmly put down the bowl, she felt something strange. Ye Jia leaned closer to him, a bitter taste tingling her scalp. Something in her mind stirred, and she vaguely realized something.
With a surge of emotions in her heart, she pursed her lips and asked him, "Zhou Jingchen, what are you drinking secretly?"
"Hmm?" Zhou Jingchen's expression showed no sign of misfortune. He raised the corners of his mouth slightly and smiled gently, "It's just some medicine for the wound. Don't worry."
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