Li Baoju cooked outside, leaving the kitchen empty.
Fang Er entered the kitchen and took out vacuum-sealed instant meat dishes from his space, piecing together over ten plates.
There were spicy pickled chicken feet, spicy rabbit heads, pork trotters, donkey meat, and other meat dishes, as well as vegetarian dishes like pickled bamboo shoots and shredded kelp. Even with these, a group of dukes were all smiles, calling it exhilarating, and didn't leave until dark.
After sending them off, Fang Er staggered back home, sat in his rocking chair, and watched the maids clean up the mess.
Chai Yue walked over with a bowl, "Here, my lord, drink the hangover soup while it's hot."
Catching the fragrant breeze, Fang Er happily took the bowl and drank it down in one gulp.
It was sweet and sour. He wondered what kind of medicine Old Sun had mixed in. If this recipe were in his previous life, it would be worth a thousand gold pieces.
He placed the bowl on the table, got up, and took Chai Yue's small hand. "Wife, it's late, let's go back to the room and continue watching the animation."
Chai Yue blushed, her voice a mere whisper, "No! I'm too embarrassed."
Hahahaha!
Fang Er laughed and carried Chai Yue into the room.
---
Gently strumming, then plucking, first the "Rainbow Skirt", then the "Six Young Ones".
The thick strings sound like a sudden shower, the thin strings like whispered secrets.
They play together in a jumbled cascade, like pearls, large and small, falling on a jade plate.
A melodious sound, like warbling orioles in flowers, then a hesitant flow like a stream under ice.
The icy stream grows sluggish, the strings freeze, the sound pauses, then breaks.
A sudden sorrow, a hidden resentment arises, and silence speaks louder than sound.
Then, as if a silver bottle shattered, water and pulp splash out; as if iron cavalry stormed forth, swords and spears clashed.
---
After resting at the estate for a few days, Fang Er informed Li Shimin and then led his men to Shenyang to inspect the construction progress.
Since heavy industry was being moved there, the Tianhuo Army would also accompany them to serve as defense.
As for Qi Sui, he would remain with the defense army to guard the Fangjiazhuang workshop.
Lai Yifa's squad also traveled with them.
The convoy took the lead, leaving the main force to march slowly behind.
Fang Er, along with Chai Yue and Xiao Qing, traveled along the cement road and reached Shenyang City in three days.
Outside the city, there was a scene of busy activity. Liu Dacheng and the officials from the Cishi Mansion were in the fields, watching the common people turn over the land that had been frozen all winter, preparing for planting in the coming days.
"This humble official greets County Duke Fang. Congratulations to County Duke Fang on your promotion!"
Upon seeing the convoy, Liu Dacheng rushed over.
He was the Cishi of Shenyang. Fang Er had been ennobled as the County Duke of Shenyang, so he had received the official document from the Ministry of Personnel immediately, informing him of Fang Er's promotion.
"Hahaha, Cishi Liu is too kind. Fang is here this time to reside in Shenyang for a long time. From now on, we will see each other constantly."
Fang Er got out of the pickup truck and casually handed over a box of Huazi.
"Yo! Huazi! This is good stuff. I heard it's already popular in Chang'an, and it's impossible to get even one here in Shenyang!"
Liu Dacheng didn't stand on ceremony. He took it, opened it, took out a cigarette, and put it in his mouth.
*Hiss~~ Puff!*
"Tsk tsk tsk. The last time I smoked this stuff was when I got a pack from General Cheng. It's been half a year since I've had any."
Watching him smoke, Fang Er couldn't help but laugh.
"Hahaha, from now on, while Fang is here, Cishi Liu will not lack for cigarettes to smoke."
"Cishi Liu, if you're not busy, could you lead the way for Fang? I don't know where my newly built mansion is yet."
"Uh, it's my duty, my duty! Please wait a moment, County Duke. This humble official will go and give some instructions first."
Liu Dacheng, with a Huazi cigarette in his mouth, cupped his hands in a bow to Fang Er and turned towards the officials.
After a moment, he returned, got into a three-wheeled vehicle, and led the way for Fang Er.
The new mansion was not in the city, but ten li southeast of Shenyang City, on the road between Shenyang and the iron mine.
Placing it outside the city was something Fang Er had specifically arranged with Zhao Gang earlier.
And as for the establishment of a dukedom, Liu Dacheng, as Cishi, although not qualified to interfere, had to know whose mansion was being built where.
So, led by Liu Dacheng, the convoy reached its destination in less than twenty minutes.
Getting out of the car, Fang Er was stunned as he looked at the building before him, with an enclosing wall two to three hundred meters long, and the plaque of Shenyang County Duke's Mansion hanging above it.
"My goodness, Zhao Gang is truly impressive!"
This wasn't a mansion; it could be called an estate!
The overall construction of the new mansion was not yet complete, with less than thirty percent finished.
Seeing the convoy stop at the gate, the workers who were busy working quickly went to notify Zhao Gang.
"Boss Zhao, the Duke has arrived!"
Zhao Gang, who was sitting in the courtyard drinking some wine and acting as a supervisor, stood up abruptly upon hearing this.
"Where is he?"
The craftsman pointed towards the entrance.
"He's already outside the mansion."
"Let's go! Inform everyone to come out and welcome him!"
"Yes!"
The craftsman went to inform the other workers, while Zhao Gang ran towards the gate.
"This humble one greets the Duke. For failing to give a proper welcome, please punish this humble one!"
Arriving at the main gate, he saw Fang Er and Liu Dacheng, and quickly went to pay his respects.
"It's fine, no need for so much formality. Let's go inside and take a look."
Fang Er waved his hand at him, then turned and opened the car door, letting Chai Yue follow them in.
Zhao Gang led the way, with Fang Er and his wife, as well as Liu Dacheng, following behind. Xiao Qing and Xing'er were at the very end.
Looking at this grand mansion, the most excited among them was undoubtedly Xiao Qing.
She had followed Fang Er from their old home in Gaoling to Chang'an, and then to Fangjiazhuang.
She had personally witnessed Fang Er's journey from being a foolish young master of a landlord's family to his current status.
"Master, it's really spacious inside!"
Zhao Gang, who was walking ahead, heard this and began to describe the still-under-construction Shenyang County Duke's Mansion.
"Duke, this place covers nearly sixty mu, with each side measuring two hundred meters. There are nine courtyards, and upon completion, there will be a total of seven hundred rooms."
"This is the garden. Further inside is the main hall, and behind the main hall is the residence of the Duke and his wife."
"That was the first part to be built, and it is now ready for occupancy."
Liu Dacheng had only seen it from the outside a few times before and had never entered.
A mansion with a depth of two hundred meters, you wouldn't find such a thing even in Chang'an!
Strictly speaking, for Fang Er, who was only a Marquis at the time, to build such a large mansion would have been exceeding regulations.
However, he had now been promoted to County Duke. Although it was still a bit inappropriate, he had voluntarily lowered his noble title; otherwise, he would have been a Duke without question.
Therefore, it was acceptable for the mansion to be a bit larger!
After all, he had led the troops to conquer the entire Liaodong region. If this were reported to the imperial court, the Emperor would likely have no objections.