The caravan sped along the shortcut, following the dirt road towards Fangjiazhuang.
After many days of clear skies, the muddy patches had long since disappeared, and the road was relatively smooth. In less than an hour, they entered Fangjiazhuang.
As for the Heavenly Fire Army, they followed behind on foot, fully armed, treating it as a training exercise.
The first thing Fang Er did upon returning home was to take a long, refreshing bath.
While scrubbing his back, Xiao Qing carefully noticed the small pox scars on his arm.
These were the marks left from the vaccination.
"Young master, what happened here? How could you be so careless?"
Fang Er sat in the bathtub, feeling incredibly refreshed.
"That's from the cowpox inoculation. Later, I'll vaccinate you and Yue'er too, so you won't have to fear smallpox anymore."
Xiao Qing was stunned, then overjoyed. "Young master, you mean if I get the cowpox inoculation, I won't get smallpox?"
Fang Er nodded.
After finishing his bath and getting dressed, Fang Er found the bottle he had brought back. "Go and call everyone in the family."
Soon, Xiao Huan, Xiao Mi, Chen Xuelian, and others were called to the courtyard by Xiao Qing, and Chai Yue was naturally among them.
To Fang Er's surprise, Xing'er was also there.
"Wasn't she serving dishes at the restaurant?"
Chai Yue, seeing the confused look on Fang Er's face, knew what he was thinking.
She walked over to Fang Er and chided him, "My lord, you don't know how to cherish people. Why would you send someone as beautiful and literate as her to work at the restaurant? I really don't know why you spent so much silver to redeem Xing'er in the first place!"
Uh, how was Fang Er supposed to respond to that?
Could he say he redeemed her for a mission? That would lead to too many complications.
Seeing Fang Er's troubled expression, Xing'er stepped forward proactively.
"Young master, there's no need to be troubled. Xing'er will return to the restaurant."
With that, she actually started to walk out of the courtyard.
Chai Yue pulled her back. "What are you doing, sister? If word of this gets out, won't people say that this county princess has become a jealous woman before even entering the household?"
Xing'er quickly knelt before Chai Yue.
"Madam, please forgive me. Xing'er never meant that. I just don't want to make things difficult for the Marquis."
Seeing this situation, Fang Er realized he had to say something, or it would be difficult to resolve.
"Xing'er, get up. It was my oversight in the first place, and then being away on campaign, I neglected you. From today onwards, you will serve by Yue'er's side."
Upon hearing this, Xing'er didn't get up. Instead, she kowtowed to Chai Yue.
"Xing'er thanks the Marquis, thanks Madam. From now on, Xing'er will wholeheartedly serve Madam."
"Alright, alright, get up quickly. The ground is cold; don't hurt yourself." Chai Yue said, helping her up.
After standing up, Xing'er walked behind Chai Yue, her eyes turning red.
Chai Yue reached out and wiped away her tears. "Why are you crying? Were you bullied at the restaurant?"
Xing'er shook her head vigorously.
"With Uncle Zhang taking care of me, no one bullied Xing'er. Xing'er is happy, happy to finally have a home."
Chai Yue felt a pang of sympathy.
Indeed, to be redeemed with a large sum of money and then instantly neglected, anyone would feel bad.
Patting Xing'er's shoulder, Chai Yue said no more, but instead rolled her eyes at Fang Er.
Fang Er felt extremely awkward and quickly changed the subject.
"There are more than just you few people in the family, right? Where are the others?"
Xiao Qing answered from the side, "Madam said the family doesn't need so many servants, so she sent them all to help at the restaurant."
"Alright!"
This young lady, not yet having entered the household, was already exercising her rights as a wife. However, Fang Er didn't have any objections to this.
At least, he truly disliked managing such matters, and he was happy to have Chai Yue help him with them.
He took out the bottle containing the cowpox pus from his pocket.
"This time, Sun Zhenren and I went to Huangliang Town and discovered that cowpox can prevent smallpox, so I asked Qing'er to call everyone over."
"Everyone in our family must be inoculated with cowpox, so we won't have to worry about smallpox anymore."
After speaking, he explained the symptoms and precautions after the cowpox inoculation to them.
Chai Yue volunteered to be the first.
"My lord, Yue'er will go first."
Fang Er nodded. There was no risk involved, and he, along with the Heavenly Fire Army, had already inoculated over a thousand people with the cowpox vaccine without any issues.
He looked at Xiao Qing. "Go get a needle, and bring the alcohol too."
The alcohol at home was not from the restaurant, but was the leftover from when Fang Er had exchanged for it.
Before long, Xiao Qing returned with the two items.
Fang Er first disinfected the steel needle with alcohol, then took some pus from the bottle and looked at Chai Yue.
"Yue'er, come, expose your shoulder."
As soon as he said this, Chai Yue's face instantly turned red, and she shyly said, "My lord, can't it be on the arm?"
Fang Er shook his head. "Well, I don't know why, but in my past life, vaccinations were always given on the arm."
Chai Yue glanced around the courtyard. Fortunately, they were all maids.
Mustering her courage, she turned her head and pulled down her clothes a little at the shoulder, exposing her delicate collarbone and skin like jade to Fang Er's eyes.
Gulp!
The sound of Fang Er swallowing echoed, and the atmosphere became very quiet.
Chai Yue's neck flushed even redder. "My lord, hurry up!"
Fang Er quickly shook his head and walked over with the needle.
"Yue'er, don't be afraid, it will only hurt for a moment."