The **biandan**'s jaw dropped as it entered the territory of the Bai, Ling, and Zhao families, seeing the towering courtyard walls.
In less than half a year since they left, how much wealth and manpower would it take to build such a deep and grand residence?
The general didn't seem to have that much money, did he?
The carriage entered the Zhao manor through the main gate. Although it was against the rules, everyone in the courtyard was too anxious for news to care about formalities.
"Cheng Biandan greets the Madam. I have lived up to the General's expectations and delivered [indistinct sounds] safely," Biandan saluted Qin Junyao with a muffled voice.
Qin Junyao thought she hadn't heard clearly and said to Biandan, "Cheng Qingbing, there's no need for such formalities. What did you say you delivered?"
Biandan did not get up, and his voice came out through his teeth, "[indistinct sounds]."
Qin Junyao frowned. "Huh?"
Hua Niang, who was inside the carriage, couldn't stand it any longer. She lifted the curtain and got out. "Madam, Hua Niang has brought some people to trouble you."
The biggest reaction was not from the stunned Deng Zui Tui, nor the somewhat surprised Qin Junyao, but from Grandma Qin, who stood with her hands on her hips.
"Oh, it's you! My, my, such a beautiful face, why are you dressed like this? Come down quickly."
"Did you bring the girls?"
Hua Niang was stunned for a moment, then chuckled, placing a hand on her mouth. She got out of the carriage and saluted Grandma Qin, "Greetings, Old Madam. Bringing the girls here was truly a last resort. I apologize for troubling you and the Madam."
Grandma Qin helped Hua Niang up and, as she saw the beauties alighting from the carriage one after another, her eyes crinkled with a smile.
Everyone in the courtyard watched speechlessly as Grandma Qin flitted among the group of pretty girls like a butterfly.
She spoke words of concern, touching one girl's hand, then another's face.
Grandma Qin felt a twinge of regret. There were quite a few good-looking young men in the Wan Hua Tower; it would have been great if they could have come along.
The girls were arranged by Grandma Qin and Granny Wang, while the accompanying soldiers were led away by Steward Sun to rest. Biandan followed Qin Junyao to the main hall.
.
"It's good that you weren't seriously injured. Are the provisions scarce?" Apart from Zhao Liangcai, Qin Junyao's other concern was provisions.
How could they fight without enough to eat?
Biandan swallowed a piece of mung bean cake and replied, "Back to Madam, provisions are scarce. However, the Sui family's grain store has reached an agreement with Prince Luo and will provide grain."
Qin Junyao had heard about the Sui family's grain store from Grandma Qin. They were the number one grain merchant in Qingguo.
They not only traded in grain but also owned vast tracts of high-quality farmland in Jiangnan and Zhongyuan.
It was said that the grain stored by the Sui family in various locations could feed half of Qingguo. Whether this was true or not was unknown, but it showed their considerable strength.
As Qin Junyao, Biandan, and Deng Zui Tui discussed the Sui family's grain store, the Sui family members who had settled in the Sui family's grain shop in Yan County were also talking about Qin Junyao.
"Flower bud, do you know the consequence of deceiving me? Can that Zhao Liangcai's wife really grow grain in the desert?"
Qian Duo's chin, styled into a jade-like chicken comb, was raised high. Small bumps appeared on the skin of her chin.
She suppressed her fear and crawled forward, hugging Sui Ren's leg. "Sui Ye, Duo'er dares not lie. Not even grass grows in that land, only poisonous weeds that kill if eaten by cattle and sheep. Yet, the wheat she grew there yielded more than that from high-quality fields."
Sui Ren looked closely at Qian Duo's expression, put down the chicken comb, and pulled Qian Duo up to sit on his lap.
Qian Duo naturally wrapped her arms around Sui Ren's neck, clinging to him like a plaster.
She knew Sui Ren liked it this way. After all, she had served Sui Ren for several years in her previous life.
"Flower bud says this, why wouldn't Grandpa believe you? Tomorrow, shall we go and take a look at Yangshu Village, alright?"
The chicken comb in Sui Ren's hand slid back and forth on Qian Duo's waist. Qian Duo, wearing only a bellyband, tried her best to relax her body, not showing her fear.
She also placed her hand on Sui Ren's hand holding the chicken comb, a look of enjoyment on her face, and answered "alright" in a soft, sweet voice.
.
Biandan wanted to rest for a day and then lead his men away, but Qin Junyao stopped him. Zhao Liangcai had not given Biandan a deadline to return, and she happened to have an immature idea that required Biandan's help.
"Deng Zui Tui, it's so good that you're with Madam. Don't even mention cucumbers and tomatoes," Biandan swallowed a piece of cucumber and pointed to the wild vegetables growing under the pear tree. "Even these fresh wild vegetables are nowhere to be seen."
"You don't know, I have to take Doctor Sheng's pills every day. Guess what? Yesterday I ate half a basin of wild vegetables and forgot to take my pills, but this morning, when I went to the privy, everything went so smoothly."
Deng Zui Tui frowned and moved further away from Biandan. As Biandan spoke, it seemed as if the smell of the privy wafted to his nose.
"Oh, oh, I have to go to the privy. Deng Zui Tui, wait for me. I still have a lot of places to see." Biandan, holding a cucumber in one hand and covering his stomach with the other, happily went in search of the privy.
Deng Zui Tui fanned the air in front of him. He didn't want to be near Biandan today. He turned to look at the kiln being dug.
The Zhao, Ling, and Bai families had not truly finished their constructions. Many buildings that were still on the blueprints had not been built.
For example, the Zhao family was to expand from three courtyards to five, building one courtyard in the front and digging several more kiln caves in the back.
Most of the people digging the kiln caves were his men. He checked from time to time to ensure these lads weren't slacking off.
A soldier on a scaffold pleaded with the newly arrived Deng Zui Tui, "Brother Leg, talk to Brother Biandan and introduce us to those beautiful women!"
"Yeah, they're all our own people. We shouldn't let the good fortune go to outsiders."
After confirming that the girls brought by Hua Niang were not the General's women, these soldiers all had designs on them.
Deng Zui Tui pointed at the soldier above his head. "Get lost! Those women are skilled in playing musical instruments, singing, chess, and calligraphy. What are you good at? Go back to digging the caves."
"I'm telling you, don't mention it in front of Old Madam Qin, or she'll curse your ancestors' graves until they smoke."
The soldier who had first pleaded with Deng Zui Tui shivered upon hearing about Old Madam Qin. "Brother Leg, the ones in the courtyard are not an option, what about the next batch?"
"What next batch?"
The soldier pointed into the distance. "Brother Leg, the caravan went to Madam's family's home. There's no need to hide it. Besides us, who else has so many carriages?"
Deng Zui Tui sensed something was wrong. He quickly climbed onto the scaffold and looked down the mountain. When he saw over a dozen carriages parked at the Qin family's main gate, he quickly got down to find Qin Junyao.
Qin Junyao was currently looking at Grandma Qin and Hua Niang selecting fabrics.
The coarse blue robes Hua Niang and her group wore upon arrival were not to Grandma Qin's liking.
Their own clothes were also unsuitable for wearing in the Qin family. Therefore, Grandma Qin wanted to give them fabric to make new clothes.
Qin Junyao watched the dozen or so beauties in the room comparing fabrics and discussing clothing styles, her mood very good.
Grandma's hobby of liking to see handsome men and beautiful women was truly a good one. She was starting to like it too.
Liu Yu, standing behind Qin Junyao, saw a young maidservant come to report. After listening, she whispered into Qin Junyao's ear, "Madam, Yan Qingbing reports that an unfamiliar caravan has gone to Madam's family's home. He has already taken men there."