Song Qingchao walked to the entrance, surrounded by everyone.
A visitor?
Ling Shi Valley was not a place anyone could enter freely.
Before she got close, she saw a vibrant figure at the entrance.
"Miss."
The person saw Song Qingchao first and quickly walked up to meet her.
"Yan Zhuo, I've finally waited for you."
Song Qingchao smiled, "I thought it would take until next spring to see you, no matter how fast I was."
"If Miss wishes to see me, this subordinate will surely rush over with all effort."
"There's no hurry."
Song Qingchao took her arm and walked back, "Come inside quickly, it's too cold outside."
The surrounding people saw that it was indeed a guest.
They bravely asked Song Qingchao who this person was.
Song Qingchao walked at the front.
She was in a very good mood today and patiently explained, "This is the teacher I specifically hired for you all."
"Ah?"
A murmur went through the crowd.
Some curious individuals eagerly asked what the teacher would teach.
This time, it was Ji Yan Zhuo herself who answered, "Reading and writing."
The group was lively.
Song Qingchao turned back and directly called out Shao Yu, the granddaughter of the old gentleman.
She directly introduced Shao Yu and Ji Yan Zhuo.
When Shao Yu learned that Ji Yan Zhuo was proficient in simplified characters, her round eyes fixed on Ji Yan Zhuo.
Today was a festival.
The soldiers were also given a holiday.
Song Qingchao also gave her own people a day off.
After all, at the end of the year, one always needed a few days of rest.
Finally managing to send everyone back, Song Qingchao finally had the opportunity to talk with Ji Yan Zhuo.
The two sat by the stove, brewing tea. At first glance, one might mistake them for two sisters chatting.
No wonder Aunt Fang thought so.
Ji Yan Zhuo came from a family of scholars. If not for the misfortune she encountered, she wouldn't have been rescued by Song Qingchao.
Aunt Fang put down the pastries she was holding and respectfully retreated.
However, Song Qingchao directly called out to her, "Aunt Fang, you can rest today too. You don't need to come over tonight."
"Master, how can that be?"
"It's fine."
Song Qingchao directly told Aunt Fang to leave.
Ji Yan Zhuo looked at the pastries on the table, "As expected of Master. You live so comfortably even in this place. I can rest assured now."
"Rest assured about what?"
Song Qingchao picked up a piece and motioned for Ji Yan Zhuo to eat.
She had never treated Ji Yan Zhuo as a subordinate.
"Of course, I'm assured of your safety." Ji Yan Zhuo also unceremoniously picked up a pastry to eat. She was graceful and conducted herself with propriety.
"How is Qing Feng Village?"
"Miss need not worry. Under Song Tie's leadership, the village is self-sufficient. With General Zhuang's protection, the imperial court has not caused any trouble. This subordinate also remembers Miss's instructions. If any women return in the future, they must be treated kindly. Therefore, I have taken it upon myself to have all twelve returning women join the village to help."
Ji Yan Zhuo sighed softly, "The world is too harsh on women. Their families, fathers, and brothers would hardly treat them kindly upon their return. Rather than being sold into servitude by their families, it is better to find a job in the village and learn a skill to establish themselves. Those who are good at needlework, those who are good at farming, none of them are inferior to men, but..."
Song Qingchao knew all this, which was why she had always been most lenient towards women.
"It's good that they can think things through."
"Indeed." Ji Yan Zhuo agreed with a smile, "Qing Feng Village is our safe harbor."
Song Qingchao just smiled and said nothing.
Her help had ulterior motives; it was not purely selfless.
"How is Little Fifteen?"
Speaking of Little Fifteen, it made the usually composed Ji Yan Zhuo's neck flush. She spoke of Zhuang Shi Wu's recent situation, avoiding certain words.
"When he learned that this subordinate was coming to Mo Bei to find Miss, he also insisted on coming along to find his master. However, he hadn't finished planting the flowers at the foot of the mountain before General Zhuang took him back, saying he shouldn't cause trouble for Miss."
Song Qingchao teased, "Was it to find me, or was he reluctant to part with our Scholar Ji?"
"Miss..."
Song Qingchao smiled, "Alright, I won't tease you anymore. You've had a hard journey, so you should rest early."
Ji Yan Zhuo replied "Yes" and got up.
Song Qingchao put on the cloak beside her and led Ji Yan Zhuo to the neighboring cave.
This was originally intended as a dwelling for Song Qing Mu.
However, because he was on the construction site every day, he simply slept there and didn't return.
Therefore, Song Qingchao directly converted it into a temporary classroom.
The cave was divided into three sections.
At the entrance, the first thing one saw were rows of desks and chairs.
These were prepared for those who would need to attend classes in the future.
Since there had been no teacher before, they remained empty.
But they were managed by dedicated personnel, so despite not being used, there was no dust.
Further inside was a study room specifically prepared for the nine individuals.
In the study room, ten desks were arranged in a circle, with a brazier in the empty space in the center.
This not only saved resources but also ensured the room's warmth, preventing those reading from freezing and allowing them to focus on their studies.
On the two walls beside the round table were two neatly stacked bookshelves.
Although the number of books was small, they were all the most suitable and practical ones selected by Song Qingchao.
When these were all read, she would find a reason to update them.
When the houses were built next year, she intended to move the library within her personal space outside for everyone to borrow.
This was also the purpose for which Song Qingchao had called Ji Yan Zhuo to Mei Mei.
The populace needed education, and Ji Yan Zhuo was a very suitable candidate.
Song Qingchao pushed open the innermost door.
As the door opened, warmth rushed out.
This innermost section was the bedroom Song Qingchao had prepared for Ji Yan Zhuo.
"After all, a girl living with everyone else, you can only stay here temporarily."
Ji Yan Zhuo was delighted with the complete set of furniture. Every item here was carefully chosen and showed great thought. "What are you saying, Miss? This subordinate is already very happy to be able to help Miss. Moreover, I have heard about the situation here, and it is already very good. Thank you, Miss, for thinking of me so diligently."
"We are family, no need for formalities."
After a few more instructions, Song Qingchao withdrew from Ji Yan Zhuo's room.
Song Qingchao was very pleased that Ji Yan Zhuo could arrive at the beginning of the year.
But with it, Song Qingchao felt something was missing.
She went to the cave entrance, the cold wind making her instinctively tighten her cloak.
Step by step, she walked on the snow, listening to the "crunch crunch" sound as she returned to her own cave dwelling. There, she saw someone standing at the entrance, also tightening their cloak, just like her.
Song Qingchao couldn't help but quicken her pace, "Mu Mu, why aren't you going inside?"
"I was waiting for you."
The siblings, chattering about the cold, quickly went into the cave dwelling.
The warm air melted the snow on their heads, and they looked at each other and smiled. There were no excessive words, but they understood each other.
Both were reserved individuals, and it was this nature that caused many misunderstandings in their previous lives.
In this life, there were no misunderstandings, and her younger brother was by her side, protecting her completely.
Song Qingchao felt overwhelmingly happy.
However, in their daily interactions, they still did their own things. One would hold a book and read, occasionally discussing it with the other. It was a heartwarming scene.
But an unwelcome guest disturbed this cozy atmosphere.
Bai Youan strode into the cave dwelling with his long legs, a chill emanating from him, making him seem to smoke as he walked.
He took off his frost-covered glasses with a bold yet elegant movement.
"Happy New Year, Chao Chao and Mu Mu."