Song Qingchao paid no mind to anything else.
In any case, she was satisfied.
It seemed Bai Youan had truly taken her words to heart.
Although she didn't know when Bai Youan had left, seeing the items he sent made Song Qingchao incredibly happy. She suddenly felt her days weren't so bleak anymore.
Her depressed mood also vanished completely.
She was ready to embark on a grand endeavor!
After eating, she reassigned the personnel.
After all, she had promised Bai Youan that she would have people around her.
Originally, Zhou Yi was supposed to continue following Song Qingmu. However, Song Qingmu was currently directing Zhou Ri and working with Old Yu, so Song Qingchao assigned Zhou Yi to join Fang Yi in the strenuous labor for now.
Song Qingchao had initially wanted Liu Zhe'er to rest. But the young girl was unwilling to be idle.
She noticed the girl seemed to cling to Fang Yi. So, she let Liu Zhe'er follow along as well, which would allow Zhou Er and Zhou San to be put to good use.
Finally, there were the three individuals, Si Wu Liu. She kept them by her side.
This decision immediately made the three of them feel superior to their brothers, nearly leading to them being beaten to a pulp.
The last one was Ying Zhong, who insisted on staying by her side and not going anywhere.
However, his attire made Song Qingchao very curious.
But Ying Zhong mysteriously stated that he needed to maintain his current persona and couldn't tell her much.
Song Qingchao decided not to ask.
After everyone went about their own tasks, Song Qingchao directed the three of Si Wu Liu to start inventorying the items Bai Youan had sent.
As they counted, she discovered that Bai Youan had essentially moved his home to her.
Besides a large desk, there were various practical pieces of furniture, even items with a touch of lifestyle like an incense burner. Additionally, there were three thick quilts, high-quality tea sets, and so on.
These two carts were absolutely packed full, causing the three of Si Wu Liu, who were carrying the items, to break out in a sweat.
Zhou Si, holding a box of candles, asked, "What do you think this Doctor Bai does? How is he so capable?"
Zhou Wu, holding a box of bottles and jars, replied, "He's a doctor, of course. Aren't you stating the obvious?"
Zhou Liu, dragging a large bed from behind, his face flushed red, said, "You two, stop joking around. Can you help me?"
"No."
Zhou Si and Zhou Wu scurried away in a flash.
Enraged, Zhou Liu raised his foot to kick, but then he considered that if he damaged the bed, he might not fare well. He decisively retracted his leg.
He had witnessed Bai Youan's madness.
Zhou Ri, who hadn't witnessed it, had already been beaten.
He couldn't follow in his footsteps.
After all the items were moved, Song Qingchao looked at the fully furnished cave.
This could no longer be called a mere cave.
If one disregarded the dilapidated cave walls and ceiling, the luxury of the furnishings was comparable to her residence in Chang'an.
Simply put, there were two words: satisfied.
Even Ying Zhong couldn't help but click his tongue.
His master had probably moved Zuo Suiran's entire home here.
But it was understandable; Zuo Suiran, that old fox, had tricked his master so many times. It was fortunate his master hadn't emptied his family's coffers.
After finishing these tasks, Song Qingchao prepared to look around. Although she trusted everyone with their work, seeing it herself made her feel more at ease.
"Mistress, why have you come out? It's so windy."
Fang Yi, seeing Song Qingchao emerge, surrounded by others, quickly stepped forward and tightened the cloak around her, saying, "You're wearing too little."
Song Qingchao comforted her a few times and then observed the hardworking laborers.
They were indeed diligent in their work.
Of course, the reward she offered was meat.
In the past two months, these people had hardly encountered meat.
As she watched, she said to Fang Yi, "The internal organs can also be used as payment. Don't let the children be idle either. Have them pick up some dry firewood, weave more bamboo baskets, and even the ash from burnt grass and wood can be exchanged. Anything useful can be exchanged."
Her actions were actually for the good of those children. After all, in such chaotic times, if one couldn't create value through labor, they would be the first to be abandoned by their families.
Fang Yi noted it down while contemplating what else was needed.
"Mistress, there are some people here who are skilled at work. Do you think they should be given an opportunity?"
Song Qingchao nodded, "You can make decisions as you see fit."
She whispered a reminder, "Remember to gather more information."
Fang Yi repeatedly answered, "Yes."
Song Qingchao was also very satisfied with Fang Yi. She liked people who knew their place.
Although only about forty people had accompanied them to this place, based on her observations at the entrance, the number of exiles handed over here was definitely more than just these individuals; there were easily over a hundred people.
Among these people, there were bound to be those who would step up like her.
As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles. If she couldn't resolve the minor powers within LingShi Valley, how could she talk about revenge?
Most importantly, if these people were fully utilized, they would become her first army.
After all, exiled people were not necessarily those who had committed offenses.
Many were collateral damage from their main families, distant relatives, or household servants, who had nothing to do with crime.
Furthermore, if they were from the collateral branches of large families, they would have received good education from childhood. Household servants were also well-disciplined, differing from some indigenous people or other exiles.
At this stage, they could be utilized with food. By next spring, when people no longer worried about food, they would need other things.
In short, she would take one step at a time and see.
After arranging things here, Song Qingchao took people to check on Zhou Ri's progress.
She had to admit, she was really worried about that kid Zhou Ri.
However, she didn't expect Zhou Ri to point at Ying Zhong, standing next to her, and stammer.
"It's you?"
Ying Zhong pouted and remained silent, but he implicitly acknowledged that they knew each other.
Immediately after, Zhou Ri cozily leaned closer, "So you're the young lady's friend? I was wondering how such a beautiful young lady would be squatting alone in the snow late at night."
He moved closer to Ying Zhong, "Young lady, what's your name? That day..."
As he spoke, he covered his mouth and widened his eyes, cautiously looking at Song Qingchao.
Song Qingchao found it perplexing. Why was he looking at her when he was talking?
Seeing that Song Qingchao didn't react, Zhou Ri lowered his voice and winked, "That day, I'm sorry."
Ying Zhong felt speechless, but he also thought that since they were all family here, revealing his identity wouldn't matter. If his identity were exposed in front of outsiders later, someone could help him out.
"My name is Ying Zhong."
A clear, boyish voice, utterly unreserved, revealing him to be a boy.
But Zhou Ri firmly believed Ying Zhong was a girl. Despite a moment of confusion, he quickly comforted him, fearing Ying Zhong would be sad, "Young lady, your voice is so unique."
Ying Zhong: "..."
He had never felt so exasperated in his life.
This made Song Qingchao laugh. However, considering the helpers not far away, she held back her laughter.
Si Wu Liu, hiding behind, were roaring with laughter.
Zhou Si: "Do you think Zhou Ri genuinely doesn't know, or is he pretending not to know?"
Zhou Wu: "I think he probably doesn't know."
Zhou Liu: "He's just stupid."
Song Qingchao had excellent hearing. She could still hold back, but upon hearing Si Wu Liu talking, she couldn't help but burst out laughing.
Zhou Ri, however, looked confused, scratching his head, unsure what to do.
Ying Zhong looked at her with a wronged expression.
Song Qingchao patted Ying Zhong's shoulder twice, "Alright, we're here to do important business."
Ying Zhong pondered for a moment and then endured.
He would deal with this kid sooner or later!
"Little Sun, how's your toilet project coming along?"
Song Qingchao said this as she glanced inside. She saw Old Yu and Song Qingmu engaged in a heated discussion.
It was good; it seemed like it would work.
However, Song Qingchao had a bigger idea in mind: she wanted a flushing toilet like the ones in books, clean and hygienic.
But with the current limited conditions, she didn't know when that could be realized.
Just as she was about to go see what Song Qingmu and the others were discussing, Fang Yi rushed over.
Her face was pale, showing a rare sign of panic.
"What's wrong, Fang Yi?" Song Qingchao asked with a frown.