Zhao Liangcai returned home and had someone take Xiao Fei to the stable. He himself carried his bag into the bedroom.
Inside the bedroom, Qin Junyao was counting small denominations of silver notes and was startled by Zhao Liangcai's sudden entrance.
"You didn't make a sound when you came in," Qin Junyao glanced at Zhao Liangcai, lowered her head, and continued counting the silver notes. The fake beard looked truly awful.
"Did Cheng Qinwei, who was waiting at the village entrance, see you?"
Zhao Liangcai took off his cloak and handed it to a maid. He walked to the washbasin to wash his hands. "I saw him. He's standing in the courtyard. What a foolish oaf. He wasn't this stupid before. I guess getting constipated has made his brain slow."
"Pfft," Qin Junyao chuckled. "Is he leaving with you after the New Year? Have him see Doctor Sheng."
"Little Doctor Sheng examined him, but he couldn't swallow the medicine. He vomited every time. Later, he made him pills."
Zhao Liangcai wiped his hands. "Actually, it's not entirely Bian Dan's fault for not being able to swallow the medicine. The medicine Dr. Sheng prescribed... it's hard to describe."
After drying his hands, Zhao Liangcai noticed his daughter lying on the heated bed was awake. He grinned and walked towards her.
Qin Junyao was looking down, dividing the New Year's rewards for the servants, and hadn't paid attention to Zhao Liangcai's movements. She continued, "I've taken medicine prescribed by Doctor Sheng, and it wasn't that bad. Have him go see him." Su Dan Novel Network
"Ah~~wu wa~~ah~~~" The nearly two-month-old little Langtou, with full vigor, cried loudly.
The sudden cry startled Qin Junyao again. She felt a pang in her heart watching Zhao Liangcai, who had jumped far away because of their daughter's crying. She was sure these two would eventually give her heart palpitations from fright.
"Beard, your beard is still on your face," Qin Junyao cradled her daughter while reminding Zhao Liangcai that his beard was the reason their daughter cried.
Little Langtou stopped crying. Zhao Liangcai removed his fake beard. The boxes from the more than a dozen ox carts brought back by Bian Dan were also put into the storeroom.
Zhao Liangcai thought that although Bian Dan was a bit foolish, the soldiers who returned with him shouldn't be punished because of him. After knowing that everything was stored, he brought Qin Junyao to see.
"Have you all eaten and drunk enough?" Zhao Liangcai asked, scanning the soldiers who had returned with the carts.
The soldiers were still coming to terms with the fact that the fair-skinned young man before them was their general. Their answers were not very coordinated.
"Yes."
"We've eaten our fill."
Zhao Liangcai waved his hand. "Then go."
The soldiers turned and left with stiff expressions. Only Bian Dan stood where he was, watching his comrades walk away.
He had a slight question. "General, where are we going?"
"Go wherever you want to go. Scram."
These people had made numerous trips between Yangshu Village and the northwest city to transport cotton clothes.
Whether it was the cave dwellings where Deng Zui's subordinates lived, the stone houses by the salt lake, or his own home, they could truly go wherever they pleased.
Seeing the eyesores leave, Zhao Liangcai waved his servants away. He then took Qin Junyao's hand and opened the boxes one by one.
He had expected Qin Junyao to exclaim "Wow" or "Aah" with surprise. To his surprise, Qin Junyao looked very calm.
That's right, his wife must not have seen these before.
Actually, Qin Junyao had seen them all, though some were real objects and some were pictures.
Coral, ivory, tridacna, pearls, porcelain, inkstones, tea...
As Zhao Liangcai opened more small boxes, all sorts of jewelry and ornaments were displayed.
Qin Junyao touched a somewhat old-looking box. "Is this stuff from the General's mansion in the northwest city?"
"Yes," Zhao Liangcai picked out a coral bracelet and put it on Qin Junyao's wrist. "These were kept in an inconspicuous small storeroom in the General's mansion. We almost missed them."
"It's beautiful."