With the assistance of the Zhao family, the Qin family certainly wouldn't be short of supplies, especially with Qin Junyao's spatial dimension as a backup.
However, there was a slight mishap during the baby's full moon celebration. No one expected Zhang Dani's parents to show up, which truly turned the event into a chaotic mess.
Fortunately, Grandma Qin and Zhang Dani were both easygoing and didn't dwell on the disturbance, even finding humor in the lively celebration for Gouzi.
If the two of them were unfazed, then the rest of the Qin family naturally wouldn't be bothered either.
Qin Sen left shortly after Gouzi's full moon celebration. Zisang family kept urging him, and Qin Sen didn't want to implicate the Qin family.
When Qin Sen departed, Qin Junyao gifted him several aged ginseng roots and precious medicinal herbs. She also offered money, but Qin Sen refused.
He was going back to the Zisang family to seize their inheritance and wouldn't take his own money with him.
Qin Mother, uncharacteristically, started treating Zhang Dani well, which made Qin Da Niu's frequent travel between Salt County and the village less of a chore.
As the weather grew warmer, Grandma Qin resumed her strolls around the village, sometimes whispering with Uncle Qin Er. Qin Junyao always felt these two were plotting something.
Fu Zi and Qin Xiaoyu, besides frequently visiting the various young ones, focused on their studies. Their coursework naturally became more demanding as they aged.
Everyone had their tasks, but Qin Junyao was the busiest.
Spring planting was a major undertaking, and on top of that, she had to plant saxaul, desert willow, and red willows, establish a settlement, and care for the child…
"Ah~~" Qin Junyao stretched as she gazed out at the night sky, "Liu Yu, Liu Rong, leave the household chores to Hua Mian and the others. You two go get some rest. We need to go to Yushun Liu Village tomorrow."
Liu Yu moved her stiff neck, sorted the papers on the desk, and stood up, stretching her waist. "Madam, shall Liu Rong and I stay behind to guard the house?"
"No need. Lang Tou can sleep through the entire night now. Besides, we have the wet nurse. With so many people, we don't lack the two of you. Hurry and get some sleep, don't end up like me, losing hair by the handful."
Mentioning hair loss gave Qin Junyao a headache. Some of her hairstyles were no longer feasible due to her thinning hair.
"Madam, after Miss is weaned, taking some herbal medicine can help restore your hair," Liu Yu said, noticing the late hour and urging the already drowsy Liu Rong to bed.
Qin Junyao wiped her zither strings and prepared to climb onto the k'ang. She squeezed the small hand of little Lang Tou in her sleeping basket before lying down on the warm platform.
Feeling the heat radiating from beneath her, she let out a comfortable groan. The most comfortable moment of the day was when she lay on the heated k'ang.
After a moment of comfort, Qin Junyao's consciousness entered her spatial dimension. Others could sleep, but she couldn't. A large number of saplings awaited her cultivation, and she also had to grow grain for Zhao Liangcai. With grain, they could win battles…
The next morning, before dawn, two large carriages departed from the Zhao family's main gate, heading towards Yushun Liu Village.
Inside the carriage, Qin Junyao closed her eyes to rest, but her consciousness was actually cultivating grain in her spatial dimension. Liu Yu played with Lang Tou, who lay in a cradle that swayed with the carriage. The little one seemed quite content. Su Dan Novel Network.
Liu Rong, meanwhile, jotted down Madam's morning instructions on paper. With many tasks and few people, writing things down helped prevent forgetting.
Because Lang Tou was still very young and couldn't endure prolonged carriage rides, the carriages traveled intermittently. By the time they reached Yushun Liu Village, the sun was already high in the sky.
"Greetings, Madam."
"Greetings, Madam."
The stewards and servants stationed in Yushun Liu Village had been waiting for a long time. Upon seeing Qin Junyao disembark, they flocked to greet her.
"You've all worked hard. Go about your duties. I've brought some meat; let's have a good meal at noon."
"Thank you for your generosity, Madam."
"Thank you, Madam."
Qin Junyao smiled at their joyful departures, then turned to nod at Cheng Qian, the steward of Yushun Liu Village.
"Shall I take Madam to rest first?" Cheng Qian stepped forward when he saw Qin Junyao look at him, his tone less formal than the other servants, with a hint of flattery.
Cheng Qian was a former soldier who had retired due to injury. He was thirty-three years old and had lost his left hand. He was a management talent recommended by Deng Zuitui.
He had someone craft a wooden hand for him, which he kept hidden in his sleeve. Its color was almost identical to his skin tone, and at first glance, one wouldn't notice he was different from others.
Qin Junyao first looked towards the distance, then at Cheng Qian. "No need. Have someone take Liu Yu and the others to rest. You can show me around."
"Very well, Madam, please."
After Liu Yu left with little Lang Tou, Cheng Qian followed half a step behind Qin Junyao, introducing her to the surroundings. Liu Rong, Hua Mian, and Hua Yu trailed behind.
Yushun Liu Village had undergone significant changes in the past few months. The original houses had all been demolished and rebuilt according to a plan. The farmland had been divided into zones, and a portion was allocated for livestock farming, with many animal pens constructed.
"How far have the cave dwellings been built?" Qin Junyao stood in a pavilion, shielding her eyes with her hand as she looked towards the distant cave dwellings, asking Cheng Qian.
Cheng Qian pointed to indicate. "Madam, the eastern section has been completed. The western section is currently being fitted with window frames and doors. Furnishings like tables and chairs will take another two months to be fully prepared."
Calculating the time mentally, Qin Junyao nodded. She turned and said to Cheng Qian, "The construction schedule doesn't need to be too rushed. Completion by autumn is sufficient. However, the work must be meticulous, especially the details."
"These cave dwellings are meant for wealthy individuals. The style can showcase the rugged grandeur of our northwest, but it cannot be crude. They must feel that their money spent here is worthwhile."
"And these houses," Qin Junyao gestured to the rebuilt houses, "the interior furnishings must not be neglected. Any items displayed must be authentic."
"You need to oversee the procurement closely. If an item is of high quality but exceeds the budget, there's some room for flexibility."
Cheng Qian nodded at Qin Junyao, indicating he understood.
"Inform the procurement personnel that I don't expect them to be entirely free of greed, but excessive greed will not be tolerated."
After walking around the entire Yushun Liu Village, Qin Junyao showed no signs of fatigue, which made Cheng Qian glance at her with slight surprise.
He had heard quite a bit about the Madam from Deng Zuitui and had interacted with her during the construction of Yushun Liu Village. He hadn't expected the General's wife to have such stamina, unlike other sheltered ladies of noble households who couldn't even lift a shoulder pole or carry a burden.
This was natural. Ever since her postpartum recovery, Qin Junyao had resumed her morning exercises, practicing martial arts and dagger techniques.
She had a premonition that as more news of Zhao Liangcai's victories spread, she would attract more unwelcome attention.
By the time they finished touring the village, it was almost noon. The prepared dishes were laid out on the table.
"Tell everyone to go down and eat. You two, sit down and try some too," Qin Junyao said to Liu Yu, looking at the spread of dishes.
Once everyone else had left the room, Qin Junyao began to eat.
More than half of the dishes on the table were fish. It was spring, and the fish were full of roe, with fine, tender flesh, making them quite delicious.