Regarding the reason why Xiao Langtou didn't cry, Qin Junyao didn't discuss it further with Grandma Qin, as she didn't believe it in her heart.
However, years later, when Xiao Langtou fell ill with a strange ailment and slept without waking, and all renowned doctors and remedies were useless, she began to pray devoutly to the gods and seek out extraordinary individuals.
It was then that she truly understood the saying, 'She didn't believe in gods and spirits until she became a mother.'
.
After moving the pear tree, as thick as an arm, from the space and sending it to the fish farm, Qin Junyao took the token left by Zhao Liangcai and dispatched a portion of the salt lake troops as overseers.
They were to supervise the prisoners from the county yamen repairing the road from the fish farm to the northwest city.
To get rich, first build roads.
This approach not only eased the pressure on the county yamen, as it currently had no money.
Don't forget that Qingguo was still in civil war, and although the northwest city was spared the ravages of war, the lives of the people were not so easily restored.
Qin Junyao used these prisoners to build roads, and in addition to providing them with food and lodging, she also charged the county yamen a fee for labor. The magistrate was delighted to hand over the prisoners to Qin Junyao.
Secondly, road construction also created merit for the magistrate. No matter who built it, as long as it was within the jurisdiction of the magistrate, it was a sign of his effective governance.
Road construction also created many jobs, such as cooking, transporting food, and hiring nearby villagers when the construction was urgent, all of which could generate income for the local populace.
Qin Junyao was not stingy. She would not withhold money from the poor, and her education also forbade her from bullying the poor.
"Madam, road construction costs too much silver," Liu Rong murmured to Qin Junyao while calculating the accounts.
Qin Junyao changed Xiao Langtou's clothes, who was sweating from turning over, and smiled at Liu Rong, "Are you heartbroken over such a small amount of silver? I plan to build more than just this road; I want to repair the road leading to the northwest city as well."
"Ah?"
"Madam, a large section of that is a public road. Are we going to pay for its construction ourselves?" Liu Rong was shocked that her mistress intended to repair the public road too. Thinking of the silver that would be spent, she felt a pang of heartache.
"Mmm~~, Zhao Liangcai wrote to you the other day, you know?"
Liu Rong nodded without replying. Every time her mistress addressed the master by his given name, she didn't know how to respond.
"This letter mentioned your madam here, and his master praised me."
Liu Rong understood who this master was; it was the Fifth Prince supported by the master. But wasn't being praised a good thing?
"He praised me for being virtuous and dignified, for managing the household well, for my deep love for my husband, and for my capability in donating food and clothing to the army. These praises made me feel quite apprehensive, so it's better to spend money to avoid disaster."
"Besides, repairing the roads will also benefit us."
"Then," Liu Rong said, holding the ledger, "if we build another road, we'll have very little silver left on our books."
"Exactly, that's what I want, for there to be no silver on the books," Qin Junyao winked at Liu Rong with a mischievous smile, as if teasing a virtuous woman.
Liu Rong blushed instantly and lowered her head, turning her back to Qin Junyao and looking at the ledger again. Madam, why did she smile at her like that? It made her feel a little shy.
This action made Liu Rong put away her heartache over silver. She understood from her mistress's words that besides the money on the books, Madam had other funds.
This put her at ease. Although she didn't know where the money was kept, and Madam had used a large portion of her dowry, since Madam said she wanted no silver on the books, then all of it should be spent.
Qin Junyao did not expect that her actions this time would turn Liu Rong into an expert at spending money, giving her a feeling of being able to spend freely as if it wasn't her money.
Days passed as Qin Junyao continuously increased her investment in managing the desert, exchanging the farmers' inferior land for superior land, and gradually transforming the farmlands radiating outwards from Yangshu Village into superior farmlands.
The harvests of the common people increased, their lives improved, and consequently, public order and the local customs also slowly got better.
Road construction, building schools, digging canals, and building bridges, Qin Junyao never neglected any good deeds.
Time flew by, and five years passed.
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"My good sister, after a year and a half apart, you've certainly become quite plump," Ling Manshuang, who had regained her title as County Princess, teased Qin Junyao as she pulled her up from her bow.
Qin Junyao subconsciously touched her waist, which had grown three sizes larger, and could only look at Ling Manshuang, who was still as radiant and beautiful as ever, and pursed her lips in frustration.
What could she do? She wanted to be thin too.
"Just kidding. My sister is still very beautiful. Hurry and take me to see my little nephew, Tie Pen, hahaha!" At this point, Ling Manshuang couldn't help but laugh again.
She remembered how loudly she had laughed when she received Qin Junyao's letter saying that Xiao Langtou had named her second younger brother Tie Pen. This reminded her of the nickname Xiao Langtou had given her eldest younger brother, Tie Guo.
And when she thought of their father, named Chui Zi, their second uncle, named Fu Zi, and their sister, named Lang Tou, Ling Manshuang laughed uncontrollably.
Qin Junyao helplessly dismissed the attendants and took Ling Manshuang to her room to see Zhao's third son, who was lying in the cradle.
In the past five years, Qin Junyao had not neglected making money, planting trees for afforestation, or having children.
It was all thanks to her fertile body. As Grandma Qin put it, "It's fortunate you and Chui Zi don't meet often. Otherwise, if you had one child a year, you wouldn't have a moment's rest."
"This child really looks like you," Ling Manshuang reached out and poked Tie Pen's face. The little fellow wrinkled his nose and continued to sleep.
"The eldest and second sons are exactly like Zhao Liangcai. At least one should resemble me. Sister, you've had a long journey, please sit down," Qin Junyao poured tea and invited Ling Manshuang.
Ling Manshuang was indeed a bit thirsty. After drinking half a cup of tea, she looked around the room and asked, "Is everything packed?"
"Everything is packed, and we can move anytime. However, after living here for so long, I'm truly reluctant to leave."
"You must move into the prince's mansion bestowed by the Emperor. However, if you wish to return, just give an order, and the servants will prepare for you."
Ling Manshuang held Qin Junyao's hand and said, "Sister, we can move into the prince's mansion later, but we cannot delay our departure for the imperial city any longer."
"Although the enthronement ceremony is to be held in half a year, the travel time, plus the time for learning court etiquette and attending the ceremony, will take more than a few months."
"Brother-in-law is the first non-royal prince to be enfeoffed after the new Emperor's enthronement. You will have to interact with the ladies of various families, and if we don't leave soon, there will be insufficient time."
"But don't worry, with sister here, no one will be able to bully you."
Qin Junyao held Ling Manshuang's hand back and said, "Sister, I'm not afraid of these things. In the past few years, I've also interacted with many officials, gentry, and merchants, and I've naturally met their wives. I'm familiar with genuine affection, covert rivalries, and flattery."
"I've even encountered assassination attempts multiple times, and I've been on the verge of death twice."
She tightened her grip on Ling Manshuang's hand. "Sister, you know that Zhao Liangcai holds considerable military power. Not only was he enfeoffed as a prince, but the four cities in the northwest were also granted to him as his domain."
"I'm afraid, I'm afraid my children will be left behind as companions for the prince."