"Sister, because of his germaphobia, his maternal grandparents specially built a courtyard to raise livestock. His third uncle likes dogs so much that he's sent them to Salt Lake now."
"Alas," Qin Junyao sighed. Having germaphobia in ancient times must be a death sentence. If the family didn't have so many servants, they wouldn't be able to raise such a child.
"No wonder Tie Guo wore a white outfit. I was wondering why they didn't dress the child in a more festive color," Ling Manshuang said, understanding dawning on her. "Anything else?"
Compared to her elder daughter's overt troublemaking, her elder son's subtle mischief was even more of a headache for Qin Junyao.
Things like deliberately letting children he disliked bully him, only for those children to be beaten by either Xiao Langtou or his own family.
Things like him using candy to lure village children into fetching water for him, so he could wash his hands frequently.
Things like skillfully using his tears and the advantage of his young age to make the household servants hide his mistakes from her...
"Sister, he's only three years old! He's too adept at using tactics that soften adults' hearts. I can endure it, but his maternal grandparents, uncles, aunts, the servants, and the steward, alas~"
Mentioning her children, Qin Junyao couldn't stop. She spoke until her throat was dry, and after sighing, she chugged half a cup of tea.
Ling Manshuang tapped the table with her finger. "Tie Guo is three, so he should start his studies, right? Find him a tutor."
"A tutor? The Zheng family tutor who tutors Fu Zi..."
"No, no, no," Ling Manshuang interrupted Qin Junyao. "I have a good candidate: Bai Qing."
"Why not let Tie Guo recognize Bai Qing as his godfather? Bai Qing will never marry and have children himself. I hear Tie Guo is very intelligent, so Bai Qing's information network would be perfect for him."
The more Ling Manshuang spoke, the better she thought her idea was. "Even if he doesn't want the information network, Bai Qing's family fortune is considerable."
Seeing Qin Junyao looking dazed, Ling Manshuang slapped the table. "It's settled for now. When we get to the imperial city, you can discuss it with your husband."
"What a great idea! Bai Qing is exceptionally learned. He always wears white, so Tie Guo will surely like him."
"You probably don't know this, but Bai Qing and your third uncle are now called the 'Peerless Twin Heroes' and are highly sought after. Oh, and your grandmother's civilian band has already made a name for themselves in the imperial city..."
Qin Junyao didn't know how the conversation had shifted from discussing children to imperial city gossip. She listened, utterly bewildered and her head spinning.
That evening, a welcoming banquet was held for Ling Manshuang. After drinking quite a bit, Ling Manshuang retired early to the adjacent room. Qin Junyao lay on the heated brick bed, unable to sleep.
The children were with their wet nurse, so Qin Junyao's room was empty at night, allowing her to enter her space freely.
Tonight, she didn't enter her space to work or practice her zither. She simply stared at the ceiling, lost in thought.
They were really leaving, heading to the imperial city.
.
"Mother, are we really going to find Father again?" After breakfast, Xiao Langtou, having heard the latest news, hopped up and asked Qin Junyao.
"Yes," Qin Junyao replied while adjusting Tie Guo's pants.
"Can we see Third Granduncle? And Uncle Bai?"
"Yes."
"Hooray! I get to see Third Granduncle! La la la la!" Xiao Langtou was overjoyed at the thought of seeing Qin Sen.
Qin Junyao hugged Tie Guo and gently pinched his chubby cheeks. She then asked Xiao Langtou, who was twirling in place, "Are you happier to see your Third Granduncle than your Father?" Do you even remember what your Third Granduncle looks like?"
"Of course, I'm happy to see Father. I'd be even happier if he could shave his beard," Xiao Langtou turned and pounced into Qin Junyao's arms. "Mother, I saw my Third Granduncle and Uncle Bai yesterday."
"Oh?" Qin Junyao reached out and pulled Xiao Langtou onto her lap. "Where did you see them?"
Xiao Langtou covered her mouth and giggled. "Hehe, Auntie gave me a portrait. It was very handsome."
Qin Junyao smiled and playfully tapped Xiao Langtou's forehead. What a little flirt. She then placed her son and daughter on the ground and instructed, "Things will be a bit busy at home these days, so you must not go anywhere alone. Always have someone with you, understand?"
Seeing the two children nod, Qin Junyao continued, "Your Auntie is resting today, so don't disturb her. Also, don't make Tie Pen cry. Yu Qi, don't sneak meat. Qi Rui, don't let anyone else clean the rabbit house for you..."
"Mother, Mother, Tie Guo and I understand!" Xiao Langtou didn't want Qin Junyao to keep lecturing, so she quickly pushed Qin Junyao toward the door. "Hurry and go check on the shelterbelt. If you're any later, you won't be back in time for dinner."
"Goodbye, Mother," Tie Guo followed his sister and said goodbye directly to Qin Junyao.
These two little rascals.
As moving to the Northwest City and going to the imperial city were happening simultaneously, Qin Junyao left Liu Rong and Liu Yu at home to make arrangements. She herself took Hua Mian and Hua Yu, who had been promoted to head maids.
Inspecting the shelterbelts and the saxaul forests in the Gobi was something Qin Junyao did periodically.
Even though it required a whole day or even longer, Qin Junyao still persisted.
Looking at the wild grass growing within the shelterbelt, the Artemisia covering the soil-stabilizing grids in the saxaul forest, and the gravel trapped by these plants, Qin Junyao always felt an immense surge of pride.
She could make this land greener, more beautiful, and more bountiful.
"Madam Yao, off to see the red willow forest again?" A villager, driving a cart loaded with saxaul saplings, greeted Qin Junyao as they passed her carriage.
"Yes, where are you taking those saxaul trees to plant?" Qin Junyao was happy to chat with the villagers.
"To the Gobi to the north. The watering wasn't done well recently, and many saplings died. I'm going to replant them."
"Madam Yao, this year I planted twenty mu of saxaul with my son. Please don't forget to find a good young man for my daughter."
"Don't worry," Qin Junyao gestured for the driver to yield, allowing the villager to pass first.
As the saying goes, poverty breeds cunning, wealth cultivates compassion.
The villagers of Yangshu Village were no longer the poor people who once gathered to coerce the Qin family for a well, or sold their children for food.
Now, with Qin Junyao's help, having enough to eat and wear was no longer a difficult task.
Who among those who grew up on this northwestern land didn't love this yellow earth? When they could finally eat, no matter how hard or tiring it was, they would desperately plant trees for the sake of their descendants having green waters and lush mountains, asking for nothing in return.
Hua Mian pulled the curtains of the carriage window tighter so Qin Junyao could see outside better. "Madam, no one calls you Madam General anymore. They call you Madam Yao."
"Madam Yao sounds quite good too. Hua Mian, is the matchmaking event starting again this year?" Qin Junyao, remembering the villager's words, asked Hua Mian. Sudan Novel Network
"There's still half a month. This year, over fifty more people have signed up than last year. Hua Qing said many people from Northwest City have also come."
Qin Junyao chuckled. "Back then, I just wanted the soldiers at Salt Lake to be able to marry wives. Now..."
She stopped speaking mid-sentence, suddenly hearing someone call her from outside the carriage, "Madam Yao, is that Madam Yao's carriage ahead?"