Chapter 70: Not Short of Money

Chapter 70: Chapter 70: Not Short of Money

Gu Qingli added, “We’ll add a bit more land next year, and continue to increase it year by year. I want to become the largest grower of medicinal materials in the Daqian Kingdom.”

Xiao Yunjing had a sudden idea. “Why don’t we buy a few farming estates tomorrow?”

There was still time to plant seedlings. His men had all been transferred over and were currently building a base in the Azure Dragon Mountain Range; he could have them gather materials locally and dig up seedlings in the mountains.

Gu Qingli frowned. “Will there be enough time?”

Buying farming estates was possible, as she wasn’t short of money now; the only issues were time and manpower.

Xiao Yunjing whispered something in her ear.

“What?” Gu Qingli exclaimed.

“Why move the headquarters here?”

It’s so deep in the mountains; how are we supposed to take on missions?

Seeing her confusion, Xiao Yunjing explained, “It’s simple. I’ve set up new posts in every county and in the Capital City. From now on, accepting missions won’t be like before, where we took every single one that came our way.

I’ve laid down some rules: we do not kill women, children, or loyal officials.

Additionally, I’ve set up a department dedicated to intelligence gathering. We can also provide information to those who need it.

You know, those high officials, dignitaries, and martial arts world factions have a huge demand for this, and it’s even more profitable than assassinations.”

In fact, by doing this, he could also obtain a lot of first-hand information, even top-secret news. He’d be able to understand the movements of that person in the palace and the activities of other nations at the earliest opportunity. He had his reasons for moving the headquarters deep into the mountains: he planned to build an elite army. With his experience in training troops and warfare, he could have them ready in no more than five years. If one isn’t fully prepared, even if you don’t go looking for trouble, trouble will eventually find you.

Gu Qingli tapped his forehead and said, “You’re not so slow after all!”

This fellow, looking so big and rough, like a simple man from the mountains, always did things that surprised her.

Xiao Yunjing caught her hand, kissed it, and asked with narrowed eyes, “Is that so? Did Li’er think I was incredibly foolish before?”

“Not foolish, just a bit scary, alright?”

That was how he appeared in the original host’s memories; she always hid far away whenever she saw Xiao Yunjing. Then again, the original host’s personality was to be afraid of everyone.

“Scary? Am I scary?” Xiao Yunjing pressed closer to Gu Qingli with a wicked smile.

“No, no, no, you’re bad!” Gu Qingli immediately dove under the covers.

“Bad, am I? Then let your husband show you just how bad he can be,” Xiao Yunjing said, slipping under the covers too.

Before long, harmonious sounds drifted from beneath the quilt.

「The next day, Gu Qingli got up late. By the time she woke up, it was already close to noon.」

Ms. Yang was washing clothes. Seeing Gu Qingli only just getting up, she couldn’t help teasing, “Third Sister-in-law, do you need Eldest Sister-in-law to help you walk?”

“Oh, please! You think someone else wasn’t thoroughly ’handled’?” Gu Qingli retorted, pulling up a stool to help. Her eyes then caught a glimpse of a hickey on Ms. Yang’s neck.

“You wicked girl, getting bold, are you?” Ms. Yang lightly tickled her waist.

“HAHAHA… I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare!” Gu Qingli leaped away, begging for mercy. She was extremely ticklish.

Ms. Yang said with a wicked grin, “Hmph! I’ll have Third Brother deal with you tonight until you can’t get out of bed.”

“HEHE… The feeling’s mutual! When Yunjing gets back, I’ll tell him Eldest Sister-in-law was bullying me. We’ll see how Eldest Brother ’deals’ with you then! KEKEKE…” Gu Qingli laughed, looking incredibly sly.

“Come here,” Ms. Yang beckoned with her hand.

“No way.” Gu Qingli gave her a smile and went to the kitchen to help.

Ever since Ms. Yang and Ms. Wang learned Gu Qingli’s cooking methods, Gu Qingli herself rarely had to enter the kitchen.

“Second Sister-in-law, is there anything I can help with?” Gu Qingli asked as she entered.

Ms. Wang smiled and said, “Tend the fire.”

“Alright.”

Gu Qingli plopped down in front of the stove opening and began to stoke the fire.

“Second Sister-in-law, where are Father and Mother?”

She hadn’t seen the old couple while they were fooling around earlier. Otherwise, how would they have dared to be so boisterous?

“They went to the fields. Said they wanted to learn how to farm.”

“They really want to be farmers now?” Gu Qingli was taken aback.

Wow, the esteemed great general is actually retiring to the fields for real!

“I don’t know. Father usually doesn’t like to go out, but he left very early today.”

“They probably want to experience a farmer’s life. It’s hard work, you know.” Gu Qingli tutted.

It’s not just theory; it requires actual experience.

Ms. Wang chuckled softly.

Farming was indeed exhausting. Back when she was a young lady from a prominent family, she never imagined she’d one day end up in a village, become a farmer’s wife, and do farm work. These past few days, she’d ached from the hard work, but it was an invigorating kind of soreness. However, the countryside had its advantages: fresh air, unpretentious villagers, and none of the city folk’s convoluted ways. Life here was more relaxed, more liberating. Just look at the easygoing banter and playful teasing between Eldest Sister-in-law and Third Sister-in-law moments ago. How could they dare to act like that in the Capital City? They’d long have been branded as improper.

“Third Sister-in-law, it’s almost ready. Why don’t you go to the fields and call Father, Mother, and the others back for the meal?”

“Alright.”

Gu Qingli stood up, patted the dust off her clothes, and headed towards the fields.

The fields, three large adjoining plots, were near Clearwater River. When Gu Qingli arrived, Mr. Xiao and Ms. Jiang were indeed standing on the field bund, watching.

Their eyes were fixed on the three men in the field sowing seeds.

Gu Qingli walked closer and saw that the three brothers had already finished sowing grain seeds in one field and were starting on the second.

Gu Qingli called out, “Father, Mother, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Yunjing, it’s time to eat!”

“Oh? Third Brother’s wife, you’re here! Alright.” Ms. Jiang turned, nodded at her, picked up the water kettle from the ground, and nudged Mr. Xiao. Mr. Xiao then shouldered the manure bucket, and the two of them headed off first.

The three men in the field stopped, straightened up, and carrying the remaining grain seeds, the four of them started walking back.

There wasn’t much water in the fields now, just enough to keep the rice seeds moist.

When the three brothers reached the riverbank, they washed their feet and put on their shoes.

Gu Qingli waited by the side, and her eyes happened to fall on Xiao Yunjing as he stood up. He was wearing short, practical clothes today, his hair tied up high. His long, thick eyebrows were slightly arched. Water droplets from his recent face wash glistened on his well-defined nose. His somewhat narrow black eyes sparkled, and a smile played on his slightly thin, pursed lips. His tall, sturdy, and rugged figure stood like a pine tree by the river, exuding an air of indescribable magnificence.

Eldest Brother Xiao and Second Brother Xiao were hardly outshone by Xiao Yunjing.

Xiao Yunjing came over, held Gu Qingli’s hand, and said, “Let’s go.”

Gu Qingli nodded and followed him home.

Eldest Brother Xiao and Second Brother Xiao followed behind, already quite used to their third brother and his wife’s public displays of affection as they watched the couple holding hands intimately.

Truth be told, women rather enjoyed being treated this way by their men. Both brothers would occasionally emulate their third brother. Though their wives might feign annoyance, their hearts would be secretly pleased. By making their wives happy, their own “benefits” naturally increased.

Second Brother Xiao even found himself thinking about when he might have a daughter to make their mother happy.

Their mother had only borne them, two boys. Their paternal aunt also had sons, making for a trio of little rascals. Mother often grumbled about how much she disliked them, saying how wonderful it would have been if they were girls.

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