Chapter 123: The Farmstead

Chapter 123

After entering the Duke's Mansion, seeing this mansion that was like a maze with winding corridors and scenic bridges, rockeries and flowing water, pavilions and towers that seemed to have everything, it was just like they had entered the land where immortals lived.

Old Man Jiang and Madam Hu still lived in Jiale Hall.

Jiang Yujiang lived in Qiuming Courtyard, while Jiang Wenkang and his wife were arranged to live in Qingfeng Hall to the west of Yin'an Courtyard in front of Qiuming Courtyard.

After days of rushing on the road, everyone casually ate something and then went to rest. At night, Lu arranged a sumptuous banquet to welcome Jiang's parents and sister-in-law.

The Jiang family was not particular about "no talking while eating," so everyone chatted while eating.

Lu and Jiang Wenyuan told them about things in the capital for them, while Lin and Jiang Wenkang talked about things at home.

The two old men got drunk and started exchanging banter and talking nonsense.

Old Man Jiang slurred, "You old fella, my good girl was so young when you took her away. I miss her and can’t even see her!"

Doctor Qiu was not to be outdone. "What? She was clearly my apprentice. My most outstanding apprentice! In the future, when I die, I still want to pass on the position of Valley Master to her! What do you have? You're just a nobody!"

Old Man Jiang was angry. He staggered up, grabbed a roast chicken by the tail, plucked off the tip, and stuffed it into Doctor Qiu's mouth. "I have chicken butt. I'll choke you to death!"

Doctor Qiu chewed and swallowed the tail tip, poured wine for him, and mumbled, "That’s all you’re capable of. This old man won't lower himself to your level to compete."

Jiang Yuqing was afraid they would start fighting, so she quickly called her brothers over to help escort each back to their own courtyards to rest.

It is often said that the elderly become like children again. Once these old fellas go crazy, they are even harder to deal with than three-year-old kids.

Jiang Wenyuan asked how they were delayed for such a long time on the road this trip.

Jiang Wenkang said with frustration, "Don't even mention it! It was extremely unlucky this time going out. Just after getting to Jizhou, the Jizhou Bridge collapsed. We waited outside Jizhou city for three or four days until it was repaired.

We had no choice but to take a detour via Huzhou. Who would have thought we ran into a mountain collapse that blocked the road, delaying us for another half month! Otherwise, we would have arrived long ago!"

Jiang Wenyuan frowned. "You mean the Jizhou Bridge collapsed?"

"Yes, the Jizhou Bridge. That large arch bridge with twelve arches, the middle three collapsed. Even though the waters weren't high, how could it have collapsed?"

Jiang Wenyuan gave a cold laugh, "How else could it collapse? It must have been man-made disaster!

The Ministry of Revenue had specially allocated funds last November for repairs. For it to collapse this year before the flood season even arrived, I fear that bridge repair money must have gone into certain people’s pockets again."

Furthermore, Jizhou is not far from the capital. For the news to be kept from reaching us for so long, it was mostly covered up by the local Jizhou officials.

They really have some guts and skill. It looks like that Jizhou area needs to be shaken up again.

As for big brother's wedding, the elders can handle that.

Jiang Yuqing's days proceeded normally. During this time, she also attended a flower viewing at Princess Ronghua's residence upon invitation.

Unlike last time when she was challenged and provoked everywhere, this time all the noblewomen of the capital were vying to fawn over her, the popular and highly sought after figure.

And not only because of her current status and position, but also because she had a uniquely outstanding and multi talented elder brother.

It was quite inexplicable.

On the first day of the fifth month, Guan Dacheng opened his grocery store for business. Jiang Yuqing personally prepared gifts and went to congratulate him in a grand manner, precisely in order to deter the local ruffians around, making it clear that this family had backing so they better not cross the line.

The fence around the wasteland had been built with the water supply also channeled in. The buildings and furniture were also completed, just finishing up some miscellaneous matters. It was ready to recruit people.

But Jiang Yuqing really had no manpower she could use, so she reluctantly went to find Jing Yan.

After hearing her out, Jing Yan brought her directly to see Old General Qin.

Moreover, the wages provided were so generous. Medical care was also available when ill.

Even able-bodied people would have trouble finding such good treatment. How could they have any objections?

The steward that Old General Qin found for them was originally a centurion under his command whose integrity was absolutely trustworthy.

Before enlisting in the army, he had studied under old tutor Laotong's father for two years. Later his family declined, and he had no choice but to enlist.

Among the veterans, he was one of those rare talents with both literacy and prestige.

He lost his left arm in a battle. Along with the large scar on his face, he looked extremely fierce, enough to make children cry.

But this did not prevent Jiang Yuqing from admiring him. Heroes deserve respect!

Seeing that everyone was willing to go, Jiang Yuqing was also relieved. She asked them to wait here for one more day while she went to retrieve the things she had previously ordered to take to the farmstead to settle them in.

After returning to the city, Jiang Yuqing immediately hired a team of carriages and first went back to the residence to haul two carriages of rice, then went to the granary to buy some coarse grains and flour.

She then went to the shops in Guan Dacheng to load up on supplies for daily living, and finally went to the Silk Shop to retrieve the customized beddings she ordered.

Thinking of those veterans in tattered clothes, Jiang Yuqing felt that she had bought enough and additionally purchased two sets of new garments for each person. She also bought scissors and ten sewing kits.

The clothes would definitely not fit everyone, so providing sewing kits would allow them to alter the clothes themselves. They could also use the kits to mend any tears in the future.

This was not a joke. Jiang Yuqing had personally witnessed many injured soldiers sewing and patching up their own clothes very decently while recovering in the barracks.

It was understandable. Da Xia's generals governed the military strictly. There were no women, let alone prostitutes, in the camps.

Whether it was daily training or battles, clothes were inevitably damaged.

Due to limited military funding, each soldier was provided only two sets of clothes per season. If torn, they could only mend them themselves. Wanting new replacements was wishful thinking.

Over time, they had all mastered decent sewing skills, certainly better than her.

After buying these items, Jiang Yuqing happened to pass by the vegetable market and stopped to buy half a slab of pork and piles of fruits, vegetables, and melons.

Seeing glutinous rice dumplings for sale, she suddenly remembered that tomorrow would be the Dragon Boat Festival, so she also bought a basket of them.

Jiang Yuqing led her long line of carriages and transported all the items to the farmstead.

After unloading, she made an appointment with the drivers to come to the general's manor early tomorrow morning to bring people here, before giving each some money as tips and sending them away.

Looking at the warehouse full of supplies, Jiang Yuqing heaved a huge sigh of relief.

Because of the warm weather, she was worried the meat would spoil. She poured it into a large vat, added ice cubes to freeze it, covered it, and placed it in the shallow mountain stream she had diverted to the door. This would slow down the melting of the ice.

The vegetables, fruits and melons could keep for two to three days without any special handling.

That night after returning home, Jiang Yuqing told her family that she would not be able to join them in watching the dragon boat race tomorrow afternoon.

When asked about the reason, Jiang Wenyuan only then found out that in just over a month, his daughter had already accomplished this much, and he felt both heartache and pride.

He patted his daughter on the head and said, "Go on, take a few more people to help you. If there's anything you can't handle, come back home and ask Dad. Dad will figure something out for you!"

"Thank you, Dad!" Jiang Yuqing buried her head in her father's arms and nuzzled it, sighing that having family support really felt great.

The next day, when Jing Yan came to pick up Jiang Yuqing to watch the dragon boat race, he was unsurprised to find her missing.

Upon asking, he learned that the girl had gone to her maternal grandfather's farmstead at the break of dawn to receive people.

He pondered silently for a moment before instructing his guards, "Let's go to her farmstead!"