Military camp
"Sir, those barbarians have been driven back. The captains of each army are preparing to bring their men back. The military doctors have counted the number of injured and it's better than we expected." Guard Captain Cheng said, "This battle is really satisfying." After fighting for more than 20 days, the barbarians were forced to retreat hundreds of miles. If the prince hadn't said that they should not be forced into a dead end, he really wanted to order people to continue fighting.
Upon hearing this, the Prince couldn't help but smile. "We seized the opportunity well in this battle and made preparations in advance. General Ao led his men to raid the barbarians' lair. How could they not be anxious?"
As a general, the prince was stationed in the rear. In fact, he also wanted to go to the battlefield. After all, waiting for news in the military camp was not as exciting as fighting on the battlefield.
Chief Guard Cheng: "It would be great if we could just take down the barbarian tribe."
The prince shook his head, "No. The Barbarians are nomadic and have no fixed territory. They have only lived next to Yongzhou for the past few decades. They are different from our Qi State. Our Qi State's territory is here and there is no way to move it. If they are forced into a corner, they will leave their hometown. They have no feelings for the territory outside Yongzhou. They attacked Yongzhou and tested it again and again because they were eyeing Qi State's supplies. If they are forced into a corner, they will leave their hometown, then break up into small groups, retaliate against us, and come to the county town in hiding. Then Yongzhou will suffer.
This is also the reason why my Ni family has been stationed here for decades without actually engaging in a bloody massacre with the Barbarians. The Barbarians' repeated attempts are simply to harass us, forcing us to compromise and hand over half of Yongzhou's power to them."
Chief Guard Cheng said in a cold voice: "That's just wishful thinking. They want half of Yongzhou, but they want the territory of our Qi Kingdom. The barbarians don't understand etiquette and don't know what territory means to us." Handing over half of the territory would be a shame for the court and the emperor.
The prince nodded. "Originally, we could get along amicably and Yongzhou could open up to the outside world as long as they paid appropriate taxes. However, they disagree. They think paying taxes is a scam."
Chief Guard Cheng: "They are indeed barbarians. They will regret it one day."
Family Compound
Uncle Hong shouted at the door with full energy: "The master is back... The master is back..." The voice spread throughout the whole house.
Yang Haiyan also heard Uncle Hong's voice and hurried out of the main courtyard. Aunt Lian followed her, not forgetting to tease, "Uncle Hong has a really loud voice." Uncle Hong's son was already ten months old, having come to the Qin family three months ago. He'd been well-fed in those three months, with a bowl of goat's milk every day, making the little boy plump and plump. Since he'd recovered, he'd stopped working at the pastry shop with Aunt Hong and stayed at the Qianfu Mansion, cared for by Uncle Hong. Whenever Uncle Hong went out to mow the lawn, he'd take the child with him.
Yang Haiyan: "That's right. Uncle Hong's leg is almost healed. The doctor said it's healing well and he'll be fully recovered in two months." But he still couldn't do any strenuous work in the fields. The couple worked for three months, paying 200 wen a month. They received a 200 wen monthly allowance and didn't buy anything except clothes for the children. They were very frugal.
Qin Fang gave the horse to Uncle Hong and went to the main courtyard, where he met Yang Haiyan on the way.
Yang Haiyan was startled when she saw Qin Fang. His face was dirty and messy, with a hint of beard. His clothes were torn, and worse still, the color of his clothes looked like they had water stains.
Of course, Yang Haiyan knew that water stains wouldn't remain on this kind of clothing because once the water dried, there would be no trace. Besides, the man was going to the battlefield, so... it could only be blood. She hurriedly asked, "Are you bleeding? Or are you injured somewhere? Aunt Lian, go get a doctor."
Aunt Lian: "Yes."
Qin Fang held Yang Haiyan close and said, "Don't worry, I'm fine. It's just a minor injury. The blood is from someone else."
Nanny Lian looked at Yang Haiyan.
Yang Haiyan said, "Go and ask Doctor Wang to check on the master, regardless of whether he is injured or not."
Aunt Lian: "Yes."
As soon as Aunt Lian left, Yang Haiyan took him back to the main courtyard, still worriedly asking, "Are these really just minor injuries? Aren't those bloodstains yours? Take off your clothes and let me see."
A month had passed since the man left and she felt uneasy every day. After all, he was just a passerby and something could happen to him at any time. Although in the plot, the male protagonist was still alive even when he was old, the current situation was different from the previous plot. Who knew...
Qin Fang comforted her: "Really, I swear, I'm really fine. These are just minor injuries and the bloodstains are from the barbarians. I'll go take a shower first, and then I'll show you."
Seeing that he looked tired but not pale, Yang Haiyan thought he might be telling the truth: "Then be careful when you shower. Don't let the soapy water touch the wound. Just rub it gently with warm water." While alkaline water can eliminate some toxins and bacteria, it can also be irritating. And since the wound hadn't healed yet, he couldn't shower anyway.
Qin Fang: "Well, I will pay attention."
In reality, Qin Fang hadn't paid any attention. He hadn't showered in a month and his body was already stinking. He wanted to rub his entire body with soap to prevent his wife from getting sick. But, as his wife had said, the soapy water really hurt when it touched the wound, a piercing pain.
When Qin Fang came out of the shower, Yang Haiyan frowned: "Why do you look so pale after taking a shower? Is it because your face was dirty just now and I didn't see your complexion clearly?" His face was obviously not pale just now.
Qin Fang: "..." His heart was pounding, worried about being scolded. His face was pale, the sting of the soapy water. Although he had no serious injuries, he had a lot of minor bruises.
Yang Haiyan held him back and said, "Sit down and take off your clothes so I can see. You must have a big wound on your body. Did you hurt it when you were taking a shower?"
Qin Fang quickly shook his head. He felt like he was doomed.
Yang Haiyan twitched her nose: "Did you use soap?" She smelled so good, what else could it be but soap? Suddenly, she narrowed her eyes, "Didn't you say not to use soap? Soapy water will irritate the wound."
Qin Fang looked at her innocently: "I forgot."
If he hadn't just said that and he had solemnly promised to pay attention, she would have actually believed him. But it was this innocent look that made Yang Haiyan feel pitiful and cute.
At that moment, Nanny Lian's voice rang out in the courtyard: "Madam, Doctor Wang is here."
Yang Haiyan: "Take Doctor Wang to the study."
Aunt Lian: "Yes."
There was a long wooden couch in the study for Qin Fang to rest on. When Doctor Wang came in, Yang Haiyan said warmly, "Doctor Wang, I'm so sorry to have you come here."
Doctor Wang quickly said, "No, no, madam, you are too polite." He was just a commoner, so how could he dare ask the wife of a seventh-rank official to be so polite? However, he felt comfortable because this Mrs. Qin was always polite when they met. "Madam, sir, I will just check it for you."
Qin Fang: "Thank you for your help."
Doctor Wang first took Qin Fang's pulse, then had him undress and examine his wounds. In fact, while taking his pulse, he had already confirmed that Qin Fang was healthy, except for being a little tired. He just needed a good rest. Later, he looked at his wounds again. There were indeed no major wounds, but there were several minor ones.
Yang Haiyan: "Doctor, is his wound inflamed? It looks a little red."
Doctor Wang: "No, the wound is not inflamed. The master's wound is red, probably because he bathed too vigorously. I will prepare some medicine for him and Madam, please apply it for a few days. It will be fine."
Yang Haiyan: "Thank you, doctor. Aunt Lian, please send someone to go with Doctor Wang to get the medicine."
Qin Fang nodded, feeling puzzled. It turned out the pain in his wound wasn't from the soap and water, but from him showering too vigorously. But... he had to wash himself more thoroughly, right?
Aunt Lian: "Yes."
Qin Fang and Yang Haiyan were the only ones in the study. He immediately stood up from the long wooden couch and said, "Um... I'm a little hungry." It was not a glorious thing to hurt the wound by taking a shower too vigorously.
Yang Haiyan wanted to laugh at him, but she thought about how hard he must have worked after not coming back for a month, so she said, "You take a rest. I'll go find some food."
Qin Fang: "Yeah." Go quickly and let him calm down.
Aunt Fan was in the dim sum shop and there was no one in the kitchen, so Yang Haiyan had to do it herself. When Nanny Lian came back and saw that Yang Haiyan was not in the main courtyard, she went to the kitchen again and saw her busy. Nanny Lian hurriedly said, "Madam, I am here."
Yang Haiyan: "No, I haven't cooked for him in a long time. I can do it myself."
Upon hearing this, Nanny Lian went to light a fire.
Yang Haiyan kneaded the dough, cut some pickled cabbage and bacon and fried two eggs. Half an hour later, the noodles were ready. She took the noodles to the study and saw Qin Fang dozing off. A bottle of liquid medicine was placed on the desk beside him.
Qin Fang said, "Doctor Wang's medicine has arrived."
Yang Haiyan put the noodles down: "Take off your clothes, I will apply it for you."
Qin Fang: "Yeah." He took off his shirt and ate while enjoying his wife's care. It felt really good.
After Yang Haiyan applied the medicine to him, she sat beside him and asked curiously, "How was the battle last time?"
Qin Fang: "It went very smoothly. We were well prepared, so there were few casualties. We taught the barbarians a lesson this time. I believe they won't be tempted to attack again in the short term. However, due to the young master's incident, the security in and out of the county will be more stringent."
Yang Haiyan: "It's better to be more rigorous. It has nothing to do with us anyway."
Qin Fang thought about it and agreed. It would be convenient for them to enter and exit the county town with their identities.
Yang Haiyan looked at his profile, his mouth puffing up as he ate. She thought for a moment and asked, "Husband, do you like the military camp? Do you like being a general?"
Qin Fang didn't know what she meant by asking this, thinking it was just a casual chat, so he said frankly: "When I first came to serve in the army, I didn't like it. I thought about my family every day and even felt that this military service was ruining us. In fact, it's not just me. I think most people don't like military service. After five years of military service, many people are determined to go there without hesitation." So when he left home that year, he found his second brother and had a good talk with him for a whole night.
Yang Haiyan: "What happened later?"
Qin Fang thought back to every detail of the past five years, then chuckled, "I later found it quite interesting. If I hadn't come to serve in the army, I would probably have been farming or hunting in that village. But after coming here, my thoughts gradually changed, especially after going to the battlefield. It was like I grew up and became more sensible."
Yang Haiyan: "I understand." So now, he likes the military. A few days ago, Yang Haiyan briefly considered not joining the army at all. After the five years of service were up, they could return to Qin Fang's hometown. For the two of them, living a stable life in Qin Fang's hometown would be simple. They had money and they weren't clueless. They didn't seek wealth, just health and happiness.
However, after hearing him say this, she couldn't say that. Because everyone has the right to pursue power, she couldn't let him give up his pursuit because of her.
Yang Haiyan breathed a sigh of relief.
Qin Fang sensitively noticed that she was a little disappointed: "What's wrong with you? But what did I say wrong?"
Yang Haiyan smiled and shook her head: "No..." After a pause, she continued, "I'm just afraid that you'll be in danger. I'm very worried."
Qin Fang put down his chopsticks after hearing this, and then held her hand: "Don't worry, no matter what the situation is, I will always keep my safety in mind. I still want to have a child with you."
Yang Haiyan was so amused when she heard this. "Man, did he even remember giving birth?"
When Qin Fang came back this time, he rested at home for several days and then returned to the military camp. Until the end of February, his five-year military service was completed, which brought him a one-month vacation.
Yang Haiyan was in the room at this time, looking at the boxes of things that had been sorted. She asked Aunt Lian to open them again: "Aunt Lian, take another look. Is there anything that was missed?"
Nanny Lian said, "You are just too concerned and confused. Everything is here. One box is full of furs, one box is full of cloth, one box is your things, and one box is for the adults' things. If you need anything else, after you get there, you can take the Qin family to the county town to buy them."
After all, no one has seen them before and many things are hard to buy.
Yang Haiyan smiled and said, "Before, I thought that an ugly daughter-in-law would have to meet her parents-in-law anyway, so what's the point? But now that the time has come, I'm really nervous."
Nanny Lian also laughed: "Looking at your usual calm demeanor, I always forget that you are only seventeen years old. A moment ago, you acted like a seventeen-year-old girl."
Yang Haiyan also let her joke: "Next time you go back, I won't bring any servants with me. I'll leave the house to you. If the private guards' family members come, they'll be arranged in the newly built servants' suite over there. Then, you can help me observe them."
Nanny Lian: "Don't worry, I understand and I promise I won't let you down."