116, Chapter 116 (1/2)

Yang Haiyan is entertaining Mrs. Lu and Mrs. Yang.

Although Lieutenant Lu and Lieutenant Yang are now in the seventh rank, the imperial court is responsible for allocating residences, so they don’t have a house in Yunxiang County. Logically speaking, they have to buy it themselves. Or rent it yourself.

‌‌, Lieutenant Lu‌ Lieutenant Yang was a centurion before, and he only had one tael of silver a month. He also had children to raise at home, so they were asked to save money to buy a house in the county town. Then ‌ It is possible. Therefore, Yang Haiyan separated two courtyards from the general's residence to accommodate them.

The General's Mansion occupies a large area, and in Yang Haiyan's opinion, it is even larger than the village in Bianguan Manor. Therefore, even if two courtyards are separated for Xiaowei Lu and Xiaowei Yang's family, it will not affect them at all.

Because the courtyard is separated and surrounded by walls, it is considered to be independent. And if Commander Lu and Commander Yang's family wanted to come to the General's Mansion, they would have to walk around the outer wall of the General's Mansion, which would take a quarter of an hour.

Moreover, on the other side of the wall between Xiaowei Lu's house and Xiaowei Yang's house is the orchard and vegetable garden of the General's Mansion, and the yards of the masters of the General's Mansion are far apart.

Because all the men in the family have returned, the two families have really settled down, so they came to visit today and brought some gifts to the General's Mansion to thank Yang Haiyan for letting them live across the courtyard. However, whether they buy or rent a house, it will be a small expense.

They felt happy when they thought that their husbands were now officials and their monthly salary was eight taels of silver.

What Mrs. Lu brought was bacon she had made herself. The recipe for this bacon was what Yang Haiyan told her when she visited the Centurion Family Area. Mrs. Lu said: "This bacon has just been cooked, so I'll give it to you as a treat. You don't want to despise it. After all, you taught me this method."

Yang Haiyan asked Aunt Lian to take away the bacon: "How can I dislike it? I'm going to do it. I just have a lot of things to do these days, and I've been delayed here and there, so I forgot about it. Speaking of which, I'm a good person. People who like to eat bacon. "There are very few people who like to eat bacon."

Mrs. Yang said: "So it's the method you taught me. Sister Lu's cooking skills are really good. When our family tasted it, my son praised the bacon for being delicious." Mrs. Yang knows how to cook it. To do this, she gave me a set of clothes that she had made by herself, from clothes to shoes, everything was ‌. The material of the clothes is of good quality. It can be said that Mrs. Yang herself knows how to wear such good material. "This is the clothes I made myself. The weather is hot and it is suitable for this season. You should dislike it."

When Mrs. Lu and Mrs. Yang came to deliver things, they both knew each other. Their men all work under Qin Fang, and the relationship between the two families is not good, so they will discuss it when giving things. If the difference is too big, they don't look good to each other in terms of face, so it is better to discuss it.

The dress made by Mrs. Yang was a glazed red long skirt with a beautiful color. What surprised Yang Haiyan most was that Mrs. Yang’s embroidery skills were even better than hers. Her embroidery skills were left behind by the original owner. The original owner's embroidery skills were taught by the master in Taifu Yang's house. The embroiderer who can go to Taifu Yang's house can be said to be a famous teacher, so the original owner's embroidery skills are wrong. .

It was only after seeing Mrs. Yang's embroidery skills that she realized what it meant to be a master. "Your embroidery skills are as good as everyone else's." When she was at the border, she felt that Mrs. Yang was just like any other centurion wife, and she knew more rules than the average centurion wife. Etiquette, and seeing her embroidery skills, Yang Haiyan is now convinced that Mrs. Yang's natal family must have some background.

Mrs. Lu took a few glances and couldn't help but admire: "Sister-in-law Yang's embroidery work is indeed good. For a rough person like me, let alone making clothes, even if I touch a few handfuls of such soft materials, I will be happy." I’m worried about damaging the material.”

The embroiderer's hands are very particular. The embroiderer's hands must be soft and smooth. But as Mrs. Lu said, what should I do if the material is damaged? This hand is rough, and when you touch a good material, it will leave marks on the surface of the material, such as threading or something.

Following Mrs. Lu's words, Yang Haiyan looked at Mrs. Yang's hands. These hands were well maintained and looked like the hands of a working person.

This surprised Yang Haiyan even more.

Underneath Mrs. Yang's seemingly cheerful and quick personality, she should also have a meticulous heart. And with such an embroidery skill, the Yang family's life must be good. You must know that in ancient times, if the embroidery was good, the embroidery was very valuable. It seems that she overestimated herself and underestimated others before.

Mrs. Yang explained with a smile: "My mother used to be an embroiderer for a noble family, specializing in making clothes for the master. Later, she was almost married, and she had some problems again, so she returned home to be betrothed. Later, after she married me, my mother taught me embroidery since I was a child, so I started to learn embroidery. "

When Yang Haiyan heard this, she realized that this noble family specializes in embroidery work, but her level is average. And those who are of this level, after leaving the noble family, they may become ordinary people. Furthermore, Mrs. Yang’s mother must have a lot of money. Looking at Mrs. Yang’s hands, I’m afraid she was raised wrongly since she was a child.

"Speaking of it, it was fate to marry my father-in-law. One time, when I was going out, I met a scoundrel. It was my father-in-law who saved me, so we got engaged." He saved her, and she fell in love with him. Even though there was a big gap in their identities at that time, she didn't dislike him. Mrs. Yang is good at embroidery and often sells her embroidery to support the family, so the conditions of the Yang family are actually quite good. Now Captain Yang's conditions are better, and she is getting ahead.

After Yang Haiyan heard Mrs. Yang's story about Captain Yang, she felt as if she was listening to a story. She felt that Lieutenant Yang was the male protagonist in the current male-video novels. He was a poor boy who was attracted by a rich family's daughter, and then cheated him all the way.

Mrs. Lu said: "That's really a good thing."

Yang Haiyan said: "‌‌That's right."

The three of them chatted for a while, and then Grandma Lian's voice came from outside: "Madam, Niu Da is back."

Upon hearing that Niu Da was back, Yang Haiyan was happy: "Finally he's back."

When Mrs. Yang and Mrs. Lu saw this, she said, "If you have something to do, we won't bother you. We'll visit you another day."

Yang Haiyan did not keep them, but asked Aunt Lian to prepare some pickles and pickled radishes she made for them.

The kimchi and pickled radish made by Yang Haiyan were delicious enough, and the cooks, Mrs. Yang and Mrs. Lu, ate a lot on the way from Border Pass to Yunxiang County, so they happily accepted it immediately.

After they left, Yang Haiyan went to the fruit garden. Niu Da had already ordered people to transport the fruit trees into the fruit garden. Seeing Yang Haiyan coming, Niu Da went and saluted: "Meet Mrs. Niu."

Yang Haiyan said: "Yongduo Li, you have worked hard all the way. You still have to work hard for a few days to plant these fruit trees before you can rest."

The cow laughed and said, "It's hard work. Seeing them grow well makes the grassroots happy." As an old farmer all his life, he likes to watch the crops grow well.

Yang Haiyan knew that he was most worried about his two sons, so without saying much about him, he shifted the topic to his sons: "I talked to the general about your two sons. The general said that as long as they If your body is fine, you can go there. If your body adapts to the training in the military camp, you can go to the vegetable garden of the military camp and work as a logistics soldier. "

Speaking of this, Niu Da became energetic: "Madam, I was talking to Niu Yi and Niu Er about this matter. Niu Yi was willing to go to the general's military camp, but Niu Er wanted to follow me. Farming. "My son wants to be a soldier, but he has no choice.

Yang Haiyan said: "From now on, you and your father will be responsible for the estate of the General's Mansion and the barracks. When you need to work in the fields, the guards in the mansion and the soldiers in the barracks will come in handy. You just need to arrange That’s fine with them.”

Of course Niu Da had no objection to this: "I will listen to my wife's arrangements."

Yang Haiyan thought for a while: "Let's give Niu Er the identity of a military camp vegetable garden manager, so that he can get a monthly salary, and when he gets started in the future, he can still act independently. It's a decent job." It's better than working with others. ‌Run well behind Niu Da.

Niu Da was moved at the moment and said: "My wife is still thoughtful. Niu Er, come and thank my wife."

Niu Er is a simple and honest man. Except when he is a soldier and chooses to farm among other fields, he always listens to his father's arrangements. At this moment, he heard about Yang Haiyan's arrangement as the military camp vegetable garden manager. This status made him feel proud and felt that farming was great. "Thank you, madam."

Yang Haiyan smiled and said, "Thank me. From now on, just plant crops in the military camp so that the soldiers can eat well."

Niu Er: "I will definitely work hard."

In the evening, during dinner, Yang Haiyan mentioned the matter to Qin Fang about the Niu family.

Qin Fang had no objection: "Then let Niu Yi go to the military camp and Niu Er go to manage the crops in the military camp. Let Dr. Li check Niu Yi's body first."

After Dr. Li arrived in Yunxiang County, he lived in the General's Mansion. Yang Haiyan gave him a courtyard, and Dr. Li became the doctor of the General's Mansion. Originally, Yang Haiyan wanted to match him with a servant, but he rejected it. Now, he and Miss Li are the only two people in his yard. Miss Li was originally a man who knew some medical skills, but now she helps. Doctor Li is equivalent to his medicine boy.

Dr. Li is only the official doctor of the General's Mansion, and he is responsible for the physical examination of the soldiers in the military camp. Although Qin Fang didn't know anything about physical examinations, medical examinations, etc., it was because Yang Haiyan was more concerned about his body, so he applied this method to the soldiers in the military camp, and soaked the soldiers every day. He gave medicated baths to ‌‌, and ‌ checked their bodies every ‌, which was fine.

It must be said that the military camp's arrangement for this has led to more men coming to apply for soldiers, because ordinary people don't have the ability to see a doctor every day, but the military camp can provide soldiers with medical supplies every day A free physical examination is a benefit that ordinary people seek. Therefore, they are all willing to come just for this benefit.

Yang Haiyan said: "Well, I will tell Niu Da that if Niu Yi is in good health, let him report to the military camp tomorrow."

Qin Fang: "Okay. The military camp will be built in half a month. When will the military camp manor start?"

Yang Haiyan: "I know this. You have to ask Niu Da to see what his arrangements are. At present, the food that the soldiers eat is purchased from the countryside. Not to mention, the people in Yunxiang County have really saved a lot of food. . Save a piece of ‌ and dry it in the sun when it is eaten. "Drying can keep it for a long time, such as dried sweet potatoes and dried potatoes.

Qin Shoucheng listened to them and interjected: "The military camp purchased food this time. Is it possible to buy back all the food accumulated by the people?"

Yang Haiyan said: "Yes. It's just one day. By the second half of the year, the crops in the military camp and manor will have a good harvest. By then, there will still be no one to buy food for the common people."

Qin Shoucheng was curious: "Then we can buy the people's food and use the manor for other purposes?"

Yang Haiyan smiled and shook her head: "Your idea is good. It is cheaper for us to grow our own food than to buy it. And this is only one or two days, one or two, long-term. In the past, it was very cost-effective to buy it. Besides, they had to think of ways to sell the grain themselves. They could not wait for others to find ways to do things that were beneficial to them. After all, they had to think of ways to do it for them these days. They own it, the food is theirs, and the money they receive is theirs. "So, they can expect others to find solutions for them.

Qin Siya understood: "Brother, why do you think so much? This is our family's business." Qin Siya thinks so much. She is a person who is not easily satisfied. She only needs to eat. .

Qin Shoucheng didn't say anything. He was a man, so of course Qin Siya had the same idea.

Qin Fang glanced at Qin Shoucheng: "If you want to change this situation, there is nothing you can do."

Qin Shoucheng asked hurriedly: "What can we do?"

Not to mention Qin Shoucheng, Yang Haiyan looked at Qin Fang curiously, "It's so rare, he would think about this."

Qin Fang said: "When you have the ability, you can change this situation. Now that you don't have the ability, you can only rely on others to change. Why should others help them change? So you With your own efforts, when you develop your abilities, you can change yourself without relying on others. You study hard, take the exams for scholars, candidates, and Jinshi, and then become a local official. Parents, you have the responsibility and the ability to make changes for everyone.”

Yang Haiyan understood that this was Qin Fang's method of education.

Qin Shoucheng nodded heavily: "Yes, I will work hard."

After dinner, Qin Fang called Niu Da, and the two discussed matters about the military camp manor. It was already the end of April, and the barracks and the manor could be delayed, so after discussion, a pair of the eight hundred soldiers at the barracks were assigned to work in the manor.

In the blink of an eye, a month passed and it was the end of May.

Only the military camp in Yunxiang County has been built, and the entire military camp estate of 1,000 acres has been planted with crops. Because for soldiers, food is more important, and vegetables and the like are secondary. Therefore, in addition to 200 acres of top-quality land, the remaining 800 acres of the 1,000 acres of land are planted with sweet potatoes‌ Potato. Potatoes in May will be harvested in August. Sweet potatoes in May will be harvested in October. Due to its location, these two hundred acres of high-quality land were converted into paddy fields by Niuda, which is just perfect for growing rice in May. Rice in May will have a good harvest in October.

Counting a thousand acres of paddy field, it was taken care of by hundreds of soldiers from the military camp. It took three or four days to complete it. I have to say that this speed was fast enough.

Apart from the military manor where Niu Er's family lives in the thousand-acre field, the soldiers take turns guarding it. Each group of people will guard it for ten days, and a group of one hundred people will guard it.

Although no one dares to act recklessly in the military camp manor, they are the ones who need to work, so while the soldiers take turns to guard, they also take turns to work.

Niu Er is in charge of the military camp estate, and Niu Da is in charge of the general manor. There were more than 160 apple trees and pear trees when they were transported to the General's Mansion. A month later, only more than 120 trees were planted, and 40 trees were still alive. Several trees died. In addition to apple trees and pear trees, watermelons are also planted in the Jiangjunfu Fruit Garden. This time, the watermelon seeds were divided into two batches. One batch was provided by Yang Haiyan, and the rest were planted, which were platform seeds, falsely claiming to be travel merchant seeds. Also, Niu Da collected and purchased a batch of them himself. Regardless of whether it was watermelon, cauliflower, broccoli, or tomato, Niu Da collected the seeds. Who knows whether these seeds can be successfully planted? The seeds do need to be collected and then pondered slowly.

However, Yang Haiyan can always use traveling business as an excuse. They didn't go to the Yongzhou market today, so they couldn't come up with other kinds of seeds.

Eastern Suburb Military Camp

"General, one hundred soldiers have been arranged and can set off immediately." Colonel Yang gathered one hundred soldiers. Today, Qin Fang is going to go up the mountain to investigate the situation. Wild animals will come down the mountain every winter. If this situation is solved, the county wall will be repaired in vain.

Qin Fang hummed: "Everyone, get ready, let's go with me." After saying that, he got on his horse and said, "Let's go... drive..."

He has a horse, but a soldier doesn't have a horse. Qin Fang set out from the Yongzhou military camp in March. He was only given fifty ordinary horses there, so the horses in the military camp were very important. An ordinary horse costs sixty taels of silver. If a thousand people are matched, it will cost six thousand taels of silver.

"Drive..." Tao Shan followed Qin Fang.

Colonel Yang led his men and ran after him: "Everyone, get ready to go."

"Set off."

The remaining 900 people stayed at the military camp, watching Qin Fang and others getting further and further away.

Lieutenant Lu said: "Everyone, stand your guard. Even if there are no enemies here, you can still relax. The general said that if they come back with a big harvest, everyone will drink broth."

"Drink broth... drink broth..."

The soldiers were excited.

beast mountain

I know why. The closer he gets to Beast Mountain, Qin Fang feels a panic. This is intuition. This intuition comes to mind. He felt at the foot of Beast Mountain, as if he was being watched.

There is actually a large field at the foot of Beast Mountain, and these fields originally belonged to the owner. It is now abandoned because the owner does not have the guts to plant here for fear of wild beasts running down the mountain and eating people.

Just when Qin Fang was about to dismount, Wu Shuai called over calmly. Qin Fang touched its head: "Don't worry, I'll go up the mountain and check the area nearby. You can go further away later and I'll come back after I tell you."

Wu Shuai yelled a few more times before he stopped.

Qin put down his horse: "Go, walk a little further, and come back later."

Wu Shuai called out a few times, rubbed his head against Qin Fang, and was willing to walk away.

Tao Shan: "Wu Shuai is so smart."

Qin Fang hummed, grabbed a handful of soybeans from his bag, put it on the plate, and then put it on the ground: "Eat it, go and stay aside. I'll give it to you when the corn is half done." "Corn." Wushuai usually raises it very well, because the horse's digestive system is good, so its food is very particular. ‌ It's just Wu Shuai, in fact, all the horses in the military camp are raised more finely than people. It is better to starve a person than to starve a horse.

Wu Shuai smelled the soybeans, then opened his mouth and ate them.

Qin Fang began to investigate the area. During this investigation, he found some clues. You can see the excrement of some animals at the foot of the mountain, and you can see that these animals often come down the mountain. Then, Qin Fang approached the mountain again. The grass on the mountain was very dense. Such dense grass could easily hide dangerous beasts, so Qin Fang was not in a hurry to go up. He pulled out his knife and chopped down the grass in a few strokes.

Seeing this, Tao Shan took out his sword and began to chop the grass: "General, the grass is so lush, no one has come to this beast mountain for a long time."

Qin Fang said: "Yes, if people came often, the grass and trees at the foot of the mountain would have been picked up by the people as firewood. However, this is important. The important thing is that since this beast mountain is... No one has set foot in it, and there are so many prey here. Why do wild beasts attack the county town in winter and eat this weak animal? Is this how it should be for these wild beasts? "

Tao Shan smiled naively: "General, why didn't I think of the truth at the beginning? General, they must have done this for some reason."

Qin Fang stopped talking and cut down all the lush grass in the area.

"General..." Captain Yang arrived with a hundred soldiers.

Qin Fang said: "Take them down the mountain to check. I found wild beast excrement here. Judging from the dry and wet conditions, it should be left in recent days. Therefore, wild beasts will come down the mountain at any time. Beware they will attack you."

Captain Yang: "Yes."

Lieutenant Yang divided a hundred people into ten teams, one for each team. If something happened, a signal flare would be sent out. The soldiers were well trained and went to patrol separately.

On the first day, everyone found nothing else except cutting grass, because the weeds that were taller than people blocked too much of their sight. Their ears heard some noise, and when they walked away, Nothing was found.

The soldiers who moved quickly opened their bows and shot pheasants and hares blindly. Some even found a few wild eggs, but there was nothing else to say.

At the end of the day, they had cut down a large area of ​​grass nearby, and the foot of the mountain looked clean.

Captain Yang: "General, it's getting dark soon. Should we stay here tonight?"

Qin Fang said: "‌, bring some hares."

Captain Yang understood that he had brought a few bleeding hares.

Qin Fang added: "Make a few sinkholes near ‌ and make them deeper."

Lieutenant Yang immediately called for soldiers to trap nearby. After the trap was made, Qin Fang threw the hare into the trap. He threw away several hares in total, and some of them were sprinkled with medicinal powder.

Captain Yang couldn't help but ask: "General, what is this?"