The general kneels on the washboard again

The Nanshan Village incident had come to an end. Yue Niang's family fortune had been depleted, and they had been forced to live frugally. This year had been particularly difficult. Before her birthday, Qin Shaobai returned from Rongzhou and delivered the medicinal herb account book.

Yue Niang was in a daze by the window, and Qin Shaobai laughed heartily: "Hahaha, boss, good news, good news."

Yue Niang was surprised, "What good news?"

Qin Shaobai held up the account book and said, "Boss, Rongzhou's medicinal herb business is getting bigger and bigger. The first year's harvest paid off the investment you mentioned for the land you bought for planting, and there's even some left over."

Yue Niang casually picked up the account book and flipped through it: "Well, it's pretty good."

"Is the boss in a bad mood?"

This question was really presumptuous. "It's indeed not a good idea. For now, you should just focus on the affairs of Rongzhou and don't bother to contact me easily. The matter that I promised you about your father and son must also be put on the agenda."

Qin Shaobai's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Thank you, Boss. I'll go back and tell my father. He will definitely be very happy to hear it."

Yue Niang looked at the densely packed green-tiled houses and felt breathless. Suddenly, she felt an extra layer of clothing on her body. She turned around and saw that it was Ruoyan.

Ruoyan's eyes moved with infinite tenderness, "Yue'er, are you worried about the days after returning to Lingzhou?"

Yue Niang agreed silently.

Ruoyan moved a stool and sat next to Yue Niang: "Yue'er, Lingzhou still has the Duke's wife and the young master. What's there to be afraid of? Besides, the worst that can happen is that we can start all over again."

Yue Niang leaned on Ruoyan's shoulder and spoke in a hoarse voice, "I had nothing before, but now I really don't want to lose it all, and I don't want you to suffer with me."

"How could you possibly suffer? No matter what the future holds, we are willing to stay with you. Besides, Erya is now the wife of the top scholar, so your situation won't be any worse than when you first arrived in Nanshan Village."

Yue Niang also nodded: "Indeed."

"So what are your plans for the next few days?" Yue Niang moved her head away from Ruoyan's shoulder. "I don't have any plans. Let's just keep everything as it is. After all, the most important thing now is to sever ties with the Fu family. Otherwise, no matter how much assets I have, I won't be able to keep them."

After her grandmother's death, Yue Niang felt as if her efforts had suddenly lost their meaning. Even though Erya and Li An's lives had changed dramatically because of Yue Niang, family and friendship were different. When she first came into this world, her grandmother was the only one who fully accepted her. Her thoughts were now in turmoil. Dong Zhu walked in again, holding a small booklet in his hand. As soon as he entered the room, he said, "Miss, this is from Master Wen Shu. He said that the things you instructed have been completed."

Yue Niang happily took the booklet and flipped through it.

She begged Wen Shu to help her turn some of the unclear restaurants and cloth shops under her name into "real-name registration", so that they would all be under Wen Shu's name. After all, having some property in her hands would be a guarantee.

Ruoyan asked in confusion, "Yue'er, then you still don't need us when you come to the capital this time?"

Yue Niang sat down at the table and said, "Sister Ruoyan, you two should just stay in Qingshi Town peacefully. Brother Xiaoming has to take care of his parents right now and can't leave. If you go to the capital with me, won't you two be separated?"

Ruoyan stood up and pretended to hit Yue Niang: "Yue'er, you are really fine now, actually teasing me."

Yue Niang continued writing: "Are you shy? Brother Xiao Ming is a good man, hardworking and filial. He is a rare good husband. Don't miss him."

Ruoyan scolded him, "When did I, Zhou Ruoyan, become someone who only cared about men and not sisters? I'm always worried about you going to the capital alone, but I'm also afraid of ruining your plans. How could you think of me like that?"

Seeing Ruoyan's anger, Yue Niang quickly put away her nonchalant expression and said, "Sister Ruoyan, I was wrong. I shouldn't have been so mean. But you stay in Qingshi Town and help me look after it. I need to feel more at ease. When I'm done with everything in Lingzhou, I'll take you all over."

Ruoyan smiled and said, "That's more like what people say. But you don't have to pick us up. Just find us a proper accountant."

Yue Niang looked at her and said, "If Master Wen hears this, he will never forgive you."

Ruoyan quickly covered her mouth: "Alright, alright, just pretend you never heard it."

After some banter, Ruoyan finally gave up and left. After Ruoyan left, Yanqi appeared in the room. Dongzhu tactfully retreated and closed the door.

Yan Qi knelt on the ground and said, "Master, Yan Qi is back to report."

Yue Niang nodded: "Well, how is it going?" Yan Qi crossed his arms: "Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission and have recruited 91 people. I am just waiting for the master to go to the government to get the paperwork."

Yue Niang took out the letter from her hand and said to the dark, "Lian Xing."

Lian Xing knelt in front of Yue Niang in the same position, "Master." Yue Niang handed him the letter, "Lian Xing, please hurry up and hand this letter to the young master personally. By the way, notify the emperor to pick us up. We are returning to the capital."

Lian Xing took the order and left. Yue Niang made further arrangements: "Yanqi, you will leave about ten of the remaining people here to protect Ruoyan and the others. The rest will be placed in Rongzhou first. Plant some herbs first and continue to collect them. You will personally monitor them."

Yan Qi took the order and left.

Yue Niang felt somewhat relieved at this moment. She opened the door and walked out. People were still coming and going in Pinmingju: "Dongzhu, Zhulan, let's go to Nanshan Village."

The master and servant walked towards Nanshan Village.

Ruoyan's words today woke Yue Niang up. Indeed, when she first arrived, she had nothing and was alone. What else could she lose? What's more, she now has Jiang Yunxiao, Erya, Ruoyan and others. No matter how bad the situation is, it can't be worse than that day.

Nanshan Village has been completely renovated, but the tea factory has been shelved.

Yue Niang really had no way of ignoring the expectant gazes of the villagers. Nanshan Village had once dominated the neighboring villages thanks to the tea factory, but this natural disaster had pushed them back into the mud.

As soon as Yue Niang arrived at her door, she saw the village chief wandering outside. From a distance, Yue Niang called out, "Grandpa Village Chief."

The village chief turned around, his expression very complicated, and he could only force out a wry smile.

When Yue Niang came closer, he slowly spoke: "Yue'er, why are you back today?"

Yue Niang opened the door and said, "Grandpa Village Chief, if you have anything to say, please come in."

The grass and trees in the courtyard were lush and green. Yue Niang followed closely behind. Once they entered the courtyard, the village chief made a firm decision. "Yue'er, everyone asked me to ask when this tea factory will be reopened. Everyone has no business now."

Yue Niang looked at the earnest village chief and didn't beat around the bush. "Grandpa Village Chief, I've been checking. The disaster didn't have much impact on the spices, but most of the tea trees were destroyed. I'm afraid they won't be able to bloom for a while."

The village chief nodded and said, "Yes, that's obvious to all. However, this year's spring plowing has been put on hold. During this period, everyone really couldn't find work, and several families were facing famine."

Yue Niang looked at the soil in Nanshan Village and found it unsuitable for growing medicinal herbs. She could only say with difficulty, "I really don't have any other options at the moment. We can only work on that half of the tea garden together. But that way, not everyone can do the work. If everyone can contribute a few people, the problem of food and clothing will be solved."

The village chief thanked her profusely, "Thank you very much, Yue'er. The villagers will certainly never forget your kindness. I will tell everyone this good news right away."

At this time, in the courtyard, Zhulan was busy rushing to work, while Dongzhu was idle. She complained with a smile: "Miss, look at Zhulan, she did all the work, and I have nothing to do."

Upon hearing this, Zhulan looked at Yueniang guiltily and slowly took out a letter from her bosom: "Miss, this is Lingzhou's reply."

Yue Niang took it and opened it. "Well, they have a good plan. They said I was searched by robbers and had an affair with a man. Qin Shaobai also said that. They actually asked my personal maid to spread it personally. Fine, then you will do as they say."

Zhulan was stunned: "But Miss, this concerns your reputation."

Yue Niang said in a deep voice, "Now that it has come to this, I still care about my reputation. As the head of the Fu family, he actually orchestrated his own daughter to this point. How can his own daughter be expected to be okay with this? Let them do what they want. Anyway, I don't want to be his daughter."