The Qin Dynasty entered the game with love.

The gifts given during the New Year's greetings weren't gold, silver, jewelry, or fine silks; instead, they included newly developed refined rice and flour, greenhouse-grown fruits and vegetables, improved seeds for next year, and a certificate of honor.

Ying Ji has been very busy lately and has no time to joke and play around with the men. Taking advantage of this favorable situation, she wants to further solidify Ying Zheng's image in people's hearts.

At this opportune moment, striking while the iron is hot is the best way to win over the hearts of the army and the people. In this way, the influence of these people will be present in everything that follows. As long as the Qin people always believe in Ying Zheng, this consciousness will follow their teachings and lead the next generation to support Fusu.

Our first stop is where Grandpa Ji Yang and his grandson live. I recorded this story before I lost my memory, so it would be best to go and see them again now.

The Queen of Danyang organized this visit under the guise of a princess, acting in the name of Ying Zheng.

Ji Yang was convinced that Lord Danyang would come, so he started preparing things several days in advance, buying things he used to be reluctant to eat.

Ji Zai dragged her grandfather and father to buy New Year's goods, and wherever they went, she would tell people that her father was the commander of the Great Qin Dynasty, looking very proud.

Gouwa grinned broadly, but it didn't matter that he wasn't his own child. His father liked him, and so did he. The boy was a good student and always brought home a reward.

There's supposed to be a parent-teacher meeting soon, and I'm wondering what to wear to make my son look good.

When Ji Yang saw that there was a beef vendor, he quickly squeezed forward and said, "Old buddy, give me a top-quality cut."

The butcher was Fan Kuai's father. Seeing the familiar old man, he chuckled and said, "Alright, this is a cow that just arrived today. Its hooves were cut off by a sharp instrument, so it couldn't plow the fields. It was reported and brought here to be sold. Don't worry about eating it."

Gouwa paid for the beef and put it in the basket on his back: "Dad, why did you buy this beef? It's so expensive, enough to sell half a pig."

Ji Yang glared at his stupid son: "Lord Danyang will definitely be coming in a few days. How can we entertain him without some good food?"

Gouwa scratched his head: "Dad, please stop talking. Why would such a big shot as Lord Danyang come? I've never seen anything like this in my life."

Ji Yang pretended not to hear and continued picking out the best snacks from the roadside stall, and even bought a skewer of candied hawthorns for Ji Zai to eat.

The little guy is usually very well-behaved and doesn't ask for snacks much, but now he can eat a string of candied hawthorns for a long time.

On the way, Gouwa advised his father that they couldn't keep saving the eggs, because they would go bad if left out any longer, and that they should eat them as soon as they were edible.

Ji Yang only chooses to hear what he wants to hear and doesn't care about what others are saying.

As soon as he returned, he saw Ying Ji leading a group of guards pushing carts to the family compound.

Ji Yang happened to see that although he always said that Lord Danyang would definitely come, he was at a loss when the person actually arrived.

"Lord Danyang, you've arrived! Come in quickly, my free-range chickens have grown big and are ready to be eaten."

Ying Ji glanced at Ji Yang, whose face showed more joy than in the previous picture book, proving that she had done the right thing: "Did the old man go out to buy New Year's goods?"

Ji Yang pulled her son over and said, "Yes, yes, we bought a lot today. You must try some."

Ying Ji looked at Ji Zai beside her and patted his head: "Ji Zai has grown quite a bit taller. Study hard and become a Qin general like your father in the future."

Ji Zai patted her little chest and said, "When I grow up, I want to be a great general."

Ying Ji laughed out loud: "Not bad, very energetic. This is how men of Qin should be."

The group of people entered Liu Tuan's house in a grand procession, and the house, which originally looked quite large, suddenly seemed a bit crowded.

Ying Ji took a sip of the sweet soup that Ji Yang handed her.

Without any sign of disdain, he looked at the ceramic jar, on which was written the character "政" (Zheng, meaning government) for the outstanding student Ji Zai: "Is this a cup as a reward for Ji Zai?"

Liu Tuan, who had been shocked, became a little nervous. Upon hearing the question, he immediately hugged Ji Zai and brought him to her side: "Yes, Ji Zai is doing well. He got a perfect score in the character '政' (politics). I even accompanied him to receive the reward given by the teacher."

Ying Ji glanced at Liu Tuan and nodded: "I remember you, Liu Bang's father. The renovation work you contracted was quite good. I'd like to recommend you to study at the Mo Academy, but I don't know if you'd be interested."

Liu Tuan beamed: "I really didn't expect you to remember me. Everyone at the school is a child, so I shouldn't go and join in the fun."

Ying Ji shook her head: "It's the Imperial Academy. They have a few recommendation slots. You can try your luck."

While Liu Tuan was still hesitating, Liu Bang knew this was a tremendous opportunity and frantically encouraged his father, who immediately nodded in agreement.

As for Gouwa standing to the side, Ying Ji's eyes were full of respect: "The title of Great Qin's commander is well-deserved. I have seen your military achievements. Great Qin will be better with you. I have come here today to bring the imperial decree, so that you can have a good New Year."

Bai Changchuan led Gouwa to the center of the family compound and loudly recited Gouwa's military achievements. He then distributed vegetables, fruits, and high-quality grain seeds on the spot. Because he was a captain, Gouwa received an extra cotton-padded coat compared to others.

The onlookers sighed deeply.

"My God, what kind of mess has the Liu family gotten themselves into? This thing is so dazzling, and that cotton coat looks so light."

“(ˉ▽￣～) Tch~~ You don’t know this, I have a relative who helps out at the Academy of Agricultural Sciences. They said they’ve grown some cotton, but not much, so it’s only issued to officers and above.”

"This is really amazing, such fresh vegetables, so crisp and juicy. I never thought I could eat this in the dead of winter."

"That's not true, so we can only eat it in Xianyang."

Gouwa never expected that he would actually be promoted to captain. A smile appeared on his fierce face, but it was a somewhat terrifying look.

But everyone has a filter on their perception. The moment the words "Great Qin Colonel" are uttered, the ruthlessness is transformed into awe-inspiring power, and the person is destined to be a general.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Ji Yang squeezed to the middle and said, "Lord Danyang, may I ask you for a favor?"

Ying Ji was in a great mood and naturally agreed, thinking it was something important, but it turned out to be naming.

After thinking for a moment, I chose a name for Gouwa—Ji Yu.

Only the clear breeze on the river and the bright moon in the mountains.

What the ear perceives becomes sound, and what the eye sees becomes color.

Ji Yang was very satisfied: "Ji Yu, Ji Yu, what a good name. I couldn't think of a good name no matter how hard I tried. By the way, Lord Danyang, come and take a look. We've raised quite a few chickens this time. They're all very good-looking. You must take some to try."

Ying Ji couldn't resist the old man's nagging, so she took a closer look. Was this a chicken? Or was it from a picture book? The chicken's feathers were dazzling and beautiful, especially under the light.

Bai Changchuan was immediately astonished. What kind of chicken was this? It was so beautiful it could be described as a little phoenix.

It's fortunate that I have amnesia, otherwise I would definitely recognize that it is a red-bellied pheasant. This is really a case of reality hitting the page of a novel.

This was the first time the onlookers had seen the free-range chicken that Grandpa Ji was mysteriously planning to give to Lord Danyang.

I was stunned when I got a closer look.

"This, this, this isn't a chicken! It's so beautiful, could it be a phoenix?"

"Let me see, it looks like a chicken."

"I've never seen this before. Could it be another auspicious omen?"

"Maybe it's true. If the King of Qin gets the phoenix after destroying the State of Zhao this year, then after destroying the other six states, we might even be able to see the dragon."

"What nonsense are you talking about? You can't just look at a dragon like that. It has to be raised in the palace."

Ying Ji looked at the red-bellied pheasants, not recognizing them, and couldn't resist Old Master Ji's persistent pleas, so she packed them all up and took them back to the palace.

There are only some chicks left. Once they're raised properly, we'll prepare to send them away.

There were also plenty of the freshest eggs, which they all took.

Ying Ji couldn't refuse, so she accepted. She promised to give them some rewards later. Seeing that the old man's family didn't have any cotton-padded clothes, she remembered that the needlework workshop had made a batch of wool sweaters, so she would give one to each member of the Ji family later.

Ji Yang has become a complete celebrity. Now everyone knows that old man Ji Yang raised a phoenix. Although it was later said that it was not a phoenix, people still believe their own eyes, and they all privately spread the rumor that the phoenix flew to the palace.