Chapter 1486: New Year’s Celebration (Part 3)
Chapter 1486: Chapter 1486: New Year’s Celebration (Part 3)
Mrs. Han nodded: "The Qin family is indeed wonderful, worthy of associating with."
She then asked: "How many soldiers did Brother Qin bring? It seems like at least three or four hundred, such a large number of soldiers, even in the Northwest, we’re benefiting from Brother Qin. I feel sorry for taking advantage of them."
Company Commander Zhang said: "Brother Qin is quite formidable, with many soldiers under his command, but Brother Qin has mentioned that resisting the Rong people is no easy task. The Northwest battlefield is not a few thousand skirmishes but a battle of millions. Those three hundred soldiers scattered on such a huge battlefield are like scattering soybeans in a field; they’re of little use. It’s best to build good relations with other Company Commanders so that everyone can support each other during the war."
He added: "So you shouldn’t feel like you’re taking advantage of the Qin family. Brother Qin is kind to everyone who can be united and is competent, and our family isn’t that weak. You are the eldest daughter of the Guang Cheng Marquis Mansion. If everyone suffers grievances in the Northwest and someone steals the credit, you can take the Iron Certificate and directly knock on the palace doors for justice."
Forming alliances is beneficial for everyone. Although the Zhang family’s forces are few, they gain advantages now, but at critical moments, the Han family can have direct access to the emperor, which is more powerful than anything else.
However, Company Commander Zhang truly admired Qin San Lang.
The reason being he remembered that this Brother Qin was the same Qin San Lang who had achieved great success by following General Guo into the Water Bandit Village several years ago.
The Water Bandit Case at that time was very intense. The common folk of Jianghuai and Jiangnan talked about it for a whole year, and naturally, we soldiers also discussed it, with envy for the soldiers of He’an Prefecture who could go and suppress the bandits to earn merit.
Mrs. Han asked: "Husband, did Brother Qin tell you all this?"
Company Commander Zhang nodded: "Yes, he said it all himself, showing his sincerity. So rest assured, don’t overthink. These country folks don’t have the cunning of the nobles in the Capital."
Mrs. Han heard this and laughed, feeling completely at ease.
Company Commander Zhang saw she was relieved and went to the carriage to check on Brother Yi. He patted Sister Yu’s head and said to Mrs. Han: "You three take a good rest. I must go out again. We have injured soldiers and family members to care for, carriages in traps that need lifting, and those broken ones need repairing urgently. We can’t delay our departure tomorrow."
Mrs. Han was worried about his health: "Let Steward Han go. You’re injured, you need to recover."
Company Commander Zhang shook his head: "The soldiers from the Qin family, the Niu Family, and the Xie family are over there helping. As a Company Commander, I can’t send a servant, it wouldn’t show respect."
He added: "My injuries are superficial, not to the bone, don’t worry... I will come back every two hours, you rest easy with the children. The assassins won’t dare come back these days; we have many people here."
After hearing this, Mrs. Han could only let him go: "Just supervise well, don’t do it yourself, or your wounds might reopen."
"Hey." Company Commander Zhang responded, leaving some people to guard Mrs. Han and her family, then hurried to the place where they were besieged by assassins to get busy.
With many hands, by midnight, they had finished all the tasks. Company Commander Zhang was very grateful: "Brother Qin, Brother Xie, Uncle Niu, thank you all."
Niu Dabao laughed heartily: "Thank for what? I’m eyeing the red silk in your carriage, just give Uncle a piece. Your Aunt has wanted it since she was young but couldn’t afford such expensive items. It’s perfect to ask it from you now."
Company Commander Zhang naturally agreed and gave him two pieces. Niu Dabao was so delighted, bouncing joyfully as he took the red silk to Mrs. Kuang, only to be scolded by her.
"You dummy, you have no sense! What’s the point of red silk? At my age, does it make sense to wear red silk? Quickly return it and exchange for some gold! Or else get two carriages; they’re valuable and practical!"
Niu Dabao initially thought that since it was New Year, Mrs. Kuang had followed him for a lifetime without enjoying much, just giving her two pieces of red silk to make her happy, but this woman was still dissatisfied: "Why are you shouting, didn’t we get carriages divided at Hundred Wolves County? Why get more? It’s the New Year, wear something red for celebrations. If you don’t wear it, save it for Da Jin’s wedding!"
He also threatened: "If you dare keep shouting so others hear, I’ll toss this red silk away, and you’ll get no silk at all... Miserable woman, you’re destined to toil!"
Mrs. Kuang, hearing this, glared with almond eyes and grabbed a dry stick to shout: "Niu Dabao, you son of a gun, are you growing bold, daring to shout at me, I’ll beat you to death!"
Both of them had copper gong voices, and since the Niu Family camp was at the forefront, everyone heard this round of shouting.
The women in the Niu Family Camp were fierce. Awoken, they came out cursing: "Niu family, are you summoning souls in the middle of the night? What’s this noise? Quiet down, we still have to travel tomorrow!"
Company Commander Zhang was embarrassed: "Well, I’ll go fetch two carriages."
Can’t have things get ugly over two pieces of red silk.
Xie Cheng and Qin San Lang both laughed: "Brother Zhang, don’t worry. Uncle Niu and Aunt Niu are like this; quarreling three times a day is routine, but their relationship is excellent, they make up after each fight."
After hearing this, Company Commander Zhang was relieved and returned. Upon reaching his own camp, he parted ways with Qin San Lang and Xie Cheng.
When Qin San Lang returned to the camp, Gu Jinli was already asleep, with Erqing and Sanqing sitting on the front board of the carriage to keep watch. Seeing Qin San Lang back, they were finally at ease and left.
Qin San Lang took off his outer robe and shoes, used the warm water by the fire pit to wash his hands, face, and feet, then entered the carriage, crawled into bed, embraced her, kissed her, and smiled: "Xiao Yu, I’m back."
Gu Jinli was asleep and naturally didn’t respond to him, but Qin San Lang was still very happy. Just being able to be with her made him joyful.
The next day, before dawn, Gu Jinli woke. Seeing Qin San Lang still asleep, she feared waking him, hence did not get up.
When Qin San Lang woke up, she was playing with his Adam’s apple.
Qin San Lang grabbed her mischievous hand, tightly embraced her, pressing her body against his own, his voice hoarse from waking up: "Don’t be mischievous."
Gu Jinli blushed, quickly said: "I wasn’t mischievous, it’s your self-control that’s lacking."
She added excitedly: "It’s New Year, Happy New Year."
In her past life, she didn’t look forward to New Year much, but now it’s different. In ancient times, there wasn’t much entertainment, and everyone looked forward to New Year’s days, for laughter and joy.
Qin San Lang, seeing her happy face, felt utterly satisfied, kissed her, whispered: "Peace on New Year’s Eve, Fortune and happiness for the New Year."
Gu Jinli laughed. The ancients believed in the Year Beast, so on New Year’s Eve they wished for peace, whereas New Year’s Day, which is New Year, they wished for fortune.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound of the copper gong signaling departure was heard from outside, Gu Jinli pushed Qin San Lang: "Get up quickly, the sooner we depart, the sooner we can reach the Manor."
"Mm." Qin San Lang responded, got up, instructed her: "It’s cold, don’t leave the carriage. I’ll bring the hot water for you, so you can brush your teeth and wash your face on the front board of the carriage."
Gu Jinli was taking out a new acne patch to apply, heard this, laughed: "Treating me like this will pamper me into a lazy woman."