Chapter 227: Chapter 227: Construction of the Warm Shed

“Let’s go.”

Xiao Yunjing waved his hand, and the eleven of them took to the air like eagles, disappearing into the night.

“Yun No. 8, send a message to the people in the Capital City.” After returning to the back courtyard of the Prefectural Office, Xiao Yunjing gave the order to Yun No. 8, his eyes glinting coldly.

Yun No. 8’s eyes lit up. Nodding, he handed the items he had gathered to Xiao Yunjing and immediately went to dispatch the message.

「In the Capital City」

At the Qing Royal Palace, Qingchen had just returned when someone came to report.

“What happened?” Qingchen asked, looking at the anxious Secret Guard No.5.

Secret Guard No.5 handed a note to Qingchen. He took it, and his expression changed dramatically upon reading its contents.

“Damn it! Quickly, find the Madam! Tell her to leave the city at once and head to the scene!”

“Yes, sir!” Secret Guard No.5 hurriedly departed.

Qingchen clenched his fists tightly. Excellent, Xiao Yunjing! I, this Prince, didn’t seek trouble with you, yet you dare to provoke me! Hmph! We’ll see who has the last laugh!

Xiao Yunjing had directly sent men to locate the place where Qingchen was quartering his soldiers. A single packet of poison was enough to make him lose more than half his troops.

It would be useless even if Xi Chenqing went; she couldn’t possibly neutralize a poison concocted by Gu Qingli.

When Qingchen received the news, he was so furious he nearly jumped, suspecting this was Xiao Yunjing’s retaliation for his attempt to abduct Gu Qingli.

He had no choice but to recall the men he had sent, but there was no word from them. He knew they, too, were lost.

Qingchen was so enraged he spat out a mouthful of old blood on the spot.

Xiao Yunjing and his wife had likely anticipated such a gratifying outcome.

If you try to abduct my people, I’ll destroy your foundation.

Jiang Li’an and his sister finally received the people from the Capital City. That day, the siblings left, only bidding Gu Qingli a simple farewell.

Gu Qingli didn’t mind. She and her husband weren’t afraid of Qingchen, let alone the Jiang Family. Even if Mr. Xiao and his two sons decided to wash their hands of the affair, they wouldn’t be scared. If it truly came to that, they would simply compensate them for their years of service. As the saying goes, some things are inevitable, like the heavens wanting rain or a mother wanting to remarry. If they truly wished to part ways, she and her husband couldn’t stop them.

Xiao Yunjing returned that night, and it was only then that Gu Qingli learned of the Jiang siblings’ departure.

“It’s nothing, Li’er, don’t worry. I have some news for you today.”

“What news?” Gu Qingli asked, covering her mouth as she yawned, her eyes squinting at him. She waited for him every night, fighting off sleep until he returned, at which point she would immediately feel drowsy.

Xiao Yunjing looked at her adorable, sleepy state and kissed her on the lips before saying, “Ms. Su, along with her son and daughter-in-law, has left for Qinghe Village. They should be about a hundred miles out of the Capital City by now.”

“Her?” Gu Qingli was quite surprised.

This mother, whom she’d never met but inherited, actually cared so much for the Original Host. It was a pity the Original Host had died so young.

“Do you want them to come here? The snow here doesn’t melt until May, and the weather only starts to warm up then,” Xiao Yunjing asked.

“Let them come here,” Gu Qingli said after a moment’s thought. “Have someone Gu Qingping knows go and meet them.” We don’t know the current situation in Qinghe Village, and besides, there are houses available here in Qiyang County. We can’t leave for now anyway, so Ms. Su can see me here. This will also save her the trouble of seeking out Ms. Wu. Though Ms. Wu has a timid nature, she was truly good to the Original Host. What happened back then wasn’t entirely Ms. Wu’s fault; one could only say it was a twist of fate.

“Alright.”

「The next morning」

Members of the Secret Sect stationed nearest to Ms. Su received their orders. Consequently, two acquaintances of Gu Qingping were dispatched to meet them.

Xiao Yunjing’s greenhouse was finally completed today. Progress had been slow due to the infrequent snowless days, but it was done.

As soon as it was finished, Xiao Yunjing instructed people to light fires to warm the greenhouse.

After half a day, the greenhouse warmed up. The former Prefectural Head was so amazed his jaw nearly dropped.

Crops could be planted this way? This means they could grow anything, all year round! Would the people of Beijing County still go hungry in the future?

Looking at the cluster of greenhouses, Xiao Yunjing smiled with satisfaction.

He wasn’t just a battle-minded brute. He understood that if he wanted to claim that ultimate position, the people’s livelihood was a crucial issue. If people had enough to eat, warm clothes to wear, and could live their lives, who would be idle enough to cause trouble for him? Which dynasty didn’t fall because the people couldn’t make a living and were forced to rebel by corrupt officials? Beijing County was the first territory that truly belonged to him. Ensuring people had food was the first step. The second, naturally, was clothing. Later, cotton could be grown in the greenhouses, solving the clothing problem. Future medical care wouldn’t be an issue either, with the Gu Clinic to support it. However, before all these problems were resolved, security needed to be addressed concurrently. Once this place transformed, it was impossible that Chu Xiong or Qingchen wouldn’t try to reclaim it. Such unnecessary troubles were best avoided early on.

The next day, the sweet potato vines from Gu Qingli’s Space were secretly delivered to the greenhouse. Xiao Yunjing then took Wuqing to teach the workers how to plant the cuttings.

Wuqing had experience planting sweet potato vine cuttings in Qinghe Village, so teaching the people here was no problem.

Over the following ten days, more greenhouses were steadily built. People planted sweet potato cuttings and sowed their own grain crops.

A month later, greenhouses had been constructed across ten counties. In every town and village, each household, more or less, had its own greenhouse.

Moreover, every household received sweet potato vines, and everyone excitedly planted the cuttings.

With these, they would finally no longer have to go hungry!

Amidst the people’s expressions of gratitude, Ms. Su, her son, and daughter-in-law arrived.

Supported by her son and daughter-in-law, Ms. Su walked into the inner courtyard of the Prefectural Office, her legs trembling with every step.

It had been almost eighteen years. She could finally see her daughter.

“Mother, please be calm. Little Sister is very cute,” Gu Qingping whispered to Ms. Su.

“Mother is just overjoyed,” Ms. Su said, blinking.

In the courtyard, Gu Qingli, supported by Xiao Yunjing, waited for their arrival.

When the three of them stepped into the courtyard, Ms. Su looked at the person who looked round like a ball. She rubbed her eyes, then glanced at Gu Qingping. This was what he called cute?

Gu Qingping also looked at Gu Qingli. Though her figure was swollen, her face remained unchanged. He nodded at Ms. Su.

Ms. Su released her son and daughter-in-law and walked over alone.

She looked Gu Qingli up and down. Her eyes, her brows, her expression… they truly resembled her own so much.

“Li’er.”

Ms. Su could hold back no longer. She stepped forward and embraced Gu Qingli tightly.

Tears streamed down her face, unstoppable.

Gu Qingli allowed the embrace, but frankly, she felt no particular stirring of emotion for this unfamiliar mother she had inherited by chance.

“Child, you’ve suffered.” Ms. Su held her only for a moment, mindful that her daughter was pregnant.

Gu Qingli smiled at her and shook her head.

“Child.” Ms. Su stroked Gu Qingli’s face. Her daughter hadn’t even called her ’Mother’ once.

“Come, let’s go inside quickly.” Saying this, she took Gu Qingli’s hand and carefully led her back into the house, heading straight for the bedroom.

Xiao Yunjing had placed a soft couch in the bedroom. Ms. Su helped Gu Qingli sit down and lean back against it, then pulled up a chair to sit opposite her, simply gazing at Gu Qingli.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.