Although Wei Ting was from an aristocratic family, he did not look down on people from poor families. In aristocratic families, there were very few people who looked down on people. Even if they were pretending, they could do it very well. Besides, Qin Fang's official position was higher than Wei Ting's, so Wei Ting said first: "This humble official has met General Qin."
Although Chief Steward Chi was the chief steward of the emperor and was usually very arrogant, he never made mistakes in etiquette: "I have met General Qin."
Qin Fang immediately bowed and said, "Qin Fang greets you two." His tone was neither humble nor servile. He bowed slightly. Although he was not greeting, he did not accept their greeting. It was a courtesy between brothers and friends. "Master Wei, Chief Steward Chi, please come in."
"please."
When they arrived at the main camp, Qin Fang poured them some tea: "Everything in the barracks is kept simple. There is only boiled water. Please forgive me."
Wei Ting said: "General Qin, you are too polite. We are here on official business and don't need to care about this. What do you think, Manager Chi?" Although Qin Fang called Wei Ting first, Wei Ting's just "you" was enough to give Manager Chi face.
Chief Steward Chi naturally wouldn't care about this. Although he was someone close to the emperor, eunuchs had no rank in the court. Qin Fang called Wei Ting first and then him, and he was not a petty person.
Chief Chi said: "Master Wei is right."
Regardless of whether they were being polite or not, Qin Fang had no choice even if they were. There was indeed only boiled water in the military camp. "You two have come from afar, why don't you stay at your house tonight, so that I can show my hospitality. Besides, the county post station has not been occupied for a long time, and it is estimated that it cannot be occupied." Qin Fang smiled embarrassedly, "Speaking of which, I have just arrived in Yunxiang County."
Wei Ting and Manager Chi looked at each other, and Wei Ting said, "In that case, we won't be polite." Then, Wei Ting took out a letter and gave it to Qin Fang. Wei Ting was an imperial envoy sent by the emperor. Although he did not have an imperial edict, he had a letter from the emperor. "General Qin, I am here on orders. This letter contains something the emperor has told me to do. I hope General Qin will be flexible and can help me."
Qin Fang read the letter. In the letter, the emperor instructed Wei Ting to bring a group of people from the Ministry of Works to make fire powder. Fire powder was the big firecracker Qin Fang had mentioned. Before the fire powder was completed, no one was allowed to contact the outside world. He ordered Qin Fang to guard and monitor their every move. If anyone contacted outsiders during this period, he would be arrested immediately.
At the same time, Qin Fang also needs to cooperate with Wei Ting and others' needs. The place where the medicine is produced is in the Taoist temple on Beast Mountain. It is hidden there, and sulfur and saltpeter can be dug at any time.
Qin Fang finished reading the letter and said to Wei Ting, "Don't worry, sir. I will fully cooperate with everything the emperor has told me in the letter. But you are tired from traveling today, and it will take an hour to climb the mountain to the Beast Mountain Taoist Temple. I am afraid that you have not rested well and will not be able to bear the physical effort. So tomorrow I will take you to the Beast Mountain Taoist Temple to check the situation. What do you think?"
Wei Ting nodded: "Then I will follow the general's arrangement." Climbing the mountain alone would take an hour, and Wei Ting really couldn't handle it now. He was a civil official, and even if he knew some kung fu and was quite skilled, how much energy would it take to climb a mountain
After Wei Ting finished speaking, General Chi said, "General Qin, I have the emperor's edict in my hand, but it is for your wife. I'm here to tell you that this edict is a reward for your wife, but your wife is not here, so we can't read it out at this time."
Qin Fang had a clue after reading Du Ke's letter. Now, after hearing what Chi Zongguan said, he knew what the imperial edict was. He showed a surprised expression on his face: "A reward for my wife?" Then he stood up and bowed to Chi Zongguan, saying, "Qin thanks you for your reminder." Even Wei Ting was so polite to Chi Zongguan, so who was he, Qin Fang? Naturally, he knew how to address Chi Zongguan. What's more, he didn't have any opinion on eunuchs. To put it bluntly, with a background like his, if he hadn't been lucky enough to become a general, what qualifications did he have to look down on eunuchs
The world is very realistic. Children from poor families have no right to look down on others.
Steward Chi said politely, "General Qin, you don't have to be polite." Steward Chi also acted according to the situation. In the emperor's mind, Qin Fang was a lucky man, so Steward Chi was naturally polite to him.
General's Mansion
Since Tao Shan left, Yang Haiyan ordered people to tidy up the courtyard. She arranged Wei Ting and Chi Zongguan's courtyard next to each other, but they were all independent courtyards. Because Tao Shan didn't know the identities of Wei Ting and Chi Zongguan, Yang Haiyan didn't know either, but it was always right to arrange two courtyards.
Although the General's Mansion covers a large area, it looks very plain. Yang Haiyan did not redesign the mansion. It was originally designed according to the layout of the royal palace, so the design is naturally impeccable. And it doesn't matter if it's plain. They are few in number, so there is no need to take care of every yard. It will only attract mosquitoes if it is left alone.
It was Yang Haiyan's first time entertaining guests, and she was still a little nervous. She asked Nanny Lian from time to time: "Nanny, do you think this arrangement is okay? There is also tea, and I don't know what the guests like. If I offend the guests because of this, they are from the capital after all, and it will be bad for my husband in the future."
At this time, Aunt Lian was able to handle the situation. She said, "It's hard to determine what the guests like, and we don't know what they are allergic to. The simpler the food, the better. As for tea, why not use tea leaves? We can prepare both tea and water, and see what the guests like."
Yang Haiyan nodded: "Yes, yes, yes, Madam's arrangement is still appropriate. Where are the snacks?"
Nanny Lian said, "We have sent someone to the snack shop to buy some. Aunt Hong and Kun Zhang also ordered some red bean cakes, green bean cakes, and yellow bean cakes."
Yang Haiyan thought for a moment and said, "Oh, right, the guests must be tired from all the traveling. It's too late to prepare dinner right now. Let's make some wontons, dumplings, and buns to fill their stomachs first."
Aunt Lian smiled and said, "You just gave instructions and it has been arranged."
Yang Haiyan pondered for a while, and then said, "Guests from the capital will definitely bring servants with them. Our people just need to wait at the gate of the courtyard. There are no maids at home, so let Kunshi arrange guards to wait at the gate of the courtyard in case of emergency."
Aunt Lian said, "Yes, Madam, do you have any other instructions?"
Yang Haiyan sighed, "This is my first time entertaining distinguished guests. I'm confused and nervous right now, and I don't know what to pay attention to. Mammy, please keep an eye on me. If there's anything I need to pay attention to, please remind me and I'll think about it."
Nanny Lian said, "Yes, I am watching."
Just as we had finished making arrangements here, the guard came and said, "Madam, the general has returned with distinguished guests from the capital, and the general wants you to come over."
Yang Haiyan nodded: "Mammy, please follow me."
Nanny Lian followed.
Yang Haiyan walked out of the inner courtyard and headed towards the front yard. She used to walk slowly and leisurely, but today her steps made her feel extremely heavy. The imperial edict was a symbol of the imperial power in this ancient society. She seemed to have never thought that one day, she would need to kneel down to receive an imperial edict.
Tao Shan only said that the eunuch in the palace brought her an imperial edict. Seeing that Tao Shan didn't know what the imperial edict was, she didn't know what the imperial edict was either. Therefore, Yang Haiyan was nervous and uneasy. It felt very bad to have her life and property in the hands of others. This was also the reason why Yang Haiyan didn't like going to the capital. Because of her low status, anyone could look down on her, insult her, and step on her.
Perhaps for people of this era, this is nothing, they are born accustomed to such nobility and lowliness, such imperial rule, but she is not.
Her mentality has been adjusted and changed again and again. She originally just wanted to live a good life with Qin Fang, not to cause trouble, and just to live in peace. When Qin Fang became a captain, she felt that this was enough for their whole life. Now Qin Fang has become a general, and the life she faces has also begun to change. However, she can't ask Qin Fang to give up everything he has now. Even if she is afraid of everything she is about to face, she can't ask Qin Fang to give up. For a woman, if she wants a man to give up his career for herself, this is too selfish. Although she is not a selfless person, she can't be so selfish.
Since we can't change it, we can only adapt to it.
Yang Haiyan saw Qin Fang. He was the most conspicuous among the crowd. His height was outstanding. His straight figure was like a towering tree, making her feel extremely reliable. He walked towards her, every step was steady. "Yan Yan."
Suddenly, Yang Haiyan's uneasy heart gradually calmed down. Even if the life she was about to face was beyond her control, so what? The worst result was nothing more than death, and she had already died once, so she was not afraid of death. So, she had him by her side, so what did she need to be afraid of? She came to this world unexpectedly, and from being single to married, even flash marriages were not so fast. This man satisfied her from the inside out. Especially his personality, which seemed to be tailor-made for her. With such a husband, she was already very satisfied with this life.
Yang Haiyan smiled at him: "My husband is back." This smile cast aside all her worries and knots. Compared with the gentleness she had deliberately pretended to be in the past, her smile at this moment was full of deep love and dependence.
Qin Fang was not a fool. He had only felt her tenderness and beauty before, but never her love or affection. But at this moment, the way she looked at him seemed to be lit up by the stars, and there was a love that he could easily detect. Qin Fang also smiled foolishly: "Come here, Yanyan, I'll introduce you to the guests." His voice became even gentler, and even his heartbeat was faster.
Qin Fang brought Yang Haiyan to Wei Ting and Chief Steward Chi and said, "Master Wei, Chief Steward Chi, this is my wife Yang."