Chapter 1038: Chapter 876, Virtuous Assistant
Madam Dong helped the elderly Mrs. Dong stand at the entrance of the village until Dong Yuanxuan was no longer in sight, and only then did the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law slowly make their way ho.
On the road, the elderly Mrs. Dong sighed, “If the Little Prince had co a few months earlier, or if I hadn’t fallen ill… Although Xiaoman is a decent person, to match her with Yuanxuan…” Her eyes reddened as she spoke, “It’s an injustice to my grandson, as handso and upright as he is.”
Madam Dong also sighed, her heart sowhat unsettled by her daughter-in-law Liu Xiaoman.
The daughter-in-law had features typical of people from the border areas, tall, with dark, rough skin, a loud voice, and a sowhat wild and unruly disposition. Speaking purely of looks, her only advantage was her more pronounced facial features.
As for literacy and upbringing, there was hardly any to speak of.
Madam Dong did not bla her for these, but as a mother, she naturally wanted the best match for her son.
Seeing the elderly Mrs. Dong constantly wiping her tears with a handkerchief, Madam Dong hurriedly spoke up to comfort her, “Mother, marriages are predestined by heaven. Yuanxuan’s previous engagent was indeed to soone of status and appearance, but the person herself was not good. Our family had to annul the marriage when troubles ca.”
“Although Xiaoman has her flaws, she was the one who helped our family in our most difficult tis. We must acknowledge her generosity.”
“Speaking of which, if the Little Prince hadn’t co, our family might still be in the Gan Mountain Hundred-household Office. Moreover, since Yuanxuan had his marriage annulled, when Xiaoman married into our family, it was actually us who were reaching up.”
The elderly Mrs. Dong glanced at her daughter-in-law but did not refute her.
Seeing that the elderly Mrs. Dong looked a bit better, Madam Dong spoke with a smile, “If Xiaoman does anything wrong in the future, we can guide her. Look at her now—hasn’t she beco much more well-behaved?”
The elderly Mrs. Dong nodded, “I am not saying she’s not good. The child is indeed warm-hearted.”
Seeing Liu Xiaoman standing at the courtyard gate waiting for them, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law did not discuss further and quickened their pace.
“You’re carrying a child, hurry inside so you don’t catch a chill.”
…
Ganzhou City, Xiao Residence.
Daohua was having lunch with Gu Jian, while Xiao Yeyang was at the guard station training troops and hadn’t returned since he would eat with the soldiers at noon.
As lunch was about to end, Gu Jian asked, “Is Yeyang planning to take over the care of all the refugees outside the city?”
Daohua nodded, “Everyone who’s willing to stay will be taken in.”
Gu Jian, “Yeyang has to train troops and inspect the defense areas. Can he handle all of that?”
Daohua said with a smile, “Xiao Yeyang has sent a letter to Brother Dong. Once Dong Yuanxuan arrives, he will take charge of the refugee resettlent. That way, Xiao Yeyang can have so relief.”
Gu Jian, who was familiar with Dong Yuanxuan, nodded.
Daohua, “Xiliang has a vast land with few people. I’ve looked through the records of the Gan State Guard, and much of the land here lies fallow.”
“For other guard stations, refugees might seem burdenso, but I don’t see it that way. The land of the Gan State Guard requires a large number of people to cultivate, which would not only secure military supplies but also facilitate the developnt of the Gan State Guard. It’s killing two birds with one stone.”
Gu Jian nodded in agreent, “That’s true. The Imperial Court doesn’t give enough support to Xiliang, and transportation constraints make it even harder. If Yeyang wants to properly manage the Gan State Guard, self-sufficiency is essential.”
Daohua nodded with a smile, “Exactly.” Only by solving the supply problem could a complete defense system be established.
After the al, just as Daohua had returned to the courtyard, Yan Shouhou arrived.
“Miss, I’ve thoroughly investigated the matters of the farm and the pasture.”
“In Xiliang, farms are only built where there is an abundance of water sources. But most of these are controlled by guard station officials, and none are up for sale.”
“If we want to buy, we can only clear new land and build from scratch.”
“The farmland,” Xiao Yeyang said, “the good ones have all been claid by the guard stations as military estates.”
“And for pastures, there are so for sale, but none are very good.”
Having finished, he handed over the organized docunts to Daohua.
Daohua flipped through them briefly, “Have you personally visited all these places?”
Yan Shouhou nodded, “I have seen them all.”
Daohua thought for a mont, “Tomorrow, you accompany to take another look in person. Spring farming is about to start, and we need to hurry. By the way, those farming tools I asked you to make before the New Year, have you got them ready?”
Yan Shouhou replied, “By February, the several smithies in the city should be able to rush out seven to eight hundred sets of farming tools.”
Daohua shook her head, “That’s not enough.” She pondered for a mont, “Like this, later you go to the warehouse to get so silver, and deliver five hundred taels to each smithy, asking them to find more smiths to speed up production.”
These farming tools were not only for her own use, but she also needed to prepare a batch for the refugees.
Yan Shouhou nodded, “I will go and handle it imdiately.” As he said this, he turned and left. When he reached the doorway, he paused and added, “Miss, when I went out of the city to check on the estates and pastures, I noticed that so refugees seem to have started leaving.”
Hearing this, Daohua’s expression shifted slightly, “I am aware. You may go and attend to your duties.” After a mont’s thought, she got up and walked toward the courtyard where Physician Ge resided.
…
Physician Ge was surprised to see Daohua approaching, “Madam, what brings you here?”
Daohua asked with a smile, “How is the dical office of the guard station coming along?”
Physician Ge smiled, “Lord Xiao has specially set aside a courtyard inside the guard station for the dical office. Now the craftsn are building it according to the plan, and it should be finished in a few days.”
Daohua responded, “With Physician Ge in charge in the future, our soldiers on the frontier and the guard station’s military households won’t have to worry about lack of dical care when injured.”
“This is all thanks to the Madam for providing the dical ingredients. Without them, even if I had the ability to reach the heavens, I wouldn’t be able to apply it,” Physician Ge thought to himself that it was often said the Madam was out of Lord Xiao’s league, but from his perspective, it was Lord Xiao who was incredibly fortunate to have married her.
If Lord Xiao had married soone else, he wouldn’t have received such great support here in Xiliang. Food and dical supplies are hard currency everywhere; it’s not that others don’t have them, but very few, like the Madam, would offer them unconditionally.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Daohua broached the main topic, “The refugees outside the city, my husband plans to take them over for reclamation. To manage a region, the population is key. With people cos tax revenue and frequent business trade.”
“With the change of seasons, so refugees have begun leaving, aside from those who have hos to return to, I want to keep the rest here.”
Physician Ge: “Whatever you command, Madam, please just tell .”
Daohua: “I would like you, Physician Ge, to go to the outskirts for a few days and offer dical treatnt to the refugees for free. The officials in charge of resettling the refugees will arrive soon, and with the official promotion, we should be able to retain most of the refugees.”
Physician Ge readily agreed, “I’ve been living well and eating well in the residence lately; it’s ti I went out and did sothing. I’ll also take the dical disciples with to get so practice.”
Daohua thanked him with a smile, “Thank you, Physician Ge.”
After they talked a little longer, Daohua departed.
That sa afternoon, when Physician Ge went to play chess with Gu Jian, he ntioned Daohua’s visit and remarked, “Madam truly is a virtuous partner.”
Gu Jian smiled, “Yeyang, that young man, is indeed lucky.”
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