Chapter 323: Opinion
Editor: Atlas Studios
Qi Haoran brought Mu Yangling over to take a look at the half-completed nursery. “Take a look and see if there’s anything else that needs to be changed. When the time comes, let them fix those changes all at once.”
After looking around, Mu Yangling was very satisfied. “That’s it. Build more.”
“Are you really going to agree to Magistrate Fang’s request?” Qi Haoran disagreed. “This is the military camp. Those children belong to military households. However we treat them is our business. If it involves the outside world though, others might think that we’re trying to buy people’s hearts.”
Considering his big brother held military power, it was very easy for people to misunderstand.
Mu Yangling smiled. “I know. I’ll get Magistrate Fang to give us a guarantee when the time comes.”
Qi Haoran’s heart skipped a beat. This way, Magistrate Fang would be completely tied to them. Although the military and government had always been separated, it would be more convenient for them to do things in the future if they could build a good relationship with the local officials.
“Then I have to go back and discuss it with Big Brother.”
“No need.” Mu Yangling said, “It’s best if Big Brother Qi pretends he doesn’t know about this. The few of us should handle this by ourselves, considering Magistrate Fang might change his mind.”
Qi Haoran chuckled. “He will definitely regret looking for you.”
“Who said that? I’m so kind-hearted and even helped him feed so many children.” Mu Yangling said righteously, “This is mutually beneficial. Yes, it’s at most a game. Who asked him to look down on us because of our age?”
Qi Haoran also said in all seriousness, “Yes, perhaps he’ll learn from his mistakes and won’t underestimate his enemy in the future. It’s ultimately a good thing for him.”
Mu Yangling turned to look at the three little ones and educated them. “Do you see that? This is the consequence of judging people by their looks and underestimating the enemy. Even if you haven’t suffered such a loss before, you have to remember not to underestimate your opponents easily in the future. Yes, you can’t underestimate your companions either.”
Bowen nodded fiercely. Only Xiuhong and Xiulan were still a little confused, not understanding how Magistrate Fang had suffered a loss.
Mu Yangling and Qi Haoran went to look at the canteen prepared for the children. Bowen explained to them in a low voice, “The generals stationed here are not allowed to collude with the local officials. In order to avoid suspicion and because there are conflicts between the military and politicians, the relationship between the two sides has never been good. Magistrate Fang has just arrived, and the Imperial Court doesn’t have any food relief for him. He can only rely on Big Brother Qi to intimidate the local squires to collect taxes or borrow grains. Therefore, Big Brother Qi’s relationship with him is still alright. At least, it’s not as bad as with Magistrate Wu of Xingzhou Prefecture.”
Xiulan asked in a low voice, “What does that have to do with us letting him suffer a loss?”
“Listen to Bowen. Don’t interrupt.” Xiuhong tugged at her.
Xiulan immediately shut up and made a show of listening attentively.
“Of course it’s related. The Imperial Court has qualms about generals, so much so generals above the third-grade have to leave their families in the capital as hostages. From this, it can be seen how much the Imperial Court guards against generals, right? When we set up the nursery, we only adopted orphans who had registered as military households. As their lives and deaths are decided by the military camp, it’s not considered buying people’s hearts. The Imperial Court won’t care either. However, the people sent over by Magistrate Fang are different. They are all ordinary civilians. If anything goes wrong, the imperial censor will impeach Big Brother Qi and he will be the one to bear the blame.”
Xiuhong pursed her lips and said disdainfully, “Is it wrong to do good deeds? Are you saying that we should just watch those children starve to death?”
“This is a taboo in the Imperial Court. In the past dynasties, there were many traitors who bought people’s hearts like this. Of course, those who successfully rebelled can’t be considered traitors… Anyway, Big Brother Qi can’t do this, so Sister said that she wanted Magistrate Fang to make a promise.” Bowen chuckled. “Hanzhong Prefecture doesn’t have an imperial censor.”
Although he was still young, because Teacher Liu wanted to take the Imperial Examination and he was Teacher Liu’s most valued student, Teacher Liu often talked to him about current affairs after class. Besides, his sister often brought Fourth Brother Qi’s report back to read, and that was how he came to know so much.
“Since the Imperial Court hasn’t sent an imperial censor to Hanzhong Prefecture yet, the people left in the government office are all low-ranking officials who used to work in the Jin Kingdom’s government office. The officials who came with Magistrate Fang were either demoted or half exiled here. As long as Magistrate Fang controls them, the news won’t reach the Imperial Court’s ears. In the future, it will be very easy for Big Brother Qi and the others to do anything.”
Xiulan did not understand what Big Brother Qi and the others wanted to do behind the Imperial Court’s back. She was not too interested in these things either. Feeling bored, she turned to look at the house that had already been built beside her.
However, Xiuhong looked at Bowen with bright eyes and said, “I know, I know. For example, the Magistrate Fang won’t snitch on us when we snatch things from the Jin Kingdom.”
Bowen grinned. “That’s only one aspect. There are many other benefits to us. Our cattle farm, Fourth Brother Qi’s horse farm, and many of Second Brother Fan’s businesses are in Hanzhong Prefecture. We have to deal with the government office in these matters. If Magistrate Fang becomes one of us, how convenient would it be for us?”
“Then let’s hurry up and accede to Magistrate Fang’s request.” Xiuhong said happily, “Why do we have to drag it out?”
“That won’t do. We have to discuss this matter slowly. If we agree too early, we’ll suffer in the future. Now that we’ve already suffered a loss, we have to make it back no matter what.” Bowen said happily, “Fortunately, although we’ll lose a lot of money, it’s worth it to pull Magistrate Fang into the same boat as us.”
Seeing that Xiulan was standing at the side without much interest, Bowen said unhappily, “Sister Xiulan, Mother asked you to learn more from Sister Xiuhong to broaden your horizons. Why won’t you listen?”
Xiulan pouted and said, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about, and I don’t have no interest either. I only like to read and embroider.”
Xiuhong tapped her forehead and said, “You’re really a bookworm. Just stay at home in the future.”
“No,” Bowen said domineeringly. “Sister said that Sister Xiulan will be easily bullied in the future like this. In order to learn to be stronger, you should stay by our side. If you don’t understand, I can teach you.”
Xiulan was discouraged, for she had thought that she could go home. She muttered unhappily, “Aunt isn’t bullied either.”
“That’s because she has Uncle and Cousin protecting her,” Xiuhong said. “Will you be able to marry someone like Uncle in the future? Will you be able to give birth to a daughter as capable as Cousin? Bowen is right. Even if you have no interest, you have to broaden your horizons. Otherwise, you’ll suffer after getting married in the future.”
Xiulan blushed when she heard the topic of marriage. She held her sister’s hand and followed obediently, not daring to object further.
Seeing her aggrieved look, Xiuhong couldn’t help but feel angry. Why didn’t she know to complain when she felt aggrieved?
If she was like this even in front of her own sister, wouldn’t she be even more timid when she married in the future? Xiuhong immediately decided to toughen up her younger sister’s temperament.
Xiulan, who had just come to broaden her horizons, didn’t expect to be targeted. After that, her sister made her change into tattered clothes and cut the pasture with the children. Seeing that she was soft, those kids spared no effort in bullying her.
Xiulan’s eyes were red and swollen. She thought that her older sister would ask, but she turned a blind eye to it. Hence, Xiulan, who never complained, began to stutter and complain to her sister.
Of course, that was a matter for later.