Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 422 - 234 Foreigner_2

Chapter 422: Chapter 234 Foreigner_2

Who knows how many of those who left will ultimately return? Qian Yixiu felt a sudden wave of melancholy.

Aside from Fan Erhei, Qian Yixiu hoped everyone would return safely, including the annoying Li Shuanzi. Although Li Shuanzi was unpleasant, he didn’t deserve death. But Fan Erhei, his hands were stained with a life taken, and she hoped that Heaven would claim him.

She overheard several men declaring loudly that Ji’an Province was assembling twenty thousand soldiers to head north, with over ten thousand already departed. These several thousand new recruits would train outside Xizhou Mansion for half a month before heading north, led by a General named Huo.

Qian Yixiu then thought of the young General Xiaohuo who had come to her home for a hunt and wondered if the General training the recruits might be his father.

Arriving at the Wan family’s residence, her younger aunt was holding Sister Fang in the courtyard, basking in the sunlight. The younger aunt wore an embroidered long silk cotton robe in willow green, her full figure making her appear all the more exquisite, while her round face beamed with pure maternal love and joy.

Seeing Qian Yixiu, she hurriedly called out, "Yixiu, come and see Sister Fang, she can giggle now."

Indeed, tickled by Qian Yixiu, Sister Fang laughed a toothless, giggly laugh non-stop, resembling her aunt incredibly.

Qian Yixiu said with a smile, "Sister Fang is growing more like our aunt every day, even more so when she laughs." Then, she took out the little cloak and hat made by Lady Wu to compare them against Sister Fang.

Wan Dazhong emerged from the side room and said with a laugh, "It’s good she resembles your aunt. If she looked like your uncle, it might be tough to find her a match."

Shortly after, an unhappy Wan Erniu came out from the main room, rebuking, "What nonsense are you speaking? My Wan family’s daughter will have no trouble getting married, no matter what she looks like." With that said, he smiled with squinted eyes as he took Sister Fang from Qian Manxia’s arms, his huge fan-like hands wide enough to span half of Sister Fang’s body when laid side by side.

Qian Yixiu discussed with Wan Dazhong the intention to invite Doctor Du to tend to her mother-in-law at home.

Wan Dazhong nodded and said, "That’s a good idea, I will go to Sanxian Town to find Doctor Du right now."

Qian Yixiu ate lunch at the Wan family’s before returning to Guiyuan.

In the evening, Wan Dazhong arrived at Guiyuan, informing them that Doctor Du had agreed to come the next day.

Dining at Guiyuan, Old woman Qian learned about the considerable sum of silver spent to have the midwife’s family come to look after Cheng Yue, and her face wrinkled with distress like a steamed bun. She exclaimed, "Good heavens, giving birth requires so much money? She’s not a Princess or Commandery Princess; is she that important?"

Qian Yijin said with a smile, "Great-grandma, my mother is now the wife of a fifth-rank officer; of course, she’s important."

Only then did Old woman Qian remember that her grandson was a high-ranking official and Cheng Yue was to become a Wife of the Imperial decree. She laughed and said, "Of course, I’ve become muddled again."

On the twentieth of the twelfth lunar month, siblings Qian Yijin and Qian Yixiu started their extended holiday, lasting until the twentieth of the first lunar month of the following year.

That day, the weather suddenly changed, becoming gloomy with light snowfall. Bundled up warmly, the siblings took a horse-drawn carriage with two ox carts in tow, headed to Xishan County Town.

They went to deliver New Year gifts to the households of Master County Magistrate Sir Wong, County Magistrate Sir Wu, the Zhang family, the Qianxiang House, and the Old Yu Family, who had sent their gifts to the Qian family earlier and had them delivered to Guiyuan. Sir Wong and Sir Wu were now very courteous toward the Qian family, not only because Qian Manjiang was a fifth-rank military officer but also because he was currently serving under Prince Ning and was one of the Prince’s confidants.

The New Year gifts for the Song family in the provincial capital had been delivered by Huang Tie a few days back, and Steward Wong had sent the Song Mansion’s gifts to Guiyuan. Fourth Master Song, who now oversaw the Song family’s domestic affairs, held the Qian family in high regard, and naturally, the gifts they sent to the Qian family were much better than in previous years.

It was heard that Old Master Song and his family had returned to the Capital City, and through Old Duke Liang’s connections, Old Master Song was successfully reinstated and continued to serve as the Minister of Revenue. The person who had taken over his position three years back, being part of the Third Prince’s faction, had been ousted. Second Old Master Song was still waiting for an assignment but was rumored to already have prospects.

The gifts for Shopkeeper Cui family, as well as for the Liang Mansion in the Capital City, had been sent at the beginning of the month, with Shopkeeper Cui having returned to the capital.

They also entrusted Shopkeeper Cui with separate letters and gifts from Qian Yixiu and Qian Yijin to Liang Jinzhao.

The siblings’ letters were written individually; Qian Yijin mainly wished Liang Jinzhao to climb even higher, penning two pages. Qian Yixiu’s letter spanned over a dozen pages. After extending pleasantries wishing him success, she wrote many "imaginings" about firearms, hoping to spark new ideas for their firearms development.