“Niuwa, you’re a filial good boy. You don’t have to wait until next year; you can start work tomorrow,” Jin Feng said, smiling as he patted the child’s head.
“Really?” The little boy’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Of course,” Jin Feng said, squatting down and playfully smacking Niuwa’s bare bottom. “But if you work for me, you can’t go around bare-bottomed anymore.”
“Uh-huh, tonight I’ll take the cloth to Aunt Liu to make me some trousers,” Niuwa said, eagerly grabbing his grandmother’s sleeve. “Grandma, did you hear? I can work now. I’ll take care of you!”
“I heard, I heard,” his grandmother said, smiling kindly, then bowing to Jin Feng. “Brother Feng, I’m useless in this life, but in the next, even as an ox or horse, I’ll repay your great kindness.”
The child didn’t understand, but the old woman knew Jin Feng was helping them under the guise of work.
“We’re from the same village, Seventh Aunt. Saying that makes it feel distant,” Jin Feng said, smiling as he placed the grain sack on her shoulder. “Go home now, and be careful on the way.”
After seeing Seventh Aunt off, Jin Feng entered the textile factory. Immediately, a group of widowed elders surrounded him, bowing and urging their children to kowtow to him.
This incident solidified Jin Feng’s prestige in the village. His words likely carried more weight than the village head’s now.
After sending the villagers off, Jin Feng returned home to catch his breath, only to see Qing Mulian arrive with dark circles under her eyes.
“This is my post-battle report. Please review it, sir,” Qing Mulian said, handing Jin Feng a document with both hands.
It was clear Qing Mulian put effort into the report, spanning over a dozen pages and thousands of words, covering pre-battle mobilisation to post-battle reflections.
“Well written. It could serve as a model,” Jin Feng said, smiling. “But don’t just focus on the female soldiers’ shortcomings. That’ll hurt morale. Leading an army requires clear rewards and punishments. Criticise and discipline mistakes, but praise and reward achievements. That’s the right way.”
“I’d love to praise and reward them, but this battle was such a mess. How can I?” Qing Mulian said, frustrated.
“You don’t have to praise everyone. Highlight a few who stood out,” Jin Feng said. “I heard A-Mei, A-Ju, and recruits Xiao Yu and A-Pei did well. Pick two or three to praise and reward.”
“You always have the best ideas, sir,” Qing Mulian said, her eyes brightening. “Most recruits joined for money. If I reward A-Mei and the others, everyone will see good performance brings benefits. Next battle, even if it’s for rewards, they’ll fight harder!”
“A teachable student,” Jin Feng said, smiling. “Interests are the best way to maintain relationships. To make a horse run, you must feed it first.”
“I understand. I’ll handle it now,” Qing Mulian said, standing excitedly.
“Hold on, I’m not done,” Jin Feng said, tapping the table irritably. “When will you change that impulsive streak?”
“Sir, what else is there?” Qing Mulian asked, scratching her head awkwardly.
“I’ve noticed some female soldiers aren’t suited for combat. I want to pull a few from your team to form a medical unit,” Jin Feng said.
“They don’t know medicine. How can they be medics?” Qing Mulian asked.
“I’ll teach them,” Jin Feng said.
“You know medicine, sir?” Qing Mulian asked, surprised.
“A bit of the basics, but more suited for the battlefield than local doctors,” Jin Feng said.
Qing Mulian gave him a deep look, then lowered her head. “Sir, you already know?”
“Know what?” Jin Feng asked, puzzled.
“Before coming, A-Mei told me some female soldiers are still trembling, clearly shaken from last night and not yet recovered,” Qing Mulian said. “Even if I force them to stay, they’ll be a burden. I was worrying about what to do. Did you plan the medical unit because of this?”
“No, you’re overthinking,” Jin Feng said, smiling. “I’d planned this already. If you hadn’t come, I’d have discussed it with you tomorrow.”
Jin Feng believed in leaving professional tasks to professionals. He knew no medicine, so during border wars with the Dangxiang, he avoided the wounded camp. Anticipating casualties yesterday, he’d sent Zhang Liang to fetch doctors. But watching them treat the wounded last night, he realised Dakang’s medical skills were even more backward than its metallurgy.
Dakang’s army doctors, mostly local physicians, knew diagnostics but nothing about suturing or disinfection. They sprinkled powder on wounds, wrapped them in dirty cloth, and left the rest to fate. Arm or leg injuries might survive with timely amputation, but organ wounds were nearly always fatal.
Dakang’s army had high casualty death rates, and most discharged veterans were missing limbs. Though not a doctor, Jin Feng knew basic suturing, bandaging, and disinfection. Timely disinfection and suturing could save many wounded, allowing recovery and return to combat. At worst, his methods were far better than the doctors’.
Seeing Qing Mulian sparked the idea for a medical unit. Female soldiers were ideal for it.
“Everyone rested today after no sleep yesterday. I’ll talk to them tomorrow morning. Some should agree,” Qing Mulian said. “Anything else, sir?”
“No,” Jin Feng said, shaking his head. “Rest early.”
“Alright,” Qing Mulian said, clasping her fists and leaving.
The next morning, Jin Feng went to the back hills. The male soldiers were already training with weighted gear, but Qing Mulian kept the female soldiers back.
Seeing Jin Feng approach, Qing Mulian hurried to meet him.
“How many came?” Jin Feng asked.
“Except for the four heavily injured and two with leg wounds, everyone’s here,” Qing Mulian said, pleased.
“Not bad,” Jin Feng said, nodding.
Many female soldiers were injured yesterday, so he expected only two-thirds to show. Nearly all coming was surprising.
“Sir, want to say a few words?” Qing Mulian asked, pointing to the stone platform used for speeches.
“No,” Jin Feng said, shaking his head. “I’ll speak when we discuss the medical unit.”
Qing Mulian was the female soldiers’ commander, and he didn’t want to overshadow her.
“Alright,” Qing Mulian said, jumping onto the platform.
The female soldiers looked at her, then at Jin Feng below, instinctively straightening their postures. They knew Jin Feng rarely watched their morning drills, so his presence meant something important.
