Zhang Liang’s move has posed a massive dilemma for the powerful nobles.
If they let it go unchecked, Zhang Liang might really wipe out the bandits all the way back to Xichuan.
That would mean huge losses.
Yet the Zhenyuan Army’s bandit suppression is perfectly justified, and no one can find fault with it.
If they dare to retaliate, when the Ninth Princess returns, they will be in serious trouble.
For a moment, the room full of nobles had no idea what to do.
“We cannot let the Zhenyuan Army run wild like this!” Lord Zhou said, stroking his goatee. “Otherwise, we will have offended the Ninth Princess for nothing this time!”
“Of course we know we cannot let the Zhenyuan Army run wild, but we cannot take action against them either. How do we stop them?” the fat Xu asked, slapping the table.
“We cannot take action against the Zhenyuan Army, but that does not mean we cannot take action against Jinchuan, does it?”
The goatee shook his head sagely in response.
“Lord Zhou, if you have thought of another clever plan, stop keeping us in suspense and just say it!”
The eunuch sitting at the head could not hold back any longer and urged him to speak.
“There is a way, but this matter cannot be done by one family alone. It requires everyone’s cooperation.”
Lord Zhou stroked his beard again and explained his plan.
“Hahaha, Lord Zhou is truly full of wisdom. This plan is excellent!”
The fat Xu clapped his hands in delight.
“Then let us do it that way!” The eunuch at the head nodded slightly. “This matter affects all of our interests. No matter what grudges there were before, I hope everyone can set them aside now and work together to make this succeed!”
“Do not worry, Duke. We know what is at stake!”
The assembled nobles all voiced their assurances.
Soon, one carrier pigeon after another flew out from Xichuan City, heading towards the Jinchuan direction.
Jinchuan, Xihe Bay.
Guan Xiaorou still had no idea that the village had been targeted by the nobles. She was currently twisting Guan Xiao’e’s ear while scolding her.
“I told you to tend the fire, yet you still slack off and laze about. Do you believe I will send you back tomorrow?”
Influenced by his previous life, Jin Feng refused to keep household slaves even though the family was now extremely wealthy.
Guan Xiaorou had grown up in hardship too. Before marrying Jin Feng, her greatest wish was to have a bowl of vegetable porridge every day.
Frugality was ingrained in her bones.
With Runiang away, she cooked herself.
The task of tending the fire fell to Xiao’e.
But Xiao’e was still a child, her character not yet fully formed.
After more than half a year of comfortable living, she had almost forgotten the previous hardships.
She was not exactly waited on hand and foot, but she was no longer the pitiful little girl she once was.
She had just been playing in the courtyard when Guan Xiaorou dragged her to tend the fire, so naturally she was unwilling.
“If you send me back, so be it. My brother’s house has much better food now. My sister-in-law has taken four concubines for him, so he definitely will not make me tend the stove. Going back would save me from you forcing me to study every day!”
Xiao’e pouted and muttered under her breath.
“Do you think I enjoy forcing you? You find it annoying, and I find it tiresome too!”
Guan Xiaorou replied irritably. “You really do not know how fortunate you are. Do you think every family’s girl gets to study? If not for your brother-in-law’s ability to earn money and open a school, you would not even have a place to study!”
“What is the use of earning money?” Xiao’e curled her lip. “In the operas, rich young ladies all have maids. My brother-in-law is so wealthy, yet he is too stingy to buy even one maid for me. I still have to tend the fire and cook for you. It is just the fate of a poor person!”
“What did you say? Dare to say that again!”
Guan Xiaorou was so angry that she slapped Xiao’e hard on the back twice. “You still want a maid? Without your brother-in-law, no one would even want you as a maid!
Guan Xiao’e, remember this well. Without your brother-in-law, we two would have starved to death long ago, who knows where!
If you ever dare say such a thing again, I will tear your mouth apart!”
“Why can I not say it?” Xiao’e retorted defiantly. “Brother-in-law himself said everyone has the right to freedom of speech. He also said no one is perfect or all-knowing, so what he says might not always be right!”
“What your brother-in-law says is right!” Guan Xiaorou, having no education, could not argue with Xiao’e, so she simply asserted her authority as the elder sister. “I do not care about the rest, but the master of the house says that without studying, you will never amount to anything in life. You must study, and if you do not, I will beat you to death!”
“Then beat me to death!” Xiao’e said stubbornly, craning her neck. “I am not going to the school this afternoon! And from now on, I will never tend the stove for you again!”
“You… you…”
Guan Xiaorou trembled with anger, turned to grab a broom, and started whipping Xiao’e on the bottom.
Xiao’e, equally stubborn, just stood there and took it.
Fortunately, Tang Dongdong returned for lunch, saw what was happening, and quickly rushed over to snatch the broom away.
“What have you two got into now?” Tang Dongdong said with a helpless laugh. “Xiao’e, what trouble have you caused this time? Look how angry you have made your sister!”
“Ask her!” Xiao’e cried and ran out.
“Stop right there!” Guan Xiaorou was so furious she wanted to chase after her, but Tang Dongdong held her back.
“Enough, do not chase her!”
Tang Dongdong signalled with her eyes to the female escort following behind, and the escort immediately went after Xiao’e.
Tang Dongdong pulled Guan Xiaorou to sit in the courtyard and, holding back a smile, asked, “What happened to make you this angry?”
“You tell me, she has only had a few good days, and already she complains that the master of the house does not buy her a maid!”
Guan Xiaorou wiped her tears and recounted what had just happened.
After listening, Tang Dongdong wore an expression of “I knew it”.
Guan Xiaorou was famously gentle and rarely lost her temper.
Seeing her this angry, Tang Dongdong knew the matter most likely involved Jin Feng.
Now she understood. It turned out Xiao’e had spoken ill of Jin Feng.
In Guan Xiaorou’s heart, Jin Feng was like a object of faith. Anyone who spoke ill of him would definitely face her wrath.
“Dongdong, tell me, is she not an ungrateful wretch? Without the master of the house, she would have starved to death long ago, who knows where. Yet now she complains about him!”
Guan Xiaorou said angrily. “You should not have stopped me just now. I would have thrown her into the mountains to go hungry for a few days and let her reflect properly!”
“Xiao’e is still a child. Why take it so seriously with her?”
Tang Dongdong wiped Guan Xiaorou’s tears and comforted her. “Besides, Xiao’e usually adores Brother Feng so much she wants to hang on him all day. Today she must have spoken in the heat of the moment.”
“If not for that, I would have driven her away long ago!”
“Alright, when she comes back tonight, I will talk to her and make her write a self-criticism. Will that do?”
Tang Dongdong pulled Guan Xiaorou to her feet. “Come on, I will tend the fire for you. I have been busy all morning and I am starving!”
“Oh, right, I will go cook for you!”
Only then did Guan Xiaorou remember she had not cooked yet and hurried to the kitchen.
Tang Dongdong followed with a smile, lifted her skirt, sat on the small stool, and stuffed a handful of dry firewood into the stove.
She was about to comfort Guan Xiaorou further when Xiaoyu hurried in. “Sister-in-law, Factory Director Tang, something has happened in Guangyuan!”
