After having children, life is not as free as before, but it also has a lot more fun.
Cao Xi stayed with his child and grew up day by day, while Qin Zhao managed Luzhou City with peace of mind.
There was not much money left in the treasury of Luzhou City, so Qin Zhao would go there every day to look at the farmers' houses and watch the growth of sweet potatoes, wishing they could be turned into money on the spot. Of course, he would also go to the city wall to see the guards of Luzhou City.
On this day, Qin Zhao came back from his inspection and heard exclamations coming from the bedroom.
Qin Zhao pushed the door open and saw Cao Xi holding Qin Yuxuan, a little fleshy ball, with both hands empty.
Qin Zhao was shocked: "He can actually stand up."
Qin Yuxuan heard his father's voice, turned his head and looked around, saying hello, holding one of his little fleshy hands on the bedpost, and reaching out to grab Qin Zhao with the other.
Unexpectedly, his body lost balance and fell backwards. Fortunately, Cao Xi caught him.
Cao Xi hugged Qin Yuxuan, lowered her head and kissed his belly, making Qin Yuxuan's child laugh out loud.
Qin Zhao saw that the two of them were having fun, and they were imitating each other. Unexpectedly, as soon as he put his head towards her, Qin Yuxuan grabbed his hair.
"Ouch, it hurts."
The child was not very strong but was very strong. The couple was in a hurry to free Qin Zhao's hair.
Qin Zhao rubbed his head and giggled. "My son has great hands"
…
Qin Yuxuan, who was sleeping, was put on the small bed by Cao Xi.
Qin Zhao hugged Cao Xi, thinking about the development of Luzhou City, but his hands were touching and pinching dishonestly.
Cao Xi got angry and slapped him. "Am I a steamed bun?"
Qin Zhao was so funny that he took back his hand and held Cao Xi's fingers, "Make dough steamed buns."
Cao Xi had a lot of charm after giving birth, and she was thinking about how to lose weight every day. Qin Zhao, a mean-mouthed person, dared to call her a steamed bun.
"I think your skin is itchy"
Cao Xi pushed Qin Zhao down and slid his hand along the skirt of his clothes. His fingertips slid and Qin Zhao's ears gradually turned red.
Since Qin Yuxuan's child was sleeping, the two of them did not dare to play loudly, so they had to hold back their laughter. You touch me and I kiss you.
The candlelight swayed, and the shadows were in pairs.
It wasn't until both of them were exhausted and panting that the war stopped.
Cao Xi leaned in Qin Zhao's arms.
"The people in Luzhou City are suffering too much. They have been invaded by foreign enemies all year round, and some have even left their hometowns."
Qin Zhao: "Don't worry, as long as I'm here, if the barbarians dare to invade, they will never come back."
Cao Xi hugged Qin Zhao's waist tightly. How could she not be worried that a scholar was a common man, engaged in economic affairs internally and faced enemies externally.
Cao Xi: "Let's make sugar. Refining sugar will make it the pillar industry of Luzhou City. If we have money, we can raise troops. If we have troops, we can fight against the enemy."
"Well, listen to my wife."
Qin Zhao frowned, seeing that the New Year was approaching, and as usual in previous years, the barbarians were afraid that they would take action.
............................
Early the next morning, Cao Xi asked Xing'er to take care of Qin Yuxuan, while she was in the study, thinking of various sugar recipes, such as milk sugar, fruit sugar, and rainbow sugar.
After writing and drawing all morning, I finally recorded everything about sugar in my brain. I also drew a lot of sugar shapes, which look very novel.
Cao Xi put away the written information and handed it to Qin Zhao when he came back. Before starting the sugar making, he prepared all the molds and food coloring.
Finally, it was the day of autumn harvest, and Qin Zhao went to the fields early.
People are busy harvesting sweet potatoes while the sun is not out. This year, the sweet potato government will recycle them.
The people took great care of them, and the sweet potatoes were plump and plump, and the harvest was gratifying.
With the arrival of sweet potatoes, the sugar factory officially started operations, and the workers who had worked in the sugar industry returned to work.
Qin Zhao compiled the information given by Cao Xi into a book and named it "Luzhou Sugar Book". It was a thick book, and every page was a secret recipe for making sugar.
Qin Zhao set this book as a confidential document in Luzhou City, and no one except the core personnel could touch it.
The first batch of candies was of course dominated by Qi Qige. Qin Zhao wrote a letter specifically asking him if he would like more this year.
Qi Qige soon wrote back, including a shipping address. He ordered two hundred barrels of sugar to be produced and sent to the designated location.
The remaining sugar was left to the people of Luzhou City. The people lined up in long lines to buy a certain share of sugar, which was taken to various prefectures and sold sporadically.
The weather is getting cooler day by day, and Qin Yuxuan can already walk around the house with his short legs.
Cao Xi moved the indoor furniture out, and the space became larger. Qin Yuxuan's children ran more happily.
One day, Qin Zhao was holding his son and stacking blocks in the house. Cao Xi was sitting by the bed making clothes for Qin Zhao. A needle went through the fabric and stuck into Cao Xi's hand.
"Hiss" there were drops of blood on his finger when he was pricked by the needle.
Qin Zhao put down his son, came to Cao Xi's side, grabbed his hand and put it in his mouth.
Cao Xi was flustered for no reason, "The Chinese New Year is coming soon, you must defend the city gate well."
She was worried that barbarians would rob her during the Chinese New Year.
Qin Zhao: "Stop it, I have clothes to wear."
Cao Xi wanted to roll her eyes, who was yelling all day long, not wearing clothes made by his wife, and feeling very sad.
"Let me talk to you about business." Cao Xi was very dissatisfied, but Qin Zhao ignored her question.
"Don't worry, we have strengthened the patrols in the city and the defense of the city gates."
Cao Xi: "Since you took office, the barbarians have been quiet, so I'm afraid that I won't have a good time during this New Year."
"If they dare to come, then don't go back." Qin Zhao's eyes flashed sharply.
Cao Xi's worry is not unreasonable. On New Year's Eve, thousands of houses are lit up with lights.
The people are in the atmosphere of celebrating the New Year, but the danger is approaching silently.
............
"Young Master, I didn't expect that Luzhou City would change so much."
A stout man sighed to the skinny boy next to him.
"The city of Luzhou has been replaced by the governor." The young man is Ajia, the son of the barbarian leader.
"I think this new governor is also a fool."
They were a group of eleven people, and they came in as soon as they said they were coming in. They were the guards guarding the door. They looked at them with complicated expressions, probably because they were afraid.
"Don't take it lightly. Luzhou City has changed so much. Xinzhizhou is somewhat capable." The changes on both sides of the street really surprised Ajia.
The big man who was rebutted laughed indifferently. There was nothing to be afraid of. He could crush a bunch of drunkards like an ant to death.
The streets are particularly lively during the Chinese New Year, with many people crowding around and shopping.
The big man looked at the group of shoppers, his eyes shining, "The people of Luzhou City, no matter how many times they rob them, they can still make money." Tsk, tsk, tsk, it's a bug that can't be crushed.
They were walking in the middle of the main street, and everyone who saw them would stare at them for a while before leaving. This aroused Ajia's alertness. He looked at his companions and then at himself.
"There is something wrong with the way we are dressed."
The big man was a little puzzled. He looked at the clothes of the people around him and compared them.
"Young Master, there is no problem. We dress according to local customs."
"Well" since it's not a matter of clothing, then what is the reason that makes them stand out.
At the same time, the door of the government office was almost broken by the people. People kept reporting that there were suspicious foreigners on the street, asking the government to go and check.
Zhang Meng was notified immediately, and the officers and soldiers at the observation tower notified him as soon as they discovered something was going on.
Zhang Meng instructed the officers and soldiers guarding the city to let them in and close the city gate to strengthen the protection of Luzhou City.
"This is your first mission. I hope you will not let down the training Luzhou City has given you over the past six months."
As soon as Zhang Meng obtained Cao Xi's military information, he formed this wild donkey team.
The name was chosen casually because Zhang Meng was eating donkey meat and burning it.
The Wild Donkey Team has gone through various assessments, and everyone has a skill and has undergone rigorous training.
They disguised themselves as normal people and wandered the streets, but since their targets were group activities, it was difficult to take action.
Until dusk, Ajia and his party came to the wine shop to have dinner.
"Young master, I want to go to the latrine." One of the big men got up and went to the backyard.
It was about half tea time and no one came back.
"Did he fall into a trap? I'll go take a look."
With that said, another strong man went to the backyard, but still didn't come back.
"Young Master, if you don't want me to go take a look"
Aga: "Well, be careful and shout if you have any questions."
The people from the past still haven't come back, and Ajia finally realizes the difference around him.
The customers in the wine shop are no longer the same people who just came in. Even the shopkeeper and waiters have changed.
"Pick up the guy and leave"
Ajia grabbed the knife in his hand. As soon as he stood up, the waiter held the knife against him from behind.
In an instant, the two forces formed a confrontation.
