Having experienced defeat, the barbarians no longer dared to cross the border easily.
Although everyone has reached a cooperation agreement, Luzhou City's defense is still like an iron barrel.
Every common person will still inform the government office about outsiders, and will also take strangers to the government office to receive rewards.
The governance of Luzhou City was on track, and Zhang Meng's army was no longer hungry.
In the government office, the clerk stood in front of Qin Zhao, reporting on the work changes in the past six months.
"Sir, in the past two years, the number of immigrants from outside Luzhou City has increased. Will this affect the interests of our local people?"
Qin Zhao: "The advantages outweigh the disadvantages. Although the people are more competitive, Luzhou City will develop faster."
Qin Zhao has been appointed in Luzhou City for five years, and there has not been a war in these five years.
The people in the imperial court paid half of the taxes, and the government government paid half of them, which made the people in various states envious.
They tried their best to register their household registration in Luzhou City. Luzhou City also strictly controlled the incoming and outgoing population, and those with skills were given priority to settle down.
Trade with the barbarians was carried out every year, and cattle and sheep were made into dried meat and meat sauce by Qin Zhao.
Except for military expenses, everything else was sold, and the income was considerable.
The imperial court awarded Qin Zhao more and more frequently. Qi Qige once revealed in a letter that the imperial court intended to let him return to the capital to serve.
.............................
Cao Xi and Qin Zhao still live in the backyard of the government office. Qin Yuxuan is four years old. At first glance, he looks like a smaller version of Qin Zhao. He looks exactly the same. Cao Xi always looks at him in fascination.
"Qin Yuxuan, don't run away just after eating."
Cao Xi had a stern face, and he didn't know who he followed this out-of-the-box character.
As soon as Qin Yuxuan heard his mother calling him by his first and last name, he immediately sat down at the dinner table and watched his parents eat.
"If this child was half as well-behaved and cute as you were when you were a child, I wouldn't be so tired."
Cao Xi looked at Qin Zhao resentfully, wondering why he looked exactly the same but had a completely different temperament.
Qin Zhao smiled and served Cao Xi, "I was more naughty than him before I was five years old."
Cao Xi felt a little sad when he heard that a good young master from a rich family turned into a little beggar.
"Then let him have fun and forget about it."
Qin Yuxuan's eyes lit up when he heard this. Just when he was about to give it a try, he heard his father say: "How can you fool around when you are four years old? I could read and write when I was four years old."
Qin Yuxuan curled his lips and sat upright in aggrieved manner.
"I can also read and write, and I can also do boxing and kicking," he said, turning his little fist and waving it hard twice.
Cao Xi pinched Qin Yuxuan's chubby little face with his hand.
“We at Yuxuan are amazing, it’s great.”
Qin Zhao glared at Qin Yuxuan and said, "Beware of arrogance and impetuosity."
Qin Yuxuan felt that his father was jealous of him, because every time his mother watched him boxing, she would pour water for him to wipe his sweat, saying that this is what a man should be like. Thinking about his father's resentful eyes, he couldn't help laughing "hehe".
When Qin Zhao saw his stupid son, he smiled stupidly with dull eyes and helplessly wanted to hold his forehead.
"If the imperial court orders you to come back to Beijing, you will be willing to do so." Cao Xi thought of Qi Qige's letter a few days ago.
"As a minister, of course you will go wherever the emperor asks you to go. If you don't want to, you have to leave."
Qin Zhao sighed. He had put in too much effort in Luzhou City, and of course he would be reluctant to leave.
Cao Xi: "No matter where you go, I will accompany you"
"I'll stay with you too"
Qin Yuxuan raised his little hand and echoed from the side, making the couple laugh.
The imperial decree was quickly issued, appointing Qin Zhao as the Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Before the end of December, it was reported that Zhang Meng was the one who reacted most violently to the news.
He finally met a capable colleague who was taken away by the imperial court. How could he not be excited?
"The Minister of Civil Service is not that good either."
Zhang Meng circled Qin Zhao several times.
"How wonderful Luzhou City is. You have the final say in all of Luzhou."
"How about you talk to the emperor?"
Qin Zhao's words made Zhang Meng stop abruptly, and he sat on a chair beside him in frustration.
Zhang Meng: “I don’t know who will take over your fat job.”
Luzhou City is not what it used to be. It was one of the richest cities in the world.
Qin Zhao: "No matter who comes, I just hope he can benefit the people."
Zhang Meng: "I hope so." It was getting late and the two of them went home separately.
When Cao Xi learned that Qin Zhao's appointment letter came out, it was already afternoon, and Mu Mu ran back with excitement on his face to tell her that Qin Zhao had been promoted.
I thought Cao Xi would be happy, but her reaction was dull. She was puzzled but didn't ask any more questions.
In the evening, when Qin Zhao came back, Xing'er had already laid out the food. The little Qin Yuxuan was sitting at the dining table, drooling, but he still sat quietly.
Cao Xi sent Xing'er down to eat, and he stepped forward to take off his official robe for Qin Zhao, "I heard from Mu Mu that the appointment letter has come down."
Qin Zhao: "Well, I'm here. I'll report in at the end of December."
Cao Xi: "Isn't this quick?"
Qin Zhao: "Yes, so you have to prepare now"
Qin Zhao put on his regular clothes and reached out to pinch Cao Xi's cheek.
Cao Xi slapped him angrily, and before the two of them walked out, they heard Qin Yuxuan shouting outside.
"Father and mother, come out quickly. If you don't come out, the fish will be cold."
"Pfft" Cao Xi couldn't help laughing.
Qin Zhao couldn't help laughing: "This stinky boy"
It was also difficult for him. He could only look at a table of delicious food but not eat it. It was too torturous.
When Cao Xi and Qin Zhao came out, they saw Qin Yuxuan looking at them with bright eyes. After Qin Zhao and Cao Xi took the first bite of the meal.
Qin Yuxuan acted as if he had issued a ban, holding his own small chopsticks and quickly picking up his favorite dishes, with a happy look on his face, which was very similar to Qin Zhao when he was a child.
Cao Xi's heart softened when she saw it. She would pick up dishes for Qin Yuxuan from time to time. The interaction between mother and son made Qin Zhao a little sour. He raised the bowl in front of Cao Xi's eyes, his meaning was obvious.
Cao Xi had no choice but to grab a piece of braised pork for Qin Zhao, and then saw a smile on Qin Zhao's aggrieved face.
Qin Yuxuan has long been surprised by his father's childish behavior.
He picked up a piece of fish with chopsticks, raised his little arms high, and put it into Cao Xi's bowl.
Then he looked at Cao Xi with a smile and a look on his face, please praise me.
Cao Xi couldn't be happier as she ate the fish her son caught.
“Yuxuan is great”
Cao Xi praised Qin Yuxuan without hesitation, and Qin Yuxuan's little eyes immediately looked at Qin Zhao proudly.
Qin Zhao felt his hands were a little itchy, and he always wanted to hit people. After the meal, Cao Xi almost didn't pick up the vegetables. It was the two of them who brought it to the bowl with one chopstick and one chopstick.
Qin Zhao transferred the order and resigned from the post of magistrate of Luzhou and was promoted to Shangshu of the Ministry of Personnel.
The day to leave Luzhou City was set, and Cao Xi began to pack up his things at home, taking away what he could and giving away what he couldn't take away.
The people of Luzhou were very sad to know that Qin Zhao was going to take a post in Beijing. From time to time, people's representatives would send things to the government office. Qin Zhao, who was already sad, had his eyes even redder.
"I asked Qi Qige to pay attention to the house in the capital. When we arrive in the capital, we will stay in an inn for two days."
When Qin Zhao received the appointment, he wrote a letter to Qi Qige and asked him to help find a second-entry house in the capital.
"also"
When you arrive in a new place, accommodation is always the first problem you encounter.
...........
Qin Zhao and Cao Xi left Luzhou in early November. They didn't want to leave so early, but the person who took over arrived early, so Qin Zhao had to step down and set off.
When passing by Qizhou City, Qin Zhao asked Banli to take Xing'er and Mumu to stay at the inn first.
They returned to the original small courtyard. There was a knock on the courtyard door, and it was an old man who opened the door.
"Rob"
Cao Xi stood in front of the door, Qin Zhao held Qin Yuxuan beside her
Robert rubbed his eyes, looked at Cao Xi, then Qin Zhao, and finally reacted.
"Master and Madam, you are back"
Robert was a little excited, and all the doors were opened. Robert turned sideways to let Cao Xi and Qin Zhao enter the hospital.
"Master, this is the young master, right?"
Rob was very sure that this baby doll looked exactly like Qin Zhao. No one would believe him if he said he was not his biological child.
Qin Zhao knocked Qin Yuxuan in his arms and "called for someone."
Qin Yuxuan rolled his eyes, a big smile broke out on his face, and he sweetly shouted to Robert: "Hello, Robert."
"Hey, good, good, young master."
Rob's wrinkled face became animated with a smile.
Qin Zhao was funny and angry. He patted Qin Yuxuan's butt and said, "No matter how big or small, call me Grandpa Luo."
Before Qin Yuxuan could call someone again, Rob hurriedly stopped him, "You can't do that, you can't do it. Just call Rob."
Although the master's family is nice, he doesn't dare to let the young master call him grandpa.
Cao Xi stood in the small courtyard and looked around. The courtyard was neat and clean, and the jujube trees were repaired straight.
"Master and Madam, please go inside and rest first."
Rob opened the door to the master bedroom. The room was clean and tidy.
Rob was a little embarrassed when he saw that there were no quilts on the bed.
"I'll make the bed right now."
Cao Xi hurriedly stopped him, "No need, Rob, we can just clean up ourselves."
Rob: "Then I'll cook for you." Then he walked to the kitchen.
It was too late for Cao Xi to stop her. She smiled and said to Qin Zhao, "Go and tell him that there is no need to do anything. Let's go to Runxiang Garden and eat hot pot tonight."
Qin Zhao put down Qin Yuxuan and said, "Go and help your mother make the bed. Daddy will be back soon."
Qin Yuxuan ran up to Cao Xi with short legs, hugged her legs, and looked up at her with his little head.
"Mom, let me make your bed."
The soft body bump made Cao Xi's heart melt, and she rubbed Qin Yuxuan's little head with her hands.
"Okay, then Yuxuan opens the cabinet door first."
Although there was no bedding, the bed was spotless and the whole room was bright and clear.
While Qin Yuxuan was struggling with the cabinet door, a pair of big hands opened the cabinet door easily.
Qin Yuxuan thought his mother had helped him, and turned around happily, only to see his father standing behind him.
He pouted and crossed his arms across his chest.
"I can drive it myself"
"Well, just wait until you get older." Qin Zhao pinched Qin Yuxuan's little fleshy face.
Humph, my father is so bad, he has to show off in front of his mother not once or twice.
If everyone hadn't said they looked alike, he would have suspected that he was not his father's biological child.
Cao Xi took the bedding from Qin Zhao and spread it out in a few seconds. The three of them fell on the bed together.
"I can finally straighten my waist." Cao Xi exhaled a long breath.
Qin Yuxuan turned his face, looked at Cao Xi and said, "Mother, are you tired? I'll give you a pat on the back."
He accidentally saw his father beating his mother's back and said that it could relieve fatigue. He also wanted to beat his mother's back.
Cao Xi turned to look at him. She couldn't refuse her son's filial piety, so she stretched out her arms.
"Then Yuxuan, give me a squeeze on your arm."
Qin Yuxuan sat up from the bed neatly, pinched Cao Xi's arm with his little hand, and asked if he felt comfortable from time to time.
Qin Zhao didn't even notice his attentive appearance. He was so petty and flattering, and he didn't know who he learned it from. After thinking about the people he had the most contact with, Zhang Meng didn't look like such a person.
Qin Zhao guessed right, Qin Yuxuan's trick of flattering others was really taught by Zhang Meng.
The reason why Zhang Meng was able to get along so well at home was because he couldn't do it without two skills.
"Hi! I don't know when I will be able to enjoy the blessing of my son." Qin Zhao's voice was full of resentment as he lay beside him.
Qin Yuxuan's little eyebrows wrinkled, and his little head quickly thought about what was wrong with his father, but when he saw that he didn't seem to be faking, he seemed really sad.
I began to feel that I had done something wrong again, how could I only pinch my mother's arm and not my father's.
So he crossed Cao Xi and sat between them, "Father, I will also squeeze your arm for you."
With two small hands squeezing one in each hand, the two adults were enjoying their son's service carelessly, not to mention how comfortable it was. But it didn't take long for Qin Yuxuan to hold on no longer.
The force became lighter and lighter, and finally there was no movement. Qin Yuxuan carefully looked at his parents and found that they did not respond, and then quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
But halfway through, he saw his mother looking at him. The face that had just relaxed tightened again, and Cao Xi couldn't help laughing. She hugged Qin Yuxuan and kissed his little face.
Qin Yuxuan's face turned red after being kissed, and the smile in his eyes almost overflowed, but his mouth was as hard as his father's.
"Mom, I have grown up, you can't kiss me anymore"
This is what his father told him. Although his father's words are not trustworthy, he should not lie to him.
Seeing him wiping the saliva on his face seriously, Cao Xi couldn't help but kiss him again.
Qin Yuxuan let out a long sigh, what else could he do? His mother wouldn't listen, so he just kissed her.
