TFS – Chapter 89 Military Affairs

County Magistrate Shi had already heard about the developments in Pingshan Village. When Rong Yue finalized his business arrangements with the village, he had specifically asked someone to mention it to Magistrate Shi. Coming from a family of officials, Magistrate Shi normally wouldn’t concern himself with a mere merchant like Rong Yue. However, precisely because of his background, he understood that he couldn’t afford to underestimate Rong Yue. Offending Rong Yue wasn’t the problem—what mattered was avoiding the attention of the powerful Prince Zhao behind him. That would be a disaster with nowhere to run.

Rong Yue had hinted that certain products from Pingshan Village were personally requested by Prince Zhao. As a result, whenever someone attempted to interfere with the village’s affairs, Magistrate Shi immediately stepped in, regardless of whether the goods were directly linked to Prince Zhao’s request. That prince, though appearing sickly and weak, was the emperor’s most trusted person. Many sought his favor, but Prince Zhao showed little interest in them—yet he had accepted the olive branch extended by the Rong family.

If Prince Zhao were aware of Magistrate Shi’s careful maneuvering, he might have laughed and told him the truth: It wasn’t that he personally favored these goods—it was his imperial brother who was in urgent need of the wealth that Rong Yue provided. So, instead of scheming, they should just obediently serve his royal brother; after all, the emperor valued loyalty and diligence above all else.

As for the former military officer Li Feng, Magistrate Shi had only learned of his identity later. Since Pingshan Village had become a key location under his jurisdiction, he had taken the time to investigate its key figures. That was how he discovered that Li Feng was once a deputy general. Magistrate Shi felt a chill—by rank, this man had actually been above him. While civil and military officials often had their conflicts, he had no reason to provoke a former military officer without understanding the full extent of his connections. Who knew if Li Feng had ties to Prince Zhao?

Being a cautious man, Magistrate Shi maintained a respectful attitude, even toward Rong Yue, a merchant often looked down upon by officials. Now, upon meeting Tang Chunming, he also showed no airs, speaking warmly while also addressing the village head with concern. He asked about taxation, whether any local officials had been exploiting the villagers, and how the elderly and orphans were cared for. He even inquired about the newly established school and the teacher’s work, leaving no stone unturned.

Though the county magistrate’s manner was gentle, the village head still felt immense pressure. He carefully chose his words in response, wiping his forehead discreetly from time to time. At the same time, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride—after all, when had he ever had the chance to be personally received by the county magistrate before?

“I’ve heard that Tang Fulang is highly skilled in winemaking and that the distillery has already begun production. I would love to see it with my own eyes,” Magistrate Shi said pleasantly.

“This is just a humble craft, not worthy of your attention, my lord. But I will do my best to present it properly. Please, this way,” Tang Chunming responded modestly, letting Rong Yue and the magistrate take the lead.

As he walked behind them, he glanced at Li Feng. Li Feng, having kept an eye on him the whole time, immediately gave him a reassuring smile. In Li Feng’s eyes, his husband was the most capable person—there was no way he could go wrong. The village head, seeing how calm Li Feng and his husband were, wiped his forehead again before following along with renewed confidence.

Along the way, villagers knelt in greeting as the county magistrate passed by. Tang Chunming, sweating slightly, felt grateful that Rong Yue had pulled him up before he could kneel earlier. Across both his lifetimes, he had only ever knelt before his father. Even when Prince Zhao had visited previously, he hadn’t knelt. Was he becoming too bold?

Seeing the magistrate’s entourage heading toward the distillery, the villagers got up and began discussing the situation in high spirits.

“Did you see? That’s the same merchant who came last time! A royal merchant! That means he’s an official too! Now that our village has both Master Rong and the county magistrate backing us, let’s see who dares stir up trouble in the future! Anyone who does can be reported to the authorities and thrown in jail!”

In the past, meeting an official meant trembling with fear. Now, it was a cause for celebration.

When Rong Yue and Magistrate Shi arrived at the distillery, the workers had already been informed of their visit and stood at the entrance to welcome them. Both officials assured them that they should continue working and not delay their tasks. Then, Magistrate Shi asked Tang Chunming to give them a tour.

Back in his past life, Tang Chunming had seen officials visit the village before, so he was well-prepared for the role. He led them through each room, explaining their functions and the stages of the winemaking process. In some areas, they only peeked inside without entering, since entry required changing into clean clothing—something that wouldn’t be appropriate for two officials in full regalia.

By this stage, the fermented mash was in its second fermentation phase, and the air was filled with the aroma of alcohol. Coming from an aristocratic background, Magistrate Shi had a keen understanding of fine wines. Though he wasn’t familiar with the brewing process, he had excellent tasting skills—perhaps only Rong Yue could match him in this regard. As he inhaled the rich aroma, he praised it openly while inwardly acknowledging that Pingshan Village must have genuine talent if it had managed to attract Rong Yue’s attention.

In truth, Pingshan Village emerging as a standout among mountain villages only benefited Magistrate Shi. After all, these developments happened during his tenure, which would contribute to his official performance evaluation when his term ended.

After touring the distillery, the group visited the hillside behind Tang Chunming’s house. The business model intrigued the county magistrate, who instructed his subordinates to take note of it—perhaps it could be implemented elsewhere. Anping County had countless mountain villages, most of which were impoverished due to limited farmland. Developing barren hillsides could be a promising solution.

Tang Chunming paid attention to their discussion. Among the officials accompanying the magistrate was a thin middle-aged man—the county registrar. He was rather friendly to Li Feng and Tang Chunming but made no mention of past conflicts involving the Zhao family or the suppression of Zhao Laosan at the county academy. He acted as if there had never been any grievances.

After spending over an hour in Pingshan Village, the officials departed. Rong Yue, of course, accompanied them back to the county. However, before leaving, he signaled to Tang Chunming, who nodded in understanding—Rong Yue would return in a different capacity later, as traveling officially had its inconveniences.

After finally seeing off the group at the village entrance, the village chief let out a deep breath, wiped the sweat off his forehead, and asked Li Feng and Tang Chunming, “Ah Feng, Ming Ge’er, I didn’t say anything wrong today, did I? Would I have left a bad impression on them?”

Li Feng pressed his lips into a smile, while Tang Chunming burst into laughter. “Uncle, you’re too nervous! Didn’t you see that Lord Shi left with a smile? Once our distillery produces the first batch of liquor, we’ll send some to Lord Shi for him to taste and give us his guidance. I’m sure he’d be happy to oblige.”

“Yes, yes, that’s the right thing to do.” Although they had the protection of the Rong family, an imperial merchant family, their village was still directly under the jurisdiction of the county magistrate, so they naturally had to maintain good relations.

When Tang Chunming returned to the distillery, the workers gathered around to ask about the situation. He reassured them, telling them to focus on their work and that the county magistrate fully supported Pingshan Village’s distillery.

Knowing that Rong Yue was coming, Tang Chunming stayed home to wait for him.

Little Ah Sen had already turned one year old, and they had held a traditional “Zhua Zhou” ceremony for him. They didn’t try to guide him to pick any particular object. When the time came, they simply placed him in front of the table and told him to grab whatever he wanted. The little guy sat down and played for a while before lazily picking something just to satisfy his mother’s expectations. In the end, he grabbed a wooden sword carved by Li Feng instead of the books, ink, and writing tools that Ah Lin and Elder He had pointed out. Elder He laughed and said, “This boy takes after Ah Feng. Who knows? He might become a great general in the future.”

Tang Chunming had no strong opinions on the matter, but Li Feng was thrilled. He had always been patient when training Da Mao and Er Mao in martial arts, and he was even more invested in Ah Sen, whom he was raising as his own son. Maybe, one day, the boy would surpass him.

Now, Ah Sen could walk and was very energetic. He refused to be carried and preferred to run around the courtyard playing with the two dogs, Xiao Hei and Xiao Dai. Usually, Xiao Hua acted as his nanny, watching over him. Meanwhile, the two big white geese had been moved to the back mountain to guard the chickens.

One time, Xiao Hua got distracted, and Ah Sen wandered into the vegetable garden. When Elder He and Li Feng couldn’t find him, it was actually Treading Cloud who carried him out by the back of his clothes. Suspended in midair, Ah Sen wasn’t scared at all. In fact, he was thrilled, thinking Treading Cloud was playing a game with him. After that, he would often go looking for Treading Cloud to play the same game. So, it became a common sight for Treading Cloud to appear in the main courtyard, carrying Ah Sen around in circles while the little boy’s excited shouts echoed throughout the yard.

He usually refused to be carried, but today, upon seeing his rarely-at-home mother, Ah Sen suddenly refused to walk. He didn’t want anyone else—only his mother. Clinging to his mother’s leg, he blinked his big eyes and flashed an adorable smile. “Mother, mother, hug!”

Since the time he had learned to babble, Li Feng had insisted he was trying to talk, and Ah Sen had indeed shown a talent for language. Now, just after his first birthday, he could already express himself clearly.

Tang Chunming was someone who talked tough but had a soft heart. Seeing his son’s smile, he forgot all about being drooled on and all the other past messes. He grabbed the boy by the waistband and lifted him up, laughing when Ah Sen flailed his limbs like a little turtle trying to climb onto him. He tossed Ah Sen into his arms and pinched his tiny nose. “Silly boy, you’ve gotten heavier! If you keep this up, I won’t be able to carry you anymore.”

“Ah Sen isn’t heavy!” Clinging happily to his mother, Ah Sen protested.

“Ask your brother—heavy or not?” Tang Chunming pointed at Ah Lin, who was also delighted to have his mother at home today. When he turned to look at his younger brother, he saw the little guy putting on his most innocent, adorable expression. So, he mischievously agreed with their mother. “Exactly! I can’t carry you anymore, little brother. You eat more than me now.”

Ah Sen got mad, balling up his tiny fists. “Father and Grandpa said eating more makes me grow faster! Brother is a meanie!”

Ah Lin shot a pitiful glance at his mother, as if to say, See? He only calls me a meanie, not you. But wasn’t it you who first said he was fat? Meanwhile, Ah Sen was busy flattering his mother. Tang Chunming laughed, remembering how Ah Lin had once pointed at others and called them meanies when he was little. Now, it was Ah Sen’s turn.

Time passed so quickly. In the blink of an eye, Ah Sen had gone from unborn to running and jumping around.

As Ah Lin and Ah Sen played and giggled, Rong Yue arrived. Li Feng was the one who brought him in, having run into him just as he was arriving. This time, Rong Yue wasn’t wearing his official robes but rather casual attire. To be honest, while he looked imposing and dignified in his official robes, for some reason, Tang Chunming couldn’t help but think of the red-topped merchants from his past life—there was just something comical about it.

Rong Yue waved his fan and entered with a smile. “Oh my, having so much fun playing with your son? That milk-drinking little one has already grown this big. Your life is making me more and more envious.”

Although the two had only met once, they were quite familiar with each other due to frequent correspondence. Tang Chunming teased, “How could I compare to Lord Rong’s growing authority? We commoners tremble at the sight of you.”

“Haha…” Rong Yue laughed heartily, closing his fan and tapping Tang Chunming’s shoulder. He then respectfully cupped his hands in greeting to Elder He. Next, it was the children’s turn to greet him. Ah Lin still remembered this uncle, who had given him gifts before, but little Ah Sen stared curiously with wide eyes. Only after receiving a stern look from Tang Chunming did he obediently greet Rong Yue.

Li Feng took Ah Sen into his arms. The little one was very cooperative with his father because, most of the time, Li Feng was the one who saved him from being bullied by his mother. To Ah Sen, after his mother, his father was the best.

Rong Yue’s appearance and mannerisms were rather androgynous, exuding a free-spirited and charismatic air. While his features weren’t particularly striking, his presence was undeniably pleasant.

Tang Chunming served fruit and tea before asking, “What brings you here this time? Did you come specifically for the winery?” He was rather curious. Just yesterday, Rong Yue had appeared in Pingshan Village with the county magistrate, clearly giving the village a show of support.

“This isn’t just my personal decision.” Rong Yue took a sip of tea and sighed in satisfaction. The water here really was the best. He waved his hand and smiled.

The three adults present immediately understood. It wasn’t just Rong Yue’s decision—Prince Zhao’s will was behind it. But did Prince Zhao truly hold this place in such high regard?

Elder He pondered for a moment before asking, “Is His Highness’s health… improving?”

“Yes,” Rong Yue replied solemnly. “His Highness is growing healthier by the day, and much of the credit goes to you, Elder He.”

Elder He stroked his beard, accepting the acknowledgment. Clearly, they didn’t want to disclose the true reason behind Prince Zhao’s recovery. It seemed the prince had deliberately chosen to keep this matter under wraps, protecting the people here.

Li Feng and Tang Chunming exchanged a silent glance. The supplies they had sent to Prince Zhao carried some risk. However, given the prince’s long-term illness, the effects of the food and remedies from Pingshan Village had become particularly evident. For an ordinary person, the gradual benefits of such things might go unnoticed, but for someone in Prince Zhao’s condition, the transformation was remarkable.

Still, most people would simply attribute it to the village’s good environment rather than suspecting anything more extraordinary. After all, while myths and legends spoke of divine relics, such things rarely appeared in the real world. Moreover, the items they sent didn’t produce immediate, miraculous results.

All of them were perceptive, so they didn’t delve deeper into the matter. Rong Yue’s words were enough to let Tang Chunming and Li Feng know that Prince Zhao was supporting them, so they didn’t need to worry too much.

Strolling through the back mountain, they enjoyed the scenery, which remained lush and vibrant despite the autumn season. Rong Yue was in high spirits, even venturing into the forest to pick wild fruits. He also requested that Tang Chunming and Li Feng make him sugar-roasted chestnuts.

This year, Tang Chunming had little time to prepare seasonal delicacies, as most of his energy was focused on winemaking and managing the winery. Li Feng was also busy, but since Rong Yue was interested, Tang Chunming took a rare break. He allotted fixed times to check the fermentation temperatures at the winery and left the rest to Shen Fulang and the others.

Additionally, Rong Yue requested spicy boiled fish and chili chicken, which left him sweating but delighted. “It’s been so long since I’ve had such a satisfying meal,” he said, drinking cool tea to soothe the burn.

Having learned from experience, he knew not to drink hot tea after eating spicy food, or it would intensify the heat.

As he fanned his tongue, he casually asked, “Do you know about Prince Qi?”

“Prince Qi?” Tang Chunming was puzzled. “Do you mean the Emperor’s uncle, Prince Qi?”

He had heard about these affairs from Elder He, treating them like distant stories. Even though they involved Prince Zhao, they still felt far removed from his own life.

“Yes. Prince Qi was the youngest brother of the late Emperor, only slightly older than the current Emperor. Back then, he was the biggest threat to the Emperor’s succession. If not for the Emperor’s superior strategy, well…” Rong Yue trailed off, implying that Prince Qi might have been the one sitting on the throne instead.

Tang Chunming didn’t know much about Prince Qi, but compared to the late Emperor, the current ruler was undoubtedly a wise and just sovereign. He felt fortunate not to have lived under the previous Emperor’s rule, as life would have been much harder.

But why was Rong Yue bringing this up? He glanced at him questioningly.

Rong Yue chuckled and shook his head. “Brother Li Feng must not have mentioned it to you. That Prince Qi has never given up. He’s spent years preparing to seize the throne again.”

Oh. So the Emperor’s uncle wanted to take back the imperial seat from his nephew? That sounded oddly familiar. Wasn’t there a similar case in ancient history on Earth? Tang Chunming suddenly felt uneasy. “The Emperor is wise and capable. He won’t let Prince Qi succeed, will he? Don’t tell me… there’s going to be a war?”

That other historical prince had waged war for years before successfully overthrowing his nephew. Tang Chunming really didn’t want to see something like that happening here. War would ruin everything—how could anyone live a peaceful life amidst chaos?

“Exactly.” Rong Yue looked at Tang Chunming with an expression that seemed to say, At last, you get it. “And what’s worse, Prince Qi has allied with foreign forces, planning to bring calamity to our Great Qing. He wants to rebel while the Emperor is still struggling to recover.”

Tang Chunming frowned. “Back then, the war against the Northern Barbarians drained the treasury. In recent years, the Emperor has been encouraging agricultural development and commerce, but it must still be difficult.”

Of all people, Rong Yue had the most authority to speak on national finances. Years ago, he had contributed a significant portion of his family’s wealth to the imperial treasury, earning him the scorn of many relatives. But now, there was no sudden influx of unexpected revenue for the Emperor to rely on. That said, with Rong Yue’s abilities, he had likely managed to generate considerable funds over the years.

Still, Tang Chunming was confused. “I mean, I don’t want a war either, but… whether or not there’s a war isn’t something I can decide.”

Why was Rong Yue telling him all this? Surely, this kind of information was classified. Was he just casually revealing state secrets?

“Haha…” Rong Yue placed down the teacup and pounded the table with laughter. Ming Ge’er was truly… too straightforward—his thoughts were all written on his face. And had Brother Li Feng not told him anything? If war truly broke out, could Brother Li Feng escape unscathed? From what he knew, Prince Zhao held Brother Li Feng in high regard.

Before Rong Yue could explain further, the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside. Li Feng stood at the entrance, his expression dark as he looked at Rong Yue.

Rong Yue’s laughter ceased immediately. He stood up, chuckled, and left. Li Feng’s stern face had little effect on him. Besides, since Li Feng hadn’t told Ming Ge’er anything yet, he figured he might as well give him a push.

Even as slow as Tang Chunming was, he could sense something was off. Why had Rong Yue suddenly brought up the topic of war? And why had Li Feng interrupted at that very moment? Could it be that this war had something to do with Li Feng? His heart tightened at the thought.

In his previous life, he had been nothing more than an ordinary commoner, far removed from national affairs. Even in this life, although he knew Li Feng had once been a deputy general, he had resigned before they met. So, he had assumed that his life would remain that of a commoner, unconnected to state matters.

But now, it seemed things weren’t as simple as he had thought.

A sense of foreboding washed over him.

Damn! Damn! Had this bastard known all along? How long was he planning to keep it from him?

Tang Chunming’s eyes narrowed, his expression dark and unreadable.

He wasn’t mad at Rong Yue for meddling. If the situation was unavoidable, then knowing earlier would only give him more time to prepare. This bastard was even worse than little troublemaker Ah Sen!

Li Feng instinctively stepped forward, but Tang Chunming pointed at him and snapped, “Stand right there and speak properly! If Rong Yue hadn’t mentioned this, when were you planning to tell me? Were you going to wait until the moment you stepped onto the battlefield? Do you take me for someone who would cry and cling to you, dragging you down? Fine! You’re the great general, and I’ll just be the one looking after the house and kids. You go ahead and roll off to your war!”

Outside, Rong Yue, who hadn’t gone far, heard Tang Chunming’s outburst and chuckled. But when he turned around, he found Elder He standing behind him. Immediately, he straightened his posture—he hadn’t expected a lurking “yellow sparrow” waiting behind him.

Elder He had also heard Tang Chunming’s angry voice from inside and shook his head with a quiet laugh. He reached out and tapped Rong Yue’s forehead. “Come with me. Tell me everything about the situation in the capital.”

“Yes, sir.” Rong Yue obediently followed Elder He.

Inside the house, Li Feng let out a bitter smile. He had planned to tell Ming Ge’er only when the news was confirmed—so he wouldn’t have to worry prematurely.

“Ming Ge’er, listen to me. I didn’t want you to worry too soon. Besides, there hasn’t been any concrete news from the capital yet. The timing of my departure is still uncertain. It’s possible that I won’t even need to go.”

That last part was a white lie. The way Prince Zhao had spoken last time had made it clear —this battle was inevitable for him. As soldiers, they had no choice but to follow the orders of the royal court. Compared to the authority of the emperor, individual strength was insignificant. If he followed the orders of Prince Zhao and the emperor, at least he would have their protection. But if he disobeyed, even the things he had now might not remain safe.

Of course, having trained for so many years, Li Feng was willing to serve his country. Before he had met and married Ming Ge’er, he would never have hesitated. But now, he had too many concerns. His greatest worry was the person standing in front of him. He wanted to plan carefully for their home and future.

“…And?” Tang Chunming’s attitude softened slightly, but he still refused to let Li Feng approach, his face still tense with anger.

“When Prince Zhao came last time, he spoke to me about the possibility of war and asked for my opinion. You know that General Yao of the capital has shown me great kindness. From what Prince Zhao implied, General Yao and the State-Defending General might be leading the war effort, so I couldn’t refuse.” As he spoke, Li Feng slowly inched closer to Ming Ge’er.

Tang Chunming let out a displeased huff. “Hmph. So if you win the war, you’ll be promoted, right? And what about me? Won’t I just be holding you back?” His voice carried a sour tone, though he didn’t realize it himself.

Deep down, he was still the same man from his previous life. After hearing the full explanation, he understood that Li Feng had no choice—he had to go. And truthfully, it would be a waste for someone with his skills to remain in the mountains and fields. Even Tang Chunming would feel that was a shame.

But thinking about the impending separation made it unbearable. He had grown used to seeing this man every day, and their life together had already become a part of him. The sudden realization that they would be apart was too much to take in.

And what if something happened on the battlefield? No matter how skilled he was, he would still be facing thousands of enemies. How could Tang Chunming not worry?

Would their relationship remain the same after the war?

The thought of his well-groomed and handsome Li Feng being noticed by some noble young ge’er made him feel even more agitated.

But before he could clear his thoughts, the world spun around him. Damn it! This bastard had taken advantage of his momentary distraction to use martial arts on him! Just as he was about to throw a punch in retaliation, he heard a gritted-out voice above his head:

“I swear, I’d love to spank you like you do to Ah Sen when he misbehaves! Haven’t you lived with me long enough to know what kind of person I am? Do you still not trust me?”

Tang Chunming felt his scalp tingle. His earlier bravado and anger drained away in an instant. When he was furious, he hadn’t thought much about what he was saying. But now, he was being held accountable.

Could he take back his words?

His face hardened as he huffed, “Hmph! So you can’t refuse Prince Zhao and General Yao’s orders now. And after the war, they’ll surely want you to stay in the capital and become an official, won’t they? What will you do then? What if some high-ranking noble takes a liking to you… hmph…”

His voice trailed off, but his meaning was clear.

Li Feng couldn’t help but laugh.

He wasn’t truly mad—well, maybe just a little—but mostly, he was trying to scare Ming Ge’er.

As he spoke, he had been watching Tang Chunming closely. As expected, he saw the moment Ming Ge’er’s defenses lowered, revealing his genuine worry. He was only angry because he cared.

These thoughts flashed through Li Feng’s mind as he gazed at Tang Chunming with increasing tenderness.

Unfortunately, Tang Chunming was too preoccupied with feeling guilty to notice. He stubbornly kept his back to Li Feng, unwilling to turn around and see the expression on his face.

“You can rest assured,” Li Feng held the person in his arms tightly and said in a low voice, “I’ve already told Prince Zhao that I’d rather stay in Pingshan Village and live as a wealthy farmer with Ming Ge’er. Only this way can they feel at ease using me.”

Tang Chunming twisted his body uncomfortably and muttered, “So troublesome.” All these schemes and mind games—it’s really exhausting. Fortunately, he lived in this remote village and didn’t have to deal with officials and aristocrats. Otherwise, dealing with such people every day would have worn him out. This made him even more satisfied with his current life. The only thing he wasn’t happy about was that Li Feng might have to go to war. Once he left, who knew when he would return?

“Exactly, I find it troublesome too. So after this war, I will come back and farm with you, teach our son, and live a happy life together with Ming Ge’er.”

…Shameless! Tang Chunming’s face slowly turned red at Li Feng’s words. Behind his ear, Li Feng’s breathing gradually grew heavier.

No matter how he thought about it afterward, Tang Chunming never expected that his confrontation over Li Feng’s deception would end up with them rolling in the sheets instead. And in broad daylight, no less! While Rong Yue was still a guest in their house! He and Li Feng… actually engaged in such shameless behavior in the middle of the day.

This was all Li Feng’s fault! That bastard embarrassed him in front of Rong Yue, who teased him endlessly afterward.

As for Elder He, well, since his true nature had already been exposed, Tang Chunming had long developed a thick skin when facing him.

After stirring up a conflict between the couple, Rong Yue patted his backside and left, taking a large number of fine goods with him. He had no psychological burden at all. Look, didn’t he just help strengthen the bond between them?

Although Li Feng said there was no confirmed news, the situation described by Rong Yue made Tang Chunming uneasy. From history, he knew how ruthless power struggles among royals could be. It was unlikely that Prince Qi would give up so easily. So, he needed to prepare everything in advance—otherwise, regret would be useless.

What was most important on the battlefield? Besides one’s skills, of course, it was life-saving medicine.

So, without worrying about keeping secrets anymore, Tang Chunming gathered a large pile of medicinal herbs from his space and delivered them to Elder He, pleading with him to make some emergency medicine for Ah Feng.

He had completely given up trying to hide it. Li Feng, standing behind him, could only shake his head. Fortunately, Elder He had already figured things out and was long accustomed to the peculiarities of their household.

After dumping all the herbs, Tang Chunming still had to oversee the village’s distillery. He wasn’t someone who shirked responsibility. He couldn’t let his own matters hold back the villagers’ hopes.

Elder He sorted through the medicinal herbs in front of him and, looking at the grinning young man before him, teased, “Ming Ge’er, you have such a soft heart. You compromised so easily. Feng brat, you’re really lucky to have found such a good ge’er.”

“That’s right, I know that too,” Li Feng said. “So I’ll make sure to take care of myself and come back safely. In the meantime, I’ll leave everything at home in your hands, Elder He. You know Ming Ge’er has a soft heart and can be a little careless. He might not be thorough with things…”

He went on and on, talking more than an old nanny. Elder He’s forehead twitched as he listened. Thinking back to how Li Feng used to be on the battlefield—cold-hearted, reserved, and barely speaking a word—was this really the same person?

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Elder He kicked Li Feng out of the medicine room. With so many good herbs, he needed to put in real effort. Hmm, in the future, he’d have to make Ming Ge’er supply more of these rare herbs. He had finally found something to hold over him—it wasn’t easy!

The fragrant aroma of alcohol wafting from the distillery excited the villagers. They restrained themselves from running over to watch the process. The village head had already said that once the liquor was ready, they would celebrate together. Until then, no one should disturb the workers.

Li Feng pushed the men training under him even harder. Meanwhile, he left more of the mountain’s affairs to Dashan, only stepping in to offer guidance when needed. The silage pits in the back mountain had long been built, and this year, they had prepared even more silage feed. He had already sent the method to Prince Zhao, noting that livestock needed an adaptation period—not all animals would take to it immediately.

Tang Chunming was incredibly busy. Besides managing the distillery, he also had to prepare supplies for Li Feng. But aside from life-saving medicine, he had no idea what else to pack. So he went to ask Elder He.

Elder He rolled his eyes just like Tang Chunming often did but still wrote him a list. It was always better to prepare things personally rather than rely on whatever the military distributed.

Some items weren’t available at home and had to be bought in town. Tang Chunming didn’t even want Li Feng to go himself. Instead, he had Xiaoshunzi deliver a message to Teng Yu, asking him to buy the necessary supplies in the county.

Li Feng followed Ming Ge’er’s wishes and stayed home, making sure everything was in order before he left. He checked all the traps in the mountains to ensure they hadn’t been damaged by wild animals. He still remembered last year’s wolf attack. Since he wouldn’t be around this winter, he had to prevent another disaster. He also spoke with the village head, who took his words seriously but didn’t spread the news. The village head knew that even if Li Feng wasn’t there, no one could shake Tang Chunming’s status.

As the first batch of liquor flowed from the distillery’s still into the storage jars, a column of soldiers appeared at the entrance of Pingshan Village, kicking up clouds of dust as they rode in with an imposing presence.