Chapter 186: Discussing A Return To The Border Pass
The weather began to warm up after winter, and the military pay and supplies prepared for the Border Army finally departed.
Qin Wanwan was a little worried, what would happen if these supplies didn’t reach Daddy?
Keke: “Then why don’t we go and see for ourselves?”
Qin Wanwan blinked her eyes: “Are we going back to the border pass? But Father Shang hasn’t found the divine doctor yet.”
“Your Father Shang can’t die for now. Spring is coming soon and it’s time to plant crops. Don’t you still need to send the wheat seeds to Xie Chong? That wheat has a high yield, but don’t forget it attracts locusts. Planting it elsewhere isn’t reassuring either.”
Qin Wanwan asked in confusion: “Are the border guards not afraid of locusts there?”
Keke strategized: “Cub, the border pass is your Father Xie’s territory, so it’s easier for us to operate. Although the wheat attracts locusts, there are ways to manage them.
We can have your Father Xie raise more poultry like chickens and ducks that specifically eat locusts. Locusts gathered together might not be edible for humans, but animals can eat them. This way, not only will the locust problem be solved, but the chickens, ducks, and geese will also be well-fed.
We can also grind the locusts into powder to feed to horses, pigs, cattle, and sheep. It’s high in protein and top-notch feed for them.”
Qin Wanwan: It actually sounds like a good thing.
The reason people in ancient times feared locusts was that they had no way to deal with them, and they couldn’t predict when they would come.
A large swarm of locusts is called a plague, and at this time, the locusts are poisonous and cannot be eaten by humans.
Poultry can eat them, but the number of poultry raised by farmers at this time is too small. Each household only has a few, which is not enough to deal with so many locusts.
If the locusts could be made beneficial, even allowing the commoners to make money, then it would be a different story.
You must know that human potential is truly terrifying. In later generations, as long as it’s edible or profitable, whether it runs on land, flies in the sky, or swims in the sea, animals and plants have been exploited by humans to the point where some have gone extinct, and most have become endangered species.
Tsk tsk tsk…
It no longer worries about the locust plague and instead begins to sympathize with the locusts.
Qin Wanwan really wanted to go find Father Xie.
So she happily ran to tell Shang Wuyang about it.
“How do you know those supplies will have problems?”
Qin Wanwan said righteously: “I’m a little Qilin, I just know.”
Shang Wuyang scratched her little chin with his finger: “What, do you miss your Father Xie?”
The little Qilin nodded honestly.
“I also need to send grain seeds to Father Xie. Keke said that when the village is established, we need to plant grains.”
Shang Wuyang understood.
“Alright, then we’ll go back after some time.”
“What about Daddy’s divine doctor?”
Shang Wuyang hummed: “I thought you didn’t care about me at all.”
The little milk bun smiled softly, her small fist diligently massaging his leg.
“How could that be, Daddy, you wrong me. Wanwan is very worried about Father Shang.”
Shang Wuyang stood up and stretched, like a lazy and noble cat.
“With you little Qilin here, I won’t die for now. I’ll go find him when my people have news.”
The little chubby cub hugged his long legs and solemnly promised.
“Wanwan will definitely not let Daddy have poisoning!”
“Wanwan will be Daddy’s little warm stove, okay?”
The corner of Shang Wuyang’s mouth turned up, this little one was really getting better at talking.
Since they were preparing to leave Shangjing, they naturally had to inform Rong Zhi.
While Shang Wuyang could leave with Qin Wanwan for the border pass, Rong Zhi could not.
So when Qin Wanwan informed him of this news.
The usual smile on Rong Zhi’s face fell.
The expression on his handsome face turned unpleasant.
Moreover, Shang Wuyang was there, gloating and fanning the flames.
“Does Chancellor Rong not like to smile naturally?”
Rong Zhi gave him a cold glance.
“How is Shangyang City?”
Now it was Shang Wuyang’s turn to be unable to smile.
Because Shangyang City had been attacked by the Xianbei, during the time when the Third Prince was almost assassinated by him.
He was now certain that the Third Prince’s relationship with the Xianbei tribe was more than just cooperation, but he still needed some evidence. He would deal with that Third Prince directly then.
Rong Zhi: “Does City Lord Shang not like to smile naturally?”
This was water-spiritually returned.
Shang Wuyang directly rolled his eyes, what a petty person.
Qin Wanwan nestled in Father Rong’s arms and told him what she was going to do.
If she was only worried about the border army’s supplies, Rong Zhi could guarantee that there would be no problems and let the little one continue to stay here.
But that extremely high-yield wheat.
The yield of the wheat shocked him, but Rong Zhi dared not take the risk of it attracting locusts.
After hearing Keke’s plan, he also felt that it would be best to first test this wheat at the border pass.
With Xie Chong supporting her there, a vast and sparsely populated area, coupled with the army’s help, they could avoid the eyes and ears of noble families and those princes. It was the best choice.
However, even though he understood, he was still a little unhappy.
It had only been a short while, and his daughter was about to leave.
“Leave after the Spring God Festival.”
The Spring God Festival was also a big day for Tianqi.
The people of Tianqi held a grand Spring God Festival on the first day of spring to welcome the Spring God and pray for a good harvest for everyone in the year.
This was the most simple wish of the farmers.
Tianqi was a nation that mainly focused on agricultural culture, so they attached great importance to this.
And every year at this time, the Esteemed National Preceptor would make a brief appearance for one day to help everyone pray for blessings.
“What kind of person is the National Preceptor?”
Qin Wanwan had heard about this National Preceptor from many people. She felt he was very mysterious.
Rong Zhi: “He is a very mysterious person.”
Shang Wuyang: “Aren’t you stating the obvious?”
Who didn’t know that the National Preceptor of Tianqi was mysterious.
Rong Zhi directly changed the topic: “The Spring God Festival is in ten days. The supplies going to the border pass will depart tomorrow. They have a heavy burden, so they will be much slower.
After the Spring God Festival, it will only take a few days to catch up by horseback. Your red horse is faster than an ordinary horse.”
Qin Wanwan’s little head couldn’t calculate that much. Since Daddy had already made arrangements, she would depart after the Spring God Festival.
Before the Spring God Festival, the people of Shangjing had another custom.
That was visiting the temple fair.
Visiting the temple fair was very lively. At this time, everything welcomed spring, and tender green buds had emerged on the branches, exuding vitality everywhere, giving people a refreshing feeling.
People would bring some food, or prepare sachets to wear close to their bodies, to the temple fair to burn incense and pray for blessings, holding their offerings and saying bye-bye to the gods and Buddhas before leaving.
Some people would also ask for some incense ash to put in their sachets, believing it would bring them good luck.
Qin Wanwan was very interested in this activity and had started preparing sachets early.
She learned needlework from the embroidery women and could calm down.
Now the little chubby cub could sew lines very neatly.
“I need to make three sachets.”
Qin Wanwan held up three fingers.
During the winter when she didn’t go out, she learned to read with Father Shang, which made Father Shang so angry that he looked for something to hit her buttocks with, then she would go to Father Rong to practice the zither.
When neither Father Rong nor Father Shang were around, she would go to the embroidery women to learn needlework.
