Qing Huai, preoccupied with thoughts of the Iron Forest Army, wasted no time after descending the mountain. He immediately retreated to his quarters and penned a letter to his father, the Duke of Qing, formally requesting to resume command of the Iron Forest Army. Initially, he considered mentioning the newfound method to counter cavalry, but recalling Jin Feng's caution, he ultimately decided against it.
"Zheng Fang, Liu Qiong, take two horses each and deliver this letter to Bianjing at top speed," Qing Huai instructed his guards, handing them the sealed letter bearing his official insignia.
"My lord, how soon can we expect the transfer order to arrive?" Jin Feng asked, watching the guards gallop away.
"From here to Bianjing and back, the fastest would be twenty days. If all goes smoothly, it should take about a month. But if there's interference, it's hard to say," Qing Huai replied.
"Besides the eldest and second young masters, who else would interfere?" Zhong Wu muttered under his breath.
"Enough," Qing Huai chided, sighing softly.
His father, the Duke of Qing, was a seasoned general with connections throughout the military. Regaining command of the Iron Forest Army shouldn't be difficult, but Qing Huai worried about opposition from his older brothers.
"I'm going to get some rest. Wake me when the supplies arrive," Jin Feng said casually, noticing Qing Huai's lack of pretension. He waved a hand and retreated to his room to sleep.
Having stayed up all night, Jin Feng was exhausted. He slept through lunch and didn't wake until late afternoon. When he opened his eyes, he saw Guan Xiaorou sitting by the bed, sewing clothes.
Since their marriage, Guan Xiaorou had been too busy with other tasks to make new clothes, and ready-made garments were hard to come by. As a result, both she and Jin Feng still wore patched clothing. This hadn't been an issue before, as everyone in Xihe Village wore patched clothes, and no one judged. But since Qing Huai's arrival, with his always crisp and clean attire, Jin Feng's shabby appearance stood out.
Noticing this, Guan Xiaorou had put aside her spinning to focus on making new clothes for Jin Feng.
"Husband, you're awake?" Knowing Jin Feng liked to drink water upon waking, Guan Xiaorou quickly set aside her sewing and handed him a cup. She replaced the water every half hour to ensure it was always the right temperature.
"Husband, try this on to see if it fits. If it doesn't, I'll adjust it," she said, taking the cup and helping Jin Feng into the new garment.
"Oh no, the shoulders are too wide, and the waist is loose…" This was Guan Xiaorou's first attempt at making clothes, and it showed. The shoulders and waist were too loose, and the sleeves were uneven.
"Husband, take it off," Guan Xiaorou said, her face flushed with embarrassment and frustration. Tears welled up in her eyes. "I'm so useless. I can't even make a proper set of clothes…"
"For your first try, this is quite good. If it were me, I'd probably end up with three sleeves," Jin Feng said, pulling her into an embrace. "Why cry? If it's wrong, just fix it."
"But what will you wear in the meantime?"
"I wasn't walking around naked before you made this, was I?"
"Your clothes have patches."
"So what? Everyone's clothes have patches. Yours have even more than mine," Jin Feng said, pointing to the patches on Guan Xiaorou's dress.
"You're a scholar, husband. Every time I see you talking to the marquis in patched clothes, it breaks my heart," Guan Xiaorou said, her lips trembling. "You bought the fabric ages ago, but I've been too busy with other things to make your clothes…"
"Haha, we can't compare to the marquis. He wears satin and brocade—one outfit could feed our family for two years," Jin Feng said with a laugh. "Besides, the marquis values ability, not clothing. Even in patched clothes, he still talks and laughs with me. If I had no skills, no matter how well-dressed I was, he probably wouldn't give me a second glance."
"My husband is the most capable man," Guan Xiaorou said, looking up at him with adoration.
"Exactly. So stop crying and take your time with the adjustments. No rush," Jin Feng said, gently tapping her nose. "And don't prick your fingers again."
In her haste, Guan Xiaorou had pricked her fingers countless times, leaving tiny red marks everywhere.
"Mm-hmm," Guan Xiaorou nodded obediently. "Oh, Run Niang left some food for you. It's warming on the stove. I'll go get it."
"No need, I'll eat in the kitchen," Jin Feng said, waving her off. He put on his patched clothes and headed to the kitchen.
Run Niang was washing vegetables when Jin Feng entered. She smiled shyly and deftly retrieved a small pot from the ashes beneath the stove.
"Brother Feng, I stewed half a pheasant for you. It's been simmering since last night. Try it," she said.
Knowing Jin Feng couldn't stomach wild vegetables and wheat porridge, Run Niang always prepared separate meals for him and his family. Jin Feng didn't object to this. After all, what kind of boss would he be without a few privileges?
Tang Dongdong had initially opposed the practice, but Jin Feng had shut her down. Eventually, she joined Jin Feng at his table, claiming that as a manager, she deserved to eat with the boss. Guan Xiaorou, however, still felt awkward about it and would have returned to eating porridge with the other women if Jin Feng hadn't insisted otherwise.
The pheasant had been stewing for nearly a day, its bones nearly dissolved. When Jin Feng lifted the lid, a rich, savory aroma filled the air, making his mouth water. He took a bowl of rice from Run Niang, ladled some meat and broth over it, and paired it with crisp, refreshing wild vegetables. It was a feast.
As he ate, Zhong Wu burst in, eyeing the stew with envy. "Sir, the steward has returned. The marquis sent me to ask where to unload the goods."
"Did he get everything I asked for?" Jin Feng asked, frowning.
The journey from Xihe Village to the county seat was long. Zhang Liang usually left before dawn and was lucky to make it back by dinner. On occasions when he had to transport heavy loads, he didn't return until midnight. The steward had left around eight in the morning, and it was only mid-afternoon. Had he really made it back so quickly? Or had he failed to procure the items?
"Don't worry, sir. The steward said he got everything except the coal," Zhong Wu said. "There's no coal in Jinchuan. He's sent someone to Hanzhong to fetch it. If all goes well, they should be back in three to five days."
"Good," Jin Feng said. "This steward is quite efficient."
"He knew you were in a hurry, so he pushed the horses hard."
"No wonder," Jin Feng said, understanding now. Zhang Liang usually traveled with a cart, moving slowly, while the steward had ridden horseback, allowing for a much faster trip.
"My house is too crowded, and there's too much flax here. If it caught fire, it would be a disaster. Have the goods unloaded at your place for now," Jin Feng said, quickly finishing his meal. "Let's go. I'll come with you."