Chapter 127: Tied by Blood

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Yehe Town was not large, with only a few thousand ordinary townspeople. An earthen wall, less than two zhang high, irregularly enclosed the small Yehe Town.

On the first and fifteenth days of the month, Yehe Town held a market.

Some traveling merchants would drive carriages loaded with goods, gathering in Yehe Town from all directions.

The villagers near Yehe Town also came to the market.

They sold cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, leather, dried meat, fat, and other items to the traveling merchants.

Then, they bought daily necessities such as pots, bowls, ladles, coarse cloth, and hemp fabric from the merchants.

Of course, the most important item was salt.

As for luxuries like spices, fine cloth, silk, and velvet, only a very small number of people living there could afford them.

Even rouge and flower powder, which were necessities for women in wealthier places, were considered extremely high-end items by the girls here.

The monthly market was the liveliest time in Yehe Town, usually drawing more than ten thousand people, cramming the originally small town with bustling crowds.

This day was the first market held after Lei Qing took up his post guarding Yehe Town.

Since last night, traveling merchants had arrived one after another.

After paying a certain amount of gold coins as transaction taxes to the town, they could start setting up stalls in the market.

The more taxes they paid, the better their positions.

The stall fees collected from the market were also a major source of income for Yehe Town, bringing in about a hundred gold coins each time.

Over a year, this amounted to around 1,300 gold coins.

Of course, those traveling merchants who traveled thousands of miles to Yehe Town were mostly hardworking small trade teams.

Large businesses like the Li Chamber of Commerce looked down on such remote and poor small places.

The taxes could not be too high.

If those traveling merchants could not make money or felt it was not worth it, they would not come next time.

There was much to learn in managing a territory.

After just half a month, Lei Qing felt as if he had lost weight.

This was much more tiring than cultivation.

However, it also taught him many things, broadened his horizons, and widened his ways of thinking.

Moreover, Lei Qing had never relaxed his own cultivation.

After all, strength was the true foundation of his livelihood.

Early-stage Silver might already be considered a somewhat famous expert.

But to truly become a hegemon-level figure, reaching Gold-rank was absolutely unavoidable.

Ever since escaping after being hunted, Lei Qing had placed extra importance on his strength.

He no longer just knew how to eat, drink, and have fun all day, like he did when he was young.

Yehe Town was the first place Lei Qing truly governed.

Here, he was the sky, and anyone had to obey his commands.

Including the mayor of Yehe Town, who was merely his deputy, helping him handle government affairs.

Power brought him respect and a change in status, but also brought him a lot of responsibility.

The fate of the 30,000 to 40,000 subjects, old and young, within the scope of Yehe Town, was completely in Lei Qing’s hands.

Instead of riding a horse, he strolled through the market with Zuo Qianqian, surrounded by his Personal Guards.

Whenever Lei Qing stepped on this land, he felt a special kind of emotion and realization in his heart.

On this land, he was the king, he was the ruler.

Gradually, he seemed to feel a sense of taking root.

The yellow and unfamiliar land slowly became familiar to him, and he gradually blended into its bones.

Although this place was poor, dirty, and chaotic, he had only been here for half a month and already began to feel a sense of being tied by blood to this place.

Walking on his own land, his heart felt exceptionally comfortable and peaceful.

This was different from his time in the Imperial Capital.

There, he felt as if he were living under someone else’s roof.

No matter how prosperous or wealthy the Imperial Capital was, it was not his.

As the saying goes, a golden or silver nest is not as good as one’s own doghouse.

“General Lei, Lord Lei.”

As he walked, people who knew Lei Qing would hastily stop, bow respectfully, and greet him, showing their respect and admiration.

Among them were grazing herders, farmers, and traveling merchants selling goods at stalls.

This year’s weather had been favorable, and the harvest of the people under his command had been good.

With surplus grain, they thought of coming to the market to exchange for some daily necessities.

Or, they would spare the expense to buy a few yards of floral cloth to sew a new dress for their daughter, and buy some rouge and flower powder to dress their daughter up beautifully, so they could find a good match for her.

The wishes of some poor and ordinary people were actually very simple: peace and safety, and happiness for their children.

Lei Qing also greeted them with a smile, walking slowly along the way.

Many people’s respect for Lei Qing came from the bottom of their hearts.

Lord Lei had just arrived, defeated a large band of Horse Bandits, and saved the entire Wula Village.

This had spread Lei Qing’s fame throughout the scope of Yehe Town.

The villagers wanted nothing more than peace and tranquility.

A general who could fight to guard the town would naturally be welcomed.

Lei Qing looked at the goods being traded, which were quite primitive, mostly pots, bowls, ladles, hoes, sickles, and the like.

Many herders drove cattle and sheep directly to the market to bargain with the traveling merchants.

Although they sometimes argued until their faces turned red and necks puffed up, the overall situation was relatively stable.

The monthly gathering would bring a certain amount of income to Yehe Town, but it was also the messiest time.

Some small groups of roaming Horse Bandits would intrude into the scope of Yehe Town to see if they could rob farmers and merchants.

Against this, Lei Qing had taken precautions.

He had stopped training for the day.

Captains of each company formed a cavalry patrol team, starting continuous patrol and reconnaissance along the border.

Within the territory, patrol teams also came and went constantly.

Many common people were smart and followed the patrol teams in groups, which was the safest.

The regular army of Yehe Town was quite deterrent to small groups of Horse Bandits.

In addition, there were public security issues.

Every monthly gathering saw some pickpockets, forced buying and selling, or fights due to trivial matters.

Therefore, according to the usual rules, Lei Qing left one hundred men to temporarily form a security team to maintain public order at the market.

In just one hour since the market opened, the security team had caught several small thieves and prevented several fights.

This time, the security team was especially serious because this was the first market after Lei Qing took office.

They did not want any mistakes to occur during this market opening that would damage Lei Qing’s reputation.

“Qianqian, you are a girl, and wearing leather armor all day long makes you look dusty and dirty, which is not a good thing.”

Lei Qing said with a smile as he walked to a stall selling luxury silk: “The weather is getting hotter and hotter. Why don’t I buy you two rolls of beautiful silk, so the tailor in the town can make you a few summer dresses?”

Then again, the two had been together for only a little over half a year.

This little girl had grown quite a bit, reaching Lei Qing’s shoulders.

In another year or two, she would likely blossom into a beautiful young lady.

“General Lei, if you want to buy silk, I will give you a twenty percent discount.”

The traveling merchant hurriedly said with a flattered smile: “This Miss Qianqian is lovely and pretty. She would look absolutely wonderful in a pleated silk skirt.”

Silk was a luxury here, and only a few people could afford it.

“No,” Zuo Qianqian shook her head and said: “Captain Zhou said that for scouts, our clothing must be simple and close-fitting so as not to affect our movement speed.”

“Besides, I think this black leather armor looks pretty good. Sister Baobao had people in Tieling specially make it for me. It is light, soft, silent, and provides good protection.”

“You…” Lei Qing smiled and flicked her nose: “You have been learning scout techniques from Zhou Han lately, and you are almost going crazy from it. If you continue to work so hard without resting, I will immediately send you to Wan Family Fort. If you don’t want a skirt, shall I buy you some rouge and flower powder instead? To dress up and look prettier.”

“I definitely don’t want to go to Wan Family Fort. I don’t know half the people there.”

Zuo Qianqian hurriedly shook her head, linked her arm with Lei Qing’s, and giggled: “Brother Lei, are you tired of looking at the rough and sturdy women here lately and missing the soft and tender Sister Baobao?”

“I don’t need rouge and flower powder either. As a qualified scout, how can I let myself smell like that? It would make it too easy to reveal my position.”

Lei Qing glared at her speechlessly.

“Brother Lei, Big Brother Zhou said that they were only lent to help with training. They cannot stay in our Yehe Town for long.”

Zuo Qianqian said with a slightly serious expression: “So, I want to learn more while he is still here. Otherwise, when they leave, our Yehe Town will not even be able to find decent scouts. Brother Lei, scouts are very important in your military campaigns and battles.”

“Okay, okay, I know you are thinking of my benefit.”

Lei Qing felt another wave of pity for her, patted her head, and said: “But you must also pay attention to combining work and rest. How about this? You tell me what you want, and I will buy it for you.”

“I heard Mr. Hao say that there are many places where we need money to develop and establish Yehe Town.”

Zuo Qianqian shook her head and refused: “Brother Lei, please do not spend money so freely anymore. The thing I want most right now is to reach Bronze-rank as soon as possible, and strive to become a scout as powerful as Big Brother Zhou Han. Also, I miss Sister Baobao.”

“Uh, shall I run to the Li Chamber of Commerce headquarters and kidnap her back for you?” Lei Qing chuckled and said: “The emotions of girls are too strange. It hasn’t even been long, and you already miss her?”

“Hmph, Qianqian is not careless and thoughtless like Brother Lei.”

…

Almost at the same time, in the distant Li Family mansion in the Central Prefecture.

A woman wearing a goose-yellow long dress, with a beautiful face and a gentle temperament like a lady from a noble family, was leaning against the carved railing, gazing intently at the blooming flowers in the courtyard.

A hint of melancholy and depression was hidden between her eyebrows.

Another man, mature and steady, with a thick mustache and wearing rich clothing, walked over with majestic strides.

His eyebrows were also furrowed, as if he had encountered some troublesome matters.

Walking behind the woman in the goose-yellow dress, a kind yet somewhat ingratiating smile appeared on his face: “Baobao, my good daughter, my heart’s treasure. You have been back for a while now, why are you still unhappy? Why not tell your father what you want? I will personally get it for you right away.”

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