Qin Fang said, “I will arrange for my father and third uncle to manage the military camp’s fields, each overseeing a hundred mu (approximately 16.5 acres).

My mother and third aunt will prepare three meals a day for the soldiers, each responsible for ten soldiers.

The monthly stipend for managing the military camp’s fields is five hundred wen (a unit of currency) per month, while the stipend for preparing meals for the three is two hundred wen per month.

The food for the soldiers will be provided by the camp. The steward and kitchen staff will eat with the soldiers; if they want extra meals, they will have to buy their own food.”

Yang Haiyan shot Qin Fang a glare; he was being too straightforward.

She explained, “The military camp’s fields have crops and grains. After my father, mother, third uncle, and third aunt go there, they can raise pigs, chickens, and ducks.

The soldiers will be responsible for feeding the poultry, and when the time comes, we can add meat to the meals, so everyone can have some.”

The soldiers would be happy to have good food before and after training each day.

Qin Fang hurriedly added, “Yes, yes, that’s exactly what Yan Yan said.”

Qin’s father, mother, and third uncle and aunt calculated in their hearts and felt this was quite worthwhile.

Moreover, they already knew that the steward in the military camp’s fields received five hundred wen a month, but they hadn’t realized that cooking for ten soldiers would also yield a stipend of two hundred wen.

So, they felt quite pleased.

After arranging matters for Qin’s father, mother, and others, Qin’s second uncle awkwardly brought up the topic of Niu Dan: “Ah Fang, your second aunt and I won’t come over here. We’ll stay at home to watch over the fields. Since everyone else has come, someone needs to look after the old home.”

The reason his second aunt didn’t want to come was twofold: firstly, she didn’t want to leave, and secondly, Qin’s second uncle felt the old home needed someone to keep an eye on it, thinking he could do a good job of it. “So… what your second aunt means is, can Niu Dan follow you? Teach him a thing or two. Niu Dan doesn’t like studying; if he stays with me, he’ll just be a farmer his whole life.

Our family didn’t have the means before, so farming was just farming. Now that you’ve succeeded, your second uncle is wondering if you could take a look at what Niu Dan can do,” Qin’s second uncle said, blushing.

He was originally a simple man, and asking his nephew to look after his son made him a bit embarrassed.

Because of his embarrassment, he added, “Don’t worry, your second uncle will cover all of Niu Dan’s expenses. Once the fields at home are well tended and we have a good harvest, your second uncle will come to see you.”

Although Qin’s second aunt didn’t mention the costs regarding Niu Dan, Qin’s second uncle didn’t want to take advantage of his nephew.

Qin Fang replied, “I have a plan for Niu Dan; don’t worry about leaving him here. Just one thing: after Niu Dan is here, how he is disciplined is not for you to interfere, second uncle.”

Qin’s second uncle said, “I definitely won’t interfere. If he misbehaves, just discipline him.”

In his heart, Qin’s second uncle believed that if children misbehave, they should be punished, so he had no objections.

Qin’s grandfather added, “I’ll keep an eye on Niu Dan. If he misbehaves, it’s not that Ah Fang doesn’t want to teach him; I will also discipline him. As his grandfather, I certainly have the right to discipline him on behalf of his second uncle.”

Niu Dan swallowed hard, wanting to go home.

Qin’s second uncle quickly said, “No, no, Ah Fang can discipline him; I have no objections.” He genuinely had no objections.

Yang Haiyan asked, “Niu Dan is eleven this year, right?”

Qin’s second uncle replied, “Yes, yes, he is eleven this year. He’s one year older than Si Ya and two years younger than Shoucheng.”

Yang Haiyan said, “An eleven-year-old boy is still growing and can’t do much. In my view, let Niu Dan focus on studying first. Even if he doesn’t do well, knowing some characters is good.

In the morning, let him learn to read; in the afternoon, he can learn some martial arts with the private guards. In two years, he’ll have a better idea of what he wants to do.”

Qin’s grandfather remarked, “Ah Fang’s wife is right; learning to read is the most important.”

Yang Haiyan continued, “Let Sanya learn to read along with him. Although she’s a girl, knowing how to read is beneficial for her personally and for when she gets married and has children. Before the children’s enlightenment, their mothers can teach them first.”

Upon hearing this, Qin’s third uncle felt it was excellent.

He didn’t expect his daughter to be as smart as Ah Fang’s wife, but knowing some characters would certainly be good.

Qin’s grandfather nodded, saying, “Alright, I’ll follow your arrangements.”

Qin Fang asked, “Does the private school in the county accept girls?”

Yang Haiyan said, “We can just hire a tutor to come to the house. Niudan and San Ya can study at home together, and Shouye can also sit in and listen.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Shouye immediately responded, “Thank you, sister-in-law.”

He had only studied for a year at a private school, so he didn’t know many characters.

Yang Haiyan smiled and continued, “In the meantime, I’ll teach Shouye how to keep accounts. The military accounts are still with me, but it’s not ideal to keep managing them myself. My husband will eventually need someone trustworthy to help him, and I believe Shouye is the most suitable.”

Yang Haiyan was sincere in her intentions.

For one, she didn’t want to keep managing the accounts, and secondly, she believed it was better to train a family member than an outsider.

The Qin brothers had a good relationship, and the elders were reasonable, so grooming Qin Shouye to be Qin Fang’s right-hand man made sense.

Though she wasn’t an accountant, her methods were more straightforward than the traditional ones used in ancient times, which gave her confidence in teaching Shouye.

Qin Shouye was deeply touched. “Thank you, sister-in-law.”

Learning how to manage accounts was a valuable skill that was often kept secret, so he was genuinely moved that she was willing to teach him.

Qin Fang’s parents were also moved because they had always been unsure of what their second son should do.

Their eldest had become a general, the third son was studying, but the second son was still working the fields with them.

They felt guilty about this.

Now that Shouye had the opportunity to learn a skill, they were very happy.

Grandfather Qin nodded approvingly. “A-Fang married the right wife.”

He then added, “As for hiring a tutor, your grandmother and I will cover the cost. Whether it’s for Shouye, Niudan, or San Ya, it shouldn’t come out of A-Fang and his wife’s pocket. We’ll pay for the tutor’s salary.”

Since they were getting older, and Grandmother Qin’s pension wasn’t being used for anything, they figured it was better to invest in the children’s education now.

Qin Fang wanted to refuse, but Yang Haiyan gently stopped him.

She smiled and said, “We’re all grateful for grandfather and grandmother’s kindness.”

Elderly people often want to feel useful, and Grandfather and Grandmother Qin didn’t want to take advantage of their grandson’s success.

Letting them cover the tutor’s salary was a way for them to contribute, and Yang Haiyan planned to make it up to them in other ways.

After all, she wouldn’t really let them spend their money.

After chatting for a while, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.

Qin Shouye, Qin Shoucheng, and Qin Shouxin (formerly Niudan) left together, walking arm in arm, laughing and talking along the way.

Qin Siya pulled her sister Qin Sanya along as well, chattering happily while her quieter sister occasionally responded.

The two sisters’ personalities complemented each other—one lively and the other reserved.

Qin Fang and Yang Haiyan walked their elders to the courtyard gate.

On their way back, Qin Fang held Yang Haiyan’s hand and said, “Wife, thank you for arranging everything for Shouye and the others.”

Letting Shouye, Niudan, and San Ya start learning characters was indeed a good idea, something Qin Fang hadn’t thought of himself.

Especially the idea of having Shouye manage the military accounts—it was a valuable opportunity for him.

Yang Haiyan playfully teased him by running her finger over his palm. “What’s there to thank me for? We’re husband and wife, after all. As long as you don’t blame me for making decisions on my own.”

Qin Fang immediately replied, “Why would I? It’s Shouye’s good fortune that you’re willing to teach him. But I think grandfather and grandmother still might not want to live here. They probably prefer to go back to the fields and work with Father and Mother.”

Yang Haiyan nodded, “If they really want to, let them go. We can send a maid to help them out. They wouldn’t want too many people around, but we can send someone to help Mother cook for the soldiers. Speaking of which, Mother is a seventh-rank official’s wife now, and yet she’s still cooking for the soldiers. I think she might be the first official’s wife to do that!”

Qin Fang chuckled at the thought.

Yang Haiyan continued, “We can visit them every ten days and bring them some good food and supplements. As for grandfather offering to pay the tutor’s salary, I didn’t refuse because it’s his way of showing his care. We can always make up for it in other ways.”

Qin Fang fully trusted Yang Haiyan in everything she did.

---

The next day, due to some urgent matters regarding the military fields, Qin Fang took Grandfather Qin, Father Qin, Third Uncle, and Qin Shouye to inspect the land.

After Qin Fang left, Granny Lian arrived and said, “Madam, the manager from the clothing shop has brought some ready-made clothes. Would you like to take a look?”

Yang Haiyan responded, “Let’s go. Take them to grandmother’s courtyard, and have someone inform Third Aunt, Siya, and Qiuying(Sanya) to come over and have a look too.”

Granny Lian replied, “Yes.”

The manager of the clothing shop was someone Yang Haiyan knew.

She had bought several outfits from this shop before, and the shop was naturally thrilled to be doing business with the general’s household.

When the female manager saw Yang Haiyan, she respectfully greeted her, “Greetings, Your Ladyship.”

In Yunxiang County, anyone with connections knew that the general’s wife was a titled noblewoman.

Yang Haiyan waved her hand. “No need for formalities. We have some relatives visiting, and we’ll be selecting a few outfits for them. Focus on practicality and comfort, but the designs shouldn’t be outdated.”

The manager smiled and said, “Don’t worry, everything has been prepared according to Granny Lian’s instructions. The fabrics are very comfortable, and the styles are new yet simple enough for everyday wear.”

Yang Haiyan nodded, “I trust your taste.”

They headed to the courtyard where Grandmother Qin was staying, called Liuxin Courtyard.

This name had been given long before Yang Haiyan came to the house.

When they arrived, Grandmother Qin and Mother Qin were chatting.

Seeing Yang Haiyan enter with the others, Mother Qin said, “Yanyan is here.”