Yang Haiyan looked at the letter from Yang Dahua, while Qin Fang was reading the letter sent by Han Zhen.

In the letter, Han Zhen mentioned that the situation at the border was becoming increasingly tense.

The remaining barbarians, for some unknown reason, had started to harass the borders again.

Logically, after a portion of the barbarians surrendered, the remaining ones would likely reconsider and also surrender, but judging by their current behavior, they showed no intention of doing so.

According to Han Zhen’s speculation, war at the border was imminent.

Furthermore, he mentioned the grain partnership business.

The Yonghe Marquisate had granted one of the county agent positions to Han Zhen’s family, and Han Zhen knew this was due to Qin Fang’s influence.

The potato and sweet potato flour initiative was proposed by the Qin family, and since Han Zhen had a good relationship with Qin Fang and came from the same place, this was well known.

Thus, the Yonghe Marquisate had granted one of the county agent positions to Han Zhen, and someone as astute as Han Zhen naturally understood the reason behind it.

In the original plot, Han Zhen was the first to become a centurion and later achieved great success, but after Yang Haiyan’s arrival, Qin Fang had surpassed Han Zhen.

As Qin Fang was reassigned later, the trajectory that belonged to Han Zhen began to revert.

However, some things were not so easily altered.

For example, although Yang Dahua did not obtain the shop belonging to the young lord’s wife, she acquired Yang Haiyan’s shop.

Even though she bought it with money, it also indicated a restoration of the original trajectory from another perspective.

After reading the letter, Qin Fang burned it.

Nothing is safer than destroying evidence; even if the letter contained no substantial information, one could never be sure it wouldn’t be used against him someday.

Qin Fang was a cautious person, and after receiving guidance from Du Ke, he became even more vigilant.

After leaving the study to find Yang Haiyan, he learned that she had gone to the Han family to deliver New Year’s gifts.

Qin Fang went to find her.

In the past, Han Zhen and Yang Dahua had poor conditions with limited monthly stipends, so they couldn’t afford to send valuable gifts.

But now that Han Zhen had become a captain and had money, the quality and quantity of the New Year’s gifts had significantly improved.

Coupled with the grain agency matter, this time, the gifts sent were particularly plentiful.

The border had an abundance of wild game, furs, and traveling merchants, so the gifts from the Han family mainly consisted of cured meats and furs.

Additionally, there were two pairs of fur shoes, similar to modern snow boots.

These shoes were handmade by Yang Dahuā, who had remembered Yang Haiyan’s kindness when she had sent her a coat during her pregnancy.

Although she couldn’t give anything of value at the time, now that she could afford furs, she willingly made and sent over two pairs of fur shoes.

“It’s so cold out, yet you came out,” Qin Fang approached the small woman, who was looking at the New Year’s gifts, and asked, “Aren’t you cold?”

How could it not be cold?

The breath she exhaled seemed to freeze instantly.

But she replied, “I’m looking at the New Year’s gifts from Sister Dahua. Look at these shoes and this fur. We can make fur shoes for everyone; they’ll keep us warm.”

She had already changed into the fur shoes and was stomping her feet on the ground. “I’ll also make some fur gloves for you, so your hands won’t be cold when you go out.”

Qin Fang wasn’t afraid of the cold; taking cold baths in winter was a regular occurrence for him.

Back in the military camp, who had the time to heat water for a bath?

Over time, he became accustomed to the cold.

Plus, these last two years, thanks to Yang Haiyan occasionally preparing medicinal baths for him, his health had improved remarkably.

However, he naturally wouldn’t refuse his wife’s thoughtful intentions and cheerfully replied, “You really do think of everything. I see there are a lot of furs; you should also make a few warm clothes. You’re so afraid of the cold; you need to dress warmly.” In fact, he had never met anyone as sensitive to the cold as Yang Haiyan.

Yang Haiyan replied, “Hmm.”

How could she not be afraid of the cold?

Coming from a modern world with air conditioning to an ancient one where even cotton was scarce, it would be strange not to feel cold.

On the third day after receiving the New Year’s gifts from the Han family, they received another batch, this time from the Yonghe Marquisate.

The gifts sent were several times more than those from the Han family, and the reason for sending them was related to the grain agency matter in Ren Prefecture.

Now, they had to prepare two sets of gifts in return.

Thinking about it, given the relationship with the Han family, Yang Haiyan felt that practical New Year gifts would be better.

However, with the Yonghe Marquis’s residence sending gifts, preparing the return gifts would take some thought.

“Hey…” Yang Haiyan sighed. “Granny Lian, what do you think we should prepare for the New Year gifts going to Ren Prefecture?”

Mama Lian replied, “The gifts from the Marquis’s residence are quite generous, so I can’t think of anything right now. However, I believe that a conventional approach would be more appropriate.”

Yang Haiyan agreed, “Indeed, a conventional approach is more suitable. How about we take some potato flour and sweet potato flour from the factory and make some dried noodles to send over? I’ll sketch out a few designs, and you can ask the seamstresses to make a few clothes based on my sketches. The gifts don’t have to be extravagant; they just need to be practical.” If it weren’t for the matter of the grain supplier, the Yonghe Marquis’s residence probably wouldn’t have thought to send them New Year gifts.

In Ren Prefecture, the family residences on the frontier were bustling with activity after the New Year.

Compared to ordinary families, the Han family had servants, so they could manage a bit more easily.

However, due to the new role as the county town’s grain supplier, they were busier than ever.

But this kind of busyness was something Yang Dahu loved because being busy meant there was money to be made.

Speaking of which, their family’s situation was quite good this year.

Although she had borrowed money from the bank to take over Haiyan’s farmland and shop, the farm raised poultry, and they could sell chicken and duck eggs, as well as meat.

The shop, located in the county town, sold not only these goods but also vegetables from the farm.

Although they didn’t have Haiyan’s broccoli or cauliflower, ordinary vegetables were still in demand among the townspeople.

So this year, the family’s condition was genuinely good, and Yang Dahua was very satisfied.

“My husband is back.” As Yang Dahua was sorting through the New Year gifts sent from Yunxiang County, she saw Han Zhen returning from duty.

Han Zhen stepped forward, “Do you need my help? Are these the New Year gifts you bought?”

Yang Dahu replied, “No need, you go check on our daughter. These are the New Year gifts sent by Haiyan. By the way, there’s a letter over there for you; it’s in your study.”

Han Zhen nodded, “Alright.”

He then went to the study.

At the study door, there were personal guards; as the leader of a thousand households, he also had his own guards.

“Sir,” the guard greeted him upon seeing Han Zhen. “The letter from General Qin has been placed on your desk.”

Han Zhen nodded, “From now on, if I’m not back, just keep the letters on you and give them to me when I return.”

The guard replied, “Understood.”

With that, they entered the study. “Tell me about the situation in Yunxiang County.”

“Yes.” The guard then recounted everything he had learned in Yunxiang County, including how General Qin resolved the issues with the Beast Mountain and the land for the barracks, as well as matters concerning the horse farm…

In short, since General Qin arrived in Yunxiang County, he had created a lot of jobs for the common people.

As Han Zhen listened to the guard recount these events, a smile filled his eyes.

He knew that the brother with whom he had shared life and death was no longer the same thousand household leader, Qin Fang.

His status was rising, and his responsibilities were becoming more significant.

Yet one thing remained unchanged: despite his rising status, their relationship hadn’t altered, and he felt the same toward Qin Fang as he always had.

“This kid…” Now that he was an official in the court, he had become a parent in his own right.

Han Zhen was happy for him.

Han Zhen quickly skimmed through Qin Fang’s letter, which detailed the happenings in Yunxiang County.

Of course, he did not mention anything about the medicinal herbs; first, it was a secret order from the emperor, and second, knowing certain matters would not benefit Han Zhen.

However, he did write about his teacher, Du Ke.

The guard had also heard about this while in Yunxiang County.

But the most boastful thing in Qin Fang’s letter was that he was going to be a father.

A child is a continuation of life, and not only was Qin Fang excited, but Han Zhen was happy for him as well.

However, Qin Fang also mentioned some matters concerning the court, such as how he was tasked with a secret mission, but this secret mission might touch upon the interests of others in the court.

He advised Han Zhen to be cautious in all things.

Seeing this warning in the letter, a trace of vigilance crossed Han Zhen’s eyes.

Although Qin Fang didn’t specify what the secret mission was, Han Zhen knew that if it affected others’ interests in the court, it was certainly not simple.

He and Qin Fang were friends who had come from the same place; if others couldn’t deal with Qin Fang, could they turn their sights on him instead?

Han Zhen understood.

From now on, in front of others, he would need to maintain a proper distance from Qin Fang.

At the very least, they shouldn’t contact each other openly.

With this thought, Han Zhen began to devise a plan.

After reading the letter, Han Zhen directly burned it.

Like Qin Fang, he didn’t like leaving behind evidence that could lead to gossip.

After burning the letter, he stepped out of the study to see his daughter.

The little girl born in August of the previous year was now a year and a half old and could walk.

When she saw her father come in, her short legs ran toward him, and she leapt into his arms.

The little girl was very beautiful; the saying that daughters resemble their fathers had some truth to it.

Han Zhen was good-looking, and his daughter looked like a miniature version of him, so he was especially fond of her.

Parents often love their children a little more if they bear a resemblance.

Han Zhen picked up the little girl and tucked her into his coat. “Come, let’s go see your mother.”

The little girl hugged her father’s neck and randomly kissed his face, making Han Zhen chuckle softly.

When Yang Dahua saw them, she smiled and said, “Haiyan sent a lot of beautiful clothes for girls. They look very nice. I’ll wash them, and once they’re dry, we can dress our daughter in them.”

Han Zhen replied, “I’ll listen to you.”

Yang Dahua took out the clothes, “Baby, here are the new clothes from your aunt. Which one do you want to wear?”

Despite being only a year and a half old, the little girl understood what looked good.

She looked left and right, and in the end, she was drawn to a light yellow dress embroidered with cute little animals, refusing to let it go.

Seeing this, Yang Dahua patted her head and said, “Alright, we’ll wear this one first.”

Han Zhen looked at the two of them, feeling very content.

In his life, he had suffered in his youth, and even getting married was a luxury.

But now, he had become a father.

In the blink of an eye, it was the third month after the New Year, and Qin Fang had been in Yunxiang County for a year.

On this day, Qin Fang was a bit anxious as he sought out Yang Haiyan. “Yanyan, the teacher sent a letter; things are a bit chaotic in the capital.”