After the young servant left, Yang Haiyan instructed Uncle Hong to pass a message to Niu Da, requesting fifty broccoli to be delivered every day, along with the day’s eggs.

The Next Day

Niu Da’s eldest son arrived at the shop carrying a basket of fifty broccoli and fourteen eggs.

Yang Haiyan said to Aunt Fan, “From now on, there’s no need to purchase eggs for the household. Just come to the shop every morning to pick them up. You can take four eggs each day, and the remaining ten or so can be sold here.”

Hearing this, Zhang Shi couldn’t help but say, “Madam, could I buy two from you every day?” She wanted to supplement her son and husband with an egg each daily.

Yang Haiyan responded, “The market is selling eggs for one wen each. If you want two, I can sell you three for two wen. How does that sound?”

Zhang Shi hurriedly replied, “Thank you, Madam.”

Yang Haiyan smiled and said, “You’re still young; we women also need to nourish our bodies. Don’t just think of the men and children. If you neglect your own health, who’s to say your husband and kids won’t end up with someone else?” Though it was an unpalatable truth, it was nonetheless sensible.

Could it be that if you passed away young, your husband would remain loyal to you?

Since joining Yang Haiyan, Zhang Shi had witnessed the young lady’s capabilities and was receptive to her words.

Now that the Madam was selling her three eggs for two wen, one of those eggs was essentially a gift for her.

Thus, Zhang Shi gladly accepted the offer and decided to take an egg daily for her own health.

However, this sentiment didn’t only resonate with Zhang Shi; Granny Lian and others also took note.

Taking the opportunity, Aunt Hong said, “Madam, I’d like to buy eggs too.”
Yang Haiyan replied, “Three for two wen as well? Just right for your family.”

Aunt Hong nodded, a bit embarrassed, fearing that Yang Haiyan might think she was trying to take advantage.

Granny Lian chimed in, “I don’t have any children. I’ve saved money my whole life, but it doesn’t come in handy. I’ll take one egg a day to nourish myself.”

Aunt Fan considered this; she had a daughter, and naturally, she wanted to find opportunities for her.

Yet, she couldn’t let her own health suffer while waiting for that chance.

Previously, she had a bowl of goat milk every day to nourish her body, which negated the need for eggs.

But now that she had taken the order for the county’s pastry shop, there was no excess goat milk for her anymore.

So she said, “I’d like one egg daily as well.”

Yang Haiyan calculated, “Then there’s no need to sell the eggs; I’ll just send them directly to the captain residence. For the family of Captain Kun, when their monthly allowance is distributed, I’ll deduct sixty wen for the eggs. Aunt Hong, the same goes for your family; sixty wen will be deducted from your monthly allowance. As for Aunt Fan and Granny Lian, it will be twenty wen each month.”

Zhang Shi and the others responded, “Understood.”

Yang Haiyan thought for a moment and asked Aunt Yu if she wanted any eggs.

Currently, there were only fifteen hens laying eggs, and the household was splitting the daily yield, but once the chicks grew, the egg supply would increase.

It was possible that the families of the other guards would also want some.

For Zhang Shi and the others, buying eggs from outside at one wen each meant spending ninety wen a month for three eggs daily.

However, purchasing them from the Madam would only cost sixty wen a month, which was quite a bargain.

The business for broccoli was stable, with Niu Da delivering fifty each day—twenty sent to the county and thirty kept in town.

With around two hundred households in the town, along with several hundred in the family housing, the thirty broccoli sold quite quickly.

Every other day, broccoli would also be delivered to the Marquis’s and General’s residences, where they would come to check in.

Amidst the steady broccoli business, July arrived, bringing with it Qin Fang’s birthday.

Qin Fang was on night duty this month, which meant he would sometimes come home early in the morning, sleep for a while, eat dinner, and then leave again. Other times, if he was too tired from work, he wouldn’t return during the day at all.

For instance, today, Qin Fang did not come home.

Yang Haiyan was in the kitchen making a birthday cake for him.

After finishing the cake, she also prepared a bowl of longevity noodles.

The longevity noodles she made were chewy; they didn’t get mushy easily.

Plus, they would be sent via carriage, making it quicker than when Yang Haiyan first arrived in this world and had to walk to deliver them last year.

Yang Haiyan packed the cake and longevity noodles: “Granny, I’m going to the military camp. Please take care of things at home.”

Granny Lian replied, “You can rest assured.”

Yang Haiyan placed everything properly, then got onto the carriage. Just as she climbed in, a voice called out, “Madam Qin… Madam Qin, help me…”

Yang Haiyan paused: “Madam Cui?”

This Madam Cui was a neighbor of Han Zhen’s family, the wife of a hundred-man commander, who was the one taking care of Yang Dahua during her pregnancy for two hundred copper coins a month.

Madam Cui ran over, panting, “Madam Qin, hurry and save Madam Han; she’s bleeding.”

Yang Haiyan was alarmed: “How could she be bleeding for no reason?”

Madam Cui explained, “It’s because someone from Centurion Han’s family came and pushed Madam Han, causing her to fall.”

Yang Haiyan’s heart tightened; Yang Dahua was nine months pregnant.

Without a second thought, she got down from the carriage and told Uncle Hong, “Take these items to the Lord… and inform Centurion Han about this matter.”

Uncle Hong replied, “Understood.”

Yang Haiyan then instructed Granny Lian, who was seeing her off at the door, “Call Aunt Fan and Aunt Yu over, and summon the private guards. I’m heading to the Han family.”

Granny Lian responded, “Yes.”

Yang Haiyan looked at the anxious Madam Cui: “I’m going to the Han family, so please go and fetch a doctor.”

Madam Cui said, “Yes, I’ll go right away.”

She had no choice but to come; Yang Dahua had sent her to call Yang Haiyan.

Meanwhile, Yang Dahua lay in bed, and outside her room, the voices of Han’s family could be heard.

“Is she going to be okay? Isn’t it dangerous to leave her like this?” This was the voice of Old Man Han.

Madam Han, the stepmother, replied, “We don’t know where to find a doctor. Besides, we don’t have any money. Didn’t that person already send someone? Just wait.” But in her heart, she hoped that the child would be lost.

She wasn’t worried at all, and her eyes were scanning the courtyard, not realizing that after the dog entered the army, he could still live in the small courtyard and even had a wife.

The way that wife looked—someone to take care of him, living quite well.

Thinking of the hard life she endured back in her hometown made her angry.

It would be best if that child was lost; even better if the dog’s wife couldn’t have children.

That way, everything could go to her son.

As Yang Haiyan ran, she was also pondering: in the original novel, the Han family didn’t arrive this early; they came years later.

Why were they here so early now?

Yang Haiyan didn’t know the reason. Lost in thought, she arrived at the Han family home.

As soon as she entered, she saw Old Man Han, Madam Han, and a young man and woman standing to the side.

Seeing Yang Haiyan enter, Old Man Han’s eyes brightened: “This is from the Qin family…”

Yang Haiyan directly bypassed him: “Sister Dahua…”

Lying in the room, Yang Dahua heard Yang Haiyan’s voice: “Haiyan…”

She had no choice; when she was pushed down by Madam Han, she only thought of Yang Haiyan.

She didn’t trust anyone else, only Yang Haiyan, so she sent Madam Cui to call for help.

Yang Haiyan entered the room and saw Yang Dahua lying on the bed.

She took her hand: “Don’t worry. Madam Cui is fetching a doctor, and I’ve asked Uncle Hong to inform Centurion Han.”

Yang Dahua let out a sigh of relief upon hearing her arrangements: “What about those people outside…”

Yang Haiyan interrupted her: “Don’t speak for now; save your strength.”

Since it was summer and hot, Yang Dahua lay without a blanket, and her thin summer clothes revealed her blood-stained skirt at a glance.

Yang Haiyan felt a bit scared; she had never seen such a situation before.

Madam Han saw that Yang Haiyan was ignoring them and followed her into the room: “You’re from the Qin family, right?”

Yang Haiyan frowned.

Madam Han continued, “We are the Han Zhen’s parents; you recognize us, don’t you? We met in Baili Village.”

Yang Haiyan stood up: “Please go outside; don’t disturb the pregnant woman.”

Her expression was cold, making Madam Han stunned.

She was completely different from the gentle and kind young wife she had seen in Baili Village: “You…”

“Madam…” Granny Lian and the others arrived, followed by two private guards, Huang Huzai and Chen Dashi.

Yang Haiyan said, “Granny, you arrived just in time. You all stay at the door and don’t let anyone in. Aunt Yu, go boil some hot water, and Huang, you guard the courtyard.”

“Yes.”

Madam Han stared, dumbfounded.

She had spent her whole life in the village, having only seen the village chief as the highest official.

She had never encountered such an air of authority.

Seeing that she was still standing in the room, Yang Haiyan said, “Aunt Han, please step outside.”

Madam Han unconsciously retreated to the door.

Yang Dahua saw this and felt that asking Madam Cui to call for Haiyan was the right choice.

As soon as Madam Han arrived, she acted arrogantly.

As a pregnant woman, Yang Dahua was cautiously avoiding her, but an accident still happened.

Although Madam Cui had a good temperament, she wouldn’t argue with Madam Han.

Yang Dahua was worried that without someone to maintain order, things could go awry.

Now she felt relieved.

Yang Dahua lay inside, and outside there was a silence. Finally, Madam Cui returned with Doctor Wang.

Doctor Wang saw Yang Haiyan standing at the door: “Madam Qin is also here?”

Yang Haiyan said, “Thank you, Doctor Wang. It’s about Madam Han; something has happened.”

With Yang Haiyan present, Doctor Wang didn’t need to be discreet and entered the room.

He took one look at Yang Dahua’s condition and saw that she was still bleeding.

Doctor Wang immediately said, “She shows signs of premature labor. Quickly send for a midwife. I’ll brew some restorative medicine for her.”

Yang Haiyan asked, “Sister Dahua, do you have a recommended midwife?”

Yang Dahua replied, “Yes, at the 68th household on East Street, it’s Midwife Wen.”

Yang Haiyan turned to Madam Cui: “Madam Cui, do you know the way?”

Madam Cui had lived here for several years, so of course, she knew the way.

She said, “I’ll go.”

At the Military Camp

Uncle Hong drove the carriage much faster than usual.

Upon reaching the back door of the military camp, he said, “Please call my master and Han Zhen, the hundred-man commander.”

A soldier replied, “Just a moment.”

When Qin Fang came out, he bumped into Han Zhen.

The two exchanged a glance.

When they reached the back door, Uncle Hong handed the three-tier cake and longevity noodles to Qin Fang: “Sir, these longevity noodles and large cake were personally made by Madam. She wishes you a happy birthday.”