The court was preparing to send a special envoy to discuss the surrender of certain barbarian tribes, and the Marquis of Yonghe had already passed this news to the barbarian tribes.

Today, as soon as Qin Fang arrived at the military camp, General Ao called for him.

“General,” Qin Fang said.

General Ao replied, “Let’s take a walk outside.”

Qin Fang was puzzled but followed him anyway.

They didn’t just walk near the military camp; the two mounted horses and left the camp directly.

As they rode, they patrolled.

Once they left the camp, there was no one around, making it easier to talk.

The cold wind howled past their ears, carrying dust and sand; if they weren’t careful, the sand could blow into their mouths.

Both Qin Fang and General Ao were wearing masks provided by the military to protect against the wind and sand.

After riding for a while, they stopped. They dismounted and held onto their horses.

General Ao said, “Yesterday, the heir told me about the barbarian tribes’ surrender. He said the court would send a special envoy to handle this matter; the person coming is Du Ke, the Deputy Minister of War. He is a very shrewd person, so we need to be careful during this period.”

Qin Fang didn’t know Deputy Minister of War Du Ke; such a person seemed too high and distant for him.

However, he acknowledged General Ao’s warning.

General Ao continued, “Qin Fang, I have always had a good opinion of you. You are an energetic person, very much like I was when I was younger. But you are smarter than I was and have a clearer understanding of things. When I was your age, I only thought about getting through each day and never considered how to improve myself. I was just a reckless person who didn’t think about enriching my knowledge. But you are different; you can read now and study military texts. You… are doing well.”

Qin Fang humbly replied, “You flatter me, General.”

General Ao, being an insightful person, had invited Qin Fang out for another reason: “Qin Fang, do you want to be transferred to the capital?”

Qin Fang didn’t understand General Ao’s meaning, but since he was on this path, he hoped to advance.

He had always felt a bit inferior in front of Yang Haiyan.

Although he never showed it, he always thought he wasn’t worthy of her, which made him want to improve himself.

The way he could make himself better was by seizing opportunities to climb higher.

However, climbing higher didn’t necessarily mean going to the capital.

The capital was full of powerful and wealthy people.

Someone of his background would only be bullied there.

He had his own thoughts; he would rather be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in the prosperous capital.

Still, he didn’t directly ask, “What do you mean, General?”

General Ao candidly explained, “The heir’s intention is that the Marquis of Yonghe might relinquish military power, and when that happens, they will return to the capital. He asked for my opinion, and if I return to the capital, the Marquis’s residence will help arrange things for me there.”

Similarly, if he went to the capital, he could naturally attach himself to the Marquis’s residence. “So, I’m here to ask for your opinion.”

Qin Fang thought for a moment and said, “Even if the Marquis’s residence goes back to the capital, the court will likely send people to take over the situation here, right?”

General Ao replied, “Yes, but it’s also possible that we will be reassigned.”

Qin Fang said, “I will follow the arrangements.”

He was just a captain; he didn’t have the right to choose.

Whether he stayed here or followed a new superior, he had no idea about the other person’s character or how they conducted themselves.

But going to the capital made him feel even more lost.

To be honest, he was feeling somewhat bewildered at the moment.

General Ao said, “I just wanted to give you a heads-up.”

However, this heads-up left Qin Fang unsure of what to do.

He couldn’t see the path ahead of him for the future.

After finishing his shift in the military camp and returning home, Qin Fang kept frowning.

The decision to stay or go to the capital was no longer up to him.

Although General Ao had come to ask him, would the Duke’s residence really make special arrangements for him if they returned to the capital?

If that were the case, then they were being too considerate toward him.

But if not, then how should he face a new superior while staying at the frontier?

Due to his worries, Qin Fang was absent-minded during dinner.

Yang Haiyan, who was always perceptive, noticed he was troubled and asked, “Husband, what’s wrong? Did something unpleasant happen during your shift today?”

Qin Fang never hid official matters from Yang Haiyan, knowing that her insight was broader than his.

He was willing to listen to her analysis and advice on official issues.

So when she asked, he shared what General Ao had said. “Yanyan, do you think it’s better to go to the capital or stay in Yongzhou?”

Yang Haiyan replied, “Staying in Yongzhou is better.”

She didn’t want to go to the capital; for families like theirs, going there was worse than being the gatekeeper of a noble residence.

In a capital full of powerful families, they would have to bow to everyone they met, which Yang Haiyan could not endure.

Thinking of this, she emphasized, “I don’t like the capital. Going there will remind me of the Yang family.”

Qin Fang said, “Okay, then we won’t go to the capital.”

Yang Haiyan knew things weren’t as simple as they sounded. “But what if there’s no position for you at the frontier?”

Whether to stay or leave was not something they could decide.

Although she felt a bit willful saying they wouldn’t go to the capital, it was indeed beyond their control.

Qin Fang replied, “I don’t know either, but I thought about it all night on the way back.”

Yang Haiyan asked, “What did you come up with?”

Qin Fang glanced at her and hesitated.

His inner struggle was palpable.

After a long silence, he finally asked, “If you don’t want to go to the capital, and there’s no position for me in Yongzhou, then I’ll submit my resignation.”

Yang Haiyan thought that submitting his resignation and returning home was also a good idea.

Being ordinary citizens for a lifetime would guarantee a worry-free life given their current situation.

Returning home, they could buy some land and become landlords, leaving something for their children.

So, Yang Haiyan readily replied, “Okay, if we’re not going to the capital, then if there’s no position for you here, we’ll go back home. You can take care of your parents, and they’ll definitely be happier.”

While Qin Fang was talking about resigning, he kept an eye on Yang Haiyan, afraid she would look down on him.

But seeing her calm expression put him at ease.

Once he relaxed, a smile appeared on his face. “I have also made plans for our future.”

Yang Haiyan was curious. “What plans have you made?” It seemed different from her plans to become a landlord.

Talking about his plans restored Qin Fang’s confidence, and he said excitedly, “In these years in the military, I’ve learned a lot of skills, and I can’t stay here any longer. I’m planning to open a security agency. At least Kunshi and the others can continue to follow me. I’ll find a few soldiers who have completed their service. What do you think?”

Seeing his eager expression, Yang Haiyan gave him a thumbs-up. “You’re amazing, Husband! You’ve already arranged everything. I think that sounds great. Whatever you want to do, I’ll support you.”

Of course, if he wanted to become an official in the capital, she would try to persuade him.

Hearing her approval, Qin Fang felt happy.

He sighed with relief; he now had plans for the future, which eased the pressure in his heart.

At least no matter what path lay ahead, he wouldn’t worry anymore.

That night, Yang Haiyan couldn’t sleep.

Just as Qin Fang had made arrangements for his future, she also had her own thoughts.

If Qin Fang didn’t become a military officer and chose to open a security agency, then the best place would definitely be Jintian County, where the Qin family’s hometown was.

After all, rather than choosing an unfamiliar place to develop, it would be better to return to Jintian County, which would also allow them to be filial to their elders.

Furthermore, Qin Fang, a seventh-rank retired military officer, returning to his hometown, as long as he didn’t offend the powerful, ordinary people wouldn’t dare target them.

But arrangements needed to be made for the business here; both the shop and the land would have to be sold.

To be honest, she felt a bit reluctant to part with either.

The shop earned twenty taels a month, and they had built a good reputation; giving it up would be a pity.

As for the land, if they returned home, buying land again would not be as easy, as there wouldn’t be another Niu Da to help manage it.

She would need to ask Niu Da if he was willing to move with them.

If he wasn’t willing, they could ask Uncle Hong to stay and follow Niu Da to the farm until Uncle Hong got familiar with the planting business and then returned to Jintian County.

However, they would need someone to take over the business here, or if someone wanted to buy it…

After thinking it through, she thought Yang Dahua would be the most suitable person.

With a plan in mind, Yang Haiyan was able to sleep peacefully.

Although the court had sent the Deputy Minister of War, that would be a matter for after the New Year.

The winter situation in Yongzhou was too dire, and with two more months of winter disasters ahead, the Deputy Minister of War would naturally be unwilling to come at this time.

Thus, the people in the military camp felt relatively secure.

In this atmosphere of assurance, the New Year quickly arrived.

For Qin Fang, it had been a year and a half too late, especially on New Year’s Eve, when he wished he could buy some firecrackers to set off.

In fact, he indeed went to buy firecrackers.

On New Year’s Eve morning, Qin Fang greeted Yang Haiyan, saying, “I’m going to the county.”

Yang Haiyan asked, confused, “What are you going to the county for?”

Qin Fang had already thought of a reason. “I’m going to buy roast duck. We need a nice meal on New Year’s Eve; it’s been a while since I had roast duck.” In reality, he was going to buy firecrackers.

Hearing this, Yang Haiyan didn’t think much of it. “Then buy two; Siya and Shoucheng also like to eat it.”

Since the roast duck was relatively small, Qin Fang could finish half of it by himself, and the four of them wouldn’t be enough for one duck.

“Got it.”

Qin Fang returned very quickly; in less than half an hour, he was back.

However, when he returned, not only did he buy roast duck, but he also brought firecrackers.

He wanted to hide the firecrackers, but unfortunately, there was nowhere to conceal them, so Yang Haiyan naturally saw them.

Yang Haiyan was puzzled about why Qin Fang had such an interest and curiously asked, “Why did you buy firecrackers?”