Chapter 75: The Foreign Enemy

After having a child, Cao Xi’s life was far from idle and filled with joy.

Cao Xi spent her days with the baby, while Qin Zhao focused on managing the city of Luzhou.

Luzhou’s treasury was nearly empty, and Qin Zhao made frequent trips to inspect the situation, checking on the growth of crops like sweet potatoes, hoping they would soon become a source of income. He also visited the city walls, inspecting the defenses.

One day, after completing his inspections, Qin Zhao returned to find a sound of surprise coming from the bedroom.

He pushed the door open and saw Cao Xi, with both hands holding little Qin Yuxuan, the chubby baby.

Qin Zhao was shocked. “He’s actually standing now?”

Hearing his father’s voice, little Yuxuan tilted his head and waved his tiny hands in greeting, grasping the bedpost to steady himself before reaching out toward Qin Zhao.

However, he lost his balance and almost toppled over, but Cao Xi quickly caught him in her arms.

She gently kissed his belly, causing Yuxuan to laugh out loud.

Qin Zhao, witnessing the playful scene between mother and child, couldn’t help but smile. But just as he leaned in to join them, little Yuxuan grabbed his head with all his might.

“Ow, ow, ow!” Qin Zhao yelped.

Though the child wasn’t very strong, his grip was surprisingly firm, and the couple fumbled to free themselves from his hold. Eventually, Qin Zhao managed to extricate himself from the little one’s grasp.

Rubbing his head, Qin Zhao smiled goofily. “This kid really has a strong grip.”

Later, after the baby had fallen asleep, Cao Xi laid him down on the bed.

Qin Zhao took the opportunity to pull Cao Xi close, his hands wandering playfully as they continued to relax.

“You’ve become a bit heavier, huh? Are you turning into a bun?”

Cao Xi swatted his hand away, frowning. “Am I a bun?”

Qin Zhao grinned, retracting his hands but holding onto hers. “Of course, my little bun.”

Cao Xi, now recovering from childbirth, had indeed gained some weight. Qin Zhao’s teasing only made her more self-conscious, and she playfully warned, “You’re asking for trouble.”

With a smirk, she pushed him onto the bed and teasingly slid her hand into his shirt, her fingertips brushing against his skin. Qin Zhao’s ears flushed red at the sensation.

Since Yuxuan was asleep, the couple couldn’t be too loud in their playful banter, and they suppressed their laughter as they shared tender moments together.

The flickering candlelight cast their shadows on the wall.

After much teasing, the two of them finally stopped, breathless from their fun.

Cao Xi leaned against Qin Zhao’s chest, feeling content.

“The people of Luzhou are suffering. They’re constantly being invaded by foreign enemies, and many have even been forced to leave their homes.”

Qin Zhao’s expression grew serious. “Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, if the barbarians dare to invade, I’ll make sure they won’t get away.”

Cao Xi wrapped her arms tightly around him, still concerned. “But how can we not worry? A scholar like you, trying to manage the economy and fend off foreign threats.”

Qin Zhao chuckled and held her closer.

Cao Xi sighed. “We should start by making sugar. If we refine it well, it can become Luzhou’s pillar industry. With money, we can raise an army, and with soldiers, we can resist the enemy.”

“Mm, I’ll follow your lead, my wife,” Qin Zhao said, his forehead creased with concern. His thoughts drifted to the coming threat—the barbarians, as usual, might soon make their move.

The tension was mounting.

The next morning, Cao Xi entrusted Xing’er with taking care of Qin Yuxuan while she headed to the study. There, she spent the entire morning working on various candy recipes: milk candy, fruit candy, and rainbow candy.

After much writing and sketching, she finally came up with some feasible ideas and recorded everything. The candy designs were new and creative, something she was quite proud of.

She gathered the written materials and waited for Qin Zhao to return so she could give him the information. As they began the sugar production process, they prepared the molds and food coloring, making sure everything was set for the next phase.

Soon, the autumn harvest arrived, and Qin Zhao went out to the fields early.

The people, taking advantage of the sunny weather, were busy harvesting sweet potatoes, which would be collected by the local authorities.

The sweet potatoes were plump and round, the harvest looking very promising.

With the sweet potatoes in hand, the sugar factory officially began operations. Workers, who had been waiting for the harvest, returned to their jobs.

Qin Zhao received the materials Cao Xi had prepared and organized them into a book titled Luzhou Sugar Book, a thick volume filled with sugar recipes.

Qin Zhao treated this book as a confidential document of Luzhou City, keeping it restricted to only a few key individuals.

He sent a letter to Qi Qige, inquiring if he would be available today.

Soon, Qi Qige replied with a delivery address and a note confirming he had ordered 200 barrels of sugar. The sugar would be delivered to the specified location.

The remaining sugar was reserved for the people of Luzhou. A long line of citizens formed outside to purchase their share, which was distributed through the local officials for retail sale.

As the weather grew cooler, little Qin Yuxuan, now able to walk, waddled around the house, his short legs moving rapidly.

Cao Xi had rearranged the furniture inside, giving the baby more space to run around.

At one point, Qin Zhao was playing with blocks while holding Yuxuan in his arms. Cao Xi sat by the bed, sewing clothes for Qin Zhao when the needle accidentally pricked her finger, drawing a small bead of blood.

“Ow,” Cao Xi winced in pain.

Qin Zhao quickly set Yuxuan down and rushed over to Cao Xi, gently taking her finger and placing it in his mouth to soothe the pain.

Cao Xi, flustered, quickly reassured him. “It’s fine, it’s nothing. Just a small prick. We need to prepare for the city’s defense; we should begin organizing the city gates.”

Cao Xi was still worried. The barbarians had been quiet for a while, but they were known to cause trouble at any time.

Qin Zhao reassured her, “Don’t worry, I have clothes to wear.”

Cao Xi rolled her eyes. “Who was the one who kept complaining earlier about needing new clothes? Now that you’re wearing the ones I made for you, you’re saying it’s fine.”

“I’m fine with it,” Qin Zhao answered nonchalantly. “Stop worrying.”

Cao Xi was clearly displeased and pointed out, “Before you took office, the barbarians were quiet, but now, I’m afraid things will be different.”

“If they dare come, they won’t make it back,” Qin Zhao said sharply, his eyes flashing with a hint of fierceness.

Cao Xi couldn’t help but feel uneasy, but she knew that Qin Zhao’s words were meant to calm her down. By evening, the streets of the city were illuminated by countless lanterns.

The citizens were caught in a festive atmosphere, but the danger crept ever closer, hidden in the shadows.

—

“Young Master, has Luzhou changed this much?”

A burly man remarked, as he and a skinny youth walked through the bustling streets of Luzhou.

“The new governor of Luzhou is a fool,” the young man, A’jia, son of the barbarian chieftain, commented disdainfully.

Their group of eleven men entered the city, easily passing through the gates. The guards’ eyes betrayed a sense of fear, though they didn’t act.

“Don’t be too hasty,” A’jia warned his companion. “Luzhou may have changed, but this new governor is still inexperienced.”

The burly man laughed, not taking A’jia’s words seriously. “What’s there to fear? These people are like drunkards and fools. I could crush them like ants.”

The streets were unusually lively, with people busy shopping. As they walked among the crowds, their presence seemed to catch the attention of those around them.

A’jia’s instincts kicked in, sensing something wasn’t quite right. “Our appearance seems to be drawing attention.”

The burly man, confused, looked around at the citizens’ clothing. “What’s the issue? We’re dressed just like everyone else.”

A’jia nodded thoughtfully, but his suspicion grew. “It’s not the clothing. There’s something else that’s causing them to take notice of us.”

Meanwhile, at the government office, the citizens were already on edge. Reports flooded in about suspicious individuals on the streets, prompting the local authorities to take immediate action.

Zhang Meng received the news and ordered his soldiers to let in the newcomers, but to seal the city gates and reinforce the city’s defenses.

“This is our first assignment. We can’t let down the people of Luzhou,” Zhang Meng declared. He had just received military documents from Cao Xi and had formed a special unit called the “Wild Donkey Team.”

The name was chosen casually, inspired by Zhang Meng’s fondness for donkey meat. Despite the lighthearted name, the team was highly skilled and well-trained, with each member an expert in a particular field.

They had infiltrated the city, blending in with the common people. Their target was to gather intelligence without drawing attention.

As evening fell, A’jia and his group entered a tavern to eat.

“Young Master, I’ll go to the restroom,” one of the men said and left the table.

Half a tea break later, the man had not returned.

“Has he fallen into the pit? I’ll go check,” A’jia said, standing up.

Another man was sent to follow, but still no word from the restroom.

A’jia began to sense that something was amiss. The tavern, once full of lively customers, now felt strange. Even the innkeeper and staff seemed to have changed.

“Get the others and leave!”

A’jia quickly drew his knife, but as he turned, he was confronted by two figures holding blades.

In that instant, two forces were locked in a tense standoff.