Chapter 78: Everyone’s Affairs

"After all, as time goes on, every one of our employees will have their own house. These houses aren't free; our employees can move in directly, but they must contribute a certain amount each month."

"It costs ten taels of silver to complete one of these houses, but for our employees, the price is set at six taels each. After all, everyone works so hard—if in the end they have no place to live, that would be pitiful."

When Lin Miaomiao finished speaking, the workers below burst out in hearty laughter. Seeing their reaction, Lin Miaomiao knew she had achieved her desired effect.

She addressed the employees again, "It's a significant sum, but once you have worked hard for it yourselves, the house is no longer the property of the factory—the deed will bear your own names. This, in itself, is progress."

"Come New Year's, when your relatives and friends visit, you can proudly tell them that your time at the factory was not wasted."

After Lin Miaomiao finished speaking with the workers, many of them were overjoyed; after all, the factory was helping to shoulder part of the cost, so they no longer had to live in their thatched huts.

Lin Miaomiao had purchased all wasteland from the authorities, so the land wasn't expensive. Li Yanhe, however, did not understand why Lin Miaomiao was doing all this. Lin Miaomiao explained to him, "The factory workers give their all; we should do something for them in return."

"This is simply helping to relieve their worries about the future, isn't it?"

With a gentle smile, Lin Miaomiao looked at Li Yanhe and asked, "Isn't that the truth?"

Li Yanhe was momentarily taken aback by her words, then nodded with a smile. "It certainly is."

Lin Miaomiao and Li Yanhe returned to her small courtyard by carriage. She had not expected that her idea to build houses would inspire the brickmakers with new thoughts, nor that the largest brick factory in the Dayong Dynasty would eventually rise right next to her own factory.

She would often ponder how a simple flutter of her wings had set all this in motion.

Time slipped by, and some of the employee housing was already built. Most of the workers were grateful, and after their shifts, they would rush to the construction site to help, greatly speeding up the process.

Lin Miaomiao found herself moving between the various sites, never having imagined that her workers would be so earnest in their efforts. Even the women participated enthusiastically; village women were naturally strong, so their exertions were even more vigorous.

Witnessing such scenes, Lin Miaomiao felt a bittersweet ache, mixed with a touch of deep emotion.

Today was the winter solstice. Lin Miaomiao got up early to make dumplings for Li Yanhe and the others. Back in the modern world, her mother had always made dumplings for her every winter solstice, saying, "Eat dumplings on the winter solstice, and your ears won't freeze."

As she wrapped the dumplings, Lin Miaomiao was suddenly overcome by longing for her mother. A wave of sorrow washed over her, and her tears fell like rain. Wiping her eyes, she handed the kitchen over to Cui Liu.

Still feeling a bit disconsolate, Lin Miaomiao stood quietly at the threshold, gazing at the sky, which had suddenly turned somber.

Such was the winter sky, especially in the north—changing in an instant.

When Li Yanhe returned, he saw the young girl standing alone, seeming deeply sad and lost. He walked up to Lin Miaomiao and said, "Have you noticed we've been here for three years now? Time really flies."

Seeing her in such a state, Li Yanhe felt a pang of concern and gently embraced her. "Don't be sad."

Hearing his words, Lin Miaomiao managed a lovely smile. "I'm not being difficult at all!"

She looked quietly at Li Yanhe for a moment. That evening, they ate dumplings together, both vegetarian and meat-filled.

The two young boys, Lin Liangluan and Lin Liangze, were at the age of growth and loved the meat dumplings. Concerned their legs would ache from growing pains, Lin Miaomiao regularly had Cui Liu cook bone broth for them, and she drank it as well, for after all, her own body was only six or seven years old.

It was a colder winter than usual, and Lin Miaomiao noticed that Li Yanhe seemed busier by the day. Finding this strange, she asked, "What's going on?"

Li Yanhe sighed and replied, "We've had a few peaceful years, but now the cold is setting in fast. The barbarians haven't gained much these past years, only scraping by with occasional grain trades. But this year, the winter has come on quickly and bitterly cold—it reminds me of a few winters ago."

Hearing this, Lin Miaomiao's brows knitted in concern. In that instant, she sensed the pressure Li Yanhe was under. Her factory was located right at Da'an Pass; if this winter turned sharply cold, she would have to consider carefully what to do.

When the cold is too severe and hunger becomes desperate, people will resort to the most extreme means, breaking through barriers to raid and pillage nearby villages.

She had read historical accounts and had an intuitive understanding: once hunger drives people to the brink, reason is lost.

Many famous battles in history were fought with one's back to the river, desperate to survive—and often, such desperation led to victory.

With a smile, Lin Miaomiao said, "I'll have the factory produce extra cotton-padded clothes for you, and before the New Year I'll arrange for the other workshops to close early."

Li Yanhe nodded in response. "These are small matters—not things you need to worry about. Military supplies come from the court as well; it's not all on your shoulders. These are my responsibilities, so you don't need to..."

Lin Miaomiao shook her head. "Defending our land is the duty of every citizen. Every subject of the Dayong Dynasty has the obligation to rise up, stick in hand, to meet any enemy."

She looked up at Li Yanhe, her voice clear and firm. "This is not only the soldier's burden; it belongs to every person in Dayong."

After saying this, she added, "I have silver—enough to last several lifetimes—but I cannot be wealthy and unkind."

"In this world, the nation is built on families; from the moment I arrived here, we became a family."

"For public reasons, you are the general at Da'an Pass, and as your friend and family, I am duty-bound to support your work."

"For private reasons, I am your childhood betrothed, and if nothing unexpected happens, I may become your wife. As your wife, doing what I can for you is never a burden."

She smiled as she handed Li Yanhe a lunchbox, escorting him to the door. Then she softly recited, "The bright moon of Qin, the passes of Han, a thousand-mile march and none returned. But were the flying general of Dragon City still there, barbarian horses would never cross Yinshan."

Lin Miaomiao murmured the lines to herself. She had always loved this ancient poem, for it carried a sense of tragic grandeur. Somehow, gifting these words to Li Yanhe felt fitting, as if the feeling came from deep within her heart.

Li Yanhe paused upon hearing her words, glanced at Lin Miaomiao, and as she smiled and waved, he revealed a handsome smile of his own.

With a deft movement, Li Yanhe mounted his horse. Lin Miaomiao watched his departing figure, smiling as she returned to her room.

Sun Ziwen stood nearby, inexplicably moved, as if shaken to his core. In that moment, he seemed to understand why his master had sent him to the city in the first place.

"Lin Miaomiao is truly extraordinary," he thought silently. He carefully recorded the entire conversation and sent it, word for word, to the supreme ruler of the Dayong Dynasty.

Emperor Yongchang read Sun Ziwen’s secret report in silence, then, with sudden delight, recited aloud the poem Lin Miaomiao had read: "The bright moon of Qin, the passes of Han, a thousand-mile march and none returned. But were the flying general of Dragon City still there, barbarian horses would never cross Yinshan."

He savored each line in his mind, and before he knew it, he had arrived at the palace of the Virtuous and Gentle Consort, Yuan Chuxia.

He stood quietly, gazing at Yuan Chuxia—so dignified and gracious.

Approaching her, he took the watering can from her hands and helped water the flowers.

"Chuxia, it’s been so long since we’ve gone riding at the Mulan hunting grounds. Perhaps soon I—"

Before he could finish, Yuan Chuxia was seized by a violent cough, but she managed a gentle, graceful smile.

"In our youth, those were the things I loved most. But now my health is much declined; perhaps such pursuits are no longer suitable for me," she said softly.

Looking at her, the emperor felt a pang of sorrow. There were so many women in the palace—too many to count.

Yet, no matter how many women surrounded him, he would always remember the one who had once saved his life.

He found himself wondering: was Yuan Chuxia still the same girl who had rescued him all those years ago?

She was now truly worthy of the titles "virtuous" and "gentle."

The emperor said nothing. After having lunch with her, he quietly took his leave.