Chronicles of the Qin Dynasty

Chapter 292, Section 291: The Three-Day Expectation
Bai Qiusha's loyalty is as clear as day.

But the queen at the head of the table just smiled and said, "It's for the sake of the family's interests that one would be willing to die for it."

No wonder Ji Heng was so wary of people in the court, and the imperial examination system became very popular in the later dynasty... He was truly raised by nobles and powerful families, and his heart was only with his family.

But it doesn't matter.

It's human nature to consider family, and Qin Shi doesn't have strict requirements for that for the time being. The main goal right now is to have people available.

Secondary conflicts will then arise from this.

So, seeing Bai Qiusha open her mouth to defend herself, she waved her hand and said, "Alright, step down. Come back in three days."

Bai Qiusha had a lot of strong words stuck in her throat, and at this moment she could only helplessly bow and retreat.

Stepping out of the farmhouse's simple hall, the opulent interior decorations seemed like a dream, while the commoners queuing in the distance were still dressed in hemp clothes and straw sandals, their faces sallow and thin.

On the other side, some who had already passed the preliminary selection gathered together, holding straw sticks, and were writing something on the ground...

He recalled what the soldiers had mentioned about literacy the day before, and his heart tightened; he dared not delay any longer.

"Among the Hui people, gallop at full speed!"

"promise!"

……

Those who passed the preliminary test were not originally given any literacy training.

But today's interviewees were the various servants of the Queen. They picked up the milky white paper and could write on it with a rustling sound.

That calm and confident demeanor left the big fish, who had just finished eating, speechless.

She was small and pitiful-looking. She approached a guard and whispered, "Sir, the Queen has summoned me. What am I to do?"

The soldier stood there and casually replied, "It depends on what they're good at. You can't exactly ask someone who knows wood to make bricks, can you?"

He was impatient to say anything more, but the big fish had already gleaned some information from his few words.

She was chosen because of her amazing eyesight.

Although she couldn't yet figure out what she could use this eye for, she knew that illiterate adults would never sit at the head of the table to examine people like them.

So he hurriedly returned to the shack and said to his fellow inhabitants, who seemed unsure of what to do and somewhat anxious:

"I want to find an adult to see if they can teach me to read."

Upon hearing this, everyone was taken aback.

The woman who had been watching over her laughed and said, "What are you talking about? How could people like us be qualified to read?"

"Exactly! Those are things that only noble people do. Even if you taught me, I wouldn't be able to learn them."

"Why do you want to learn to read? Who would be willing to teach us?"

The more they opposed it, the more determined the big fish became.

“My mother said that if a person is not smart, he must be down-to-earth and know how to listen to smart people.”

"If literacy has no benefit, why would wealthy people, who are already well-fed and clothed, need to learn?"

Those who assessed them were, I heard, all of them, servants of the Queen.

The servants and attendants that nobles from Guanzhong brought with them when they traveled were all servants.

When impoverished families could no longer make ends meet, they would sell their children to wealthy families, hoping to at least have a full meal.

Since everyone starts from the same point, why can't she learn more?

Sitting there writing might cause some chilblains on my hands, but that's much more comfortable than my mother standing in the river for two or three hours in winter, groaning in pain and unable to move during rain, snow, and freezing weather.

Anyway, she's young, so she's not afraid of being scolded or laughed at. Asking her won't hurt her!
But there's a technique to asking anyone.

She saw that the noble Bai family's caravan had brought a lot of grain and salt, and the Queen personally summoned them. Soon after, several maids came out to prepare things.

So he seized the opportunity, his leg trembling, took a deep breath, and timidly stepped forward:
"grown ups."

She called out softly.

The person she chose was Qin Shi's maid, but compared to the other chief secretaries, she was only a third-rank official, far from being part of the Queen's core working group.

However, in the palace, only those who have officially obtained an official position, such as the Chief Secretary, are addressed as "Master".

Although she quickly tried to stop the poor child from addressing her in this way, she secretly liked it.

"I haven't been given an official position yet, just call me elder sister. Are you the child who was selected yesterday? Is there anything I can help you with?"

She scrutinized the other person closely—a thin, frail body, a large head, and round eyes.

He glanced again at the other person's dry, frizzy hair, but not daring to touch it, unsure if it was infested with lice or fleas.

If they pass the second assessment, this group of people will still need to undergo a thorough cleaning and pest control process.

"Did someone bully you? Or were you hungry?"

Her attitude was so considerate, completely devoid of the arrogance of a nobleman. The big fish, unaware that this was a case of superiors influencing subordinates, simply assumed the other person was kind-hearted, and thus breathed a sigh of relief before boldly asking:

"Big sister, I heard that the assessment will take some time. If I don't leave now, can I... can I still learn to write?"

She was prepared for the other person to laugh at her or scold her.

Unexpectedly, the other person exclaimed in surprise, "Eh?" and then looked her up and down again.

"Is he so ambitious at such a young age? The Queen will surely like it."

Looking around again, he asked, "Is it just you who wants to learn, or do you all want to learn?"

At that moment, a thought surged into the big fish's heart, so much so that she subconsciously puffed out her chest:
"Right now, I'm the only one who wants to learn, but if someone teaches me, I can get all the older women around me to learn too!"

Despite his young age, he has quite a big mouth.

But the more she did so, the more the maid nodded, and at this moment she even said, "Then you wait here, and I will report back to the Queen and then answer her."

Before summoning Bai's son, a simple body search would certainly be conducted, and since he had not yet arrived, there was some free time.

She and her attendants prepared the items and stepped forward. Seeing that the Queen had put down her pen and finished writing, she seized the opportunity and boldly spoke up:

"Your Majesty, the young lady we summoned yesterday is asking me outside if I can teach them to read?"

"Oh?"

Qin Shi was indeed intrigued.

Having a thirst for knowledge means that she is still observing and exploring the world, and is even ambitious enough.

She certainly wouldn't refuse: "Then let's arrange for someone to teach them."

With neither the chief clerk nor the junior clerk present, and Lord Xin leading Lord Mo to assemble farm tools and waterwheels by the field, this was her chance!
Even a third-class maid was bold:

"This servant has learned some characters, though not many, but I made no mistakes in the assessment. I wonder if I could teach them?"

Qin Shi laughed.

Whether it's the ladies outside or the maids in front of us, they all represent the goal of striving for progress within Ganquan Palace.

Humans are driven forward only by desires.

Appropriate desires, on the other hand, are a powerful driving force for human progress.

She nodded: "Good."

……

This was the scene Bai Qiusha witnessed. He was unaware of this, but from this seemingly insignificant matter, he discerned the Queen's ambition. Upon returning to his clan, he immediately reported it.
"Master! The Queen wants to use my Bai family's ten thousand acres of fertile land in Guanzhong for a year, along with the tenants and servants, to go to the royal estate to learn new planting methods."

The patriarch suddenly stood up: "What a huge appetite!"

He pressed on urgently, "Have you agreed yet?"

Bai Qiusha laughed, and then gracefully cupped her hands in greeting: "I agreed immediately and promised the Queen that everything would be ready in three days!"

"Well deserved!"

The head of the household rose, his sleeves fluttering, and paced back and forth in the room.

Since they had already sent millet and salt, and the Bai family's son had also sent gifts, their sincerity was already evident.

Under these circumstances, the Queen's demand for another 10,000 acres of fertile land must be a test of how much they are willing to give!
It's not the right time to act; otherwise, it will backfire and all your efforts will be in vain!

Although it was truly heartbreaking, and they even lost a third of their farmland, they could grit their teeth and accept it as long as they thought about the future.

As for the one-year usage right...

Just listen to those nice words and let them go.

only……

"Why did you promise to have everything ready within three days? These tens of thousands of acres of fertile land aren't all in one place. Going back and forth, giving instructions and making preparations—how could that be done in three days?!"

Bai Qiusha had already anticipated the patriarch's various responses, and at this moment, she slowly delivered her words, starting lightly and gradually increasing in intensity, hoping to see the other party share the same excited expression as him.

So he slowly added, "The Queen said that what is free is the most expensive, so she doesn't use it for free."

Their queen's speech was indeed straightforward, which was quite unsettling, but now that she spoke in detail, although it was colloquial, it was also exceptionally clear, and even Bai Qiusha couldn't help but use it.

The head of the family frowned: "Not using it for free? You didn't actually accept the rent from the Queen, did you?"

In that case, wouldn't their sincerity in making this offer be greatly diminished?
Although it is very likely that the Queen will only pay rent for one year and will not return the estate afterward.

However, the nature of this matter is not like that.

Bai Qiusha immediately beamed: ""

"The Queen didn't mention money; she just wanted to exchange it for an auction invitation."

The head of the family understands that an auction is now in the works.

But this auction...

"Once the Queen returns to Xianyang, this auction will be held in the name of the Xianyang Palace. It will include many ancient texts, secret techniques, novelties, and items related to salt and sugar. It will also include the glass workshop and the secret techniques of glassmaking..."

hiss……!
The patriarch gasped.

Glass?

The Ba family was incredibly wealthy in the Sichuan and Chongqing area. They obtained a crystal tree, which they also presented to the Ganquan Palace as a priceless treasure.

But now, the palace has a secret method for making glass!
Not only that, Bai Qiusha had also heard of the glass tree, but he was certain that the glass of the other party was not as magnificent as the glass screen he had seen at the Queen's place!

If it were just ordinary glass, Qin would have had artisans who could make it, so how could it be so precious?

At this moment, he lavished praise on the head of the family, then smiled and said:
"Master, is this deal still possible?"

The patriarch stared at him intently, then suddenly grabbed a plum branch from the table and slapped it repeatedly on the patriarch's head.
"What deal? What deal?! This is a favor bestowed by the Queen!"

"You are the pride of the Bai family! If you utter such vulgar merchant language again, I'll teach you a lesson according to family rules!"

"Ouch! Ouch..."

The small stick was beaten by the big stick, and the plum branch slapped my head repeatedly. It didn't hurt, but the petals fell and the fragrance filled the air. I just looked a little disheveled.

Even though he was agile, he could only cover his head and turn slightly to the side at this moment, and then said aggrievedly:

"It was the Queen who brought this up, not me. Besides, from the Queen's words, I don't think she looks down on merchants..."

The patriarch sneered:
"The Queen doesn't look down on merchants? Then what else does she look down on? The King looks down on everyone in the world equally!"

They're essentially the same!
"Listen up! If you're going to work for the Queen, throw all your talk of business and profit to the back of your mind!"

"From now on, your heart and eyes can only hold the Queen! You must do whatever she says, even if it means taking the lives of my Bai family members!"

Of course, after the stern rebuke, the patriarch threw the plum branch back and then whispered:

"Go home and tell them as soon as you agree, understand?"

Bai Qiusha: ...

"Then I promised the Queen that everything would be ready in three days..."

"Stupid!"

The patriarch launched into another tirade: "What does the Queen want that you dare to delay until three days later! Guards! Guards at once! Get to work, all night long!"

"I want everything to be perfectly ready by tomorrow morning!!!"

……

The entire Bai family came out, making it a lively and festive occasion.

The entire Guanzhong region was speculating whether something major had happened. Seeing how eager this cunning old man was, other powerful figures were secretly whispering among themselves:
The other party's initiative in stepping forward was so humble that they were now at a loss as to how to follow.

You scoundrel! How could you move so fast!
And why are these actions extending to the estates? Are they perhaps planning to offer their fertile lands to the Queen?

This is outrageous! It's practically cutting off the path for their descendants!

Everyone was in high spirits, and all the major families had gathered together, each with their own calculations.

We must never let the Bai family monopolize the limelight!

But they're always offering up tens of thousands of acres of fertile land...

Although their queen is known for her kindness, how come she sounds even more ruthless than the King of Qin?

At the very least, the King of Qin genuinely looked down on them, so he disdained to touch their things...

hateful!

The Bai family is both cunning and hateful!

……

at the same time.

The Zhao family elders, along with their attendants, entered the side hall complex of Ganquan Palace once again.

The servant before him was respectful but said little, causing the elder to sigh inwardly:
Fangxi is really useless!

The Ganquan Palace is large and spacious. Although it is a group of side halls, it is still a long road away from the outside of the palace.

The clan elder, a man who often travels outside, was already feeling somewhat tired, let alone the delicate, dew-like young woman being supported by two maids behind him.

Seeing them sweating profusely and already panting, the clan elder felt heartbroken that the King of Qin hadn't seen this scene.

But they dared not mention the carriage or anything else...

Ugh!
The ruthless and brutal Qin state destroyed their Chu state. Otherwise, their great Chu was also a powerful state, and their Zhao clan was also a branch of the royal surname. How could they have been treated so lightly?!
He couldn't help but steal a glance back at the two women, and sighed inwardly:

These two beauties were so beautiful that Zhao Shi had gone to great lengths to find them. Now that they were in the palace, she needed to give birth to a prince as soon as possible to ensure their safety!

And then there's Prince Chenghu, who's already seven or eight years old. It's time for him to cultivate a relationship with the King of Qin and pave the way for his younger brothers...

When the brothers are united, it's better than being suppressed by the queen!
　Coming!
　　(End of this chapter)