Grass and mustard reign supreme

Chapter 121 Partners

If Yang Can had led the group of elderly, weak, women and children to Feng'an Village that day, they wouldn't have arrived before evening.

It's not that these people will hold him back; these people practically grew up on horseback.

Even if one's body is so weak that one will die tomorrow, one can still sit steadily on the saddle today.

What truly slowed their progress was their possessions.

The scattered cattle and sheep had to be herded, and the carts loaded with felt blankets, pottery jars, and grain had to be moved even more slowly.

So Yang Can decided to set off again early the next morning.

For these widowed and orphaned herders who had just found a reliable source of support, this night became the most peaceful night's sleep they had had in a long time.

The following afternoon, Yang Can led his team into Feng'an Village, an action that immediately alarmed the villagers.

The unusual gathering of over two hundred Xianbei people, including elderly men and women, widows and children, immediately caused a sensation in Feng'an Village.

Therefore, when Yang Can ordered someone to ring the bell to gather the villagers, they arrived very quickly.

A small portion of the crowd arrived after hearing the bell, while the rest had already gathered there to watch the spectacle.

Yang Can stepped onto the platform, his gaze sweeping over the sea of ​​heads below.

The villagers' chatter was like a buzzing swarm of bees. Someone pointed at the Xianbei people and muttered, "Why did the chieftain bring so many barbarians? There isn't a single able-bodied man among them!"

Yang Can raised his hand and pressed it down, and the noise gradually subsided.

Yang Can briefly explained the origins of these Xianbei people to the villagers.

Since the news of the Xianbei Bali tribe's submission to the Fa had already spread in Feng'an Village, Yang Can didn't need to waste any more words.

Then Yang Can talked about how the Bali tribe was split into three parts and how these people were unwanted and abandoned, and then raised his voice.

“Since these people have already submitted to the clan, they are now our people. I, the lord of the manor, cannot stand by and watch them die.”

Therefore, I, the master of this estate, have my own arrangements for them, and only one of these arrangements concerns you.”

Yang Can pointed to the elderly, weak, women and children of the Xianbei: "The old, weak and children, I will make arrangements for them. There is only one woman left."

Yang Can paced back and forth on the stage, loudly proclaiming, "The old, the weak, and the children—I can take care of them all. Can't I even take care of some strong women?"

I'm also offering this opportunity to the single men in Feng'anzhuang.

These women are all widowed. I have spoken to them about this, and they have all agreed.

That is, any single men in our village who are willing to choose a wife can come forward now and take a look at each other.

If you both like each other, you can take them home now and consummate your marriage tonight!

As soon as these words were spoken, the audience erupted in a commotion, with villagers discussing and buzzing incessantly.

Yang Can deliberately waited for the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, until his voice gradually weakened, before speaking again.

At this point, his tone became more serious: "Let me make this clear from the start, these widows all have children with them."

If you want to take her home as a wife, you'll have to raise the children too.

He paused, then added, "Of course, if you're both willing, and raising a child is truly difficult, and the woman is willing to leave the baby behind, then leave it to me, and I'll raise it. But..."

Yang Can turned his gaze to the Xianbei widows, his voice becoming serious: "Once you give up, from now on you will have nothing to do with your children. You need to think this through."

After he finished speaking, he paused for a moment, giving everyone time to process what he had said.

He then called out the names of several village officials and ordered them to come out and maintain order, announcing loudly, "The matchmaking begins now!"

This was quite unusual, mainly because no one was prepared for it at all, so the bachelors in the village were somewhat bewildered.

They looked at each other, neither daring to make the first move.

Seeing this, Yang Can smiled and added, "Feng'an Village only has one day of opportunity. Starting tomorrow, bachelors from the other five farms and three ranches will also come."

These words seemed to add fuel to the fire, and the hesitant bachelors suddenly became anxious.

First, a dark-skinned man bravely took a step forward, and then a group of people rushed forward as if they were grabbing something, their footsteps and laughter mixed together, creating a noisy scene.

Someone jokingly asked, "Master, I already have a wife. Can I choose another one?"

Yang Can laughed and said, "If you can afford to support her and she's willing to stay with you, then I won't interfere."

The man was just joking, but before he could finish speaking, his wife emerged from the crowd.

The woman grabbed his ear, pinching and cursing him, which made everyone around laugh. Even the Xianbei widows couldn't help but smirk.

To be honest, these widows are not very old, because people get married too early these days. Those in their early twenties are already considered "old" women.

But they all had one thing in common: they all had children with them.

Those childless widows were snatched up by various factions when the tribe split up.

Although they couldn't do as much heavy work as the men, they were still good laborers in the family. The Xianbei people had long since absorbed the young women who had no burdens.

The bachelors in the village are very practical when choosing a wife: first, they look at whether she is strong and healthy; if she is strong and healthy and also has a good appearance, then she is the best.

Whether her face is delicate or her waist is slim, nobody cares. She may be pretty, but who can afford to raise a good-looking but useless burden?
Only a landowner like Yang Can wouldn't need to worry about these things.

These newly widowed women were not hesitant to remarry, but most of them were reluctant to leave their children.

Even though Yang Can said he would adopt the abandoned children, they still held onto the children's hands and refused to let go.

The bachelors' thoughts are straightforward: it would be best if they didn't have to support someone else's child.

So when the two of them got together, they couldn't chat for more than a few words about everyday things before the conversation turned to the child, their tone a mix of discussion and probing.

Yang Can watched from the high platform, not urging anyone. Blind dates are a matter of mutual consent, and all he had to do was act as a bridge.

As for the arrangements for the elderly, weak, and children, he had already planned them out and would have someone follow them later.

Just then, two white horses slowly walked in from outside the village.

On the first horse sat Qingmei, who had just become Yang Can's wife.

Her hairstyle was changed, and she styled it into a round bun like a young woman.

Her pale pink dress made her complexion look exceptionally delicate.

A pale yellow ribbon tied around her waist, her body swaying gently with the rise and fall of the horse's back, adding a touch of femininity to her eyes and brows.

On the white horse beside them, the twin sisters Rouge and Vermilion were being carried.

The two were dressed exactly the same: narrow-sleeved short jackets paired with striped long pants. The only difference was that Rouge's jacket was a bright pomegranate red, while Vermilion's jacket was a delicate willow bud green.

If they were dressed in the same color and rode on the same horse, it would be impossible to tell them apart; they would look exactly like reflections in a mirror.

This horse needs to be trained when it is three years old. It needs to be ridden by a light-weight person. Every day, some time should be spent letting the horse get used to carrying loads and also teaching it to obey commands.

However, the horse's body is not yet fully developed, so the training time must be carefully controlled to avoid overexertion.

Ever since Yang Can saw the rouge and cinnabar, Qingmei stopped trying to hide them, lest she appear stingy.

As for the task of protecting her daughter from any mischievous spirits who might harm Yang Can, she remembered it, but she was now more mindful of her actions.

She had been reprimanded by Yang Can for her hostility towards Rena before, so now whatever she wants to do must be done on the premise of not upsetting her man.

Seeing the lively scene in the village, the three women quickly dismounted and slowly walked forward, holding the reins.

Qingmei noticed a young woman holding a child watching the commotion and exclaimed with a smile, "What's going on? So many people are gathered here."

The young woman looked up and saw it was Qingmei, and quickly gave a respectful curtsy. Everyone knew that this girl had now been taken as a concubine by the master of the manor.

"Young Madam, the Master of the Manor just returned, and he brought quite a few Hu women with him!" She recounted in detail the matchmaking arrangements Yang Can had made.

Qingmei suddenly realized what was going on.

Yan Zhi, standing to the side, couldn't help but sigh, "The master of the manor is truly kind-hearted. If it weren't for him, these women would have been abandoned with their children, and we don't know how they would have survived."

Zhu Sha nodded, her eyes full of admiration: "Yes, our master is clearly a great philanthropist."

Qingmei listened, a slight smile creeping onto her lips, but she deliberately said in a nonchalant tone, "He's not as good as you all say."

He's just a little better looking, a little kinder-hearted, a little more witty, a little more considerate, a little more thorough in his work, a little more resilient in the face of trouble, and a little more attentive to the people in the village...

Otherwise, he's no different from any other man.

Rouge and Vermilion exchanged a glance, as if looking in a mirror.

The same helplessness was evident in the eyes of both the person in the mirror and the person outside the mirror. Just how many times did the young lady utter "a little bit" in that last breath?

This lively blind date ended after about half an hour.

The woman who was chosen immediately went home with the man.

These days, marriage can sometimes be just that direct and efficient.

Of those women who were chosen, only three chose to give up their children.

The other women were unwilling to give up their children, and the men who took a liking to them eventually accepted them.

Of course, some of those still standing there with their children are those who, although someone has taken a liking to them, have not been able to find a match because they are determined not to give up their children.

Yang Can was not in a hurry to deal with these women.

There are still five farms and three ranches with bachelors ahead of them. After this round, there probably won't be any of these persistent women left.

If there are still those who haven't found a home, they can be grouped into the "elderly, weak, and children" category and arranged together.

Next, we need to settle the elderly, the infirm, the children, and the pregnant women.

Yang Can told the pregnant women to take the orphans and the three abandoned children with them first, and they would be sent into the fortress soon.

From now on, Qingmei will teach these children academics and martial arts, while Wangcai will take care of their food and daily life.

Even if they are too young, it's okay; these pregnant women can take care of them.

Besides, there are several quick-witted old women in the fort who can help take care of things.

Yang Can also made plans for the remaining elderly and frail individuals.

Although there are heavy physical jobs in the village, there are also many light jobs.

The process of selecting and drying seeds can be done while sitting under the eaves. You can chat and pick out bad seeds and impurities at the same time. It takes a long time but not much effort.

They could also manage tasks such as building a simple shed by the field to watch over the crops, prevent poultry from pecking at them, keep children from causing trouble, and drive away birds and catch insects; they could also clean and repair farm tools, assist in weaving workshops and brewing workshops, and even comb silk threads, weave hemp ropes and reed mats, and make straw sandals. These were all things that could be learned quickly and did not require much skill.

With Yang Can's arrangement, all two hundred-plus elderly, weak, women and children found a place to stay.

Their eyes were filled with gratitude and awe when they looked at Yang Can.
They didn't understand or care about anything else; all they knew was that Master Yang was good to them and had given them a way to survive.

These two hundred-plus people are like two hundred sparks of fire.

In the future, these sparks will naturally spread and grow into a vast plain in the "Eight Estates and Four Pastures" under Yang Can's rule.

……

More than ten days have passed, and the resettlement of the three departments is progressing steadily according to the established plan.

The scents of earth and wood quietly permeated the air, outlining the new life of the two estates and one pasture.

The two tribes that chose to transition to agriculture have already begun to lay out their development plans according to the village's regulations.

The sound of ramming earth continued from dawn to dusk, and rows of wooden houses were erected in the wilderness.

Several irrigation ditches are being dug along the terrain.

The people Yang Can sent to oversee this matter were all talented and popular people in Feng'an Village, but they had always fallen just short of becoming junior managers.

Before they left, Yang Can told them, "If you can manage the new village well this time, you will be in charge of these two villages in the future."

These words were like a spark, instantly igniting the pent-up energy of the men.

With this expectation, they plunged into the new tribe, leading the Xianbei people to reclaim wasteland and build houses during the day, and sitting around the campfire at night drinking mare's milk wine and chatting.

Within a few days, they had become close friends with the Xianbei people, and even their accents had been influenced by each other.

As for the group that chose to continue their nomadic lifestyle, Yang Can never intervened, only sending them a few cartloads of grain as a subsidy.

He knew in his heart that some of these people were lazy and complacent, unwilling to change.

Some are stubborn individuals who view nomadism as a matter of bloodline inheritance; trying to change their mindset in a short period of time is futile.

Now that they are allowed to be under the full jurisdiction of Balim, it will not only save them from unnecessary disputes, but also quietly lower Balim's guard.

As for the future, Yang Can was certain: once the smoke from the chimneys of the other two agricultural tribes rose and their granaries filled, and when his people were living in peace and prosperity, he would not need to say much; the nomadic tribe would take the initiative to change and come closer to him.

After all, there are two vivid examples right in front of us.

The war widows in the tribe have now all found new support and formed stable families.

For these men and women, the stove finally felt like home, and the bed felt like a place of intimacy.

There were more than twenty orphans who lost their loved ones, the youngest still sucking his fingers in his swaddling clothes, and the oldest no more than seven or eight years old.

The older children are already able to work alongside the adults, and in just a few more years they will grow into strong laborers.

Neither agricultural nor nomadic tribes turned away these children; they understood the value of this.

However, this was exactly what Yang Can wanted.

The oldest abandoned children are only seven or eight years old. Although it takes more time and effort to raise them, once they are raised, the loyalty they have established in childhood is much stronger than that of people recruited in adulthood, and the proportion of people who can remain loyal to them will be much higher.

So Yang Can went a step further and adopted these children as his godchildren.

"In this way, the people who raise them will pay more attention and will never let the children suffer any injustice."

When Master Yang adopted them as his godson and daughter, he spoke to them in this gentle manner.

These words, gentle yet powerful, were like a ray of warm sunshine, instantly dispelling the timidity in the children's eyes.

This action allowed the reputation of "Renyi Yang" to spread like wildfire, quickly reaching the surrounding farms and ranches.

Even from the Five Villages and Three Shepherds, which were not originally part of the Three Powers, several orphans came to seek refuge with him, carrying simple belongings.

Yang Can naturally accepted them all, and by then he had twenty-eight adopted children by his side.

After settling in briefly, Yang Can began to have the children of the appropriate age start reading and writing, entrusting the entire matter to Qingmei.

However, Qingmei had to take care of the children's studies and martial arts, as well as manage the affairs of the Yang family. The burden on her shoulders was too heavy.

Yang Can then hired a learned tutor from outside to help Qingmei teach the children to read and write.
In terms of martial arts training, Leopard Head assisted from the side, which slightly reduced Qingmei's burden.

Just as the village's construction and the children's lives were getting better, Rena rushed back from Tianshui City, travel-worn and exhausted.

Her mission has been successfully completed. The transformation and restructuring of Kunlun Huizhan have been fully implemented, and it is now busy acquiring silk, tea and porcelain in accordance with her plan.

Chen Yinjie, the eldest son of the Chen family, initially wanted to use his family's power to suppress Kunlun Huizhan, but when he heard that the Huizhan had Madam Suo backing him up, his arrogance instantly vanished.

However, Chen Yinjie did not give up completely. Instead, from that day on, he went to Kunlun Huizhan more and more frequently.

He would walk around the Kunlun Inn several times a day. People who didn't know the situation would think that the inn was also owned by the Chen family.

Although the young master of the Chen family's intentions were obvious, he deliberately didn't voice them, so even though Rena was annoyed, she couldn't find a reason to drive him away.

This time, Jeanne was extremely discreet about her return to Feng'an Village, traveling light and with minimal entourage, for fear of leaking information and being entangled with Chen Yinjie again.

"Master, Kunlun Huizhan has been reorganized and will now focus on commerce."

The trading house in Tianshui will later specialize in wholesale and retail business.

As soon as Rena stepped into Yang Can's study, she couldn't wait to report, her eyes shining with excitement.

"The warehouse has already started purchasing goods, and the camel caravan is also preparing. If everything goes smoothly, we can set off in half a month."

Yang Can put down the ledger in his hand, his eyes showing delight: "Great! Where do you plan to go this time? How long will it take to make the round trip?"

Rena said, "This is the master's first foray into business, and there are still many shareholders waiting to see the results."

I thought it wasn't wise to go too far; I needed to earn my first sum of money as soon as possible to reassure everyone.

So this time I plan to go straight to Samarkand; a round trip should take about six months.

"Six months? Can it be that fast?" Yang Can raised an eyebrow slightly, his tone tinged with surprise.

Although he entrusted Rena with all the business matters, he also privately inquired about the situation of traveling to and from the Western Regions for trade.

The trade route from Tianshui to Samarkand would take an ordinary merchant at least a year to make, with a round trip taking half a year – that's considered extremely fast.

Upon hearing this, Rena puffed out her chest slightly, revealing her ample bosom, and her azure eyes shone with confidence.

“My lord, you are unaware of this. It would take an ordinary merchant a year to make this trip, but Sogdian merchants can do it in half a year.”

Behind this lies optimal route planning, efficient customs clearance capabilities, and rigorous caravan management.

In all these respects, Rena was in no way inferior to any top Sogdian merchant.

Her voice carried a hint of pride, as if she could already see the camel caravan returning laden with its spoils.

"Next spring, before the Long River thaws and the wild grass turns green again, Rena will surely return laden with goods from the West."

"it is good!"

Yang Can said happily, "Tomorrow I will send out invitations to gather the managers of various farms and ranches to explain this matter to everyone and put everyone at ease."

He thought to himself that if Ruona could really make the trip back and forth every six months, it would not only boost morale, but also be a good opportunity to connect with people and win their hearts.

Hiding this intention behind business operations is both discreet and makes one appear solely focused on making money.

With such a "profit-obsessed" demeanor, the lord would probably feel more at ease.

The next day, Rena presented Yang Can with a detailed business plan, from route nodes to goods list, from camel caravan configuration to cost accounting, each item was accompanied by precise data, which was more convincing than empty talk.

Yang Can mainly intended this plan for the managers of the eldest branch of the family to see.

Although they are also partners, their special status makes it inconvenient for them to come to Feng'an Village in person. This detailed plan can reduce their doubts.

As for the three groups of Bali, because they joined too late, they were not included in the list of partners in this business venture, and Yang Can did not plan to add them in later.

In Yang Can's view, the current number of original shareholders is already sufficient.

Moreover, he knew in his heart that even these original shareholders might not always be of one mind with him.

If anyone harbors dissenting thoughts or causes trouble in the future, they can be removed, and the most obedient one from the three departments of the Pulling Force Department can be added.

Only by employing both appeasement and coercion, and combining kindness and severity, can one firmly maintain control of the situation.

The current share capital structure is stable. Anyone who wants to squeeze in from now on will either have to wait for someone to exit or for someone to do something reckless.

This business alliance, encompassing eight villages and four pastures, was the foundation upon which he established himself in the Yu family.

While Feng'an Village was busy preparing for the caravan, a group was quietly heading towards Feng'an Fort.

In the center of the procession was a light carriage, its curtains tightly closed, inside which sat Qian Yuan, the shopkeeper, who was bound tightly.

The most eye-catching person in the group was a boy on a white horse.

At the age of seventeen or eighteen, the hem of her moon-white robe was casually tucked into her waist, and the jade belt hook at her waist gleamed with a warm, gentle light.

Even the hand holding the reins had long, slender, and lustrous fingers, and the posture exuded a nonchalant elegance.

A boy of this age should have a touch of dashing spirit, but he was born with a more gentle appearance.

Her eyebrows looked as if they had been carefully drawn with a fine brush, curving into a shallow arc; the corners of her eyes were slightly upturned, and her pupils were as clear as glass immersed in water.

The jade hairpin that held his hair up was made of the finest mutton-fat white jade, and the hanging hair ribbon swayed gently with the horse's steps. His whole person was like a meticulously painted figure, handsome and refined, yet hiding a hint of gentleness that was not easily noticed.

Such beauty even surpasses that of Yang Can, who always prides himself on his good looks.

"Young master, Feng'an Fort is just twenty miles ahead. Shall we go straight there, or should we make some preparations first?"

A knight rode up and approached, speaking in a very low voice respectfully.

The handsome young man looked up at the road in the distance, the gentleness in his eyes fading and replaced by a hint of coldness: "Find a secluded place to hide first, then send someone into the fortress to investigate."

If Jingyao is violated by that Yang guy, rescue Jingyao first, then kidnap Yang Can. I want to kill him with my own hands!

The knight whispered again, "What if Qian Yuan is lying, or what if the young lady isn't even in Feng'an Fort at all..."

"Then you must get that guy surnamed Yang out of here!"

The boy sneered, the curve of his eyes suddenly tightening, a terrifying ferocity flashing in his pupils:
"I will ask him myself. If he has ever touched my Jingyao even a hair on her head, I will cut him to pieces!"

(End of this chapter)