The Slender Waist-Chapter 556 - 397: Presenting Buddha with Borrowed Flowers
Feng Yun’s regenerative rice paddy was surrounded by villagers, a swarm of them buzzing with conversation. Many had followed the irrigation channel to arrive here. In years when the sky withheld rain, the sight of water was as precious as gold, and their astonished murmurs were full of emotion.
The water was very muddy.
Watching the water slowly flow through the channel, Feng Yun’s eyes sparkled with exceptional clarity...
Many hands make light work, and she once again realized the benefits of having many subordinates.
There were eight vertical wells in total, with the deepest one located at the mine, utilizing the terrain to ensure a steady flow. Even though the distance from Little Jieqiu to Huaxi Village wasn’t too far, and they were diverting the water downhill with relatively few obstacles along the way, it still required a tremendous amount of labor.
Seeing this made the canal from Huaxi to Mingquan Town that Pei Jue planned to construct seem like an incredibly magnificent feat...
"Greetings, Princess." A burly fellow wearing a bamboo hat approached, and upon getting closer, Feng Yun recognized him as Hou Zhun.
"General Hou, what brings you here?" Feng Yun was surprised to see Hou Zhun drenched in sweat.
There were rumors that she had taken in a band of mountain brigands as servants, yet she had granted Hou Zhun complete freedom. At Little Jieqiu, she allocated new land for Hou Zhun, settled his troops there, and even sent Doctor Yao to provide medical consultations and enough medicine for their wounds.
For this irrigation and well-digging project, she had clearly stated that participants would be paid for their labor, ensuring they wouldn’t be working for free.
In fact, this was Changmen’s usual practice – even servants received wages for their work.
Besides, she held innate respect for the former garrison soldiers of Wanning.
Generous wages united the people’s hearts, and the work didn’t feel tiresome.
The group of demoralized and defeated soldiers had lived on Xiufeng Mountain for almost two years, without normalcy or the chance to see their families, which was an immense suffering.
From Xiufeng Mountain to Little Jieqiu, they had secretly thought there wouldn’t be much difference, just a change of title and no longer needing to hide...
They never imagined that arriving at Little Jieqiu would be like entering a new world.
There, they found mines, a Coal Ball Workshop, and a farm implement shop ready to move down the mountain as it expanded. Little Jieqiu was more populous than they had imagined. With the combination of several workshops and localities, it resembled a small town.
Upon hearing of their arrival, the locals had willingly vacated houses and land for them to settle in.
The houses in Little Jieqiu were modest, built by the Cong Wentian of Tu Family Fort. Therefore, like Mingquan Town, they were constructed with a practical quick-stone and timber structure – simple yet elegant, with an indefinable warmth...
Especially during early evening when the lamps were lit and the scent of meals wafted through the air, every face beamed with optimistic contentment.
Hou Zhun was deeply moved.
Not wanting to lag behind, these past days he had been leading his people onto the field, digging channels with hoes, working from dawn till dusk...
He was tired, certainly, but his mind felt an unprecedented peace.
Back on Xiufeng Mountain, he had heard tales about Feng Shi Er Niang. Initially, he was somewhat skeptical.
A woman supported by a powerful man, no matter how capable, was often just a recipient of flattery and favor. He had seen too much of this before.
But his recent experiences had made him realize that he had been mistaken.
Pei Jue hadn’t just spoken those words to temporarily placate him...
It was because he truly valued Feng Shi Er Niang and believed that he and his brothers following her lead was the best option available.
"Your Highness, perhaps change the title," Hou Zhun said as he wiped the sweat from his forehead, flashing a wide smile and showing his pearly white teeth. "I am no longer any general. Just call me Hou Zhun."
Feng Yun chuckled and said, "Then I will respectfully call you Big Brother Hou."
Hou Zhun’s forehead immediately beaded with sweat as he bowed quickly, insisting, "I dare not, I dare not, this is too much, Princess. You’re going to humble Hou too greatly."
Feng Yun shook her head, speaking gently, "What’s too much about it? We are all family here, no need for such formalities. Calling me Princess here in the countryside is too restrictive. From now on, Big Brother Hou, just like everyone else, call me Lady Feng." 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
Her eyes were friendly, and she was earnest. Seeing that she wasn’t just being polite, Hou Zhun thought about it and then stopped declining.
"Then I am honored. Lady Feng, please receive Hou Zhun’s bow."
With that, he bowed his head in respect.
Feng Yun smiled and returned the gesture, then stepped over the channel in front of her.
"It’s quite hot outside, Big Brother Hou. How about you come and sit inside my estate?"
Having never been to Changmen, Hou Zhun felt some anticipation and, sensing that Feng Yun might have something to assign to him, he agreed immediately.
As the two of them walked back along the water channel, they attracted curious gazes, and occasionally villagers would greet Feng Yun respectfully.
But no one knew that the tall, sturdy man beside her was once the deputy to General Gua Ping of Wanning, the formidable bandit leader of Xiufeng Mountain who even dared to make an attempt on Pei Jue’s life.
He appeared very amiable.
"In a couple of days, the channel will connect directly to the estate. I’ll encourage everyone to push a little harder..."
Feng Yun said, "Thanks, Big Brother Hou. The brothers have worked hard these days. Once the wells and channels are complete, I’ll have Alou go to Little Jieqiu and organize a few more tables, with extra food to celebrate."
Hou Zhun laughed heartily, endlessly grateful.
Feng Yun glanced at the sky.
The blazing sun poured out its glaring light.
With a sigh, she said,
"At least with these wells and channels, we won’t run out of water."
The mountain springs of Little Jieqiu never dried up and trickled down all year round. Since they had drilled the wells, the water flow was even stronger, and with several auxiliary wells connected, they wouldn’t lack water even in a drought.
Hou Zhun was also very satisfied.
Throughout his years of military life, where he knew nothing but wielding spears and sticks, arranging troops in formations, this was his first time leading men in such a construction project. Watching the flowing water, his chest swelled with emotion, and he felt a sense of achievement unlike any other...
As the two men walked and talked, Feng Yun mainly asked him about trivial matters of daily life, inquiring if there were any difficulties. Hou Zhun said there were none, everything was good, and the brothers also took a liking to Little Jieqiu.
"It’s pretty much a paradise on earth, I suppose."
Feng Yun smiled faintly at the high praise.
"Which hometown does Brother Hou hail from? Are your parents still well?"
Upon hearing this, Hou Zhun’s expression darkened, and his eyes filled with sorrow.
"I am a man from Jiangxia. From a young age, I enlisted in the military and rarely performed my filial duties by my parents’ side. Before Wanning City fell, my family sent a letter saying my father had fallen gravely ill, urging me to return quickly.
At that time, I was at a critical point in the war and couldn’t leave, so I sent a letter in haste to delay my return. Little did I expect, following the defeat at Wanning, I had no opportunity to go back to Jiangxia, and my father, not waiting to see his unfilial son, passed away soon after.
Later, I found out that my family believed I died at Wanning. My father, dragging his sickly body and shocked by this news, couldn’t survive that winter, and my mother also became blind from crying..."
Feng Yun listened with an inevitably desolate expression.
"Brother Hou, please accept my condolences."
This was actually the norm in times of chaos, but every time Feng Yun heard it, he couldn’t help but sigh.
Hou Zhun furrowed his brows, sighing deeply.
"I thought I would die on Xiufeng Mountain, forever separated from my kin by heaven and earth... I did not expect to find myself in such circumstances."
Feng Yun asked, "Then why doesn’t Brother Hou bring your family here to reunite and enjoy family happiness?"
Hou Zhun gave a bitter smile, "Want to? How could I not? But I..." He looked up at Feng Yun, "A general of a defeated army, how could I return to Jiangxia with dignity? And how could I rightfully relocate my kin without being disparaged by others or suspected by the Imperial Court..."
A general without his family by his side always has concerns, inevitably subject to others’ constraints.
Feng Yun pondered for a moment and said, "If it is inconvenient for Brother Hou to handle this, I could help out with this small favor."
Hou Zhun’s voice became tense, "What plan does madam have?"
Feng Yun smiled with ease, glancing up at him.
"Without hiding it from Brother Hou, my disgraceful father currently seeks my favor. It would be more than fitting for him to handle this matter on my behalf."
Hou Zhun’s eyes immediately brightened.
The Feng Family held a high position in Nanqi; with them stepping in, naturally, it would be much easier than for him, a general who pledged allegiance to another.
Hou Zhun bowed deeply, "Many thanks, Madam."
Feng Yun chuckled, "What’s with the formality? It’s merely offering someone else’s merit; it’s no credit to me."
During the conversation, they had reached the estate’s gate.
With the canals successfully channeling water, quite a few people from the estate had come out to watch.
Several concubines, in their brilliant and colorful dresses, stood outside, each more radiant than the last.
Looking at these beauties, Feng Yun suddenly asked Hou Zhun with a smile.
"Does Brother Hou have a wife?"
Hou Zhun was taken aback.
Almost at the same moment, he too saw those gorgeous women.
A forthright man by nature, Hou Zhun became somewhat embarrassed by Feng Yun’s question.
"Back home, I had a wife, but after Wanning City was breached and I was rumored dead, she remarried..."
Feng Yun heard him sigh, presumably thinking of some unpleasant matters.
He said, "I’m sorry."
Hou Zhun smiled and shook his head, his eyes dim, "No harm, it’s all in the past."
At this moment, several concubines saw Feng Yun and immediately came up to her.
"Greetings, Madam."
They were already accustomed to respecting Feng Yun at Changmen, and though she was accompanied by an unfamiliar man, they assumed he was a Little Jieqiu leader and didn’t pay much attention, eagerly asking Feng Yun about the details of the canals instead.
Feng Yun invited Hou Zhun to sit for a while in the flower hall.
The maids served tea, and Guan Wei and Awan followed soon after.
Of the concubines left on the estate, these two were the most active around Feng Yun, and they were sharp-minded.
As soon as Feng Yun settled in, the two entered to serve, one after another.
Feng Yun smiled at them for a moment and suddenly said:
"This is General Hou Zhun."
The two beauties turned their heads to look at Hou Zhun, and their expressions changed.
