The Slender Waist-Chapter 566 - 404: Marital Tacit Understanding

In the first year of Tian Shou, October, the Dajin Imperial Court in Xijing initiated a water conservancy project, digging the Changhe canal to reach the Huaishui River, connecting with the Mingquan spring. The project involved dredging and expanding the existing river channels and constructing artificial canals, as well as building docks at Huaxi and expanding the Mingquan dock. The entire construction period was estimated to be five years.

This time, alongside the local garrison, each county and village was required to provide labor. The Imperial Court issued strict orders, drafting able-bodied men from every household to serve in the water conservancy labor. Whether living by the river or not, none could escape this duty.

To avoid arousing public resentment, households that provided labor were exempted from the poll tax for a certain period.

Compared to the previous, more oppressive conscription system, this new draft was considered to offer favorable treatment. However, it still inevitably sparked resentment among the people.

Pei Jue’s notoriety added yet another black mark.

As the Village Chief, Feng Yun managed more retainers than a typical gentry family, and naturally had to contribute significantly.

She sent two hundred and fifty retainers to participate in the digging of the canal, a significant support effort. Some small villages, with barely a hundred households in total, had fewer people turn up than she had sent.

The labor force from Huaxi Village was the largest.

Since the docks were in Huaxi, they nearly exerted the entire village’s effort...

On the day construction started, Feng Yun specially dispatched a group of retainers to bring buckets of herbal tea and sugar water to the workers at the Changhe Dock, even setting up a shaded area for rest...

Feng Yun also went there personally.

This section of the Changhe River had completely dried up, revealing nothing but turned-up white pebbles as far as the eye could see.

The massive workforce tasked with canal excavation spread along the exposed riverbanks, a sea of people moving to and fro, bustling like ants—a sight without end...

It truly was a vast undertaking.

Feng Yun gestured for the retainers to place the barrels under the shelter and, standing by the embankment, called out loudly,

"I wish you all great fortune in your work. Starting today, Changmen will provide tea and sugar water free of charge, continuing until the end of October..."

The people, upon seeing the Princess, were initially curious...

When they heard the Princess had brought food and drink, that there was not only tea but also sugar water, they felt inexplicably relieved and even a bit moved...

This year’s drought had driven up the price of grains and fabrics sharply; sugar was even rarer. How could ordinary families afford it? Remembering the sweet taste, someone smacked their lips and swallowed saliva.

During times of exhaustion and heat, what could be more refreshing than a bowl of cool herbal tea and a glass of sugar water?

"What kind of sugar has the Princess added here? It’s so good to drink."

With the sweetness lingering in their mouths, their words were also sweet.

Feng Yun smiled, "It’s cane sugar made by Changmen."

Envy emerged among the crowd as they calculated the price of the sugar water and marvelled at the neatly lined barrels on the bank.

Not to mention anything else, just the tea and sugar water the Princess had brought over must have cost quite a lot.

"So sweet."

The drinkers were full of praise.

Those still excavating below on the riverbank were envious, constantly clamoring.

"Leave some for me!"

"Hey, leave a bit for me!"

The riverside was lively, with everyone talking at once.

Feng Yun said, "Don’t worry, there’s enough for everyone. More will be brought over in a while."

She smiled absentmindedly, scanning the crowd before her gaze slowly extended into the distance...

The dark clouds on the horizon had been scattered by the wind, leaving clear, endless skies.

The riverbanks, near and far, were crowded with people.

After a long look, she finally spotted Pei Jue, who was talking with an official from the Capital Water Authority.

The official was gesticulating animatedly, and suddenly Pei Jue glanced over in her direction...

Even though he was at a great distance, and the visibility of the people was not clear, Feng Yun knew by instinct that Pei Jue was looking at her.

She smiled slightly.

Before long, Pei Jue walked over to her.

Feng Yun instructed Xiaoman to fill a bowl with tea and take it to him as she greeted him.

"Are you busy?" she asked.

Pei Jue shook his head, "The work has just started today; I was just taking a walk with the Imperial Water Authority official."

As he spoke, he glanced sideways at the buckets and furrowed his brows slightly.

"Lady Yun, you needn’t exhaust yourself like this."

"Not tired, it’s not like I actually stayed up to make it myself," Feng Yun said, taking the chance to wink at him when no one was looking, laughing softly, "I’m just trying to save face for the king. I can’t let people think I’ve enjoyed the perks for nothing, can I?"

Pei Jue’s gaze was deep as he slowly accepted the bowl and drained the tea in one gulp.

"I need to go back to Andu."

"Mhm," Feng Yun replied.

Pei Jue’s eyes settled on her face.

"Won’t you ask me what for?"

What was there to ask?

He had his official duties, and she had her personal affairs.

If each worried about their own, wouldn’t everything be fine?

Feng Yun hesitated as she saw a glimmer of darkness in his eyes and shook her head after a thought.

"It’s not my place to pry into the king’s handling of state affairs."

Feng Yun spoke earnestly, thus seriously.

But she had been busy till late at night arranging the start of construction at the dock, and her voice was slightly hoarse. It sounded different to Pei Jue’s ears.

His brow furrowed, and he seriously said,

"Ever since I severed trade routes with Yecheng, Li Zongxun has frequently harassed our borders, plundering the wealth of our citizens. Lately, frictions in Chuzhou are on the rise. Ao Qi reported last night that rumors are spreading in Chuzhou that Li Zongxun plans to send an army of a hundred thousand to counter-attack Shiguan..."

A hundred thousand troops?

Feng Yun glanced at Pei Jue and said lightly, "The beginning of winter looms by the tenth month, and the ground sees early snows. The urgency for him is he must act before winter, isn’t it?"

Pei Jue hummed nonchalantly and then suddenly asked,

"How are things on your end?"

Feng Yun knew exactly what he was referring to. She looked around to make sure no one was nearby and lowered her voice.

"Ren Rude has already made contact with Zheng Shoushan’s brother-in-law, preparing to send two hundred thousand coal balls to Chuzhou, likely within the next couple of days."

Pei Jue: "Good, now I have a clear understanding."

"As long as the king understands," Feng Yun said with a hint of a smile. Seeing the hustle of fetching water, she urged, "Go ahead with your duties if you have things to do."

As a married couple, they didn’t need to make everything explicit—there was an unspoken understanding between them. Matters of real importance could be discussed in bed, away from the eyes and ears of others.

Pei Jue nodded and, with his attendant, rode his horse along the village road and departed.

The wind atop the river embankment was strong, and the weather grew cooler day by day after autumn’s arrival. The strong breeze made his cloak flutter wildly as his shadow was elongated by the sunlight.

Feng Yun stood in place, motionless for a long time.

After a good while, she finally retracted her gaze and said, "Let’s go, we’ll head back to our estate."

The autumn sun could be scorching too, and Xiaoman followed behind her holding an umbrella and became anxious as she saw Feng Yun quicken her pace.

"Madam, slow down, why the hurry?"

Feng Yun answered, "To make money against the clock."

Xiaoman: ...

Feng Yun wasn’t just talking; as soon as she returned to Changmen Village, she summoned Xing Dala and, with the account book in hand, calculated her funds. Once the evening arrived and those excavating the river had returned, she immediately sent for the Village Chief and Wa Chang.

Village Chief Yang had taken his two sons to Changhe that day, returning home with a sore back and waist. He barely had time to change into a clean set of clothes after getting home before hurriedly heading to the estate upon hearing that Feng Yun needed to see him.

The other Village Chiefs and Wa Changs had also arrived.

Feng Yun, ever thorough, had prepared refreshments at the stove knowing they would be returning from the river.

Seeing the elegantly presented pastries on the fruit platter, Village Chief Yang and others, though they took some, didn’t eat them right away, instead pocketing them to please their wives and children at home.

Once everyone was seated, Feng Yun smiled slightly and began,

"I have called everyone here today to discuss the future of Huaxi Village and make plans together."

Discuss plans?

How could their minds compare with the Lady Village Chief’s?

Village Chief Yang scratched his head and chuckled, "Whatever the Lady Village Chief says, we’ll follow through."

"Yes, Lady Village Chief, please speak directly," the others echoed as well.

Having known them for some time, Feng Yun was familiar with their character, so she cut to the chase,

"The establishment of the dock in Huaxi represents a once-in-a-century opportunity for our village that we cannot afford to miss. We must seize it firmly."