The Slender Waist-Chapter 567 - 405 Infinite Longing

Upon hearing it was a once-in-a-century opportunity, everyone’s eyes lit up.

"Mistress, stop keeping us in suspense and just tell us already."

"Yeah, we’re all simple folks who don’t understand the complexities, whatever you say Mistress, we’ll follow your lead."

Everyone was very cooperative, their faces filled with urgency.

Feng Yun said, "Initially, our village only had farms; then we gradually added a farm tool workshop, Cheng Yi Workshop, a pottery workshop, and a Coal Ball Workshop. To cater to the merchants passing by, I had a few villagers capable of doing business open an eatery, a tea house, and a grocery store at the entrance to the village..."

As she spoke, everyone nodded in agreement.

Feng Yun went on to say, "At that time, many people were jealous of butcher Wang and widow Zhou, and they too wanted to stop farming and earn easy money by doing business. But I stopped them all. I know some held resentment towards me, thinking I had received some benefits and wasn’t treating everyone equally..."

A few people exchanged glances.

Village Chief Yang said, "We all know what kind of person the Village Chief’s wife is and how much she has done for the village. Those one or two people gossiping don’t deserve our attention."

The crowd echoed in agreement.

Feng Yun chuckled softly.

"The reason I didn’t let them follow suit or open shops was for their benefit."

Seeing that the crowd was silent, she knew that without clear explanation, doubts would linger.

So she paused and added, "Back then, how many merchants came to Huaxi Village? If everyone stopped farming, who would we sell our goods to? With an excess of eateries and tea houses, who would patronize them? Pouring all their savings into it would have just been throwing money away."

Village Chief Yang sighed, "Mistress always has the best interests of the villagers at heart. If any fool dares to talk nonsense in the future, I won’t let them off easily."

Feng Yun smiled and said, "Now the opportunity has come."

The crowd’s eyes shone brightly, fixed unwaveringly on her.

Feng Yun stated, "With the dock, Andu County will have no village with more foot traffic than Huaxi Village... With people, business will come."

Village Chief Yang exclaimed, "That’s fantastic! Now we can open any shop we want."

"No," Feng Yun said with a serious face, "You can’t just open shops as you please. I’ve called you all here today to discuss this very issue. Before we were just a small village and did as we pleased, but now things are different. We need a unified plan to avoid chaos."

A unified plan?

A few people didn’t quite understand.

Feng Yun didn’t expect them to understand.

Before calling them over, Feng Yun had already drawn up the plans...

These people were not literate, but the blueprint was simple and easy to understand.

Village Chief Yang looked at the clearly marked streets and shopfronts, visibly excited, his voice trembling with emotion.

"Mistress means to say, in the future, Huaxi Village will have such streets and so many shops?"

"And not just that," Feng Yun thought of the cargo and foot traffic that the docks would bring, her mind filled with limitless aspirations.

"There will be more, and it will be built even better."

Village Chief Yang gasped.

This was something they never dared to dream of before.

"Mistress, what can we do to contribute?" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Feng Yun stated, "To avoid disorder in the future, we must plan ahead starting from now..."

As she spoke, she pointed at the annotations on the map.

"This village path will no longer be just a village path, but a main road, the necessary route from Andu County to the dock and the first stop for merchants coming to Andu. Therefore, shops can no longer be built along the village path; we must leave room for expanding the road..."

She explained the details methodically.

This was not just a village but the future planning of a city.

Village Chief Yang was almost incoherent with excitement.

"That’s great, it really is."

Then, someone with sharp eyes noticed.

"Village Chief’s wife, isn’t this area mostly your land?"

Feng Yun lightly hummed an affirmation and then pointed on the map again.

"Here, except for Mr. Ren’s residence, the rest is just wasteland owned by the villagers, which makes it the most suitable place for a market to minimize damage to the farmland."

When Ren Rude settled in Huaxi, he specially chose the area by the river Changhe.

The land there was barren and far from cultivatable land, which most people didn’t want to choose. But because he fancied himself as cultured and wanted convenience in his dealings without too much interaction with the villagers, he chose a place that most people didn’t want...

Unexpectedly, it turned out to be to his benefit.

Village Chief Yang envied him, "No wonder they say it pays to be well-read and well-informed. Mr. Ren’s education gives him a different perspective, he thinks in the long term."

Feng Yun smiled.

Ren Rude chose that place simply for the sake of privacy.

"If there are no objections from everyone, I will work on a more detailed plan later. But we don’t need to rush; we have enough time before the dock is completed."

Having said that, she looked sternly at them again.

"From today on, make sure to hold on tight to your land and don’t sell it off lightly to anyone."

A Wa Chang lamented,

"If only I had known, when I settled here, I would have chosen the barren lands and ridges closer to the dock even if they were less fertile. In the future, when the dock is bustling with people, I could simply set up a pancake stall at my doorstep and support my family."

"Don’t envy others," Feng Yun said, "The future is uncertain; keep a tight grip on land even if it’s farther from the dock. Who knows, maybe one day it will be worth more than the docklands?"

"Really? Could land farther from the dock ever be more valuable?"

"Look at Mingquan... it was just a small street back in the day. What has it developed into now?"

The crowd fell silent suddenly.

Because they remembered Feng Yun was also the largest landowner in Mingquan Town.

Rather than attribute long-sightedness to Ren Rude, it was Feng Yun who had the most calculated strategy.

Yang Shichang sighed, "Madam truly has divine assistance."

Feng Yun verbally demurred, not daring to be proud even in her heart.

A conspicuous tree in the forest is easily destroyed by the wind.

Others will definitely say that she’s reaping these benefits all because of Pei Jue.

How many people are envious just for the sake of "profit?"

And who knows what they might do...

This is why she handed over the construction of the dock and shops to the villagers...

Of course, she could keep all these benefits to herself.

But she didn’t do so, and she couldn’t do so.

One cannot have everything...

Several people from the Yang family left contentedly.

When night fell, Wen Xingsu returned from the camp.

Ever since Pei Jue gave up the General Residence and moved to Huaxi Village, he seldom came here.

This was his first visit after such a long time.

Upon seeing him, Feng Yun’s whole mood relaxed, she slaughtered chickens and ducks, keeping the kitchen busy, and specially prepared good wine and dishes for Wen Xingsu.

But Wen Xingsu said, "Don’t trouble yourself, I must return to the camp shortly..."

Visible disappointment appeared on Feng Yun’s face.

"Why must you leave just after coming back?"

Wen Xingsu smiled gently.

"Military duties have been keeping me busy; I cannot stay away. When things settle down, I’ll come back to stay for a while."

Feng Yun huffed, casting him a disgruntled glance.

"Even the king is not as busy as you."

Her eyes, filled with longing and reluctance, watched Wen Xingsu closely.

Only in front of Wen Xingsu did she become that vulnerable, coquettish young girl.

Wen Xingsu chuckled softly.

"I’ll be back, Yao Yao, there’s no need to worry..."

Feng Yun asked, "Do you have reservations?"

Because of Pei Jue, do you feel embarrassed?

Looking into her clear eyes, Wen Xingsu sighed inwardly but only smiled outwardly.

"What reservations could there be between siblings? Don’t overthink things..."

As he said this, he seemed to recall something, pausing for a moment and lowering his eyes.

"I came today to tell you... there’s no need to build a house for me. As a soldier, I do not need such extravagance..."

Feng Yun responded, "It’s not spending my money; as long as I’m not wasteful, that’s fine."

Wen Xingsu had already heard her mention it before and frowned slightly, "Then all the more I cannot enjoy such a luxury."

Gazing at the flower hall, he said lightly:

"Yao Yao, this residence seems too small; in the future, it might become too cramped. Instead of building a new residence, it might be better to expand this one..."

"How can that be possible?" Feng Yun rejected the idea without hesitation.

She had already promised Puyang Yi to build Wen Xingsu’s residence next to her own estate. If she reneged now, what would happen to the high price she had charged?

The money could be returned, but reputation would be ruined.

"Elder brother, fret not; I will take care of the arrangements. You just wait to move into the new residence."

"Yao Yao..." Wen Xingsu frowned, still refusing.

Feng Yun pursed her lips in dissatisfaction, "You barely return, and when you do, you refuse to say anything to make me happy..."

Seeing her like this, Wen Xingsu sighed helplessly.

"Then let it be as you arrange. But I cannot in good conscience accept that residence. Yao Yao, keep it for yourself..."

Feng Yun laughed out loud.

"What a generous big brother, giving away a house at the drop of a hat?"

Her joke passed, and she turned serious again as she addressed Wen Xingsu:

"Elder brother, do not become estranged from me just because I’m married. Back in Xinzhou, didn’t I also live in Chunpei Academy and openly assumed the role of the lady of the house? I didn’t treat you as an outsider."

Lady of the house...

Wen Xingsu’s voice turned hoarse, his expression bitter.

"That was different..."

Feng Yun raised her eyebrows, smiling, "What’s different about it? Besides, you will eventually find your true love and have children... Don’t you need a residence for that?"

"Yao Yao..."

He did not need to marry or have children.

Wen Xingsu hesitated for a moment, but Feng Yun laughed and took over the conversation.

"Don’t be so polite. Spend other people’s money, enjoy our good fortune; that’s only right. Do you hear me?"

Wen Xingsu sighed inwardly, unsure of what to say.

Just then, a servant reported, "The Lord of Pingyuan County has arrived. Madam, will you see him?"

Puyang Yi’s house was completed today but not yet inhabited.

She happened to visit the garden today and upon hearing that Wen Xingsu had returned, she did not hesitate to drag her prodigal brother Puyang Zong and made a beeline for Changmen.