Chapter 408: Open Minded

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation | Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

With a few more children, the deserted home suddenly became livelier. Sun Ke, He Cheng, and Ah-Yao kept playing like there was no tomorrow, running all over the yard.

When Wen Xuan arrived, there was an extra boy to play with, and even more fun the kids were having. Their laughter could be heard throughout the entire residence.

Heng Yi dismounted from his horse with the deer meat he hunted. When he heard the laughter at the door, he was slightly taken aback. Then his cold face softened, and the corners of his mouth were also stained with a slight smile.

Han Qiao was surprised to learn that Heng Yi came back with the deer meat.

“I brought them to the mountains to hunt today. Luck was on our side.

He divided the prey they got. He got the deer’s leg. Most of his subordinates suggested that he should take more home, but he refused.

One deer leg was enough for a family to sit together and eat.

“I’ll cook it personally later.” Han Qiao said softly.

She had asked someone to bring the hot water to soak Heng Yi’s hands and

apply ointment on them.

HengYi smiled.

In the early years, his hands were always chapped during winter, and the cuts would only heal in the following summer.

In the past two years he lived with Han Qiao, his hands had never chapped.

He especially enjoyed Han Qiao’s gentle ministrations, washing his hands and applying ointment for him.

This habit of theirs felt very intimate. His heart felt full of contentment and very warm even though they hardly did anything other than that.

Han Qiao dug out a lump of ointment and gently rubbed it on Heng Yi’s hands,

“Go do your work. Come back early tonight.”

Heng Yi hummed in assent and hugged Han Qiao tightly. He then kissed her on the cheek and walked away in a good mood.

Meanwhile, Han Qiao was wondering about what she could make from the deer’s leg.

She probably could cut out a piece and fry it with the green onions, then use the rest of the meat to stew soup. Eating a bowl of hot soup on a cold day will warm your entire body. Just the thought alone made her feel warm and cozy.

“Madam, the Second Master has returned.”

When Han Qiao heard that Bai Cha had returned, she immediately went to look for him.

“Sister-in-law.” Bai Cha greeted.

“How did it go?” Han Qiao asked.

“I’ve found him. He is an expert in brewing tea and making tea fruits. He 11 be

here in a few days.”

They were bringing their family along, after all.

They have to arrange accommodations for them.

“Alright. You go to freshen up and eat something before you rest. Leave the houses to me, I will arrange a house for them to stay in,” Han Qiao said.

Since it would belong to a craftsman, she must find a big house for them.

If he brought their family and they came to seek refuge, they must have a proper place to live.

“Alright,”

Bai Cha was indeed a little tired.

On such a cold day, even though he took a carriage, it was still very tiring for him to travel. He even had to switch with Dong Kui along the way.

Han Qiao ordered the servants to tidy up Bai Cha’s room and went to the next door herself.

Madam Jun had just arrived yesterday and woke up late today. After she got up, she first looked around her new house. Han Qiao had put in a lot of effort to decorate it, but some things were not to her liking and had to be changed. There were also things she brought that needed to be placed and arranged neatly.

When Han Qiao arrived, Madam Jun welcomed her with a warm smile.

“In-law.”

The two looked at each other and smiled.

“It’S been really hard for you these days,” Madam Jun began, “This house is cleaned up well. Everything is very considerately arranged.”

“I only gave a few instructions. Xia He and Shulan did most of the work. So I couldn’t truly receive your word of praise,” Han Qiao smiled.

She did not take the credit for herself.

Her two maids had spent a lot of effort cleaning up and decorating this

residence.

“Then you have to reward them well.”

“I thank you on their behalf.”

Han Qiao brought up eating the deer meat for dinner and invited Madam Jun and Li Zhao over for dinner.

“Alright, I shall not refuse.”

If she and Han Qiao got along well, her daughter’s days in the Marquis residence would be better.

After all, she had to be considerate.

Compared to many mothers-in-law, Han Qiao was the best out of the bunch.

She did not torture her daughter-in-law and treated her very well. What was even more astounding, was the fact that Han Chi wasn’t even her biological son.

Yet she treated Han Chi with all her heart.

Han Chi’s current status was largely thanks to his adoptive mother.

The two chatted for a while, and Madam Jun brought up the Gong Prince opening a brothel in Sanzhou Town.

“Let’s not talk about these unhappy things. Whether it be the small town or the county, we can not care about everything. Look at the brothels in the capital as an example. It’s the city directly under the Emperor’s control, yet brothels are still thriving there.”

Han Qiao was very open-minded.

It was the prince’s business where he wanted to open his brothel.

The rules in the barracks were strict. Not only that, most of the people who come in and out now have families in town. Not many dare to visit the brothels. In addition to the “lessons” Heng Yi dished out for those who dared to go, there were many activities in the military camp and various rewards they could receive. These were enough to consume a lot of the soldiers’ energy. All of them were eager to get promoted in the next evaluation.

Most of the customers in the Gong Prince’s brothel were rich masters who came to Sanzhou Town to do business. However, since most people knew Heng Yi’s temperament towards such establishments, no matter how greedy they were, they didn’t dare to go. The business was not looking well.

The teahouses Han Qiao and Heng Yi opened also took away many of the brothel’s customers.

Business was even more deserted for the prince.

Madam Jun admired Han Qiao’s open-mindedness.

Unlike her… Now that she had freed herself from her husband and her ex-lover was within her reach, she didn’t even dare to approach and speak to him, let alone acknowledge him.

She didn’t even dare to ask, how have you been all these years?

She didn’t even dare to say, it had been a while since we last met..