Chapter 394: Disgusting
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Don’t underestimate these young women.
While their husbands joined the army, they did not stay idle.
They made autumn and cotton-padded clothes, which earned them a lot of money. Now, they didn’t have to worry about food or water, and at the same time, they could also save up some silver. They lived a very good life.
They could also make pastries, and candied fruit, and bring them out immediately when Han Qiao visited them.
Some of them work at home and some work at the workshop with the other ladies.
The sorrows of their early years had passed, and now they were happy and lived a sweeter life.
Their husbands worked hard every day in the military camp. Some of them had already become team leaders. Their wives understood and treated them well when they returned home. All in all, life was very promising for these people.
Seeing Han Qiao approaching, they put down their work one by one, and quickly stood up to greet her, “Greetings, Madam,”
“There is no need to be so polite. I’ll sit for a while and leave in a while.”
These cotton coats were made for the soldiers in the barracks. These young women were very diligent in their work, the stitches they made were fine, and the cotton was properly stuffed.
One person could make one piece a day.
Han Qiao also got people to buy over a hundred families of three or four. The men in the family could do some work in town, while the women and children could also join them in the workshop to make cotton clothes, and they could set up stalls on the street and make a living for themselves. As long as they were willing to suffer, they could live a good life.
Those women who could speak well would be promoted to leaders, who would manage and check whether the cotton-padded clothes made by everyone were up to standard or whether they were cutting corners to get their work done.
These leaders would receive extra pay.
Sanzhou Town was now becoming more and more prosperous.
Han Qiao checked the two pieces that they had done. They have done a good job.
“You are all very meticulous with your work. This is the way that it should be done. It’s like making one for your husband to wear, right?”
The young women nodded vigorously.
When Han Qiao left the workshop, she saw Housekeeper Hu on the street.
Butler Hu bowed anxiously, “Greetings, Marchioness.”
“Greetings,” Han Qiao replied indifferently and left in a carriage.
Butler Hu stood where he was before he sighed deeply.
Everything was up to time and fate.
Who would have thought that in a year or two, the person he once looked down upon had become someone he could not reach?
There was never a time when he didn’t regret his past actions.
He had missed the opportunity to rise to the top.
When the twelfth month arrived, Han Qiao had already cleaned up a few small courtyards.
Han Chi had sent a letter telling her that he would be bringing Li Mi, Sun Xiu, Sun Yi, Sun Xiu, and Duofu to their new house.
Han Qiao thought that the whole family should live together, so she sent someone to pick them up.
Li Zhao also missed his mother and sister, so he begged Heng Yi to give him this task.
It was understandable why Li Zhao would want to go, but it was a surprise that Miao Jiu also asked permission from Han Qiao to join the young boy.
He was now working as a doctor in a medical clinic with five young apprentices working for him.
Miao Jiu was a gentle person and never once did he scold his disciples. However, thankfully his disciples were all well-behaved and obedient and did not dare speak loudly to him.
“Then I wish you a safe journey. The weather is getting cold, so make sure to keep yourself warm.”
And so, Li Zhao and Miao Jiu left the town.
Now Sanzhou Town had city walls, which were tall and wide.
The city gate had not been fully built yet, but there were defensive holes on the city gate. Each small hole can be used to shoot hidden arrows. When the guards spot an enemy coming, they could hide behind the wall and shoot arrows out through the holes. They could hit the enemy, but it wouldn’t be easy for the enemy to shoot inside.
Usually, these holes could be blocked with a wooden stopper.
There was still an empty lot close to the city wall. There were already people setting up stalls there, selling the snacks made by their families, small items such as purses and handkerchiefs, and some commoners who came to sell vegetables. That area had already become a small market.
In order for the common people to have a place to store their goods, Han Qiao had someone make wooden shelves. One shelf cost one copper a day, and she even hired people to clean it.
After all, there were always going to be some rotten vegetables, branches, and leaves coming and going.
Most importantly, the people from the military would need to pass by this area on their way home. It was indeed a good place to do business.
Every month, when the soldiers received their pay, they could buy all kinds of meat and other food from the stalls.
On Laba Day, everyone in the barracks had to eat Laba Congee.
The Marquis’ family had already made preparations.
Han Qiao even got someone to cook a few big pots and give them to the people at the city gate for free.
Several large pots of congee were delivered in less than two hours. The people who came later could not help but regret that they were late.
The city was still under construction, and the city walls were slowly being perfected.
Several large granaries were also almost completed. The saying that “there is strength in numbers” applied to any place no matter what era the saying was used in.
Heng Yi had been very busy these past few days. It was the first exam in the barracks, and the team leaders who were promoted to squad leaders would receive their first rewards.
The soldiers trained harder and harder, and Heng Yi wanted to lead them personally.
Han Qiao was also busy.
Emperor Zhao Qian had sent another thousand families over to their little town.
These one thousand households all consisted of four to five people per family, including the elderly and children.
To accommodate them, they needed one thousand small courtyards. Fortunately, they did not come all at once.
Instead, they were sent in batches by people from various broker houses. There was still time to make arrangements for them.
The people in the barracks were even busier. They were training, learning to read and write… They have a lot of work to do.
However, everyone could get some extra money by doing additional work around the barracks. Although it was only 30 copper coins, it was still better than getting nothing at all.
If they have a family in town, they could go home once they told their team leaders. Then, they would go straight to the camp for training the next day.
Those who have families were happy with this rule.
On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, a brothel suddenly opened in the small town.
Han Qiao was very surprised when she learned of this.
“When did this happen?”
Shulan and Duan Yue shook their heads.
There was no sign of this brothel opening at all. It had been some time since those shops were bought, and there was no news about what they would be used for at all.
Someone was secretly concealing information from them.
This was Heng Yi’s territory, they didn’t hear any news. Suddenly a strange feeling was brewing in her heart…
“Does the Marquis know about this?” Han Qiao asked.
Then she said, “Get Dong Lai over.”
She had asked about those shops earlier. Why were there no movements before? When did those shops open for business?
“Madam.”
Dong Lai hurried over.
He just came back from outside, and he was sweating profusely despite the cold season.
“Madam, the Gong Prince is the owner of those brothels.”
Hearing this, Han Qiao took a deep breath. After a moment she replied, “I see.” After the Gong Prince divorced Jun Yishun, he reconciled with the Jun family. He then married another princess who was only sixteen years old. Moreover, she was the first daughter of the Jun Family. So, according to seniority, she had to be called Aunt Jun.
She was the daughter of the Jun family’s second brother.
When Han Qiao heard the news, she felt disgusted.
She wondered how Madam Jun was feeling now.
And… What was the Gong Prince planning to do by opening a brothel in Sanzhou Town?
In this generation, opening a brothel was a reasonable and legal operation, and it cannot be controlled or banned.
Han Qiao rubbed her temples.
“We’ll have to talk about it when the Marquis returned,”
In the barracks…
Heng Yi took off his sweaty shirt, and was slightly taken aback when he heard Bai Cha’s report, “Who? Who opened it?”
“The Gong Prince opened a brothel in town.”
Heng Yi threw the handkerchief in the basin, took the clothes, and went behind the screen to change.
He had been training with the soldiers all morning. Compared to the soldiers who were carrying 30 pounds of weight, he had 50 pounds of stones hanging on his leg.
It consumed more of his energy.
After getting dressed, Heng Yi took a sip of the mutton soup.
“What do you think we should do? Should we just directly block it? Or should we let it be?” Heng Yi asked..
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