Cultivation Begins with Caring for Sister-in-law

Night descended.

The backyard of the County Government Office.

The lantern hanging under the door beam swayed with the sudden breeze, casting a shadow of light and shadow.

In the side room, Xia Zhining, in a black long dress, was sitting at the dressing table, wiping her long sword.

Xia Zhining's sword was very sharp, capable of cutting through hair.

But her face showed a few traces of impatience, and she finally put down the cloth she used to wipe the sword, turned around, and looked at Xia Zhiqing, who was tuning the guzheng, and said, "Sister, it's almost 9 p.m., and that bastard still hasn't come tonight."

These words did not mean Xia Zhining was thinking of being with him.

Instead, ever since Chen Mo said those words, he hadn't touched them once.

Originally, according to Chen Mo's plan, with Xia Zhiqing repaying the debt, it only required nine times, which meant they could leave by early July.

But Chen Mo hadn't come to claim it even once, which meant their departure time would be extended indefinitely.

This feeling was like a worker waiting for payday, with the shopkeeper endlessly delaying the payment.

Xia Zhiqing paused her movements, raised her head, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, as she also had complaints about this situation. The uncertainty of not knowing when they could leave was a form of torture for her.

"Maybe he just got married... That little wife is clinging to him," Xia Zhiqing said.

When Chen Mo was practicing in the courtyard, Xia Zhiqing had seen Yi Shiyin, quite likable indeed.

"That woman is just a concubine without status, what does she count as a little wife?" Xia Zhining also didn't know why she said that.

Seeing her younger sister talk about the issue of status, Xia Zhiqing's eyes suddenly darkened, involuntarily flashing a thought, "What about us?"

Their chastity had been given to Chen Mo, and in the end, they had gained nothing.

Even Xia Zhiqing started to have doubts about whether she wanted to leave in the end.

Xia Zhining looked at her sister, hesitated for a while, and said softly, "Sister, that bastard likes you, why don't you ask him tomorrow?"

"I... I'm not going!" Xia Zhiqing instinctively refused, glaring at Xia Zhining.

What was she supposed to ask?

Ask why he hadn't come for so long... me?

How would that be any different from a brothel courtesan?

"Then I'll... ask," Xia Zhining said.

"Suit yourself," Xia Zhiqing thought for a moment and said. After all, this matter had to be resolved somehow, and asking was not a bad idea, anyway, she wouldn't be the one going.

...

The next day, the weather was cloudy.

After washing up, Chen Mo came from the Yi Family Courtyard to the government office.

He wasn't sure if it was just an illusion, but he felt a bit sore in his waist.

Damn it.

Seems like he needed to restrain himself a bit.

Xiaolu was like a juice extractor; although she wasn't a martial artist, she was particularly good at fighting.

Probably the combined efforts of Han Anniang, Xia Zhiqing, and Xia Zhining could barely match Xiaolu.

Chen Mo couldn't quite understand how Xiaolu, with her petite figure, could have such endurance.

Upon arriving at the government office, Chen Mo instructed Chunhong to prepare a meal and bring him a bowl of deer blood.

Even though the hunting team was gone, there were still people in the village occasionally hunting in the mountains and bringing their catches to the town to sell. Yesterday, Chen Mo had purchased a plum deer that was caught in a beast trap but hadn't died yet.

Afterwards, Chen Mo ate his breakfast while dealing with the affairs of the County Government Office.

Now that Zhao Daoxian and Geng Songfu shared the burden, Chen Mo only needed to review and stamp the County Magistrate's official seal.

For example, although some battle armor needed repairs, it roughly required some funds, which would need Chen Mo's approval before the money could be spent.

Also, the production of pottery bombs at the gunpowder factory; currently, there was a shortage of materials like "saltpeter," which needed Chen Mo's attention.

Additionally, there was an incident where someone in the city raped a woman, and to prevent the incident from getting exposed, he killed her. However, the matter was ultimately revealed, and after being arrested and interrogated, the evidence was conclusive.

Wu Mountain forwarded the case to Geng Songfu, who, after confirming there were no errors, submitted it to Chen Mo, requesting an immediate execution.

Chen Mo wrote the word "approved" on the document, sentencing the murderer to death, with the execution to be carried out soon.

"Thud thud..."

Just as Chen Mo was seriously reviewing, footsteps sounded behind him.

Chen Mo's ears perked up, and recognizing the visitor by their footsteps, he said, "What is it?"

Chen Mo, sitting with his back to Xia Zhining, seemed easy to ambush — with a pair of chopsticks in one hand and a brush in the other — and the chances of a successful ambush appeared quite high. Yet Xia Zhining had no intention of ambushing, and said, "When exactly are you going to let us leave?"

Chen Mo, without changing expression or looking back, said, "Wasn't it agreed before? Once you've repaid your debt, you can leave."

"Then how long do you plan to drag this out?" Xia Zhining said through gritted teeth.

Chen Mo paused, put down his chopsticks, and turned around, saying, "The creditor's not anxious, yet the debtor's worried first. Have you thought it through?"

Seeing the young man's playful smile, Xia Zhining shot him a glare, took a deep breath, and said, "We just want to leave sooner."

"I've been a bit busy lately. Once I'm done, I'll come to collect," Chen Mo said, about to turn back around.

Xia Zhining, a bit embarrassed, said, "When will you be done?"

That depends on when he will fully recover his health.

Chen Mo did not answer, but said: "You haven't had breakfast yet, have you? Come over and eat with me."

Xia Zhining did not move, just looked at him directly like that.

At this moment, Chen Mo noticed that the gold ring he had given to Xia Zhining was no longer on her finger.

It seemed that he really made her angry last time.

However, Chen Mo had already come up with a way to handle this and said, "Let's eat first. After breakfast, accompany me outside the city, and I'll tell you then."

Xia Zhining still did not move.

But Chen Mo did not say anything else and turned to eat by himself.

Seeing this, Xia Zhining still sat down to eat, finding herself a reason: he owes me this, so there's no harm in eating.

Once she sat down, Chen Mo picked a piece of meat for her and said gently, "Still angry?"

Xia Zhining ignored him.

What do you mean still angry?

I've never really gotten over it with you, okay.

"Actually, what I said last time was just in anger, don't take it to heart." Chen Mo said to himself.

Xia Zhining paused, but still didn't respond to him. Inside, however, she hoped he would apologize on his own.

But after Chen Mo finished talking, he didn't say anything more.

After breakfast was over.

Chen Mo asked Chunhong to find a piece of veil for him, then took Xia Zhining to the stable, pointing to the white horse inside, "Do you still recognize it?"

"Of course I recognize it, that's my Snow Dragon Steed." Xia Zhining walked over, patted the Snow Dragon Steed's head, and finally pressed her face against Snow Dragon Steed's face, speaking softly, "Xue Ling, I'm so glad you're okay."

"I took good care of it, how could anything have happened?" Chen Mo took the saddle and placed it on Snow Dragon Steed's body, then said, "Xue Ling, a good name, but it's my warhorse now."

Xia Zhining looked at Chen Mo angrily, but she also knew that trying to get Xue Ling back from Chen Mo was probably impossible.

"County Magistrate, the veil you wanted." At this moment, Chunhong also came over.

"Give it to her," Chen Mo said, then looked at Xia Zhining, "Put it on, follow me out of the city."

Xia Zhining frowned but complied nonetheless.

Seeing this, Chen Mo smiled with satisfaction. Finally, he rode Snow Dragon Steed, Xia Zhining on the Chestnut Horse Chen Mo originally rode, followed by a squadron of Divine Brave Guard, first leaving the government office, then the city.

This was the first time Xia Zhining had left the town since moving into the government office, and she found the changes outside were drastic.

First, when they were passing through the city, the city looked completely new, orderly and especially bustling and lively, making her feel like she was back in Nanyang for a moment.

Especially Chen Mo's army, each one standing tall, with a solemn expression, marching in an orderly manner, definitely not like rebels, more like a regular army.

Most importantly, she noticed that all the townsfolk, whenever they saw Chen Mo, would greet him warmly. This warmth wasn't feigned but sincerely expressed.

Outside the city, it was even more so.

The outskirts were no longer like they were when she first arrived in Pingting County.

The people were working in the fields, though tired, each person had a look of happiness and contentment on their face, surrounded by peace, with no one to disturb them.

The people's attitude towards Chen Mo could be described as reverence.

She read in books that only officials supported by the people would be enthusiastically welcomed by them.

Even her father had never achieved this.

"How did he do it?"

Xia Zhining looked at Chen Mo, with curiosity in her heart.

"Uncle Shugen, how is the harvest?" Chen Mo dismounted and asked a familiar face.

Li Shugen, a villager of Fu Ze Village, hearing Chen Mo's words, immediately came out from the fields, washing his hands in the canal, and smiled, "Thanks to the County Magistrate's blessings, from three acres of land, we've harvested over a thousand catties of grain."

Then he looked at the veiled woman beside him and tentatively asked, "Is this the madam?"

"Yes." Chen Mo nodded.

"Don't talk nonsense." Xia Zhining glared at Chen Mo and said in a low voice, but inside, she didn't feel the anger she did the first time Chunhong called her madam; instead, there was a hint of inexplicable... joy.

For this, Chen Mo smiled and said to Li Shugen, "Then soon it will be time to plant late rice, right?"

Li Shugen nodded, "In a couple of days, after I've finished plowing the paddy fields, I can plant the late rice seedlings. We need to finish planting before the Start of Autumn so we can harvest before the frost."

Chen Mo nodded.

In the Great Song Dynasty's north, they grew two-season rice. Although single-season rice had higher yields than one season of double-season rice, the total yield was much lower than two-season rice.

After inspecting the fields, Chen Mo took Xia Zhining to Fu Ze Village to watch Gao Yuming train the soldiers.

"Qingzhou Army?!" Xia Zhining recognized them at once.

"That's correct," Chen Mo said.

"Wasn't the Qingzhou Army completely wiped out?" Xia Zhining asked in confusion.

"A hundred thousand Qingzhou Army wouldn't be so easily obliterated; there are still some survivors. I made them instructors for the reserve unit. How do you think they are trained?" Chen Mo asked Xia Zhining for her opinion.

Upon hearing this, Xia Zhining was stunned.