Gu Fang raised his hand to his forehead, helplessly tugging Lin Yi's sleeve to draw her closer, his voice filled with a mix of exasperation and fond indulgence: "Xiaoyi, do not look at what is improper."
"Oh, oh." Lin Yi belatedly realized that this was, after all, an ancient society with strict propriety between men and women. If that young couple's affair were seen and spread, it could severely damage the girl's reputation. She obediently sat back at Gu Fang's side.
After a moment of silence, she grew restless again and whispered, "Husband, I saw that couple just now... will it cause trouble for the girl?"
Gu Fang closed his eyes briefly, his voice calm and gentle: "As long as you don't speak of it, and I don't speak of it, to her it will be like wind passing by her ears—leaving no trace."
"That's good, that's good." Lin Yi sighed in relief and returned to her lively self. Just then, the carriage passed that stretch of riverbank, and she leaned out again to lift the curtain and look outside.
Throughout the ride, Lin Yi remained in such high spirits until the carriage stopped at the gate of the estate east of the city. As she stepped down, taking advantage of Ying Baichuan not yet approaching, Gu Fang quietly asked Lin Yi, "What were you so focused on outside earlier? I rarely see you like this during carriage rides."
"Because I saw a huge creature I've never seen before!" Lin Yi turned, her eyes sparkling. "It was enormous! It looked a bit like a pig, but its nose was much longer! I didn't see it the last time we passed this road!"
Gu Fang smiled knowingly: "You must be referring to a tapir. Seeing one is considered a good omen."
A tapir? The name sounded familiar... It was an animal extinct in modern times? Lin Yi felt a surge of excitement—this trip was truly worthwhile, to see with her own eyes a creature that only existed in illustrated records of later generations!
While Lin Yi's thoughts wandered, Ying Baichuan also alighted from his carriage. Lin Yi pushed Gu Fang up beside him, and the three of them looked down at the gray-white, solid ground beneath their feet. Xiao Zhu had evidently been busy these past few days, expanding the area of concrete further. Last time they had to walk around it, but now the carriage was parked directly on the newly laid concrete.
Ying Baichuan lifted his foot and stomped hard on the ground. The thud was solid, and the surface didn't budge. He raised an eyebrow approvingly: "Truly hard. If we pave roads with this in the future, whether for transporting grain or marching troops, it will save time and effort."
Gu Fang nodded: "Indeed. Moreover, Xiaoyi and the others are currently testing a type of concrete that can stand upright. If successful, the frontier city walls can be renewed as well."
"Oh?" Ying Baichuan grew more intrigued. "Where are the tests for vertical walls now?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Yi turned and called over Xiao Zhu, who was waiting nearby. Xiao Zhu hurried over, back straight, looking efficient, and reported clearly: "In reply to Your Highness, General, and Lady, we are still testing the optimal proportions of sand, stone, and water. Currently, two types of simple concrete have solidified extremely hard. Even strong warriors wielding heavy swords left no marks after striking them."
"Very good." Ying Baichuan nodded. "If it's hard to tell which is stronger, try stabbing with the tip of an iron sword at full force. The sharp point is the best test of a material's foundation."
Lin Yi chimed in naturally: "Exactly! The more concentrated the force, the better it tests the material's strength."
Xiao Zhu noted this carefully: "This servant understands."
At that moment, Ying Baichuan suddenly raised his hand, signaling Xiao Zhu to withdraw. Lin Yi was puzzled, but then he spoke, his voice carrying a deliberate tone: "Ah Tong says the concrete is indeed good. But quarrying and extracting sand is a massive undertaking. If we follow the old practice of conscripted labor, it will burden the people and likely breed resentment."
Gu Fang furrowed his brow upon hearing this. The benefits of concrete for fortifications were immediate, but if it came at the cost of exhausting the people and stirring unrest, it would contradict the original intent.
Lin Yi was inwardly frustrated: she had been led astray by modern thinking again, assuming sand and stone were readily available everywhere, forgetting that in this era, large-scale collection and transport meant the blood and sweat of countless displaced peasants. Just then, she caught a flicker of movement in her peripheral vision. She glanced sideways and saw Ying Baichuan desperately winking at her.
Lin Yi: "..."
Got it. This fellow countryman knew the solution, but due to system restrictions, he couldn't directly say it without breaking character. Gu Fang, though reasonable, might not immediately think of a suitable alternative. The one to speak could only be her.
Corvée labor—that mountain pressing down on the backs of ancient commoners. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang had rebelled because of it; countless families had been shattered by it. They absolutely could not let ordinary people sweat and bleed for this again.
Lin Yi seemed to see the Super Fast Recovery Pill flapping its wings and about to fly away. She straightened her back immediately and declared with righteous indignation: "We absolutely cannot conscript the people for this bitter labor! What about those death-row prisoners sentenced to execution after autumn? Send them all to the quarries! As long as they don't die from the work, work them to the bone!"
Gu Fang: "..."
A flicker of satisfaction that his protégé was teachable passed through Ying Baichuan's eyes, but he maintained a contemplative expression.
Lin Yi, feeling she had climbed the moral high ground, continued her impassioned speech: "Don't let off any felons! For minor offenders, they can be assigned labor commensurate with their crimes!"
"Excellent!" Ying Baichuan clapped his hands, immediately making a decision. "When I return to the residence, I will discuss this with the Minister of Justice. Commuting punishment through labor benefits both the state and the people."
Gu Fang watched the two of them play off each other, momentarily speechless. After a brief silence, he had to admit this was indeed a solution to the dilemma. Following Lin Yi's line of thought, he added slowly, "Or we could add another clause: prisoners of war from the Northern Frontier can also be put to use."
Lin Yi's eyes lit up. The more labor, the better! Moreover, enemy captives could be driven without mercy. But then a thought struck her, and she asked doubtfully, "Husband, do you currently have any Northern Frontier prisoners?"
Gu Fang paused, looking at her helplessly: "Not at the moment. But since the war in the Northern Frontier hasn't ceased, it's not difficult to send a letter to the border generals, asking them to keep an eye out for captures."
"Oh, right..." Lin Yi gave an awkward laugh. She had gotten too excited and forgotten that detail.
After settling the matter of concrete promotion, the three found themselves with time on their hands. Ying Baichuan suggested that since they were already here, they might as well stroll around the estate, have lunch, and then head to the ironworks in the afternoon to check on the equipment progress—a proper way to spend the day.
Lin Yi and Gu Fang naturally had no objections. Gu Fang called for the estate steward and ordered some fresh game to be hunted and seasonal vegetables prepared for lunch. Once the steward took his leave, the three dismissed the attendants and walked leisurely into the depths of the garden.
Around them, it was quiet, only the sounds of birds and wind. Ying Baichuan looked left and right, ensuring no one was nearby, then suddenly spoke: "I'm going to start cleaning out the rats."
Gu Fang's expression remained unchanged as he nodded slightly: "Mm, go for it."
Ying Baichuan was displeased with his perfunctory attitude and raised an eyebrow: "Hey, hey, at least give me some reaction. Your wife specifically asked me for a divine pill just now, reserved for your post-surgery recovery."
Hearing this, Gu Fang's brow lifted slightly. He looked up at Lin Yi, and though he didn't speak, his eyes clearly asked: Didn't you just say all pills are untrustworthy?
Lin Yi felt her ears grow hot under his gaze. She rubbed her nose and mumbled in defense, "Well... other pills are indeed fake, but his... is different..."
Lin Yi had no choice but to explain in detail to Gu Fang: Ying Baichuan's pill was bestowed by his immensely powerful master, Ah Tong, and its efficacy was extraordinary. With its help, Gu Fang's recovery after surgery would be much faster.
Upon hearing this, a very shallow ripple stirred in Gu Fang's eyes. Ignoring Ying Baichuan's presence, he reached out and gently took Lin Yi's hand, lowering his gaze, his voice barely audible: "Xiaoyi... did you trade something for it?"
Lin Yi was surprised by Gu Fang's sudden intimacy in front of an outsider, but then she heard the undisguised remorse and worry in his tone. Just as she was about to say "nothing," Ying Baichuan's voice interjected, deliberately exaggerated: "Hey, hey, hey, Gu Nianqing, you're breaking my heart! Do you really not trust me that much?"
Gu Fang turned away, his voice still soft: "I'm afraid Xiaoyi, in her urgency, might have promised something too heavy to bear."
Ying Baichuan, perhaps rarely seeing Gu Fang like this, decided to tease him, deliberately drawing out his words: "How do you know she paid a price herself, rather than using yours?"
Lin Yi saw Gu Fang's shoulders slump slightly and quickly cut off this increasingly skewed topic, saying bluntly: "No, no! I paid nothing! We just share the same goal. He wants me to do more for the country and the people, so I'll do my best. That's all."
Only then did Gu Fang turn back, looking into Lin Yi's eyes: "Really?"
"Really." Lin Yi bent down to meet his gaze. "His Ah Tong's lifelong aspiration is a world of great harmony, a peaceful and prosperous nation. Naturally, he has to work hard to fulfill that wish."
Beside them, Ying Baichuan spread his hands helplessly: "You two are something else. Alright, alright, let's get back to business. What I said just now is true. My Ah Tong does indeed wish for a world of great harmony. Giving you the divine pill is also in hopes that after you recover, you can continue to guard the Northern Frontier and protect the peace there. What do you say?"
Gu Fang was silent for a moment, then lowered his eyes: "Why are you both so certain that I will definitely recover?"
"Nianqing, Nianqing," Ying Baichuan shook his head with a smile, his tone irresistibly confident, "If you lack confidence in yourself, at least have some faith in us. Not to mention your wife's fellow disciple's skills, my Ah Tong alone is no ordinary thing. You will definitely recover—I guarantee it."
Gu Fang listened, tapped his finger lightly on the wheelchair armrest, and said slowly, "Guarding the Northern Frontier is my duty; I naturally won't refuse. But the border is bitter cold. After I go, please take good care of Xiaoyi."
"Wait! What do you mean 'after you go'?" Lin Yi immediately interrupted upon hearing the implication. "Husband, you're not planning to take me with you?"
Gu Fang avoided her gaze, his voice dropping: "Life there is harsh—freezing cold, monotonous food, and little entertainment. You would get bored."
"No, no! I don't care!" Lin Yi began to act petulant. "I want to follow my husband! Wherever my husband goes, I go!"
Gu Fang clearly had no way to handle her like this, his tone turning helpless: "Xiaoyi, don't be difficult. Let's talk about this more when we get home, alright?"
Talk about it later? That would never do! If she compromised once, she'd have to give in every time. And just now, she had helped Ying Baichuan avoid breaking character—now was the perfect time to call in that favor!