"After solving the medical problems of the northwestern border army, Emperor Jingwu did not rest on her laurels. Instead, she launched another major initiative."
"This time, her focus was no longer limited to the military camps. She turned her attention to the overlooked heroes beyond the barracks."
"Throughout history, in any country or era, many veterans have harbored a common thought: they would rather die a glorious death on the battlefield than be disabled by injuries in war."
On the Sky Canopy, Liu Sanqi frowned, her voice heavy as she said:
"In these soldiers' eyes, if they died in battle, their families could receive a one-time death benefit. But if they were permanently disabled, they would become a lifelong burden to their families."
"Today, our country's economic development is sufficient to support a relatively complete lifelong security system for soldiers."
"But in Emperor Jingwu's time, many disabled soldiers only received a meager pension from the court. Moreover, because they were seen as 'useless people,' they faced social discrimination and could hardly find work to support themselves."
"Emperor Jingwu saw the hardships of these disabled soldiers and their families. Out of compassion, she wanted to find a way out for them. That was why she gradually transformed Wuchang City, a desolate northwestern border town, into a city of fragrance renowned throughout the Great Jing Dynasty."
"When I was little, there was a TV series that became a nationwide hit, called 'The Legend of Jingwu.' It focused on how Emperor Jingwu, as a princess in her youth, gradually grew into the great emperor she became."
"Today, let's watch clips from this drama to understand how Emperor Jingwu, in order to improve the economic situation of disabled retired border soldiers, promoted the fragrance industry to take root and flourish in Wuchang City."
On the Sky Canopy, as Liu Sanqi spoke, a new video screen soon appeared.
At the Marshal's Mansion, the old partners Su Lei and Wen Changrong both stared at the screen without blinking, afraid of missing any information.
Earlier, when Liu Sanqi mentioned disabled soldiers, their expressions had become particularly grave and serious.
As the leaders of the northwestern border army, they were well aware of the hardships disabled soldiers faced. But they were powerless except to try to get more disability benefits from the court. So when they heard that Yin Ning could improve the lives of these disabled soldiers, they genuinely wanted to learn from her.
On the Sky Canopy, the video showed not Emperor Jingwu, but a dilapidated mud hut.
In the shot, a man with a limp, leaning on a cane that had been polished shiny, hobbled through a wicker gate into the yard.
Hearing the 'thump, thump' of his cane on the ground, a thin young woman came out of the mud hut.
Seeing the hopeful look in the young woman's eyes, the limping man couldn't help lowering his head, as if ashamed to face her.
The young woman was disappointed and pursed her lips, but quickly composed herself. Gently, she said to him:
"It's okay. Heaven never seals off all exits. If this place doesn't work, we'll try another. There will always be someone hiring."
Seeing that his wife didn't blame him at all, the limping man felt even more self-reproach.
He gripped his cane tightly, his fingertips turning white from the pressure. He closed his eyes, trying to suppress his surging emotions, and spoke in a seemingly calm tone:
"I think being a wheat cutter doesn't suit me. The landlords said they won't be busy with the summer harvest this year, so they only want strong, skilled wheat cutters. The others who went with me were all able-bodied, and even they didn't get hired."
"...It's, it's okay. We'll find something slowly. You've been out all day, you must not have eaten yet. I made some porridge this morning and saved two bowls for you."
"Wife, you and Niu Niu each have a bowl." The limping man forced a smile. "I'm not hungry. I ate before I came back. The landlord saw I'd come all the way and felt sorry for me, so he kept me for a meal. I even had some meat..."
His voice stopped abruptly, and his smile stiffened.
At that moment, his stomach let out a loud, very obvious growl.
Clearly, the story about the landlord's meal and the meat was just a lie the man had told his wife.
The young woman saw the awkward, embarrassed smile on her husband's face and could not help but redden her eyes.
She sniffled, turned her face away, and wiped the tears that had welled up. Then, looking back at her husband, she said, her voice choked with sobs:
"Come on, let's go inside and eat. Don't worry about the food. I pawned the silver hairpin you gave me when we got married. We'll get it back later."
Hearing this, the muscles in the limping man's jaw twitched violently. It pained and infuriated him that his wife had been forced to pawn her hairpin for food.
He looked at her, swallowed hard, and spoke hoarsely:
"Wife, don't bother with me, a cripple. Take Niu Niu and find a normal man to rem..."
"Zhang Erniu!" The young woman burst out, crying. "If you ever tell me to remarry again, I'll jump into the river right now! Do you think I, Ruan Xiaolan, can't endure hardship?"
Ruan Xiaolan glared at him, her eyes red, tears the size of beans streaming down her face.
Zhang Erniu couldn't help tearing up too.
"Aiya, why are you two quarreling at a time like this?"
A middle-aged woman rushed into the yard.
Seeing her, the young couple quickly wiped their eyes, not wanting outsiders to see their messy state.
The middle-aged woman, as if she hadn't noticed, said directly to Zhang Erniu:
"Erniu, go quickly to the princess's residence and sign up. The residence is recruiting retired soldiers to help clear land and plant flowers, and they're giving priority to disabled veterans like you!"
Hearing this, Zhang Erniu and Ruan Xiaolan's spirits instantly lifted.
"Our princess is truly a great benefactor! You don't even know — she's offering one hundred wen per person per day for clearing land and planting flowers, and even providing three meals a day!"
Hearing this, Zhang Erniu's excitement suddenly cooled.
"Aunt Lin, could you have misread or misheard the news? I've never grown flowers, but clearing land isn't that hard. How could the princess pay such a high wage for this, plus meals?"
"Oh, I'm not lying to you! That Jiang Shuigen, who lost a hand and lives near us, has already signed up at the princess's residence! He told me himself. How could I be mistaken?"
Zhang Erniu and Ruan Xiaolan obviously knew Jiang Shuigen. After hearing Aunt Lin's words, they were filled with joy and excitement.
Zhang Erniu's voice trembled with excitement: "One hundred wen a day — that's thirty wen more than working as a wheat cutter for the landlords!"
Ruan Xiaolan said: "Erniu, many people must be scrambling to sign up. Go now, or the residence might have enough people and stop recruiting!"
Hearing his wife's reminder, Zhang Erniu tensed up again. "What do I do? I still don't know where the princess's residence is!"
Sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Don't worry, Erniu! My husband knows where it is. I asked him to take you there!"
As Aunt Lin spoke, her husband pushed a single-wheeled cart and appeared outside the wicker fence.
"Erniu, get on! This cart is much faster than walking!"
Clearly, before coming to deliver the news, Aunt Lin had already asked her husband to prepare the cart.
Zhang Erniu was filled with gratitude at the sight of the cart. He didn't stand on ceremony; he hurried out with his cane, even stumbling at the door for a moment. But he steadied himself and continued hobbling toward the cart.