She Came to Heal, Stayed to Conquer

All meals and accommodations are included, and they even give Silver. This will solve so many people’s food problems! He needs to send word back, so his son, daughter-in-law, relatives, and friends can all come here to work.

Han Lei then said to the wounded soldiers from the Small Character Team: ”Listen up, Small Character Team. For the next few days, you must learn from Mr Wang how to treat people, supervise, and arrange tasks for your subordinates. When the project starts, you will all be foremen.”

”Wow, we can be foremen?”

”When I go back to the village, won’t I be able to brag about this for a lifetime?”

”Miss Han is really thinking highly of us.”

”Are you dumb? Isn’t she intentionally elevating us?”

”Thank you, Miss! Thank you, Miss!”

”Don’t worry, Miss. We will definitely learn well from Mr Wang and not disappoint you.”

The wounded soldiers were thrilled, some even cried tears of joy. Just being able to work around Han Lei and get a meal was more than enough for them; they hadn’t expected a chance for promotion.

”Don’t celebrate too soon.” Han Lei directly poured cold water over them. ”Qingshui County is only our first trial site; whether it succeeds is still unknown. If we want to make Qingshui County our first base camp and live happily here, it will depend on your hard work and effort. Can you do it?”

”Yes!”

The wounded soldiers from the Small Character Team shouted in unison, just like they did in the barracks, displaying high morale. This team comprised the disabled and elderly; they saw today that Han Lei spent a fortune to build this base camp for them. It was also the place for their future survival, and they would give their utmost effort, not letting Han Lei’s hard work go to waste.

Han Lei nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the wounded soldiers from the Large Character Team and said: ”Large Character Team, listen up. You are young and strong. During the project’s early phase, you will be responsible for transporting goods between the pig farm and the restaurant, as well as security tasks. Tomorrow, I will provide each one of you with a weapon. We won’t need so many people in the later phase, and then I’ll set up an escort agency for you to transport goods between states. Can you do it?”

”Yes!”

The Large Character Team’s voice was even louder.

Today’s work was temporarily arranged, and after greeting Mr Wang, Han Lei finally took the wounded soldiers back to the County Magistrate’s residence.

By the time they returned to the County Magistrate’s residence, it was already past lunchtime, perfectly missing Zhao Zun and Ping Chuan.

Just as Han Lei and the wounded soldiers arrived at the government office entrance, they were stopped by the guards at the gate.

”Stop, who are you? This is the county government office, all idle people must leave immediately.”

Because the guards at the gate rotated shifts, someone else was now on duty. Hence, they did not know they had been staying at the County Magistrate’s residence since yesterday evening, or that they were guests of Mr. Luo.

”Sir, we are from Prince Xiaoyao, residing in the government office here.” Han Lei hurriedly took out the jade pendant from her neck to show the guard. ”Look, this is Prince Xiaoyao’s token.”

”Prince Xiaoyao? What Prince Xiaoyao?” The guard was impatient, looking confused. He had never seen this token before and knew nothing about Prince Xiaoyao.

Zhao Zun was temporarily given the title of Prince with a different surname by the Emperor over two months ago in exchange for his military power. In this era, transportation mainly relied on walking, communication mostly involved shouting, security basically depended on dogs, heating generally relied on shivering, leading to difficulty in the flow of official decrees. Many high-ranking officials wouldn’t know the Emperor’s decree contents so quickly. No wonder these guards didn’t know Zhao Zun was now Prince Xiaoyao.

Knowing about Prince Xiaoyao didn’t matter, but Mr. Luo was a family friend of Zhao Zun, and they should recognize Zhao Zun’s token, right?

Thinking this, Han Lei pushed the jade pendant further towards the guard.

”Sir, please take a closer look. This is the token of Zhao Zun, Marshal of the Beiguan Garrison, Mr. Zhao.”

”Mr. Zhao?” The guard knew this. He stepped down from the steps and looked carefully at Han Lei’s jade pendant, then rolled his eyes at her.

”Shoo, shoo, do you take me for a fool? The military tokens are all made of iron, how could it be like this? Move along quickly.” The guard rudely chased them off, believing that such a large group seemed to be causing trouble at the County Magistrate’s residence, which he dared not let in easily.

”Sir, I’m telling the truth, why don’t you go inside and ask Mr. Luo?” Han Lei frowned. Since Zhao Zun’s token was not effective, she could only bring up Mr. Luo.

”Move quickly, or I’ll force you out. Mr. County Magistrate is not someone you can casually meet.” The guard was impenetrable.

Wow! Now there’s a problem!

Han Lei was speechless.

”Sister-in-law! Alas, you’ve finally returned.”

Just as Han Lei was frustrated, Luo Hai’s daughter, Luo Yuanyuan, walked out from the inside, and seeing Han Lei outside, she greeted her enthusiastically.

”Yuanyuan.”

Han Lei was delighted, hastily approaching.

The guards, seeing the County Magistrate’s daughter personally come out to meet them, became embarrassed. He dared not speak, lowered his head, and let them pass.

Han Lei wasn’t petty, didn’t report his misconduct, but instead took Luo Yuanyuan’s arm and led the wounded soldiers inside.

The residence had saved meals for them, and after paying respects, the wounded soldiers went to their courtyard to eat.

Upon hearing Han Lei had returned, Luo Hai and his wife rushed over, only relaxing when they saw she was safe.

After all, this was their home, and Han Lei was the guest. Afraid it might be difficult to explain to Zhao Zun, Luo Hai’s family all sat around the round table, accompanying Han Lei with food and conversation.

Zhao Zun and Ping Chuan, rushing back from the fruitless search on the street, asked the guards at the entrance and learned Han Lei had returned. He hurried inside, and from a distance, saw Luo Hai’s family keeping Han Lei company while she was eating.

Seeing Han Lei in person, Zhao Zun finally breathed a sigh of relief.

”Why did you spend so long out shopping? I thought you got lost. Didn’t encounter any trouble, did you?” Zhao Zun asked with concern.

”No.” Han Lei replied, chewing her food, barely comprehensible.

”And you! Wanting to shop, why not wait for me to accompany you? You were gone for half a day, do you know how worried I was? I thought you were resting in the room the whole time!” Zhao Zun couldn’t help but complain. Just now searching around the street without finding anyone, he was genuinely scared.

Ms Luo quickly interjected, soothingly: ”As long as Miss Han is back. Zun, don’t worry.”

In public, they had to address Zhao Zun as Prince by etiquette. In private, they still preferred their usual address.

”Exactly! Zun, isn’t sister-in-law just fine?” Luo Yuanyuan chimed in.

Hearing Luo Yuanyuan call her ”sister-in-law” in front of Zhao Zun made Han Lei blush.

She swallowed her food, took off the jade pendant from her neck, hummed, and tossed it at Zhao Zun.

”Hmph! What kind of lousy token is this? It’s useless.”