Chapter 276: Daughter of the Republic VS Chinese Opera Singer (11.8)
Ziju BaiLin took the papers while watching and listening to his wife.
He was originally curious as to why his wife requested these things. He was simply astonished, period.
“Wife, this, are you able to do it?” His tone was a little excited. This big guy, he was thinking of how formidable these things could be on the battlefield.
“I studied abroad for so many years. Don’t tell me you think I studied the same things as all those aristocratic daughters like advocating for equality, but didn’t also learn anything practical? You still want to flaunt how great you are, what a learned person you are?”
The original body had studied medicine. She had a dream of contributing to the country.
In fact, XunMi felt that the original was very foolish. Wanting to save a country was just wishful thinking.
But she would still help her fulfill this wish. As for how to accomplish it… by conquering her man, then her man would conquer the world!
Ziju BaiLin was already so excited, he wanted to go outside and run two laps and yell.
Thinking about the fact that his subordinates were still there, he carefully put the things on the table.
“All of you take a look and think about it. Where would be suitable?”
He had just arrived in Li Hua Province, so he was not really clear on which places would fit his wife’s requirements.
Actually the several people in the study were already curious, just what had Miss Nian given the Marshal?
Now with just a look, oh my G.o.d! But this is a generous big gift—its value can’t be estimated!
“Marshal, there is a barren mountain a hundred li outside Li Hua Province. We can use that s.p.a.ce to build an a.r.s.enal.”[1] MuCheng quickly spoke. He was the first to enter the city, and he had made a detailed inspection of the entire Li Hua Province. Therefore he was capable of immediately coming up with a suitable location.
XunMi also remembered the mountain MuCheng had mentioned, and nodded, “It’s a large area and it’s far away from the population, so it will be convenient for my experiments.”
Then the party plunged into deeper discussion, and XunMi officially entered the group.
Not as a subsidiary of Ziju BaiLin, but as Nian XunMi.
Using her own way, she won the esteem and respect of Ziju BaiLin’s subordinates, and thus took her first step into this troubled world.
Watching the mission progress appearing on the control panel, it at last moved at a turtle’s pace to 8%, and she sighed. It was really not easy.
XunMi’s ability would be concealed from everyone for her safety.
After all, when the world is in chaos, who wouldn’t want to get a talent with a knowledge of medicine and ability to make weapons in their hands.
Even if one couldn’t obtain it oneself, one wouldn’t wish others to be able to obtain it either.
Especially now with the price of weapons and medicine. Chinese medicine wasn’t used on the battlefield, as only Western medicine could take effect quickly. This is not to mention domestic weapons. When you were still carrying a gun that needs to be loaded with bullets, other people had already started using machine guns.
This was not just a difference in culture between China and the West, but also a tug-of-war in strength.
The present appearance of XunMi would now break this boundary.
They reached a final result, and XunMi was able to leave them with confidence. The other men remained discussing amongst themselves the matter of preparing for the arrival of the Major General of the Western Region, who was coming to promote friendly diplomatic relations.
“Boss, truthfully speaking, I think s.n.a.t.c.hing Miss Nian is the second-best thing you’ve ever done. The first, of course, was when you s.n.a.t.c.hed the position of Marshal. If it was still that terrified steam bun,[2] I’m afraid the Southern Region would have already fallen into others’ hands.”
MuCheng couldn’t help but sigh. His family’s Marshal should just stop s.n.a.t.c.hing already. His s.n.a.t.c.hing frightened people, ah.
Ziju BaiLin smiled proudly, “Of course, your Marshal’s eyesight is very good. I settled on my wife at first sight.” In fact, he didn’t think much at the time, but only felt that he fancied her. Was that unreasonable?
Who knew that that the heavens would give him such a big gift? It almost knocked him out.
“Boss, you have to be nice to sister-in-law. I heard that this Major General from the Western Region is a pretty boy. If he steals sister-in-law’s heart, what’s to be done?” He Yuan spoke with a seemingly earnest appearance.
“If he dares, I will shoot him.” Ziju BaiLin put his gun on the table angrily.
No, it wouldn’t do. His wife was too excellent. “MuCheng, you go prepare the wedding for this commander, we need everyone to know. Especially the Western Region and the Northeastern Region, understand?” This way he wouldn’t have blind people coming to fight over his wife.
MuCheng went to do it cheerfully, and Jun YuQing also went to arrange for the manpower needed to build the experimental base.
Everyone dispersed, and Ziju BaiLin went to look for his wife.
Days pa.s.sed like this, with occasional noisiness and disputes, for more than a month. On this day, XunMi had just come back from the mountain, only to find that the Marshal’s residence was overly quiet.
She entered curiously. Ah, it turned out someone was paying a visit.
“Madam, you’ve returned. The Marshal is in the study. You can go up directly.” MuCheng’s eyes alit on XunMi, and he quickly stepped forward, attentively taking the bag in her hands and setting it aside.
If YuLan hadn’t already been at her side holding her shoes, she reckoned this guy would’ve also given her shoes to change into.
XunMi looked at MuCheng helplessly. She always felt he was doing this for himself, otherwise he wouldn’t be so attentive.
With such abnormality, there must be a demon. “Speak, what have you done to make him unhappy?”
MuCheng had an expression like he’d been split by lightning. Was his behavior so obvious?
XunMi nodded with certainty. “It’s written all over your face.”
Cough cough. “It’s like this. Tomorrow, several important businessmen and major families in Li Hua Province will prepare a reception dinner for the Marshal. They wished for the Marshal’s partic.i.p.ation. I thought it was a good opportunity to meet people, so I agreed for him.”
Who knew that his Marshal’s illness would come back, and for the life of him he would not go.
The chairman of the Board of Trade came directly to the house and wanted a definite answer.
XunMi nodded to express her understanding. Time had really pa.s.sed quickly. The plot had already come to this step.
The Female Lead was about to appear. “This time the party is first going to attend a performance by the Flowering Crab-apple Troupe.” She is still looking forward to meeting the Female Lead.
“Yes, that’s right. Miss Nian also likes the Flowering Crab-apple Troupe’s performances, ah! We’re kindred spirits, kindred spirits!” Chairman w.a.n.g, who was sitting on the sofa, immediately spoke. He was clothed in a black satin tunic suit,[3] and hanging from his breast was a large smoking pipe. His two eyes flickered with shrewdness.
This person’s name used to be very well-known in Li Hua Province, but now it’s even become a household name.
The honored daughter was forcibly brought home by the Bandit Marshal to become the Marshal’s wife, and no one knew what method was used to make the Marshal take her into his heart and love her dearly. These matters had long become the idle tea-time gossip of the people of Li Hua Province.
“Chairman w.a.n.g, please go back first. I’ll go with the commander tomorrow.”
Hmph! You’re exactly that d.a.m.n old man who drugged the Female Lead, that calamity, and delivered her to my husband’s bed! Just wait and see if this young miss won’t torment you to death tomorrow.
MuCheng was also relieved. Although the Marshal had many soldiers under his command, training troops required money.
It was still necessary to have a good relationship with these local government officials in Li Hua Province, and later it wouldn’t look so bad to extort them.[4]
Translator’s Notes
[1] 100 li is about 30 miles, or 50 km.
[2] A wimp.
[3] Something like this picture.
[4] I’m not certain of the translation of this last sentence. We’ll see if it matters.