Rebirth of the Three Kingdoms: Da Qiao doesn't want to be a widow anymore

Chapter 277 Panic
Sun An probably cried too hard and was unable to get out of bed the next day. The military doctor took his pulse and said that he had been ill from worrying and needed to recuperate for a few days.

This time, even Sun Deng was frightened and started to have a fever. Qiao Wei watched over him for two days without taking off his clothes. Fortunately, the child's mood came and went quickly. After taking some tranquilizers, he soon became lively again and thought about the new toys sent by Ou Bei's wife Huang Lingyi.

Although Huang Lingyi is a woman, her ancestors are from the Ou-style branch of the Huang family. Therefore, she learned carpentry from her father, and her skills are not inferior to her father and brother. In addition, after marrying Ou Bei, she took advantage of Ou Bei's status as the head of the family to enter the woodworking department. Her skills improved further, and the various animal sculptures she made were lifelike.

Qiao Wei couldn't help but sigh as he held those small wooden sculptures, "If I open a children's toy store and sell them to the children of wealthy families, it will definitely be a good business idea."

Huang Lingyi's face flushed, "Madam, you are joking. How can my humble craftsmanship be appreciated by those nobles?"

"How can it not be accepted? It has already caught the eyes of Deng'er and me." Qiao Wei said with a smile, "This kind of ingenuity is rare."

As they were talking, You Yu came to report, "Madam, Lord Lu from the Eastern Zouzou Department wants to see you."

Huang Lingyi quickly stood up and took his leave. Youxun also carried Sun Deng to play outside in the yard, leaving Lu Xun alone to walk into the main hall and kowtow.

Qiao Wei smiled and asked him to stand up, "Are you healed?"

Although it was a light sentence, it made Lu Xun's waist, which had just straightened up, bend down again, and there was a bit of fear in his voice, "My injury is not serious, thank you for your concern, madam.

I came here today because I heard that the young lady came to visit me that day, but was injured by bandits on her way back... I feel guilty and uneasy. "

"There is no injury, Master Lu, don't worry too much, get up first!" Qiao Wei looked at You He, "Give Master a seat."

After Lu Xun sat down, Qiao Wei quickly prepared a cup of tea, "Sir, please try it. This is wild tea from this mountain. Although it is not as valuable as the one from Wu County, it has a unique fragrance."

Lu Xun took a sip and found it quite bitter at first, but after a few breaths, a hint of sweetness and coolness came back from his throat. This wonderful taste was also a new experience for Lu Xun. "It is indeed as Madam said, it has a unique fragrance. Such a rural tea is not inferior to the expensive ones. Madam has a discerning eye."

"You are too discerning. The tea we brought from Wu County has run out, so the head of the Ou family sent us some wild tea from the mountains. I just found out that it is a hidden gem. It can be considered an unexpected surprise." Qiao Wei said, "It is not a disappointment to find that it suits your taste."

Although these were words of self-deprecation and praise, Lu Xun did not hear any joy in his tone. Instead, he sounded so calm that one had to ponder the reasons behind it.

"Madam, you are too kind. But I see that you seem to like drinking tea very much." Every time he saw Qiao Wei entertaining guests, he was making tea.

In fact, if there were modern drinks like milk tea, cola, and Sprite, Qiao Wei wouldn't necessarily have to sit there and pretend to be cool and make tea every time he went back.

After all, when people need to hide their emotions, they want to find something to do. Making tea is one of the few skills that Qiao Wei can use to entertain guests. He can't just raise his hand and show him how to forge iron! "I don't like the smell of alcohol. This bitter and sweet tea can make me feel a little clearer. So I prefer to drink some tea with guests when entertaining them, and listen to less alcohol and unclear words." Qiao Wei saw that there was no tea in Lu Xun's cup, so he raised his hand and added some more.

Lu Xun heard what Qiao Wei meant, and carefully considered his words in reply, "Wine is the choice of a gentleman who is free and easy, and tea is also the attitude of a gentleman who is upright and dignified. They each have their own preferences. However, Madam loves tea, and she values ​​the gentleman's prudent and pragmatic nature. I also have this ambition. Since I was recognized by you, I have never forgotten the future of Jiangdong that you and I promised. I am afraid that I have failed to live up to your trust, as I have such a heavy responsibility."

"Yes, the people of Jiangdong are more important than me." Qiao Wei nodded slightly, and was also very satisfied with Lu Xun's answer. "Your Excellency is so fair-minded, and it is also a blessing for the people of Jiangdong."

Lu Xun quickly said that he was not worthy of it.

"I'm about to set off back to Wu. I heard that the He coalition forces have been searching for the remnants of Pan Ju in the mountains these days. I wonder if there is any good news?" Putting aside personal matters, Qiao Wei also asked about the bandit suppression as usual. Many of the Ou family's children were rescued and sent back to the Ou family compound, but according to the genealogy books of various branches and the craftsmen's statements, only one in ten of the children who were abducted or lost can survive.

Although Qiao Wei was not surprised to hear this, he still felt a little sad.

"We haven't gained much in these days of searching." Lu Xun also told the truth, "The situation of this battle is not optimistic. Madam must also know that Pan Ju used the jungle to cover himself, just like a cunning rabbit with three burrows. Even the local soldiers almost got lost in the mountains.

General He and I discussed it and decided that Pan Ju was no longer a big deal and that all this trouble would be in vain. We should just let it slide for now and conduct a strict investigation of the household registration and the items going up and down the mountain. We should seize all the grain during the autumn harvest. Winter is approaching and the mountains are cold. Pan Ju is cunning but impatient. In such a difficult winter, he and his followers will not be able to stay still.

Our troops are well-rested and we only need to wait for them to reveal their whereabouts so that we can arrest them."

Qiao Wei did not comment. "General He has fought against the Shanyue for many years, so he has more experience to draw on. However, the Shanyue have repeatedly rebelled despite repeated suppression over the years, which is also related to the struggle between military farms and powerful people. This is where you, Lord Lu, can really come into play. However, I have talked with you many times, and I have never heard that you have made any achievements or gained any experience in this matter. Lord Lu has been slacking off in the past six months."

This sentence is both a reminder and a warning.

If we want to completely put an end to the Shanyue, suppression alone is not enough. Just like controlling water, we cannot just block it, we need to block and drain it at the same time. When dealing with the Shanyue, using both kindness and severity was the original principle.

"I am terrified."

Qiao Wei smiled and said, "I'm not just apprehensive. Before I came to Baishishan, the Western Memorial Secretary did submit a memorial, and I also heard your Excellency mention it a few times. The Western Memorial Secretary was conscientious and high-spirited, which made the Eastern Memorial Secretary seem a little incompetent."

Lu Xun's heart tightened, for he knew very well the purpose behind Sun Quan's arrangement of having him and Lu Ji serve as both historians and join the He Qi army. Sun Quan used the aristocratic families to deal with local tyrants, so he chose Lu Xun, who had a strong background in the Lu family but was not fully valued.

If Lu Xun wanted to go ashore on the Sun family's ship, he had to offend people on behalf of Sun Quan.