CHAPTER 196: CHAPTER 196: LIKE PUNCHING COTTON

Upon hearing General Zhao’s decisive conclusion, Commander Qian’s expression changed, as that woman had yet to provide him a method to increase the yield per acre.

If she built the city wall and ended up dying in the process, wouldn’t he suffer a huge loss?

Thinking of this, he already had a subtle plan in mind. No, he had to obtain the method to increase the yield per acre from Pei Shu’er as soon as possible, no matter the means!

With this in mind, after the discussion ended, the sky was already dark.

Commander Qian left immediately.

He suddenly thought of someone: "Where is Tang Qingrou?"

The soldiers thought Commander Qian wanted to sleep with her and hurriedly replied, "Commander, she went to the Deserted Mountain earlier and hasn’t returned since."

Commander Qian frowned. If he wanted to obtain the method from Pei Shu’er, then Tang Qingrou was a good option. She was thick-skinned and persistent.

Moreover, she would know whether the method was genuine.

For a moment, he couldn’t think of anyone suitable, and just then, a soldier came to report.

"Commander, Tang Qingrou has returned with Aunt Lin."

Speak of the devil.

Currently, Tang Qingrou didn’t have a single patch of good skin; her body was covered in whip marks. Though the swelling on her face had subsided, it was still filthy, making her look repulsive.

Tang Qingrou had seduced a guard at the Deserted Mountain to steal his key and escape.

Now, she had no home other than this military camp.

After cleaning herself up, Tang Qingrou approached Commander Qian, her voice so soft it seemed to drip with tenderness.

"Commander, I missed you so much."

Tang Qingrou smiled tenderly and leaned into Commander Qian’s arms, causing him to frown in disgust.

"Get away, you’re filthy."

Commander Qian looked at this woman, full of the scent of other men, with eyes full of disdain.

Tang Qingrou’s face turned pale; currently, Commander Qian was her only support. She couldn’t afford to lose this backer no matter what.

She also knew she was very dirty now. No one could stand her current state, even she was disgusted with herself.

All of this was caused by Pei Shu’er!

If it weren’t for Pei Shu’er, she wouldn’t have fallen to today’s plight; she was still the daughter of the Tang Family’s main house, Tang Qingrou!

Not the military camp’s default prostitute.

Commander Qian said, "Tang Qingrou, you take people to the Deserted Mountain to get the method to increase the yield per acre."

Tang Qingrou softly reminded, "Commander, there’s also the house that Pei Shu’er promised you."

Commander Qian’s eyes lit up. Pei Shu’er was so good at building the wall; his house must be built quickly. Whether he lived in it or not, it was his private property.

Commander Qian said, "Yes, and the house."

Tang Qingrou replied softly, "Yes, Commander."

The next morning, Tang Qingrou set out with the soldiers.

Over twenty soldiers arrived at the Deserted Mountain, witnessing the ongoing construction and were amazed.

This Deserted Mountain was vastly different from the beginning.

The once barren land, devoid of vegetation, had transformed.

Yet now, the Deserted Mountain had such scale and so many people.

They counted, and at least five or six hundred people were there. Where did the Deserted Mountain get so many people?

Tang Qingrou forced a smile; the Deserted Mountain was far better than when she was there.

Tang Qingrou coldly said, "Bring Pei Shu’er out."

Afterward, she sat on a chair in front of the stone house, watching it with jealousy.

Pei Shu’er, awakened by the soldiers, showed no signs of morning grumpiness; her demeanor was soft.

Yinxing yawned as she trailed behind Pei Shu’er.

As Pei Shu’er emerged, Tang Qingrou’s eyes were filled with hatred. She had endured inhumane torture in the third house dungeon these past days.

Now, given this chance, she naturally sought fierce revenge.

She tossed the letter written by Commander Qian at Pei Shu’er.

"Take a good look at the Commander’s orders."

Pei Shu’er didn’t move or glance at the letter but looked at Tang Qingrou with a mocking smile.

This cousin indeed had some skill to have escaped again.

With such abilities, why not do something better instead of repeatedly provoking her?

Tang Qingrou frowned, "Pei Shu’er, do you dare disregard the Commander? How dare you not even look at his letter?"

Pei Shu’er appeared innocent, smiling gently.

"Sister, what are you saying? The one disregarding the Commander’s orders is you."

"If Commander Qian knew you tossed his letter on the ground, I’m afraid you couldn’t escape punishment."

Tang Qingrou, so angry her eyes turned red, said, "Pei Shu’er, you’re slandering me."

Compared to Tang Qingrou’s outburst, Pei Shu’er was calm, smiling at the few soldiers.

"These lords can testify."

Seeing how troublesome Pei Shu’er was, Tang Qingrou could only coldly retrieve the letter and shoved it into Pei Shu’er’s hand.

Pei Shu’er took a while, seeing Tang Qingrou getting angry, before smiling and taking the letter.

The letter demanded the house and the method to increase the yield per acre.

Tang Qingrou wanted to see anger or loss of control from Pei Shu’er, but there was none; Pei Shu’er remained good-natured.

Pei Shu’er smiled, "Look, the largest room in the middle is for Commander Qian. I wonder if he’s satisfied."

Tang Qingrou’s eyes brightened as she saw the cyan brick courtyard, almost as large as a Prince Mansion in the Capital. Many residences would be inside, accommodating many people.

The nearby stone house paled compared to this cyan brick courtyard.

Tang Qingrou was extremely satisfied; if she could live there as the mistress, it couldn’t be better.

Yinxing looked surprised, glancing at Pei Shu’er. This house...wasn’t it supposed to be built for the third house?

Then, Tang Qingrou extended her hand to Pei Shu’er.

"And the method to increase the yield per acre?"

She exuded the air of borrowing someone else’s strength.

But she knew Pei Shu’er had no other choice but to give it to her.

Pei Shu’er nodded and immediately said, "Yinxing, bring me a pen."

Tang Qingrou didn’t expect Pei Shu’er to be so agreeable.

She thought Pei Shu’er would struggle, allowing her the chance to let the soldiers take care of Pei Shu’er.

Make her suffer before she handed over the method.

She didn’t think it would be that simple.

Pei Shu’er wrote in detail about the various crops harvested on the Deserted Mountain.

Tang Qingrou suspected Pei Shu’er of trickery and looked at the others working on the Deserted Mountain.

"Check if this method is genuine."

If she spotted anything deceitful in Pei Shu’er’s words, Pei Shu’er would be done for.

Everyone who looked shook their heads, making Tang Qingrou frown.

Something was off; was Pei Shu’er leaving something out?

Pei Shu’er shook her head, "That’s exactly what I did, and so did the others. I believe those who learned from the Deserted Mountain told you as much."

The ease of obtaining it made Tang Qingrou suspicious.

She had planned to use this opportunity for revenge.

But Pei Shu’er’s actions, her cooperative manner,

made it feel like she was punching cotton.