Chapter 1639: Added
Chapter 1639: Added
Within a few days, Wu Guan and the others were completely swayed by Sun Bai and Sun Qianxin, readily following their orders.
During their journey, as they passed through bustling towns, the group visited brokers to scout for potential talents. Qiao Xuan and Shao Yunduan had limited personnel at their disposal, and Songshi’s experience, along with Qing Yan’s versatility, were insufficient.
By the halfway point of their trip, they had essentially acquired everything they needed. Four new girls named Caihua, Caiyue, Caiming, and Caiyun, aged between 12 and 14, joined the group. Lichun and Lixia took charge of looking after them. Upon reaching their destination, Liqiu and Lixia would serve as Qiao Xuan’s attendants, managing internal and external affairs, while the four girls handled miscellaneous tasks.
Mianmian, having worked as a street vendor from a young age, proved to be intelligent and adept at quick-witted tasks. Qiao Xuan, impressed with her capabilities, decided to mentor her. Mianmian made significant progress in accounting, and Qiao Xuan planned to gradually entrust her with account books and some properties.
Mianmian’s enthusiasm for the job was evident, her eyes lighting up when handling calculations. In this respect, Lixia and Liqiu couldn’t compare. They found accounting challenging, and although Qiao Xuan had tried teaching them before, she eventually gave up.
Two more families, Xia Sanzhao and his wife with a pair of children, and Caiyue’s parents, were added to the group. Qiao Xuan named the four pageboys Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding, around 13 or 14 years old, and assigned them to Songshi.
Sun Bai and Sun Qian aimed to select promising individuals for martial arts training, but they only identified three, all under the age of twelve.
As a result, the entire team nearly doubled in size, requiring three additional carriages.
Fortunately, the remaining journey was not extensive, and in a few days, they would reach their destination.
On a particular day, Qiao Xuan’s secret could no longer be concealed—she was pregnant, nearly three months along. She had kept this information from Shao Yunduan, fearing that if he knew, he would hesitate to leave the capital.
Despite initial worries, Qiao Xuan found solace in the belief that her superpower would safeguard her child.
When Shao Yunduan heard the news, he was stunned. His immediate concern was for Qiao Xuan’s well-being, anxiously holding her hands and attentively inquiring about her health, fatigue, and cravings.
Amused, Qiao Xuan laughed, instructing him to treat her as he always had.
Shao Yunduan, however, couldn’t fathom it being the same and grew increasingly worried. He suggested having Ah-Ye and Sun Bai stay with her or proposed returning to their house.
He believed her life would be better and happier in Shaoding Village. Her mother and sister-in-law would be overjoyed at the news, and the extended family could assist in taking care of her. Most importantly, it would be much safer at home.
Yet, Qiao Xuan firmly refused. She pressed herself into his arms, declaring that she would only go where he went.
Looking up at him with a gentle smile, she teased, “If I don’t guard you, countless fairies will pounce on you!”