Flowers in full bloom

Chapter 700 Seeking to See Bai Liyun

Hualei nodded. Indeed, if the thresher was not ready in time, the worst that could happen was that it would have to wait until next season. However, as for the waterwheel, it was more urgent. In case of drought, the sooner the waterwheel was made, the better. The more the better.

"Then, Pei Tongzhi, I will write a visiting card first and have the guards send it to Changxing Prefecture as soon as possible. We will bring samples of water wheels and threshers as well as production drawings, and then rush there. This will save time." Hua Lei picked up the brush beside her and prepared to write the visiting card.

"But, what if you write a visiting card but General Bai is too busy to see you? Wouldn't it be a wasted trip for us to go there?" Rong Jin was a little reluctant to go to the Western Xinjiang military camp.

He didn't want Hua Meimei to see him again, nor did he want him to see Hua Meimei, even though he knew clearly that Hua Meimei would never have anything to do with him.

"It doesn't matter. If General Bai really doesn't have time to see me, then I won't go to the military camp. I'll just go to patrol Changxing Prefecture. Anyway, I'll go there sooner or later." Hua Lei said unaffected.

Rong Jin thought about it and realized that it was indeed the case. He was overthinking. Hua Meimei might not have thought about other aspects at all. Looking at Hua Lei who was writing the visiting card seriously, Rong Jin couldn't help but laugh at himself. He was too obsessed with appearances and too narrow-minded.

Wan Tongpan looked at the side and thought, well, he would be alone in the government office again. However, he really admired Hua Lei. From the outside, he thought she would be a delicate young lady, but unexpectedly, she was so decisive in doing things.

Hua Lei quickly wrote the visiting card and asked the guards to send it out at full speed. The next thing she did was to arrange Wan Tongpan's affairs in the government office.

The waterwheel and threshing machine in the workshop must be watched carefully and no slacking is allowed. The digging of wells and dredging of ditches outside must also not be neglected. If drought occurs again this year, these two things will be the top priority.

Also, the corn in the official fields of the prefecture should be taken care of. It will be harvested soon. Don't take it lightly. The large-scale promotion of planting in the prefecture next year depends on these corns.

After arranging the affairs in the government office, Hualei arranged the affairs of Jinnian and Jinshi. She carefully explained the matters that the two brothers needed to pay attention to to the maids and women around her.

In order to make up for her guilt about leaving, Hualei made the brothers their favorite fried chicken popcorn and cold drinks to cheer them up. She also patiently explained to the brothers why she was leaving and when she would be back.

Two-year-old Jinshi had only a vague understanding of the meaning of flower buds, so he jumped for joy unconsciously when tempted by the delicious food.

However, five-year-old Jinnian could no longer be coaxed by delicious food. When he heard that Hualei would be away from him for such a long time again, he was not happy. He pursed his lips, hugged Hualei's neck tightly, and couldn't stop crying.

However, Jinnian also knew that even if she was unwilling, Hualei would leave. Since arriving in Xichang, Hualei often went to the state capital below. It was common for her to not go home for several days, and it was common for her to leave early and return late every day.

Fortunately, Jinnian was sensible, and although he was reluctant to leave Hualei, he could still listen to Hualei's explanation. So he hugged Hualei's neck, cried for a while, and then fell asleep.

Hua Lei felt extremely guilty holding Jin Nian, who had cried himself to sleep. She carefully cleaned Jin Nian's tear-stained face and laid him on her bed.

Ever since Hualei became pregnant with Jinshishi, Jinnian had been sleeping in a separate bed. After arriving in Xichang, they slept in separate rooms. Although there were wet nurses and maids watching over her, Hualei did have less and less time to take care of her.

When she went to the government office in the morning, the children were still asleep in the next room. When she came back in the evening, the children were already asleep. Sometimes, for seven or eight days in a row, the three of them could not say a word.

All I can do is give my sleeping child a kiss on the face and hug him every time I come back, to comfort my heart as a mother.

Looking at Jinnian sleeping in the middle of the bed, Rong Jin sighed softly in his heart. Changing his previous "disdain", he covered the child with a small blanket, hugged the child, and the family of three went to sleep.

Jin Shi was lying unconscious in the cradle beside him, drooling in his sleep.

The next day, after saying goodbye to the sleeping child, Hua Lei loaded the small waterwheel model and a thresher that were originally placed beside the well onto the carriage. She also carefully prepared some of her own specialties brought from the capital and loaded them onto the carriage.

Then he and Rong Jin mounted their horses and headed straight for the Western Frontier military camp stationed in Changxing Prefecture, ready to pay a visit to Bailiyun.

In the military camp of Changxing Prefecture, the well-informed Liao Xiaoqiang hurried into the barracks with his toiletries.

"Has everyone heard the news? I heard that Lord Hua will come to the military camp to pay a visit to General Bai in these two days." Liao Xiaoqiang said excitedly in a low voice.

Bai Yunhe, who was leaning against the head of the bed, sat up straight and said in disbelief, "Isn't it possible? She... no, Hua Xiao... How could Master Hua come to the military camp?"

"Unbelievable, right? I don't believe it either. However, I heard from Deputy Bai who is beside the general that General Bai specifically asked him to adjust his schedule for the next few days and free up some time. He wants to meet Lord Hua." Liao Xiaoqiang sat on his bed and said as he took off his shoes.

"Oh, by the way, Captain Bai, aren't you General Bai's distant nephew? Don't you know about this?" Liao Xiaoqiang asked Bai Yunhe.

In the military camp, few people knew that Bai Yunhe was Bai Liyun's son. Bai Yunhe shook his head, wondering how his father could possibly tell him such things.

"What does Master Hua... want to see the general for?" Bai Yunhe asked doubtfully. He couldn't figure out why Hua Lei wanted to see her father.

"I don't know about that. I heard that the general received the visiting card yesterday morning and instructed Deputy Bai to adjust his schedule. As for what Lord Hua wanted to see the general about, I don't know." Liao Xiaoqiang said.

"I heard from Fu Xiaoji who just came back from patrol a few days ago that in order to prevent the possible drought, Lord Hua has been digging ponds and wells in Changwu and Changtong.

Is it because you don't have enough manpower? Do you want to ask the general to help you dispatch people to help dig ponds and wells?" Yan Shanlin, who was leaning against the head of the bed on the other side, interrupted.

"No way. We rarely interfere in local affairs..." Bai Yunhe hesitated, "Besides, she has even mobilized the Anbang soldiers, so she shouldn't be short of manpower."

"That's right, there should be no shortage of manpower. Hey, tell me, how did Lord Hua mobilize the Anbang soldiers? I heard that the previous prefects all wanted the Anbang soldiers to help, but it seems that they failed to ask Bao Qianhu for help?" Yan Shanlin asked curiously.