Chapter 49: I don't care about your background.

After fussing for a few minutes, Wang Qinan finally remembered that Chen Xie was still waiting. He led the two men over, and just as they were about to kneel five steps away, Chen Xie, who had been watching his movements, promptly said, "That's enough, no need to kneel. It's getting late, take your brothers back to Zhang Family Village. If you need anything, ask Yu Xun. We'll discuss other matters tomorrow."

Chen Xie rode his horse at the front, walking slowly, while Wang Qinan followed behind, looking somewhat ashamed. As they passed the group of bandits, Chen Xie remained expressionless but felt a growing unease. These men clearly looked like soldiers, likely deserters. Soldiers who didn't fight on the battlefield and instead fled were not the kind Chen Xie liked.

Back at home, Chen Xie didn't waste words, dismounted, and returned to his courtyard. Wang Qinan led ten brothers, following Shuisheng to meet Yu Xun, where they received their bedding and were directed to an unoccupied room in the front courtyard. Wang Qinan spoke in a low voice, "Biaozi, Shanzi, your sisters-in-law's lives were saved by the divine doctor. When I was at my wit's end, I came here, and they didn't even ask what we were about; they just said to save the person first. At that moment, I decided to serve this master."

"Let's talk more later, let's eat first," Wang Qinan's wife, Xie Chunling, arrived, carrying a large basket of steamed buns in one hand and a bucket of bowls and chopsticks in the other. Changsheng followed with two buckets of hot porridge, set them down, smiled, and left.

"You're lucky; the kitchen was steaming large buns for the New Year. The millet porridge is freshly cooked, but it's not very soft because it was rushed. Just make do for this meal," Xie Chunling, who clearly came from a well-educated background, spoke calmly.

After setting down the items, Xie Chunling added, "Brothers, eat first. Master, come out for a moment."

The couple stepped outside, and Xie Chunling, looking at the ashamed Wang Qinan, sighed, "How could you not tell the master the truth? It's only because the master has a kind heart that he didn't hold it against you. Talk to the master clearly tomorrow morning. I'll go back now."

Wang Qinan turned back, and despite being extremely hungry, none of his brothers had started eating. Deeply moved, Wang Qinan said, "Eat first, and after that, I'll take you to see something. You're lucky; the servants' bathhouse was just renovated yesterday."

Compared to the bathhouse in Chen Xie's courtyard and the hospital's dedicated bathhouse, the servants' bathhouse in the front courtyard was much simpler. It had a cement floor without tiles. This wasn't discrimination but rather the engineer, Wen Bajin, who believed servants should be different from the master. A pool was dug in the ground, lined with bricks, and covered with cement, making the job much easier.

The boiler was simple, with a dedicated person watching it. Wang Qinan herded the group to take showers, each using a bar of soap and three loofahs to get clean. After soaking in the hot water, Wang Qinan recounted his story to his brothers.

The brothers had killed the corrupt official and scattered in the forest. He and his sister-in-law encountered three scouts, and after a fierce battle, his sister-in-law was slashed in the leg. They killed the three scouts, took their horses, and fled south. They reached Lushun Port and boarded a fishing boat, where his sister-in-law developed a fever at sea. Upon arriving in Dengzhou, they didn't dare enter the city and hid for two days. When his sister-in-law was near death, some villagers from Zhang Family Village suggested they try the hospital. When they arrived, he was about to kneel and beg, but a girl named Hongguo looked at his sister-in-law and said, "Save her first." And then...

Everyone was stunned by Wang Qinan's story. His recent experiences could be summed up in one sentence: he had met a benefactor!

Wang Qinan concluded, "Listen up, if you want to eat peacefully in this village, you need to put away your mountain bandit temper. The master has a kind heart, and keeping you here isn't difficult. But if you tarnish the master's reputation, I'll kill you first and then take my own life to atone."

Yu Zhu was on night duty. Before Chen Xie returned, she had been worried about him staying overnight in Dengzhou. If Chen Xie didn't return, it would waste a night. Recently, Yu Zhu had been anxious about how to gain an advantage in the competition for the master's favor. Qingqing, noticing her worried expression, asked her why.

Qingqing had made rapid progress and was now Yu Zhu's assistant and confidante. Yu Zhu confided her concerns to Qingqing, who laughed and said, "Is that what's bothering you? Have you forgotten where I come from?"

With Qingqing as her advisor, the two began to plot. Initially, Qingqing taught Yu Zhu to drug Chen Xie with a concoction called Yin-Yang Powder, which could be bought at Chunxiang Tower. However, this couldn't be overused due to severe side effects. Yu Zhu firmly rejected the idea, not because she was worried about Chen Xie's health, but because she feared he would be angry and distance himself if he found out.

"There's no need. The master is in good health. He'll definitely... at night," Yu Zhu said honestly. Qingqing, realizing Yu Zhu was worried about getting pregnant, which could be dangerous at her young age, quickly came up with a solution.

"Listen to me, do this...," Qingqing whispered. Yu Zhu's eyes widened, and she whispered back, "Wouldn't that make me a eunuch?"

Qingqing replied, "You can't think like that. You should think...,"

Chen Xie entered the courtyard, and Yu Zhu was waiting at the door, as always.

"Master, the food is ready. I'll have the kitchen start the fire," Yu Zhu greeted him enthusiastically. After a busy day, Chen Xie ate and drank his fill, then went to take a bath. Strangely, Yu Zhu didn't follow, and Yu Xun didn't appear. Exhausted, Chen Xie lay down on the bed and thought about his military position. It seemed that Zhang Yao's opposition was strong, and there was no resolution yet. This might be due to the political turmoil. In any case, he didn't need to rush.

Just as he was dozing off, the corner of the blanket was lifted, and a cool body slipped in. Chen Xie tried to continue sleeping, but his young and vigorous body, enhanced by time travel, couldn't resist. A few skilled touches, and he couldn't hold back.

"Xixi," Yu Zhu giggled. Chen Xie sighed, opened his eyes, and looked at the small head in his arms, feeling the increasingly skilled hands. He took a deep breath, and Yu Zhu suddenly climbed up, whispering in his ear. Chen Xie's eyes widened.

Yu Zhu didn't get up early the next morning, proudly lying in bed like a lazy housewife. After becoming a nouveau riche, Chen Xie, even in the Ming Dynasty, refused to lower his living standards. The mattress, down comforter, pillows, and cushions were all transported through time. Snuggling in the warm bed, Yu Zhu stared blankly, sucking her finger.

The two ounces of fragrant oil she had prepared the night before weren't used. The divine doctor had better private stock, a kind of essential oil (a gift from a cosmetics promotion that she hadn't thrown away). Despite thorough preparation, the real thing still hurt. As long as the master liked it, Yu Zhu gritted her teeth and endured it, eventually experiencing an indescribable pleasure.

The sunlight shone on the bed, and Yu Zhu couldn't stay in bed any longer. In the past, a scolding or a beating would have been the least of her worries. After tidying up, she walked a bit awkwardly and sneaked into Qingqing's room.

"Six inches, that would make him a donkey!" Qingqing exclaimed, quickly covering her mouth. She looked at Yu Zhu enviously and said, "You're a lucky girl. You'll see."

Eleven Ming Dynasty people, wearing military coats, standing in a row, looked quite comical. During the day, Chen Xie had the time to carefully observe these Ming Dynasty people. They were all well-built, with the shortest being around 1.7 meters tall, and one was as tall as Chen Xie. This was an uncommon height in the Ming Dynasty.

Wang Qinan was a bit better, but the other ten were quite nervous. After spending the night, they had grown to like this place. The food was excellent, with large steamed buns and millet porridge available. The clothes were the best they had ever worn, with undergarments (thermal underwear) and thick outerwear, which looked a bit strange. Finally, they put on a cotton coat, feeling warmer than ever. They also had light, comfortable shoes and socks. In their entire lives, no one, not even their parents, had treated them so well in terms of food and clothing.

What they feared most was Chen Xie smiling and bringing out a tray of silver, saying, "Brave men, a small token from our village, to help you on your way."

Chen Xie walked in front of the group, then back, and finally stopped in front of Wang Qinan. "Wang Qinan, where's the belt? I remember bringing over ten thousand."

Wang Qinan's face lit up, and he smiled obsequiously, "Master, you haven't given the nod yet. Whether they stay or not, I didn't dare decide."

Chen Xie smiled and kicked Wang Qinan, who tumbled and rolled three times. As the brothers looked on in shock, Xie Chunling, who had entered the courtyard with a basin of clothes, saw clearly and smiled, walking to Chen Xie and saying, "Servant greets the master!" She then held out a wet belt, freshly washed, and knelt, raising it above her head.

Chen Xie was puzzled, not thinking she was trying to harm him.

"Master, Wang Qinan didn't tell you the truth. Use this to beat him and vent your anger!" Xie Chunling's words made Chen Xie want to give her a thumbs up. She was truly a smart and meticulous woman.

"Get up!" Chen Xie didn't touch her, respecting the boundaries between men and women. He turned to the kneeling Wang Qinan, his gaze stern and cold, and said, "Your background and your brothers' backgrounds are not important to me. What's important, your wife understands better. You must have done good deeds in your past life to have such a good wife."

He then walked to Biaozi and the others, seeing the不服气 (discontent) in their eyes, and smiled kindly, "Not convinced, huh?" Biaozi nodded and then shook his head. Chen Xie suddenly drew his pistol and fired eight shots at a wooden post in the courtyard. The smoke hadn't cleared when he put the gun away.

Turning back, his cold gaze swept over them like a Siberian wind, and the ten men, who had just stood up, knelt again.