Because inns and taverns needed staff, many merchants recruited talent locally, sparking a new source of livelihood for the villages near Yanghe Town.
Yet that extremely annoying Fancy Red Pavilion fell into a deep silence. The group of men in black seemed as if they had never been to Mianyang, maintaining a low profile to the extreme. Their silence was so pronounced that Yang Chuxia began to doubt whether they were actually a cohesive group.
What was more, amusingly, it had paid its taxes in advance. The establishment hadnāt even been open for half a year, yet it had voluntarily sent silver to the county office for taxes, which was both laughable and baffling.
However, it was good that they were not causing any trouble, at least it allowed people to focus on other matters.
In Ye Ziāanās plan, there were still two agenda for Mianyang: one was constructing the official road, and the other was raising living standards in Mianyang County.
The first task was manageable. Come September, Ye Ziāan had people purchase gravel and such to get started, using the same group as before. Some of those convicts had actually served their sentences, but were reluctant to leave. As for the beggars, they had nowhere to go; by working they earned silver, so they waited to finish the job and the government to arrange for them to become permanent residents of Mianyang.
As for the second task, it wasnāt something that could be changed overnight; it had to be approached gradually.
Luckily, this yearās autumn harvest was good. The people of Mianyang grew rice, and those who planted late rice to miss the rainy season were not affected by the rains, producing a bumper crop of plump rice.
When it came time to submit the taxes, none of the events of the previous year occurred; all the villages duly turned in their share.
Come December, the Capital City delivered New Yearās gifts. As usual, there were two portions from the Mu Family, one for Mu Shaoling and another for Mu Shaofeng, plus gifts from Old Mu and Baili Yan.
Another surprise was that Luo Linhao, stationed far away with the military, also sent gifts and a letter.
Yang Chuxia examined the items sentālocal specialties, mostly for daughters-in-law, sisters, and nephews.
This lad even boasted that he was doing well in the military, having now become a colonel. Considering his age, he was indeed a young general.
By mid-December, Yangshu Villageās New Year goods had arrived, with contributions from both the Ye Family and several branches of the Yang Family.
What surprised Yang Chuxia was that her little brother, Yang Qingtong, had actually followed the delivery to Mianyang.
"How did you get here?" The siblings hadnāt seen each other for a year or two and were very excited at the reunion.
With tears in her eyes, Yang Chuxia hugged her brother who had grown half a head taller than herself.
"Sis, I came to see you and brother-in-law and my little nephew." Seeing his usually formidable sister crying, he was slightly at a loss. After a moment of hesitation, he awkwardly said, "Sis, I won a lot of fistfights with our brother to get permission to see you. Arenāt you happy to see little me? No need to cry, right?"
"Nonsense, Iām just happy," she said, quickly ushering her brother into the yard. "Come in quickly. Your brother-in-law doesnāt know youāre here; heās still in the office. Iāll have someone call him."
"Bro!" While the siblings were talking, Yang Xiayun came running from afar. When she got close, she gave Yang Qingtong a big bear hug, "Little brother, I missed you so much."
"Ouch!" Yang Qingtong pretended to be displeased as he was embraced by her, "You little brat, if you missed me, why didnāt you come home to visit? You dare to say you missed me. Every time sister sends a letter home, why didnāt I see you include one to send back?"