In the middle of April, the heat of the sun at noon was already very high, and Qin Li and Shen Hu escorted the horses to Anyang City, both people and horses were covered with a layer of sweat, Qiu Chen's fair cheeks were dyed with a layer of red, her hair was wet with sweat, and she was clinging to her sideburns, but at this time she didn't care about this, and she didn't even enter Anyang City, so she went straight to beat the horse and bypassed Anyang City, and went straight to the soap-making workshop in the east of the city.

After crossing the Luo River, I saw from a distance the periphery of the houses around the workshop, and the tree stumps were generally nailed to many soldiers standing with swords. The streets and alleys that used to be very lively in and out of the surrounding area are also empty, as if they have suddenly become a dead place that has lost its vitality. This appearance reminded Qiu Chen of the previous water bandit incident, at that time, there were no surrounding dwellings, but this Xiao Kill and Cold, and these soldiers on duty were so the same.

Qiu Chen was so anxious and worried that he forgot to control the horse, and when he approached the checkpoint, Qiu Chen drove the horse but still rushed forward. Qin Li drove the horse to catch up, leaned over on the horse's back, grabbed the reins of the rouge horse, and with a force of both arms, the rouge horse twisted the horse's head, and rushed forward for more than a dozen steps, and then stopped rhythmically.

At the same time that Qin Li reached out to pull the reins of the rouge horse, Shen Hu reached out to protect Qiu Chen on the other side, in case the horse moved and threw Qiu Chen off the horse. Fortunately, Qiu Chen's riding skills are also very proficient, when Qin Li pulled the reins of the horse, she also came to her senses, and leaned over to hug the horse's neck before her brain.

When the horse snorted and gasped to stop, Qiu Chen slowly let go of his arm with some fear, and slowly straightened up with the slightly trembling horse's neck.

Qin Li and Shen Hu had already jumped off the horse, one person on one side, Qin Li held the reins of the horse, and Shen Hu hugged the rouge who shook his head, and said in unison: "Madam, the workshop has arrived!" ”

Qiu Chen took two deep breaths before calming his beating heart slightly, holding the saddle with his hand, stepping on the stirrups and dismounting his legs. As soon as his legs hit the ground, his knees were weak and he almost knelt down, but fortunately he was prepared for it, and his hand held the saddle and did not let go, so as to avoid falling.

Standing firm, Qiu Chen didn't let go of his hand immediately, he held on to the saddle and eased his strength, then let go and stood still, raised his sleeve and wiped the sweat from his forehead and sideburns, instructed Qin Li and Shen Hu, and walked straight to the soldiers on duty over there.

There was still a distance of about ten paces, and among the soldiers on duty there, a man who looked like a small officer in leather armor stepped forward, held the handle of the knife at his waist, and shouted loudly: "I am ordered to block the heavy place of the thieves, and you must not come closer, otherwise you will be punished as harboring criminals!" ”

Qiu Chen paused, raised a smile, arched his hand, and said softly: "This military master, Xiao Ke is close to the Hu family, and there are two brothers working here...... Please also ask the military master to make it convenient for me to meet the two brothers...... We are all honest and responsible pawns, but we don't know what a nest of thieves and thieves is......"

While speaking, Qiu Chen looked at the officer opposite, saw that he seemed to move, and took a few steps forward, Qiu Chen also hurriedly took a few steps forward, the two stopped at the same time two steps apart, Qiu Chen took a bowing action, and stuffed a small silver coin weighing five taels in his sleeve very smoothly.

The little officer with a beard full of flesh and beard only felt that his palms sank, and what made him feel strange was the soft and delicate instant contact of his fingertips, which made him feel a little numb, he was stunned for a while, and then came back to his senses, and then looked at the little offspring in front of him, he was really handsome like a person on the painting, and his hand naturally put the silver bill into his arms, hehe smiled, and said with a big grin: "Little brother's skin is thin enough, if you don't look at people, you think it's a girl!" ”

As soon as he said this, Qiu Chen was still fine, Shen Hu was already angry, shook off the reins in his hand, and was about to rush forward.

Grandma drops, this rammer really dares, and he actually dares to tease their wife...... Hum!

Qin Li is also angry, but after all, he is much calmer than Shen Hu, if he rushes up like this at this time, not to mention the bad things about his wife, just the two of them, the other party is dozens or hundreds of people, they can't beat the word 'escape', if they can't protect Mrs. and let Mrs. have any mistakes, they don't have to live, just carry their heads to see Hou Ye! The point is, they can't afford to lose that job!

Qiu Chen couldn't have imagined that Qin Li and Shen Hu would be angry in the future, but at this time, she was still counting on something from the mouth of this little officer, so naturally she couldn't be reckless. Besides, some of the brothers and colleagues joked back then, and some of them were more serious than this...... What's more, at this time, although this little officer is more arrogant, he just regards her as a handsome little offspring, if he knew that she was a woman, he probably wouldn't be so frivolous.

He waved one hand behind his back and signaled to Qin Li Shen Hu, and at the same time, Qiu Chen straightened his expression and said, "People can't look good, the military master's words are bad!" ”

The military man probably didn't expect that this handsome little young student who obviously wanted to ask for himself would dare to contradict himself, so he first shook his head for a moment, and then Ha Lu Ha Da Lu smiled and said: "Ha Lu Ha, good, good, like a man!" ”

After speaking, he raised his hand and slapped Qiu Chen's shoulder, so heavy force almost smashed Qiu Chen's shoulder blades, although Qiu Chen gritted his teeth and stiffened up, but the stumbling and crooked body under his feet still pleased the other party, causing the little officer to laugh again.

"Ha Luha, it's important to have backbone, but the little brother's small body is useless, if you want to be a man who stands up to the sky, the little brother has to work hard to get it! is so weak and can't help it, the little brother is too delicate, but it's no wonder that the brother said the wrong thing! ”

Qiu Chen inhaled the cold air, endured the pain in his shoulder, and once again turned his back to stop Shen Hu, who was on the verge of going berserk, and Qin Li, who was holding back his anger, and laughed forcefully: "This military master ......"

"Hey, what's the name of the military master, let's call the eldest brother!" The little officer was very refreshing, probably also looked at Qiu Chen's eyes, waved his hand happily, and the big fan-like hand was about to fall on Qiu Chen's shoulder again, where did Qiu Chen dare to let him slap it, and dodged it on one side, making the little officer's hand fall into the air, and he couldn't help but laugh again.

Qiu Chen laughed and arched his hand: "Big brother, your hand is too heavy, slap it twice, and my body will be scattered by you!" ”

The little officer didn't move anymore when he saw Qiu Chen's pitiful appearance, he simply put his hands behind his back, and turned the topic back and said, "Just now, the little brother said that there was a brother inside...... Well, it's not like my big brother can't let you go in and have a look...... It's just that you have to go in as soon as possible and find your brother to take a look......"

Qiu Chen said, "Can you bring my brother home?" They are really honest dealers...... I came here to earn money to support my family, and as for the rest, where do I know about that......"

The little officer frowned, shook his head in embarrassment but refused without hesitation: "In this matter, it's not my brother who can help you......

Speaking of this, the little officer took Qiu Chen's arm and walked a few steps to the side, leaving those soldiers for a distance, and said in a low voice: "Brother will tell you the truth, your brother is not a big deal inside, and when the matter is clarified, it will naturally be lifted...... You go in and say a few words, comfort and comfort your brothers......"

Speaking of this, the little officer raised his head and skimmed the three healthy horses and the two sturdy men Qin Li and Shen Hu not far away, frowned and said, "I said little brother, you have come so far away, why don't you even know how to eat?" Although no one is embarrassed by the people inside, they are just guarding it, and they are not allowed to communicate with each other, and the people inside are probably hungry......"

As soon as Qiu Chen heard this, he quickly calculated the number of grain stocks he had seen in the account book, and after thinking about it, he was relieved.

The grain in the workshop is a customized purchase plan in the middle of the month, and the next month's grain will be sent over at the end of the month, and now it has just entered the middle of the month, if there is no accident, there should be twenty days of food in the workshop...... These things alone were enough to sustain the workers until April...... Of course, things like vegetables and meat can't be so thoughtful at this time.

Although he thought so in his heart, the other party was also kind enough to remind him, and Qiu Chen naturally thanked him: "Thank you big brother for reminding me, my brother has little experience, I really didn't expect this ......"

The little officer was thanked, happy in his heart, shook his head smugly, stood to the side, pointed inside, and said: "You go in, give you half an hour, remember to go in and out quickly!" ”

Qiu Chen thanked him, and then pointed at Qin Li and Shen Hu...... The little officer shook his head very resolutely this time: "They can't do it, you can go in and take a look for yourself, and when you see your brother talking, come out quickly!" ”

Qiu Chen saw that his expression was serious and serious, and there was nothing to shake, so he didn't say anything more, thanked him again, and walked over to say hello to Qin Li and Shen Hu, and then hurriedly crossed the blockade line and walked straight into the closed workshop.

When Qiu Chen walked into the street and couldn't see it, Qin Li handed over the three horses to Shen Hu to take care of, and walked towards the little officer with a smile.

After learning the lesson of the water bandits, Qiu Chen discussed with Yun Jichen and Liao Wenqing, and allowed the families of the workers in the workshop to move here to settle down. After more than a year of development, a family village has been formed around the original lonely workshop.

When the family village was first set up, it was to form an arch around the workshop, and the houses and courtyards were planned and built in a unified manner, and they were leased to the family members to live in. Two rows of shops were built opposite each other along the street, rented to people with business experience in their families, and opened small rice sheds, small tea stalls, and two sewing shops, and then grocery shops that could not be separated from anywhere...... Relying on the hundreds of workers in the workshop, as well as the workers who transported raw materials and soap, the coachman and so on, the business of these small shops was not bad, and they could earn a hundred and eighty yuan a day, and the family could save a little savings after chewing grain.

Just when more and more people were looking red and preparing to move over, the workshop was blocked by officers and soldiers, saying that the workshop was harboring fugitives, and all old and young were closed and not allowed to go out.

Qiu Chen walked all the way, looking at the streets that seemed to have been deserted and cold overnight, and saw that the originally lively shops were all on the door panels...... If there is anything else that makes her happy, it is that the streets are still neat, and the shops are only closed, and there is no trace of burning.

Seeing the situation on the street, although I felt uncomfortable and indignant, I was finally secretly relieved. Qiu Chen didn't care much about what was going on the street, and hurriedly walked into the front of the workshop.

The door of the workshop was closed, Qiu Chen came to the door, raised his hand and patted the copper ring on the door, after a while, the door opened from the inside, and the two guards hired from the workshop were stunned when they saw Qiu Chen, and when they recognized it, they showed a happy face, stepped forward to salute, and welcomed Qiu Chen into the door.

After asking about the situation, Qiu Chen had already understood the basic situation. The main thing is to get to know the two people who were taken by the soldiers...... The two people were the first to enter the workshop, and the background and family background and even conduct are absolutely fine, the problem is that these two people are now reused in the workshop, one is the manager of the soap-making process, and the other is the supervisor of the soap-making warehouse.

As soon as the identities of these two people were approved, Qiu Chen immediately understood why he had arrested these two people as 'fugitives'.

Qiu Chen's eyes glanced around the people who came over, but he didn't see Liu Zhanxiang's figure.

After asking, I learned that when the accident happened yesterday, Liu Zhanxiang happened to follow Xu Qianzhi to the dock to pick up the spices that had just been shipped, and he was not in the workshop. If not, I'm afraid that the first person to become a 'fugitive' will be him.

Qiu Chen walked around the workshop, looked at the grain in stock, and comforted the workers in the workshop, so that they could wait with peace of mind, watching the mood of the workers after seeing her, obviously settled down a lot, Qiu Chen was a little relieved, and asked a few stewards in the workshop to go to the village to find out, to see if each family has grain, and if there is no food, help to even, don't worry about the workshop, she will find a way to send ingredients here again after she goes back. After understanding the situation, reading them one by one, and instructing them carefully, I came out of the workshop.

As soon as he walked out of the workshop, Qiu Chen saw Qin Li and Shen Hu leading their horses and waiting outside the workshop. Qiu Chen showed a hint of surprise, and Qin Li smiled and whispered, "That general flag is from the Northland......"

Qiu Chen's heart suddenly dawned, glanced at Qin Li, nodded and took the reins of the horse and put it on the horse, circled the horse's head and said goodbye to the workers who poured out of the workshop, and turned to leave.

On the way, Qin Li said a little more, they had already greeted the general banner, and the workers here would no longer be in any danger. Qiu Chen can also be regarded as putting aside the matter here for the time being.

After leaving the workshop, he saw the rugged general flag again, his attitude was very different from before, he came over to greet him with an embarrassed expression, and took the initiative to return the small silver ingot in his arms to Qiu Chen. "The little ones have eyes and don't know each other...... Mr. Qiu, I hope Mr. Qiu will not blame the previous faux pas! ”

Qiu Chen smiled and gave a handful, and did not take the silver ingot of five taels, but reached out and took out a palm-sized purse from his sleeve pocket and added it to the hand of the general flag: "Although it is late spring at this time, it is still quite cold at night, and the brothers are also guilty of waiting here, so take this little silver to buy some water and wine, and dispel the cold for everyone!" ”

Zongqi couldn't believe it, and subconsciously turned his head to look at Qin Li in a daze, Qin Li said: "Since Mr. bought wine for the brothers, you can accept it!" ”

As soon as the purse was put into his hand, the general flag felt that the palm of his hand fell, and he estimated that the silver in it would get more than ten or twenty taels, and he had already been itchy, hearing Qin Li say this, where was he not happy, and the face of the black pot bottom suddenly bloomed with a cloud of surprise, and he knelt on one knee neatly, and thanked him happily, then he got up, shook the purse in his hand to the soldiers behind him, and said loudly: "Mr. Qiu rewarded everyone with wine money, and he will go to drink after a while!" ”

If it weren't for the festival, the soldiers didn't drink alcohol at all on weekdays, but now they unexpectedly had a meal of wine, and they couldn't help cheering in a mess.

Leaving the workshop, it was already the beginning of the unitary period, and Qiu Chen took Qin Li and Shen Hu back to the city.

Back home, Chen, Qingxing, and Yuegui had already arrived in a carriage. Several people worked together, prepared hot water, let Qiu Chen wash up, change clothes, and the Shunzi family brought food up, Qiu Chen ate a few bites, and the word came outside, Xu Qianzhi and Liu Zhanxiang both came.

Qiu Chen hurriedly drank two sips of soup, swallowed the food in his mouth, and then took Chen and Qingxing to the front yard.

Xu Qianzhi and Liu Zhanxiang's faces were a little haggard, and when they saw Qiu Chen coming in with someone, they hurriedly got up to greet them.

After saluting, Qiu Chen beckoned the two to sit down, and Xu Qianzhi said: "Yang Shuren, my second master went to Zhengding overnight, and the third young master of the Liao family has come out to look at the matter...... This time the incident was not done by the officials of Anyang, it was done by the new commander Xu Xiu who received the warrant from the King of Qi, but Xu Xiu also kept his hand, and the two people who were taken away from the workshop were not handed over, but were locked up in the barracks outside the city...... The second master and the third master Liao went to see Xu Yanshi, although Xu Yanshi's attitude was cold, but he also made it clear that the 'fugitives' arrested this time, they had to be interrogated first, and the party who determined their identities would have further action, and they would not hand over people to anyone casually before they were interrogated. ”

Hearing this, Qiu Chen finally put his mind at ease. The two workers who were taken away were the lucky survivors of the bandits, and they were diligent and intelligent, and after being appointed as stewards, they also did very well. With that promise of a thing, it can at least guarantee that these two people will not be given to Yang Jingyu, the king of Qi, for the time being...... Then they will have more room to maneuver.

Qiu Chen asked some more information, Xu Qianzhi said goodbye and left, and Liu Zhanxiang stayed in the Lin family.

“…… Mrs., "In order to avoid anyone saying anything in the workshop, after Liu Zhanxiang entered the workshop, he has been calling Qiu Chen with the workers, and now he is sitting at home, and if he calls him like this, Liu Zhanxiang feels a little awkward.

In his eyes, the woman in front of him was still dressed simply, and her dress was light, almost unchanged from when Liu Jiaao was in charge, which made him look kind and wanted to call him 'sister-in-law', but he was used to it, and he still opened his mouth to call him a formulaic title.

Qiu Chen smiled and waved his hand, poured a cup of tea and handed it to Liu Zhanxiang, and said with a smile: "That's the name outside, at this time, in my own home, I still call my sister-in-law the same as before!" ”

Liu Zhanxiang tugged at the corners of his mouth, a relaxed smile appeared on his obviously sleep-deprived face, nodded again and again, took a sip of the tea in his hand, and Qiu Chen poured him full again. Liu Zhanxiang held it in his hand, and then said: "Sister-in-law, don't worry, the two people who were taken away were just watching the soap making and delivering the goods as ordered...... Won't say anything. ”

Qiu Chen looked at Liu Zhanxiang and sighed: "I wasn't afraid of what they said from the beginning, what I was afraid of was that I took such a lot of trouble to arrest them, if I couldn't say anything, maybe there would be some danger......"

Liu Zhanxiang was obviously surprised, he didn't react for a while, and was stunned for a moment before he came back to his senses.

People are here for soap-making recipes, if those two people really know the soap-making recipe and say it, they naturally have to bring people out. If you do it honestly, maybe you can work in a different place, and there will be no danger. But if you don't know anything about it, and you don't use it at all, then maybe you will be killed and killed...... According to the fugitives who were caught, even if they died, no one could say a word of justice for them, let alone find justice for them!

Qiu Chen watched Liu Zhanxiang come back to his senses, smiled, and changed the subject: "You probably haven't eaten since yesterday, right?" I've come here at this time, and I've been to the workshop to see it, except for the two people who took it away from the workshop, everyone else is fine, you don't have to worry too much, go down to wash and eat something to sleep well. ”

Liu Zhanxiang responded, and was about to get up, but he stopped again, and said to Qiu Chen: "Sister-in-law, we still have a lot of good materials in our workshop......

Liu Zhanxiang and Brother Quan's job now is to be in charge of the ingredients, and then hand over the prepared ingredients to the soap-making process. If these well-mixed ingredients are made into a soap soap base, the shape and color will change, and it will not be seen by others. If it is still a raw material, it is possible to distinguish the type of raw material, and the approximate amount can be estimated according to the color of the ingredient of the raw material......

Qiu Chen patiently listened to Liu Zhanxiang's words, but smiled helplessly: "Our family's soap-making recipe has been sold in the south several copies, if someone wants to take the silver directly...... Come, where will I hold my hands...... It's okay now, such a simple thing has actually come to this point...... I just hope that it doesn't hurt people, and the rest, it's not a big deal. ”

Liu Zhanxiang looked at Qiu Chen in a daze and said with a smile, he had to be moved by these heart-warming words.

Although he came from the same village as the Lin family, he still had the consciousness of the owner and the worker. In his heart, since Qiu Chen asked him and Brother Quan to sign a deed of soap because he wanted to teach him and Brother Quan'er a soap-making recipe, he must have been particularly concerned about this soap-making recipe. Besides, the owner's protection of his property is the first priority, when does he care about the life or death of one or two workers?

But Qiu Chen did it, if he hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't even say a word. What she cares about is human life, including the Lin family and all the workers, even if she is asked to exchange what she depends on for her life.

------Off topic------

Happy Dragon Boat Festival!

Other...... A certain Su didn't have the face to say anything......