Chapter 45

At the inn, a rich scent of meat filled the air, pervasive and insistent, burrowing straight into your nose.
“Dinner's served.”
Members of the Mu household surged forward with bowls in hand, eyes shining with excitement, tray after tray of steaming braised pork smelled irresistible.
With so many people pressing close, Mu Wanqing frowned. “Line up, line up, no pushing. Men over there, women and children over here. No queue, no food.”
They kept order before serving, splitting into two groups; everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.
Madam Qian ladled out the rice while Mu Wanqing served the meat. With a casual scoop she placed braised pork with preserved vegetables atop the rice, equal portions for everyone; there was no favoritism.
A bite of rice, a bite of braised pork; every face bloomed with contentment. The pork was tender and sticky, one mouthful and it felt as if your soul would soar away on the aroma.
“This is so delicious. I wish every day could be like this.”
“What are you dreaming of? This meat and rice must be expensive.”
“How do they make this braised pork? It's unbelievably good.”
“It must be the Third Miss's secret recipe. How does she know so much?”
“I heard she loves to read; books hold a treasure trove.”
Everyone ate with grease on their lips, and their admiration for Mu Wanqing shot up. To be able to procure so much meat at once spoke of considerable influence.
Mu Rongxue quietly lifted a large bowl piled with food and slipped away. Mu Wanqing glanced over coolly and said nothing.
Once the food was in her hands, whether she ate it or gave it to someone else was her business.
A little girl tottered over and threw herself at Mu Wanqing's legs, drooling with longing.
Mu Wanqing looked down; the child was unfamiliar. “Little one, whose child are you? What's your name?”
The girl looked ravenous. “My name is Fang Yuting. Pretty sister, I want meat.”
From the Fang family? Mu Wanqing stroked the child's head and smiled faintly. “You snuck out, didn't you?”
This side was full of Mu supporters; those who didn’t back her were locked indoors. The Fang family had also stayed inside and did not show themselves.
The little girl blinked. “How did you know?”
Mu Wanqing took a bowl, filled it with rice, added half a scoop of braised pork, ladled on some gravy, then handed the bowl to the girl. “Here, take it back and eat.”
The girl's eyes shone with joy. “Thank you, pretty sister; you're so kind.”
She scampered off clutching the bowl; Mu Wanqing watched her go, a small, strange smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
Everyone ate their fill, clutching their stuffed bellies with a special satisfaction.
This is what life should be.
A clansman spoke up cautiously. “Third Miss, no, Clan Leader, when will the supplies be distributed? My mother's and my clothes are in tatters.”
His name was Mu Ji. He was young; he lived with only a widowed mother and life was hard for them.
Another clan member cast him a look. “Why are you in such a hurry? There will be supplies; we must trust… the Clan Leader.”
Demanding things so aggressively made it seem like they didn't trust Mu Wanqing, and that wouldn't do.
Mu Wanqing propped her chin on her hand lazily. “There will be meat, and there will be fabric.”
No sooner had she finished than Mu Zicheng came rushing in excitedly. “Sister, the fabric has arrived.”
Fabric was the one thing they lacked the least.
Everyone hurried outside in excitement, and sure enough, several boxes were unloaded from the wagon; opening them revealed neatly stacked bolts of cloth.
Though it was plain coarse linen, it was brand-new and durable.
Mu Wanqing ran her hand over the fabric and looked at the eager people. “Then let's begin. Big brother, you'll be in charge. Sixth uncle and aunt, please come help.”
She meant to train her elder brother; sixth uncle and aunt were experienced and had firmly sided with her this time, effectively becoming her trusted aides.
They readily agreed, and Mu Zicheng couldn't help asking, “Is there fabric for the children too?”
Everyone looked at Mu Wanqing expectantly. She gave a slight nod. “Yes, for all.”
A cheer rose from the crowd. “Third Miss, you're far fairer than Mu Zhongde, you don't play favorites.”
Mu Zhongde was different; those in his favor received more benefits. Ordinary clan members seeking help in times of trouble found him indifferent.
Everyone happily divided the cloth; each person got a share, and the atmosphere was festive.
Mu Wanqing didn't interfere; she simply watched from the side.
Mu Zicheng was a bit clumsy at first and made a few mistakes, but he grew smoother as he went on.
Sixth uncle and aunt coordinated well, so the process moved quickly.
After collecting their cloth, people didn't go back inside but waited quietly. Once the last person had been served, Mu Wanqing stepped forward and cleared her throat. “I have an announcement.”
“Please, do tell,” said the speaker with great respect.
It could be said that these clothing and meals had won Mu Wanqing many hearts. Whether she could sustain that goodwill would depend on her methods.
“Starting tomorrow, all clan members aged seven to under twenty will undergo one hour of training every evening. Both males and females are required to attend.”
People looked a little bewildered. “Ah, training in what?”
Mu Wanqing had already planned it out, she would push both schooling and ideological instruction, and be firm with both.
Only when the clan members can fend for themselves and each has a trade will she, as their leader, have an easier time.
"Mathematics, physics, and chemistry, I'll teach personally. We'll hold exams every ten days: first place gets ten taels of silver, second gets five, third gets one."
The crowd erupted, thrilled. "Ten taels? Are you sure?"
They didn't ask what the subjects were; all they could see was money.
Pay them and they'll do it!
Ten taels, that's a tenth of a carriage!
"Absolutely certain." Mu Wanqing smiled faintly. She would set the course content herself, convenient for slipping in her own agenda.
Put simply, it was to indoctrinate them.
The older generation could be written off, their values were set, their thinking rigid, and changing them would be too difficult.
She simply gave up on that batch and chose the next generation instead: young people with lively minds who were easy to influence.
She believed this approach would be enough to win those young people over.
Once the young became her diehards, how could the elders cause trouble? It would cut the problem off at its root.
Mu Ji grimaced. "Does everyone have to attend? I can only read a few characters."
The Mu clan ran a clan school; schooling was free, but paper and pens had to be provided personally.
The poor couldn't afford that expense.
"Yes. This is a collective activity for the young members of the Mu family, no one can be absent."
Teaching the sciences was only one method: it let her observe each person's strengths and weaknesses and sort them accordingly.
Some liked business, some had a talent for management, some were sensitive to numbers, each would be trained in a different direction.
She wanted more than loyal followers; she wanted people who could help build real capability.
Seeing everyone still talking, Mu Wanqing felt a little tired and led Madam Qian back to their room. "Mother, I brought back lots of gifts, let me pick something for you."
"Your safe return is the best gift." Madam Qian held her daughter's hand tightly. "Still, pick something for Fourth Miss Yu as a token of thanks."
"All right." Mu Wanqing had no objection. Tonight was the Mu family's revelry; Fourth Miss Yu kept away, and her meals were taken in her room.
There were still a whole set of rules, but as long as there remained a trace of goodwill, it was worth Mu Wanqing putting a little extra care into Fourth Miss Yu.
At the doorway someone had been waiting a long time. "Third Miss."
Mu Wanqing waved casually. "Head of the Fang family, you're finally here. I've been waiting for you."
The Fang head's pupils flickered, she'd been waiting for him? "Third Miss is resourceful and exceptionally clever; I, Fang, am in awe..."
Flattery came easily to him, never repeating itself, no wonder he'd spent years in official life.
Mu Wanqing had no patience for such useless talk and cut to the chase. "You sent your little granddaughter to ask for meat, that was a test, wasn't it? I've already given my return favors; some things don't need to be spelled out so clearly."
The return favor was the promise of better provisions for following her. The Fang head had accepted it, which was why he was here.
"You've been watching me all the way and should know how I handle affairs, so don't dance around it. Say what you mean, I'm tired after today."
"I...," the Fang head inhaled deeply, looking anxious. "I've come to submit. This is the Fang family's roster, we only ask to be treated the same as the Mu family."
The roster was his token of submission, but Mu Wanqing didn't take it. The old fox was putting on a convincing act; the nervous expression didn't suit a seasoned official.
"Your Fang clan also has undercurrents stirred up, and you can't fully control them. Why should I bother managing that? Consider this cooperation: let's support each other through this exile. I'll lead, you assist; once we reach Liangcheng we part ways. How does that sound?"
The Fang head couldn't name the feeling. This outcome was what he'd wanted, his preset negotiation bottom line.
He'd expected it to be hard, but he hadn't imagined Mu Wanqing would look down on the Fang family and have no intention of taking them over.
He'd judged a noble by a petty heart and was mistaken. He bowed deeply. "All decisions rest with Third Miss."
Mu Wanqing's eyes flicked; a plan formed. Although she wasn't interested in the Fang family, she could plan ahead for the long term. "The Mu family will open small classes, do any of you want to participate?"
She didn't intend to harm the Fang family, only to cultivate a few loyal people, she was truly short on hands.
The Fang head didn't fully understand what these so-called small classes entailed, but he dared not refuse outright and would go inquire.
"Well... I'll go back and ask. If those in the clan who are interested prepare a list, would that be acceptable?"
Mu Wanqing smiled faintly. "Of course. Entirely voluntary."
Seeing she wasn't forcing anyone, the Fang head secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he'd overthought it, Third Miss really was straightforward.
He wanted to tie himself to the Mu family but not too tightly, afraid of being swallowed up.
Third Miss Mu's methods were too clever; he admitted he couldn't gamble on human nature.
The two of them talked a long time about future cooperation; all actions would follow Mu Wanqing's lead, that was the only rule.
The Fang head still retained authority over the Fang clan.
After all the agreements were reached, the Fang head let out a long breath. Before leaving he couldn't help asking, "By the way, if I hadn't come, what would Third Miss have done?"
Mu Wanqing smiled in her eyes, but her words carried a chill. "Pick one off, elevate another; divide them to neutralize, dominate from every direction."
It wasn't that she wanted to meddle in the Fang family's internal affairs, it was that traveling together required unified management and coordinated action.
To put it simply: the Mu family had carriages and could hurry along two hundred kilometers a day; the Fang family could only walk on foot, at most forty kilometers a day.
If the pace didn't match, they'd hold everyone back. If someone weren't sensible, they'd simply be replaced.
Head of the Fang family: ...
No wonder she's Third Miss Mu.