Chapter 119: Eldest Sister

Xiao Sima led the Eastern Capital Army away from Jin Prefecture, also taking Xiao Yanyan with him.

Without the deterrence of these twenty thousand troops, the land of Jin Prefecture instantly lost some of its chilling aura.

As if an invisible shackle had been unlocked, smiles began to appear more frequently on the faces of the Jin Prefecture people.

Of course, the more important reason was that the time for grain harvest was imminent.

It was already September, and the entire Jin Prefecture seemed to have been rendered with golden dye.

The breeze rose, and waves of wheat surged layer upon layer, like a lively brocade spread over the earth.

Carrying the unique fragrance of wheat mixed with the scent of soil, wisps drilled into the nostrils, gladdening the heart.

The joy of a bountiful harvest blew through every corner like a spring breeze, making this land radiate with vibrant vitality.

Hedong Fortress!

Standing at the edge of the wheat fields, all the villagers were immersed in the busyness and joy of the autumn harvest.

“Fortress Master… no, Thousand-Man Commander…”

A middle-aged man turned to look at Luo Ping not far away and shouted “Fortress Master” loudly.

But realizing immediately it was wrong, he then addressed him as “Thousand-Man Commander.”

This slip of the tongue made others laugh out loud.

Of course, they weren’t mocking this man, but rather a kind of teasing laughter from harmonious relationships.

Not only this man, but many others were also unaccustomed to the title of Thousand-Man Commander.

“Hehehe…”

Luo Ping also laughed, frolicking together with these old brothers.

He said nonchalantly, “What bullshit Thousand-Man Commander? An official title given by the Khitans is for outsiders to see.”

“For us brothers, call me whatever you used to call me, and call me whatever you want in the future.”

After Luo Ping finished speaking, another man laughed loudly: “Then let’s still call you Sheep Dung Ball!”

“Hahaha…”

Others roared with laughter.

Sheep Dung Ball was Luo Ping’s nickname when he was a child; no one had called him that for many years.

Luo Ping hurriedly shook his head: “That won’t do; I’m almost a grandfather, you have to save me some face.”

A group of old brothers talked and laughed, then separated to go to their own fields, preparing to harvest grain.

Besides their own family members, there were one or two special people in every household.

Slaves.

They were all enemies captured in the previous war.

“Watch carefully for me; I’ll only teach you once.”

“If anyone doesn’t learn, I won’t keep him wasting food.”

Luo Ping sat on his horse, looking down from high above at the five slaves in front of him, and said fiercely.

These five slaves were four women and one man: two Karluk female slaves, two Naiman women, and one Naiman man.

“Harvesting grain is actually very simple.”

“Bend your waist, use the sickle to cut from the root of the wheat, and then stack them together.”

Worried about the language barrier, Luo Ping personally demonstrated several times for these five slaves.

If anyone still couldn’t do it, he would whip them directly— they had to learn whether they could or not.

In fact, nomadic peoples also grew grain.

But the methods were very primitive; just scattering seeds in a certain area and ignoring them.

No fertilizing, no weeding, letting them grow freely, and coming back to harvest after a few months.

The yield of grain harvested in this way was very low.

But at least it could add a portion of rations for the herdsmen.

So, having a certain foundation, after Luo Ping simply taught them a few times, these slaves basically understood.

Subsequently, Luo Ping assigned a plot of land to each person.

Ordering them to finish harvesting all the grain in their plots before noon.

Whoever couldn’t finish wasn’t allowed to eat.

“With these five slaves, this year’s grain should be finished harvesting two days earlier.”

Luo Ping’s wife also held a sickle, harvesting grain in another field.

Looking at the five slaves in the distance, although they were unskilled in work, they could at least make the family relax a bit.

Then she shook her head and said, “Pity we got too few male slaves.”

Thinking of this, she felt a bit unhappy in her heart.

Although most of what the Jin Prefecture Army brought back in this war were female slaves.

But when it came to Luo Ping, the four female slaves he brought home were all young and pretty.

She knew even with her eyes closed what this bastard Luo Ping had done.

These four female slaves had long been eaten clean by him.

However, after all, this era was one of male supremacy.

Even if Luo Ping wanted to take concubines, she couldn’t stop him.

Moreover, now it was just playing with a few female slaves.

It really wasn’t a big deal.

Now, she just hoped these female slaves wouldn’t get pregnant.

Otherwise, she really didn’t know how to treat the children born.

Calling her mother?

Thinking about it made her extremely uncomfortable.

“The male slaves were all kept by Xiao Sima; we couldn’t get many at all.”

“Moreover, if we had a few more male slaves, the few people in our family might not be able to control them,” Luo Ping shook his head gently.

In the war with the Naimans, they captured over ten thousand Naiman soldiers.

But most of these people were taken away by Xiao Sima.

Only a small portion was left in Jin Prefecture.

Although female slaves could be used for venting and reproduction, in terms of cost-effectiveness, male slaves were more valuable.

Because male slaves were more efficient at work.

But from Luo Ping’s perspective, female slaves were also not bad.

At least these four female slaves were very useful.

Let them work when there was work, and work them himself when there wasn’t.

In short, he wouldn’t let them be idle.

“Now, our family is different from before.” Luo Ping worked while painting a big picture for his wife.

“Your man has become a high official; the status is different.”

“A mere few slaves are nothing.”

“In a few years, our family will have even more slaves. By then, I’ll let you do no work at all and arrange two female slaves specifically to serve you.”

“Letting you also enjoy the blessing of being an official’s wife.”

Luo Ping said with a chuckle, knowing his wife looked unfavorably upon these four female slaves.

But the relationship between Luo Ping and them was pure.

All dry goods (sex), no real feelings involved.

His wife was his true love, and sometimes he would patiently coax her.

Sure enough, hearing Luo Ping’s words, his wife chuckled.

“My life is meant for work.”

“I’m afraid I won’t be used to a life of having clothes handed to me.”

“You’ll get used to it slowly; good days are still ahead!”

“As long as the Li family doesn’t fall, your son and grandson won’t do worse than me in the future.”

While the husband and wife talked and laughed, a lot of wheat stalks were already stacked behind them.

Being experienced farmers, their work speed was even much faster than the five slaves combined.

Unknowingly, it was noon. The hot sun scorched the earth, making people sweat profusely; even the air breathed out was dry.

And at this time, the sound of hoofbeats rang out in the distance.

Luo Ping’s wife looked up and immediately exclaimed, “Oh my.”

“Oh my, what’s going on with Dafeng?”

“Told her long ago to just rest at home; I’ll go back to cook later.”

“Why did she come over?”

Saying this, Luo Ping’s wife threw down the sickle and hurried over to welcome her.

“Whoa—”

The horse slowly stopped at the edge of Luo Ping’s field. A woman carrying a basket dismounted.

She called out to Luo Ping’s wife who was rushing over: “Mother.”

The woman looked seventeen or eighteen, just like a flower blooming on a branch in spring, overflowing with vigorous vitality.

Her looks were quite beautiful. Eyebrows like distant mountains, the curved arc just like the crescent moon in the night sky, revealing gentleness and liveliness.

Her big eyes were clear and bright, and the corners of her mouth slightly raised, as if ready to bloom with a touching smile at any time.

Her eyes and brows bore some resemblance to Li Xiao, but with a bit more feminine softness.

This was precisely Li Xiao’s eldest sister, Li Dafeng.

“Oh my, Dafeng, told you long ago not to come to the field, just stay honestly at home.”

“You child, just won’t listen!”

Luo Ping’s wife said with a blaming look.

Then she hurriedly took the basket from Li Dafeng’s hand. Seeing she looked fine, she was relieved and said, “You are not alone now; you are carrying a child!”

“You have to be careful.”

Li Dafeng said helplessly: “Mother…”

“I’m not that delicate!”

“Don’t other women work just the same when pregnant?”

“If I always do nothing like this, people will gossip.”

Li Dafeng was already four months pregnant, and her belly was starting to show.

But similarly, she was deprived of the right to do heavy work.

She wasn’t even allowed to harvest wheat anymore.

This was treatment she couldn’t enjoy even in her maiden home.

Of course, Li Dafeng also knew clearly in her heart that the reason she had such special treatment was not only because of the child in her belly but more importantly because she had a good younger brother.

Her maiden family was powerful.

In her impression, her eldest younger brother was still that snot-nosed little brat.

Leading a group of hairy kids running and shouting around Hexi Fortress all day.

Looking like a king of kids.

But unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, the king of kids turned into the true ‘King of Jin Prefecture’.

Her eldest younger brother had now become the Vice Military Governor of Jin Prefecture.

High position and heavy power, commanding countless troops.

On the Naiman battlefield, killing countless enemies, beheading Naiman generals in battle, capturing the Naiman Prince alive; even the Naiman Khan was chased by him into a wretched escape.

These achievements always gave Li Dafeng a sense of unreality.

How did her brother become so powerful?

Even her father-in-law basked in the reflected glory of her brother and had now become a Thousand-Man Commander.

This was a big official managing a thousand herdsmen households.

Power much, much greater than the previous Hedong Fortress Master.

Moreover, while the status of the Luo family underwent earth-shaking changes, Li Dafeng’s status in the Luo family was also rising in a straight line.

Other women still had to work in the fields when pregnant.

But Li Dafeng seemed to be carrying a golden lump, provided with good food and drink, doing no work at all.

Although such a life was very comfortable, it made Li Dafeng very uncomfortable.

After all, she wasn’t raised spoiled since childhood.

So, taking advantage of delivering food, she ran to the field to see if she could do some work.

But Mother Luo said domineeringly: “Whoever dares to gossip, I’ll tear her mouth apart.”

“Dafeng, don’t listen to those old women talking nonsense. Wait until I finish this busy spell, and I’ll go reason with them.”

“Now, you just go home and stay there honestly; don’t take it lightly.”

“You didn’t see that daughter-in-law of the Liu family; it was just two years ago.”

“After working all day, she rode a horse, and the child in her belly was bumped right out.”

“Scared people to death.”

Mother Luo said in a warning tone.

Anyway, now the family had five more slaves, not lacking people to work.

Li Dafeng wouldn’t be allowed to work if she could rest; otherwise, in case something happened…

Wouldn’t this affect the relationship between their Luo family and the Li family!