The night's training left Zhao Liangcai's soldiers groaning in misery.
The new recruits finally experienced what the veterans mockingly called the Zhao family's "no eat, no drink, no sleep" training method.
The generals were even more distraught than during an exam. A large group went into the mountains, and it was reasonable for a general to hunt a bear?
They hadn't even encountered a bear, let alone larger prey. Those lucky enough caught a muntjac, while the unlucky ones failed to catch any prey and were even bitten by a snake.
The generals not only went without rest all night but upon returning to the camp, were punished with training by Zhao Liangcai before even eating breakfast.
Of course, Zhao Liangcai had also not rested. He supervised the generals' special training while skinning the bear.
"Don't be lazy. Every extra day you train is an extra day you live on the battlefield. Those who want to die early can go rest."
No general wanted to die early. It was already a favor that the general hadn't let his subordinates watch him being disciplined, so they gritted their teeth and persisted in training.
Zhao Liangcai carefully cut off the four bear paws and put them away. These were top-tier ingredients.
Zhao Liangcai processed the bear hide himself, skillfully and meticulously scraping off the fat.
The cured bear hide was to be sent back to Yangshu Village for Qin Junyao to use as a mattress.
After scraping the hide, he began to divide the bear carcass. The bear fat and gall were both precious, and Zhao Liangcai regretted that the bear hadn't been hunted in winter, when there was the most bear fat.
The generals gritted their teeth so hard they creaked. What was their general doing?
Did a bear need such meticulous treatment? Scraping skin and shaving fat?
Finally, a general couldn't hold back. "General, until when do we need to train?"
Zhao Liangcai looked at the training general with a confused expression. "You can't even last this short time? It seems I won't be dividing this bear meat among you."
"General, we can endure."
"General, we asked about the time because we want to train more."
"Yes, yes, yes, we can."
Zhao Liangcai picked up the bear paws, the hide, and the other items he was keeping for himself. "We'll stop when the meat is ready," he said, then walked away潇洒ly.
The generals: ...
Qin Junyao felt the same distress as Zhao Liangcai's subordinates, who were tormented by their general's excessive excitement.
"Sister-in-law, is榔头 behaving today?"
"榔头, uncle picked many flowers."
"榔头, uncle will read you poems."
"榔头."
"榔头..."
No matter how much Qin Junyao disliked the name, Fu Zi liked it just as much.
He would call out the name to Qin Junyao more than ten times a day.
In just five days, the servants in the Zhao family and the villagers all knew that Zhao Liangcai and Qin Junyao's first child was named 榔头.
.
"Heh heh, Sister Junyao, your little brother-in-law is so amusing. It seems my little nephew is destined to have this name," Ling Manshuang laughed heartily as she listened to Qin Junyao recount Fu Zi's stories.
Qin Junyao pressed her forehead. "Sister Manshuang, I dreamed that the baby in my belly is a girl."
"Really?" Ling Manshuang leaned closer, sitting on a chair.
Qin Junyao nodded. "I dreamed of a little girl who looked like me, wearing pink armor and holding a pink sledgehammer."
"Hahaha," Ling Manshuang burst into laughter, picturing the scene Qin Junyao described. It was too funny.
"What are you two sisters talking about that makes you so happy?" Bai Qing, still dressed in white, walked into the main hall from outside.
Ling Manshuang wiped the corner of her eye. "Have you found a good spot?"
Bai Qing sat down below Ling Manshuang. "I've found it. We'll build it to the east of this house."
To the east? Qin Junyao thought carefully. There was no empty space to the east of her house.
"Bai Qing, the east of my house is all occupied by others. Where are you going to build the house?"
Bai Qing took a sip of tea. "With money, you can build anywhere. Junyao, would you like to expand your house?"