Chapter Thirty-Five: Kinship

  Qin Qiong paid out so much for Qin Yu without seeking any return, and Qin Yu remembered it in his heart.

  Great kindness doesn't need to be thanked, let alone that Qin Yu had already regarded Qin Qiong as his own family member, completely unnecessary to play those fake ones. Therefore, taking care of Qin Qiong's body became the top priority in Qin Yu's heart.

  Donkey hide can be used to make Ejiao, but the time is too short. Qin Qiong hasn't told Li Shimin yet. In order for Qin Qiong's body to recover as soon as possible, Qin Yu actually mentioned this at an inopportune moment last night. Fortunately, Li Shimin didn't blame Qin Yu.

  Qin Yu saw this and boldly asked for donkey hide gel for Qin Qiong, Li Shimin also readily agreed.

  This is also an unavoidable thing, who let Qin Qiong think of the Datang soldiers and generals, rather than himself? Qin Yu did this to be on the safe side, but the new donkey hide glue would need at least half a month to arrive in Chang'an. Qin Yu decided to make some first and have Qin Qiong take it.

  Qin Yu didn't know the specific composition of donkey hide gelatin, but he roughly understood the materials involved. At dawn, Qin Yu ordered his servants to go buy donkey hides and other materials. As for animal hides, donkey skin was not expensive and could be bought in bulk without spending much silver.

  The materials were bought back, Qin Yu told the servant the method, and started to make a fire to cook the donkey hide glue. Of course, the main thing was to deal with these donkey hides. Although the steps were a bit more troublesome, they weren't complicated. The only bad thing was that this smell really wasn't very good.

  Donkey hide gelatin was being made in an orderly manner, Qin Yu didn't say what it was, and no one knew. Even if someone asked Qin Yu, he wouldn't tell the truth, such as Cheng Huailiang. However, the smell of donkey skin was indeed very strong, and Cheng Huailiang wasn't interested in going around the donkey skin either.

  Qin Yu had just relaxed for a while and was about to go out to confirm the location of the wine workshop when Qin Qiong came to Qingfeng House again, saying that last night was a bit dark and he didn't take a close look at Cheng Yaoguang. Under the bright daylight, Qin Yu couldn't help but exclaim, "This is unscientific."

  Cheng Yaojin is quite majestic, but compared to Cheng Huailiang, he is three points uglier. However, Cheng Lingyun is very delicate and does not look like she is related to them by blood. The only explanation is that Cheng Lingyun takes after her birth mother, which is indeed the case.

  Qin Yu finished thinking and hastily stepped forward to pay his respects, opening his mouth to shout: "Greetings Uncle Zhong, greetings Father-in-law."

  Qin Qiong sighed, while Cheng Yaojin let out a "humph", this was also inevitable. Who wouldn't be angry if Qin Yu had slept with the princess before marrying Cheng Lingyun? Anyone would be upset, and it's good that he didn't directly confront Qin Yu.

  It's been a long time, Qin Qiong and Cheng Yaojin have already come to their senses. Last night's matter was wrong on the part of the princess, but it can only be kept in mind, so Qin Qiong did not blame Qin Yu, nor did Cheng Yaojin step forward to deal with Qin Yu.

  After arriving at the back house, he waved his hand to dismiss the maidservants. Qin Yong lowered his voice and asked, "Yun Fei, Uncle Zhong asked you, is the output you mentioned true? There are no outsiders here, just speak plainly."

  It's clear that Qin Qiong has made preparations to take everything on himself, even if it means losing his head. However, he still wants to ask in person, just in case Qin Yu is lying, so he can make early preparations and at least save Qin Yu's life.

  Qin Yu nodded slightly and said in a low voice, "Uncle Zhong, what I said is true. The things I saw last night were sweet potatoes and potatoes, which are not unexpected. This time, the yield can reach around 100 stones per mu."

  "What?" Cheng Yaojin's anger suddenly flared up, pointing at Qin Yu with a low growl, apparently afraid of being overheard.

  Last night it was ten stones, now another hundred stones have arrived. Isn't this obviously a lie? When the time comes, not only will Qin Qiong be harmed, but he will also be implicated, after all, there is still half a month left before Qin Yu and Cheng Lingyun get married. If Qin Yu tells lies, then at that time, won't Cheng Lingyun suffer along with him?

  This is a landmine, and Cheng Lingyun is the one who stepped on it. It's not like she had a choice, and naturally, Cheng Yaoguang is extremely concerned about this matter.

  "My brother-in-law listened to me finish, these sweet potatoes and potatoes need special treatment to maintain production, otherwise the yield will decrease every year and eventually drop to ten stones, so last night my nephew said ten stones, this is also to ensure that nothing goes wrong." Qin Yu dared not be disrespectful to Cheng Yaojin, and quickly explained.

  "So, it's easy to achieve the yield of ten stones, but as for the processing method of sweet potatoes and potatoes, Master only left a few words, and I haven't grasped it yet. Otherwise, last night I would have said one hundred stones per mu instead of just ten."

  Qin Yu finished speaking, and Qin Qiong let out a long sigh of relief. Originally, he had planned that as long as Qin Yu told lies, he would send Qin Yu out of the Tang Dynasty, or make Qin Yu change his name and hide in the mountains and forests to take the blame, so as to preserve the incense fire of the Qin family. However, it seems that there is no need to worry about this now.

  Jing saw that Qin Yu's words were reasonable and convincing, so he nodded his head in agreement after a moment of contemplation.

  "Since that's the case, Zhi Jie, you go gather some of our best men in the army and have them keep watch day and night, lest we be sabotaged by some insignificant person." Qin Yong suddenly thought of something after hearing Qin Yu's words and hastily spoke up.

  "Heh heh, don't worry about it, I've already sent someone to notify that kid Wai Mo to gather troops. Five hundred elite soldiers are enough to ensure the safety of this sweet potato and potato land. It seems that Your Majesty has also planted many good hands."

  Qin Qiong nodded and then glanced at the wall outside the courtyard, giving Qin Yu a look that told him to be careful with his daily behavior. Qin Yu was suddenly startled, only then realizing why Qin Qiong had spoken in a low voice.

  The conversation between the three lasted only a few breaths, when Cheng Yaojin spoke up and asked, "Young man, what is this thing you've made? Why does it smell so bad?"

  "Cough, father-in-law, just making some small stuff, nothing big." Qin Yu didn't dare to mention the agar, Li Shimin had ordered the well to be sealed, of course he wouldn't want others to make it, Qin Yu was experimenting on his own here, how could he say it out loud?

  "Hmph, not doing his job properly." Cheng Yaojin scolded without showing any mercy, "With this time, it's better to practice martial arts more, so as not to be blocked by that kid Long Sun Chong again someday."

  Qin Yu's face stiffened as soon as he heard it, "This thing has spread really quickly."

  However, Cheng Yaoguang's words awakened Qin Yu, and this bodyguard was still needed. Qin Yu immediately thickened his skin and said, "Uncle Zhong, can you get some masters to come? You also know that Long Sun might avenge me."

  "Qin brother, indeed we should find a bodyguard for this kid, lest something unexpected happens." Cheng Yaojin suddenly interjected.

  "Brother-in-law, you're brilliant!" Qin Yu exclaimed with joy.

  Cheng Yaojin burst out laughing, "That's it." After finishing speaking, he looked at Qin Qiong and continued to say, "Brother Qin, I think it's better to give the stone to this kid. With him around, even a few hundred people can't do anything to him."

  "Is it that serious?" Qin Yu looked at Cheng Yaojin in surprise and asked.

  Qin Qiong stroked his beard with a smile, and said, "Indeed, this child may not be brilliant, but he is a rare and fierce general. Even I, Zhongfu, would find it difficult to last thirty rounds under his hands. If it were you..."

  "Cough, cough." Cheng Yaojin suddenly coughed a few times and then said, "Older brother, the smell here is really too unbearable. Let's leave this place first."

  Qin Yu yuan thought it was Qin Qiong talking about himself, but Cheng Yaojin suddenly interrupted Qin Qiong. With a puzzled look at Cheng Yaojin, after a moment, a hint of understanding appeared on his face.

  "What's with that expression?" Cheng Yaojin saw Qin Yu's expression and suddenly became furious, pointing at Qin Yu and shouting.

  "Ah, brother-in-law, I was thinking, maybe I won't even last one round." Qin Yu hastily opened his mouth to explain. At this time, Qin Yu finally understood that Qin Qiong was referring to Cheng Yaojin, not himself. For a moment, he became curious about this stone, as there wasn't such a person in history.

  "Yun Fei, Shi Tou is an orphan brought back by your father-in-law from the battlefield. He's now in your father-in-law's military camp. I'll send someone to call him over later and he will be responsible for your safety from then on." Qin Qiong said after glancing at Cheng Yaojin.

  Cheng Yaojin heard Qin Qiong's words and secretly let out a breath, thinking he had done it discreetly, but unexpectedly was discovered by Qin Yu, "Who is this stone after all."

  "By the way, Uncle Yue, I heard that you have a servant named Big Cow in your mansion. Can you send him to me?" Qin Qiong suddenly remembered the promise he made to Shuang Xi half a month ago, and since Cheng Yaojin was here, he might as well settle this matter once and for all, so as not to let others think that he didn't keep his word.

  "Is there?" Cheng Yaojin asked in puzzlement.

  Qin Yu didn't know if that was true or not, but he nodded anyway. "I heard from Shuang Xi that this big cow is diligent in his work, and it just so happens that I'm short-handed at the moment."

  "If you want him to come over, just call him when you go back." Cheng Yaojin thought for a moment and didn't have any impression, so he nodded indifferently.

  "Then thank you, Uncle," Qin Yu said with a smile.

  At this time, Qin Qiong suddenly sighed and said in a very serious tone, "Yun Fei, you must give an answer to the Empress Longsun's matter as soon as possible, otherwise..."

  Qin Yu's face stiffened upon hearing this, but it was about Li Shimin asking Qin Yu how to treat Empress Longsun's asthma last night. Qin Yu wasn't stupid and wouldn't say he could cure illnesses. Besides, even if he could, asthma is still a difficult problem in modern times, only controllable but not curable.

  But Li Shimin was determined that Qin Yu could cure him, and he forced Qin Yu to give him an answer within three days, or else he would punish Qin Yu for his crime. Qin Yu had no choice but to agree.

  Qin Yu naturally couldn't guarantee a cure, but only said that he had learned some secret recipes from his master that could control the condition, but not completely eliminate it. To thoroughly cure it, one would still need to find Sun Simiao or Sun Zhenren. Fortunately, Li Shimin did not continue to pressure Qin Yu.

  Actually, Li Shimin was also desperately seeking medical treatment. With so many imperial physicians unable to cure Empress Changsun's illness, what could Qin Yu possibly do? This was something Li Shimin knew all too well. However, Qin Yu had said from the start that he couldn't cure illnesses, which annoyed Li Shimin and led him to intimidate Qin Yu. If Qin Yu had persisted a bit longer, Li Shimin wouldn't have said anything.

  "Yes, Uncle, I'll sort out this prescription as soon as possible in the next few days." Qin Yu nodded helplessly and replied.