I Became a Sugar Mama to an Ancient General during a Famine! - Chapter 28 Part 1

Zhan Chengyin and Chen Kui arrived at Chen’s home.

Chen Kui’s household consisted of a wife, two concubines, and three servants who came to greet them.

Everyone was dressed shabbily. The wife, concubines, and children were decently attired, though their clothes were dirty and unwashed due to lack of water. The servants wore patched-up clothes; though thin, each appeared energetic.

Chen Kui handed instant noodles and sausages to his wife.

The children ran over excitedly, eager to see what treats their father had brought home this time.

Two nights ago, he had brought back a fragrant dish of red-braised pork with steamed rice.

Last night, it was a roasted leg of lamb, barbecue, and a plate of dry-pot beef.

Now, the children eagerly awaited their father’s return each day.

Today, he brought two large cardboard boxes.

Chen Kui opened the sausages, giving one to each of the five children.

“Remember, don’t eat the outer casing,” he cautioned.

He then took out three packets of instant noodles and handed them to his wife.

His wife smiled and bowed slightly to Zhan Chengyin in thanks before passing them to the steward.

The steward took the children to the kitchen to cook the noodles.

Chen Kui and his wife led Zhan Chengyin to the backyard.

The backyard had a large, flat area, perfect for children to play.

Zhan Chengyin was satisfied with the space. “Let’s put it here,” he said.

Chen Kui sent the servants and concubines to queue for porridge, while the steward.and children went to cook the noodles.

Chen Kui’s wife closed the backyard gate, ensuring privacy!

Zhan Chengyin placed a vase in the center and put a note inside it.

What happened next stunned Chen Kui’s wife.

Around the vase, countless bolts of fabric descended from the sky, neatly arranged on the ground.

The fabric was soft, intricately woven without loose stitches, and the patterns appeared naturally exquisite.

There were large red peony flowers, elegant depictions of the Four Noble Plants (plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum), solid colors like black, white, cyan, and blue, and various beautiful printed fabrics.

These fabrics were breathtakingly beautiful!

Chen Kui had never told his wife how the city’s food supplies were secured. Now, she stared in shock, realizing the city’s greatest secret.

The general trusted her, and her husband trusted her!

She bowed gracefully to Zhan Chengyin, “Thank you for your trust, General. I will keep this secret safe.”

“No need for formalities, Madam. Soon, we’ll need you to organize all the women in city who can sew to make uniforms for the soldiers,” said Zhan Chengyin.

Chen Kui’s wife was very surprised.

“General, entrusting such an important task to me seems inappropriate!”

Zhan Chengyin looked at Chen Kui.

Chen Kui quickly signaled his wife, “Hurry and thank the General.”

His wife, still bewildered, bowed in gratitude.

“Thank you, General, for entrusting me with this important task. I will do my best!”

She was still confused—with just a few words from the General, she had taken on the task of making clothes for the army.

In the Great Qi Kingdom, women rarely ventured outside their homes.

Yet her husband supported her in this endeavor.

Zhan Chengyin nodded, “You can recruit from the entire city. Women who come to make military clothes will receive two meals a day. Each person can also get three jin of rice, one jin of vegetables, and half a jin of salt per month.”

Her eyes immediately brightened at the offer of food. Recruitment would be much easier now.

Suppressing her excitement, she said, “General, I will ensure the military clothes are made promptly.”

“The fabric in the yard is just one-third of it. More fabric will arrive in the next couple of days.”

Chen Kui’s wife smiled and replied, “General, I will have people organize the fabric well to make more space.”

“Madam, choose a few bolts of fabric. The children and servants at home need new clothes!”