Chapter 296: Chapter 296
Pei Shu’er pursed her lips and pushed Tang Zan’s cheek away a bit.
Tang Zan covered Pei Shu’er with the blanket while White Tiger tried to squeeze between them.
It was reluctantly kicked off the bed by Tang Zan.
Tang Zan laughed, "This beast grows quite fast. It’s almost as big as an adult tiger. I wonder what kind of Immortal Pill it ate."
Pei Shu’er was already feeling sleepy, but upon hearing this, her body stiffened slightly. She buried her head in the crook of Tang Zan’s arm.
"Probably just well-nourished. Look at the other tigers; where can they get so many good things to eat? In the mountains, they’re almost freezing to death."
Tang Zan brushed Pei Shu’er’s hair from the side of her face to behind her ear and kissed her forehead. His large hand gently stroked her dark, silky hair.
"Sleep well, we have to get up early tomorrow."
Yet Pei Shu’er felt unexplainably anxious.
She always thought that Tang Zan was pondering something else at this moment.
If her space were exposed, then the secret of her otherworldly soul would be revealed too.
She looked up at Tang Zan, who had a gentle smile at the corner of his mouth.
In his dark pupils, her pale face was exaggeratedly reflected.
Tang Zan couldn’t resist kissing Pei Shu’er again.
"If you keep looking at me , I really won’t be able to resist."
Pei Shu’er’s cheeks flushed. It’s not that she didn’t want to give herself to Tang Zan, but with the misunderstandings between them not yet cleared up, she didn’t want their first time to be filled with regrets.
Moreover, Tang Zan seemed not in high spirits tonight.
It’s not good if their first time was so forced.
Pei Shu’er rested in Tang Zan’s arms and peacefully fell asleep.
When she woke up the next day, Tang Zan was already dressed.
Seeing her open her eyes, he leaned over and kissed her.
"I need to go and check on how the ship is coming along. If it’s not right, we might have to rebuild it."
Pei Shu’er nodded and suddenly spoke.
"Wait a moment, I have something to give you."
Pei Shu’er rummaged through a pile of drafts and pulled out a design drawing for the ship.
Seeing this, Tang Zan’s eyes lit up.
"Building such a ship will likely require a lot of manpower and resources."
Pei Shu’er nodded, "It’s indeed significant, but for transporting supplies, a ship is actually the best."
Tang Zan didn’t say more, feeling that Pei Shu’er seemed to know everything.
He clearly hadn’t told Pei Shu’er that the ship was meant to transport goods, yet she guessed it.
He put away the draft, giving Pei Shu’er a long, deep look.
The complex look in his eyes was something she’d never seen before.
She always felt as if Tang Zan saw right through her.
Pei Shu’er lowered her eyes under his gaze, but Tang Zan lifted her chin, his eyes fixed intently on hers.
"Wait for me to return."
After Tang Zan left, Yinxing came to report that the sow was going to give birth.
This time, the sow’s delivery went very smoothly.
But the weather was too cold, so a warm stone house was built for the sow, designed to be underground.
The piglets were also dried and placed beside the sow to nurse.
Due to the cold, everyone took turns taking care of the sow and piglets.
With abundant nutrition, the sow was very robust, and the piglets were well-fed and plump.
Thanks to everyone’s meticulous care, none of the piglets died, achieving a 100% survival rate.
Combined with the previous litter of wild boars, they now had a total of 35 piglets.
Pei Shu’er decided that if the wild boars grew well, they could also supply the people of Deserted Mountain, but a treaty regarding the distribution of the wild boars would be signed.
As for rabbits, each family already had a pair of wild rabbits. And now those rabbits had reproduced, so the most abundant animal in Deserted Mountain was rabbits.
For winter, most of the meat consumed was rabbit meat.
Meanwhile, Tang Zan had arrived at the military camp and saw the ship on the Gulan River — only one, and very small.
Perhaps because he had seen Pei Shu’er’s design, he felt this ship was quite unsatisfactory.
Tang Zan said, "This ship won’t do. It likely can’t carry much. If it encounters bigger waves or a blizzard, it could capsize."
General Zhao thought the same. This small ship, though not likely to be exposed, was merely a tiny, fragile vessel.
Tang Zan handed a draft to General Zhao.
"General, please look at this ship design. If it’s feasible, we might build according to it."
General Zhao’s eyes brightened. At a glance, he knew this ship was exactly what they needed.
"This ship design is good, quite similar to what we’ve seen in the Capital. However, there are many details that might not be revealed here. Can we have the designer come to the camp?"
Tang Zan nodded, "It was designed by Pei Shu’er."
General Zhao was a bit surprised, yet it made sense.
Pei Shu’er had designed city walls and even catapults. Crafting a ship wasn’t impossible.
After all, smart people tend to think quickly and efficiently.
"Okay, then have her come. She can supervise the construction again this time. I’m confident she will do a great job."
Tang Zan also offered his opinion, "General, if she is to come to the camp, she must be allowed to build peacefully on her own."
General Zhao had recently noticed something unusual between the Third Prince and Pei Shu’er, as if there were some romance.
It seemed Pei Shu’er didn’t care about the Third Prince, but the Third Prince had just started caring about her.
Thus, keeping them apart was perhaps for the best. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭·𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦·𝘯𝘦𝘵
It would not only allow them time to cool off but also help Pei Shu’er focus on building the ship.
General Zhao sighed, "Your wife is smart, but sadly, she’s a woman."
Tang Zan grinned, "Actually, there’s no need to mind gender so much. Anything other men can do, Pei Shu’er can too. What men can’t do, she can still achieve."
"I don’t lament her being a woman. On the contrary, I’m very fortunate to have such a wife."
General Zhao raised his brow at Tang Zan, finding his views different from others’.
In this society, men are often prioritized over women, with harsh expectations placed on girls.
From palace women unable to meddle in politics to common folk girls restricted to their back courtyards, seldom allowed to see the world beyond.
The reason he involved Pei Shu’er was twofold.
First, because she was indeed capable, and second, because Gulan Military Camp lacked talent, and those there were mostly abandoned soldiers.
Besides Pei Shu’er, he couldn’t think of anyone else.
Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been her role.