Chapter 29: True Friends

"Whatever you choose to do, we will support you, as long as it brings change to the lives of the people here!"

When Ye Huang spoke these words, her gaze was filled with a resolute, iron-clad determination. Lin Qian looked out toward Chunping City and could not help but nod.

Three days after arriving in Chunping, Lin Qian had recovered his strength and vitality. He had made reasonable arrangements for the three thousand troops he brought with him, leading the soldiers and civilians of the city to continue reinforcing the walls and quarrying stone from the mountains. They were not only thickening the walls but also increasing their height.

If the external defenses were too problematic, the prosperity within could never be guaranteed. Even if Lin Qian worked hard to provide the people here with a better life, it would ultimately be in vain, serving only to prepare a prize for the enemy!

Suddenly, the soldiers and civilians threw themselves into the work with great fervor. As this was a frontier region, there was no shortage of mountain stone and timber. The finest logs were dragged into the city by the townspeople, who pulled them along like trackers hauling boats.

However, it was clear that what Lin Qian intended to do today was something else entirely: Establishing trust through the moving of a log.

As the saying goes, no circle or square can be formed without compasses and squares. What Chunping City lacked was not the manpower for development, but rules. Once rules were established, the enthusiasm of all the people could be mobilized. But if the rules were poorly established—if the prominent figures of Chunping, led by Lin Qian, failed to honor their commitments—then the city would never be revitalized, not even in a hundred years.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The sound of gongs and drums resonated throughout Chunping City. The common folk poked their heads out from their dilapidated houses, looking toward the City Lord's mansion.

The Lord of Chunping was an official within the formal hierarchy of the Great Qian Empire, holding a fourth-rank position. For generations, the City Lords of Chunping had all been drawn from the Ning family, the maternal side of Ye Huang’s kin. The current City Lord was Ye Huang’s cousin, the son of her mother’s sister.

The young lad was spirited and sturdy. Ever since his grandfather passed away, he had been waiting here for Ye Huang’s arrival.

"Cousin!"

Although Ning Lan was only fifteen, he possessed a robust physique, his body filled with strong muscles. His youthful face was nonetheless etched with a look of determination, bearing more than a passing resemblance to Ye Huang.

Ye Huang nodded, her delicate brows knitting together slightly. "Have you studied your books today?"

At the mention of reading, Ning Lan instantly deflated like a punctured ball, standing there timidly.

Ye Huang could not help but let out a deep sigh. If it were riding horses or shooting arrows, he would excel without effort; if it were practicing martial arts, the boy could endure loneliness, never skipping a day through the heat of summer or the cold of winter. But the moment he saw the characters in a book, the little guy would fall asleep.

"If you don't study, how can you rule this city in the future with nothing but martial prowess? Do you expect the people of this city to live in constant chaos and war, never knowing a moment of peace?"

Ning Lan was somewhat defiant. "But haven't our ancestors lived this way for generations?"

"You..."

For a moment, Ye Huang was completely speechless. Although what the boy said was unpleasant, it was an undeniable fact. For so many years, Chunping City had indeed survived that way; the people did not starve to death, but there was no joy in their existence. Ironically, the Ning family of Chunping had passed down their position from generation to generation, yet he had turned out like this!

Ye Huang was fuming, and just as she was about to take action, she saw Lin Qian walk out from the courtyard and wave his hand.

"Brother Lin Qian, look at him..."

Lin Qian smiled faintly, stepped forward, and patted Ning Lan on the shoulder. "What is your favorite food?"

Ning Lan had initially assumed Lin Qian was brought by Ye Huang to discipline him. Faced with this question, he pouted and refused to meet Lin Qian’s eyes. Since this young man had arrived, his cousin had seemed bewitched. Usually, if he didn't study, he would face the whip or the ruler, but since this man appeared, his cousin seemed like a different person, turning as gentle as water. Even her tone had softened.

"I love braised meat!"

Braised meat was a local delicacy of Chunping.

Lin Qian gestured slowly, and the cook from the City Lord's mansion immediately brought out a plate of succulent, aromatic braised meat strips. At the sight of it, Ning Lan’s eyes lit up; he even forgot to wash his hands and reached out to grab some.

"Wait!"

The sudden, sharp command made Ning Lan freeze as if struck by lightning, his hand instinctively recoiling.

"You may eat the meat, but I have a request for you."

Hearing the word "request," Ning Lan’s expression turned sulky. Over the past few days, Ye Huang had warned him daily to follow the rules and never provoke Lin Qian. Now, Ning Lan threw his chopsticks onto the table and declared, "I won't eat it!"

"Do you think I’m going to make you read?"

Upon hearing Lin Qian’s words, Ning Lan’s face immediately brightened. Being a child at heart, he would do anything as long as it wasn't studying.

"My request is this: use this plate of braised meat to find a friend outside who will follow you."

Lin Qian spoke calmly.

Ning Lan beamed and cheered, "That’s easy! I’m the son of the City Lord. As long as I’m willing..."

"No!"

Another sharp, stern command stopped him. Ning Lan was stunned.

Lin Qian’s voice then lowered, his gaze filled with a sense of authority. "I don't want you to find people who follow you because of your status. I want you to find a true friend—even if it’s just one, that is enough!"

Ning Lan was completely bewildered. A true friend... what was a true friend? It seemed that since he was born, everyone around him had treated him with absolute kindness. From childhood to adulthood, he had never faced any setbacks; everything went smoothly wherever he went. Even when he acted recklessly in Chunping City, no one had ever scolded him. If Ye Huang hadn't arrived three years ago and given him his first beating, perhaps no one would have ever laid a finger on him in his entire life.

"Go on. You may return before dark. Remember! I want you to find a true friend! Take the meat and go!"

Lin Qian wanted Ning Lan to understand that to find a true friend, it was never about status; two people must be equals, and braised meat is meant to be shared!

Ye Huang watched Lin Qian’s methods and couldn't help but ask, "Will this really work?"

"Whether it works or not, we shall see the results."

"Brother Lin Qian, you... you have true friends. They have never betrayed you. The thirteen generals who followed you here, they are..."

Lin Qian looked up at the sky, then pursed his lips and smiled. "Of course. They are certainly my friends! Friends to whom I would entrust my very life!"