Ordinary observers in fast time travel

Chapter 1282 A Report from the Front Lines
Sometimes, the more desperate a person is, the more they cherish what they have. Besides, the yield of sweet potatoes was tied to taxes, so even if the Tie Tou family was kind, they were unwilling to give up the opportunity to be exempt from taxes to others.

Therefore, Shi Jia naturally didn't find out anything. Not only did he not find out any information, he didn't even see Tie Tou's sweet potato field.

However, Shi Jia didn't dwell on it. He simply checked the surrounding terrain, bought several thousand kilograms of sweet potatoes from the village chief, and then returned to the prefectural city.

She has a lot to do and can't afford to delay.

First, the terrain of Dashan Village is complex and unsuitable for experimental fields; we need to find another location. Also, as mentioned before, preparations for opening a restaurant are almost complete; only the sweet potato noodles remain.

Shi Jia had sweet potatoes delivered to the shop and instructed the two women who bought them to start making sweet potato flour. Then she went to the government office.

Prefect Wan was somewhat surprised to see her arrive.

Seeing the joy on the other person's face, Shi Jia felt relieved and explained his purpose.

"Oh, you want to go and take a look at the estate?" Prefect Wan asked casually.

Shi Jia nodded, "That's just one thing. I also want to ask if there are any estates for sale in the suburbs. They don't need to be too big, just twenty acres of land would be fine."

Prefect Wan's smile remained unchanged. "Land near the prefectural city has always been in high demand, so it may be difficult to find a manor that meets your requirements. How about this, I'll have my steward go and look for one for you."

"Thank you, sir," Shi Jia said with a smile. Of course, she knew it would be difficult to buy a suitable estate, so she had come to find someone who could.
As for owing favors, she couldn't care less anymore. What's one more problem than another.

With the matter settled, Shi Jia's smile widened even more. "My lord, these are pastries that my family's restaurant is preparing to sell. They taste alright, and I hope you won't find them offensive."

She picked up the two boxes of pastries at her feet and placed them on Magistrate Wan's desk. She casually opened one of the boxes, and a rich aroma immediately wafted out, making people's mouths water.

Prefect Wan subconsciously swallowed, and noticing Shi Jia's gaze, he cleared his throat twice, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness."

Shi Jia hurriedly replied, "It's my duty. Your Excellency has other important matters to attend to, so I won't disturb you any longer. Farewell." She slowly walked through the corridor, and as soon as she left the government office, she was met with a cloud of dust.

"Cough cough." Shi Jia quickly covered his mouth and nose, squinting as he moved to the side.

"Thump!" "Neigh—"

After a heavy thud and the neighing of a horse, Shi Jia saw a dusty figure rush into the government office, leaving only a chestnut horse and two bailiffs leading it.

What happened?
Shi Jia blinked, then continued to cover her mouth and nose as she left. What did it matter? Even if she knew, it wouldn't help her at all.

Prefect Wan chuckled and had a box of pastries sent back to his residence. A yamen runner rushed in, shouting, "Sir! Urgent report from the front!"

"What? Where is he?" Prefect Wan jumped to his feet, nearly knocking over the pastries on the table. But he couldn't care less at the moment and rushed out of the room in the blink of an eye.

"Wait in the main hall." The yamen runner's voice came from behind, and Prefect Wan quickened his pace.

"Lord Wan, the Northern Barbarians have retreated to the south side of the Xingbei Mountains, and the Pingnan Army has won a great victory," the soldier said, half-crying and half-laughing.

"What? Hahaha! Excellent, excellent!" Prefect Wan realized what was happening and burst into laughter. "Our Great Yu is finally at peace, hahaha~"

The soldier looked at Prefect Wan and smiled, and tried to force a smile, but he couldn't manage to.

After venting his frustrations, Prefect Wan noticed the soldiers' expressions, which seemed to be both crying and not crying, and suddenly had a bad feeling. "You, is there something you haven't said yet?"

The soldier smirked. "In the final battle, the general fought the Northern Barbarian general for a day and a night. Although he finally killed the Northern Barbarian general, the general was also seriously wounded and is now in critical condition!"

"What!" Prefect Wan was shocked, as if a giant hand had gripped his throat. "Isn't Doctor Bai on the front lines? With him here, how could this happen?" "It was precisely because Doctor Bai was there that the general's life was saved," the soldier said.

Prefect Wan felt the large hand gripping his throat loosen slightly. "What did the divine physician say? Is there any hope for the general?"

The soldiers shook their heads. "We don't know. The divine physician said that if we can make a resurrection pill, there might still be a sliver of hope."

"A Resurrection Pill? What medicinal ingredients are needed? Did the divine physician say?" Prefect Wan asked hurriedly.

"I...I don't know, but General Yun has already sent people to collect medicinal herbs," the soldier said.

Prefect Wan frowned, his anxiety growing. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind. He seemed to remember that his family's pharmacy had acquired a 300-year-old ginseng a year ago.

"Is there any other military secret to report?" Prefect Wan wished he could go back immediately to get the ginseng, but he also knew that the soldiers had rushed back not just for these two matters.

"Yes, General Yun has instructed you to prepare provisions. Here is the document." The soldier quickly pulled a bamboo tube from his pocket.

Prefect Wan opened the bamboo tube, took out the note inside, and read it quickly. "Alright, I'll have someone prepare it immediately. You can rest for a bit."

"Yes!"

On the other side, after leaving the government office, Shi Jia first went to the restaurant to check on the two women's work. Both of them were quick and efficient, and in two days they had already ground several hundred kilograms of sweet potatoes.

"Boss," the woman named Cui Niang said with a troubled expression, "we're running out of earthenware jars in the shop."

Shi Jia looked at the five large earthenware jars in the yard, patted his forehead, and said, "I forgot. Let's not wipe the sweet potatoes for now and make these into vermicelli first."

"Okay." Cui Niang nodded, unable to resist suggesting, "Master, I heard you say the shop will be selling sweet potato starch in the future?"

"Ah."

"Then we'll probably have to make sweet potato noodles more often from now on. If that's the case, Sister Ning and I alone probably won't be able to handle it all."

Shi Jia nodded. Once the restaurant opens, at least two people will be needed to look after it. If the restaurant becomes popular, more people will probably be needed.

Then the person making sweet potato noodles will need to be arranged separately.

At this moment, Cui Niang said again, "Why doesn't the master buy a stone mill? With a stone mill, he can just buy a donkey. It's much faster than what Sister Ning and I are doing."

Shi Jia was taken aback. A stone mill! That's right, why didn't she think of using a stone mill! She slapped her forehead; her memory hadn't mentioned it. Couldn't she just use her brain to think of something?

"Master?" Cui Niang said nervously, expecting a scolding from her master, but when she looked up, she saw her master staring blankly.

"Oh, that's a great idea. I'll go ask around later where I can buy a stone mill," Shi Jia said. She thought for a moment, wondering what kind of reward she should give him. "How about this, your wages for this month will be doubled."

Cui Niang was taken aback. Wasn't she going to scold her for being lazy? "Thank you, Master."

"No need, just do your job well. I will reward you as long as you make contributions," Shi Jia said with a smile.

"Thank you, Master!" Cui Niang and Aunt Ning exchanged a glance and shouted loudly.

"Okay, you guys keep going. I'll teach you how to make vermicelli once the sweet potato starch has settled."