With the threat of Merchant Liu temporarily dispersed and the advance payment from the city inspector safely in the chest, the Westland Ranch entered a new phase: expansion.
The sound of hammers rang out from dawn until dusk. The reservoir project was ahead of schedule, thanks to the desperate energy of the new villagers who were eager to prove their worth. The clay pipes, baked in a kiln Li Wei had commissioned, were being laid in deep trenches, creating a network that would bring water to every corner of the pasture.
But Li Wei's focus was closer to the cabin. He stood on the porch, unrolling a large sheet of parchment on a makeshift drafting table. The paper was covered in lines and measurements that looked like nonsense to the local carpenters, but to him, they were the blueprints of home.
"No wings," the head carpenter, Master Wu, said, scratching his head. He was a man who had built traditional courtyards for decades. "And the windows... they face west? The afternoon sun will bake the room. And where is the ancestral hall?"
"We don't need an ancestral hall in the living room," Li Wei said, pointing to the center of the drawing. "We need a fireplace. A big one. Stone hearth, timber mantle. The smoke goes up the chimney, keeping the room warm in winter without stinging our eyes."
"Chimney..." Wu muttered, looking skeptical. "It's a strange beast, Scholar Li. But the stone you provided is good. And the timber is solid."
It was a classic Western ranch house design, adapted for the local climate. A single-story structure with a high-pitched roof to shed rain, built from rough-hewn logs and local stone. A wide veranda wrapped around the front and sides—what Li Wei called a "wrap-around porch"—perfect for watching the sunset.
"It needs to be big," Li Wei said, tracing the lines. "Not just for me. For the family. For guests. For... children."
He said the last part quietly, thinking of Su Qing.
"The foundation is laid," Wu conceded. "We can have the frame up in ten days if the weather holds."
"Make it eight," Li Wei said. "I want the roof on before the autumn rains."
***
**POV: Su Qing**
Su Qing had decided to stay at the ranch for three days to oversee the packaging of the "Jade Paste" shipment. The city was stifling, and despite the rough conditions of the Westland, she found the air here cleaner, sharper.
She walked out of the temporary quarters Li Wei had set up for her in the old cabin, holding a parasol to shield herself from the sun. She watched Li Wei directing the carpenters. He had stripped off his outer shirt again, working in a loose undershirt and trousers. His skin had tanned significantly in the past few weeks, turning a healthy bronze.
He looked nothing like the pale, fragile scholar she had married. He looked like a statue carved from oak and iron.
He saw her and jogged over, wiping his face with a rag. "Qing! You're up. I wanted to show you the progress."
"It looks... chaotic," she said, looking at the piles of stone and wood. "But sturdy."
"It will be," he beamed. "I added something special for you. Come."
He led her around the back of the construction site. There, hidden behind a stack of lumber, was a small, separate building. It wasn't a bunkhouse. It had glass windows—expensive imports from the south.
"What is this?" she asked.
"A study," Li Wei said. "I know you miss your books. And I know the account books need a quiet place. It's insulated, so the wind won't rattle the paper. And it has a small stove for winter."
Su Qing stared at the small building. He had built her a sanctuary. In the middle of the mud and the cattle and the chaos, he had thought of her comfort.
"You... built me an office?" she asked, her voice soft.
"A ranch needs a CFO," he winked. "And a wife needs a place to escape from the smell of manure."
She felt a warmth in her chest that had nothing to do with the sun. "Thank you, Li Wei."
"There's one more thing," he said, his expression turning serious. "Now that we have the house starting, and the herd is growing... we need to talk about the future."
Su Qing looked at him. "The future?"
"The Grand Autumn Hunt," Li Wei said. "It's two months away. The Emperor and the nobles will be at the Royal Hunting Grounds, three hundred miles north. I want us to be there. Not as spectators. As suppliers."
"The Emperor's table?" Su Qing gasped. "Li Wei, that is... that is dangerous. One bad cut of meat, one offended Eunuch, and we lose our heads."
"If we stay here, we are just a local novelty," Li Wei countered. "To be truly safe from men like Merchant Liu, we need the Emperor's seal of approval. We need to be the 'Imperial Ranch'."
He looked at her intensely. "But to do that, I need to breed the perfect steer. And I need a partner who can navigate the court. I can handle the cows. Can you handle the politics?"
Su Qing straightened her spine. The fear was there, but the challenge sparked her spirit. She had been managing a declining household for years. This was a chance to build something.
"I can handle it," she said firmly. "But you need to learn some manners before we meet the Emperor. You can't tip your hat to the Imperial Majesty."
"I'll work on my bow," he laughed.
***
**POV: Li Wei**
After lunch, Li Wei decided it was time for a break from construction. The heat was sweltering, and the men were dragging. He walked to the stable where Old Zhang was grooming the horses.
"Bring out the mare," Li Wei said. "The brown one."
"Old Bess?" Zhang raised an eyebrow. "She's gentle, but slow."
"Perfect," Li Wei said. He walked back to where Su Qing was sitting under a tree, reviewing the ledger.
"Close the book," Li Wei commanded.
"I'm busy," she protested, not looking up.
"You're the CFO. Take a break. We're going riding."
Su Qing froze. "Riding? In this heat? And in this dress?" She gestured to her layered silk robe.
"We aren't going far. And the dress... we might need to adjust it."
Ten minutes later, a scene unfolded that horrified the traditional villagers.
Li Wei had brought a wooden mounting block—a small set of stairs. He led the mare, Old Bess, to the block.
"I cannot ride astride," Su Qing said, looking at the horse with trepidation. "It is improper. I need a carriage or a sidesaddle."
"Sidesaddles are dangerous and uncomfortable," Li Wei stated bluntly. "You can't control a horse properly if you're twisted sideways. If you fall, you drag the horse down with you."
He held out a hand. "I taught you to walk. Let me teach you to ride. Properly. Like the nomads do. Like the Western queens do."
"There are no Western queens here," she muttered, but she stepped onto the block.
"We're going to make a new rule," Li Wei said, his voice dropping so only she could hear. "On the ranch, tradition takes a back seat to safety and efficiency. If you ride, you ride secure."
He helped her onto the saddle. She sat stiffly, legs spread awkwardly over the horse's back, blushing furiously as her robes bunched up.
"Relax," Li Wei said, adjusting her foot in the stirrup. "Heels down. Back straight. Look at the horizon, not the mane."
He mounted his own horse, Blackjack Jr., a feisty colt he was breaking in.
"Walk on," Li Wei said, nudging his horse.
Su Qing's horse followed. For the first few minutes, she was terrified, bouncing in the saddle, clutching the horn as if her life depended on it.
"Stop fighting the horse," Li Wei coached, riding alongside her. "Feel the rhythm. Move *with* the animal. One, two. One, two."
Slowly, Su Qing began to relax. Her hips started to sway with the horse's gait. The bounce smoothed out into a glide. The wind caught her hair, pulling a strand loose from her elaborate bun.
They rode past the pastures, where the Angus crosses were grazing. The black cattle stood out against the green grass, looking sleek and powerful.
Li Wei watched Su Qing. A flush had come to her cheeks, not from embarrassment, but from exhilaration. She was smiling—a genuine, wide smile that she rarely showed in the city.
"It feels... fast," she breathed, looking at him.
"It's freedom," Li Wei said. "This is how we check the fences. This is how we drive the herd. This is how we see the world."
He spurred his horse into a gentle trot. "Keep up!"
"Wait!" she cried, but she kicked her horse gently. The mare broke into a trot.
Su Qing laughed. It was a bright, happy sound that echoed across the valley.
***
**POV: Li An**
Li An sat on the fence, watching his brother and sister-in-law ride into the distance. He was chewing on a piece of jerky.
"They look good together," a voice said.
Li An looked down to see Er-Gou, the former farmer who was now a ranch hand.
"Yeah," Li An said. "My brother... he's different. He used to be so quiet."
"Now he's the Boss," Er-Gou said, admiring the way Li Wei controlled his horse with just his knees. "Hey, Li An. The Boss said we need to name the new calves. The ones born yesterday."
Li An hopped down. "Right. He gave me a list of names. Strange names."
He pulled a crumpled paper from his pocket.
"Number One... *Sir Loin*?" Li An frowned. "Number Two... *T-Bone*? Number Three... *Ribeye*?"
"What kind of names are those?" Er-Gou laughed. "They sound like cuts of meat."
"Exactly," Li An grinned. "My brother says we should never forget what they're destined for. It's... motivation."
Er-Gou shook his head. "Your brother is a weird man. But I like him."
"He's going to build an empire," Li An said, looking at the horizon where Li Wei and Su Qing were turning back. "And we're going to help him."
As the riders returned, the sun setting behind them, casting long shadows, the System chimed in Li Wei's mind.
**[Relationship Level Up: Su Qing (Wife).]**
**[Status: Trust -> Mutual Respect/Affection.]**
**[Bonus: Wife gains Trait 'Rancher's Spirit' (Riding Skill +1).]**
**[Construction Update: Main Ranch House Frame Complete.]**
Li Wei dismounted and walked over to help Su Qing down. He placed his hands on her waist, lifting her easily. She slid down, her face inches from his.
For a moment, neither let go.
"Thank you for the ride," Su Qing whispered, her eyes searching his.
"Anytime, partner," Li Wei replied softly.
The Westland was becoming a home. And for the first time, the "useless scholar" felt like he had truly won the heart of his wife.
**[Next Chapter Preview: The Autumn Hunt preparations begin. A rival rancher appears. The secret of the Westland Iron is threatened.]**