Ever since Yin Shuangshuang returned last time, Gao Ya has stayed at the county government, because Luo Linlang was in charge of managing internal and external affairs, and Wei Yingnan took over the role of Master.

The two of them were very busy every day and basically didn’t have time to take care of Shuangshuang, and Shuangshuang didn’t buy any servants, so most of those around her were guards, meaning Shuangshuang had to handle many things herself.

For ordinary people, this is naturally nothing, but Shuangshuang is physically weak, and these tasks, which are nothing for normal people, are quite laborious for her.

Once Gao Ya entered the county government, she took over the task of caring for Shuangshuang. With her meticulous attention, many times she completed tasks in advance without Shuangshuang needing to say anything, caring for Shuangshuang excellently.

Shuangshuang had mentioned more than once that Gao Ya shouldn’t follow her anymore, but Gao Ya insisted on not leaving. This time when Shuangshuang repeated her old tune, Gao Ya responded once again with her usual reply.

"My lord, you avenged my father, you are my benefactor, and although I was unforgivably wrong to have harmed you, yet you harbored no ill will. I really have no way to repay you.

I know you are not short of people, but to care for you up close is the only way I can think of to repay you. My lord, please let me stay by your side."

Gao Ya sincerely wanted to stay by Shuangshuang’s side, perhaps because the revenge had already been taken, and the once eloquent and lively personality had changed.

Now, she is silent, always quietly by Shuangshuang’s side. Perhaps it isn’t that Gao Ya has changed her nature, but rather that her true nature is as such, and the previous outgoing personality was a facade.

Shuangshuang was a bit helpless as well. Gao Ya is actually a good girl, with intense love and hate. Such a woman, in modern times, could have been a successful woman in her generation, but in this era, her fate is destined to be unfortunate.

Especially since Gao Ya gave herself to her enemy for revenge, she has already lost her chastity, which is considered a grave sin in the eyes of the world.

In this era, if Gao Ya wasn’t in the more female-friendly Qinglin County, she might have been drowned in a pig cage or forced to hang herself as soon as Chai Pengfei was in trouble.

Gao Ya took meticulous care of her, and Shuangshuang was not heartless. She thought that since she already had Luo Linlang by her side, it wouldn’t matter to protect another Gao Ya.

Besides, Gao Ya is more pitiable compared to Luo Linlang. Luo Linlang now has Yan Yi, who remains loyal and unchanging. Shuangshuang watched as Yan Yi was about to win over Linlang, and it seemed only a matter of time before they would marry and start a family.

But for someone like Gao Ya, she might just end up forever alone. Having been someone else’s mistress, she is destined to be looked down upon, and establishing herself would be too difficult—it would be better to stay by her side.

However, Gao Ya’s talent in business is indeed remarkable. Luo Linlang’s original talent in business was also excellent, but compared to Gao Ya, it’s like heaven and earth.

Such great talent, Shuangshuang couldn’t bear to let it go to waste. It is best to make the most of her abilities. Right now, what she lacks most is talent, all sorts of talent, the more the better.

"Gao Ya, you are an excellent woman, but staying by my side as a maid or servant would be too much of a waste.

Your talents are outstanding, you handle matters with eight-sided finesse, you’re not inferior to any man. Compared to taking care of me, if I were to give you the title of an Imperial Merchant, do you have the confidence to handle it well and share my burdens?"

Calculating in her mind how to make use of Gao Ya, Shuangshuang directly asked the question.

And to Gao Ya, Shuangshuang’s words were like a thunderbolt, stunning her into confusion. Despite her previous wayward actions, she actually grew up adhering strictly to the rules of a noble lady.

Her earlier madness was merely reckless abandon driven by her hatred. Originally, Gao Ya planned to reunite with her family after taking her revenge, had it not been to repay her benefactor, she wouldn’t have survived after the revenge.

So Gao Ya had never thought that a woman like her could become an Imperial Merchant. However, after the initial shock, a sudden fiery feeling arose in her once disheartened heart.

It was as if some weak chain was suddenly broken by Shuangshuang’s words—why can’t a woman undertake such a career?

My lord is also a woman, and yet she is the Emperor’s confidante, a parental-like figure for the county. Gao Ya may not compare to my lord, but she is certainly not less than any man in this world. Why couldn’t she do what a man can do?

Gao Ya looked at Shuangshuang and suddenly knelt, solemnly pledging her loyalty: "My lord, as long as you are willing to trust me, Gao Ya is willing to do her utmost to serve you, with undying loyalty, never retreating!"

Shuangshuang smiled, reached out to pull Gao Ya up, and said, "Rest assured, I have always had trust in my people, and in the future, there will be many places where you will be needed."

Talking about making Gao Ya an Imperial Merchant, it wasn’t something that could be done immediately. Shuangshuang was planning to have Gao Ya open a trade route to sell mutton and draft oxen.

Besides, Shuangshuang also wanted to help Qinglin County develop a specialty product and then have Gao Ya, as the Imperial Merchant, manage this business. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

As for this specialty, Shuangshuang only had a lead and needed to find some people to experiment with it. At least it would take until after the autumn harvest to find out, so at the moment, Gao Ya was still responsible for taking care of her.

Speaking of Imperial Merchants, now glass and soap have started selling nationwide, both selling very well, especially glass mirrors and exquisitely designed soaps, which are particularly favored by aristocratic families.

However, cement is the one thing that the Emperor has kept a tight hold on, disallowing private sales, forbidding aristocratic families from involvement, and even the use of it requires special approval from the Emperor.

Currently, the Emperor has only experimented with laying cement roads in the Capital City using the tile-laying method to avoid surface swelling. The results are said to be excellent, causing those aristocratic families to scratch their heads and try every method to probe more.

Yet, the Emperor is hiding it well, and the aristocratic families dare not provoke him much—having had many of their tentacles severed by the Emperor, they’ve reluctantly ceased their probing.

Shuangshuang intended to use cement to construct breeding farms, as it would be fast and easy for sanitation purposes. She also took the time to draw up blueprints for the breeding farms.

These included farms for chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, cattle, and sheep. Chickens, ducks, geese, and pigs can be slowly approached, as breeding too many would result in insufficient manpower. The common people don’t have much foresight, are not fond of adapting.

If Shuangshuang were to suddenly have them build breeding farms, it would only lead to complaints, with people accusing her of making reckless orders. Better to let others earn money first, so the common people would want to breed on their own—that’s the ideal strategy.

Those voiceless commoners, however, are just right to serve as pioneers. They have no land and nothing to lose, so whatever Shuangshuang arranges for them they wouldn’t oppose.

Her initial focus would be to build farms to breed cattle and sheep. Lime must be laid in circles outside the farms for disinfection and sand is required inside the barn, as cattle like to kneel when resting; without sand, their knees would get hurt.