175 Godforsaken Place
Zhou Jia flipped through the dossier that Shen Zhong had brought and saw that there were only more than 500 households in the entire county before the Qingchuan disaster. The total population was less than 30,000. There was only one person in the entire county city. He was an old scholar called Tu Chengdong in his forties. He was currently a clerk in the county office and there were four bailiffs. Three years ago, the former county magistrate had just arrived in Qingchuan County for two months when he was blackmailed by the Green Dragon Bandits. He was so frightened that he abandoned his official position and fled.
In the Daqing Mountain Range to the north of the county city, there was a mountain bandit lair called the Green Dragon Stronghold. Currently, there were about 200 mountain bandits. On the Da Lou Mountain to the east of the county city, there was another mountain bandit lair called the Tiger Head Stronghold. Currently, there were about 300 to 400 mountain bandits. There were two mountain bandit nests in a county with 500 households. Zhou Jia frowned when he saw this. Was such a county city still a county city? 30,000 was the population before the disaster. According to this calculation, it would be fortuitous if half of the population was left after the disaster! The remaining were probably the old, weak, sick, and disabled!
Zhou Jia sighed and rubbed the space between his eyebrows. He thought to himself that he could only take it one step at a time.
When Li Yu heard Zhou Jia sigh, she turned to look at the dossier in Zhou Jia’s hand and said, “Xiao Xi, how’s the situation? Is it very pessimistic?”
“It’s not just not optimistic. It’s too bad. Look.” Zhou Jia pointed at the dossier and smiled bitterly. “There were only 500 households before the disaster… I’m worried that when we reach Qingchuan, there will probably be more bandits than commoners. I think I can only go to Qingzhou to see if Shen Wu has returned. I’ll ask him to help eliminate the bandits to reassure the commoners first.”
Li Yu looked at the dossier and frowned. “Is it still considered a county? I think it’s just a godforsaken place. What are the previous officials doing? A good county has become like this.”
Seeing Li Yu’s angry look, Zhou Jia smiled and comforted her. “Speaking of which, it’s indeed like a godforsaken place. Fortunately, before we set off, Shen Zhong brought good news. He said that His Majesty will issue a decree to waive Qingchuan’s taxes for five years. As long as the bandits are eliminated and the people are free from the harassment of the bandits, the population will increase.”
“You and Grandmaster Qian should come up with measures to benefit the people. Just preach where there are victims along the way and see if you can attract them to Qingchuan.” Li Yu leaned lazily against Zhou Jia and narrowed her eyes. “There are still three months to go! Along the way, you can slowly think of a solution with Grandmaster Qian. When you reach Qingchuan, you can adjust according to the situation.”
Zhou Jia let Li Yu lie down and said softly, “Alright, it’s good to sleep while the road is still flat. Otherwise, when the road gets bumpy, it won’t be easy to sleep.”
Li Yu lay in Zhou Jia’s arms and narrowed her eyes. “Alright, stop reading. Reading in the car hurts your eyes.”
“Okay!” Zhou Jia smiled and agreed, watching Li Yu fall asleep.
Qian Liang sat in the car and leaned against the carriage with his eyes narrowed. He watched as Yang Wei held the booklet and muttered to himself. Qian Liang thought to himself, Why didn’t the servant boy and servant girl of Lord Zhou go to the cart behind to serve him? Why are they different from others?
Qian Liang saw Yang Wei put down the book and asked with a smile, “Your name is Ah Wei, right? What are you reading?”
Yang Wei looked at Qian Liang and replied respectfully, “Mr. Qian, I just learned how to write. My name is Yang Wei. My young master gave me my name. It’s impressive, right?”
Qian Liang looked at Yang Wei trying his best to widen his eyes and felt a little amused. He patted his head and smiled. “Weiwei, Yang Wei, are you the family child of your young master?”
Yang Wei looked at Qian Liang in confusion and said, “What’s a family child?”
“Your parents are also servants of your young master. After giving birth to you, you will be the child of the family.”
When Yang Wei heard this, he shook his head and said, “My parents were gone when they fled. Ah Lei, Er Ya, Uncle Zhao, and I have never been bought in the brokerage house. At that time, my Madam had yet to marry Young Master. Young Master and Madam came to the brokerage house to buy people. Seeing that we were pitiful, they bought us. Madam said that as long as we behave ourselves, we can eat and wear warm clothes. No one will beat or scold us for no reason.”
Qian Liang thought to himself. It seemed like a very low request, but how many people could do it?
“If someone does something naughty, how will your young master and madam punish him?”
“Unsettled? How could that be?” Yang Wei frowned and thought for a moment. “On the day we arrived home, our Madam told us the house rules. Madam said that she didn’t like to beat and scold. Once someone was restless and violated the house rules, she would just sell them. Madam even asked what we were doing in our own house and what we were good at. After asking, she assigned us to work. In the manor, everyone had their own things to do. There were three meals a day. Everyone didn’t have to worry about food and clothes. When we were sick, Madam found a doctor for us. We were better off than when we were at home. Why would we still be restless?”
Qian Liang nodded and said, “That’s right! You don’t have to worry about food and clothes, and your illnesses were treated. Why should you be restless? But how can the human heart really be that simple!”
At the Osmanthus Lane in Tongzhou, Li Qing said to Ji Xiang excitedly, “Brother Ji Xiang, did Shopkeeper Chu really say that my sister was conferred the title of First-grade Madam Protector?”
Ji Xiang was also excited. “Yes, the letter from Young Master and Madam came from the courier station. It’s not as fast as Shopkeeper Chu’s courier. It might take a few more days to receive it. Shopkeeper Chu asked me to hand the letter to the bank to take away, so I handed it to Shopkeeper Chu to take to the capital.”
Li Qing said in a low voice, “At least I didn’t let down Sister and Brother-in-law’s teachings and obtained an Elementary Scholar status. However, compared to Brother-in-law, I’m still inferior.”
Ji Xiang smiled and comforted him. “Ah Qing, you studied late and it’s already not bad that you got second place. Let’s set off for the village now. The village must have already received the news. It’s currently the season for farming. You can help Uncle Zhou manage the spring sowing on the farm.”
Li Qing nodded and said, “Alright, Brother Ji Xiang. Let’s set off now!”
Time passed quickly. Li Yu and the others had already traveled for two months from the blooming season to the blazing summer.
The group arrived at Qitong County exhausted. After resting in the city for a day, they set off and rushed towards Qingzhou.
At noon, after resting for an hour on the road, the convoy entered a dense forest. Li Yu, who was following behind the convoy, realized that just as Ruyi and the others entered the forest, birds flew up in the forest in front.
Li Yu said to Zhou Jia, “Xiao Xi, there might be an ambush ahead. Inform Xu Chun and ask him to inform the people in front. Ruyi and the others should be careful.”
Zhou Jia got out of the carriage and told the news to Xu Chun, who was driving. Xu Chun told the news to Xu Dong.
Tiezhu sent the news to Ruyi. Ruyi instructed Xiaoyu in the car, “Xiaoyu, there might be robbers in front. Don’t sit in the cart but lie flat.”
Xiaoyu hurriedly lay on the ground of the carriage and replied loudly, “Got it. Be careful.”
“Got it.” Ruyi looked around warily, keeping his guard up.
175 Godforsaken Place
Zhou Jia flipped through the dossier that Shen Zhong had brought and saw that there were only more than 500 households in the entire county before the Qingchuan disaster. The total population was less than 30,000. There was only one person in the entire county city. He was an old scholar called Tu Chengdong in his forties. He was currently a clerk in the county office and there were four bailiffs. Three years ago, the former county magistrate had just arrived in Qingchuan County for two months when he was blackmailed by the Green Dragon Bandits. He was so frightened that he abandoned his official position and fled.
In the Daqing Mountain Range to the north of the county city, there was a mountain bandit lair called the Green Dragon Stronghold. Currently, there were about 200 mountain bandits. On the Da Lou Mountain to the east of the county city, there was another mountain bandit lair called the Tiger Head Stronghold. Currently, there were about 300 to 400 mountain bandits. There were two mountain bandit nests in a county with 500 households. Zhou Jia frowned when he saw this. Was such a county city still a county city? 30,000 was the population before the disaster. According to this calculation, it would be fortuitous if half of the population was left after the disaster! The remaining were probably the old, weak, sick, and disabled!
Zhou Jia sighed and rubbed the space between his eyebrows. He thought to himself that he could only take it one step at a time.
When Li Yu heard Zhou Jia sigh, she turned to look at the dossier in Zhou Jia’s hand and said, “Xiao Xi, how’s the situation? Is it very pessimistic?”
“It’s not just not optimistic. It’s too bad. Look.” Zhou Jia pointed at the dossier and smiled bitterly. “There were only 500 households before the disaster… I’m worried that when we reach Qingchuan, there will probably be more bandits than commoners. I think I can only go to Qingzhou to see if Shen Wu has returned. I’ll ask him to help eliminate the bandits to reassure the commoners first.”
Li Yu looked at the dossier and frowned. “Is it still considered a county? I think it’s just a godforsaken place. What are the previous officials doing? A good county has become like this.”
Seeing Li Yu’s angry look, Zhou Jia smiled and comforted her. “Speaking of which, it’s indeed like a godforsaken place. Fortunately, before we set off, Shen Zhong brought good news. He said that His Majesty will issue a decree to waive Qingchuan’s taxes for five years. As long as the bandits are eliminated and the people are free from the harassment of the bandits, the population will increase.”
“You and Grandmaster Qian should come up with measures to benefit the people. Just preach where there are victims along the way and see if you can attract them to Qingchuan.” Li Yu leaned lazily against Zhou Jia and narrowed her eyes. “There are still three months to go! Along the way, you can slowly think of a solution with Grandmaster Qian. When you reach Qingchuan, you can adjust according to the situation.”
Zhou Jia let Li Yu lie down and said softly, “Alright, it’s good to sleep while the road is still flat. Otherwise, when the road gets bumpy, it won’t be easy to sleep.”
Li Yu lay in Zhou Jia’s arms and narrowed her eyes. “Alright, stop reading. Reading in the car hurts your eyes.”
“Okay!” Zhou Jia smiled and agreed, watching Li Yu fall asleep.
Qian Liang sat in the car and leaned against the carriage with his eyes narrowed. He watched as Yang Wei held the booklet and muttered to himself. Qian Liang thought to himself, Why didn’t the servant boy and servant girl of Lord Zhou go to the cart behind to serve him? Why are they different from others?
Qian Liang saw Yang Wei put down the book and asked with a smile, “Your name is Ah Wei, right? What are you reading?”
Yang Wei looked at Qian Liang and replied respectfully, “Mr. Qian, I just learned how to write. My name is Yang Wei. My young master gave me my name. It’s impressive, right?”
Qian Liang looked at Yang Wei trying his best to widen his eyes and felt a little amused. He patted his head and smiled. “Weiwei, Yang Wei, are you the family child of your young master?”
Yang Wei looked at Qian Liang in confusion and said, “What’s a family child?”
“Your parents are also servants of your young master. After giving birth to you, you will be the child of the family.”
When Yang Wei heard this, he shook his head and said, “My parents were gone when they fled. Ah Lei, Er Ya, Uncle Zhao, and I have never been bought in the brokerage house. At that time, my Madam had yet to marry Young Master. Young Master and Madam came to the brokerage house to buy people. Seeing that we were pitiful, they bought us. Madam said that as long as we behave ourselves, we can eat and wear warm clothes. No one will beat or scold us for no reason.”
Qian Liang thought to himself. It seemed like a very low request, but how many people could do it?
“If someone does something naughty, how will your young master and madam punish him?”
“Unsettled? How could that be?” Yang Wei frowned and thought for a moment. “On the day we arrived home, our Madam told us the house rules. Madam said that she didn’t like to beat and scold. Once someone was restless and violated the house rules, she would just sell them. Madam even asked what we were doing in our own house and what we were good at. After asking, she assigned us to work. In the manor, everyone had their own things to do. There were three meals a day. Everyone didn’t have to worry about food and clothes. When we were sick, Madam found a doctor for us. We were better off than when we were at home. Why would we still be restless?”
Qian Liang nodded and said, “That’s right! You don’t have to worry about food and clothes, and your illnesses were treated. Why should you be restless? But how can the human heart really be that simple!”
At the Osmanthus Lane in Tongzhou, Li Qing said to Ji Xiang excitedly, “Brother Ji Xiang, did Shopkeeper Chu really say that my sister was conferred the title of First-grade Madam Protector?”
Ji Xiang was also excited. “Yes, the letter from Young Master and Madam came from the courier station. It’s not as fast as Shopkeeper Chu’s courier. It might take a few more days to receive it. Shopkeeper Chu asked me to hand the letter to the bank to take away, so I handed it to Shopkeeper Chu to take to the capital.”
Li Qing said in a low voice, “At least I didn’t let down Sister and Brother-in-law’s teachings and obtained an Elementary Scholar status. However, compared to Brother-in-law, I’m still inferior.”
Ji Xiang smiled and comforted him. “Ah Qing, you studied late and it’s already not bad that you got second place. Let’s set off for the village now. The village must have already received the news. It’s currently the season for farming. You can help Uncle Zhou manage the spring sowing on the farm.”
Li Qing nodded and said, “Alright, Brother Ji Xiang. Let’s set off now!”
Time passed quickly. Li Yu and the others had already traveled for two months from the blooming season to the blazing summer.
The group arrived at Qitong County exhausted. After resting in the city for a day, they set off and rushed towards Qingzhou.
At noon, after resting for an hour on the road, the convoy entered a dense forest. Li Yu, who was following behind the convoy, realized that just as Ruyi and the others entered the forest, birds flew up in the forest in front.
Li Yu said to Zhou Jia, “Xiao Xi, there might be an ambush ahead. Inform Xu Chun and ask him to inform the people in front. Ruyi and the others should be careful.”
Zhou Jia got out of the carriage and told the news to Xu Chun, who was driving. Xu Chun told the news to Xu Dong.
Tiezhu sent the news to Ruyi. Ruyi instructed Xiaoyu in the car, “Xiaoyu, there might be robbers in front. Don’t sit in the cart but lie flat.”
Xiaoyu hurriedly lay on the ground of the carriage and replied loudly, “Got it. Be careful.”
“Got it.” Ruyi looked around warily, keeping his guard up.
