NFBE Chapter 278: Forcing County Magistrate Jiang to Provide Disaster Relief
Chapter 278: Forcing County Magistrate Jiang to Provide Disaster Relief
Shen Nanzhi arrived on time for the appointment. Magistrate Jiang, his legal advisor, the county magistrate, the chief clerk and other subordinates were all there, filling the room.
Shen Nanzhi was wearing a navy blue men's suit, with her hair tied up in a bun and a jade crown on her head, and a ribbon of the same color hanging down, which made her look even more handsome and elegant, making people unable to take their eyes off her.
Holding a folding fan in the middle of winter might seem silly, but who would dare to say that? She thought being cool was enough.
Women can do anything for beauty, and men are the same. In order to look handsome, they will do a lot of pretentious things.
"Meet Master Yang."
Everyone stood up and saluted, secretly looking at the young master of the prefectural government who suddenly appeared.
Shen Nanzhi looked calm and proud, and said politely: "There are so many people, no need to be polite, just sit down.
This incident happened. I was just out for fun and didn't mean to disturb you all. I'm really sorry."
His politeness was mixed with arrogance, which was in line with the image of a prefect's son, so everyone believed him a little more.
County Magistrate Jiang poured him some tea and said, "Mr. Yang came to our county in person. I am sorry for not entertaining you well. I should apologize. I will drink three cups of tea as punishment later."
Shen Nanzhi glanced at him sideways, slightly dissatisfied: "Okay, change to a bigger cup, I have to see Mr. Jiang's sincerity.
Although my father didn't tell me what to do, the people of the entire state are my father's responsibility. I always have to see how the people are living so that I can have an explanation when my father asks me about it.
After traveling to so many places, your county is the most secure, quietest, and cleanest county I have ever seen. It shows that County Magistrate Jiang is a good ruler. "
County Magistrate Jiang couldn't tell whether he was really praising him or was being sarcastic, so he had to smile and said, "Young Master Yang is right. Let's have someone serve the food. Use the largest wine glasses. I apologize to Young Master Yang."
"Haha, County Magistrate Jiang is straightforward."
Shen Nanzhi deliberately teased him by replacing his wine glass with a wine bowl. He didn't even take a bite of the food and gulped down three bowls of wine. Shen Nanzhi clapped his hands and cheered, "Mr. County Magistrate has a good alcohol tolerance. I admire you. More."
"No, it's really not possible."
Shen Nanzhi patted his shoulder and slammed the table, "How can a man say no? Lord Jiang is too polite. I toast you, three bowls at least. If you don't drink it, you are not giving me face."
Shen Nanzhi was well aware of the culture of urging people to drink. She drank three bowls first. She drank these low-alcohol drinks almost like drinking water. But County Magistrate Jiang couldn't tolerate that. If he drank three more bowls, that would be a pound of wine, and his head would feel dizzy.
But he didn't dare not drink, as the prefect's son was watching him. If he had already drunk and he didn't drink, wouldn't that be disrespecting Young Master Yang?
"I risk my life to accompany a gentleman, I drink."
"That's right. Now that we've finished drinking, let's talk about how Magistrate Jiang governs the county so well."
County Magistrate Jiang was a little confused. Shen Nanzhi asked this and answered perfunctorily, "It is my duty to ensure that the people live and work in peace and contentment. I will also say a few good words to Young Master Yang and the prefect."
"Okay, I will. By the way, I will let father see how good it is under Lord Jiang's rule. But I think everything is good, but there is something missing."
"what?"
County Magistrate Jiang was instantly nervous, as this was the highlight.
"Human beings, there must be tens of thousands of people living in this county, right? Look at this street, it's like a ghost street, there are only a few people, where have all the people gone?
The heavy snow has stopped, and it is the time for people across the county to clean the streets, go out to work, and earn money to support their families, but I didn’t see many people in the county town. If you didn’t know, you would think they were all frozen to death! ”
"No, no, they are just too lazy to go out. After all, it's snowing heavily, and they are all staying at home for the winter. Staying at home for the winter."
County Magistrate Jiang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and thought about how to deal with it.
Shen Nanzhi nodded, seemingly believing it, "Yes, it's time to hibernate, but there are different ways to hibernate, some people drink wine, roast fire, and enjoy the snow scenery, some people starve, with less than a pound of charcoal, and endure it. Who knows when they will not wake up at night and turn into a stiff corpse.
County Magistrate Jiang, how do the people in your jurisdiction spend the winter? Let's visit a few families so that we can see for ourselves. "
"This, this is inappropriate. They are just peasants who don't know etiquette. How can we let Young Master Yang condescend to visit them?"
Shen Nanzhi's face darkened. "County Magistrate Jiang, what you said is wrong. The majority of people in this world are peasants. Even the emperor dares not look down on the common people. What you said is not in line with the emperor's will. If the emperor hears it, your term as county magistrate will be over."
"Yes, Young Master Yang is much more aware than me. I was wrong. I will correct it immediately."
"Well, it's a good official to correct one's mistakes. Let's make it settled. Three days, after three days, we will go to visit the people's homes in person and see how they are spending the winter. It's time for you to show your strength.
Thank you for your hospitality. I have something else to do. I will leave now. Bye."
She did this again, and County Magistrate Jiang was stunned. "I will see Young Master Yang off..."
"No need, Magistrate Jiang, please hurry up and arrange the families to visit. I don't want my father to see the miserable people, freezing to death. Don't say I didn't help you.
By the way, County Magistrate Jiang probably doesn’t know that the person who froze to death had a smiling face. It is said that this will lead to a good or bad reincarnation. After all, even a ghost wants to be a smiling ghost. "
County Magistrate Jiang was frightened by what she said, "Yes, Master Yang is right..."
Before he could finish, Shen Nanzhi had already left with two followers, playing an unconventional role.
Not only was Magistrate Jiang unable to react, but everyone else was also stunned for a long time. The master asked, "Dong Weng, what should we do now?"
When the cold wind blew, the cold sweat on County Magistrate Jiang melted into ice. He shivered with cold, "What should we do? Hurry up and find a way to provide disaster relief. Send those untouchables... oops, no, the people back home, repair supplies, distribute food, quilts, charcoal and other supplies, let them live well, then we can get through this hurdle."
The lawyer said, "But how much will this cost? There are many families affected by the disaster. Our county's finances cannot afford it."
"Then go find the wealthy locals to raise money and tell them that the prefect is coming. If anyone destroys the county's official hat, they will lose their jobs."
"Ah, your Excellency is wise."
……
"Sister Nanzhi is wise."
Shen Desheng and Shen Changan were also fawning like crazy. As followers, they witnessed with their own eyes how Shen Nanzhi deceived County Magistrate Jiang. Within an hour, the county government office was in chaos. The gate of Baoningfang was opened, and there were runners and soldiers who were in a hurry to send the people back home.
Shen Nanzhi and the others were standing on the second floor of the inn and saw everything clearly. Shen Desheng finally felt relieved. His admiration for Shen Nanzhi was like an endless torrent of water.
"The officials should follow the example of their superiors, and keep the reins tight at all times, otherwise they won't know how to pull the carts.
Our business is now done, you should be relieved and go home."
Shen Desheng flattered, "I want to follow Sister Nan Zhi. Let Changan and the others go back. I will stay here."
Shen Changan wanted to scold him, "Can you be a decent person? Why did you chase me away? Why did you gain experience by being with Sister Nanzhi?"
"I'm not going back, Brother Desheng. You've been out for too long. Your father is missing you, and your mother's eyes are swollen from crying. Otherwise, Sister Nanzhi wouldn't have come out to look for you in such a cold weather. You should go back quickly."
"I can write to my parents, so you don't have to worry about it."
Shen Nanzhi interrupted their quarrel and said, "Stop arguing. Go ask those who want to go back and arrange for them to go back. If they want to stay, they can stay. It won't cost a few people money for food, clothing and travel expenses.
But you have to go home and let them know you are safe, so they don’t worry about you.”
Shen Changan said, "That's fine. Married people are thinking about their families, while unmarried people are happy to go out and have fun. I'll go and ask."
Shen Changan went down to make arrangements, and sure enough, four or five married young people including Shen Changxing wanted to go back and came to say goodbye to Shen Nanzhi.
Shen Nanzhi gave each person fifty taels, "This is your reward for your hard work. We all have a share of the bounty we got from catching the bandits.
Buy some gifts for your family, and leave early tomorrow morning."
Shen Changxing and the others were surprised and excited, "How embarrassing..."
"Don't want it? Then you will be the ones to take care of your brothers..."
"No, we want it, we do. Thank you, cousin."
No one dared to say a polite word and quickly accepted it, fearing that Shen Nanzhi would change his mind and give it to other brothers. They all felt very embarrassed.
"Let's go and have fun. Tell my son Huai En that I will definitely be back before the New Year."
"Okay, we'll make a note of it."
Shen Changxing reminded him: "Why don't you write a letter to Brother Huai En?"
"Write a letter? That's not impossible. I'll go write it now."
Shen Nanzhi hasn't written a letter for a long time. This thing was no longer popular in his previous life. He only used WeChat and emails.
I spread out the letter paper and really have no idea where to start.
I struggled for a while, wasted more than ten sheets of drafts, and finally wrote the beginning.
All things are difficult at the beginning. Once you have a beginning, inspiration comes. Before you know it, you have written several large pages, and the envelope can no longer hold them.
I simply made a big envelope, like a book, and let Shen Changxing take it away.
I stayed up all night writing a letter, and when I woke up the next day I yawned and my eyes were dark blue.
Shen Changxing and his team set out early. With the sleds they could travel quickly, and the official road had already been compacted when they got here, so they would be home in two days at most.
If the journey goes smoothly, maybe we can arrive that night. Sledding is so convenient.
After Shen Nanzhi had breakfast, he went to see the medicinal herb merchant Xue Ziliang again.
Just when Xue Ziliang was getting extremely worried, the county magistrate went crazy and forced merchants across the county to donate money and supplies to do the best possible disaster relief. He wanted to make money, not bleed.
Shen Nanzhi found him at this time, and Xue Ziliang was just looking for him for advice: "Young Master Yang, County Magistrate Jiang wants to provide disaster relief and force everyone to donate money and grain. To be honest, this is what he should do, but the amount he wants is too much. This is going to bankrupt everyone. He is such a jerk."