Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 375: Ambition
Chapter 375: Progress
Chen Jinyu was praised joyfully and grinned, "As long as the Commandery Princess is satisfied."
Immediately called Ma Yaosong over and instructed him to have someone send the message.
Qinghe County is far away, delivering the message will take several days. The Cui Family’s implementation and back-and-forth with the Meng Family will also take time, so this matter was temporarily set aside.
Cui Wenxiu was full of excitement and vigor, her spirit improved day by day, eager to lay down her life for the Commandery Princess. She attended classes at the school daily with extra dedication.
Li Ying observed and joked with a smile, "The teachers at the school have all been outshone by you."
Cui Wenxiu laughed energetically, "Who says women are inferior to men? As for talent and learning, I am far superior to them."
Li Ying couldn’t help but laugh.
Indeed, the teachers at the boys’ school were all Scholars by background. Cui Wenxiu had been well-read from a young age, skilled in zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting; her talents naturally surpassed theirs.
The sisters-in-law had similar temperaments, and there were no taboos in their private conversations.
"If the Meng Family is willing to entrust their children to you, it will be quite a task for you," Li Ying said softly, "Also, Mr. Qi has always admired you and privately entrusted someone to propose marriage. Are you not considering remarrying?"
Mr. Qi was a teacher at the boys’ school, twenty-eight years old, and his wife had passed away three years earlier, leaving only a daughter. The Qi Family wasn’t large but had some wealth, making them a well-to-do household. Moreover, Mr. Qi was handsome and gentle, making him an excellent choice for remarriage.
Cui Wenxiu said softly, "If the Commandery Princess hadn’t come, I might have considered remarriage in a year or two. But now, with the chance to reunite with my children, I won’t even glance at any man, no matter how good."
Li Ying ceased to persuade further.
Cui Wenxiu said in a low voice, "I used to often hear you speak of the Commandery Princess with such praise, but I hadn’t seen it for myself, so I was half-skeptical. Now, I realize the Commandery Princess’s benevolence and generosity are unparalleled."
Li Ying laughed, "The Commandery Princess is indeed magnanimous at heart. However, for those who shirk their duties or oppress the people, falling into her hands would be worse than death."
For instance, Chief Clerk Zhao from Xi’e County was beaten half to death and expelled from Nanyang County, unsure whether he could even return home safely. Even if he did, he wouldn’t think of returning to officialdom for the rest of his life. Greedy for a moment, his future was completely ruined.
The Commandery Princess’s warning to deter others was quite powerful, shaking the officialdom in Nanyang and causing everyone to be more cautious and dedicated in their duties.
Cui Wenxiu had naturally heard of Chief Clerk Zhao’s severe punishment and suddenly chuckled, "I heard that over three years ago, when the Commandery Princess came to Ye County, she publicly tried three cases."
Li Ying acknowledged, quietly saying, "It was after that your cousin seemed to change. He became much more modest and willing to lower himself to get things done."
Cui Wenxiu was amused, "My cousin was a prodigy in his youth, achieving Advanced Scholar status early, and was quite pleased with himself. The fact he was subdued speaks volumes of the Commandery Princess’s methods."
"The Commandery Princess’s methods indeed inspire respect," Li Ying sighed with a smile, then recounted County Magistrate Cai’s tale from Li County, "... County Magistrate Cai was especially promoted and appointed by the Commandery Princess, and he works diligently and conscientiously. Your cousin never respected anyone, but he greatly respects County Magistrate Cai."
"You can settle in Ye County! Under the Commandery Princess’s governance, the people live in peace and contentment, and even women from families like ours can live well."
To freely come and go from the inner residence, to work with dignity, to earn silver and sustain oneself, to live with dignity—such a life is heaven.
Cui Wenxiu nodded firmly.
...
Whenever Jiang Shaohua traveled to a county, she would always check on the resettlement of famine victims, and Ye County was no exception.
County Magistrate Cui was now more earnest in his work, though not as devoted as County Magistrate Cai, he was still diligent and wholehearted. The more than a thousand famine victims in Ye County were well settled. There was ample food, and the housing and clothing for the famine victims were better than elsewhere.
The county government was wealthy, giving it confidence in affairs.
Jiang Shaohua, after seeing it all, was quite satisfied, "The famine victims are well settled."
County Magistrate Cui immediately perked up and cupped his hands, "Thank you, Commandery Princess, for the praise. I was just about to suggest to the Commandery Princess that I have arranged for several new villages to be planned. In the future, if more famine victims from the Northern Land arrive, please send them to our Ye County first."
Ye County was already the most populous Upper County in Nanyang County. County Magistrate Cui was still unsatisfied, seeking to expand the population further!
Jiang Shaohua smiled, "The arrangement of famine victims is up to Chief Historian Chen and Chief Historian Feng, I do not manage it. You may write to the two historians yourself."
County Magistrate Cui displayed strong ambition, immediately saying, "With these words from the Commandery Princess, I will write the letter tonight."
After all, he intended to follow the Commandery Princess’s lead in everything.
Jiang Shaohua smiled again, not minding given County Magistrate Cui’s ambition.
When inspecting the newly cultivated wasteland opened by the famine victims, Jiang Shaohua was somewhat surprised; "You’ve opened ten thousand acres of wasteland in Ye County!"
County Magistrate Cui smiled, "Ye County primarily focuses on planting mulberry trees and weaving cloth. The grain produced annually at most suffices for the local populace, and sometimes grain must still be purchased."
"Weaving is the people’s livelihood, they rely on their skills to live. I cannot force them to farm. Now that so many famine victims have arrived, I’ve directed them all to cultivate wasteland. Every five households are assigned an ox, expenses covered by the county government."
"If this continues, within a few years, Ye County can produce enough grain not only for the locals but also to contribute a portion to the Prince Mansion."
"Therefore, I wish to accept more famine victims to address the insufficient population and grain in Ye County."
The conversation looped back to the previous topic.
Faced with County Magistrate Cui’s earnest gaze, Jiang Shaohua felt a bit overwhelmed and said, "Fine, I will write a letter to Chief Historian Chen to arrange for more famine victims to be sent to Ye County."
County Magistrate Cui was delighted at achieving his goal and bowed deeply, "Thank you, Commandery Princess, for your grace."
...
Jiang Shaohua stayed in Ye County for six or seven days before departing.
On the day of departure, the people of Ye County lined the roads to see her off, especially the women. This was quite unique in Nanyang County.
A girl about ten years old with a loud voice shouted, "Commandery Princess, come earlier next year!"
Jiang Shaohua was amused and turned to smile at the girl.
"The Commandery Princess smiled at me." The girl with delicate features was ecstatic, "Grandmother, Mother, look quickly, the Commandery Princess smiled at me."
The old woman next to her, keen to watch the excitement, quickly urged her granddaughter, pushing the beloved grandson forward to catch the Commandery Princess’s attention.
The girl was outraged, forcefully keeping her prime spot, unwilling to yield, "I stood here first, and I was the first to call the Commandery Princess, why should I give up my spot? I refuse to move!"
