Climbing to the Top: A Reborn Queen's Journey-Chapter 379: Human Nature (Part 2)

After the refugees kowtowed and cried, they each wiped their tears with their sleeves, full of joy as they waited to receive the new-type plows and oxen.

Sharing a plow and jointly raising an ox with several households was a common occurrence for them. In the past, in Yan County, only one or two households out of ten had an ox. Now, four households could be assigned a strong ox, which was an unexpected delight.

Various specific trivial matters were handled by County Magistrate Gao, Ma Yaosong, and the others. Jiang Shaohua simply stood by with a smile, quietly watching with focus.

The refugees would glance from time to time at the beautiful, majestic, and kind Commandery Princess, feeling particularly reassured and at ease.

People’s hearts, gathered little by little, just like water droplets clustering into rivers and seas.

By midday, all the new plows and oxen had been distributed. Tang Youyin specially made a new account book and presented it to the Commandery Princess: "Commandery Princess, this is the account book I made today, recording the distribution of the new plows and oxen."

Jiang Shaohua nodded, opened the book, and smiled unconsciously, "Clerk Tang indeed keeps meticulous accounts."

Each household was written down clearly, with fingerprints pressed beside them. And a duplicate was made—with one copy remaining in the county government of Wuyin County, and the other naturally archived at the Prince Mansion.

No wonder Chief Historian Feng appreciated and employed Tang Youyin so highly. Even Jiang Shaohua, having interacted with Tang Youyin for several months, found him to be thorough, careful, and steady in his work.

Tang Youyin was delighted by the Commandery Princess’s praise but remained composed as he clasped his hands, saying, "This is all learned from Chief Historian Feng’s working habits."

"Chief Historian Feng is skilled in accounts, and his work is always well-organized." Jiang Shaohua smiled, "If you can learn from Chief Historian Feng’s abilities, it will be greatly beneficial in the future."

Tang Youyin humbly said, "I’m still far behind Chief Historian Feng; I will certainly keep an open mind for learning."

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly and continued to look through the account book.

As evening approached, everyone left the refugee village and started the journey back to the county government.

Riding to a certain place, Jiang Shaohua’s gaze swept over it, and suddenly she uttered a soft "hmm." Chen Jinyu, quick-witted as always, responded at once: "Commandery Princess, that’s where the Child Tower was leveled that day."

More than three years had passed, yet Jiang Shaohua still clearly remembered the scene from that day.

"No skirts in the school, no baby boys in the Child Tower." Jiang Shaohua said softly, "Now, Nanyang County has the Ye County Academy, and many girls are studying. The Daughter Tower in Wuyin County has long been razed to the ground."

Chen Jinyu said, "These are all the achievements under the governance of the Commandery Princess."

Ma Yaosong, Tang Youyin, including County Magistrate Gao, all felt inappropriate to speak at the moment. Some matters, distinguished by gender, were only felt deeply by Chen Sheren and the Commandery Princess. That’s why no one could contest Chen Sheren’s foremost trusted position by the Commandery Princess’s side.

Jiang Shaohua withdrew her gaze and looked once more at the village in the distance.

County Magistrate Gao, insightful, said, "I recall the Commandery Princess adopted a baby girl that day. It has been over three years; does the Commandery Princess wish to see her?"

Jiang Shaohua indeed remembered the frail baby girl from that day, her thoughts filled with a desire to see her. She nodded slightly upon hearing this.

County Magistrate Gao immediately took the lead.

County Magistrate Cai of Li County was bustling around outside the county government daily, and this working atmosphere gradually spread. The county magistrates in Nanyang County would be ashamed to speak up during their year-end reports at the Prince Mansion if they were unfamiliar with the conditions of the people under their governance.

Jiang Shaohua was pleased to see such an atmosphere prevailing, subtly promoting it all along.

A stick of incense later, everyone entered the village.

The villagers rose with the sun and retired at sunset, and at this time, they were returning from the fields in small groups. Upon seeing such a commotion from a distance, excitement ensued.

"Look quickly, the person at the front is our County Magistrate."

"The Commandery Princess has come too! Come on, let’s go kowtow to the Commandery Princess."

For the villagers, just glimpsing the beloved Commandery Princess in person, and having a chance to kowtow to her, was a memorable joyous event.

The braver ones moved closer, while the timid ones stayed far away and kowtowed on their knees.

Jiang Shaohua had no time to stop each one, so she had to let them be.

Undoubtedly, the most excited were members of the household under the Commandery Princess’s inspection.

Under this household, several members neatly knelt down to kowtow.

The elderly woman leading the way still had that sharp and difficult demeanor, while the middle-aged man had begun to show some white hair. The daughter-in-law who gave birth to the baby girl to be taken away had nourished herself well, appearing quite healthy. The children of this family had grown up too, the eldest among them appearing fourteen or fifteen years old.

After surveying each, Jiang Shaohua’s gaze settled on the youngest girl: "Are you Little Six?"

The over-three-year-old girl, innocent and naive, didn’t understand what a Commandery Princess or noble was. She lifted her small face and responded loudly: "Yes, I’m Little Six. Grandma calls me Six Lass."

The old woman visibly tensed up, dreading her granddaughter might say something inappropriate, and quietly glared at Little Six.

Jiang Shaohua glanced at the old woman.

Chen Jinyu, ever shrewd, immediately said: "The Commandery Princess wishes to see Little Six; let Little Six’s mother stay. The others may withdraw."

The old woman had no choice but to lead her children and grandchildren out. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"I didn’t expect the Commandery Princess would still remember our Little Six." The old woman looked regretful, whispering to her son: "I don’t know what the Commandery Princess will ask. Little Six is still young; if she speaks recklessly, will the Commandery Princess throw us all into jail in anger?"

The middle-aged man sighed: "The Commandery Princess bought Little Six that day and lets the county government deliver food every month. This is all for Little Six’s mother to eat. You, Mother, withheld half of it. If the Commandery Princess finds out, how could she not be angry!"

The old woman regretted so much she could almost pound her chest: "Back then, the family ran out of food, and the children were all skin and bones from hunger. It was out of pity for the grandchildren that I thought to save a little from Little Six’s mother, so the children could eat more."

She hadn’t eaten any herself, giving it all to the children.

The middle-aged man sighed without saying more. If the Commandery Princess were to get angry, he’d take the blame himself. He couldn’t let his elderly mother go to jail.

"In the past few years, has the county government delivered food every month on time?" Jiang Shaohua asked Little Six’s mother.

Little Six’s mother responded repeatedly, but there was a tremor of unease in her eyes.

Jiang Shaohua understood: "Did all that food end up in your mouth?"

Little Six’s mother wanted to say yes, but when she met the Commandery Princess’s gaze, she was struck by a sudden tremor and blurted out the truth: "Reporting to the Commandery Princess, I ate half the food, and the other half was for the children."

"The family was really struggling, the children were starving, and as their mother, I couldn’t bear it."

"I lied to the Commandery Princess, and it was my fault. I beg the Commandery Princess for mercy!"

Young Little Six saw her mother kneeling, and she too knelt to kowtow, speaking in a childish voice: "I beg the Commandery Princess for mercy!"