Journey to the West: Starting by taking Sun Wukong as my disciple!-Chapter 562 - 561: Taking Money Back to the Village_2
"Really?!"
These people had always been full of admiration for Tian Peng, but they never expected him to be so formidable. Not only had he reported to the officials, but he had also called over the Governor.
"Zhu, because you’ve repaired the water channel, we can all plant crops now. The farmhouses have rapidly improved, and it’s all thanks to your efforts."
"We never thought that you were truly considering our best interests and that you would go to such lengths. We will definitely serve you loyally from now on!" a sycophant began to ballyhoo.
As one started, others began to chime in, each statement more exaggerated than the last, talking about loyalty and repayment.
Tian Peng felt more and more embarrassed as he listened; after all, the Governor of Kaifeng Prefecture was still sitting inside, and these people were speaking such words.
Even worse, as their praises grew more and more extravagant, it looked as if they were ready to regard him as a Saint.
"Ahem, ahem." Tian Peng coughed twice, signaling them to stop speaking.
The exaggerations got wilder and wilder. Thankfully, the Governor of Kaifeng Prefecture was an upright man; otherwise, if he had the slightest ill intention, he might have mistakenly thought that Tian Peng was preparing to proclaim himself Emperor.
However, Tian Peng’s hints were not picked up on by the crowd; instead, they assumed he was ill and showed even more concern for him.
"Zhu, Zhu."
The Governor of Kaifeng Prefecture had never seen such a water channel before. It was not just a water channel; it was as if they had dug their own river.
However, no matter the method, as long as the villagers could use the water, it was a good method.
The Governor walked a little farther into the area; the river indeed flowed more slowly, and unless one looked closely, it was not apparent that the water was moving at all.
Due to the slow flow, the massive amount of sands from the Yellow River settled at the bottom, becoming the riverbed. The water became much clearer, growing more so the further on one went.
Because of the tranquil flow, it became much more convenient for the villagers to draw water.
And with the nourishment of the river water, the nearby soil was no longer dry.
"No matter what methods you used, the village has changed so much, and you have played a significant part in it," said the Governor of Kaifeng Prefecture.
"However, repairing a water channel need not be this wide or deep. Your unawareness is understandable. If it were done by the government’s standard methods, the construction might have been quicker. But by connecting two rivers the way you have, although it is slower, it is safer and more effective."
The Governor was not saying these flattering words just to please Tian Peng; he was genuinely speaking the truth.
Repairing the water channel was meant to make it easier for the villagers to irrigate their lands and drink water. Nurturing the area’s environment as the river did was time-consuming and labor-intensive, but it was indeed the best method.
Tian Peng had inadvertently achieved the best possible outcome. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶
"Really?" Tian Peng scratched his head, slightly shy from such heartfelt praise.
It was like the admiration of an elder for a younger family member, and he was excited by the compliments within his heart.
"Well then, Governor, I should distribute the silver taels the Emperor has given me to the able-bodied men. Carrying so much silver around makes me uneasy," Tian Peng said.
Although he was only watching over a few hundred silver taels with so many elite men, since Tian Peng mentioned it, it was best to proceed as he suggested.
Tian Peng walked in front of his house and took out a list from a very inconspicuous place. Then, with the list in hand, he set out to find each person.
"Take this list and call everyone on it over, just say that I’ve returned from reporting to the officials," Tian Peng told the man.
This man was the fastest in their village, and he was present during the construction of the water channel. Tian Peng did not know the addresses of those people, so he could only ask others to call them one by one.
While the man went to make the calls, Tian Peng invited the Governor of Kaifeng Prefecture to sit in his house.
The Governor looked at the dilapidated little courtyard with some curiosity.
This young man had always said his family was quite wealthy, so why did he live in such a house?
Noticing his gaze, Tian Peng understood what he was thinking and explained, "It’s like this—I’m not very concerned with these external things. A house that can block the wind and rain is enough for me. As for money, I’ve spent it all on food; otherwise, I wouldn’t have grown into what I am now, don’t you think, Governor?"
His latter remark was made in jest, but the dignitaries of Kaifeng Prefecture took it seriously.
Mainly because the house was too dilapidated, plus those broken windows, it was not just Tian Peng, anyone standing inside such a house claiming to be well-off wouldn’t be believed by a soul.
Tian Peng noticed the governor’s expression and realized he had taken it seriously, feeling somewhat embarrassed, he coughed twice and said, "Please take a seat here, sir, I’ll go and fetch you a glass of water."
After all, this was his home, and although it wasn’t proper to not serve tea to a guest, he felt he should at least pour a glass of water.
"No need, you just sit down," said the governor.
He looked around at the bare walls, and considering Tian Peng hadn’t lived here for quite some time, he would have hesitated to sit down had it not been for his guards wiping off the table.
Now, the young man was offering to get him some water, not to mention whether there was any water to begin with, he doubted there would be a container to hold it.
Tian Peng scoured the room but found nothing.
Suddenly, he remembered the drinking cup was outside, so he walked to the outside water vat, only to find upon preparing to scoop water, the vat was empty, and he couldn’t even find the ladle.
Tian Peng scratched his head, earlier he had thought the governor was being a bit obstinate for taking a casual joke seriously.
Now he fully realized that it was not that the governor was obstinate, but that in his eyes, Tian Peng was exactly like that.
After searching outside for a while and not finding water or a cup to hold it, he was about to ask for water from a neighbor when Li Wu arrived with his entourage.
"Zhu, you’re back?!"
As Li Wu spoke, he glanced at the several dozen elite guards standing outside, their expressions steely, not even blinking as people approached.
Seeing these soldiers, Li Wu understood the implication and excitedly asked, "Zhu, did you really lodge an official complaint and even brought back troops with you?"
"What do you mean by really?" Tian Peng was somewhat displeased with the way others regarded him, "I said I would lodge a complaint, so of course I actually did. Otherwise, what am I doing here talking to you?"
Li Wu had not expected that Tian Peng would genuinely go to Bianjing to lodge an official complaint and return safely – they usually just talked about complaining to the authorities in passing.
However, the difference was, they would just mention it casually, but when Tian Peng said it, he was telling the truth and actually went through with it.
"Not only did I lodge a complaint, but I also brought the Governor of Bianjing over, and they are right inside the house, and the silver they are distributing to you was given by the Emperor himself."
"Really?!"
These people were already filled with admiration for Tian Peng and couldn’t believe he was so incredible, not only lodging a complaint but also summoning a high-ranking official to come over.
"Zhu, thanks to the restoration of the irrigation channels, we can all farm now. The fields are growing well pretty quickly, and it’s all thanks to you."
"We never thought you would truly consider our well-being to such an extent, and even manage to do this. We’ll definitely serve you devotedly from now on!" someone shouted obsequiously.
As one started the flattery, the rest joined in, with each statement more exaggerated than the last, talking about loyalty and gratitude.
Tian Peng felt more and more embarrassed as he listened; the governor was still sitting inside, and here these people were, making such statements.
It even got to the point of exaggeration where it seemed they were ready to regard him as a Saint of sorts.
"Ahem, ahem," Tian Peng coughed twice, signaling them to stop.
Their exaggerations were growing wild, and fortunately, the governor was honorable; if he harbored even a shred of corruption, he might have mistaken Tian Peng’s intentions as preparing to become the Emperor.
However, Tian Peng’s hints were not picked up by the crowd, who instead thought he was sick and became even more concerned.
"Zhu, what’s wrong? Are you ill?"
"Zhu, you’ve traveled so far to seek justice for us, are you sick? What are we to do?"
"Exactly, exactly, Zhu, you should get yourself treated first. We can wait; your health is what’s important. If you neglect your well-being for our sake, we would truly feel terrible."
