Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Space Supermarket-Chapter 477 - 429: Higher Rank, Greater Authority (Part 2)
Yu Xiaolian smiled with her eyes and responded obediently, "Understood, Father!"
Although these Sun Family wives all sent money back to their parents and siblings, none mentioned letting their parents and siblings come to rely on them, because if they brought all these in-laws, the men in their households would surely have opinions. After all, no one wants to treat a bunch of poor relatives like living ancestors. Sending money back is already the greatest filial piety these wives can show.
The next day, Yu Xiaolian went to Luocheng to bid farewell to Teacher Ying, Lu Manluo, and Guard Zhao, and then went to Zhenpin Pavilion, leaving Zhao Sanyan behind, instructing her sister, Zhao Erya, to find Sanyan a good family to marry into.
Yu Xiaolian had already returned the deeds of both sisters when Little Erya and Sun Mancang married, and now she had no shortage of maidservants. In Bridge Alley, there were maidservants to command, and Su Jingchen decided to bring everyone from Bridge Alley this time, leaving only an elderly man to guard the door.
The last night in Luocheng was spent in Xiangyang Lane, where the Sun Family and Yu Changhe were also present.
Sun Wulin’s wife, along with Sun Manyue and Sun Mansheng, stayed next door to Yu Xiaolian’s room to facilitate setting out together the next morning.
Even though Yu Xiaolian wished time would pass more slowly, it was time to depart. Su Jingchen waited for Li Wenyuan before organizing the convoy to set off. The Sun Family reluctantly bid farewell to Yu Xiaolian, while Yu Ziqian and Yu Zixuan were not particularly saddened, thinking their sister would return in a while, just like before.
Yu Xiaolian instructed Mrs. Gao to take Sun Manyue and Sun Mansheng onto the carriage. Before boarding, Mrs. Gao looked around, as if hoping Sun Manqing would come to see her off, but even when Li Wenyuan from Xinghua Village arrived, she still did not see her eldest son, which left her feeling somewhat sorrowful.
Seeing the day fully lit with the sun almost rising, the Sun Family stopped holding Yu Xiaolian’s hand and urged her to get on the carriage.
Yu Xiaolian had hardly slept the entire night, and as soon as she boarded the carriage, she leaned on Su Jingchen’s shoulder and drifted off to sleep.
To reach Yangcheng as soon as possible, they traveled day and night for nearly two months until they finally arrived in Yangcheng.
The first thing they did upon arrival was to visit the Yangcheng County Government to find the County Magistrate and present the appointment documents to confirm their identities.
The magistrate of Yangcheng County was a man in his fifties with a slightly comical mustache, named Qian.
County Magistrate Qian was no ordinary person. Since becoming a Scholar, he had worked in Yangcheng, initially serving as Secretary, and after five or six years, he was promoted to County Magistrate. Since becoming County Magistrate, countless County Magistrates have come and gone.
One could say that County Magistrates come and go, but the County Magistrate remains constant.
In the following days, Su Jingchen discovered that in certain aspects, County Magistrate Qian held more authority than he did.
Being new, Su Jingchen wanted to get to know all the Government Office officials and officers and convey the principles and methods to be followed in the future. He entrusted this task to County Magistrate Qian, only for County Magistrate Qian to directly dismiss Su Jingchen’s orders, claiming that several villages near Yangcheng were experiencing a plague, and all county government personnel had been dispatched.
"Oh, what have you sent them to do?" Su Jingchen realized that County Magistrate Qian was using his age to bully him for being young!
County Magistrate Qian replied unhurriedly, "Naturally, I’ve set up barriers in the villages with the plague, enclosing the villages and not allowing anyone to leave.
If those infected were to leave freely, they would certainly infect more people!"
County Magistrate Qian’s instructions to Su Jingchen were condescending, making Su Jingchen very displeased.
"Besides these measures, what else has County Magistrate Qian done about the epidemic?"
Having been County Magistrate for over a decade, Qian naturally understood what Su Jingchen was asking. He sighed heavily and said, "I naturally want to help the people afflicted by the plague, but our Yangcheng County Government is broke, with not a penny on the books, and even the officials’ monthly salaries haven’t been paid for a long time.
Alas, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice!
Fortunately, Lord Su, you are here—as this year’s top scholar and a great talent—I hope you can find a way to help the people. The old me will rely on your wisdom, Lord Su."
Ha, with not a penny in the county treasury and debts owed to several wealthy merchants in the city, I’m curious to see what a twenty-year-old greenhorn can come up with?
