Chapter 407

Su Qiao fell silent for a while before speaking.

Zhang Xueceng quickly agreed, "My lord is benevolent and righteous! This humble official will arrange for them to handle it immediately!"

"Let's go, talk to the common people, and see if they have any needs. An official must be willing to bend down; if one always sits high in the yamen hall, how can one ever know what the people need? Although this official does not expect you to become capable ministers who govern the world, you must at least act as stewards for the people! Otherwise, you might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes!"

Su Qiao specifically singled out Zhang Xueceng with a few words.

Fortunately, Zhang Xueceng was no wooden dummy; upon hearing Su Qiao's words, a layer of fine sweat appeared on his forehead.

He agreed repeatedly, "This humble official has received your teaching!"

"Let's go!"

Originally, the common people were avoiding Su Qiao and his group.

But as Su Qiao and his group slowly approached, these common people became even more restless, or rather, terrified and panicked.

"You need not fear; who is the village head?"

Su Qiao asked the villagers.

A thin, small old man tremulously raised his hand and squeezed his way out from among the villagers.

"My lord, this old man is honored to serve as the village head of Xiaohuang Village; I am also the neighborhood head."

Seeing the old man's look of terror and fear, Su Qiao felt somewhat speechless in his heart, but he forced his face to appear as kind as possible.

"Do not be afraid; this official is not here to pick a fight. This official wishes to ask you: your houses have been destroyed; besides the government compensating you with a sum of money, is there anything else you need?"

"Ah, giving money? No, no, my lord, we dare not!"

Superiors have always come to extort the people's Qian Cai; when has the government ever specially distributed money?

At least the small old man and the crowd of homeless villagers all thought this way.

Su Qiao knew what they were worried about and quickly explained to them: "You need not worry; this official speaks the truth. This time, the Japanese pirates were numerous; the government officials feared you would encounter danger and be massacred, so they forcibly ordered you to leave temporarily."

"It is just that we did not expect that, while you were away, the Japanese pirates burned down your homes. Regardless, your homes are gone because of the government's decision, so the government compensating you with a portion of Qian Cai is only right."

It was unclear whether Su Qiao's words were effective, or whether Su Qiao's attitude had calmed the frightened villagers.

At least the small old man, who had lived most of his life, felt that this young high official before him, who looked like a high official, was easy to talk to.

Hmm, thinking of us mud-legs!

"My lord, giving some money is enough; we have hands and feet and can rebuild."

Although his attitude toward Su Qiao had improved and he was not so afraid anymore.

Yet, adhering to the principle of caution, the small old man still rejected the idea of Qiaoxiangyao Gang wanting to help.

Upon hearing this, Su Qiao paused for a moment, chuckled, "I know what you are worried and afraid of, but this official wishes to say: you need not worry. Whoever suffers an injustice can come directly to the Suzhou Prefecture Yamen to find me; this official will stand up for you, and this official keeps his word!"

"No, no injustice suffered..." the village head, the small old man, waved his hands repeatedly.

Su Qiao ignored him and cut him off directly, "Your village may have young people with good strength who can build houses, but what about the elderly and children? If some cannot, should they not build houses? This official will still send people to help you."

Having finished speaking, Su Qiao paid no mind to what the small old man and these villagers thought.

He spoke directly to Zhang Xueceng: "Arrange for the nearby Yamen Runners and Constables; those with nothing to do, all come to help. Help the villagers of the five villages build their houses as soon as possible!"

"Yes, this humble official will arrange it immediately!"

Zhang Xueceng dared not refute Su Qiao's order.

Su Qiao nodded and did not stay any longer.

It was truly inconvenient to communicate with the common people; these people seemed to be terrified by the government officials.

Each one spoke with twelve points of vigilance and panic.

What else could Su Qiao do?

Could he force people to communicate with him against their will?

That would be like an old lady refusing to cross the road, yet he insisted on carrying her across!

After roughly wandering around, Su Qiao felt he had a good idea in his heart.

On the way back, Su Qiao said to Zhang Xueceng: "Originally, this official thought the affairs of Suzhou Prefecture were nearly finished, and we could leave in two days, but now this official is somewhat uneasy." Three.

260, a wasted trip?

If anyone else said this, Zhang Xueceng would definitely show anger on his face.

But facing Su Qiao, he did not dare the slightest bit.

After contacting this young Imperial Envoy, he was very clear: Su Qiao speaks what he means and acts with swift determination.

Although his words were spoken kindly, his attitude was extremely domineering.

If things were not done well according to the requirements, there would definitely be reprimands.

He himself was a person with little ability, and now he was even more tightly suppressed by Su Qiao.

Whatever Su Qiao said, he listened to.

"My lord Su's meaning is..."

Zhang Xueceng asked, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Su Qiao spoke in a calm tone: "I suppose you have never gone down to collect money, nor have you seen ordinary common people. Today, I took you to see; did you discover anything abnormal?"

Upon hearing Su Qiao's words, Zhang Xueceng's eyes rolled, and his head thought for a long time, yet he thought of nothing.

"My lord, forgive this humble official's dullness; this humble official discovered nothing."

Upon hearing this, Su Qiao gave him a look of disappointment, as if hating iron that could not be forged into steel; truly, it was mud that could not be plastered onto a wall.

"Did you not discover that the villagers are excessively fearful and terrified of officials, or rather, of our government officials?"

Since he could not think of it, Su Qiao simply and directly pointed it out.

Zhang Xueceng recalled for a moment, and his eyes lit up, "Yes, although this humble official cannot be called a good official, I am not a corrupt official who commits all kinds of evil; why are those common people so afraid of us?"

"You wouldn't guess, would you?"

Although Zhang Xueceng had clawed his way into this position by flattering superiors and bullying inferiors, his mind could not turn when it came to state affairs.

But when it came to these unorthodox paths, human relationships, and the like, his intelligence was truly formidable.

Su Qiao did not believe his mind could not turn even this!

As expected!

Hearing Su Qiao's words, Zhang Xueceng pondered for a moment and immediately guessed some of it.

"My lord, speak plainly: are there officials there exploiting the people?"

"Hmm, I am entrusting this matter to you. I want a result. If I am not satisfied, you will deal with the consequences yourself."

Having finished speaking, Su Qiao sent him away directly.

……

Having come to Suzhou Prefecture on this trip, Su Qiao did not return to Nanjing.

Nor did he meet Liu Rushi.

It was mainly a matter of safety and security; one must fear the unexpected even if the odds are one in ten thousand.

So Su Qiao had Liu Rushi wait directly in Nanjing!

Even though Liu Rushi had wanted to come over many times, Su Qiao had blocked her each time.

Now that the danger of the Japanese pirates had been eliminated, Su Qiao himself relaxed and was just planning to rest.

Hmm, should I return to Nanjing, or continue staying in Suzhou?

While Su Qiao was hesitating, Ma Kui suddenly walked in quickly from outside.

"Mr. Su, Lady Liu has arrived!"

Hearing this, Su Qiao froze for a moment, then "Teng!" shot up to his feet abruptly.

"Go!"

Arriving at the entrance of the Yiguan Sect, Liu Rushi was just stepping down from the carriage.

"Why have you come?"

With a look of joyful surprise on his face, Su Qiao stepped forward to support Liu Rushi's arm.

Seeing Su Qiao, Liu Rushi's beautiful eyes brightened, and her eyebrows immediately curved into a smile. "Previously you said Suzhou was unsafe and forbade me from coming; I obeyed you. Now the Japanese pirates have been exterminated and Suzhou is safe, so naturally I have come!"

"Good, your words leave me speechless. Come, let us go inside quickly."

Su Qiao was very happy at Liu Rushi's arrival.

However, just as Su Qiao was pulling Liu Rushi to enter the Yiguan Sect, a group of people on horseback charged over.

Had it not been that most of the opposing party were members of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Ma Kui and the others would have already loosed the crossbow bolts they had drawn.

"Who goes there?!"