Chapter 401: Li Yuan

"What's the situation with this street?"

A short distance forward, Li Yuan saw a dozen or so houses and shops under construction around him and, out of curiosity, asked.

"This… I'm not especially clear on it," Little Liuzi hesitated. "But there are some rumors: supposedly the County Magistrate plans to build a… commercial street here, and has brought in many wealthy merchants; these shops are built by them."

"Alright." Since Little Liuzi didn't know much, Li Yuan didn't press further and changed the subject. "I recall when we first met, you said your County Magistrate was going to build a school, and you wanted to send your sister to study."

"How's the school construction going now?"

"Not finished yet, but it's close." Liuzi thought. "I estimate it should be done around early March."

"If you want to see the school, it might not be possible."

"I understand." Li Yuan nodded, turned his head to look around, feeling a bit weary after walking for a while.

After all, he was getting old.

Li Fushun, seeing this, pointed to a tea house not far away and said, "Sir, why don't we sit at that tea house over there?"

"Fine." Li Yuan replied, then smiled at Little Liuzi, "Let's go; I'll treat you to a cup of hot tea."

Little Liuzi, after hearing that, glanced at the tea house's sign and hesitated, "You want to go to that tea house? Their tea isn't cheap."

"I've heard this tea house has a great reputation in Chang'an; this is a branch."

Li Yuan waved his hand, indifferent, "You've already said it's famous, so the price being high makes sense. Don't worry, I can still afford a few cups of tea."

Little Liuzi said no more; although this gentleman wore coarse hemp clothing, the money he could readily give a guide showed he was no ordinary person.

Just a reminder to himself, lest he blame himself for being dissatisfied with the tea's price.

The three entered the shop, sat down, and ordered a pot of hot tea recommended by Xiao Er.

Looking at the familiar stir‑fried tea, Li Yuan understood.

This must be Chen Yan's tea house.

No wonder it's famous, and even dares to charge high prices.

Li Yuan took a light sip of tea and said to Little Liuzi, "You always say your County Magistrate is good; I admit he truly is. So, what do you think has been the biggest help he's given since taking office?"

"What's the greatest help…?" Little Liuzi was stumped by the question.

After hesitating for a while, he said, "Since the County Magistrate took office, he's done so many helpful things that one or two sentences can't even describe them."

"But if I must name the greatest help, it's giving everyone hope."

Hope!

Hearing that answer, Li Yuan fell silent, recalled what he'd seen since arriving in Weinan County, and nodded, "Be more specific."

"More specifically…," Little Liuzi mused, "It should be that we now clearly understand that as long as we work hard we can live well, no longer like before where, no matter how hard we tried—from sunrise to sunset, exhausted to the point we couldn't stand—still couldn't afford a good meal for our family or decent clothes."

"Now, as long as we work hard we can see returns; even a kid like me, in my teens, can support my sister with my own hands and even have a chance to send her to school."

"From having no meals at all to not going hungry, then occasionally being able to give the family a meat dish, a new set of clothes, and eventually having spare money to send a child to school—changing step by step, improving little by little."

"Look over there."

He said, pointing to a small stall outside the tea house selling baked flatbreads.

Li Yuan and his servant followed his finger's direction; in view was a middle‑aged man with a clearly disabled right leg, accompanied by two five‑ or six‑year‑old twin boys, selling baked flatbreads.

Seven or eight people were queuing at the stall, clearly indicating good business.

The man was busy, yet a smile hung on his face; the two children did what they could, handing things to their father, collecting money, and so on.

"That's Uncle Wang. When he did Corvée Labor before, his leg was broken. Aunt Wang's health isn't great either; the family lives in hardship, and those twins used to be as skinny as bones."

"But since the County Magistrate arrived, he had Aunt Wang work in a workshop; with wages, the Wang family's situation improved a lot—they have money for medical treatment and to support the two children and husband."

"Later, Aunt Wang saved some money and helped Uncle Wang set up a baked flatbread stall. Because his skill is good, business flourished, and the twins were gradually raised."

"Now they're probably like me, hoping to earn more to send the two children to school."

"You say, if life had no hope, could he smile that brightly?"

"You're right!" Li Yuan's voice was hoarse. "Are they an example?"

"Of course not." Little Liuzi pounded his chest. "Am I not another example?"

"Around this time last year I wanted to sell myself just to get some money for my sister's livelihood."

"After the County Magistrate arrived, the first people he looked after were us, who were barely able to get by, then the others."

"There are countless examples like me and Uncle Wang; we can't even count them, which is why we're so grateful to the County Magistrate."

By this moment, Li Yuan fully understood why Little Liuzi kept praising the County Magistrate so much.

He also understood why the people of Weinan County all wore hope on their faces.

Just as Little Liuzi said, effort yields returns, and hard work shows results. With one's own hands, one can gradually change one's fate; life gains hope.

Why then does Chen Yan, who brought all this, not receive admiration?

Even though he never appears, even though he never presides over justice in the public hall.

Yet he still holds an unshakable place in the people's hearts, believed to be doing practical deeds, wholeheartedly caring for everyone.

"Er Lang, you're blessed."

Li Yuan said, feeling conflicted.

"Sir, the Crown Prince also has blessings," Li Fushun suddenly said.

Li Yuan was startled, realized Li Fushun was referring to Li Chengqian, and burst out laughing: "Hahaha, right, right, they're all blessed."

"Blessed is good, blessed is good!"

Little Liuzi looked at the suddenly odd Li Yuan and his servant, scratched his head, then continued to sip his tea cautiously.

This tea is pricey; he usually can't bear to drink it.

At that moment, someone outside shouted, "Come quickly, the County Magistrate and Crown Prince are here, saying they're here to celebrate the new shop's opening!"

County Magistrate?!

Crown Prince?!

As soon as these two words were spoken, they instantly attracted everyone's attention.

Li Yuan immediately saw Chen Yan's prestige in Weinan County; after countless commoners confirmed the accuracy of the news, they all simultaneously put down what they were doing and hurriedly ran in one direction.

Little Liuzi was even more excited, really wanting to follow along, but he couldn't bear to part with his string of cash, falling into an internal struggle.

Li Yuan set down his teacup, 'Fushun, settle the bill, let's also go take a look.'