Chapter 177

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

I adjusted some content at the end of the previous chapter; please refresh and check again before 9 AM if you've been following early, sorry.

Seeing his subordinate hurry away, Qian Zhongming sat back down in his seat.

He went over all his arrangements once more, feeling there was nothing wrong with them, yet he felt somewhat uncomfortable.

This new Tongpan, Cen Dezhang, was too easy to manipulate; back then he had softened up with hardly any means, and over the past half year Qian Zhongming had grown used to an easy life and could no longer tolerate any defiance.

To others, his actions now seemed lawless and reckless, but in his own mind, he could hardly be said to be without grievance.

Prefects serve three-year terms, but almost none actually finish them; those with good luck get promoted early and leave, those with bad luck get rotated early and leave, but these lower clerks under them, especially him as the head Kongmu, have to clean up the messes left by those above.

Others thought he could summon wind and rain, but in truth he was also forced into it.

There are so many officials in the world—some stupid, some mediocre—but those assigned to Huazhou, a place where four roads meet, are mostly clever people.

He doesn't fear stupid fools; he just hates clever people.

They're always thinking up achievements, full of ideas, and they order people around haphazardly—one thing today, another tomorrow; once something goes wrong, they shrink back and shift all the responsibility, leaving us clerks to take the blame.

If he were any less capable, he would have been crushed by the blame long ago.

To stand straight and talk back to superiors, one naturally needs real skill.

If not for relying on several generations of management to root this Huazhou four counties' offices deep like a great tree, how could he have accomplished so much?

But all these are matters of give and take; one cannot simply rely on power to suppress others.

To have subordinates work, one naturally must give them benefits.

Isn't it hard for those clerks to recruit laborers? Isn't it hard to collect grain? Isn't it hard to run errands for the office?

If we don't give them a chance to profit on the side, who would bother with him, who would put in effort for him?

Since he already agreed early this time, he must settle this matter no matter what; otherwise, once this opening is made, others will think his "Qian Kou" doesn't keep its word, and in the future they will surely hesitate.

Moreover, from the start his interests conflicted with those people from the Du Shui Jian.

Since Han, Wu and their group arrived at the office, Cen Dezhang, after hearing their demands, has spoken more nonsense and had more ideas; although he can reject seven or eight out of ten himself, this trend is not good.

Dig channels if digging channels, build embankments if building embankments; in his view, a major repair once a year is plenty—why dig rivers!

Qian Zhongming had seen the plan from the Du Shui Jian; he was an old clerk, experienced in matters and experienced in river affairs. Seeing those dense drawings, though he might not fully understand the deductions, he could still tell that Wu and Han really had something.

He went back to find the old man then, and checked the county gazetteer; comparing the two, sure enough, sixty or seventy years ago, Wang Jinghe had always been in use; before that, people still maintained it from time to time—first because the river existed, and second because in the past the Huang He floods were not like today, and Huazhou's floods were not frequent; even if a breach occurred, it was only a small breach, with a small impact range, and the disaster range and situation were not great.

It's just that later the Huang He changed course, and that river gradually fell into disuse.

If it is truly used now and succeeds, and the river water is diverted into Wang Jinghe, changing the river course, what about all those fields he has collected over the past half year?

Originally fields by the water, wouldn't they become dry fields?!

Moreover, according to the Du Shui Jian's current practice, they will arrange and maintain the people for Wang Jinghe's water gates and river courses themselves.

Originally building embankments and rivers was his own arrangement, his own say; if so, wouldn't that be sharing power?

Taking someone's wealth is like killing their parents.

Such matters naturally cannot be left to them!

For his own interests, Qian Zhongming naturally spared no effort to sabotage the Du Shui Jian's recruitment.

That subordinate went out, found Dutou Ding, repeated Qian Zhongming's words, and the latter immediately understood, counted out several subordinates, and headed straight for the Yi Guan Guan.

By now it was not early, and Song Miao had already returned to the city with everyone from the cookhouse.

Song Miao had earlier instructed the mule cart to go and stop along the way, arranging for those young ladies and aunties to get off at a nearby place and go home, saving some distance.

But as they were about to reach the Yizhan, there were still five or six people who hadn't left.

Everyone lived relatively close, and each vied to speak.

"Young Lady, surely you haven't forgotten that there are still many dried lettuce stems drying on the drying yard!"

"Exactly, we can get home quickly, but if we leave all those lettuce stems behind, with just Song Xiaoniangzi and Little Liu Cook, two people, when will they finish collecting them?"

"Fewer people make it easier to save, more people make it easier to work! We've taken the subsidy, so we're not eating for nothing—let's collect those dried lettuce stems before we leave!"

Seeing everyone so eager, each with work in their eyes, how could Song Miao refuse everyone's kindness, so she no longer insisted.

As mealtime approached, along the way she saw pedestrians hurrying home, all looking rushed, while outside the Yi Guan Guan it was crowded with people.

In the morning and at noon, those who came were a group of young ladies and aunties, acquaintances who came to sign up after hearing everyone spread the word.

But once someone signed up, took the numbered slip back, and received a reporting time, after learning that this matter was real, the pay was real, and a meal was real, when they met acquaintances, they couldn't help but mention it.

Word of mouth spread very quickly.

By afternoon, those who had gone out to find work or scrambled to make a few coins during the day returned; hearing their relatives mention it, who wouldn't be tempted?

Here the sky makes the sky and ties the knot; if they later find a proper job, they can leave the next day without any delay!

So they all came in groups.

There were also those refugees, many stuck in the Huazhou area due to the water, originally scattered in various places; some came into the city to see if they could beg for a meal, or find odd jobs, or heard from passersby, or came to look for notices, and happened to learn of such a place recruiting people, immediately lined up, went back and told others, and everyone wanted to come.

It was clearly almost evening here, yet there were even more people than in the morning, not fewer.

Seeing everyone doing their own jobs, busy in a flurry, Song Miao did not disturb them, and took the group of young ladies and aunties back to the Back Courtyard.

The Beginning of Summer was approaching; these past two days the sun was very good, and the lettuce stem slices had been dried for a day and were already quite dry.

Everyone was used to working, and besides, they had carried fifty-two strips for half a day at noon; seeing things laid out on the ground, they almost immediately reminded each other to wash their hands before daring to collect them.

Song Miao picked up a slice and pinched it, feeling it wasn't dry enough, so she told everyone to first gather them into bags and dry them for another day tomorrow.

Just as they were tidying up, suddenly someone behind asked: "Song Xiaoniangzi is back?"

She turned to look; it was Wang Shuji coming out carrying a brush, a brush washer, and an inkstone stand. She couldn't help but greet him with "Official Wang," and couldn't help but look behind him, asking: "Official, do you wash your own brushes?"

Wang Shuji replied: "Exactly. As for the brush case matter, I never rely on others; unless I truly cannot spare the time, washing brushes and grinding ink are both done by myself."

In his words, he was quite self-satisfied.

Song Miao glanced and saw that the brush and brush basin were ordinary items with no special origin, so she replied: "Grinding your own ink lets you control the thickness; washing your own brush lets you know how much water the tip holds, making it easier to use. I imagine Official Wang has fine calligraphy."

Wang Shuji's calligraphy was indeed quite outstanding.

Such a light compliment—though she had never even seen his handwriting—was so reasonable that he didn't even want to refute it, only laughed heartily and said: "It's just writing to cultivate the mind."

He then asked: "What are you drying? Is it for tonight's meal?"

Song Miao said: "It's lettuce stems peeled, sliced, and dried. We're not eating this today; I heard Official Wang's spleen and stomach are not in good shape..."

Her words had barely fallen when she heard loud voices from the front. Looking up, three or four people were walking toward the back courtyard, the leader loudly asking: "Which one is the Miss Song? The cook hired by the Water Supervisor!"

They looked aggressive.

Being called out by name, Song Miao naturally wouldn't play dumb. She stepped forward and said: "It is I. I don't know what business you constables have?"

The leading constable, seeing Song Miao, was clearly surprised, paused for a moment, then asked: "Are those many people outside summoned by you? They say they want over a thousand people to go outside the city to set up sheds?"

Song Miao replied: "Exactly."

The man asked again: "Where do you plan to build your shed? Do you have land deeds and construction permits? You've recruited so many people—have you reported to the village head?"

Song Miao answered each question one by one. Just as she said this matter required no land deed, the people opposite surged forward. Two on the left and right hurried to grab Song Miao's arms, and one prepared to fetch handcuffs.

But that hand had only reached halfway when several aunties who had been watching this side and sensed something was wrong hurried over and blocked the front.

One shouted: "What are you doing? What are you doing? Just because you're constables from the government office, you can pull and drag people around?!"

Another urged: "Our young lady is still an unmarried girl. You pull and drag her like this—do you have any manners? Were you not taught by your parents?!"

Yet another, the oldest, stood at the very front with hands on her hips and said: "You want to pull? Come pull me! I've given birth to three children, my grandson is already a year old, my arms are thick and strong—enough for you to pull!"

The other side had only three people standing idly, but this side had a full six aunties. Two against one, and almost all were broad and tall, soon blocking the men so they couldn't move.

The leading constable suddenly felt something was wrong and shouted: "Insolence! Serving in the government office, how dare you obstruct us? Do you want to die? Do you want to rebel?! I'll count to three. If you don't move aside, I'll arrest you all together!"

He indeed began counting.

After all, they were proper constables. Hearing this, the several aunties were all a bit flustered, looking at each other, but they gritted their teeth, and not one was willing to move aside.

Song Miao didn't wait for them to count to two. She stepped forward and asked: "I don't know what post you constables hold, and what business brings you to find me this time?"

The constable said: "Where do you get so much nonsense? The government office has summoned you for questioning!"

Speaking, he took the handcuffs from a constable's hand and prepared to step forward.

Song Miao, however, stopped him: "Wait. You constables want to take me to the government office for interrogation, but where are the official documents?"

The leading man was stunned, then said: "Once back at the office, there will be documents for you to see!"

Speaking, he had already pulled the handcuffs over.

But just as he was about to grab Song Miao, his vision suddenly darkened. He saw a hand reach out in front of him.

That hand was very large, but somewhat thin—clearly a man's hand. Without the slightest hesitation, it firmly pressed down on the handcuffs he was holding.

The constable head looked up and saw a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed plainly, frowning at him.

"No arrest warrant, and you're putting on handcuffs? Do you even know how to serve? Go back, get the documents, then come ask people!" Deputy Transport Commissioner Wang Shuji, while pressing down on the handcuffs, asked coldly with a stern face.

Having been stopped three times in a row, even an immortal would be roused to three parts of anger, let alone this constable head who already had a bit of a temper. He couldn't help but snap angrily: "What's it to you? Keep shouting, and you'll all go to the office to taste the flogging stick. Then you'll learn when not to show off!"

"I'm waiting for your flogging stick."

This sentence truly infuriated the constable head enough. He tossed the handcuffs onto Wang Shuji's hand, nearly cuffing him, but unexpectedly the man opposite shook something out from his sleeve and asked: "I am an official appointed by the Court. You don't have a single document, yet you dare be so bold? Where do you intend to cuff this official? Do you want to rebel?!"

The man looked up and saw a fish bag.

He may not have eaten pork, but he had seen a pig run. As a constable at the office, when he heard Wang Shuji say he was a court-appointed official, he suddenly remembered this place was the official station, where traveling officials stayed. He also recognized this fish bag as very similar to one he had seen at the prefect's waist. His heart immediately sank; all his previous arrogance turned into sweat on his forehead. He only secretly hoped that this meddling person before him held a small official post.

But this hope had not yet settled when a voice from behind called out: "Deputy, what are you doing?!"

The constable head turned and saw the station official looking terrified, running forward obsequiously.

His heart immediately sank halfway—the station official was being such a lackey; the person before him must have a high official post!

By this time, he could hardly remember why he had come.

Clearly to arrest a young lady—where was that young lady?!

The constable head looked up and saw the cook hired by the Water Supervisor standing neatly to one side, as if watching a play, looking at him.

In the Hua Prefecture Government Office, Dutou Ding was reporting to Qian Zhongming.

"Already arranged twenty men to go over. Catch that cook, cuff her on the spot, drag her out, bring her back to the office and throw her in jail. Then start dispersing those people lining up..."

"But the Water Supervisor's students are still there. Will they cause trouble in front of the Vice Prefect?"

Qian Zhongming waved his hand dismissively: "Surname Wu isn't here, and Han Li isn't here. No matter how the rest make a fuss, they can't stir up any waves."

But just as his words fell, they heard a loud banging on the door. As soon as the door was answered, someone crashed in from outside, calling urgently: "Clerk! Dutou! News from the official station... the official station side says Zhang Head and the others went to catch that cook, but somehow they handcuffed some... some Deputy Transport Commissioner. He's currently being held there and not allowed to leave, and they want Vice Prefect Cen to go personally and explain—this... what should we do?!"

Qian Zhongming felt this was utterly absurd and snapped: "Catch a young lady, and end up catching a Deputy Commissioner?! Neither male nor female matches—how can they arrest the wrong person?!"

The dutou had already stood up quickly and said: "Clerk, I'll go take a look. Don't offend the Passing Dragon!"

Qian Zhongming nodded repeatedly: "Don't make a big deal of this. Suppress it quickly!"

Dutou Ding nodded and was about to go out when another person rushed in from outside, opening his mouth to say: "Clerk, not good! Someone has come to the official station, claiming to be an officer of the Six Routes Transport Commission, asking to see Vice Prefect Cen!"

Qian Zhongming's hand trembled, and he finally grew somewhat nervous.

He took a deep breath and said: "Receive him in the side hall. I'll go receive him!"

His words had barely fallen when another person ran in, out of breath. Before even entering the door, holding the door frame, he called out: "Clerk! Someone from outside has come to report—a student from the Water Supervisor says... says that Han Li... asks... asks Clerk to arrange twenty men to go count!"

The successive pieces of news were all inexplicable. Even Qian Zhongming, an old hand, could hardly keep up. At this moment he frowned and snapped: "Count what? Asking for twenty men right off the bat—where would we get so many! Just say there aren't any!"

But just as his words fell, another person hurried in from outside. As soon as he entered, he said: "Clerk! Clerk! Many people have come to the north of the city, pushing carts and carrying loads on poles—all grain. The whole city is watching the excitement—it seems that the student surnamed Han somehow obtained grain, and halfway he caught me and told me to report, asking the office to quickly make room to count!"