Chapter 33: A Hint

"Sir, someone outside the County Government Office asked us to deliver a letter to you!"

"Oh? Who would be sending me a letter?"

When Shen Yu returned to the County Government Office from the place where he had hidden the Sun family, the Yamen Runner hurriedly handed over a letter. Taking the letter and opening it to look, Shen Yu frowned slightly.

The letter detailed how the Prefect and his secretary had plotted and when they had made their moves; it was just short of explicitly telling him that they were the ones behind the scenes giving him, Shen Yu, a helping hand.

If the other party had done a good deed without leaving a name, Shen Yu could have frequently expressed his gratitude. But now that they were clearly telling him they had helped him, he feared they were offering favors without cause to demand a return, which instead made Shen Yu somewhat uneasy.

"Cloud-Gazing Tower!" The person in the letter invited him to meet at Cloud-Gazing Tower. Although he did not know what kind of scheme the other party had, they had helped him after all, so in terms of both sentiment and reason, he had to go.

Arriving at Cloud-Gazing Tower, it was currently mealtime. Cloud-Gazing Tower was the best restaurant in Baian County; usually, at this time, it would be packed, but now it was deserted. Only a few people were sitting on the second floor, clearly waiting for him!

With this setup, he hoped it wasn't a trap, but even if it were, he wasn't afraid! Gripping the long sword at his side, a powerful self-confidence radiated from within him; he was no longer the scholar who had been unable to truss a chicken when he first arrived.

"Magistrate Shen, long time no see!" Seeing Shen Yu arrive, the young girl sitting in the main seat smiled, like the warm sun of early spring, making one's heart tremble.

However, this also made Shen Yu somewhat puzzled. He could count the pretty young girls he knew on one hand, yet he didn't seem to recognize this one before him. But for some reason, he felt a sense of familiarity, yet he had forgotten when he had seen her.

Could it be a common ailment of men, that they feel a sense of déjà vu whenever they see a pretty young girl? That can't be, am I such an unreliable person?

"Magistrate Shen, you wouldn't have forgotten me, would you?" Seeing Shen Yu's reaction, the young girl was somewhat helpless. She asked herself if she really had such a generic face that she couldn't be remembered?

"Magistrate Shen, think carefully. That day when I was surrounded by people from the Flying Tiger Hall, it was you, Magistrate Shen, who helped me out of the siege!"

"Miss Lu Siyu, so it was you, Miss, who helped!" Reminded like this, Shen Yu immediately recalled it. The bright, spring-like girl before him was indeed a bit different from the disheveled figure of that day.

"Thank you, Miss, for your help this time. Shen Yu is deeply grateful!"

"Just a thank you? That's it?"

"Then what else? I am clean-handed, have no possessions, and am truly on my own. Other than saying thank you, I have nothing to repay you with, Miss. Surely you don't expect me to offer myself. This official is a decent person; you can ask me to keep you company with a smile, but selling myself is out of the question!"

Making a subtle mockery, Shen Yu was filled with vigilance in his heart. Although she had helped him, he could not do anything that violated his principles—not even a Beauty Trap!

Of course, if she really wanted him to offer himself, he could consider it; he wouldn't mind!

"Pah, who covets your body! Forget it, you helped me too, so let's call it even between us. Although your character isn't great, you are indeed a good official; you shouldn't have been framed like this!"

"Many thanks for the compliment, Miss!"

"No need. If you hadn't been guarding the river embankment for days without sleep or rest, do you think this young lady would have helped you? Don't be so self-indulgent!"

"Young Miss, watch your words!" At this moment, the middle-aged man who had been silent beside Lu Siyu suddenly spoke, drawing Shen Yu's attention. Instantly, Shen Yu quietly became guarded.

Just a moment ago, he hadn't noticed anything unusual about this person and had subconsciously ignored him after entering. But at this very moment, observing the other party again, Shen Yu felt a faint sense of danger.

An expert, and a very high-level one at that!

"I wonder who this gentleman is..."

"My surname is Chen!"

"So it is Mr. Chen. A pleasure, a pleasure. I imagine my affairs must have involved Mr. Chen's help as well. I thank you, Mr. Chen, for your assistance!"

"It is nothing. Magistrate Shen is young and promising; even without me, you would have been able to turn misfortune into fortune!" After complimenting Shen Yu, Mr. Chen continued, "It is just that Magistrate Shen must still be on guard; if one scheme fails, the other party will surely try another! And now, there is one matter in Changling Jun that is imminent!"

"Mr. Chen is referring to... the flood? The refugees?" In an instant, this term appeared in Shen Yu's mind. The heavy rain had fallen for days, and the river embankments along the way were poorly constructed. Here in Baian County, Shen Yu had held the line without sleep or rest, but other places had not been spared.

Floods ravaging the land would inevitably lead to refugees everywhere. The influx of so many refugees would be a shock to any place. A slight carelessness could lead to a major disaster.

"Correct, it is indeed the refugees!" He nodded with satisfaction, not expecting that with just a mention, the other party would immediately think of it. This young man was truly not the kind of pedantic scholar who only knew how to read. If cultivated properly, he might one day become a powerful arm for his master.

However, he still needed to be tested; he wasn't qualified yet!

"I wonder, Magistrate Shen, do you have a way to deal with this?"

"That is simple: use work as a form of relief. Organize the refugees to repair river embankments, widen roads, and reclaim wasteland. This can allow the refugees to have enough to eat, build projects that benefit the people, and keep the refugees busy to prevent riots caused by idleness!"

"Using work as relief? Brilliant!" Only then did Chen Xian truly begin to look Shen Yu up and down seriously. The fiery gaze made Shen Yu's hair stand on end; why did it feel like a mother-in-law looking at a son-in-law?

"Then if the refugees start a dispute and it turns into a riot, what would you do, Magistrate Shen?"

"Oh?" He raised his eyebrows in surprise; Shen Yu clearly felt the other party was testing him. From ancient times to the present, the refugee problem has always been a major issue; a slight carelessness could trigger a massive riot, and he didn't know how many people had fallen because of it.

To quell a riot, the imperial court would not be soft-hearted toward the so-called ringleaders. They would just 'crack' them first to quell the riot, saving the refugees from being used by those with ulterior motives to cause even greater chaos.

According to what Shen Yu knew and this recent encounter, he could be certain that the Prefect of Changling Jun was definitely an old schemer. If a son could wantonly slaughter the innocent to practice martial arts, it wouldn't be strange for the father to do anything for revenge.

Especially since these refugees were displaced and vulnerable; with a little guidance, they could be incited to riot for his own use, easily achieving his goal of revenge and killing without shedding his own blood.

"In chaotic times, use heavy codes!" Pausing, Shen Yu took a deep breath and then said quietly, "If someone deliberately stirs up disputes and triggers a riot, one must strike with a heavy fist to deter the refugees. Then, divide and win them over, breaking them one by one!"

"Good, decisive when necessary, not bad!" Hearing Shen Yu's answer, Mr. Chen couldn't help but pat the table in approval, appearing quite satisfied. Young, decisive, and not dragging his feet—he was material for getting things done.

If this were some pedantic scholar, they might be thinking of using love to reform them based on righteousness. Bullshit. When they can't even eat, who is going to listen to your nonsense?

A riot is something that, if not extinguished in time at the beginning, will only grow more intense. After all, panic is contagious!

"It seems Magistrate Shen has a plan in mind, but Magistrate Shen still needs to be careful; after all, one must guard against others!"

"Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Chen. I wonder if Mr. Chen has ever heard a saying! That which does not kill you will only make you stronger!"

Smiling lightly, Shen Yu's eyes seemed to flash with a sharp light, as if a powerful self-confidence was radiating from his body. And this confidence left Mr. Chen opposite him speechless for a long time.

"Well said! Baian County having a parent-official like Magistrate Shen is truly the blessing of the people!"

"Not at all, Mr. Chen is too kind. Mr. Chen is the one who is broad-minded and talented, a peerless scholar!" Listening to Mr. Chen's flattery, Shen Yu felt a bit guilty, wondering if he had just been putting on too much of an act!

"Magistrate Shen, Uncle Chen, is it really okay for you two to be flattering each other like this?"