Chapter 125 Senior Brother really knows how to manage time

"Your Excellency forgot? Last time we ate at Yunshui Pavilion, you mentioned that there are still many homeless and disabled people in Longcheng. The Beitian Aid Home needs to be expanded and renovated, and the county government should provide more support."

“A few days ago, the magistrate raised funds for the Zheyi Canal and the Digong Sluice Gate, which made the county government’s treasury more abundant. So he took out 100 strings of cash and, together with Donglin Temple, renovated the Beitian Relief Home, expanded it, and added many more buildings.”

Facing the forgetful young magistrate, Yan Liulang, who had been running around doing errands these past few days, had a slightly resentful look in his eyes.

It's true what they say, "A single word from above can cause endless running around below..." Speaking of which, I'm sure the Prefect wasn't just making a casual remark that day.

Yan Liulang couldn't help but ask:

"The last repair was in the first year of Jiushi. Thanks to the manpower of the county government, it was just completed yesterday. Master Shandao would like to invite you to visit the newly built charitable institution another day and give some valuable suggestions. I wonder if Your Excellency has the time?"

"Of course I have time."

Ouyang Rong closed the document again, handed it to his junior sister who was tidying up the documents beside him, and said with a smile:

"No wonder I haven't seen you these past few days. Hmm, Liu Lang did a great job this time, getting it done quietly and efficiently. You have the air of speed and efficiency in warfare. Not bad, not bad."

"Of course I have to go. Sixth Brother, please arrange the schedule."

"Alright!" Yan Liulang perked up.

Ouyang Rong smiled, taking in his subordinates' reactions.

Last time at Yunshui Pavilion, he helped several beggars in the alley outside the back door of the kitchen, including one who was disabled.

At that time, Ouyang Rong was reminded of the mute girl with the severed finger and the old Taoist priest in the crane cloak at the Pure Land Palace, which inspired him to instruct Yan Liulang to have the county government provide financial assistance to the Xia Beitian Aid Home.

I didn't mention it later because I wanted to wait until the Zheyi Canal and Digong Sluice were repaired, and then I could spare the extra energy to properly handle these good deeds for the people's livelihood before leaving.

But to his surprise, Liu Lang took his words to heart and completed the task without disturbing Ouyang Rong.

Regardless of whether Liu Lang, the county officials, and Master Shandao of Donglin Temple were trying to curry favor with him as the county magistrate, their initiative was commendable. It also showed that these county officials were actually capable of getting things done, provided they had a superior who was fair in rewarding and punishing and did not confuse merit with demerit.

Therefore, before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Ouyang Rong didn't want to move around too much and alert the enemy.

But this time he had to make time to go and show his respect, because the most important thing when leading a team is to keep the morale of the members high.

Besides, Ouyang Rong actually had some selfish motives.

The Beitian Jiyangyuan at Donglin Temple was the first place he set foot in after leaving the Pure Land Palace.

I wonder if the master, the mute girl with the broken finger, and the old Taoist priest in the crane-cloak are all there.

This is a good opportunity to visit them...

The young magistrate thought to himself.

On the other side, Yan Liulang walked briskly across the threshold, opened his umbrella, and prepared to go to the clerk's office to arrange the magistrate's itinerary.

"Wait."

In the dimly lit hall on a rainy day, Ouyang Rong peered at the second document by the light of the daylight dripping from the eaves, and suddenly called out to the blue-clad constable.

He glanced at the documents sent from Jiangzhou, then asked without looking up:

"Are Lord Shen and Lord Wang expected to arrive in Longcheng around noon on the 15th?"

"That's right."

Yan Liulang nodded:

“The county magistrate and the officials of the prefectural government have already made arrangements. At noon on the 15th, the magistrate will personally go to Shili Pavilion outside the city to pick up the officials from Jiangzhou. They will then take a boat directly from Penglang Ferry to Yue Nu Gorge to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Di Gong Gate in the afternoon.”

"Pick them up at noon, and cut the ribbon in the afternoon..." Ouyang Rong thought for a moment, then looked up and said, "Then, Liu Lang, go and inform them and make arrangements. My inspection trip to the Beitian Aid Home will be on the morning of the 15th."

"It just so happens that Shili Pavilion on the outskirts of the city is not far from Dagushan Mountain, just a few steps away."

Yan Liulang, standing outside the door, didn't think much of it, nodded, and cupped his hands in greeting:

"Yes, Your Excellency, I'll go and inform the clerks. Oh, and also the Donglin Temple; we need to make proper arrangements there."

After the blue-clad constable left.

Ouyang Rong turned his head.

He smiled at the red-clad female advisor beside the table, who had been tidying up the table for a long time but hadn't managed to get it right and it seemed to be getting messier:

"Junior Sister, since we're going the same way, let's go to the Donglin Temple fair early on the morning of the 15th. After we finish drawing lots for the youngest sister of the Su family, we'll go to the Beitian Aid Home. You haven't been there before, have you..."

"Hmm, if we go early in the morning, we can still catch a vegetarian meal at Donglin Temple's morning vegetarian restaurant. I haven't had pickled radish in a long time, and I really miss it."

Xie Lingjiang, who was looking down, glanced at her senior brother's seemingly happy expression.

She gently bit her lower lip and praised:

"Senior brother is really good at managing time. The schedule is not delayed at all, and he makes full use of it."

Ouyang Rong was unaware of the woman's expression behind him.

"No, no."

He stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the rain curtain outside the lobby, seemingly in a good mood, and replied with a humble smile.

Seeing this, Xie Lingjiang, who hadn't bound her chest too tightly when she went out today, felt her breasts heave for a moment.

She couldn't help herself and asked, a hint of jealousy in her voice:

"So accompanying my junior sister to Donglin Temple to draw lots was just a side thing; the main purpose was still official business, right, senior brother?"

As soon as she said those words, Xie Lingjiang regretted them.

She reflected that speaking in this way was petty and did not conform to the upbringing of a noblewoman from one of the five noble families and the Xie family tradition.

On the other hand, on a rational level, she felt that it was normal for her senior brother to prioritize official duties as the magistrate of a county, and she should be pleased and supportive of him. What was with this sulky tone?

But just a moment ago, I couldn't control my mouth, and the words spilled out like beans from a bamboo tube.

I want to see the man's reaction immediately.

It's not Xie Lingjiang's fault.

If relationships between men and women could always remain absolutely rational, then what would be the point of giving people the capacity for emotion and feeling?

Seeing her senior brother turn around with a startled expression, Xie Lingjiang hurriedly added:

"Just kidding, senior brother, don't take it seriously. Your schedule is well arranged, which saves you trouble. Junior sister is fine with anything."

Ouyang Rong glanced at Xie Lingjiang's slightly cold face.

A hint of suspicion flickered in his eyes:

"Junior Sister, did you have any other plans for drawing lots at Donglin Temple that you didn't tell me about?"

Xie Lingjiang's heart pounded like a deer's, but she concealed her true feelings well and gave a soft hum:

"No, that's not true. My senior brother was very busy with official duties on the fifteenth, why would I bother him with trivial matters?"

Ouyang Rong looked at her for a while, until she lowered her head and looked up at him with a hint of annoyance, before he slowly said:

"I understand."

Xie Lingjiang's heart was gripped tightly, and even her angry glare softened, like a proud white swan that had become timid and cowered.

"Junior sister isn't drawing lots for the Su family's little sister at all; she's clearly bringing her along."

Ouyang Rong smiled slightly, his expression as if he had everything under control:

"The schedule is all set now, but on the morning of the 15th, or the night after, my junior sister will 'last minute' tell me that Su's younger sister has time to go out, and that I should take her with me to the temple fair at Donglin Temple to draw some kind of marriage fortune slip..."

"Junior sister, is it right or wrong?"

"..." Xie Lingjiang.

"Hmm. Junior sister isn't saying anything, so she guessed right, didn't she? Well, it really is..." Ouyang Rong sighed.

Looking at the senior brother's helpless expression, as if to say, "I knew it would be like this, can't we try a different approach?"

Xie Lingjiang suddenly felt like punching someone.

No other reason than that I was itching to get my hands dirty, and my senior brother deserved a beating.

Ouyang Rong was unaware of the faint "Danger" warning sign hanging on his forehead.

He was still shaking his head and sighing:

"Junior sister, this isn't like you. Did Auntie come up with this idea...?"

"Does Senior Brother know the Su family's youngest sister?"

"I don't know him." Ouyang Rong shook his head.

I don't know him, but I've seen him before.

Xie Lingjiang didn't ask any further questions, but said with displeasure:

"If you knew my senior brother, you would know how bizarre this idea is."

Then, without waiting for Ouyang Rong to ask again, she pouted slightly and said:

"The youngest sister of the Su family won't be coming, it'll just be the two of us... I'm just drawing a fortune stick for the youngest sister of the Su family, and maybe... I'll draw one for myself as a joke."

"As for Senior Brother, you can draw a fortune stick if you want, or don't if you don't. That's all... The table is tidied up. Senior Brother, you can go back to your work. I... I'm going out for some fresh air."

Ouyang Rong was taken aback, looking at his junior sister's upright figure, which resembled that of a swan.

"What kind of poison has my junior sister taken?"

Ouyang Rong paced around the table in the hall for a moment, then prepared to go out and coax his junior sister. Just then, Liu Ashan appeared at the door.

"Sir, what's wrong with Miss Xie...?"

Liu Ashan, standing at the entrance, put down his umbrella, looked back at the figure that had just passed by in the corridor behind him, and asked curiously.

"It's nothing, she's probably just not feeling well these past few days."

Ouyang Rong shook his sleeves, turned around and saw a rare hint of joy on the face of the taciturn man who had entered. Curious, he asked:

"What good news?"

"Sir, the first phase of the Broken Wing Canal is completed today!"

Ouyang Rong's face lit up with joy.

...

Songlin Ferry is located in the suburbs, not far from Dagushan Mountain.

It is the end point of the Zheyiqu water conservancy project.

The waters of Butterfly Creek flow down from upstream, meandering through the section of the river within the county town, including the section where the sword shop is located on the west bank, before straightening at this point.

After passing Songlin Ferry, the riverbed stretches out straight and natural, with the water rushing into the Yangtze River.

Therefore, in the planning of the Longcheng County Government Office model.

The Zheyi Canal starts from the Yedu Wharf in Shaojia Village in the south and ends at Songlindu in the north.

It's as if a relatively straight horizontal line has been drawn on the ground, connecting the two points.

If the original Butterfly Creek was shaped like the Chinese character "几", then the Butterfly Creek after the completion of the Zheyi Canal will be shaped like the Chinese character "凸". The extra horizontal line at the bottom is the Zheyi Canal.

Now, this improved version of Butterfly Creek, shaped like the Chinese character "凸", has finally taken initial shape!

The next morning, the rain stopped and the soil was moist.

Ouyang Rong, along with his junior sister and Liu Ashan, arrived at Songlin Ferry. This used to be a deserted ferry with few people, but now it has become lively due to the construction of the Zheyi Canal.

"My lord, watch out for the mud."

"It's alright, I'll do it myself."

Ouyang Rong twisted the corner of his robe, rolled up his trouser legs, crossed a muddy area, and led the group to a high slope beside Songlin Ferry.

These days, although Ouyang Rong has been busy with his junior sister and County Magistrate Diao at Di Gongzha.

However, the progress of the Zheyi Canal did not fall behind. On the contrary, with the support of the several thousand taels of silver that the Liu family was forced to donate, the progress became even greater.

To everyone's delight, they managed to excavate the first phase of the river channel before the Di Gong Dam was completed, outlining its general shape and width.

The obstacles such as rocks, field ridges, grass, and trees between Songlin Ferry and Shaojia Village Ferry have been cleared away.

Compared to the ingenious and orderly Di Gong Sluice Gate, the Zheyi Canal, which was excavated entirely by manpower, is truly magnificent.

Looking from above, it evokes a sense of grandeur and the ability to move mountains and seas.

This is a miracle created by the hands of laborers. Ouyang Rong suddenly understood the ancient engineering projects praised and admired in his history books from his previous life. Living on this land is a people who have passed down the story of Yu Gong moving mountains for generations.

"It's kind of beautiful."

The young magistrate stood with his back to the crowd at the very front of the hillside, gazing at the endless river before him, and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Beside Liu Ashan, the county magistrate's chief clerk, who was in charge of digging the canal, respectfully inquired:

"My lord, the first phase of the Zheyi Canal has been completed. Shall we now proceed to the second phase? This final phase may take several times longer than the first..."

"Stop digging for now, there's no need to dig anymore."

Ouyang Rong suddenly turned around and earnestly instructed:

"Go back and estimate the time for the second phase, report back in the next few days, and then you can take everyone to rest for a few days."

"Yes, sir."

Out of the corner of his eye, Ouyang Rong caught sight of a thick, water-retaining wall at the end of the newly excavated river channel beside Songlin Ferry.

The Zheyi Canal has not been opened to water because a second phase of excavation may be carried out, and it is best not to open it to water unless necessary.

The thick walls at both ends of the new canal that block the water from the old riverbed were also initially suggested by Ouyang Rong.

Ouyang Rong pointed to the thick wall in the distance and said:

Is this wall sturdy? Will it collapse halfway through construction?

The sergeant patted his chest confidently:

"Don't worry, Your Excellency, we'll be here every day and take good care of things. And look, the way this thick wall was constructed is quite ingenious; I must explain it to you... Under normal circumstances, it's extremely sturdy and almost never has any problems..."

Seeing the curious look on Shangguan's face as he listened, he continued to explain:

"However, if Your Excellency needs to open the Zheyi Canal urgently, we can cleverly demolish it in a short time and let the water from the old riverbed flow back in. Whether it is opened or not can be done according to Your Excellency's wishes."

"That's excellent."

Afterwards, Ouyang Rong asked a few more questions with great interest and learned more. Shortly afterward, the head of the Works Department took his leave.

He was surrounded only by his trusted confidants, including Liu Ashan and his junior sister.

Ouyang Rong pondered for a moment, then turned and gave the order:

"Ah Shan, pass on my order: from this day forward until the start of the second phase of the Zheyi Canal construction, no workers or civilians are allowed to linger on this new waterway from Songlin Ferry to Shaojia Village Ferry. Send people along the route to keep watch."

"Received, Your Excellency."

Ouyang Rong nodded, gazing into the distance with a thoughtful expression.

It is currently the end of the plum rain season, and there is continuous rain in the upstream and downstream areas of Longcheng County.

The water level marker indicates that the water level of Yunmeng Marsh is rising daily.

Ouyang Rong was quite worried.

Not only are we worried these past few days, but before the Di Gong Dam was even completed, Yunmengze suddenly started flooding as if it were having a seizure.

He was still preparing for the ribbon-cutting ceremony a few days later.

There may still be uncertainties regarding the situation at Digongzha.

Although he had seen through Liu's treacherous plan to blow up the gate, he had also made the corresponding arrangements for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

But if the Liu family were to act desperately and an unexpected incident were to occur, causing the Di Gong Gate to collapse, then the situation would be dire.

Therefore, Ouyang Rong did not order the county government's construction staff to immediately begin construction of the second phase, and instead ordered Liu Ashan to send people to guard the new river channel.

After the Di Gong Sluice Gate suffered an accident, the Zheyi Canal became the last water conservancy project in Longcheng County. Although it was not a complete Zheyi Canal, it was better than nothing.

Besides that, he's been feeling a bit restless lately, for some reason.

It's best to be cautious... Ouyang Rong sighed softly.

(End of this chapter)