Under Yan Xiwen's governance, Yao County completely changed in just two years.

As the carriage traveled along, it saw that in addition to the workshops of Xishan Industry, there were now dozens of new workshops in Yao County.

The workshops are still busy, and the county town of Yao County is also bustling with traffic.

"Look, two years ago when I came to Yao County, about 30% of the shops on both sides were closed. But now? Even on a snowy day like this, these shops are open. Not only are they open, they're doing very good business."

The carriage was moving slowly on the bluestone-paved street. After hearing what Fu Xiaoguan said, Yu Wendao turned his head and looked out the window.

He saw the bustling crowds of people, and even more so, the joy on their faces.

“The wealth of a country is not determined by the amount of money in its treasury, but by the abundance of money in the pockets of its people.”

"There's a sentence in the Analects of Confucius, written by Yan Yuan, that's often ignored by emperors. It goes like this: 'If the people are well-off, who can be dissatisfied with the ruler? If the people are dissatisfied, who can be satisfied with the ruler?' This means that if the people are well-off, the ruler will be well-off, but if the people are not well-off, you won't be truly well-off either..."

Fu Xiaoguan took a deep breath and continued, "What is the way of a ruler? The sage teachings say that one should rule the people with 'benevolent government' and 'righteousness'. It's a form of political manipulation, a means to an end, with the emphasis on the word 'rule'. But I don't think so."

Yu Wendao withdrew his gaze and looked at Fu Xiaoguan in surprise.

"So what do you think the way of a king is?"

"It is to make the people fearless of the powerful, not servile or flattering when faced with might. If they encounter injustice, they will have the courage to resist and have a place to appeal..."

Fu Xiaoguan didn't say this out loud. He just smiled and said a few words lightly: "Give them enough freedom!"

Yu Wendao thought for a moment and said, "This will only breed unruly people!"

Fu Xiaoguan remained noncommittal. "Maybe."

He did not argue with Yu Wendao, nor did he try to instill his ideas into Yu Wendao.

If it were a year ago, he would have done that, but he would definitely not do that now. It would be childish and... stupid!

Talking about equality, freedom, and democracy to people who lived in a feudal society thousands of years ago... is a stupid thing to do.

Therefore, every time he thought of the beautiful country he had talked about in Yan Mansion, he would feel extremely ashamed - he thought that he possessed thoughts that were thousands of years ahead of this world, and that such thoughts could wash away the old thoughts like a storm. But in fact, such thoughts were like a drop of oil falling into the sea. Not only could it not turn the entire sea into oil, but it could not even merge into the sea.

If it weren't for his status protecting him, the grass on his grave would probably be as tall as a person.

When I thought of graves, I thought of Xu Yunqing's tomb.

Now that I'm here, I should go to pay my respects when I return to Linjiang tomorrow.

…

…

Yan Xiwen took off his bamboo hat, brushed off the snow, and walked into the gate of the county government office, shouting, "The New Year is almost here. Old Bi, take a few people with you tomorrow to visit those workshops, give them some small gifts, and see if they have any problems that need to be solved..."

He walked to the side door of the inner hall and stopped, then turned around and said, "Oh, and those poor households counted last month. Old Wei will go and buy some meat noodles. It's New Year's Eve and we have to eat some oil flowers."

County Magistrate Lao Bi and Chief Clerk Lao Wei bowed in agreement, and Yan Xiwen then walked into the backyard and stepped into the west wing.

There was a stove burning in the west wing, and a down-and-out young man was sitting by the tea table.

He was brewing tea when Yan Xiwen came in. He looked up and said, "It's just right. This tea is good, Junshan Silver Needle. It's a pity that it wasn't stored well, so the taste has changed a bit."

"Zhuo Liuyun, are you born in the Year of the Dog? I hid the tea so carefully, and you found it?"

He turned out to be Zhuo Liuyun, the county magistrate of Yunlai County in Jiannan West Road!

"What's the point of keeping it? If you don't drink it now, this tea will be useless in the spring."

Yan Xiwen sat down opposite Zhuo Liuyun, took a close look at his dusty face, and asked in a low voice, "What did you do wrong, kid?"

"Inaction... Yunlai County was included in the reform pilot program this year, but Yunlai County didn't attract many businessmen. After the Autumn Examination, His Majesty dismissed me with a single decree. This year's third place winner was sent to Yunlai County to serve as the county magistrate."

Yan Xiwen sighed slightly and thought for a moment, "You can stay here and be my advisor."

Zhuo Liuyun shook his head and poured two cups of tea. "I don't want to be an official anymore. I didn't come here to find you to seek a job."

Yan Xiwen was startled and frowned, "So what do you want to do, kid?"

"Business."

“…”

"I don't have any money, so after much deliberation, I have no choice but to borrow some money from you."

Yan Xiwen was even more surprised. Zhuo Liuyun's family background was pretty good, so how did he end up like this?

Zhuo Liuyun did not explain. He sold all his property and invested it in Yunlai County. Just when Yunlai County was showing signs of improvement, he was suddenly dismissed from his post by the emperor.

Who can I pour out this bitter water to?

There is no need to pour it anymore.

All that effort has been poured into Yunlai County, and all the ambitions have now been extinguished.

He had no ambition to be an official again, but he had to support his family after all - he married Yan Ximei, the granddaughter of Yan Gao, the county magistrate, and was now temporarily settled in a rented house in Jinling.

He squandered all the family's wealth, his parents were extremely disappointed in him, and he was too embarrassed to stay at home.

Now that Yan Ximei is pregnant, he will soon be a father, and he has to take on the burden of the family.

"Tell me, how much do you need?"

"...Fifty taels."

"Fifty taels of silver is a bullshit business. If you want to do it, do it on a larger scale. I'll give you five hundred taels!"

Zhuo Liuyun paused holding the teapot, his hand trembling slightly. "Aren't you afraid that a scholar like me will lose everything in business?"

"It's a loss, it's no big deal. Look at how dirty you are. Go wash yourself and stay with me for a few days. Then we can go back to the capital together."

Zhuo Liuyun put down the teapot and said, "Okay!"

He stood up and was about to go out when he saw the door of the west wing open.

Just then, a man walked in into the snow and wind. He seemed familiar. He looked carefully and was shocked, opening his mouth in disbelief.

Yan Xiwen also looked back and suddenly stood up. "No way... could it be that the snowstorm blew you here?"

Fu Xiaoguan walked in with a hearty laugh, and then Yan Xiwen and Zhuo Liuyun were startled again—the fifth prince, Yu Wendao, followed him in!

Then came two beautiful women and a burly swordsman.

Fu Xiaoguan was slightly taken aback when he saw Zhuo Liuyun here, "Brother Zhuo is here too, it's truly fate!"

Zhuo Liuyun hurriedly bowed, the call of "Brother Zhuo" making him embarrassed, "Hello, Earl Ding'an, hello, Your Highness!"

"There's no point being polite when you're at Yan Xiwen's place. Yan Xiwen, what the hell are you standing there for? Hurry up and get some good wine and food!"