Chapter 59 My Mind is in Turmoil: The Flood in Gao County (2)

On the dam in Gao County, Lin Yihuai and Chen Junbai stood side by side with their hands behind their backs.

Under the clear blue sky and over the vast, flowing river, the two figures appeared almost unreal from a distance.

The two men looked grave. Before them, what should have been rows of farmhouses and huts along the fields was now nothing but raging floodwaters and countless floating corpses.

Lin Yihuai: "Lord Zhong and the River Conservancy Commissioner have reported the disaster situation to the imperial court."

Upon hearing this, Chen Junbo said, "The imperial court's disaster relief funds probably won't arrive so quickly."

The disaster relief funds were approved, issued, and verified in the capital before reaching this Jiangnan region. It was truly a case of distant water not quenching immediate thirst.

Moreover, in recent years, the procedures for the imperial court to distribute disaster relief funds have become increasingly cumbersome, with the amount subject to deductions and the process slow. This is entirely because local governments have requested funds, and the emperor, out of compassion for the people, has no choice but to distribute them. However, the Ministry of Revenue did not have this budget at the beginning of the year, so it was naturally stretched thin and the distribution was done reluctantly.

Lin Yihuai glanced at Chen Junbai and sighed, "Yes, the flood has already come, and Gao County is gone. I'm afraid we can't wait any longer."

"Lord Lin, do you wish to open the treasury?" Chen Junbai finished Lin Yihuai's sentence.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yihuai turned around and carefully examined the young leading merchant of Lianghuai.

He believed that from the day he took office, he had already placed this businessman, Chen, on his list of non-cooperators, and had never hesitated to speak coldly to him, both openly and secretly. Today, it seems that this businessman has not taken the past to heart. No wonder he has secured a high position at such a young age; his magnanimity is beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Now that something had happened in Gao County, he received the news but didn't want to get entangled with Zhang Youdao's group, so he rushed to the river embankment to inspect it. Unexpectedly, that very evening, he was greeted by this Chen Shoushang and his companions.

He arrived gracefully in a white robe, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then jumped onto the breached embankment to investigate.

Governor Zhong, Salt Commissioner Zhang, and the rest of the group arrived late the next afternoon, riding in black-canopied horses.

At this moment, I had only mentioned the disaster relief funds, and the salt merchant was able to understand the unspeakable things behind it and took the initiative to propose a way to open the treasury.

The treasury silver was the silver paid by the salt merchants to the imperial court, and everything was predetermined. If the treasury silver was used today for the flood in Gao County, and the imperial court's disaster relief funds arrived later, if the amount was insufficient, the salt merchants would have to pay the difference.

Judging from the amount of disaster relief funds distributed by the imperial court in the past two years, these salt merchants must have been aware of this, and they were determined to use their own money to subsidize this natural and man-made disaster.

Thinking of this, Lin Yihuai squinted and asked, "What does General Manager Chen think?"

This time, he put aside his prejudices, and his words were no longer sarcastic or difficult. He genuinely wanted to have a good chat with this leading salt merchant from Lianghuai.

In the period after he took office, his work did not go smoothly. Zhang Youdao had close communication with various salt merchants in the town, which made it impossible for him, the Salt Commissioner, to verify the treasury accounts.

Today, having gotten to know this General Manager Chen again, he couldn't help but ask: since the salt merchants diligently reimburse the court and genuinely care about the people, why is the salt bureau's treasury in such dire straits, and where has all the money gone?

Looking at the animal carcasses floating in the floodwaters and the collapsed wooden beams of houses, Chen Junbai said, "Lord Lin, there is still room for maneuver regarding the treasury silver, but this flood is a hurdle before us." After saying this, he turned to Lin Yihuai and bowed, "This humble subject humbly requests that Your Excellency open the treasury silver of the Salt Bureau."

Looking at the young man bowing in greeting, Lin Yihuai's chest pounded like a drum. His eyes were fixed, and he felt as if a ray of sunlight had pierced through the clouds, instantly refreshing his spirit. "Hahahaha, good, good. Mr. Chen, please come in." He then led Chen Junbo down the embankment and towards the rest of the group.

These two men, working together, have built a vast empire for the salt industry in Lianghuai. Now that they have agreed on their plan, the rest of the people naturally have no further objections. A set of 'sincere' official etiquette, set against the backdrop of this flood, seems like a good show under the afterglow of the setting sun.

As the sun set, the clouds blazed like fire. On the second-floor veranda of Lanxin Pavilion, two young ladies leaned on the railing, gazing into the distance.

"Sister Ziyan, will a plague really break out in this flooded area?"

Ziyan looked quietly into the distance. "Don't worry, Mr. Chen has been handling these matters with Old Master Zhang since he was a child. He knows how to deal with both major and minor disasters."

"Sister Ziyan, regarding the matter of Hua Ju, should I not have held a grudge against him?"

Even the biggest conflicts between people will gradually fade away as time goes on and distance grows between them.

In the past two days, Chen Junbai's words from that day seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, lingering in her mind and refusing to leave. She didn't think that Chen Junbai had said or done anything wrong, but this incident made her realize that the two of them were completely different in their actions, and their thoughts were worlds apart.

She couldn't figure out what she was angry about. They were different people, she had always known that, hadn't she? Was she being too greedy? His gentle words and deep concern in the past were all genuine.

She always felt that this wasn't enough; she wanted them to understand each other, she wanted Chen Junbo to understand her. But how many people in this world are as lucky as a mother?

Her mother once held her in her arms, hoping that she would find her Mr. Right in the future. "That man will love you, respect you, put you first in everything, consider your feelings, and care about the outlet of your soul." Her mother said that her father was such a man, so she was willing to follow him to the ends of the earth.

Ziyan turned around calmly, stared at her for a long time, and said, "Zhaozhao, don't do anything you'll regret."

These words came out of nowhere, but they jolted Li Yang out of his reverie.

Seeing this, Ziyan took her hand and suddenly smiled, “Everyone says that ‘true lovers will eventually be united,’ but I don’t think so. The word ‘love’ is the most elusive. If you miss the right moment, even if you are a minute late, you will regret it too late.”

These words inexplicably brought tears to his eyes. Li Yang looked at Zi Yan, pondering the meaning behind her words.

“Zheng Qingbo and I are like a pair of ill-fated lovers who were out of sync. Once we've gone off-key, we can never get back on the same wavelength. You still have the present, Zhaozhao, so please don't do anything you'll regret.”

Through the mist, Li Yang saw Zi Yan's phoenix eyes sparkling, her long eyelashes glistening with water, and the corners of her mouth slightly upturned. Her beautiful face was tinged with bitterness.

She nodded unconsciously, but her lips trembled as she struggled to untangle the tangled mess in her heart. Ziyan's words had given her a glimmer of hope, and she thought that by following that thread, inch by inch, she could eventually smooth out the roughness in her heart. Then, she would understand what she truly felt.

Having made up her mind, she hurried on her way, and the next day she bought enough mugwort from the town and drove to Gao County with the deer.

Xiao Lu felt that Mrs. Chen was quite a sight to behold today.

On her fair face, a pair of beautiful eyes bloomed like pear blossoms, their watery light shimmering as her eyelashes fluttered.

When Chen Junbo, who was busy on the dam, received the message, he turned around and was greeted by this smiling face.

"Chen Junbo, I'm here."

The little girl wore a pale yellow long gown with the cuffs tied up at the shoulders, and only one slender arm was waving upwards, the waving so fast it dazzled him as she jumped.

The man quickly threw the sandbag in his hand, turned around and jumped off the flood embankment. While drying his hands on his body, he hurried towards Liyang.

"How could we let the young mistress come here?"

Xiao Lu pursed her lips and lowered her head, "Young Master." As she spoke, her eyes glanced at Bi Fang.

“I came of my own accord.” Li Yang hurriedly pulled up Chen Junbai’s sleeve, walked closer to his side, and said, “The Huaju area was surrounded by disaster victims a few days ago, and that’s when I learned that Gao County had been flooded. I wanted to come and see you.”

Chen Junbo frowned upon hearing this, "The Flower Bureau was surrounded by disaster victims?"

"It's nothing, it's all taken care of." She quickly changed the subject, "Are you alright?"

Upon hearing this, Young Master Chen's eyes quickly scanned the surroundings, and Bi Fang, who was following behind him, hurriedly pulled Xiao Lu back a few steps.

He then spoke, "Zhaozhao, are you not angry anymore?" But then he realized he had spoken out of turn and quickly said, "I'm very happy that you came to see me."

Li Yang smiled and looked him up and down. "Chen Junbo, your clothes are dirty."

He was taken aback for a moment, then the two looked at each other and smiled.

She remembered that this person couldn't bear to have even a speck of water on his sleeves, but today his clothes were so worn that the original color was no longer discernible.

Seeing his bright smile, the gloom between them from the past few days vanished, and Chen Junbo gently advised, "It's chaotic here, let's go back soon."

Bi Fang was taken aback. Having followed Chen Junbo for so many years, when had the young master ever needed to explain himself before speaking? Now, his tone didn't sound angry; rather, it was as if he were coaxing the young mistress. Could it be that the incident a few days ago was the young mistress holding a grudge against the young master?

“Okay.” Li Yang obediently agreed, then pulled him to the side of the carriage, where a pile of bundles of various sizes was revealed when the curtain was opened.

"These are the clothes I brought for you. Don't be reluctant to change them. I'll bring you more tomorrow."

“These are herbs brought from town. I heard from the Taoist priest at the Xiahai Temple that a great flood is bound to bring an epidemic. You must be careful not to catch the disease.”

After rambling on for a while, she realized that Chen Junbo was just standing to the side watching her busy, and hurriedly asked, "Did you hear me?"

The man then came to his senses and said, "I heard you."

Li Yang smiled and took the food box from the car. "There's plenty of good food in here. You must not have much to eat here. Try it. I made it all myself."

The two were whispering to each other when suddenly a shameless voice rang out, "Hehe, sister-in-law."

"Hehe." Li Yang's face fell when he saw the person who came in. "General Manager Liu."

"Oh dear, please don't. Why are you still angry with me, sister-in-law? I was wrong, I was wrong, okay?" Liu Yitong, as if he had a dog's nose, moved to the side of the two as soon as Li Yang took out the food box. "Sister-in-law, are you here to bring everyone a meal?"

Hearing him spout such nonsense, turning the meals brought by Li Yang into a meal for "everyone," Chen Junbo kicked him in the buttocks, saying, "I never see you working, but you're so eager to eat."

Liu Yitong didn't care; he was currently both hungry and craving food. He didn't know what had happened to offend his wife, Tao Hua, a couple of days ago, and now, no one from his family had brought him any food in Gao County. He was eating cornbread every day, and his mouth was bleeding from the spit. Could it be that Tao Hua had gone mad and was trying to starve him to death in Gao County?

Now that he finally saw food, he couldn't wait to snatch the food basket away.

Seeing his drooling expression, Li Yang could no longer keep his composure and laughed, "I brought plenty, enough to eat."

Seeing her generosity, Chen Junbai told Liu Yitong to go and serve the meal, while he took Liyang back to his tent. He really wanted to change his clothes and also wanted to hold this 'lost and found' little lady.