"I...I don't remember very clearly, but it has a picture of Miss Shen on it. Mother, you can go and see for yourself! It's not far anyway!" Jiang Yaojie said, scratching his head.

Jiang Ling got up to leave, but before she even reached the entrance of the money exchange, she saw a large crowd gathered there. Without a word, Jiang Ling squeezed to the front.

A portrait of Shen Congxin appeared in Jiang Ling's eyes, followed by some basic information about Shen Congxin and the place where he disappeared. When she saw the last part, Jiang Ling couldn't help but sneer.

Shen Congxin's stepmother is indeed cunning. She directly implied that Shen Congxin eloped with someone and was sold to a brothel. Even if nothing happened to Shen Congxin, her life would still be ruined!

Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, Jiang Ling quietly left the money exchange, hesitated for a moment, and finally headed towards the yamen gate.

"Oh, Aunt Jiang, you're here? You're here to see our magistrate? Come on, come on!" Zhao Liu, who was on guard duty at the yamen gate today, greeted Jiang Ling warmly as soon as he saw her.

"Um...yes, I need to talk to you adults about something." Jiang Ling looked at Zhao Liu in front of her with some embarrassment.

Zhao Liu didn't take it seriously at all and beckoned Jiang Ling to walk towards the inner hall.

At that moment, Magistrate Duan was discussing something with his clerk. When he saw Zhao Liu enter, he was somewhat displeased. Magistrate Duan was about to reprimand Zhao Liu, but when he saw Jiang Ling behind Zhao Liu, he immediately smiled.

"You may leave now!" Magistrate Duan said, glancing at his advisor.

The advisor nodded and exchanged a glance with Zhao Liu as he left the inner hall. Zhao Liu, seeing that his task was completed, tactfully left the room as well.

Only Jiang Ling and Magistrate Duan remained in the large inner hall, creating an awkward atmosphere. Magistrate Duan coughed lightly and asked, "Did you need something from me?"

"Oh no, I meant you can come over even if it's nothing!" It was obvious that Magistrate Duan regretted what he had just said, and he quickly explained.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ling simply smiled and then asked, "Big brother, do you know about Shen Congxin's matter?"

"Chen Congxin? I've heard a little about it. Could it be that you've also gotten involved?" Magistrate Duan stroked his chin and said.

Jiang Ling nodded and continued to the magistrate, "If I told you that Shen Congxin is currently in my house, what would you think?"

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Duan was taken aback. His mouth gaped open so wide that an egg could fit inside. After a long while, Magistrate Duan walked to the window, gently pushed it open a crack, looked around, and then cautiously returned.

"Is what you're saying true?" Magistrate Duan asked, his voice strained and tense.

“Yes, Shen Congxin is indeed looking for me!” Jiang Ling nodded and casually recounted how she met Shen Congxin and what she asked Zhao Qianyu.

After hearing the story, Magistrate Duan looked incredulous; he hadn't expected the matter to be so complicated.

"So, young lady, what do you want to do?" Magistrate Duan asked.

"I hope you will keep this a secret. If something really happens, I hope you can help me!" Jiang Ling said this vaguely, but Magistrate Duan understood.

This was the first time Jiang Ling had asked him for a favor, and he readily agreed, "No problem, leave it to me! But I want to ask what your current plan is?"

"I...I don't know either, but I absolutely cannot let Shen Congxin sit idly by and wait for her death. Now her stepmother wants to make it clear that she eloped with a man and was sold into a brothel!"

"Brother, you should know that either of these two things alone could ruin a girl's reputation for life. Let alone these two deadly rumors. Even if nothing happened to Shen Congxin, she probably wouldn't be wanted by anyone in a brothel after she went there!"

"What's more, Shen Congxin's father is a well-known merchant in the area, which is undoubtedly adding insult to injury!"

Jiang Ling's words made Magistrate Duan nod repeatedly. Magistrate Duan said to Jiang Ling, "Sister, don't worry. If you really need my help, just say the word, and I will definitely help you!"

Hearing Magistrate Duan's words, Jiang Ling felt a little relieved. She nodded and said to Magistrate Duan, "Thank you, brother!"

Seeing this, Magistrate Duan quickly added, "Sister...sister, why don't you stay for dinner tonight? I'll have the kitchen prepare something you'd like to eat?"

"No, no, I have something to do here. I'll be going now, brother. When I came over, I saw you talking to the advisor. I guess you must have something to discuss, so I won't disturb you!" Jiang Ling said and prepared to leave.

"Wait...don't go yet, I...I have something to say!" Magistrate Duan stopped Jiang Ling and said.

Jiang Ling looked up at Magistrate Duan. His gaze was sharp and intense, making Jiang Ling's heart flutter. She lowered her head shyly, but what Magistrate Duan said next made her roll her eyes.

"Hey girl, what are you growing in your field?"

"That's...that's it?" Jiang Ling was both amused and exasperated.

She steadied herself and said to Magistrate Duan, "My great-grandmother once told me that after the autumn harvest, we can plant some cotton and raise some ducks. By winter, the cotton will have mostly fruited, and the ducks will have grown up! Using cotton and duck feathers to keep warm will be much better than using reeds!"

"Cotton? Is it really too late to plant it now? After all, there are less than a hundred days left until winter. Is it really possible to plant it now?" Magistrate Duan asked with some doubt.

“Generally, cotton takes 50 to 60 days to mature, and even the longest takes 100 days, so this period of time is more than enough. Besides, there’s something I don’t know if I should say!” As Jiang Ling said this, a hint of worry flashed in her eyes.

"There's nothing to say about this, as long as you don't spout nonsense and say whatever you want to me!" Magistrate Duan comforted him.

“My lord, my great-grandmother was once a student of the Imperial Observatory. She once said, ‘If the summer is too hot, the winter will be too cold.’ I am worried that this year will be a cold winter. So I hope that you can call on the people in the villages and towns to plant some cotton to keep warm in the winter. I am really worried that the reeds will not be warm enough!” Jiang Ling said this with a very serious expression, and it was clear at a glance that Jiang Ling was not joking.

Magistrate Duan's expression turned serious upon hearing this. He knew that Jiang Ling wouldn't lie to him given her personality. He nodded and said to Jiang Ling, "Don't worry, I'll have someone go down and notify all the surrounding towns and villages in a moment!"

Afterwards, Magistrate Duan chatted with Jiang Ling for a while before Jiang Ling turned and left.

It was already late afternoon when Jiang Ling returned to her shop. After packing her things, she took the ducklings and cotton seeds and sat on Uncle Lu's oxcart.

Jiang Ling looked at the little ducklings on Lu Bo Niu's cart and secretly prayed, "Please, please, it's not a cold winter! Otherwise, how will the villagers survive!"