"Hmm... then let's do it your way!" Magistrate Duan nodded after hearing this, revealing a satisfied expression.

The advisor looked up at the village chief, whose heart was pounding. Despite the sweltering heat, he felt a slight chill and was even shivering.

"Village Chief Lu, your village has made a meritorious discovery of the water source and the digging of the ditch. The county magistrate has specially rewarded you with 20 taels of silver. Jiang Yaojie is resourceful and clever enough to discover the water source with mugwort, which is also a meritorious deed. Therefore, he is hereby awarded 5 taels of silver..." At this point, the clerk deliberately paused.

Turning to look at Jiang Ling, he said, "Jiang, of the twenty villages and towns under Pingxi County, only Lujia Village and Dahua Village currently have water sources. Your son is exceptionally capable, and I hope he can accompany our county magistrate to the remaining eighteen villages and towns to solve the water source problem for the villagers. This would be a meritorious deed that benefits the people. What do you think?"

"Of course, you don't need to worry about the reward. The magistrate said that if you discover a water source, he will reward your Lu Family Village with ten taels of silver and your son with five taels of silver. What do you think?"

Jiang Ling smiled and then said something that surprised everyone present.

"Forget about my son's five taels of silver, just put it all on the Lu family village's head!"

“Wh...what?” Magistrate Duan’s hand holding the teacup froze in mid-air.

He simply couldn't understand how this woman, who owned no land, could raise four children and whose home was practically bare, could so easily give away money when she was short of cash.

Magistrate Duan looked up at Jiang Ling. For some reason, he felt that this thin, small woman was not simple at all, and might even be hiding some great wisdom.

The advisor stared wide-eyed at Jiang Ling.

The village chief sitting next to him had his mouth so wide open it was almost as if he could fit an egg inside.

“My son is also a member of Lujia Village. In my humble opinion, Your Excellency, there is no need for you to reward him separately!” Jiang Ling’s voice was gentle yet full of strength.

Jiang Ling did this mainly because she didn't want Jiang Yaojie to become the target of public criticism. His identity was already very special, and once he had money, those scumbags in the Lu family might try to scheme against her and her five children again.

As the saying goes, "It's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark." Rather than letting Jiang Yaojie's silver be coveted, it's better to simply turn it into silver belonging to Lujia Village.

Firstly, it can reduce unnecessary trouble. Anyway, I have my own online store, and now I'm starting a small business to support my child, which is no problem at all.

Secondly, the village chief would treat him differently. The bond of blood ties within the village constantly reminded Jiang Ling that he needed to firmly grasp the village chief's support before he could fully establish his authority.

Otherwise, her life in Lujia Village would definitely not be as good as it is now.

Magistrate Duan paused for a moment, as if he had thought of something. He laughed heartily and nodded, agreeing to Jiang Ling's request.

Before leaving, Magistrate Duan pointed to the teapot on the table and said, "Jiang, is this the small business you did in Changning Town?"

Jiang Ling nodded and said, "Does Your Excellency think the taste is quite good? Then I will go to Pingxi County tomorrow to deliver a bucket to Your Excellency. The weather is so hot, I hope Your Excellency will take care of your health."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Duan shook his head and said to Jiang Ling, "We still have to collect the money that's due. As your magistrate, how can I arbitrarily exploit the people?"

As he spoke, Magistrate Duan took out one tael of silver from his pocket, placed it in front of Jiang Ling, and then left Jiang Ling's house with Jiang Yaojie.

“Sir, we don’t need so much silver!” Jiang Ling said, holding the one or two taels of silver.

“Mrs. Jiang, you can’t possibly run your small business for only one day! You can send this tael of silver over for as many days as you can!” Magistrate Duan waved his hand and left Jiang Ling’s house with Jiang Yaojie.

After seeing off Magistrate Duan and his advisor, the village chief slumped weakly in his chair, looking as if he had just been pulled out of the water, his whole body soaked.

"Village chief, what's wrong with you? Don't get heatstroke!" Jiang Ling teased the village chief.

"Jiang... Jiang Shi... You're far too audacious!" Seeing the village chief's pale face, sweat-drenched head, and weak appearance, Jiang Ling almost burst out laughing.

"Village chief, is this matter settled?" Jiang Ling asked in return.

"Yes...that's true...but..."

"No, but it's done now. Village Chief, you should go back and change your clothes!" Jiang Ling didn't want to listen to the village chief's rambling anymore, since she had her own things to do that afternoon, so she quickly interrupted.

The village chief looked at Jiang Ling, let out a long sigh of relief, and struggled to his feet, supporting himself on the table. He then left Jiang Ling's house shakily.

"Mom, what's wrong with Grandpa Village Chief?" Jiang Suihe asked curiously, watching the village chief's departing figure.

"It's nothing, I'm just a little uncomfortable from sitting for so long!" Jiang Ling said, trying to brush it off.

After saying that, Jiang Ling looked up at the sky. It was the height of summer. She turned to the three children and said, "You three stay home and behave yourselves. I'm going to the back mountain to pick some 'spicy grass'."

"Mother, let me go with you!" Jiang Suihe said, walking to the corner and picking up the basket to carry on her back.

"Suihe, you should rest at home too. It's so hot, don't get heatstroke!" Jiang Ling said, quickly taking the basket off Jiang Suihe's back.

Jiang Suihe was about to say something when Jiang Ling stopped her again. Jiang Ling knew that Jiang Suihe was a good child, but in such hot weather, if the child really got heatstroke, Jiang Ling would be even more worried. Thinking of this, Jiang Ling said, "Suihe, go and read the two books I bought for you. Read as much as you can."

Jiang Suihe nodded and whispered, "Mom, be careful on the road."

Jiang Ling patted Jiang Suihe's head and left home with a smile, heading towards the mountains.

"Jiang, did the magistrate go to your house?" Jiang Ling had just stepped out the door when she met Zhao Erleng's wife, who was preparing to go to the fields to tend to the crops.

When Zhao Erleng's wife saw Jiang Shi, she quickly came closer and asked in a low voice.

"Yes, what's wrong?" Jiang Ling asked, frowning in confusion.

"So... what does the magistrate look like? Is he tall or short? Fat or thin?" Zhao Erleng's wife continued to press Jiang Ling for answers.

Jiang Ling was speechless. Zhao Erleng's house was just a wall away from hers. Didn't he have the courage to secretly peek at what the county magistrate looked like? Jiang Ling thought about it again and realized that Zhao Erleng's wife's reaction made sense. After all, this wasn't modern times. In the past, there were clear distinctions between social classes.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ling said calmly, "He's chubby and looks very kind; he should be a good official."

"Oh my, Jiang, you're so brave! If it were me, I'd probably be too scared to even kneel down and say a word!" Zhao Erleng's wife looked at Jiang Ling with admiration after hearing her description.

Immediately afterwards, Zhao Erleng's wife leaned closer, covered her mouth with her hand, and lowered her voice, saying, "Jiang Shi, I heard from Da Tou's wife that you want Sui He to study at Linghui Academy?"