Extra 3: Going out for training and giving birth to a daughter

In the first year of Kaiyao, the new emperor opened a special examination to recruit talented people from all over the country. The newly-appointed Jinshi were sent to various places to take up posts.

At this time, the regent, the Crown Prince, and his concubine also quietly disappeared from the court, no longer attending court. Not long after, a new county magistrate arrived in a small county on the coast. He was dusty and dressed in a simple manner, but his demeanor was extraordinary.

Upon taking office, the new magistrate rigorously enforced administrative reforms. In agriculture, he promoted the use of the capital's crops; in commerce, he repaired the harbor to facilitate trade. The new magistrate's wife established a medical school for girls, initially accepting eight orphans and teaching them the art of medicine. That year, the harvest was plentiful, and the number of students at the school grew to over twenty.

In the second year of Kaiyao, the county was planted with new crops, merchants flocked to the area, and the people were well-fed and well-clothed. The students from the girls' school provided medical treatment every ten days in the village, curing the sick and the wounded, saving countless lives and earning the admiration of the people. His wife, through a journey to the sea, learned about Western medicine and devoted herself to her studies. That same year, she became pregnant.

In the third year of Kaiyao, his wife gave birth to a daughter. He continued to study Western medicine and hired a Western doctor as a female medical tutor. Later, he saved a woman who had a difficult labor by performing a cesarean section. His reputation spread far and wide, and women from all over the country flocked to him to enroll in his school, and the medical profession flourished.

In the fourth year of the Kaiyao era, the county magistrate was promoted to prefect, but the old policies were still in effect within his jurisdiction. His wife stumbled upon a rare Western device, a "spinning machine," which could replace needlework and spin ten times faster than handwork. She brought it to Yu and learned how to manufacture it. Soon, the people of the prefecture flocked to buy the machine, and silk weaving efficiency doubled, bringing widespread gratification and boosting economic prosperity.

When the prefect first heard about it, he was deeply surprised and went to see it in person. He saw that the locomotive was spinning very fast and the work in one day was equivalent to that in the past ten months. So he sent capable officials across the sea to the west to study the method in detail, record their observations, compile a memorial, and send it to the capital by express.

Then the emperor summoned him back to the court.

The dock of Hai'an Prefecture was crowded with people. People were waiting on both sides of the official road early in the morning, carrying eggs, seafood, and newly woven cloth.

Xiao Ji held his two-year-old daughter Xiao Yi in one hand and held his wife Qing Wu's hand in the other, and walked step by step towards the waiting official ship.

Little Xiaoyi seemed to have sensed the unusual atmosphere as well. She opened her big black eyes and looked at the familiar faces around her.

She suddenly twisted her body in her father's arms, pointed at the crowd with her chubby little hand, and shouted crisply, "Tan Niang! Don't cry!"

When everyone looked over, they saw Li Tanniang, the woman who had been saved by a cesarean section at the female medical school, wiping her tears and struggling to squeeze forward.

She stuffed a basket of red eggs into Qingwu's hands and choked up, saying, "The headmaster has been so kind to me, I can never repay him in this lifetime. These eggs are for me to eat on the way..."

Qingwu's eyes couldn't help but turn red. She took the basket and gently patted Li Tanniang's hand.

At this moment, a large group of students from the Women's Medical School all knelt on the ground. The girl leading the group trembled in her voice, "Headmaster, you have taught us the skills to make a living. We will never forget your kindness!"

Qing Wu looked at these girls she had nurtured. Although there was reluctance in her eyes, her expression was clear and resolute. She raised her voice and said:

"Everyone, get up! A woman's success in life depends on her ability, not tears. With the assessment I've set up, the top three each year will be able to study in the Imperial Hospital in Beijing for a year. The world is vast and the future is promising. Work hard!"

These words instantly dispelled the sadness of parting. The girls stood up one after another, their eyes becoming burning, full of longing for the future.

Little Xiao Yi in Xiao Ji's arms looked at the group of women, waving her hands and imitating her mother's tone, uttering a few clear words: "Work hard...!"

The children's childish words made everyone present laugh, and the sadness of parting was replaced by a warm feeling full of hope.

Xiao Ji hugged his daughter tighter, looked around at the land they had poured their efforts into for four years, and said loudly, "Please stand up, fellow villagers! Hai'an Prefecture can be what it is today because of the concerted efforts of everyone. Although my wife and I have returned to the capital, we will always miss this place!"

Only in this way could the two of them barely board the ship. The official ship slowly sailed away from the dock and eventually turned into a silhouette between the sea and the sky.

Even so, many people still refused to leave for a long time. They all hoped that the prefect and his wife would come back. At this time, the co-prefect of Hai'an Prefecture, who was also the future prefect of Hai'an Prefecture, took a deep breath and said:

"They won't be coming back."

The Tongzhi's voice was low, but it was like a boulder dropped into calm water, sending silent ripples through the crowd. The tearful commoners froze in shock, staring blankly at the soon-to-be successor.

"Sir... are you saying that Lord Yang and his wife... will never come back to our Hai'an Prefecture?" an old fisherman asked in a trembling voice, his bronze face full of loss.

The Tongzhi turned around, facing the sea of ​​common people, his gaze sweeping across those simple faces filled with hope. He saw Li Tanniang's red and swollen eyes, the tears fought back by the students of the female medical school, and the countless merchants and farmers who had found peace and prosperity thanks to the new policies.

He, too, was filled with emotion. For four years, he had witnessed how the young "county magistrate," later the "prefect," and his wife, toiled tirelessly, transforming this impoverished coastal region into the prosperous place it is today, bustling with merchants and overflowing with granaries. It wasn't simply a matter of a superior paying a visit; it was a true act of planting roots in this land.

The Tongzhi took a deep breath and said loudly, "Fellow villagers! My Lord and Madam are the dragon and phoenix of the Ninth Heaven. We have returned to the capital at the behest of His Majesty. We are here to shoulder greater responsibilities and benefit more people!"

He paused, his voice growing firmer. "Even though my lord and mistress are gone, the fine seeds they left behind are still in our fields, the renovated harbor is still welcoming merchant ships, the women's medical school is still accepting new students, and those looms that can do the work of ten men are still turning in every household! They left behind the 'soul' of Hai'an Prefecture!"

"What we should do is not to shed tears and plead for her to stay here, but to follow the old rules of the Master, work diligently, run the business with integrity, and let the female medical school train more excellent doctors, so that Hai'an Prefecture will become more and more prosperous! Only then will we not let down the Master and Madam's hard work over the past four years!"

The crowd gradually quieted down, and the reluctance in the people's eyes was gradually replaced by a sense of determination. Yes, my lord and madam have paved the way for them.

Li Tanniang wiped away her tears and was the first to respond loudly: "Master Tongzhi is right! We must live a better life and reassure the headmaster and the others!"

"Yes! Don't worry, sir!" The crowd burst into shouts, and the sadness of parting turned into strength to move forward.

The Tongzhi looked at the people who had regained their spirits, with a smile and infinite longing on his face. Others didn't know, but didn't these people know the identity of the adults?

Hai'an Prefecture will get better and better in the future. As long as he works hard and steadily, it will also get better and better.

The future is bright for all.