Chapter 143
When Xue Shun and Shen Jiao returned to the boat, Luo Wendi had not even seen the hall master that the chief had mentioned, and let him stand on the boat and get some fresh air.
It was not until Xue Shun asked for a meeting that they were both called in.
Shen Jiao followed Xue Shun without being stopped.
She seemed to know everything, and without listening to the hall master's nonsense, nor waiting for Xue Shun to elaborate, she said:
"No need to say anything, I already know. So many innocent people have suffered, there must be an explanation.
Seventeen, I'll leave this matter to you. Just do whatever you think of. They will all listen to you."
Nanny Zhang presented a token.
Luo Wendi laughed and said, "I heard that the court has imperial envoys and inspectors to deal with those injustices. Today, I will ask you to be an inspector to pacify the local area and eliminate corruption.
What did you say, ah! "
Luo Wendi clapped his hands and said happily: "Observing the four directions, there is no one who seeks the people. Only these two countries have failed to gain the upper hand.
What a good lesson from the past! You should all read history. You'll know that instead of waiting for God to take action, we should investigate and handle some issues ourselves. The older generation is still alive, and we can't lose the support of the people for trivial matters. That would be self-defeating. Some things may seem unrelated, but when they pile up, they chill people's hearts..."
She said something as if hinting at something and then fell silent again.
"You all go."
"Yes, son, I'll take my leave."
"I'll take my leave."
Xue Shun and the hall master retreated, but after only a few steps, Nanny Zhang chased them out.
"Master Zhao, please stay."
The hall master surnamed Zhao stopped, and Xue Shun and Shen Jiao also looked back.
Aunt Zhang was holding a tray with two boxes on it. She said to Master Zhao, "This is what Madam prepared for you. The Eight Treasures Cake is for you, and the Ruby Coral Bracelet is for Madam."
"Thank you Madam for your concern..."
Xue Shun stood there with a frown on his face, looking at her. Shen Jiao quietly tugged at his sleeve, and he came to his senses and walked out.
He didn't stay on the boat and went back to the clinic, saying as he walked, "Shen Jiao, what do you think Mother means by this? She asked me to be a patrol officer, but she seems to be very familiar with that Zhao guy. She didn't even punish his crime, but gave him gifts. What should I do?"
He was really worried.
Shen Jiao said indifferently, "Let's see what happens. This matter does not depend on whether the lady is familiar with him, but on where the young master's eyes are looking."
"What do you mean?" Xue Shun frowned and asked the question knowing the answer.
But Shen Jiao still explained: "The young master's eyes are on the people, so he should act according to their will. The young master's eyes are on the snacks and the box, so he should act according to their will. No matter what... it is not wrong."
Luo Wendi knew what Xue Shun was like. Even if Xue Shun couldn't figure out anything, he wouldn't do anything to him.
Unless she was deliberately looking for trouble to torture Xue Shun.
But she is not crazy.
Judging from what she just said, it's clear that she already knows something, but refuses to say it and is playing games.
If you have ulterior motives, how can you blame others for not doing things sincerely?
Xue Shun listened, remained silent for a moment, then turned around and went back, pulling open the curtain of Hall Master Zhao's sedan chair and shouting, "Don't leave! Get down here! I have something to ask you!"
"You!" Someone next to the sedan chair immediately glared at him.
But he was stopped by Hall Master Zhao: "Hu'an, you all go back. No need to wait for me. Remember to give the things to Madam."
His face looked calm and peaceful.
He got off the sedan chair, clasped his fists and saluted, saying, "Seventeenth Master, there is no need to be angry. Even if you didn't come to find me, I would still come to find you."
Xue Shuncai didn't believe it: "Stop talking nonsense. If you really wanted to find me, you should have called me just now."
"Let me ask you," Xue Shun raised his face and said coldly, "Your men said that you didn't let them set up a warning outside the Chuge Tower. Is that true?"
"Yes." Hall Master Zhao answered readily.
Xue Shun's anger flared up again: "Why? Are you blind? Can't you see that the building might collapse and the people would be in danger?"
"I can see it."
He still spoke very straightforwardly, and Xue Shun was so happy that he was stunned. "Then why didn't you warn me?"
"Sir, have you ever been to that street?" he asked instead of answering.
Xue Shun frowned and said, "Of course I've been there. What nonsense are you talking about?"
He doesn't have the ability to see and hear from afar, and how can he know about these bad things if he hasn't been there?
"Since you've been there, you should be able to see how wide the street is, how tall the buildings are, and how many people come and go. Although this is just a town, I'm confident that it can be compared with those inferior county towns."
Xue Shun had no idea what nonsense he was talking about.
He turned his head irritably.
Shen Jiao glanced at him and asked, "Master Zhao, are you going to list your achievements with me, young master?"
Hall Master Zhao paused and looked at Shen Jiao. Shen Jiao looked at him fearlessly. His gaze then shifted to Xue Shun's face.
Xue Shun: "I'm asking you a question. Why are you looking at me? Speak!"
Hall Master Zhao withdrew his gaze, then continued, "No, none of this is my subordinates' work. From the docks and streets to the bridges and alleys, all the bluestone, wood, and sand in the town were purchased and built by the wealthy families in the town.
"Sir, have you seen the tall buildings on that street? There are many more in town. During the New Year, they light up the night sky with candles, attracting countless tourists and merchants. In the past, the taxes paid here were enough to support the people of several cities."
He looked a little nostalgic.
Xue Shun suspected that the place he went to was not the same place or the same street as he said.
Lively, indeed.
Otherwise, so many people would not have been killed or injured.
It is comparable to other cities.
But what is this city that never sleeps? There are countless tourists and merchants, and the taxes collected to support the people of several cities are completely invisible.
Shen Jiao seemed to be still listening, but in fact he had begun to lose focus.
Hall Master Zhao didn't even bother to look at their reactions, but continued, "It's a pity that people's hearts are so fickle."
This is an old saying.
He said, "The merchants in the town, seeing the profit, have started to exploit those outsiders, and the population has dwindled. The majority of those you see on the street are local residents. My subordinates have worked hard over the years to rectify and repair the area, but with little success. Only that street is the most impressive. Once a warning is issued, it will be closed and the people will have to take a detour. The government office can't afford the repairs, and we don't know how long the delay will last..."
"So you just don't care?!" Xue Shun went around in circles and finally got to the point. He was extremely surprised and couldn't accept it.
"Of course I want to manage it," he said, his voice getting louder. "But the wealthy families in this town won't let me manage them. They make money from their shops, and the people live by working for them. As soon as I block the road, they'll bring their men to surround the hall, and there's nothing I can do. They can leave at will. As long as they have money, they can move to another place, open a shop, and do business as usual. They can still make money. The masters of other halls will only greet them with smiles and treat them well. They can be wealthy families wherever they go, but what should I do here?"
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