Chapter 117: Reunion

Years later, in the backyard of the county government, Pei Luo invited some wealthy families in the county to come for tea.

There was no money in the county government's account, so they had to find a way to get money from these people.

However, this tea party was destined to be ignored.

Pei Luoshu is the newly appointed county magistrate. He has not yet established a firm foothold in Yougu County, and the wealthy and prominent families will not give him face.

Indeed, only a few people came to such a large tea party.

These people were also afraid of offending the new county magistrate. Besides, they couldn't get any money from him.

These people either opened a restaurant or an inn, but they didn't have much business.

Those landlords who owned land and property all said they were sick at home and did not want to come.

Maybe they all knew that a tea party was just for money, right?

I don’t know how many times I invited him to drink tea like this, but later he gradually stopped coming.

It's impossible to get money from them!

Pei Luoshu sat at the head of the table, and before he could say a word, the few wealthy businessmen who were there yawned impatiently, seeming to be extremely annoyed.

He was helpless.

"I invite you all to come here because I want to dig a new road in Yougu County. The new road will go directly from Taoyuan Village in Yougu County to the official road in Pingxi County. This road will run across the entire Yougu County. In the future, travel will be more convenient, and there will be more merchants coming and going, and naturally everyone will have more ways to make money."

One of the wealthy businessmen asked.

"The previous county magistrate mentioned the need to build a road, but it was never done. Now that he has brought it up again, what are his thoughts?"

"I will not say anything big. I will do this for the people and Yougu County. I think you have heard enough of these unrealistic and high-sounding words. I asked you to come here today because I want you to invest money to obtain the right to use this road and get extra dividends from the revenue brought by this road."

The people sitting below were a little confused.

"Your Excellency is saying that this road, when it is used in the future, will not be built for the common people, but will require money to use it?"

"That's right."

Several people looked at each other and laughed.

"Well, what's the difference between this and bandits clearing the way and collecting money?"

"Of course there is a difference. Building a road is very difficult and the cost is very high. If Yougu County does not build a road, it will always be a poor and barren land and will never be able to turn over. If the people of Yougu County are poor, then you will not be able to earn more money on this land and will not be able to settle down. You will have to leave your hometown and stay away from your homeland. Is this what you want?"

"Your Excellency is right. This is indeed the truth. But if we invest money to build this road, but then we have to collect the money, who would take this road?"

"Of course some people will go. To get from Minluo County to Huaizhou Prefecture, they have to go around Yougu County. If we open this new road and go straight from Taoyuan Village to Minluo County, they can save a lot of time, as well as food, accommodation, transportation and the most important thing is that we can ensure the safety of the goods on the road."

Everyone was silent after hearing this.

One of them laughed.

"Your Excellency's idea is good, but I am limited in money, only fifty taels of silver. In order to support your ambition, I have offered all my cash to you, and I don't expect to get any dividends in the future."

Another person followed up.

"Then I have eighty taels."

"I have no silver, only forty taels."

Fu Feng, who had been standing aside without saying a word, was so angry that his veins popped out.

These people should just not pay any money. By paying such a small amount of money, aren't they slapping his master in the face?

Pei Luoshu looked at these people's faces quietly, feeling helpless.

To accomplish something great, the right time, the right place and the right people are all essential.

And now he has none of that.

"I'll give you 10,000 taels!"

Outside the hall, a female voice like a silver bell was heard.

Pei Luoshu looked outside and saw a turquoise dress passing over the threshold of the hall. The tassel hairpin fluttered with her ink-black hair, slightly stirring her eyes and adding a bit of elegance to her extremely beautiful eyes.

She looked up.

He lowered his eyes.

The gray of the county government office and the astonishment of the crowd all became virtual shadows at this moment.

Reunion after long separation.

It's really fascinating.

Chen Shiyi traveled day and night, exhausted, and when he got to see him, he was being embarrassed by those people.

His face was pale and he looked embarrassed.

Is he still ill?

She inspected the quiet and cold backyard of the yamen with a frown on her face.

"A Luo, do you live here? Don't you have a house outside?"

Pei Luoshu just looked at her quietly, with a smile on his face, without saying a word.

Fu Feng standing next to him couldn't bear it any longer.

"Miss, my son lives in the backyard of the county government office. We don't have the money to buy a house outside yet."

Chen Shiyi smiled, walked to Pei Luoshu and tugged at his sleeve.

"Why don't you say anything?"

Pei Luo looked at her stupidly.

"Eleven, long time no see."

Chen Shiyi pursed his lips and smiled.

"Long time no see, do you have anything to eat?"

What kind of food could he have here? There were only him and Fufeng, so they just cooked something simple and dealt with it.

"I've changed into my official uniform and will take you to experience the specialties of Valley County."

The lark following behind Chen Shiyi was usually chirping, but on this occasion it was very quiet.

She tugged at Chen Shiyi's sleeve.

"Sister, this county magistrate is really handsome, isn't he?"

Chen Shiyi nodded.

"His mother is a very beautiful woman, so he is naturally good-looking too."

In a small tavern not far from the county government office, Pei Luoshu kept putting food in Chen Shiyi's bowl.

"You usually love fish, this restaurant cooks the fish very well, first roasted and then stewed, even the main bones are crispy, soft, glutinous, sweet, and melts in your mouth, come and try it."

Chen Shiyi took a sip and found that what he liked was indeed excellent.

"Eleven, how have you been these past few years?"

"I'm fine. How about you?"

Pei Luoshu shook his head.

“I’m not doing well at all.”

Chen Shiyi put down the chopsticks in his hand, frowned and asked.

"What happened? When I was in Kyoto asking about you, I heard that you were seriously ill. What was it? Are you feeling better now?"

"Nothing, just a little cough."

Chen Shiyi asked in a soft voice.

"Just a little cough? If that's the case, why didn't you even take part in the palace examination?"

Seeing Pei Luoshu remaining silent, Chen Shiyi felt apologetic.

"You are always like this, reporting good news but not sorrow. You keep everything to yourself and never tell anyone."

Pei Luoshu's eyes were slightly warm as he looked at her quietly. He clenched his hands into fists until his knuckles turned white. Then he loosened them, rolled up his sleeves, and put food in Chen Shiyi's bowl.

"I caught a severe cold and couldn't even get out of bed, so I couldn't go to the palace examination. I didn't have money to bribe him, so I was sent to Yougu County by the Ministry of Personnel and became the county magistrate."