In front of her daughter-in-law and grandson, Grandma Jin angrily exposed the crime her son had concealed until now.
Liu and Luo Ze were also shocked.
Granny Jin was struck by this bolt of thunder and her eyes went dark and smoke appeared on her head.
She was living a happy and promising life, but now she was suddenly told that she only had two years left? ! What was the difference between this and Bai Wuchang locking her neck with a soul-chasing chain and Hei Wuchang counting down her death in her ear? Granny Jin was furious and sneered, "I was wondering why this face is uglier than pig offal that has been soaked in a swill bucket for more than ten days. It turns out that the rotten pig heart that can't be warmed up is not here at all!"
"..." Luo Guanlin had always been very familiar with the variety of his mother's scolding. He was helpless at this moment and said: "Mom... my son never takes things lightly."
"I have never been careless?" Luo's mother stretched out a hand and pointed to the outside of the hall, pointing in the direction where Wang Yue had just left: "You don't even look at what Wang Wangshan looks like, and you still dare to say that you care about him!"
"I am different from Wang Yue..." Luo Guanlin frowned and said, "He is obsessed with how to gain more respect, but I just want to do my job with peace of mind."
"You are relieved! But you will have to pack up and leave in two years!" Granny Jin questioned, "Tell me, where are you going? Where can you go? You want to give up your bright future and peaceful life, and let the whole family suffer with you until you become ashes?"
Granny Jin said this, and then she began to slap the palm of her left hand with the back of her right hand, and asked angrily, "How could Governor Chang, such a capable and good man, let him down?"
Luo Guanlin turned his head away and finally blurted out: "She has ambitions, but she is a woman, her name is not right, her words are not smooth... She is not someone I want to support."
This was an idea he had in mind from the beginning, but when he said it out loud now, he felt an indescribable sense of loss in his heart for no reason.
"Girl?" Granny Jin's face darkened slightly, and her voice seemed to be a little lower: "What's wrong with the girl?"
At this point, Luo Guanlin said in a muffled voice: "A woman's body, especially a woman of a different surname..."
He didn't finish his words, but said, "You have seen the example of the queen before you, can't you learn from it?"
"What's wrong with the Queen? Is it her fault that the world is falling apart?" Granny Jin said angrily, "Let's take a step back and say that even if the current Saint does have some shortcomings, so what? Why don't you all knock down all the men in the world just because of Xu Zhengye?"
"Women are great! Women can give birth to creatures, and the power of creation is a divine power bestowed by God!" Granny Jin's voice gradually turned cold: "Since you still look down on women, you might as well not recognize me as your mother!"
"Mother..." Luo Guanlin stood up: "That's not what my son meant!"
"If you want to leave, then go ahead!" Granny Jin said firmly, "We're not leaving anyway, and it's not your turn to make the decision for us!"
"Ze'er won't go anywhere. He'll just stay in the adults' study room to study!" Grandma Jin said to her grandson, "Be proud of yourself. When the unlucky person vacates his position in two years, you can try to take his place!"
Luo Ze nodded under great pressure.
Luo Guanlin fell silent. Did his mother just give up on him?
But I didn't give up completely.
Granny Jin glanced at him coldly: "I don't care where you're going to die in two years, but in these two years, you have to stay steady and pave the way for Ze'er!"
Granny Jin’s attitude was very clear – using the stones from the pit as stepping stones might be a bit smelly, but if she just pinched her nose and stepped on them, it was considered making the best use of them.
Luo Guanlin sighed with mixed emotions.
Liu had swept up the broken pieces of the soup bowl. When she left, she quietly glanced at the mother and son who were in a stalemate in the hall. She had already made up her mind that if this family was to break up, she would definitely choose her mother-in-law. She could leave her husband, but not her mother-in-law.
As soon as Liu walked out, she heard a voice coming from the courtyard gate asking, "Is Mr. Qian here?"
"Here I am!"
While Liu was answering, she quickly put down her broom, wiped her hands and went to meet her, smiling: "It's Miss Xier."
The one asking the questions was Xier, who seemed to be holding two food boxes in her hands.
Liu soon saw the woman who followed in and bowed quickly, with a mixture of surprise and fear: "Why did the governor come in person?"
Chang Suining walked in, holding up the wine pot in his hand, and said with a smile: "I have an appointment with Mr. Qian for dinner, so I brought some wine with me. I wonder if Mr. Qian has had dinner yet?"
When Liu didn't know how to answer, she heard her mother-in-law's smiling voice coming from the hall door: "Not yet! We have all eaten. He knew that the master would come, so he hasn't eaten yet!"
While answering, Granny Jin glared at her son fiercely and gestured with her hands, signaling him to rinse his mouth quickly, while she went out to greet him first.
Stepping stone Luo Guanlin was forced to do as he was told and stepped forward to meet the enemy.
He stopped at the foot of the stone steps and bowed to Chang Suining: "I thought you would not be able to see me tonight."
This may sound sarcastic at first, but it is not.
Luo Guanlin also knew the importance of Zheng Chao. Such a famous person suddenly came to her, and she had just announced his purpose. In comparison, his meal was insignificant.
Chang Suining smiled and said, "How can I break my promise to you, sir?"
These were ordinary words, but when Luo Guanlin heard them, they made him feel different.
Thinking of the leftover food in the hall that had not yet been cleared away, he looked at the stone table under the old jujube tree in the courtyard and said, "It's a nice moonless night, why don't you and I share it in the courtyard?"
Chang Suining nodded in agreement.
The night in late March was still a bit chilly, so Liu took a cushion and spread it on the stone bench.
Granny Jin helped Xier put the dishes on the table, and then hurriedly brought wine cups, teapots and teacups.
"You don't have to be busy." Chang Suining smiled and said to the busy Grandma Jin, "You have been busy enough in the silk weaving workshop during the day, so why bother you again now?"
"I don't like what you said, sir." Granny Jin smiled sincerely and said, "It's because I don't have the chance to see you during the day, and I'm so happy to finally see you a few more times. How can it be a bother?"
Even so, Granny Jin did not bother her any more and just said, "If you have anything to say, just call me over!"
Chang Suining smiled and nodded.
Luo Guanlin's attention was attracted by the dishes on the table. There were six dishes, all of which were vegetarian, without any meat.
But he would never regard this as Chang Suining's neglect. On the contrary, at this time of year, these vegetables were no easier to get than meat.
He tried to ask: "What are these..."
"What I brought back from the Agricultural Academy today were all planted by Yuan Hao." After Chang Suining roughly explained the planting method, he said, "Such achievements should be shared with you, sir."
Thinking of the argument with his mother just now, Luo Guanlin lowered his voice a little: "Luo is stubborn by nature, and does not deserve such courtesy from the adults."
"To me, your achievements far outweigh my stubborn temper." Chang Suining said, "When I first took over as the governor of Jiangdu, I had few people around me. It was because of you that I felt a little relieved."
"Afterwards, Mr. Wang and others were introduced to me. I am very grateful."
"I know that you may not be doing this for me, Chang Suining." Chang Suining smiled and said, "I know that you have had a prejudice against me from the beginning, but I have never doubted your feelings towards Jiangdu."
As a talented person, with a sense of guilt and a desire to make amends, Luo Guanlin was destined to spare no effort in his journey to Jiangdu.
She held up the tea bowl with both hands: "I'll use tea instead of wine, on behalf of Jiangdu, to toast sir."
Under the moonlight and lights, Chang Suining's expression was not serious, but it revealed sincerity.
Meeting that pair of clear and quiet eyes, Luo Guanlin picked up the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp.
All dishes are refreshing and delicious. The cucumber is crispy and tender with a sweet taste, while the Ru vegetable tastes slightly bitter at first but has a sweet aftertaste.
With such a taste, Luo Guanlin still enjoyed it even though he had already eaten.
He drank wine, while Chang Suining drank tea. The two of them chatted about various affairs under the bright moonlight.
Luo Guanlin mentioned Zheng Chao: "After the news that Mr. Zheng has entered Wueryuan spreads, many more literati will surely flock to Jiangdu."
Throughout the ages, the choices of celebrities have always been appealing.
Their Jiangdu is now well governed and peaceful, making it a very good place to live.
Over the past year, due to the constant war outside, Jiangdu has given preferential treatment to those who come to settle down. Although some people have not yet officially settled down and are still undergoing resettlement and inspection, there are now few vacant households in Jiangdu city.
Especially after Huang Shuiyang's great victory, the growth in the number of households in Jiangdu in the past six months has been explosive.
What is foreseeable is that this momentum is unlikely to be extinguished anytime soon.
"Your Excellency should prepare to tighten the settlement policy." Luo Guanlin said.
Chang Suining nodded: "But if someone comes to us, we can't turn them away."
No matter if they were scholars or lonely refugees, anyone who came to her trusted her and she could not refuse them no matter what.
Chang Suining said: "I plan to extend Jiangdu's resettlement plan to all prefectures in Huainan Road."
This is the advantage of expanding the territory. It’s good to have a big house, which makes it convenient for her to pick up people.
"As for other decrees of Jiangdu, we can try to implement them according to the situation of each state."
Luo Guanlin was not surprised to hear Chang Suining say this.
Or rather, he felt relieved.
She was willing to do this, which showed that she not only wanted to control the thirteen states of Huainan Road, but also had plans to govern them carefully.
At this moment, Jiangdu is like the center of a circle, like a new forest full of vitality, and what she wants to do is to let this green forest spread around, covering the desolate and decaying messy land and establishing a new order.
This aspiration is like planting trees, and those who plant trees will also have others come to watch.
For someone like him who has made mistakes, the process of planting trees is also a process of self-redemption.
But Luo Guanlin was more worried: "It's not easy to accomplish this. Your Excellency's move will more or less be obstructed and opposed by officials from various states and local tyrants."
The existence of many old systems has clearly shown many corrupt drawbacks, but they still have many supporters, for no other reason than profit.
Even if we put aside these beneficiaries: "In today's situation, there are very few people who can calm down and do practical things... Most people just take advantage of the chaos to accumulate capital for self-protection or to get a piece of the pie, and they have no regard for the people or the country."
"In the twelve states of Huainan Road outside Jiangdu alone, at least five states, although not actually rebelling, have become places where the imperial court's orders cannot be carried out."
The court's words fell on deaf ears, and they might not necessarily buy into the military governors appointed by the court.
"If they are blocked, then we will open them one by one." Chang Suining said arrogantly in a casual tone: "Sir, don't forget, I got my start by fighting."
A small part of Huainan Road was no longer under the control of the imperial court. The emperor's choice of her as the governor might be intended to use her to suppress the chaos.
But as long as it is beneficial to her and she wants to do it, she will do it.
"I'll take care of the fight." Chang Suining poured himself another cup of tea and toasted Luo Guanlin again: "Sir, you'll take care of what happens after the fight."
Listening to her joking words about division of labor, Luo Guanlin did not comment, but picked up the wine cup and drank it again.
"By the way, I have something to give to you, sir, when you come here tonight."
Chang Suining suddenly remembered something, bent down, picked up a box next to the food box, put it on the stone table, and pushed it in front of Luo Guanlin.
Luo Guanlin opened it and saw a stack of silver bills with a few gold pages on top.
Luo Guanlin subconsciously asked: "What is this money for?"
"Of course it's the master's salary." Chang Suining said.
Except for the most difficult few months at the beginning, Jiangdu never delayed the payment of officials' salaries, which were all paid on a monthly basis. However, Yao Ran told Chang Suining that every time Luo Guanlin accepted the money on the surface, he would secretly have someone send it back to Yao Ran afterwards.
Not to mention that his salary was not that much, just one thing made Luo Guanlin unwilling to accept it: "I am different from others. Since we have a three-year agreement, I don't need this."
Moreover, what she provided for his family's food and lodging in the governor's mansion was sufficient.
"Sir, you want me to use you for free." Chang Suining said, "But I don't have the habit of using people for free."
She said, "I know that you feel guilty towards Jiang Du and want to make amends, but that is a matter between you and Jiang Du, not between you and me."
Luo Guanlin was silent for a moment. He knew that although Chang Suining was very goal-oriented, he was not a stingy person, whether towards civilians or his officials.
Not only was she generous with money, she was also generous with the distribution of power. This was why many officials, although initially disobeyed her, were willing to be under her command.
"Besides, I am not short of money now." Chang Suining said with a smile: "Sir, I am not a rich but unkind person."
Luo Guanlin glanced at her and said, "I don't see why you are so rich."
She had just received a reward, and that unidentified "friend" also sent money to her door. She might have some extra money now, but the workshop has not yet made a profit, and she needs money everywhere.
"Sir, don't worry about money." Chang Suining said confidently, "I have many ways to make money."
Luo Guanlin thought she was saying that the finances of the Thirteen States were all under her control, and snorted, "Your Excellency's words make you sound like a corrupt official."
Chang Suining nodded in agreement: "I also think I have the potential to be a corrupt official."
Luo Guanlin, who was in the state of an imperial censor, looked at her and she smiled: "So, sir, you should stay by my side and urge me more to prevent me from going astray."
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