The Zhao family members were also speechless, their eyes fixed on Bao Luye's movements until they stopped in front of Su's Restaurant before they came to their senses.
"I passed! I passed! Not just any ordinary ranking, but the top scorer in the entire county! If the old man knew this in the afterlife, he'd be laughing in his coffin!"
"He really is the top scholar in the county! Congratulations to the child's father for getting his wish!"
"So it turns out you didn't fail, brother, but instead topped the list on your first try! Congratulations on your dream coming true!" Su Hua smiled, her eyes crinkling. "It seems you'll be busy with the provincial examination in half a month!"
"It's good to be busy." Su Dahu smiled and nodded, his hands under his wide sleeves gradually loosening. He had finally lived up to his family's expectations and hadn't let all his efforts go to waste.
The family quickly got off the carriage, took the celebratory cloth from the messenger, and gave each person one tael of silver as a reward.
The messenger was a native of Qingshui County. When he learned that the messenger was coming to Su's Restaurant to deliver good news, the competition for the spot was fierce. Now that he could also receive a reward, everyone was overjoyed and showered him with compliments.
In the backyard of the restaurant, Su Sui and A Zheng, along with Dan Feng, Yu Feng, and Yu Yu, had already prepared a wedding banquet.
Before long, many people came after hearing the news, and the teacher of Baichuan Academy also came. He had become the top scholar in the county in less than four months, which was an unprecedented event in the entire Qingshui County. However, since he was a member of the Su family, everything seemed not so unbelievable.
With so many people, the family wedding banquet that was originally prepared was not enough.
With a wave of her hand, Madam Su Bai instructed Danfeng and Yu Yu to go to the shops in the west of the city to buy two large, fat pigs and ten bags of white flour to make dumplings! It wasn't to say that everyone would be full, but anyone who came to offer their congratulations would at least get a bowl of dumplings to share in the joy.
Soon, the fat pig and white flour were bought, and the people rolled up their sleeves to help. The men slaughtered the pig and chopped the meat, while the women kneaded and mixed the dough. The noise echoed throughout the alley.
Just as Tongxin Alley was filled with joy, thousands of miles away, in the capital city, in the Golden Palace.
On his throne, the emperor gazed at the urgent report from eight hundred li away in his hand. His gloomy face seemed to part like clouds, gradually brightening. After a long while, he was so moved that he burst into tears. "The South-to-North Water Diversion Project, using water from the south to quench the thirst of the north, is such a masterpiece. Only the Princess of Le'an could have come up with it."
"The fact that Yu the Great had the Lady of Le'an County is truly a blessing from Heaven and a good fortune for the people!"
The officials, who had been keeping their heads down, fearing the emperor's wrath, all looked up at the throne upon hearing the slightly hoarse, excited voice.
But the Emperor's hands trembled and his eyes were bloodshot.
He looked like he was crying tears of joy!
They quickly recalled what the Emperor had just said: the South-to-North Water Diversion Project? Using water from the South to quench the thirst of the North? They could understand each word individually, but put them together, they were completely baffled. Moreover, it was actually proposed by the Princess of Le'an County?
The news of the miraculous sweet potato had spread throughout the capital, and people wanted to buy some to try. Some even sent caravans to Tangshan Prefecture, but in the end, they didn't even bring back a single sweet potato vine.
The rarer something is, the more precious it is; perhaps the South-to-North Water Diversion Project is also a valuable thing.
Wei Hui stood at the head of the officials on the right. Upon hearing the words "Princess of Le'an County," a dark glint flashed in his old eyes. Then, with a hint of curiosity on his face, he stepped forward and asked, "I wonder what Your Majesty is referring to as the South-to-North Water Diversion Project?"
The emperor raised an eyebrow and glanced lightly at Wei Hui. "Eunuch De, read it to them."
"Yes." Eunuch De hurriedly took the urgent report and said in a high-pitched voice, "There is a major disaster in Tangshan Prefecture in June, which is even worse than a hundred years ago. Tangshan Prefecture has many water systems and underground rivers are overflowing, which is the root cause of the floods year after year. Meanwhile, many prefectures in the north are suffering from drought and lack water resources. After careful consideration, the county magistrate of Le'an proposed the idea of diverting water from the south to the north."
From Tangshan Prefecture northward, passing through Wuxi, Ningzhou, Baoxia, and Yongchang, one enters the capital, following a pattern of high elevation in the south and low elevation in the north.
"We can take advantage of this natural advantage to build a canal connecting the north and south, diverting water from the south to the north. This will alleviate the floods in the south and make the drought in the north no longer a problem..."
Each word, spoken, seemed to open a new door for the officials.
In particular, Qin Li and others from the Ministry of Works listened with shining eyes. For hundreds of years, floods in Tangshan Prefecture and along the coast had been a headache for the Ministry of Works. The dikes had been rebuilt again and again, but every time a flood came, the dikes would break. Whenever Tangshan Prefecture suffered a disaster, the Ministry of Works would be criticized. If it was a major disaster, losing a few heads was commonplace.
Originally, they were anxiously awaiting the Emperor's decision regarding this major flood. Those who had been overseeing the repair of the dikes had even prepared coffins. Unexpectedly, the Princess of Le'an County, General Zhennan, and Prefect Qin made proper arrangements, and no one was injured or killed.
Now, the head of Le'an County has proposed the South-to-North Water Diversion Project to eliminate the flood problem at its source.
Such talent! If only he were a man, he would be perfectly suited for the Ministry of Works.
Qin Li stepped forward excitedly, “Congratulations, Your Majesty! With the completion of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, millions of people in Tangshan Prefecture and along the route will no longer have to suffer from floods. This achievement is a great one for the present and a great contribution for future generations. This old minister requests to personally supervise the construction of the canal!”
Upon hearing this, the officials echoed and agreed.
Wei Hui frowned, and after everyone had finished speaking, he said slowly, "Lord Qin, isn't it too early for you to say that? The South-to-North Water Diversion Project is good, but such a huge project will consume so much manpower and resources. Although the Princess of Le'an is quick-witted, she has not considered the current situation of our Great Yu. The national treasury is tight, so where will we get so much money to build the Grand Canal?"
The smiles of the officials froze.
Yes, the north is not peaceful, and the court is cutting spending. If they want to build a canal, where will the money come from?
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