Song Ning has been busy with the construction of Tianxiang County lately, leaving early and returning late every day. By the time he gets home at night, everyone else is already asleep.
When I got back, I didn't even bother to wash up or make the bed; I just collapsed into bed and fell asleep.
The next day, as soon as it was light, I got up, washed up, ate a few bites of food, and went out again.
He was covered in dust and dirt all day long, and exhausted to the point of collapse.
But thinking about her future "grand ambitions," she held back.
This continued for more than half a month until good news came from Tianxiang County.
The sewer system is finally finished.
Many hands make light work, and it was completed more than a month earlier than expected.
It's early June, and Tianxiang County is bustling with activity early this morning to celebrate the completion of construction.
People put on new clothes, and several men tied red ribbons around their bodies. Drums, gongs, cymbals, and suonas brought out from the county government office were played together, making it even more lively than during the New Year.
The procession, accompanied by gongs and drums, emerged from the county government office and circled the entire Tianxiang County along the sewer route, a procession that served as a public parade. After the parade, they offered sacrifices to the gods and Buddhas, informing Heaven and Earth of their arrival.
The county temple in Tianxiang County had just been completed, and every household took this opportunity to place their carved ancestral tablets in the temple as the start of their sacrificial ceremony.
The main hall enshrines the Three Pure Ones, while the ancestral tablets of various families are enshrined at the back of the main hall.
The entire population of Tianxiang County knelt outside the main hall. Led by the county magistrate, they burned incense, kowtowed three times, and placed the prepared offerings on the altar.
The incense in the incense burner had just burned out when dark clouds gathered in the sky, and soon it began to rain.
As the rain intensified, the crowd dispersed, and the ceremony came to an end.
Some elderly people said it was a good omen, as there had never been such heavy rain before the sewer was completed, and the rain came just as expected after the project was finished.
Moreover, June is usually a dry season in Tianxiang County, but it rained today, even the heavens are looking out for them.
The rain was so heavy that construction outside had to be suspended. Song Ning stood under the eaves, listening to the "pitter-patter" of the rain outside, and felt much more at ease.
With this rain, their crops will grow much taller.
The rain lasted for two or three hours, and by the time it stopped, it was almost evening.
As soon as the rain stopped, Song Ning quickly ran outside to check the situation. There were only some traces of rain washing away the water, and apart from some potholes, there was not much standing water on the ground.
However, the roads in Tianxiang County are all dirt roads now, and when it rains, they become so muddy that it's impossible to walk on them.
Fortunately, her yard was paved with stone slabs, so she can now move around freely in the yard.
After drying for a day on the second day, it was finally possible to pass freely outside.
As soon as Song Ning stepped out the door, news came from the county government that several nearby towns and counties had been affected by the disaster, and even Yuanzhou City had been flooded, but none of the damage was too severe.
Tianxiang County is still relatively open, and with the construction of sewers, there are no problems.
As if they had discussed it beforehand, the magistrates of several counties decided to visit Tianxiang County to see the legendary sewers, and even specified that Song Ning should accompany them.
When the county magistrates arrived, Song Ning saw an old acquaintance, the prefect of Yuanzhou City, He Qiu.
It has been more than half a year since He Qiu last brought them warmth, and He Qiu looks unchanged.
He was the highest-ranking official here, with a group of county magistrates following behind him. Song Ning stepped forward and greeted them.
"Greetings, Your Excellencies."
"No need for formalities, please get up."
He Qiu probably recognized her, and after a moment of surprise, he smiled and said, "Oh, it's you."
Song Ning smiled and said, "It's me, Lord He. How have you been?"
Song Ning led the group around Tianxiang County, explaining the routes and locations of the sewers, and also mentioning some precautions for digging them.
"Actually, these are not very difficult. They can be done according to the local layout. However, the layout of each county is basically finalized now. If these sewers are dug, it will inevitably affect the daily lives of the people."
However, such things are inevitable. I remember when the road was under construction in my previous life, it lasted for almost a year. The people in the neighborhood were cursing and complaining all day long. But once the road was repaired, their voices changed, and they all said nice things.
He Qiu's idea was to have Song Ning go to Yuanzhou City first, and then go to other counties after the sewers in Yuanzhou City were dug.
However, the other county magistrates disagreed; they all wanted to start the excavation as soon as possible and were unwilling to compromise.
Zheng Gaoyi stood proudly in the crowd: "Hey, gentlemen, Song Ning is from my Tianxiang County. If you want her to work for you, you should at least ask me first, right? Our Tianxiang County can't do without her right now."
Song Ning didn't really plan to go to Yuanzhou City or other counties. Jiangning County and Yongning County were close by, so she might be able to help. She thought other places were too far away.
"What Lord Zheng said is true. I can't leave the county now. I can help out in Jiangning County and Yongning County sometimes, but I'm afraid I can't do it in other places."
"How about this, sir, go back and bring me a very detailed map of the area."
There's no good solution right now. Everyone present knows who Zheng Gaoyi is; they can't afford to offend him, so they have no choice but to agree.
At this moment, Zheng Gaoyi spoke up again: "Gentlemen, you've asked for help, but you can't expect people to work for you for free. Tell me, what kind of benefits are you going to give them?"
Song Ning lowered his head and couldn't help but laugh. The magistrate had done a wonderful job.
After all, those in front of her were officials; as a commoner, she couldn't bring herself to speak up about such matters.
But it was different when Lord Zheng said it.
The group looked at each other, unsure of what benefits to offer.
Zheng Gaoyi smiled and said, "How about I give you gentlemen a suggestion?"
"Please speak, Lord Zheng."
"As you can see, we have nothing here. Song Ning just loves making money. Why don't you give her some of your prime shops?"
Song Ning looked at Zheng Gaoyi, his eyes filled with excitement. "The magistrate is truly amazing!"
He was practically her soulmate; he knew exactly what she wanted.
"this......"
"Oh dear, this is a major event that benefits the country and its people. If it succeeds, it will be a great achievement for you. It's just a shop, and you can't even afford to part with it? Don't you want to fix the sewers anymore?"
“No problem,” Magistrate Xu said first.
He Qiu then relented: "Okay, as long as you can fix this thing, I'll give you both, let alone one."
With these two taking the lead, the rest naturally agreed.
Before these people left, Zheng Gaoyi made it clear to her that next time she brought a map, she should also bring the land deed, otherwise she wouldn't agree.
Song Ning gave Zheng Gaoyi a thumbs up: "Magistrate, you are truly a master."
"If they want you to work, they have to show some sincerity. Besides, they have a lot of things to offer, so giving you a shop wouldn't be a problem. But remember, it has to be in a good location; don't go for the bad ones."
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