With a smile, Eunuch Xiang handed the imperial edict to Yan Qingqing and said, "Congratulations on your appointment, Mingzhao."
After receiving the imperial edict, Yan Qingqing casually stuffed a purse into Eunuch Xiang's hand and said, "The angel has come from afar and has had a long journey. Consider this a small token of my appreciation for the angel's tea."
When Eunuch Xiang touched the purse, he knew it contained silver notes. Thinking it must contain at least fifty taels, he was pleased and his smile became even more amiable. He then gave Yan Qingqing a few more instructions, telling her that the Emperor was considerate and that she did not need to go to the capital to express her gratitude.
The guards who came with Eunuch Xiang also received a purse each. They had thought that coming to this remote village would be a tough job.
But to my surprise, the village was not poor at all. In particular, the newly appointed official Mingzhao's house was quite well-built, and the hard-earned money for his work was also quite substantial.
Yan Qingqing really went all out; these five purses alone contained a thousand taels of silver notes. She wouldn't have been able to come up with that amount before, but now she wasn't short of a thousand taels of silver.
Yan Qingqing said to Eunuch Xiang and the others, "The guest rooms are ready. Please go and rest."
I'll have someone prepare things so that you won't be late for your return to the capital."
Eunuch Xiang was very pleased to hear this. Mingzhao was so sensible; he had handled the task very smoothly.
After Eunuch Xiang and the others left, Yan Qingqing put away the imperial edict, but heard Magistrate Ling snort in dissatisfaction.
Yan Qingqing is currently a fifth-rank official, while Magistrate Ling is only a seventh-rank official. Logically, Yan Qingqing should be the one giving him a cold snort.
However, Magistrate Ling had helped his family a lot, and since he came from the Ling family in the capital, even though Yan Qingqing had received a title, she wasn't so arrogant as to be beyond redemption.
So he smiled and walked up to Magistrate Ling, asking, "Magistrate Ling, what's wrong? Is there something you're unhappy about with me?"
Magistrate Ling glanced at her and said, "If you give all these potatoes and sweet potatoes to the Emperor, what will happen to Chengyang County?"
I've been running around doing all this work, only to have it all go to someone else in the end.
So that's what it was about. From Magistrate Ling's perspective, what he said makes sense.
However, Yan Qingqing was in a good mood and wanted to tease him, so she said, "Magistrate Ling, you are mistaken. One who eats the emperor's food should be loyal to the emperor and share the emperor's worries."
Although the Emperor took all my potatoes and sweet potatoes, he ultimately planted them on the land of my Great Yan, thus relieving the people from hunger.
Magistrate Ling was furious upon hearing Yan Qingqing's words, but he couldn't say that Yan Qingqing was wrong.
He could only grit his teeth and glare at her, saying, "As expected of the Imperial Envoy appointed by the Emperor, the words you speak are truly exceptional. I have learned a great deal!"
Seeing that Magistrate Ling was about to lose his temper, Yan Qingqing knew she couldn't joke anymore, so she said calmly, "His Majesty only said he would take my family's potatoes and sweet potatoes away, but he didn't say he would take other families' potatoes away too."
Before Magistrate Ling could even process the meaning behind Yan Qingqing's words, he scoffed, "What's the difference? Are there other families..."
Before she could finish speaking, Magistrate Ling suddenly widened her eyes and looked at Yan Qingqing expectantly, asking, "You mean there are other people who planted it too?"
Yan Qingqing nodded and recounted how she had gotten the villagers to plant potatoes and sweet potatoes together.
Magistrate Ling laughed heartily and said, "As expected of the Emperor's appointed 'Enlightened Man', I have truly learned a lot this time."
After speaking, he bowed to Yan Qingqing. Yan Qingqing looked at him with a mixture of amusement and disbelief. She really didn't expect that the seemingly upright Magistrate Ling would have such a side to him.
Yan Qingqing had no idea that Ling Ziyuan was a notorious playboy in the capital when he was young. Otherwise, how could he, as the eldest son of the Ling family, have been demoted to such a small county?
However, although he was a playboy, he had never actually done anything immoral or heinous, which was why the emperor and the head of the Ling family felt at ease letting him stay here.
However, Yan Qingqing straightened her expression and said, "The crops I grow can be donated to the imperial court free of charge, but not the villagers' crops. They have worked hard for several months, and we can't let them work for nothing."
Now that Yan Qingqing has a rank, she speaks with considerable authority.
Magistrate Ling: ...
This is like someone who got a good deal but is now acting innocent. The emperor already rewarded her with a thousand taels of gold, and she's still calling it a free donation?
But what can he do? Yan Qingqing is now a fifth-rank official, two ranks higher than him. If she says it's free, then it's free.
It is indeed not easy for ordinary people to farm, and Magistrate Ling has deeply felt this since he took office.
He hadn't intended to take things from the people for nothing, but Yan Qingqing's words made it sound like he was a corrupt official.
Magistrate Ling finally asked, "What price do you think would be appropriate for the government to purchase these potatoes and sweet potatoes per kilogram?"
Yan Qingqing thought for a moment and replied, "To be honest, these are just seeds, so it's only right to give them as much money as possible."
However, these things are highly productive and will quickly become widespread once they are cultivated, which is a great thing that benefits the country and its people.
I don't expect Lord Ling to make them rich overnight, but they still need to be paid a basic fee for their hard work.
How about five coins per pound? Any lower and it won't work."
Magistrate Ling breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, as he was genuinely afraid that Yan Qingqing would make exorbitant demands and cause him to bleed heavily.
In fact, Yan Qingqing had already done some calculations in her mind. If one mu of land yielded 3,000 jin, that would be 15 taels of silver in income, which was more than an average family could earn in a year.
After finishing her business with Magistrate Ling, Yan Qingqing slapped her thigh and said, "I forgot something. There's a Madam Shen outside who wants you to get out and see her. She even said that if you're too slow, she'll have to bring your head to see her."
We've wasted so much time here, Lord Ling, what are your plans?
Magistrate Ling: ...
Ah Da Ren's mouth was almost twitching.
Finally, Ling Xian flicked his sleeve and said, "Where did this crazy woman come from, spouting such nonsense? I'd like to see for myself."
However, before Magistrate Ling could witness Madam Shen's prowess, Madam Shen heard that Yan Qingqing had received an imperial edict and returned to the prefectural city with Shen Hongyan without even having time to pack up her belongings at the inn. Although Yan Qingqing was of the same rank as her, Yan Qingqing's title was far more prestigious and substantial than Madam Shen's.
Moreover, the eunuch in charge of delivering imperial decrees was still around, so even if Madam Shen was arrogant, she would know the seriousness of the matter.
Aunt Chen and Miss Chen naturally went back as well.
The ladies and young women who came with them were dumbfounded.
None of them expected that the arrogant and domineering Madam Shen would one day have to run away with her tail between her legs, and they were all quite pleased with themselves.
However, it's good that they left. This is a good time to make friends with the newly rich, especially under Madam Liu's guidance, they all want to befriend Yan Qingqing.
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