"I am Tang Shishu, the magistrate of Caolu County."
Magistrate Tang originally intended to make up a random identity to get by, but then he thought that he might have to deal with Yue Jiuyue's family in the future, such as learning how to grow sweet potatoes. If they found out his identity, would they think that he was now disdaining to have anything to do with them, and that was why he wasn't telling the truth?
It's not that he, a dignified county magistrate, cares about the opinion of a mere farmer. What he really cares about isn't the technique of growing sweet potatoes, but rather the credit he can reap after successfully growing them!
A soldier who doesn't want to be a general is not a good soldier; a county magistrate who doesn't want to be a prime minister is not a good county magistrate!
Of course, he was still a good magistrate who wanted to do practical things for the people, although he couldn't truly love them like his own children. Moreover, he couldn't do much for the people under his jurisdiction during his two years in office, after all, he was unlucky; just when he took office and wanted to make great strides, he encountered a drought.
"The county magistrate?!?"
The whole family gaped, their eyes wide, their faces filled with disbelief.
Oh, except for Xiaoman, she didn't know what a county magistrate was.
Lin Chaodong took the lead and knelt on the ground, while Yue Jiuyue was the slowest to react.
"This humble subject greets Your Excellency, the County Magistrate!"
"Get up, get up. I came to Linjiagou Village to see your village's lake, but I happened to see people digging sweet potatoes in Xishan. I heard that your family was the first to discover this new grain, so I came to inquire about it."
The magistrate did not display his official power, but they were still uneasy.
They just refused the magistrate!
No one dared to get up, including Yue Jiuyue, who advocated equality for all.
After all, this is ancient times with clear class distinctions!
The magistrate looked helplessly at the six heads with their foreheads touching the ground. He knew it would be like this, which was why he had gone on an "incognito visit".
The magistrate and his advisor, after much persuasion, finally managed to calm the six people down so they could sit down and have a proper conversation.
The county magistrate was very down-to-earth; the stone he sat on was naturally one of the stones that could be found anywhere on the mountain.
"What I just said, I wonder what everyone has thought of it?"
Magistrate Tang wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and asked gently and kindly.
"Your Excellency, our family has already discussed this matter. After the sweet potatoes are harvested, we will start selling roasted and boiled sweet potatoes everywhere. Next year, we will sell sweet potato seedlings in the neighboring town, county town, and prefecture town."
This was Lin Chaodong's reply. He sat on the rock, gave Magistrate Tang an awkward bow, and then directly revealed their well-discussed money-making plan.
Then, the whole family, except for Xiaoman, held their breath and waited for the magistrate's decision.
Magistrate Tang: ...
Cutting off someone's livelihood is like having parents who are like sand people; he doesn't even know what to say next.
Does he expect him to say, "Sell all the sweet potatoes to me, and I'll offer them to my superior. My superior will then put in a good word for me in his memorial to the throne, and when my term is up, I can just pack up and get promoted and leave?"
This is no longer the behavior of a public official; it's cutting off the livelihood of ordinary people!
As a county magistrate and the young master of a duke's mansion, does he need to resort to such underhanded means to get promoted? If those young masters in the capital find out, how will he, Young Master Tang, ever have the face to return to the capital!
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