Chapter 61. Waste is disposed of through unified incineration!
Su Jingge nodded: "Everyone has worked hard lately. We'll treat everyone properly before we start work."
She looked at Xu Yuan: "Shall we talk in private?"
The two walked out a little, and then she said:
"If we want to repair the land, we must first clear away the ruins, stagnant water, and rotten matter in the city. Summer is coming soon, and we must prevent the spread of plague."
Xu Yuan thought so too: "What Assistant Su said is right. The sanitation conditions here are poor, and epidemics are likely to break out after the disaster. Zhao Zhou only goes through the motions every year. If someone dies, he can report it to the court to get disaster relief funds. In short, people keep dying, so those abandoned things keep piling up and there is nowhere to dispose of them."
His brows furrowed, his eyes filled with worry: "If we want to clean up... then we have to report it. I'm afraid Zhao Zhou won't agree. Even though you are the assistant manager, he just talks a good game and supports everything, but he doesn't do anything practical."
"Besides, he was recently dismissed from his post and investigated, so he must still hold a grudge against you. This matter is probably going to be difficult."
Su Jingge said calmly, "No matter what, let's give it a try."
"We measured the road surface today, and I'm sure Zhao Zhou already knows. I'll go find him in a bit."
"Brother Xu, continue producing bricks, stones, and cement. Once the garbage in the city is cleared out, Lu Huai's tools will be almost ready, and your bricks will be finished by then."
“When construction begins, an official seal is required. Unlike the roof construction, where Xie Mo simply built it, every step from now on will require an official seal.”
Zhao Zhou will definitely have to go offline, but taking someone offline requires evidence and time...
So she's already looking for evidence of Zhao Zhou's embezzlement and exploitation of the common people.
Moreover, she concluded that how could a mere seventh-rank official possibly have such great power? He must have powerful connections above him, which is exactly what is known as mutual protection among officials!
Xu Yuan clasped his hands in a salute: "Mou, I accept the order."
Su Jingge looked at Lu Er, who had already compiled the necessary precise data and handed it to Xu Yuan.
The two then left Renyi Hall.
But Lu Er noticed that they weren't on their way back to the restaurant.
Then he asked, "Sister Su, do you still want to go around the city?"
Su Jingge smiled and said, "No, I need to go to Zhao Zhou's lair. You go back to the restaurant and see if Fei Jian has returned yet."
Lu Er bowed with his hands clasped: "Yes, Sister Su."
Meanwhile, at the Zhao residence.
Zhao Zhou heard the report from the man Fan Tong had sent.
Fan Tong said, "That little girl was measuring the road width with her brother Lu Huai at Xiaodongmen today. It looks like they're really going to start construction..."
Zhao Zhou lay in a rocking chair, while a servant fanned him and massaged his legs.
Leisurely and content.
The man squinted and said, "Go get busy. There's still land to repair. She really doesn't know her own limitations. Let her do whatever she wants."
Fan Tong smiled flatteringly: "Lord Zhao is indeed shrewd. You are indeed cunning and treacherous, but compared to Zhao, you are still going too far."
“We shamelessly agree without contributing any manpower or effort. No one is as ruthless as us when it comes to such opportunistic and treacherous people.”
"Your shamelessness is something even the city wall would be ashamed of."
Zhao Zhou listened to the words, opened his eyes, and slowly sat up.
Fan Tong blinked, then bent over and shrank back: "Did I say something wrong again?"
Zhao Zhou stood up, put his hands behind his back, circled the person once, and then kicked him with a 'bang'.
"I told you to learn something, and what have you done? Can you even use idioms? Can you even speak properly?"
Fan Tong crossed his hands, his face contorted in a bitter expression: "My lord, you can't blame me! I just... I didn't learn well..."
"No, no, it was me! I failed to apply what I learned; I was utterly heartless!"
Zhao Zhou sighed deeply: "If you hadn't risked your life with me, I would have left you on the mountain to fend for yourself long ago."
"Yes, yes, Lord Zhao is like a second parent to me." Seeing that the man's expression had returned to normal, he added, "Sir, are we really not going to take any action against Su Jingge?"
Zhao Zhou shook his head: "She is now working on the county's construction. To put it more broadly, she is acting on imperial orders."
"The Emperor had mentioned before that he approved of the post-disaster reconstruction and had allocated funds, but he only mentioned it once and didn't send anyone down. He just left the matter to the governor."
"The governor was recently caught red-handed and imprisoned. All the things I asked you to send were wasted. Fortunately, I wasn't implicated."
"Now, among the fourth-rank prefects, Xiao Yinhe is the most senior."
"But who doesn't know that Xiao Yinhe's position is just a nominal one, and he doesn't have as much real power as I do? I didn't build it because I didn't want to burden the people and waste money. It's better to save that money and wait for the next governor to come. That would be a considerable favor."
Fan Tong nodded: "What you say is true, sir. You are doing a good job of currying favor with the next governor. But as long as you are currying favor, Su Jingge's constant commotion may not be good for you, sir."
Zhao Zhou glared at him: "It's not that we'll let her do as she pleases, we'll just drag it out until the next governor takes office. With the governor in charge, even if she wants to cause trouble, she'll be lucky if she can get out of Lingnan."
Fan Tong hesitated for a moment: "But what if the next governor refuses your gifts and even helps Su Jingge?"
Zhao Zhou's face gradually darkened: "Impossible! The governor of this wretched place is a local tyrant. Why would he spend so much money on something so thankless? Why would he devote all his energy to mobilizing people to repair this dilapidated city? Wouldn't it be better for him to keep the money for himself? Unless he's gone mad, absolutely impossible!"
As they were talking, a servant came to report that Su Jingge had arrived.
Zhao Zhou sat up, squinting his eyes, a chilling aura emanating from them. He was truly unbearable to be talked about.
"Please invite them in."
Su Jingge entered the main hall and saw Zhao Zhou's men preparing tea.
"Oh, Assistant Manager Su, haha, it's been a long time! You still look as refreshed as ever. Come and have some tea." Fan Tong flattered him, inviting him inside.
She gave a cold smile and said, "No need, Registrar Fan. I'm here today to discuss a matter with Lord Zhao."
She looked at Zhao Zhou lying on the rocking chair next to her, with an ice pack on his forehead.
He clearly showed signs of illness, including heatstroke.
"Oh dear, look at you, Lord Zhao, you're not feeling well. It's getting hotter every day, Lord Zhao, you've got heatstroke."
Fan Tong started making goose-like noises.
Su Jingge sneered inwardly: "Sudden heat in April, Lord Zhao is the number one in Lingnan."
The man, looking weak and powerless, slowly sat up in pain: "Is it Assistant Minister Su? Why didn't you inform me?"
"These servants are just asking for trouble, Assistant Manager Su, please don't take offense."
Su Jingge touched the tip of her nose and watched him act; he was worse than an 18th-tier actor.
"I came today to ask you for a document to repair the city. We are currently preparing tools, cement, materials, and even two cave dwellings on the west side. Construction will begin soon."
"But there is a lot of garbage in the city, and we plan to dispose of it all by incineration."
"But considering how busy you are, sir, I have already written down the plan, and it is just waiting for your official seal! Please, Lord Zhao, approve it, so that I can start construction soon."
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