Chapter 8 I need to repair Yuxiang County, thank you, Your Excellency!
"Wei Shuang will still be in charge of the backyard, and also pay attention to the storage of goods at night, and on rainy or cloudy days."
"Ying Xiaohu is quick-witted and agile, and he runs around the front hall serving dishes."
“Ying Dahu is strong, so he can move goods and fill the gaps in the kitchen.”
When it was Xiao Linyuan's turn, he looked solemn, turned his wrists, put his hands behind his back, and stood up straight, waiting for instructions to act as a thug in the restaurant.
But then the woman said, "Young Master Xiao is learned, so why don't you work at the front desk and do the bookkeeping?"
"Alright, that's settled. Everyone, get to your positions."
Xiao Linyuan was stunned for a moment, only to find that the woman had already left.
Ying Xiaohu suppressed a laugh.
As the sun sets, the last rays of sunlight hang in the sky.
Su Jingge left the restaurant and went to find the county magistrate.
The so-called county magistrate's assistant was Zhao Zhou's subordinate. This person had previously participated in the construction of Yuxiang County. Unlike Zhao Zhou, he was a good official.
However, he was constantly suppressed by Zhao Zhou, making his official career difficult.
She waited for Xie Mo on the only road he could take home after leaving his post.
She stood in the alley and looked out onto the street. From a distance, a thin man with a slightly tired face was walking toward her.
Although his faded official robe was clean, it was hard to hide its age.
While others were carried into their posts in sedan chairs, Xie Mo alone had to endure the heavy snows of winter, the warm sunshine of spring, and the sweltering heat of summer.
"Hello, Magistrate Xie," Su Jingge called out to him.
The man stopped, his slightly weathered face scrutinizing her from head to toe: "And you are?"
Su Jingge smiled slightly: "I am Su Jingge. Does the county magistrate still remember me? My father is Su Changgeng."
Xie Mo's eyes flickered; he remembered.
"It's Miss Su. Is there something you need?"
"My restaurant is not far ahead. County Magistrate, may I have a word with you in private?"
Xie Mo hesitated for a moment: "Miss Su, please speak freely."
She noticed that Xie Mo seemed uninterested, his eyes were dull, as if nothing could pique his interest.
She got straight to the point: "Then I'll be frank. I know you were involved in the renovation of Yuxiang County and you did a lot of good things for the people. My father told me before he passed away that I should lead the people of Yuxiang County to develop. A few years ago, I fell ill and failed to live up to my father's expectations."
"I want to revitalize Yuxiang County, but my efforts alone are insufficient, and I need your help."
Xie Mo looked at the woman's serious face, her eyes bright and clear, and her whole demeanor meticulous and sincere.
He had heard about her before; everyone said she was mentally unstable and had even swindled Liu's Cloth Shop half a year ago.
He's talking nonsense again.
Yuxiang County now ranks last in the national poverty index.
It's a pity about Manager Su Changgeng, who worked hard for decades to lead everyone in business.
It all went back to the way it was.
Xie Mo sighed softly, "You should go now. I need to rush home to cook for my wife."
Su Jingge looked at the man's slightly sunken shoulders, feeling utterly powerless.
She didn't give up and called out again, "County Magistrate Xie."
The man ignored him and walked away.
She followed him and continued speaking from behind: "County Magistrate Xie, I know you probably think I'm a fool now, but I'm really better. A few days ago, I resumed supplying goods to the merchants, and I replenished the goods that Manager Liu had six months ago, which you must know is correct."
"And there's Mr. Qi Shuyan, who ordered a thousand units of goods from me, which I will deliver in two days."
Xie Mo quickened his pace.
She jogged a few steps: "To the east, Manager Li Yulan saw my goods and was very satisfied."
"My Su family has indeed resumed supplying goods, and the restaurant will reopen in the next few days."
Xie Mo remained silent. When people on the street greeted him, he had previously nodded in response.
Later, he started jogging and never looked back.
Su Jingge followed along the way, ignoring everyone else's stares, and kept talking nonstop.
The people behind him laughed as they watched him being chased by the fool.
Xie Mo's face grew paler and paler, and he picked up his official robes and ran.
Su Jingge followed, saying, "County Magistrate Xie, they all believe me now. I'm really not sick. I need your help—"
Would a fool admit to being a fool?
"Lord Xie, you can't escape. I will definitely persevere!"
Suddenly, Xie Mo stopped in his tracks, his forehead covered in beads of sweat.
His throat was dry, his lips were pale, and he swallowed hard. "Miss Su, you've been following me all the way, and I'm home now."
Su Jingge looked up at the mansion on one side, the plaque of which read "Xie Mansion".
She gave an awkward smile: "Lord Xie, I'm sorry, but I really want to rebuild Yuxiang County. I know you are an honest official. In the seven years you have been in office, you have never accepted any gifts. You even chased after people to give them money for a basket of freshly picked vegetables."
"If a merchant tries to slip you silver ingots, you should return them untouched and simply say 'We follow the rules,' which is the best way to do them a favor."
"Your colleagues say you are rigid and out of touch with the world, but you don't refute them at all. Even if a relative takes half an acre of land from a commoner, you will still chase after him to seek justice."
"If there is even the slightest ambiguity in the numbers on the documents, you must check them thoroughly overnight."
Su Jingge looked at Xie Mo and her eyelashes trembled.
She knew he had taken her words to heart and continued, "I know you want the people to be well. Now that Zhao Zhou is incompetent and doesn't deserve to be a county magistrate, and the other officials are turning a blind eye to it. Now you are the only honest official left."
"Lord Xie, our Yuxiang County cannot continue to decline like this!"
Those words were like a dull knife, gently dissecting his deepest feelings that he had kept hidden for many years.
Those outdated and stubborn insistences that were criticized by colleagues.
Those principles that were laughed at for being inflexible.
Those moments of solitary lamentation under the moonlight in the dead of night were unexpectedly revealed by a simple, naive girl.
His Adam's apple bobbed, as if he wanted to say something but remained silent.
He finally smiled and said, "Miss Su, how could I not want to repair Yuxiang County? How could I not want to ensure that the people have enough to eat and wear?"
“But this is not something that you or I can do alone. Nowadays, people are scattered and many have moved out of Yuxiang County, preferring to go to the deep mountains rather than stay here. You say you want to repair the city?” Xie Mo shook his head and smiled. “Miss Su is joking.”
"I can do it. As long as you support me, I will definitely develop Yuxiang County into a paradise on earth!"
Upon hearing the last sentence, Xie Mo sighed deeply and said that he wasn't stupid.
The man stepped toward the steps of the mansion gate, only to find that his wife was already standing at the door waiting for him.
"How long have you been standing here, Madam?"
Su Jingge looked at the woman in front of her, her bright eyes and kind smile were so gentle they could melt winter snow.
She was wearing a plain-colored cloth dress, the cuffs of which were worn and frayed.
She was supposed to be an official's wife, yet her clothes were so plain, and there wasn't even a single valuable item on her head.
There was only one very thin silver hairpin.
It was Xie Mo who gave it to her on her birthday back then...
Madam Xie smiled at Xie Mo: "It wasn't long. I just noticed you weren't home by 5 a.m.
Xie Mo held his wife's hand and smiled gently, "I'm sorry to have worried you, Madam."
Just as the door was about to close, Su Jingge raised her voice: "This humble girl greets Madam Xie. May Madam Xie be well."
Madam Xie frowned and asked Xie Mo, "Why does this girl look so familiar?"
"She is Su Changgeng's daughter, Su Jingge. In the past, all the things we used to use belonged to the Su family. She even came to pay her respects on Madam's birthday."
Madam Xie suddenly remembered: "So it's Miss Jingge."
The woman smiled gently: "Isn't this girl going to marry into the Xiao family? But I just heard her say that she wants to renovate Yuxiang County?"
"Is the Xiao family planning to renovate Yuxiang County?"
Xie Mo shook his head: "I don't know. Wasn't that girl sick and delirious?" He changed the subject, "What delicious food did Madam cook today?"
Madam Xie frowned slightly and stopped in her tracks: "Mo Lang, repairing Yu Xiang County was your greatest ambition, how come you're so useless now, only knowing how to eat?"
Xie Mo choked, seeing his wife's face darken slightly, he quickly nodded seriously: "Madam is right, but the repairs are beyond my ability alone. Su Jingge may just be acting on a whim, Madam, please don't take it seriously."
Unexpectedly, Madam Xie turned her head away with a cold face: "It's because you've become arrogant."
Su Jingge looked at the black door, whose paint had long since peeled off, and frowned. It seemed she would have to come back again soon.
In short, she will not give up.
Just as he turned to leave, the gates of the Xie residence opened.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com