Chapter 275 The Only Way
The crowd was silent, and no one could answer the question.
Only Zhou Huaining said in a scornful tone, "Ah, Xianchuan County is really plagued by disasters! It's either drought or snowstorms, thunder or wind!
"You two adults don't know that today is already a lucky day! The former prefect and the academician were killed by lightning! The former governor was blown into the sky by a wind like today, floating in the sky like a kite, and the people of the whole county saw it! It's so tragic!"
The governor and the prefect shuddered at the same time and said in unison: "Zhou Huaining, why didn't you say it before?!"
If they knew Xianchuan County was so evil, they would never come here to supervise the matter in person!
"I thought the Lord knew!" Zhou Huaining said innocently, "Don't worry too much, my Lords. The Governor only needs to tell the Emperor the truth and say that Xianchuan County is evil. The Emperor will surely not hold you responsible!"
The prefect glanced at the governor silently. He was not worried because there was still the governor ahead of him!
The governor shed silent tears in his heart, "Zhou Huaining, what do you mean by telling the emperor the truth? Do you think I am too old to live?"
If someone tells the emperor that the strawberries were blown away by the wind, he would definitely chop off his head!
"That's right!" Zhou Huaining's voice was full of sympathy. "If you don't see it with your own eyes, no one will believe it. It seems that the Governor needs to find another way!"
The governor said angrily, "Think of a solution? Now the strawberries are gone, and I can't make them appear again, so what can I do? Zhou Huaining, why don't you go and find the lost strawberries? You are the magistrate of Xianchuan County. If such a big mistake happens, you can't escape responsibility!"
"I can't find it." Zhou Huaining curled his lips and said, "I don't intend to get away with it. Anyway, I dream of being dismissed by the emperor. Maybe this is my best chance to return to the capital? Governor, please say more bad things about me when you submit your memorial. Whether I can return depends entirely on you!"
Governor: “…”
The governor regrets it so much!
If he could turn back time, he would never present strawberries to the emperor! He would definitely stay away from Xianchuan County!
Now that such a mistake has happened, how will he end it?
"Your Excellency the Governor!" the prefect leaned forward and whispered, "I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should say it or not."
The governor said impatiently, "It's urgent. If you have something to say, please speak quickly!"
The prefect mustered up the courage to say, "Actually, there are still some strawberries..."
"Where is he?" the governor excitedly grabbed the county magistrate.
The county magistrate's voice was as quiet as a mosquito. "Aren't there still strawberries on the ground that fell earlier?"
The governor was startled and suddenly got up from the ground, "Yes! Go and have a look!"
The group hurried back to where they were before, only to see strawberries scattered on the ground, thrown where they were, untouched.
"We're saved!" the governor clapped his hands in joy. "God is merciful and has finally given us a chance to survive!"
The guards were about to pick it up when the governor nervously shouted, "Get out of the way! I'm coming myself!"
The governor held the basket, stuck out his butt, and picked up the strawberries on the ground carefully as if they were priceless treasures, then gently blew off the dust on them.
Zhou Huaining feigned surprise. "No way, Governor? You're not planning to use this dirty fruit that just fell on the ground as a tribute, are you?"
The governor didn't even raise his head. "County Magistrate Zhou, stop making sarcastic remarks. At this point, is there any other solution?"
Zhou Huaining nodded sincerely, "Yeah, it's nothing, out of sight, out of mind. I can still eat these strawberries after washing them in water!"
The governor straightened up and looked at everyone solemnly, "Everyone, what happened today must be kept to yourself! You must not tell anyone, otherwise, everyone present will die!"
The guards and villagers nodded quickly, "Don't worry, sir!"
They are not stupid. Saying such things would definitely be a capital crime!
The prefect added anxiously, "Don't let anyone know that the fruit sent to the palace was dirty fruit that fell on the ground..."
"You are not the one who is doing this, the dirty fruit is for Woqi!" Xiaojiuer came running over.
The prefect was at a loss for words.
The governor looked at the little dumpling and stuffed two strawberries into his hands. "These are for you! Eat them secretly! Don't tell anyone!"
"Okay!"
"Oh, what a lovely baby!" The governor said to himself as he looked at the little girl. "She's about the same age as Princess Mingzhu, and they look a bit like her. What a pity, they have different fates!"
Every strawberry on the ground had been picked up. The governor breathed a sigh of relief and shouted, "This is the last crop of imperial strawberries this year. Although the quantity is small, the quality is better than ever! Send it to the capital as soon as possible for Princess Mingzhu to enjoy!"
"Yes!" The head guard took the basket. "I will definitely fulfill my mission and let Her Highness the Princess enjoy the freshest and most delicious strawberries!"
The guards left quickly. In order to let the princess eat the freshest strawberries, fast horses were prepared at every post station on the way to the capital, and special cavalry were waiting.
Their task is to deliver the strawberries to the next station as quickly as possible.
It would take two days and one night to travel from Heihe Village to the capital even if you rode at full speed without stopping.
Even if the strawberries are well preserved along the way, they will not be very fresh when they arrive in Beijing.
The governor left the village without saying a word, and he and the county magistrate got into the carriage and left directly. They didn't want to stay in this place any longer.
The villagers thought he would explain how to plant strawberries next year, but he didn't say a word.
Zhou Huaining was about to leave when the villagers called him back, "Please stay, County Magistrate!"
Zhou Huaining spoke in an official tone, "Dear villagers, I have official business to attend to, so I will return to the county government office first!"
"Mr. Ning, please finish your meal before leaving!" the villagers shouted.
"This..." Zhou Huaining argued, "How could you have mistaken me for someone else again? Your Young Master Ning is actually my younger brother!"
"Mr. Ning, stop pretending!" the village head said with a laugh. "Everyone heard the governor and the prefect calling your name, and they recognized you. Mr. Ning and the county magistrate are the same person!"
Zhou Huaining sighed, "Well, now that you've recognized me, there's no more Young Master Ning in Xianchuan County! It'll be boring for me to come to Heihe Village from now on!"
"No, you are still our Young Master Ning!" The villagers laughed. "Heihe Village doesn't know the County Magistrate, we only know Young Master Ning!"
"Can we play like this?" Zhou Huaining smiled.
"But before that, Mr. Ning, please accept our greetings!" The village head led the villagers to kneel down.
"Hey, you guys..." Zhou Huaining wanted to say something, but was interrupted by the village head.
"Everyone says the County Magistrate is a rare and good official. Today, everyone has witnessed it with their own eyes!"
The village head's eyes welled with tears. "Which official would go to such lengths to protect the people under his jurisdiction? The County Magistrate has shown great kindness. Heihe Village will remember this. We only hope to repay this kindness someday!"
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