Chapter 295: "Preparing for the New Year" (Part 4) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
"Shen Jun, what is this...?"
Seeing Shen Tang's beaming face, the officials bowed, but still harbored many doubts in their hearts.
Shen Tang asked the others, "What's wrong with me?"
One of them stammered, "Seeing that Mr. Shen looked radiant and cheerful this morning, has something good happened?"
They were more curious about whether Shen Tang had received any "benefits" from visiting the Zhang family last night with his visiting card. And what about the dried bloodstains at the entrance to the administrative office, and the messy furnishings inside? They all looked like signs of a struggle.
Shen Tang laughed and said, "Hey, you really guessed right. It's because the end of the year is approaching that I've bought a lot of 'New Year's goods'."
The officials felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this.
Speaking of "New Year's goods," they haven't been able to give their families a proper New Year in a long time, causing their parents, wives, and children to worry and be afraid.
After all, being a river magistrate is no easy job.
Fortunately, Shen Tang paid out of his own pocket to give San Yue's monthly salary, otherwise the festive atmosphere this year would have been even more bleak than in previous years.
Thinking of this, the officials' dislike for Shen Tang's eagerness to curry favor with Zhang Shi in the middle of the night lessened, and they offered their congratulations.
Shen Tang: "Considering that everyone's life is not easy, after the 'New Year's goods' are settled, everyone will also settle the remaining monthly salary."
Hehehe, she's rich now.
The monthly salaries of these minor officials weren't much, but settling accounts with them could win people's hearts and make them more passionate and motivated to work in the future.
If you want a horse to run, you have to make sure it's well-fed!
The river officials: "..."
They looked at each other in bewilderment.
I didn't know how to react.
Isn't this happiness coming a little too fast?
Moreover, just two days ago, Shen Jun said he was short of money and could only cover three months' worth of their monthly salaries. How come he's paying them all the way up just one day later? Did they misjudge Shen Jun's financial resources?
Is he actually from a powerful and influential family?
Just then, one of the most senior officials caught a glimpse of the jade ornament Shen Tang was wearing at his waist. At first, it looked familiar, but the more he looked, the more he felt he had seen it somewhere before. Then, a flash of inspiration struck him, and he suddenly remembered something, his eyelids twitching wildly.
He had seen these jade ornaments before.
There's the Zhang family patriarch's collection, which he's been seen showing off to others from afar; there's also the Zhou family's second branch's "snatched" from a wealthy merchant, reportedly of the finest quality, rarely seen in the world; and there's the Miao family's ancestral property, which only male members of the direct line can inherit.
The old official: "..."
How could all these things appear on the same person? He secretly winked frantically, afraid that his old eyes were playing tricks on him.
But no matter how he looked at it, the scene remained unchanged. The old official hesitated and said, "Judging from the exquisite ornaments on Lord Shen's waist, they must be the work of a skilled craftsman, each piece a rare masterpiece..."
"You mean these few items? They're all 'New Year's goods' we bought this time. I don't know if they're made by skilled craftsmen, but they're quite pretty." Shen Tang played with the tassels on the ropes, letting the exquisite items the old official mentioned clink together with a crisp, melodious sound, without the slightest heartache. "They're pretty, so I'll take them with me."
The old official seemed to want to speak but hesitated, then hesitated again but wanted to speak.
He wanted to know if these items belonged to those companies.
But he was habitually cautious, and no matter how curious he was, he wouldn't ask questions casually. This was also the reason he had survived so many years as the governor of Hezhou. Observe more, think more, do more; listen less, speak less, ask less.
Otherwise, you wouldn't even know how you got killed.
They soon found out what the so-called "New Year's goods" were.
Shen Tang asked them to help organize the piled-up files, and then sent one of the officials with a group to inform everyone that an important announcement would be made at noon. The people of Fugu City were welcome to come and watch the spectacle, but it was fine if they didn't.
At most, there will be some regrets.
Several officials: "..."
They wanted to criticize Shen Tang's actions as being too childish.
But it was the prefect's order, and he had no choice but to obey.
"Hehe, their expressions are interesting..."
Shen Tang instructed people to clean up the area, stretched, and prepared to take a nap until noon before getting up to work. He teased the few officials who were still unaware of the situation, and his mood brightened considerably.
Sure enough, getting rich overnight brings happiness.
Qi Shan asked, "Isn't our lord afraid they'll abandon their post?"
Shen Tang said matter-of-factly, "How could that be? Their monthly salaries for the next few months are almost due, so even if they have any complaints now, they won't cause trouble. We're all hardworking corporate slaves trying to make a living, and I understand that all too well."
Are you being disobedient now and don't want to get paid?
Qi Shan: "..."
Although I didn't quite understand some of what Young Master Shen said, I could grasp about 70-80% of it by referring to the context...
"Corporate slave" is a really good term.
but--
Qi Shan said, "It is inappropriate to compare animals to humans."
He knew that Young Master Shen meant no harm and was mostly just teasing, but if he encountered someone who took it seriously, he would definitely get scolded to death.
Shen Tang: "..."
The administrative office was even more chaotic than yesterday, but she didn't care. She simply pulled a thin, warm blanket over herself, found a spot, and curled up to catch up on her sleep. Completely unaware of the "thunderous" shock that was about to strike the officials, nearly scaring them out of their wits.
"No, this is terrible—"
A familiar face appeared, panting heavily as he lifted the hem of his robe, his legs moving so fast they were almost blurry. The old official scolded, "What kind of behavior is this, all flustered and disorganized!"
"No, no, something really bad has happened."
Upon hearing this, several people gathered around in concern, chattering amongst themselves.
"Something happened? What happened?"
"Who's going to attack now?"
"Or has another company caused trouble?"
"No, none of that! It was those families that were wiped out. Just last night, everyone from top to bottom was captured and imprisoned. The prison and dungeons were packed with people... It's true, I saw it with my own eyes!" His words were so fantastical and bizarre that no one believed him. He stomped his feet in frustration, wishing he could swear to the heavens that what he said was true.
"They really fell!"
The old official said, "How could they possibly fall? Who could bring them down?"
The man was leaning against a pile of bamboo slips that was taller than himself.
After catching his breath, he said, "Yes, it is our Lord Shen!"
One stone stirs up a thousand waves!
The officials looked at each other in bewilderment.
Their Lord Shen had taken down the local tyrant who controlled Heyin? When did this happen? How come they didn't hear a thing? One of them shook his head in disbelief, pinched himself, and only after feeling the pain did he realize he wasn't dreaming.
"Really last night?"
The man stomped his foot and emphasized his words.
"Yes, they led their men to take down seven gangs in one night!"
The officials: "..."
They still couldn't believe it.
It wasn't until that person said that organizing these case files was to prepare for the trial of each case, and to kill people before the end of the year, using human heads as sacrifices to appease the ancestors, that everyone suddenly woke up from their dream and began organizing in unison, as if they had been injected with chicken blood without any injections!
At midday, the yang energy is at its peak.
The makeshift platform erected overnight was already surrounded by people who had received the news. They whispered among themselves and looked up at the ceiling, keeping track of the time.
As people began to shout "They're here!" the crowd parted automatically like a tide and looked over.
Shen Tang has finally had a good night's sleep.
ε≡(><)
This chapter has 2,000 words; another 2,000 words will be added at midnight.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances, I should add 3,000 words. _(:з」∠)_
Ah, please vote for me with monthly tickets!
I checked the notifications in the backend, and there shouldn't be any double rewards this month. Everyone can vote for their monthly tickets without worry, just vote for as many as you have, hehe.
(End of this chapter)
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