Chapter 343: Umbrella of the People
In early July, the plum rain season in the south of the Yangtze River ends. The sky is clear, the sun is abundant, and all kinds of crops grow rapidly. They are green and lush. A gust of summer breeze blows by, like a green ocean.
The Su family could no longer enjoy such beautiful scenery. The new prefect had already taken office, and Su Yanli had already handed over his responsibilities to him. He needed to return to Beijing immediately.
I really don’t want to leave!
Su Yanli and his family lingered in the field, taking one last look at the place where they had worked hard for three years.
"I didn't expect that three years would pass in the blink of an eye." He looked at the endless farmland, his heart filled with pride. Maybe he was not the most capable, nor the best parent, but he believed that he was down-to-earth and always cared for the people's livelihood, and he had no regrets.
Faced with the prosperity and peace of Songjiang Prefecture, Su Anzhi and his siblings also felt their father's hard work. They were proud to have such a father and stood beside him, feeling honored.
Smelling the fragrance of the rice fields and watching the cotton bolls blooming, Su Ruojin was reluctant to leave. There is Lin'an in the south of Songjiang Prefecture and Pingjiang Prefecture in the north. Lin'an is the Hangzhou City in later generations, and Pingjiang Prefecture is the Suzhou City in later generations. These are the world-famous "Suhang" and "Heaven on Earth". It is the ideal place to live for many people. They really want to live here all their lives.
Zhao Lan saw the tears in the young lady's eyes about to fall, so he reached out and gently embraced her, "Here is your business and farmyard. If you want to come over, I'll accompany you anytime."
Su Ruojin nodded, "Thank you, Brother Jin."
Shuang Rui reminded: "Lord Su, Master, it's getting late, we should get up and present the report."
Su Yanli sniffed, put his hands behind his back, turned around, and said, "Let's go."
Su Sanlang turned around and was immediately shocked, "Dad, why are there so many people?"
Su Yanli, his eyes blurred by tears, looked up and found that both sides of the official road were filled with ordinary people, including city residents and rural people.
"You are..." coming to see him off?
Although Su Yanli had doubts, his expression was certain.
The pavilion chief of Songjiang Prefecture, the village head of Hengjing Village, and others all smiled and bowed to him, "Sir Su, it was thanks to you that we were able to deal with the flood three years ago. Otherwise, there would not be the prosperous Songjiang Prefecture today."
Su Yanli bowed humbly in return, "Master Fang, Tian Lizheng, you are too serious. I am honored to be promoted by the emperor and serve in Songjiang Prefecture. I should do all this for the court, the prefecture and the people."
Chief Fang shook his head with emotion, "Your Excellency is too modest." Think about Lord Su's predecessor. When he came to office, not only did he do nothing, he also instigated a fight between the Tongzhi and the Tongpan, and almost turned Songjiang Prefecture into a deserted marshland.
Su Yanli was even more modest, "The weather is hot, I appreciate your kindness, please go back."
Tian Lizheng shook his head, "Sir, you have done so much for us in Songfu. I am just a villager and I don't know how to flatter others." He turned around and reminded, "Captain Fang, give the umbrella to you, sir."
What umbrella? Su Yanli was thinking that Ajin should have prepared all these rain gears. He quickly stretched out his hand to refuse, but... he saw a large yellow umbrella.
"This is..." Should they use it when camping?
Seeing that Magistrate Su had misunderstood, Fang Tingzhang smiled and reminded, "Sir, stretch it out and see..."
Seeing that everyone was looking at him with smiles, he seemed to have thought of something in the blink of an eye, and suddenly opened his eyes wide, "Could it be..." With trembling hands he touched the yellow oil umbrella that was held respectfully by Chief Fang.
Chief Fang nodded solemnly and said, "Sir, you have devoted yourself to Songjiang Prefecture for three years. We, the people of Songjiang Prefecture, have nothing to give you in return. After discussion, we have decided to give you an umbrella for all the people. Please accept it."
How could he deserve such a valuable gift? "I..." Su Yanli's hands were shaking, and he couldn't speak clearly.
Su Ruojin also didn't expect that the people of Songjiang Prefecture would give such a heavy Umbrella of the People to her father. This is not just a casual gift. It must be an Umbrella of the People that is valuable only if it is recognized by thousands of people!
Su Yanli dared not accept it and declined it repeatedly, "Su was ordered by the emperor's court, and I only did what I should do and fulfilled my responsibilities. I really don't deserve the kindness of my fellow countrymen, and I feel ashamed to accept it."
When Chief Fang saw that Lord Su was refusing to accept it, he quickly advised him, "Sir, you can afford it.
“No, no, no…” Su Yanli refused again and again.
Seeing that he refused to accept it, Tanazasa and others came forward to persuade him to accept it.
"Yes, sir, please accept it."
"Take it..."
"Take it..."
Gradually, the voices of the people became one and the same.
In the distance, beside the Fengyu Pavilion, He Yunhe looked at Zhao Lin dimly, "Little Prince, how have you been collecting in the past month?"
Zhao Lin looked at the large group of people kneeling in the distance. His eyes tightened, then suddenly returned to normal. He sighed meaningfully, "Umbrella of the People?"
"The young prince thinks he bribed the people to put on this show?"
Zhao Lin didn't reply to him.
But silence is the answer.
He Yunhe glanced at Zhao Lin and smiled brightly, "Let's go. Something like the Wanmin Umbrella doesn't happen for hundreds of years. Let's take advantage of it."
Zhao Lin stood there without moving.
He Yunhe had been waiting for him.
Zhao Lin curled his lips slightly, walked onto the official road, and headed towards the Su family.
He Yunhe still didn't move, but bowed and asked, "Madam, please——"
Xie Qingyu stared at him for a few times. In the past month in Songjiang Prefecture, not many people came to Bajie. He Yunhe was the one with the highest status among them, but the filial piety he gave to them was just that much. She was not satisfied with this. If it were in the capital, he would have been in trouble a long time ago.
She gave a barely perceptible sneer, then held her noble head high and followed her man up the official road.
He Yunhe was behind them, squinting his eyes, smiling, then putting on a smooth smile and following them.
The common people knelt together, and Su Yanli had no choice but to accept this precious umbrella of all people. He held it up with both hands and knelt down towards the direction of the imperial city. "It is my duty to help His Majesty and do things for the court. I am grateful for the support of the elders and brothers. I will boldly accept this umbrella of all people on behalf of His Majesty."
Su Yanli knelt before the emperor and the court.
Zhao Lan also led everyone to kneel in the direction of the imperial city.
Zhao Lin, who had just arrived, also knelt down.
Half an hour later, the carriage rumbled along the picturesque official road, with the sound of wind blowing gently. Su Ruojin leaned against Zhao Lan and fell into a deep sleep. Before today, she had been busy like a dog, both at home and in the cotton fields. Today, she finally had some peace and quiet, and she fell asleep as soon as she tilted her head.
Zhao Lan held Su Ruojin's small waist with one hand and supported her soft little head with the other. It felt good to hold his wife in his arms. He kept looking down at the young lady who was sleeping soundly, "Ajin, we are finally back in Beijing."
It is now July, and he can't wait until October to marry Jin.
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