Chapter 43 Chapter 43 Unwilling to be left out
The rain became lighter, and the dense cumulus clouds gradually dispersed, leaving only the stagnant water that was difficult to drain away.
Pei Zhiji divided Fanxi River into several large areas on the map. Suo Ye and Li Zhubu successfully drained the accumulated water in one of the areas to the foot of Xiaofeng Mountain overnight to verify the feasibility of this method.
Most of the houses of the villagers in Caotianao were flooded, and the county sent people to repair them. Some of the homeless people were resettled in the county government office, and the rest lived directly in the Shen residence.
Lu Suizhu poured a bowl of meat porridge, squatted in front of the children, and patted their heads: "Little Yuanzi, be good and eat your meal. Only after you eat can you get candied fruit."
"Why don't you thank Sister Chen quickly?" Xiao Yuanzi's mother thanked her repeatedly, and a bunch of villagers also praised Lu Suizhu for her beauty and kindness. She couldn't help but blush under the continuous attack of sweet words.
Only Fuman's mother was sitting in the shade of a tree in the corner, with a sad face and numb and desolate eyes, ignoring anyone who spoke to her.
Fuman's body was fished out last night. It was so swollen that it looked like a human. With such a big head and such a thick neck, even a brave man would be frightened at first sight. The villagers were afraid that she would be upset, so they buried her on their own initiative.
Lu Suizhu tried to offer comfort in a thousand sweet words, but unexpectedly, as soon as she approached, she was splashed with hot porridge.
"You don't have to be so hypocritical."
Everyone hurriedly pushed Fu Manniang away, and tried to persuade and scold her, but she wouldn't listen at all. She just went crazy and cursed everyone else.
Lu Suizhu smiled and said, "It's okay." Then everyone dispersed.
In the study, Pei Zhiji was discussing post-disaster reconstruction and drainage and flood control with Shen Zhuo. Shen Zhuo praised his flood control plan highly, but he still had a few questions: "I have read the flood control plan that Lord Pei wrote for Liangxi. The plan of digging fields to open canals is indeed very effective. But why can't it be used in Fanxi?"
The map of Fanxi and the topographic map of Liangxi were spread out on the table, and Pei Zhiji pointed at a few places.
"Liangxi is located at a high altitude, with a dry and cold climate. It borders Xingjiang Lake and is home to many people who make a living by fishing. Every household only has a few acres of farmland. I advocate opening up the fields to allow for water. Even if some farmland is destroyed, it won't deprive the people of their livelihood, and the court won't have to pay too much in subsidies."
"Fanxi is different. It's located in the heart of the southeast, and crops can be harvested three times a year, twice as much as in the dry lands of the north. It's truly a land of fish and rice. Grain is also the county's most important source of income, so you absolutely can't start with farmland."
"Li Zhubu."
Li Zhubu understood and spread out another drawing.
"The mountains block the flow of water, causing the rain to accumulate. There's a crack on the west side of Xiaofeng Mountain. We could use it as a breakthrough to solve this urgent problem." Pei Zhiji made a red mark beside the valley, held up his sleeve, and said to Shen Zhuo, "County Magistrate Shen, please repair the suspension bridge west of the city promptly. Otherwise, the imperial court's disaster relief funds will not be delivered. Don't delay this."
"Okay, I'll do it right away."
With the blueprint in hand, Chen Zhu and Li Zhubu hurried out when they ran into Lu Suizhu, who hadn't changed her clothes and looked disheveled. "What happened? You spilled porridge on yourself!"
Hearing the noise, Pei Zhiji also put down his pen. When he went out to see, Shen Zhuo had been sent away by Lu Suizhu. However, he was not so easily fooled. He immediately glanced at the woman with her head lowered in the corner and asked, "Is she Fuman's mother?"
He walked over with such confidence that he stood before her, speaking righteously, "Ms. Shen has done nothing wrong to Fu Man. Ultimately, it was you who failed to take good care of the child. It was clearly your own fault that caused the disaster, yet you are blaming others for it. This behavior is truly inappropriate."
Lu Suizhu carefully pulled his sleeve back, and felt that he was so righteous at this moment that he seemed to be possessed by a demon.
Fu Manniang didn't understand a word she said. She glanced at her sideways and turned her back. Pei Zhiji took a breath and was about to speak to her to try to persuade her.
"Okay, okay, there's no point using your words to treat your subordinates here. She just experienced the pain of losing her daughter, and it's normal for her to find it hard to accept for a while. Besides, I was wearing clothes, and the porridge didn't really burn me." Lu Suizhu pulled him back.
Pei Zhiji didn't want to argue with an ignorant village woman, but he was afraid that Lu Suizhu would feel upset.
Seeing that he didn't speak for a long time, Lu Suizhu thought that Lord Pei, who was high and mighty and had never suffered any injustice, was angry, so she pulled him around the villagers here and went to a place where it was convenient to talk.
"I will return to Beijing after the suspension bridge is repaired tomorrow. Do you want to go back with me?" Pei Zhiji asked.
Her watery eyes blinked, as if she didn't understand what he meant.
Pei Zhiji uttered an "ah" and then explained, "I didn't mean anything else. I just thought your brother's imperial examination was coming up soon, and you'd have to go to the capital anyway. It would be safer if you came with me."
The flood caused the people to be displaced. If it were not for the Shen family's selfless help, all the people in Caotian Mountain would probably have starved to death.
Lu Suizhu pursed her lips and shook her head, her tone heavy with sorrow. "No, my family still needs me. I'll go with my cousin after the houses in the county are renovated."
"Well, since you have your own plans, I will wait for you in Shangjing."
Pei Zhiji originally wanted to ask about Wu Lianjin and find out a little bit, but seeing that Lu Suizhu was not in a good mood, he had to give up. Anyway, Fan Xi had already planted his people, and no clues could escape Yingta's eyes.
After the rain, the sky was clear and blue. Lu Suizhu went to Yunshui, a neighboring county, to visit Shen Guyan's parents.
Fortunately, the terrain of Yunshui County is more advantageous than that of Fanxi, so there were almost no casualties and the damage was not serious.
"Our Erlang has been smart and hardworking since he was young. Now he has become a high-ranking official in the capital. It is a great honor for his ancestors. The entire Yunshui County is proud of him."
Only today did Lu Suizhu understand why Shen Guyan did not dare to tell his parents about his resignation.
When leaving Shangjing, Shen Guyan had asked her to visit his parents. Now seeing that the two elders were in good health and in high spirits, she put her worries aside, picked up the paper and pen, and concentrated on copying today's situation in the letter.
Someone knocked on the door, but she ignored him.
Pei Zhiji was leaving tomorrow, and he was unwilling to be ignored today, so he deliberately put his left hand on the chair and let out a "hiss" in pain.
Seeing that it was Pei Zhiji standing there, Lu Suizhu raised her head and lowered it again: "I went to see Shen Guyan's parents today. I only have a few words left to write this letter. Please give it to Master Pei when he returns to the capital. Thank you."
"I will return to Beijing tomorrow."
Pei Zhiji spoke slowly, trying to find some different emotions on her face.
Lu Suizhu paused holding the pen, and the already crooked hand straightened a little, and his voice was calm, neither sad nor happy.
"Okay, then I won't see you off."
The heavy rain continued. After Xu Ruogu and others arrived at Fanxi, they camped at the edge of the city for two days. Seeing that the suspension bridge was repaired, the large group planned to cross the bridge.
Xu Ruogu strained to look towards the bridge in the bright sunlight. He saw that the figure on the horse looked very much like Little Master Pei. He confirmed it only after the horse came a little closer. He waved repeatedly, calling out, "Master Pei, Master Pei!"
"Whoa--" Pei Zhiji pulled the reins, dismounted and spoke to him.
"Hehe, it really is Lord Pei. I recommended you to His Majesty to come here to control the floods. I never thought it would be such a coincidence."
"Lord Xu is still as cunning and shrewd as he was in the past." Pei Zhiji teased him without hesitation. He knew best what kind of person Xu Ruogu was after being classmates with him for a few months. His honesty and straightforwardness, praised by the court, and his heart as hard as stone, were all hollow.
He gathered Xu Ruogu's wide official robe from behind and walked forward without looking back. Xu Ruogu's heels moved, but he kept looking back: "Hey, hey - Master Pei, we're going the wrong way. We should go to Fan Creek to check the water situation and then return to report to His Majesty."
"No, the flood in Fanxi has been almost resolved. Lord Xu only needs to send someone with the relief money to deliver it to County Magistrate Shen. He knows what to do."
Pei Zhiji squinted his eyes slightly, patted the water droplets on Pei Xuruogu's shoulder meaningfully, and looked very happy: "The pacification of the flood in Fanxi this time is mainly due to Lord Xu. I will speak well of you in front of Her Majesty and the Queen Mother."
The team escorting the disaster relief silver has crossed the long suspension bridge, and there is no dangerous road ahead.
Xu Ruogu and Pei Zhiji went to Shangjing with a small group of trusted men. This time the imperial order was completed very quickly, so the two of them did not have to rush back to Beijing, and they stayed in almost every inn they could find.
Xu Ruogu felt relieved. He had achieved a great feat without doing anything. It was truly perfect.
Even Pei Zhiji had an excuse for the time he had been delayed in Fanxi. It was a win-win situation, wasn't it? He happily took a sip of wine. The more he sipped, the sweeter it became. He felt more and more that it was good to follow Master Pei.
If Pei Zhiji had not pointed out the matter of Li Taifu, he would have openly offended the prince and would not have had the good job and wine he enjoys today.
"Has anything major happened in Shangjing recently?" Pei Zhiji asked.
"Hiss, it's nothing special. It's just that the Queen Mother is old and bedridden, and many people in the court are openly or secretly supporting the appointment of the Imperial Concubine as Queen. It's obvious that they see that Your Majesty and the Queen Mother are getting worse and worse, and they want to establish a new emperor and get a position as a minister to the new emperor."
Pei Zhiji held the rim of the cup with his hand, a faint smile on the corner of his lips. Xu Ruogu poured him wine. He gestured with his bandaged left hand, and the wine in the cup was replaced with water.
"Now the two factions in the court are competing with each other and fighting for peace. In your opinion, Lord Pei, which side has a greater chance of winning?" Xu Ruogu covered his lips and his voice became lower and lower. He only dared to say such rebellious words outside the capital.
"Why are you in such a hurry? Those two guys up there are still alive."
Pei Zhiji raised his chin slightly, dipped his fingers in water and casually drew a few strokes on the table.
No matter who ascends the throne, the fate of the Pei family will not be very good. Only by holding power firmly in their own hands can they ensure eternal peace.
*
Five days later, he went to Beijing.
"Chenzhu handed over the memorial, saying that the water situation has stabilized. Pei Qing, thank you for your hard work on this trip."
The eunuch beside the emperor respectfully handed the memorial to Pei Zhiji: "Master Pei, please read this."
"I'm sure Pei Qing has heard about the Fanxi illegal mining case a while ago. Although it was finally found out that the mine was full of scrap metal, I still feel uneasy." The emperor coughed, and the eunuch beside him hurriedly rubbed his back to help him breathe.
Pei Zhiji's eyes flickered. "Your Majesty is blessed with great fortune. You will surely be able to protect the country and its foundation for generations to come. The local officials have already dealt with the small illegal mines properly. Your Majesty does not need to worry so much."
After dismissing Pei Zhiji and the palace servants, the emperor swallowed a black pill with great effort and said, "Pingshun, what do you think he meant by this?"
Pingshun stroked the emperor's back and helped him take the medicine and drink water. "Your Majesty, I see that Master Pei is expressing his loyalty to you. Your Majesty, your health has improved since you took Pharmacist Sun's pills. Isn't it just as Master Pei said that you still have to protect this country and its foundation for thousands of generations to come?"
"Hahaha, you only know how to make me happy. Well, I won't go to the Imperial Concubine's tonight. I'll just pick a maid from the Qinzheng Palace to serve me."
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