If they haven't seen their family members for four days, they feel as heavy as if they're carrying a stone in their hearts if they don't see them in person.
An hour later, led by Xiao Wei, they all knelt before Shen Danru.
"We are willing to follow Miss Shen."
They learned from their families that after Miss Shen brought their families over, she not only provided them with food, clothing, and shelter, but also gave them all medical checkups and medicine to those who were sick.
This led them to make a decision: to follow Miss Shen from now on.
Their family is their only hope for survival.
They didn't want to be bandits, nor were they bandits. They were just refugees from other places, with no use for their martial arts skills, and their families had almost starved to death.
Thankfully, Miss Shen didn't hold it against them.
Shen Danru also knew that these people were not particularly evil, nor had they killed anyone; they had simply used the wrong methods.
"Yes, get up, all of you. There's plenty of time in the future. You can stay at the manor for now. Uncle Cai and the River God will take care of you."
###
A report from the magistrate of Ningshou County delighted the prefect of Ningzhou.
It's unbelievable that such a talented person could grow crops on saline-alkali land in a small town like Ningshou County.
There is now a pilot project in Sifang Town, where crops have been successfully grown on saline-alkali land. Early rice and late rice varieties have also been developed. The early rice has already been harvested, and the yield is so high that he can hardly believe it.
The report stated that Shen Cheng had only reclaimed saline-alkali land and had not tried it on other wastelands. However, due to the different soil composition, this method may not be effective on other plots of land.
Nevertheless, Prefect Cao was overjoyed. If he recommended this man to his superiors, he would have made a great contribution.
Agriculture is one of the most important lifelines of a nation's economy. When agriculture develops, people can eat their fill, stay warm, and live in peace and contentment, and the country can become prosperous and strong.
Prefect Cao dared not delay and immediately picked up his pen to write a memorial.
It was five days later that the document reached the emperor after the cabinet had reviewed it.
Three soldiers riding tall horses suddenly appeared in Shangqing Village, frightening the villagers.
"Excuse me, where does Shen Cheng live?"
Despite their fear, the villagers dared not offend the soldiers. Seeing that these soldiers were even more imposing than the county yamen runners, they trembled as they pointed the way for them.
The villagers only realized what had happened after the soldiers had passed by.
"Go quickly and call the village head; something has happened to the Shen family."
Now the Shen family has led them to prosperity, and nearly half of the families in the village work for the Shen family. If something happens to the Shen family, they will return to their previous impoverished lives.
Thinking of this, several fast-running young men went to inform the village head.
Some were genuinely concerned about the Shen family, while others simply enjoyed watching the spectacle. Even the servants working for the Shen family all rushed to the Shen family's gate, curious about the purpose of these soldiers' visit.
Could it be that the Shen family has offended a powerful figure and is about to be arrested?
Who is Shen Cheng?
The Shen family was also startled, especially Zhou, who almost fainted, but fortunately Shen Danru supported her.
Shen Cheng braced himself and stepped forward: "Sirs, we are all law-abiding citizens. What business do you have with us?"
"We are messengers from the Ningzhou City post station, carrying an imperial edict from Shengjing. Shen Cheng from Shangqing Village is here to receive the edict!"
The villagers had never seen anything like this before. This was an imperial edict from Shengjing (Shenyang). Their legs went weak, and they all knelt down.
By the time the village head arrived, the imperial edict had already been read. The villagers looked at the gleaming edict in Shen Cheng's hand and were all somewhat incredulous.
The village head was unaware of what had happened, but judging from the villagers' surprised expressions, he guessed that something had happened to the Shen family.
He quickly stepped forward: "Gentlemen, I am the village head of Shangqing Village. The Shen family are law-abiding citizens, we don't know..."
"Please make way, everyone else."
One of the messengers shouted loudly, startling the village head so much that he froze on the spot.
Qingtan stepped forward and said, "Gentlemen, you've worked hard. Please take this small amount of money and have some tea."
The three messengers were also somewhat surprised. They had been ordered to come to this small mountain village to deliver the message, and they were initially reluctant to do so.
That's such a remote mountain village; a round trip would take several hours, a waste of time and effort, and wouldn't even be worthwhile.
To their surprise, each of them received a large ingot of silver, which was quite heavy and weighed a full five taels.
At first, they looked down on Shen Cheng, this farmer, but now they were ashamed and blushed. They didn't expect the Shen family to be so generous, giving five taels of silver each, making it fifteen taels for all three of them.
The messengers initially refused to accept the gifts, making a show of pushing and shoving them a few times, but Qingtan forcefully stuffed them into each of their hands.
The messenger no longer dared to underestimate Shen Cheng and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Lord Shen."
Seeing her father looking dazed and silent for a long time, Shen Danru had no choice but to step forward and say, "I'll have to trouble you gentlemen."
Before the people of Shangqing Village could react, several messengers had already ridden away.
The village head was still completely bewildered. He stepped forward and asked, "Chengzi, what happened?"
Shen Cheng was still in shock. When the village head asked him a question, he didn't hear a single word.
His mind was still replaying the messenger's words: "...an eighth-rank official under the Ministry of Agriculture..."
He became an official?
He simply purchased the wasteland according to Ru'er's wishes, and the method of reclaiming the wasteland was Ru'er's idea. Ru'er also took in those disaster victims. How did he become an official?
"Ru'er, pinch me and see if it hurts. I feel like I'm dreaming."
Shen Danru smiled and said, "Father, it's all true. You have a secure job now, you're a government official who receives a salary from the state."
In ancient times, among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, even an eighth-rank official represented a significant elevation in social status.
"I don't believe it, I don't believe it..."
Not only did Chen Cheng disbelieve it, but the villagers were also stunned, standing there motionless, as if struck by lightning, still in shock.
That was an imperial edict from Shengjing, a decree issued by the emperor. This was the first time such an edict had been issued in Shangqing Village.
No, you could say it's the first of its kind in Sifang Town.
"Father, it's all true. Look, isn't this imperial edict in your hands? And here are the official robes and hats, the hundred taels of silver, and the land deeds for two thousand acres..."
Shen Cheng looked at the imperial edict in his hand, and saw that Shen Yuyan was holding an official hat, silver, and land deeds on a lacquered tray. Only then did he believe it.
The village headman learned from the villagers that these were messengers who had come to deliver an imperial edict from Shengjing. He was somewhat surprised, but also delighted. This was not only an honor for Shangqing Village, but also the first in the entire Ningshou County. He could brag about it to other village heads for a whole year.
He also knew that Shen Cheng's successful land reclamation was all thanks to the daughter Shen Cheng had just recognized.
Shen Cheng is truly blessed to have such a daughter.
The village headman quickly stepped forward, his face full of wrinkles, and said, "Congratulations, Lord Shen, on donning your official robes. Those who govern a country take the people as their foundation, and the people take food and clothing as their basis. Now that you, Lord Shen, have made such a great contribution, you should rightfully be rewarded by His Majesty."
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