After Clerk Li had talked until his saliva was dry several times, Mo Qianshang finally nodded slowly.
"Buying the mountain isn't out of the question, but..."
Upon seeing that Mo Qianshang had relented, Clerk Li quickly said, "What is it? Please feel free to make any requests, Madam!"
Mo Qianshang pointed to the map on the table between the two of them: "I'll buy these small hills around here for a thousand taels of silver. I also have an extra favor to ask of you."
Those small hills, if put together, could probably equal Qingping Mountain. It might seem like Mo Qianshang was bargaining, but for the government office, which was making money out of thin air, it was a sure-fire deal.
Li, the registrar, did some mental calculations and resisted the urge to nod immediately, wanting to hear what the matter was about.
"Actually, it's like this. The reason I came here is because I followed the refugees. My sister and I, with five children, want to buy a house in this county town and send our children to school. But without a local household registration certificate..."
The registrar's eyelids twitched.
It has to be said that household registration is no joke, but it's not like there's absolutely no process involved.
After all, the government doesn't want all the people to become unregistered vagrants. The government has to manage the chaotic household registration system, but that's only in times of peace. In times of such chaos, it's not easy to register even one more person, and the streets are full of vagrants.
If someone were truly willing to voluntarily become a citizen, or even spend money to do so like Mo Qianshang, the government would be more than happy to have a hundred or so more!
The other migrants came here empty-handed and couldn't pay taxes, but this Lady Mo's thousand taels was enough to cover the grain taxes of many families for many years.
The registrar originally intended to make things difficult so that he could sell Mo Qianshang a good deal.
But as Mo Qianshang watched the registrar's eyes dart around a few times, and when she met the registrar's gaze again and saw the registrar's knowing expression, the registrar suddenly felt that his little thoughts had been seen through by this young lady.
That's a thousand taels of silver; we shouldn't let him cause any trouble and ruin it. He'd better say less.
Li, the registrar, suddenly cleared his mind and quickly nodded: "Alright, alright, I'll take care of this! I wonder how long it will take for Lady Mo to prepare the money? Our yamen also needs to send someone to measure the mountain, and the household registration process also needs to be completed."
Mo Qianshang may appear to have nothing in her hands, but all her money is stored in the system, and she can take it out anytime she wants.
Therefore, she simply smiled and said, "As long as Clerk Li tells me how long it will take to complete all of this, I can collect the money anytime."
The fact that he could take a thousand taels of silver so easily gave Clerk Li a new understanding of Mo Qianshang's wealth.
He was just a minor clerk in the county government. In his opinion, with Mo Qianshang's wealth, if she spent all that money and still had some savings, she would probably become a well-known wealthy family in the surrounding area in no time!
Clerk Li quickly held up a five: "Get everything done for my wife within five days!"
Mo Qianshang thought for a moment: "Would it take three days?"
She had only asked casually, but Clerk Li, who was now full of eagerness, immediately changed his tune: "Three days, I'll have someone measure the mountain within three days, and we'll complete the household registration and deed together on the third day!"
Mo Qianshang was delighted. Clerk Li quickly brought over paper and pen. Mo Qianshang wrote down the identity information of the seven people, including Xiao Yaoshi and Liu Xiaoyun, and then handed it to Clerk Li.
After confirming that everything was correct, Mo Qianshang got up and walked out, saying, "Then it's settled."
Clerk Li diligently saw people off, which drew curious glances from the passing yamen runners and officials.
Mo Qianchang glanced at the people around her and took out ten taels of silver from her sleeve: "By the way, this matter is said to be completed in three days. It has been hard on you and the brothers who are doing this. Here are ten taels of silver. After you finish helping me for these three days, Lord Li, you and the brothers can take it and have some drinks."
She deliberately chose to say it when there were people around, so that others could hear it and prevent Clerk Li from pocketing the favor money all by himself.
Sure enough, someone nearby chimed in enthusiastically, "Hey, then you must send me, Master Clerk, for the lady's business. I'm definitely going to drink this wine!"
The area in front of the yamen suddenly became lively. Mo Qianshang's graceful smile left a good impression on everyone on duty, who felt that she was elegant and approachable.
Mo Qianshang was almost escorted out of the gate by government officials.
After walking for a while, Mo Qianshang finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had finished this important matter that weighed on her mind. In three days, her family would be recognized as people in the local area.
At that time, whatever she wants to do will be perfectly legitimate, and she can also think of a way out for the children.
Back at the foot of Qingping Mountain, Mo Qianshang deliberately took a detour this time, walking to the side where the rocks had collapsed and rolled down, and picked up a few newly fallen stones at a low altitude.
Unfortunately, these stones had nothing to do with jade. Mo Qianshang picked them up as she walked, and threw them away as she went.
Chen Jin had calculated that although he had brought quite a few people this time, it would still take at least a month to complete the house that Mo Qianshang wanted to build, and the rain had delayed things for quite some time.
The next day, the county government officials arrived at the foot of Qingping Mountain. Mo Qianshang wanted to ask if she needed any help, but the yamen runner Li An, who was leading the group, said no.
Li An was the one who volunteered to have a drink that day. He shared the same surname as Li Zhubu, but they were not direct relatives. They were just from the same village, Lijiacun, so they were considered relatives.
Compared to the smooth-talking Li Zhubu, Li An was more straightforward. He told Mo Qianshang not to worry about them, and that after they finished measuring in the next two days, they could go directly to the county government office on the third day.
For the past two days, Mo Qianshang has been bringing water and food. The people who came to measure the land didn't complain about the hard work, and even wished they could see Mo Qianshang all the time.
Lady Mo is beautiful and kind-hearted; who wouldn't like her?
Once everyone was cleared up, everything went smoothly from there. On the third day, when Mo Qianshang went to the yamen, Li An even waited for her.
"Oh, Lady Mo is here!"
Mo Qianshang, carrying the snacks she bought on the way, said, "Brother Li."
Li An whispered, "Not only Clerk Li, but the county magistrate is here today too!"
Mo Qianshang's brow twitched: "Do you want to see me, or... just happen to be here?"
Ang Lee: "The business at the front has been finished. The adults haven't left, probably because they want to say goodbye."
Mo Qianshang smiled: "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Li."
Ang Lee looked ahead and pointed, then turned and went to the other side.
When Mo Qianshang entered, she saw that the person sitting in the seat of honor was an adult who looked quite old. However, at first glance, she felt that this county magistrate did not seem as kind as Li Zhubu.
"You are Lady Mo?"
Sure enough, the magistrate spoke with an air of superiority, but Mo Qianshang didn't take it seriously. After all, she didn't know what officials in ancient times were like. In a feudal system where people were divided into different classes, it was probably normal for officials to look down on others.
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