Yuan Doudou had just built a greenhouse, but before she could even start planting, someone reported her to the authorities.
The county magistrate sent people to collect evidence, and the leader was Fang Deming, a confidant of Zhao Anling.
Fang Deming followed Zhou Chuangen to Yuan Doudou's house.
"How come it's you?" Fang Deming looked surprised. They had received a report that a family surnamed An in Ping'an Village had changed the land planting project without authorization. They didn't expect that the person was Yuan Doudou.
Yuan Doudou first saw Zhou Chuangen's bitter face and looked at her helplessly. He had just said that everything would be fine with him around, but he had already contradicted himself so quickly.
I don't know which heartless bastard went and reported me.
Looking at Fang Deming again, he seemed familiar, as if he had seen him in the yamen (government office).
"Hello, Lord Fang." Yuan Doudou deliberately flattered him.
Fang Deming paused slightly, then quickly waved his hand, "I'm just a constable."
"I'm here to investigate the unauthorized use of land. Is this really true?" Fang Deming asked in a businesslike tone.
"I, actually..." Yuan Doudou was about to say that she had already made arrangements with the village head when she saw the village head shaking his head and waving his hands frantically, clearly indicating that he could not be implicated.
"Actually, this is what I was thinking. I set up an experimental field, and if it's successful, I'll register it with the government, promote its cultivation, and lead the whole village to prosperity." Yuan Doudou made up a reason on the spot, and now it was up to Fang Deming to see how he would react.
A number of people were gathered outside the courtyard gate. Some were curious about what had happened, some were waiting to see the joke, and some were worried about An Jia.
Zhuang Shuhui stood in the crowd, a triumphant grin on her face.
Standing beside her was Li Xueqing, the one who reported Yuan Doudou.
Fang Deming pondered for a moment and slowly said, "I see. Then you are doing a good deed, which will be recorded in the county annals and inscribed on the monument of merit."
Yuan Doudou smiled faintly. Fang Deming was giving her face, but she didn't know why.
The county magistrate was making trouble for him at every turn, so logically he wouldn't help him.
“Sir, are you mistaken? Yuan Doudou built a shed on public land without a word. This is illegal. Even I, an illiterate woman, know that. Sir, you are a scholar who understands the law. Surely you know that?”
Zhuang Shuhui jumped out of the crowd, rushed forward, and expressed her dissatisfaction.
When Yuan Doudou saw her, she immediately understood; it turned out that she was the one who was up to something.
“Zhuang, if you don’t want to make money, don’t stop others from doing so. There are hundreds of villagers in Ping’an Village. I believe everyone wants to get rich. Don’t you all agree with me?”
The onlookers began to get restless; who wouldn't want a chance to make money?
"If that's the case, we all support it." Growing rice and wheat doesn't even save money; it's not even enough to feed a family.
“Yes, DouDou, go for it! When you succeed, don’t forget that we’re here for you,” Zhang Aiju said loudly as she stepped forward.
Yuan Doudou nodded with a smile; the eyes of the masses are discerning.
Zhuang Shuhui stamped her feet in frustration, hating that these people were all brainless. Yuan Doudou, a widow who couldn't read a single word, could lead the whole village to prosperity? This was clearly a lie.
“Mrs. An Zhuang, what are you up to? Dou Dou is your niece, how can you treat your own family like this?” Zhang Aiju was the first to stand up for Yuan Dou Dou.
Zhuang Shuhui gritted her teeth in anger. That damned Zhang Aiju was always going against her. How much cat pee did Yuan Doudou give her to make her speak for Yuan Doudou?
“Miss Yuan, no matter what, you still need to come with me.” With so many people around, Fang Deming couldn’t openly show favoritism towards Yuan Doudou.
Yuan Doudou understood the roundabout way of things and calmly said, "Then let me pack up and I'll go with you right away."
She went inside first and told Wang, who was in bed, not to worry, to stay home and take good care of Anji, and to wait patiently for her to come back.
Anji sat by his grandmother's bedside, reluctant to let go of Yuan Doudou's sleeve.
"Anji, be good, Mommy will be right back." Yuan Doudou hugged Anji and stroked his back.
Wang sighed. It was really tough on Dou Dou, having to bear so much pressure all by herself.
When Yuan Doudou came out, Zhang Aiju stepped forward, took her hand, and gently comforted her: "Doudou, don't be afraid, I'll have Qiqiang go with you."
Yuan Doudou smiled calmly, "Auntie, I'm not afraid, no need to trouble yourself."
Zhang Aiju was still worried, so as soon as Yuan Doudou got into the steward's carriage, she immediately sent her daughter Wang Ningjing to the fields to call Wang Qiqiang back.
Yuan Doudou got into the carriage and gradually drove away. The villagers in front of her house also scattered like birds and beasts, except for Zhuang Shuhui and Li Xueqing.
"Auntie, you're really something. You sent that bitch to hell in one go." Li Xueqing's eyes were filled with malice.
Zhuang Shuhui didn't think so. She reminded her, "I'm afraid it's not that simple. You just heard what that official said. It was obvious that he was on Yuan Doudou's side. We can't let our guard down."
Li Xueqing was unconvinced; Yuan Doudou had already been taken away, so what trouble could she possibly cause?
Yuan Doudou sat in the carriage, swaying back and forth, feeling dizzy and drowsy.
"Miss Yuan, please get out of the car." The person outside said softly after the car came to a stop.
Yuan Doudou rubbed her eyes, lifted the curtain, and saw the main gate of the yamen.
Upon arriving in the backyard, Zhao Anling was playing chess with a middle-aged man.
"They're here," Fang Deming said softly.
Zhao Anling looked up and met Yuan Doudou's pure and innocent face. He nodded to his friend Lu Chaoyang and said, "Look, this is Yuan Doudou."
Lu Chaoyang, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, moved here from the capital this year and is an old acquaintance of Zhao Anling.
I visited today to catch up with old friends, and Zhao Anling told me about a remarkable woman. I was quite curious when she arrived.
She is even more beautiful in person than her friend described; she is pure and ethereal, like a fairy.
"She's truly a remarkable person." Lu Chaoyang stroked his goatee, admiring Yuan Doudou's beauty.
Yuan Doudou felt extremely uncomfortable. Were these people just bored? There are countless beautiful women in the world, and they brought an ordinary farm woman like her here just to be watched like a monkey.
"Sir, please get to the point. I'm very busy," Yuan Doudou said impatiently.
"Look, isn't it unique?" Zhao Anling wasn't annoyed at all; on the contrary, he was quite pleased.
Lu Chaoyang is over thirty and still unmarried. His family has found him many wives, all of whom are well-bred ladies, but he loses all confidence after just one look.
At this moment, Lu Chaoyang's heart was pounding.
“Indeed.” He stared blankly at Yuan Doudou.
“Miss Yuan, I know everything about your situation. I’ve even invited the Vice Minister of Revenue. You can talk to him. I’ll leave now.” Zhao Anling saw through everything and hurriedly left.
Yuan Doudou looked at the man in front of her, who had regular features and an ordinary demeanor, and realized that he was actually the Minister of Revenue.
"Greetings, sir. I am Yuan Doudou. Building the greenhouse on the dry land was my idea all by myself. Please don't blame anyone else." Yuan Doudou expressed her concerns.
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