"Ah, that...that is, oh right, it's about how you were commended by the prefect for your meritorious service in controlling the locusts. Naturally, you also received a reward. I was planning to go to Lujia Village today to present the award, but I didn't expect to run into you here, where you were beating the drum to appeal your grievances..."
Magistrate Duan's long speech almost put Jiang Ling, who hadn't slept all night, to sleep. She forced herself to stay awake and secretly pinched her thigh to listen to the whole thing.
"Yes, sir, is there anything else?" Jiang Ling asked impatiently as soon as Magistrate Duan closed his mouth.
"Uh...no...that's all." Magistrate Duan seemed to want to say something more, but in the end he swallowed all his words.
Jiang Ling quickly got up to take her leave. Magistrate Duan wanted to persuade her to stay but didn't know how to say it, so he could only watch helplessly as Jiang Ling left his office.
Jiang Ling felt a pang of regret as she stepped out of the government office. She wondered if her outburst at Magistrate Duan might have offended him, but then she thought that Magistrate Duan was a kind man and probably wouldn't hold a grudge over such a trivial matter.
Jiang Ling had only taken a few steps when she stopped again. Uncle Lu and the village chief were long gone. The only means of transportation back to Lu Family Village was gone, and she couldn't ride a horse. Did she really have to walk back on her own two legs?
It would take at least three or four hours to get from Pingxi County to Lujia Village. Jiang Ling looked up at the scorching sun in the sky and shook her head.
Just as Jiang Ling was at her wit's end, a slightly familiar voice came from behind her.
"Jiang, it's good that you didn't go too far."
Jiang Ling turned her head and saw that Magistrate Duan was walking towards her in plain clothes. Jiang Ling was a little surprised. She hurriedly wanted to bow, but Magistrate Duan stopped her. Now that he had changed into plain clothes, Magistrate Duan looked just like an ordinary citizen.
“I’ve already delayed you for a while. There’s no transportation back to Lujia Village now. If you’re not in a hurry, please wait for me. I also need to go to Lujia Village,” said Magistrate Duan.
Jiang Ling was overjoyed to hear this, as she would finally not have to walk back on her own two legs. However, she still looked troubled and said to Magistrate Duan, "Sir, I am just a village woman and I really cannot get on your carriage."
Magistrate Duan waved his hand dismissively and comforted her, saying, "Madam Jiang, don't belittle yourself. Your son, Jiang Yaojie, discovered a water source and solved a major problem for me. Your efforts in controlling the locusts are another meritorious deed."
"Let's go, you and I will go back to the county office and wait here. We'll set off later!"
After returning to the county government office, Jiang Ling waited for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before a yamen runner led her to the back alley, where Magistrate Duan's carriage was parked.
Inside the carriage sat Magistrate Duan and his advisor. Upon seeing this, Jiang Ling hurriedly tried to bow, but was stopped by Magistrate Duan once again.
This was the first time Jiang Ling had ridden in a carriage with a canopy since she transmigrated. The seats inside were also covered with soft cushions, making it very comfortable to sit on. However, due to the status of Magistrate Duan and his advisor, Jiang Ling felt quite uncomfortable sitting on the side.
The carriage was eerily quiet. Jiang Ling was overcome with sleepiness once again. She tried her best to hold back her yawns while pinching her inner thigh repeatedly, attempting to wake herself up through pain.
However, Jiang Ling, who hadn't slept all night, eventually succumbed to sleepiness and drifted off to sleep against the carriage.
While asleep, Jiang Ling had a dream. She dreamt that she was getting married, wearing a traditional red Hanfu. The entire wedding scene was in a traditional Chinese style. However, when she saw the groom's face clearly, she almost screamed.
Later, Jiang Ling was gently woken up by someone patting her. When she rubbed her sleepy eyes and saw the person in front of her, she was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat.
Jiang Ling intended to stand up and bow to Magistrate Duan, but her legs started to go numb because of her sleeping position. She took a step and stumbled, falling directly into Magistrate Duan's arms.
Jiang Ling's face instantly turned as red as an apple. She quickly struggled out of Magistrate Duan's arms, but forgot that her legs were still numb. She leaned back uncontrollably. Jiang Ling thought she was going to fall into the carriage and subconsciously closed her eyes, but after a long time, she did not feel any pain.
Jiang Ling quickly opened her eyes and saw that Magistrate Duan's hand was tightly wrapped around her waist, leaving her in a particularly comical position. Jiang Ling snapped out of her daze and hurriedly broke free of Magistrate Duan's arm once again, enduring the discomfort in her legs as she sat back down in the carriage.
The atmosphere inside the car suddenly became ambiguous. The clerk next to him, whether to avoid suspicion or for some other reason, turned his head away and pretended to close his eyes and rest.
"I'm sorry..." Jiang Ling said softly.
"It's nothing serious. You must have been frightened by what happened last night. I'll send someone to prescribe some medicine for you to calm your nerves!" County Magistrate Duan said with a light cough.
Jiang Ling shook her head, about to refuse, when Magistrate Duan said to himself, "It's alright, we've already arrived at Lu Family Village!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ling practically fled from the carriage.
The village chief was surprised to see Jiang Ling. He was about to ask her something when Magistrate Duan stepped down from the carriage. The village chief and his entourage quickly went to greet him, but Magistrate Duan waved his hand and dismissed their formalities.
Magistrate Duan glanced at everyone and once again resumed his previous serious expression.
"I have good news to announce today in Lujia Village!" Magistrate Duan said with a light cough.
Upon hearing the word "good news," everyone's eyebrows and eyes revealed unconcealed smiles.
"The villagers of Lujia Village are simple and honest, and are always willing to help others. They took the initiative to help the neighboring village find a water source. The Prefect was very pleased to hear this and hereby awards the villagers of Lujia Village a 50% reduction in this year's exorbitant taxes!" After Magistrate Duan finished announcing this, everyone in Lujia Village knelt down on the ground and thanked him in unison.
The village chief was so excited that he trembled all over and kept performing the deepest kowtow.
Magistrate Duan quickly told everyone to stand up, and then his gaze fell on Jiang Ling as he began to announce the second matter.
"The Jiang family of Lujia Village and their son Jiang Yaojie have made meritorious contributions in discovering water sources and controlling locusts. They are hereby rewarded with fifty taels of silver!" As soon as Magistrate Duan finished speaking, a yamen runner carrying a red square tray walked up to Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling looked at the gleaming white snowflake silver on the tray and felt incredibly excited. Now she finally had money and could buy whatever she wanted. Although she had the support of the system and ran a small business, she had never dared to spend too much money, for fear that people around her would become suspicious.
Jiang Ling swallowed hard, just about to reach out and take the silver when a thin, dark figure rushed towards her like a whirlwind. The figure stretched out its withered hand and grabbed the silver from the tray.
The incident happened so suddenly that everyone was stunned and stared at what was happening before their eyes. It was Jiang Ling who reacted quickly. She grabbed the skinny arm and cursed fiercely, "Old man! You dare to steal my money in broad daylight?"
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