Chapter 31
Lin Shuge took the couplet home and ran into Lin Qingyuan coming out of his house. "Ayuan, where are you going?"
"We are running low on oil at home, so A-Xuan asked me to go out and get a pound of oil. Big brother, you came back very early today." He subconsciously glanced at the red paper in Lin Shuge's hand, "Big brother, what did you get?"
"Well, you'll know after the New Year." Lin Shuge held his chin and kept it a secret.
Lin Qingyuan whispered, "If you don't want to tell me, then don't tell me."
"Ayuan, what did you say?" Lin Shuge said in a cold and threatening tone.
"It's nothing, brother. I'm going out. You should go back quickly." After saying that, he ran away.
Lin Shuge shook his head, didn't bother with him, and walked towards home.
As soon as I entered the courtyard, I heard Lin Xuan shouting, "Ayuan, are you leaving? Buy another pound of salt."
She still had the spoon in her hand, but when she came out she saw that it was Lin Shuge who had returned, "Brother, you're back, did you see A Yuan go out?"
"I see. You're out of salt, right? I'll go buy some." He put the couplet back in the room and faced Lin Xuan's puzzled look. "You'll know after the Chinese New Year."
Know what? Lin Xuan was suspicious.
Lin Shuge left the house. The streets were bustling at that moment. The New Year was approaching, and every household, no matter rich or poor, had to buy some New Year's goods to have a good year. Many families went out together.
Lin Shuge saw a family of three stopped in front of the candy figurine stall at the street corner. The father was holding the child, and the mother was handing the finished candy figurines to the child. The child was wearing a sweater that many people in Ganzhou wear now, and a knitted hat, which should have been made by his mother. His face was filled with a happy smile, and the family of three was having a great time.
Lin Shuge watched attentively and met the eyes of the family of three.
The father holding the child changed his expression and strode towards him. When he got closer, Lin Shuge recognized that it was Wang Zhuzi, who had chatted with him when he went to the east of the city to check the progress of the papermaking workshop.
Wang Zhuzi saluted Lin Shuge, but was stopped by Lin Shuge, "When you are out, there is no need to be polite."
He said excitedly: "Sir, what a coincidence today, how come I meet you here?"
After that, he introduced his wife Yuanniang and son Abao to Lin Shuge, and said to his wife and children: "This gentleman is the Lin County Magistrate I told you about."
When Yuanniang heard that it was County Magistrate Lin, she was about to bow. Lin Shuge wanted to hold her back but because she was a woman, she could only signal to Wang Zhuzi with her eyes.
"Sir, thanks to you, my family was able to get through this difficult time. Zhuzi went to work in the paper mill, and I was able to make money by weaving clothes. I heard from Wan Niang that all this was thanks to you. We will have extra money to buy New Year's goods, and our family will have a good New Year."
There was gratitude in her eyes. The family was running out of food. If there was no more income, the whole family would have to starve. It was freezing cold and there were no wild vegetables in the mountains to fill their stomachs. She didn't even dare to think about what would happen to her family without Lord Lin.
The couple earned a lot of money. Not only did they pay off their debts, they also bought a lot of New Year's goods and several kilograms of meat. They had never had such a life before.
"So, sir, please accept my greeting."
Lin Shuge sighed, "As the local official, it is my duty to consider the livelihood of the people. You don't have to do this."
"Your Excellency may think so, but we cannot. You may not know that in the past, every winter in our village, there would be old people and children who would freeze to death or starve to death. The better ones were just families counting their food to get by." Wang Zhuzi continued.
He sighed: "Even if it weren't for you, Yuanniang, we might not have made it this year. With you here, we will definitely have a better life."
Lin Shuge said: "That's because you are diligent and willing to endure hardships. I am just giving you a chance."
Seeing Abao staring at the butter pancake stand next to him, he paid for a few and handed one to Abao. Abao happily stretched out his hand to take it, but Yuanniang gently hit him, "How can we let the adults spend money? We..."
Lin Shuge smiled and stuffed the butter cake into Abao's hand, pinching his face, "I can still afford a few butter cakes."
Yuan Niang said quickly: "Sir, that's not what I meant..."
"Brother."
Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by an angry shout. Several people turned around and saw Lin Qingyuan glaring at them, staring at them.
Oops, I forgot I came out to buy salt.
Lin Shuge said embarrassedly: "Ayuan, I'm sorry, it was you who forgot."
Then he introduced Wang Zhuzi and his wife, "That's my brother. He just went out to buy salt and forgot about it. Look, he's so angry. I have to go and comfort him. You should go home early."
"Send him off, sir. Abao wants to thank you for the cakes you bought for him." Wang Zhuzi took his son's hand and waved towards Lin Shuge.
Suddenly it started snowing, and the couple hurried home with their child. Yuanniang looked back as she walked, and saw Lin Shuge walk up to his brother, raise his hand and rub his hair. The two walked along the street together, and their figures gradually disappeared.
Time flies, and it is already the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month. Everyone in the county government has been very busy these days. After the year-end assessment and settlement are completed, they can take a day off to celebrate the New Year.
So everyone is busy with his own business.
Magistrate Li looked through the recent cases one by one. The files were written in detail and the victims had no objections. He closed the files and walked to Lin Shuge's side.
Lin Shuge is calculating this year's tax collection, and he also needs to review the numbers reported by the magistrates of several townships one by one.
"Why is the tax amount so high this year?" County Magistrate Li suddenly spoke up, startling Lin Shuge.
"Why did your Excellency suddenly appear in my office?" Lin Shuge was slightly dissatisfied. The voice scared him so much that the pen in his hand almost fell. If it fell on the document he had just written, all his hard work in the morning would be ruined.
Magistrate Li laughed heartily. "This amount is much higher than in previous years. Even after deducting the amount to be reported to Yandu, there is still a lot of surplus."
"This year, merchants pay the most taxes. Whether it's papermaking or cashmere, they've made a lot of money, so naturally they pay more taxes than in previous years."
Moreover, since people are living a better life this year, there are naturally fewer families running to the mountains with their families to avoid heavy taxes, so the amount of tax revenue has naturally increased.
"Sir, I have something to ask you."
Magistrate Li stroked his beard and said, "Tell me, our County Magistrate Lin has come up with another clever idea."
Lin Shuge looked at Magistrate Li speechlessly, "Sir, as the saying goes, take from the people and give back to the people. This year's tax revenue has a surplus, so why not have you host a few schools next year so that the people can send their children to school for free."
"You mean to set up a school?" Magistrate Li walked to the table and sat down, thinking for a moment, "Are you trying to make it possible for children who can't afford to go to school to also be able to study?"
"That's right. There aren't many schools in the county, and many people can't even afford to eat and wear clothes. Even if there's more income this year, they still can't afford to send their children to school."
What's more, in most families, one more child means one more labor force, and the children expect to work when they grow up.
However, there are many people who want to send their children to school but suffer from poverty at home. After all, studying is a tradition engraved in the bones of this nation. Lin Shuge still wants to give these people a chance to study.
"So I thought that you could set up a few schools. The county government can pay for the expenses of the schools and the salaries of the teachers. We can also find merchants. When the schools are built and monuments are erected, the names of the merchants who contributed money and effort can be engraved on them, which is also an honor."
The merchants have money, but what they lack is a good reputation. If the students of these schools become successful when they grow up, they will remember their kindness. Moreover, it is a matter of glory for the family if the school is sponsored by the county government and a monument is engraved to commemorate it.
Seeing that Magistrate Li seemed to be moved, Lin Shuge continued, "Most of the people selected by the court for filial and honest service are from Longxi County and Wei County. The number of people in Dingyuan County is not large every year, so establishing a school can be considered as a beneficial thing for education."
Magistrate Li tapped his fingers on the table a few times and said slowly, "This matter needs to be considered carefully. Some matters need to be carefully considered after the new year."
"Shuge, it's getting late today, finish the work at hand and leave early."
"Yes, sir."
Lin Shuge watched Magistrate Li leave, sighed, sat down again to finish the official business that had just been interrupted. Just as he was about to leave work, he heard Zhou Du's voice.
"Brother Huai Ting, why haven't you finished your shift yet? It's time to take a rest. Go away quickly. I don't want to stay here for a moment."
He pulled Lin Shuge out of the county government office, and the two walked on the street. "It's finally time for a day off. I haven't been in the mood to work these past few days. Brother Huai Ting, what are your plans for the New Year?"
"As for me, I'll probably have a New Year's Eve dinner with Ayuan and Axuan, drink a glass of Tusu wine, and then have a good sleep."
Zhou Du looked disgusted, "It's boring." He nudged Lin Shuge with his elbow, "Hey, there is a hot spring in my farm, do you want to go soak in it together? Bring Ayuan and Axuan with you. We can also go hunting and eat barbecue. I still miss the rabbit you grilled last time."
Seeing that he was drooling, Lin Shuge said, "You just want to eat barbecue, right? You have used up the bag of ingredients I gave you?" He even made excuses to go out for a hot spring bath or hunting.
Zhou Du put his hand on Lin Shuge's shoulder and said, "It's all used up. I baked it at home last time. Let me tell you, my brother said he doesn't eat it, but he actually eats a lot."
"Yeah?"
Zhou Yuan looked serious, but unexpectedly he was also a greedy person.
"But speaking of barbecue, isn't your Lord Wei coming back for the New Year?" Zhou Du asked casually, thinking of Xie Chen's heroic appearance when hunting.
Lin Shuge was silent for a moment, then said, "Erlang, can you contact Captain Yuan? Zhongxuan has been gone for a long time and has not replied. I am worried that he may have encountered something."
Or injured?
"No, he hasn't written to me recently. Maybe those barbarians are causing trouble again at the end of the year." Zhou Du said angrily, thinking of the Huns who had repeatedly invaded the border.
"Wait a little longer. Maybe there will be news in a few days. Hey, Brother Huaiting, wait for me."
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