"Yes!" Song Jiyun suppressed the astonishment in her heart and humbly said, "It is merely due to the elevation given by the elders and clansmen of my family that I am temporarily managing the business left by my father."
"Very good, very good!" the Dignified County Magistrate praised with clapping hands, "I have long heard that you are a woman who does not pale in comparison to men, and seeing you today, indeed your reputation is well deserved."
Though Song Jiyun had planned early on to have the new County Magistrate regard her in a different light, plans are nothing against changes. The information provided by Yuan Yunzhong might all be useless now; she also had to adapt as things unfolded. Nevertheless, the excessive praise from this County Magistrate left her bewildered.
"Your Excellency gives undue praise!" she kept her composure, bowed her head with modesty, and bent her knee to thank him.
"Miss Song, please rise!" The County Magistrate showed an unexpectedly warm and intimate attitude towards her. He motioned to the maidservant by his side to help her up, not to mention, he glanced at everyone present, and said with sentiment, "Perhaps all of you are unaware, but I come from Southern Anhui. Having lost my father at a young age, my family was supported entirely by my mother, who with every stitch and thread brought me up and provided for my education, allowing me to have the future I have today. Never did I expect, on my first day in Liang County, to encounter a woman like Miss Song, which I consider a fortunate meeting!"
Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately joined in with a cacophony of agreement: "The Dignified County Magistrate speaks truthfully!"
"The virtuous lady’s righteousness is remarkable!"
"This is also the Dignified County Magistrate’s fate with our Liang County."
Laughter and cheerful voices filled the air, creating a harmonious scene.
Song Jiyun frowned inwardly.
Lifted so high by someone unrelated.
What exactly does this County Magistrate intend to do?
Besides, she had a feeling, although the County Magistrate kept praising her, he did not truly consider her important.
It was like when she used to inspect subsidiary companies and praised certain executives – it was nothing more than superficial courtesy.
"I dare not compare myself to the Virtuous Lady," she humbly said, and the words she uttered were carefully considered, "It is simply because my mother is weak, and my sister young, that I had no choice but to step in."
"You need not be so humble," the Dignified County Magistrate waved his hand as he listened and laughed, "After taking over the family business, you managed to produce new porcelain for the Imperial Kiln Factory, something not everyone is capable of."
The taller the tree, the stronger the wind.
She had just taken over the Kiln Factory; it was better to keep a low profile until she became strong enough.
Was this County Magistrate "lifting" her up, or setting her up for a "fall"?
"It’s just good luck," Song Jiyun said with her hands pressed together, a gleam in her eyes, "I also found the new formula in the notes left by my father. Perhaps, it is my father watching over us, mother and daughter, from beyond the grave!"
At that time, people held strong beliefs in supernatural beings, and she hoped these words might deter those with ill intentions towards her family.
The County Magistrate smiled faintly, then inquired about the affairs of her Kiln Factory: "How many kilns are currently in operation? Apart from producing porcelain for the Imperial Kiln Factory, what other kinds do you produce? And where are they sold?"
"My father left behind twenty-one kilns. Since the introduction of new porcelain, we have opened two additional kilns," Song Jiyun replied, sensing a gaze falling on her from beside the County Magistrate. Without showing any reaction, she continued, "Of these, eight kilns produce porcelain for imperial use, five kilns make high-quality commissioned porcelain, and the remaining ten are for everyday porcelain."
Yet, a quick sidelong glance she cast beside the County Magistrate made her startle momentarily, and she paused in her response: "The high-quality commissioned porcelain mainly comes from the Capital City, while everyday porcelain is primarily sold to Suzhou and Hangzhou."
Unbeknownst to her when, Young Master Hong had taken a position behind the County Magistrate. When she looked over, he pointed at the County Magistrate and gave her a look—"speak with confidence."
Could it be Young Master Hong who had recommended her to the County Magistrate?
She hadn’t noticed him earlier.
Only those with some connections could meet the County Magistrate ahead of time.
But whose influence had he used?
These thoughts flickered through Song Jiyun’s mind. She nodded quietly towards Young Master Hong, completely oblivious to Yuan Yunzhong’s suddenly chilling face and dangerously narrowing eyes. Instead, she quickly shifted her attention to the Dignified County Magistrate.
"May I have the honor of inviting you to visit the Kiln Factory?" she took the opportunity to invite the Dignified County Magistrate proactively, "Perhaps stop by our clan school for a visit and offer some guidance to the students?"
One of the responsibilities of a County Magistrate is to educate and civilize the common people beneath him.
The Song Family’s newly established clan school could very well be an impressive political achievement for the new County Magistrate.
"Oh!" The Dignified Magistrate’s eyes and brows twitched, clearly very surprised, and he said, "The Song Family has a clan school?"
Song Jiyun immediately replied, "It was established after my father passed away," and explained, "The elders in our clan have given us much care, and there is little we can do to repay our clan, so we thought to establish this school as a way to give back to the clan in some small measure."
"Excellent, excellent!" The same praise came once again from the Dignified County Magistrate’s mouth, yet it seemed to tear away the veil between them, adding a few more sincere notes.
Song Jiyun’s heart slightly relaxed.
This was the strategy she had originally planned to win over the new County Magistrate.
Though it wasn’t the same County Magistrate Yuan Yunzhong had spoken of, the effect was just as useful.
That will do!
The Dignified County Magistrate turned back to Registrar Wang Zhubo and said, "We must indeed take a look!"
"I shall certainly accompany you!" Wang Zhubo eagerly responded with a smile, his expression one of reassurance towards Song Jiyun, "I have not yet visited the Song Clan school, so this is the perfect opportunity to go and see."
He was willing to give Song Jiyun a hand, but that depended on her knowing how to behave.
The Dignified County Magistrate was slightly startled and said, "You haven’t been there?"
Song Jiyun quickly said, "The clan school has just been established and we haven’t had the chance to hold an opening ceremony. How serendipitous it is, I was just thinking of discussing the ceremony details with Registrar Wang, and you have returned from Nanchang just in time. I was also hoping to request that you bestow a name upon our clan school."
"Good, good, good," the Dignified County Magistrate was extremely joyful, "I must not miss this event."
Registrar Wang was so pleased he almost wanted to pinch his own goatee.
Seeing this scene, the sharp-minded ones in the crowd were quick to cozy up, "This is such a wonderful occasion, we must join the celebration. I wonder if the Song Family Clan School would accept students of different surnames?"
Upon looking, Song Jiyun saw it was Li Zixiu.
The man’s skin was indeed thick; no wonder her father had not been able to suppress him over the years.
She looked towards the Dignified County Magistrate, her expression indicating that she was leaving it entirely up to him to decide.
The Dignified County Magistrate was even more satisfied and smiled cheerfully.
Everyone crowded around the Dignified County Magistrate, volunteering to accompany him to the event.
Song Jiyun hadn’t forgotten Yuan Yunzhong and turned to pull him into the conversation, but she found that Yuan Yunzhong stood far away from the crowd, watching them with detachment, the picture of an observer standing by.
She thought about Yuan Yunzhong’s background, which was still a mystery to her.
A fifth rank official, he must be considered somewhat significant, shouldn’t he?
After a moment’s hesitation, she still introduced Yuan Yunzhong to the Dignified County Magistrate, "The establishment of the Song Family Clan School was greatly facilitated by my fiancé."
Yuan Yunzhong’s expression turned even colder, his face seeming to acquire a thin layer of frost, and he casually clasped his hands in salute, respectfully acknowledging, "Dignified County Magistrate."
"Fiancé?" The Dignified County Magistrate paused, a playful smile appearing on his face, "Young Master Yuan, a pleasure to meet you! A pleasure indeed!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
