Lin Wanwan was so amused by Xiao Che's words, "Praise me quickly," that she burst into laughter, all the laughter she had been holding back along the way erupting completely. She laughed and slapped Xiao Che's arm hard, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Praise! I must praise him!" She finally stopped laughing, and mimicking his earlier manner, she cleared her throat in a serious tone, "Accountant Xiao is far-sighted and resourceful. With just a few words, he saved me a huge sum of money. Such an achievement should be recorded in history and be remembered for generations to come!"
Xiao Che's ears burned slightly at her exaggerated tone, but he maintained his composure, though the slight upturn of his lips betrayed his excellent mood. He snorted softly, arrogantly accepted the keys from the waiter, took Lin Wanwan's hand, and gracefully went upstairs, as if he weren't the one who had almost "shaken the foundation of the nation" for a single penny.
Over the next few days, the two strolled around the water towns of Jiangnan. Xiao Che's role as "accountant" became increasingly adept. Although his abacus work was still clumsy, his "emperor-level" bargaining skills were now masterful. Whether it was for lodging, dining, or buying local specialties, he could always drive the price down to the lowest possible level with an aura that left the other party speechless.
Lin Wanwan was happy to have a leisurely life, spending her days simply admiring the scenery and praising her accountant's "great achievements," living a very carefree life.
That day, they traveled downstream in a small boat and arrived at a small town built on the water.
When the boatman announced the town's name, Lin Wanwan and Xiao Che exchanged a glance, both seeing a complex emotion in each other's eyes.
—This is the very place where they encountered that horrific "drowning" case more than a decade ago during their undercover investigation.
Lin Wanwan's memory was instantly pulled back to that gloomy, rainy afternoon. She could almost smell the damp, cold, and oppressive air, see the numb and fearful eyes of the townspeople, and hear the old woman's desperate and heart-wrenching cries. Back then, the town was like a piece of rotten wood soaked in feudal dregs—heavy, putrid, and suffocating.
Xiao Che grasped her hand, the warmth of his palm dispelling the chill in her heart. He also remembered that it was that case that first revealed to him the true hardships faced by the people of the Great Xiao Dynasty beneath its glamorous facade, and made him realize for the first time what a brave and insightful heart this seemingly weak empress possessed.
The two disembarked in silence and stepped onto the cobblestone streets of the small town.
However, after taking only a few steps, they both froze.
The oppressive and gloomy memories have vanished.
The town before me has undergone a complete transformation compared to more than a decade ago. The once silted and narrow waterways are now crystal clear, with several painted boats drifting by leisurely, accompanied by melodious music. Shops line both sides of the street, bustling with people, and filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and laughter—a scene of prosperity and bustle.
What surprised them even more were the people in the town.
Especially the girls.
They were no longer the timid, submissive figures of the past. Groups of young women, dressed in brightly colored clothes, carrying books or bamboo baskets filled with embroidery, walked proudly down the street, laughing and chatting, their faces radiating confidence and cheerfulness. They would nod generously as they passed men, and might even argue briefly with their male companions over a newly opened pastry shop.
That sense of ease and composure that emanated from the very core of their being was something that this small town could not have imagined more than a decade ago.
Looking at the scene before her, Lin Wanwan felt a surge of indescribable warmth in her heart. She knew that this change was not something that could be achieved overnight.
“Master Xiao,” she said softly, “let’s go somewhere to take a look.”
Xiao Che didn't need her to say anything; he had already guessed her thoughts. The two walked side by side, relying on their memories, through several alleys, and arrived at what should have been the most eerie place in town.
—The ancestral hall of the wealthy gentry that once symbolized “lynching” and “clan power”.
However, the ancestral hall with its blue bricks and black tiles, exuding an eerie atmosphere, has vanished. In its place stands a brand-new two-story building bearing the plaque "Royal Academy of Sciences Affiliated Girls' School."
It was afternoon, and the sound of reading aloud drifted from the windows of the small building. It was clear, melodious, and full of vitality.
Lin Wanwan stood at the school gate, gazing at the plaque personally inscribed by the current emperor, Xiao Tuan, and remained silent for a long time. She could imagine the profound shock that must have been felt by the women of this small town when this ancestral hall, a symbol of imprisonment and death, was demolished, and this school, representing knowledge and hope, was established.
Xiao Che stood beside her, his gaze also fixed on the plaque. His "artificial voice pack" quietly activated in his mind: "I remember, after I ordered a thorough investigation into this case, you said that the law can only punish evil, but cannot eradicate ignorance. If we want to change things, we must start with people's hearts."
Lin Wanwan turned her head to look at him, her eyes filled with laughter: "So, later, in my three disaster relief strategies based on the 'divine maiden's dream,' I secretly included the idea of establishing a girls' school. I never expected that our son would surpass me and directly open a school here."
Xiao Che gave a light snort, his tone brimming with undisguised pride: "Of course."
The two paused outside the school for a moment, then turned around and found a riverside teahouse to rest.
The teahouse was almost full, with the storyteller recounting tales of the previous dynasty with great enthusiasm, while the tea drinkers cracked melon seeds and burst into laughter from time to time, creating a lively atmosphere.
Lin Wan-wan and Xiao Che found a quiet spot by the window and sat down. Just as they ordered a pot of tea, they heard the gossip of several local tea drinkers at the next table drifting over.
"Hey, have you heard? The third daughter of Wang Xiucai's family in the east of town got first place in the whole town in this girls' college entrance exam!" A man in a short jacket lowered his voice, but his tone was full of excitement.
Another elderly man with a goatee took a sip of tea and chimed in, "She's more than just the best in the town! I heard from the teacher at the school that Sanya's essay was sent to the capital, and even the new emperor praised it highly! He said he'd make an exception and recommend her to the capital to become a 'royal female scholar'!"
"My goodness! That's a momentous occasion that will bring glory to the family!" The man in the short jacket exclaimed, his eyes wide with surprise. "Is the Wang family going to produce a female official?"
"Indeed!" The old man with the goatee stroked his beard proudly, as if his granddaughter had been the one who came in first place. "Back in the day, let alone becoming a female official, even if a woman read a few more words, she would be gossiped about behind her back, accused of not being virtuous. Now, girls who are good at studying are more sought after than boys! Matchmakers from all around have practically worn down the threshold of Scholar Wang's house!"
Lin Wanwan paused slightly in her teacup. She listened quietly, her smile deepening.
A younger tea drinker sighed, "In the end, we all have to thank the current Empress Dowager! If it weren't for that 'dream of the goddess' more than ten years ago, when the Empress Dowager overcame all opposition, implemented new policies, and established girls' schools, where would we be today with our good life?"
The old man with the goatee nodded repeatedly, his face filled with reverence: "That's exactly right! That Empress Dowager is a goddess who descended to earth to save us! I heard from my grandmother that back then, our town was a place of chaos and corruption, and women had to go out with their heads down. Later, after the 'goddess appeared in our dream,' the imperial court sent people to severely punish the tyrants and demolish the cannibalistic shrine, and everything slowly began to improve. This prosperous scene is all thanks to the grace of the goddess!"
Hearing this, Lin Wanwan couldn't help but chuckle. She never imagined that the "divine maiden's dream" story she had fabricated to ensure the smooth implementation of the new policy would, more than a decade later, be passed down by word of mouth among the people and even evolve into a myth.
Xiao Che looked at her smiling face, his eyes filled with tenderness. He picked up his teacup, gently touched it to hers, and activated his "artificial voice pack" in a voice only the two of them could hear:
“Wanwan, listen.” His voice was deep and pleasant, with a hint of teasing, “They’re all praising you, calling you a ‘goddess’.”
Lin Wanwan raised her head, her bright eyes sparkling with mischief. She winked playfully and replied in a similarly low voice:
“They weren’t praising me.” She paused, her tone carrying a hint of maternal pride. “They were praising our ‘Tuanzi.’ If he hadn’t implemented the women’s education system throughout the land and established the ‘Royal Women Scholars’ program, giving these girls a real way out, what could a mere legend have changed?”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Che was slightly taken aback, then chuckled. He was right; Lin Wanwan had sown the seed, and their son had allowed that seed to bear the most abundant fruit of goodness.
Outside the window, the sunlight was just right, shining on the shimmering river and on the smiling faces of everyone in the town.
This decade has been a dream; when I awoke, the world had changed.
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