The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 287 Foreign Spy (6)_1

Chapter 287: Chapter 287 Foreign Spy (6)_1

Pei Zongli sighed. He wasn’t sure if this Magistrate Wu was simply greedy or truly incorruptible. He couldn’t bribe him, nor could he invite him out, and even just to speak with him was difficult, let alone asking him to help with appealing to restore their titles and honors.

The Pei’s siblings were well aware of what they wanted to do. Old Pei’s House was now only counting on the wealthy second branch and Pei Wenli who could potentially earn academic honors; both of these significant matters required support from the Government Office. Their family’s bad reputation also meant they couldn’t converse with the newly arrived Master County. Yet, their cultivation of sweet potatoes had been successful, and there were rewards from the government awaiting them, which Old Pei’s House would definitely not miss out on.

"They will certainly come again! Such a good opportunity, they can’t possibly just let it slip away unused!" Pei Yuan frowned as he spoke.

"If they dare to come, we’ll give them a beating! See what face they have to beg then!" Pei Qian huffed angrily.

Pei Qin laughed lightly; there was soon to be a lot to look forward to, and of course, Old Pei’s House was both worried and anxious.

Pei Qian, too, was somewhat impatient, "The sweet potatoes have been harvested. When is the government going to give us our reward? We won’t have to wait until next year, will we?"

"You want rewards from the government office without showing any results?" Pei Qin glanced at her askance.

"We’ve harvested nearly twenty thousand catties of sweet potatoes this time!" Pei Qian muttered in dissatisfaction.

As they were thinking along these lines, a government officer arrived.

A batch of jars had been delivered from the kiln, and Pei Qin was receiving the goods at the workshop.

Sun Lizheng came over with four government officers, calling out to Pei Qin with a smile and introducing her to the officers, "The sweet potatoes were grown by the Pei’s siblings, and this one here is the eldest sister, Pei Qin! The land behind her is where the sweet potatoes were planted, and there’s even the land marker from the County Government Office!"

The government officers looked Pei Qin up and down with a smile that did not reach their eyes.

Pei Qin observed their attire, "You officers don’t seem to be from the Yuanyang County Government Office!"

"We are from the Runing Prefecture Yamen Government Office!" The leading officer produced a letter and the official seal from the Magistrate, "Sir Magistrate has heard that you have grown sweet potatoes with a yield of two thousand catties per mu and intends to promote it throughout Yuanyang County. He has summoned you to answer his questions!"

"Runing Prefecture?" Pei Qin raised an eyebrow, "The news of the sweet potatoes spread so quickly that it even reached the Yamen Government Office of the Magistrate?"

"Magistrate Wu had already reported it!" the leading officer replied.

Pei Qin nodded.

Sun Lizheng was somewhat excited and agitated, "I didn’t expect that even Sir Magistrate would know about it and wants to summon you for questioning! This is truly great!" He quickly added, "Fu City is quite far from here, and it is inconvenient for you few youngsters. As the Lizheng, I will accompany you!"

Pei Qin glanced at him, "Thank you, Sun Lizheng..."

Before she could finish her sentence, the officer interrupted, refusing to let Sun Lizheng follow. Sir Magistrate had only summoned Pei Qin and her siblings who planted the sweet potatoes, along with the County Magistrate of Yuanyang.

Sun Lizheng was the Lizheng of Taiping Town; naturally, he was the one to be contacted in case of any issues. Although the Pei’s siblings were the ones who planted sweet potatoes, it was logical for Sun Lizheng to join them. The fact that only she and her siblings were summoned... Pei Qin bowed her hands slightly, "Our family lacks an elder, and only we siblings are present. Regarding the situation in Taiping Town and the nearby areas, Sun Lizheng is much more knowledgeable and can explain things much clearer!"

She suggested that Sun Lizheng accompany them, and the officer, observing her calm smiling demeanor, hesitated for a moment before agreeing, urging Pei Qin and her siblings to set out as soon as possible. Additionally, he made a special effort to check the land marker and took a rubbing of the content written on it.

Pei Wendong was still studying in school, and someone needed to look after the household. After contemplating for a moment, Pei Qin decided to take only Pei Qian with her.

The government officers didn’t say much about this; they only urged them to set out quickly, otherwise they would miss their lodging for the night.

Pei Yuan and Pei Qian were both very happy, and Lady Zou was also quite pleased for them when she found out. Upon learning the news, Zou Xing, who was worried about them traveling so far, insisted on accompanying them.