The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 236 - 225 Benevolent

Chapter 236: Chapter 225 Benevolent

The administrative center of Mianzhou Prefecture is in Baxi, where a large number of officials and local gentry and tyrants were currently gathering. By the time Old Master Bai arrived, it was already evening.

He didn’t stay at an inn but instead visited a friend and stayed at his friend’s house.

There was a high probability that the landlord’s friend was also a landlord. As a local landlord, the host was much more informed than Old Master Bai who had rushed over from Qili Village.

He was very happy, cheerfully ordering his servants to prepare fine wine and dishes, and said to Old Master Bai, "I don’t know if this is luck given by the heavens or deliberately arranged by someone, but we are the beneficiaries regardless. It’s worth celebrating. Come, tonight we won’t rest until we are drunk."

Old Master Bai clinked glasses with him and asked, "How did Lord Wei think to come to our Mianzhou?"

Mianzhu was not the main disaster area, and with relief work so busy, he shouldn’t have come here by all accounts.

The friend took a sip of his drink and laughed, "It’s said that Lord Wei encountered two disaster victims squatting by the roadside talking about Mianzhou during his relief travels. They had come from Mianzhou, and upon hearing that many people here were also victims, Lord Wei decided to make a detour."

He lowered his voice and chuckled, "But I always feel it’s too much of a coincidence; maybe someone with intention made it happen."

Old Master Bai first thought of County Magistrate Fu, but he dared not say, "Do you know who it might be?"

"Who knows? Perhaps it is someone truly dedicated to the people’s welfare. Anyway, it surely wasn’t our Circuit Supervisor," his friend leaned back in his chair, more accustomed to sitting cross-legged. Since Bai Li was not a stranger, he too sat cross-legged and said, "It’s his second year in office, and if nothing unexpected happens, he’s likely to stay here four more years. You don’t know, but as soon as the flood occurred, he convened us from within Baxi. One donation after another has been made, each time asking for more than the last."

At this point, he was full of complaints, "To this day, I’ve given donations five times."

Old Master Bai was startled, "That much?"

"Our Circuit Supervisor Lord thinks it’s still not enough. We had collectively suggested before, asking him to request a tax reduction, not daring to ask for a complete exemption but at least less. Guess what happened?"

Old Master Bai shook his head.

"He blatantly lied, declaring that the situation within Mianzhou is favorable, that we shouldn’t compete for benefits with the people from other prefectures and counties. After all, this money and grain mean little to us, but for the disaster victims outside, it’s life-saving," he scoffed, "He put on a look of kindness, but made us out to be utterly ruthless." The friend added, "Sure, this money and grain might not be a fatal loss to us, but don’t all of our families with generations here have poor relatives?"

"The disaster in Mianzhou was less severe than elsewhere. Apart from some deaths and injuries, most people’s homes have been preserved, but what matters is the crops in the fields are gone," he said. "If the taxes were reduced, we could all tighten our belts and get through this year, but he refuses to reduce them, and just the autumn tax could crush people. Originally, the floods didn’t kill us, but now we might die from this man-made disaster. It seems they want to drive Mianzhou to desperation too."

"Ah, it’s not as bad as you say. Right now, the imperial court is keeping a close eye on Jiannan Road. If he dares to push the people to death, the imperial court will not spare him before we even make a move."

"Hmph!"

"So, has the matter been settled?"

"Not yet. Lord Wei just arrived in Baxi yesterday. Today, he went out to inspect the situation, and he might need to visit other counties tomorrow. Will you join us?"

Old Master Bai always felt that Lord Wei had come too easily, and also wanted to see for himself, so he nodded.

The friend then smiled, "Then we will go together. By the way, how is the situation in Luojiang County?"

"Hearing you say that, our situation is actually a bit worse than here, but County Magistrate Fu is willing to make an effort. Not only are the refugees who entered the city calmed, but the common people whose homes collapsed have also received assistance. In terms of public morale, we are more unified and optimistic than here."

The friend became curious, "So, how much money and grain have you donated?"

"Not much, just twice. The first time I donated was all for the disaster victims, only three dan. The second time I donated twelve dan, mostly distributed to the poorest victims in Qili Village and Dali Village."

Zuo Yanming was even more astonished, "Really? Your county magistrate didn’t hold back any at all?"

Old Master Bai smiled and shook his head.

Zuo Yanming clicked his tongue in wonder, "That’s strange. I remember that your County Magistrate Fu is quite fond of money, cough cough, though not to the extent of squeezing the common people, but it’s unreasonable not to retain a bit from such affairs."

Old Master Bai implied, "Our County Magistrate Fu has higher aspirations; he desires to go further."

Zuo Yanming then understood, his eyes lighting up, he leaned in closer and whispered, "Are you saying, it could be him?"

Old Master Bai responded, "Don’t talk recklessly about things without evidence."

"Fine, let’s not talk about it then."

The two drank for half the night, and early the next day they hurried to the city gate to gather.

There were quite a few people in the entourage. After all, tax exemption was a major issue, especially for local gentry with large families or many servants.

Old Master Bai was not very well-known in Mianzhou, mainly because he chose to live deep in the mountains. His reputation wasn’t obvious, so when he joined halfway, few people paid attention.

However, strangely, Lord Wei noticed him right away and called him over to talk, "You are Bai Li?"

Bai Li was caught off-guard, nervously bowing in greeting, "It is Bai, at your service. I wonder what the Lord commands."

Lord Wei just laughed and said, "No commands, really. I’ve heard County Magistrate Fu mention you, saying that in Luojiang County, you are known as a good man, so I wanted to meet you."

Lord Wei smiled and asked, "I heard that in this disaster, you not only waived the rent for your tenants but also donated a considerable amount of money and grain to the suffering populace?"

Bai Li relaxed, bowing his head and replying, "That is what I should do. Living in Luojiang, coming and going among neighbors, how could I remain indifferent to their suffering? It’s just lending a little help, a drop in the bucket. To truly help them would require actions from people like County Magistrate Fu, the Circuit Supervisor, and yourself."

Lord Wei chuckled, "Don’t worry. If the situation in Luojiang County is indeed as you’ve stated, the imperial court will certainly not ignore it. My mission to Jiannan Road is to oversee the relief efforts, and I will not return to the capital until the disaster victims are properly settled."

Hearing this, everyone bowed in unison, "Lord, you are as just as heaven; the Holy One is kind."

"The Holy One is indeed very kind..." Wei Zhi said this with deep meaning.

Wei Zhi did not ask Bai Li to leave but let him walk by his side instead. The disaster had passed almost a month ago, and households were generally tidied up with not much to see anymore.

Wei Zhi mainly wanted to inspect the field conditions, and unless someone deliberately took him to see fields in good condition, there would be no way to fabricate the truth.

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