Chapter 306: Chapter 306

The famine-stricken people followed County Magistrate Cai’s direction, and changed directions, knocking their heads to the ground. Unevenly they shouted, "Thank you, Commandery Princess!"

Tao Da and other trusted aides watched this, all greatly admiring County Magistrate Cai.

Among the Fourteen Counties of Nanyang, Li County was one of the three poorest Lower Counties, but in the past three years it has developed step by step, escaping poverty, even becoming stronger than some Middle Counties. This is all thanks to County Magistrate Cai. More commendable is the diligence and loyalty that County Magistrate Cai demonstrates in serving the Commandery Princess.

Even now, County Magistrate Cai has not forgotten to consolidate the people’s hearts for the Commandery Princess. No wonder County Magistrate Cai is praised as the best County Magistrate in Nanyang!

County Magistrate Cai spoke warmly to the famine-stricken people, "The county government has already designated a piece of land for you, and County Magistrate Mo is leading people to build houses for you. Before the houses are completed, you will temporarily stay with Li County families."

"Now, each household should come forward and report the names, ages, and origins of their family members for registration."

These famine-stricken people, some were from the same village and knew each other, but many more journeyed together while fleeing the famine. Even those initially unfamiliar have become acquainted over this half-month journey.

With such amiability from County Magistrate Cai, the famines’ tight and anxious hearts eased significantly, and most families sent their men forward to register. The remaining people either stood on tiptoe to observe or gathered to whisper.

"This Lord Cai is truly a good official, speaking kindly, and even personally writing down the details."

"Indeed, in my life, I have never seen such a County Magistrate. No, I haven’t even heard of one." Thıs text ıs hosted at 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮※𝓷𝓮𝓽

These humble citizens tremble and shrink away at the sight of the county government’s officials on regular days. Who would have thought that there existed such benevolent officials like County Magistrate Cai, who do not put on airs?

County Magistrate Cai personally wrote the registration, and after finishing a family’s details, he directed the government officials beside him to escort the family for settlement: "Tang Yamen Runner, take this family of five to the nearest village to stay temporarily. Remember to communicate clearly with the villagers that they will stay for about ten days, and the county government will provide daily food. They provide ten days of accommodation, and the county government will give them a pound of grain daily as rent."

This is the meticulousness in County Magistrate Cai’s work. Staying temporarily with villagers is always a troublesome matter; villagers might not be willing. But who wouldn’t want daily rent, especially when it’s grain? Northern droughts are severe, and grain prices are soaring, making grain very precious.

Tang Yamen Runner accepted the order with cupped hands and led this family of famine-stricken people to a nearby village.

The village chief, upon hearing what was happening, immediately laughed and said, "This family can stay at my house. My house is spacious, and I can free up two empty rooms."

The villagers who came to join the fun, upon hearing about the daily pound of grain as rent, were tempted and shouted loudly, "My house can also free up a room."

"I have a place too, send them to my house."

Tang Yamen Runner, who follows County Magistrate Cai everywhere every day, is now quite adept at handling his duties, responding to the villagers with great skill: "This is the first family; there are many more families to follow. Soon someone will lead them here. If everyone can free up rooms, that would be best. Go clean up now."

The villagers heard Tang Yamen Runner and joyfully ran home to get busy. Ten days’ stay means ten pounds of grain!

The first family of famine-stricken people was led by the village chief to his home. The village chief did not boast; his house was indeed the largest and had the most rooms in the entire village, which two empty rooms were sufficient to accommodate the family of five.

The man from this family, who was the first to stand up when County Magistrate Cai inquired, had clothes that were falling apart and was alarmingly thin. At this moment, he knelt down with a thud and knocked his head repeatedly: "Thank you for sheltering us."

The village chief was startled and quickly reached out to help him up: "No need to kneel, get up quickly. If you must thank someone, thank our County Magistrate, no, thank our Commandery Princess."

County Magistrate Cai’s catchphrase is "our Commandery Princess." No matter where he goes, whenever and wherever, he always speaks of our Commandery Princess. The village chief is accustomed to it and said it naturally.

The tall and thin man, with eyes reddened, corrected himself: "It is the Commandery Princess who shelters us and gives us food to live on. We are the Commandery Princess’s people from now on."

The village chief relaxed his brow and smiled: "That’s right. Settle in and don’t overthink. Just look at you, all skin and bones, you surely faced many hardships along the way. I’ll go boil a pot of hot water and tell my wife to find some clean old clothes for you, don’t despise them."

The village chief’s warmth moved the family of five to the brink of tears, how could they be despised, and they kept expressing their gratitude.

"By the way, what’s your name?"

The tall and thin man answered in a low voice: "My surname is Shi, called Dayong. I am from Bingzhou, two years of drought, no grain growing in the fields, yet the county government still urged us for land tax. With no way to live at home, we had to flee..."

Shi Dayong fled with his old mother, wife, and two daughters; the hardships endured on the journey are imaginable. However, even during the worst times, he never considered trading his daughters for grain.

The Tang Family sold new grain seeds, and he mustered the courage to beg. Commander Qin spotted him at a glance and then signed the whole family under a contract at the price of one measure of grain.

The village chief was a clever person and by this time had understood, and said softly: "Brother Shi, had you abandoned your mother and wife daughters, you wouldn’t have today’s good fortune."

Shi Dayong had mulled over this issue on the journey, long since pondering the reason, nodded and said: "Yes, at that time I begged Commander Qin for shelter, people lined up for two miles. Single ones were not accepted by Commander Qin. Only those with old and young family members."

There were many famine-stricken people like Shi Dayong. Those who appeared cunning or abandoned wives and daughters, Qin Zhan refused them all.

Those chosen by Qin Zhan to be taken there were mostly sincere and honest famine-stricken people.

Upon saying this, Shi Dayong’s eyes reddened again: "This is the grace of the Commandery Princess. Others, if buying people, would never want weak women and elderly. The Commandery Princess gave our family a chance to live; my life belongs to the Commandery Princess. Whatever she asks of me, I’m willing to do."

The village chief laughed: "Rest assured! The Commandery Princess will not ask you to risk your life! Just live well, farm and work in Li County, take root and settle, that’s enough."

Shi Dayong, a grown man, actually started crying.

His sixty-year-old mother and weak wife cried too. Ten-year-old Da Ni and seven-year-old Er Ni didn’t cry, the two weak girls were full of hope and expectations, leaning heads together and speaking softly.

"Sister, will we not have to run anymore?"

"Yes, we’ll be staying here from now on."

"The Commandery Princess sheltered us, giving us a place to stay and food to eat. What do you think the Commandery Princess is like?"

"The Commandery Princess is like a celestial being in the sky, better than Buddha or Bodhisattva."

"Yes, when we were hungry, neither Buddha nor Bodhisattva cared for us. From now on, I’ll worship the Commandery Princess!"