coobybook Chapter 245 Arrival at Wangzhou City
Chapter 245 Arrival at Wangzhou City
After noon, we finally arrived at the border of Wangzhou.
There was a group of corvée laborers working along the river, most of whom were disaster victims.
The water level in this tributary is low in winter, making it suitable for excavation, so there is a dense row of people working along the river.
Someone shouted, "It's a pack of wolves!"
"God, what are the wolves doing here? We dig and fill the dike every day. Apart from the occasional palm-sized fish, where else can we find food?"
"They were after the two carriages."
Several yamen runners ran over to take a look. This was a really strange thing. They wondered which rich man was sitting in the carriage that was protected by a pack of wolves.
When the carriage got closer, Qin Bingrui stopped it and prepared to get off with Sister Luo Yu.
"Miss Bai? Miss Qin?"
"Ah Tian, why are you here?"
Luo Yu remembered that he was a yamen runner in Pingshan County, so how did he come to Wangzhou?
"Oh, so the young lady still remembers me." Ah Tian scratched his head and said happily, "I got a promotion from the county seat to Wangzhou Prefecture as a yamen runner. I'm highly regarded by the prefect, Lord Li, so he asked me to come here to supervise the work!"
Qin Bingrui and Luo Yu looked at each other in bewilderment. Still a yamen runner, what kind of promotion was that? But being able to switch jobs across town and continue working as a yamen runner—was that so interesting in ancient times? It was obvious that this was the work of that unremarkable Gao Zhixian.
Several other victims working at the construction site also recognized Qin Bingrui. It was Miss Qin who asked them to keep an eye on the two witnesses and gave them a lot of food to feed their families!
I will never forget you, my great benefactor, even until my death.
"Miss Qin, why did you come back to Wangzhou?"
"Old Zhang, Old Liu, are you all okay? When will this river excavation be finished?"
"According to what the higher-ups said, if we keep digging for another four months, we'll be done. Hopefully, the damage will be alleviated by next year."
"That's definitely no problem. Are your houses finished?"
Qin Bingrui felt like he was a high-ranking official who had come to investigate the people's sentiments and to express his special condolences to the people who had been affected by the disaster. It was a wonderful feeling.
"Speaking of this, Miss Qin and Miss Bai, our Lord Li said that now everyone has a house to live in, and we have you to thank. Thank you very much. Our Wangzhou is now completely revitalized. You must go to the city to take a look when you have time."
When the other victims heard this, they realized that these two girls were the two female Bodhisattvas that Lord Li had mentioned who helped them with disaster relief in Wangzhou. They donated all the money they earned to the disaster-stricken areas in Wangzhou, and expanded Wangzhou's economy to all parts of the country, allowing Wangzhou to completely emerge from the darkness of despair and see the light of day again.
In an instant, all these people crowded up to express their gratitude.
A Tian and several other yamen runners hurriedly tried to stop them.
"I appreciate your kindness, everyone, please don't get excited, just listen to what I have to say."
Qin Bingrui cleared his throat and asked Luo Yu if he wanted to say a few words.
Luo Yu waved her hand. She was not used to this kind of occasion.
"Then I'll help you."
"Just say it!"
Qin Bingrui asked Bai Lingyi to take out the wooden loudspeaker from the carriage.
Luo Yu and Xia Liang: Is this brat Qin Bingrui crazy about wanting to be a leader?
"Listen to me, my friends. Miss Bai and I are not saints. We are just ordinary people like everyone else!
But we hope to work together with everyone, work hard to get rich together, and resist the enemy together! We will follow whoever makes our life easier, and we will defeat whoever makes our life harder!
"Okay, okay, well said!"
……
Luo Yu held his forehead with his hand: Does this kid Qin Bingrui make inappropriate remarks in public?
I hope no one takes it seriously.
"Miss Qin, we are willing to follow you and Miss Bai. From now on, whenever you need us, just shout out this slogan!"
Luo Yu: Please don’t do that. If you don’t know, you might think we are rebelling.
Qin Bingrui was even more excited: "Then our slogan is, everyone has enough food to eat and everyone can go to school!"
"..."
Silence fell.
Xia Liang's cheeks hurt from laughing.
It’s not like you can have enough food to eat and read books just by shouting slogans.
Ah Tian, however, disagreed. He remembered the free library and shouted, "The free library was also opened by Miss Qin with the help of Lord Li. Therefore, we will definitely be able to wait until the day when everyone can read and write."
Qin Bingrui patted A Tian on the shoulder and said, "This kid is good and has a bright future."
The crowd was in an uproar. It turned out that there really was such a great female Bodhisattva...
Xia Liang still admired Sister Luo Yu and Brother Qin Bingrui very much. They didn't spend a penny of their own money, but relied on gangs to rob each other, making the common people regard them as gods.
After this passionate declaration, everyone present began to believe that they could wait for the day when "everyone has enough food to eat and everyone can go to school."
A Tian then took Luo Yu to see the excavation of terraces and canals, and the group headed west.
The people digging discovered that the wild wolves had ignored them completely and were following Miss Qin and Miss Bai's carriage in a very disciplined manner. Everyone was even more convinced that the wolves were willing to follow them and that they must be the saviors...
Along the way, Xia Liang laughed until she was out of breath, while Bai Lingyi watched coldly with a serious expression. He firmly believed that he would become his sister's right-hand man in the future.
Luo Yu frowned and gently scolded, "Qin Bingrui, you're dying to be the center of attention, aren't you?"
"What are you afraid of? Anyway, we are being chased by the old emperor now, so why should we be afraid of him?"
"Have you ever thought about how our family, being so small and weak, will be able to fight in the future?"
"It's okay, we have these disaster victims to help us. I just saw that there are at least tens of thousands of them! Hahahaha..."
It's a pity that he doesn't have his own base to properly organize an army. However, by then, he might become a traitor hunted by the court, which is indeed a bit different from the original plan...
A Tian and Qin Bingrui sat together, feeling very proud.
"Miss Qin, Miss Bai, I, A Tian, will follow you from now on. If you need anything, just come to me. I can really eat my fill now, and I get a salary of 600 coins a month! Master Li and Master Gao both said that it's all thanks to you that we can live a good life."
"Not bad, boy! From today on, you will be my, Qin Bingrui's, first follower. When I return from Qianzhou, I will take you to the battlefield. How about that? In the future, I will be the general, and you will be the first deputy general."
"Okay, I'll obey your command!"
Luo Yu: ...
From ancient times to the present, there are always people who like to paint cakes for others, and there are always people who like to eat the cakes painted...
Then, they saw the terraced fields stretching between the not-too-high mountains. Layer by layer, the people were digging the fields with great enthusiasm, as if they had seen hope for the future.
Qin Bingrui couldn't resist the praise: "Sister, this terraced field idea is really good. Even if a flash flood comes, the seedlings won't die. Moreover, this type of terraced field rarely causes flash floods. As long as people don't build houses in the canyon, everything will be safe."
Luo Yu nodded and continued to explain his analysis at the time: "I have learned about the terrain of this area. It is mainly because the plain is too low. In addition, it is close to Wanjiang River. The tributary that passes through Wangzhou is not enough to carry the heavy rain discharged from the Wanjiang River from upstream, which leads to the flood.
Unfortunately, the recent rainy season has seen both upstream and downstream rainfall, resulting in significantly greater rainfall than in previous years. This situation is likely to continue. Distributing grain as disaster relief is merely a temporary solution, not a permanent one. To prevent further devastation, we must make the most of it.
The locals have also said that the probability of flash floods is very low. The mountains here aren't too high, and there aren't any large canyons, so the terraced fields are perfectly suitable. At least in the future, people won't be left homeless and starve to death."
Fang and Bai Lingyi were shocked when they saw the magnificent scene before them and then looked at the people who were working hard but smiling. This was indeed the idea that Sister Luo Yu had thought of!
Bai Lingyi's eyes sparkled: "Sister, this way the flood won't come up, and the people will have land to farm. They will definitely not suffer from disasters in the future."
Luo Yu shook his head. "The current production is too low. Even after a year of hard work, the people may not be able to guarantee food and clothing. It is because of their hard work that the upper class has stability and prosperity. We can't just think about living a good life and forget the suffering of the people."
Bai Lingyi nodded. He understood what his sister meant. Only by studying hard and passing the imperial examinations, becoming a high-ranking official serving the people and the country, and mastering real scientific and technological power, could he turn the tide.
Luo Yu wanted to pat him. How come this kid has grown half a head taller? He is almost ten centimeters taller than her. When did this happen?
Seeing his sister staring at him, Bai Lingyi lowered his head and asked curiously, "Sister, what's wrong with you?"
"You're not strong enough yet. You can follow your brother Bingrui and run twenty kilometers every day, and then go hunting in the mountains with your sister Xia. Only by mastering both civil and military skills can you achieve great things."
Fang covered her mouth and laughed, and Bai Lingyi's face turned red. It was indeed true. Compared with this group of sisters, he was a little too weak. He had to practice martial arts more.
Luo Yu looked at Fang and stuck out his tongue. "Xiao Yi will definitely be very successful in the future. He will be thirteen after the New Year. He is a big boy now. It's time for him to take on family responsibilities. I can't worry about everything."
Xia Liang suddenly interrupted: "I think I'm sixteen after the Chinese New Year, and I always thought I was still a baby!"
Erya and Sanya have been living a good life recently. They have grown taller and fatter, but their wild girl spirit has not diminished at all.
Mei Zhengyan looked down at himself and felt that he hadn't grown at all. He felt a little inferior...
Bai Lingyi noticed his embarrassment and imitated his sister, patting his head to comfort him: "You are still young, and in two years, you will definitely grow taller."
Mei Yaoer grabbed Bai Lingyi's hand and asked, "Brother Xiaoyi, will Yaoer grow up to be as tall and beautiful as you?"
Xia Liang grabbed Mei Yaoer and sat her on his shoulders, spinning her around: "Look, now you're taller than your brother Xiaoyi, aren't you?"
The lackeys and the wolves were chasing after Xia Liang, which made A Tian very excited.
"Miss Qin, you must become a general, so that I can give up everything and follow you and serve you."
Qin Bingrui: ...