"My wife and I?"
Lin Qingge frowned slightly.
It was understandable for Xu Changling, as the teacher of her nominal elder brother Lin Jingxing, to seek her out. But why would an old man like him specifically summon both her and her wife?
"My lord, I will accompany you."
Yan Tinghao volunteered.
For safety reasons, despite being annoyed by the foolish lad, Lin Qingge tacitly agreed.
However, Leng Ningyue, who usually spoke little in front of others, suddenly spoke up:
"I'm worried about Mo'er being alone in the academy. I'll trouble Constable Yan to pick Mo'er up and bring him back to the yamen, and then stay with Mo'er to wait for us to return."
Hearing Leng Ningyue say this, Lin Qingge suddenly remembered that she seemed to have a nominal nephew.
No wonder her ears had been so quiet lately; she had forgotten about that brat Lin Zimeng.
But then again, no matter the era, academies were indeed havens for parents.
However, she, as an aunt, had indeed been negligent lately. With this thought, she cast a grateful glance at Leng Ningyue.
Just then, Yongning, who had recently become Leng Ningyue's shadow, chimed in:
"Madam Lin, I suddenly remembered a friend I haven't seen in a long time is in Fengtian Prefecture. Can I go to Fengtian Prefecture with you?"
"No."
"No!"
Leng Ningyue and Lin Moyuan said in unison.
Ignoring Lin Moyuan, who gave her a slight nod, Leng Ningyue looked at the sulking Yongning and explained:
"The academy classes cannot stop. Until we find a new female tutor, one of us must stay behind."
Upon hearing this, Yongning's pout grew even more pronounced. "That's true, but while I can manage simple literacy or arithmetic, I simply cannot teach the content you do, Madam Lin!"
Lin Qingge, who felt a sense of 'I can't do it,' suddenly became curious about what Leng Ningyue had taught those women.
"Yongning, don't cause trouble!"
Lin Moyuan's unrejectable tone made Yongning lower her head dejectedly.
"Tsk, Brother Lin's uncompromising nature is still the same as ever~"
Murong Bai, who was filing his nails, interjected enviously.
Hua Jinrong quickly stepped forward to smooth things over and change the subject: "By the way, my lord, since you've been summoned to Fengtian Prefecture, what about those refugees?"
"My lord, the matter of resettling the refugees is urgent. You see..."
Although Zhou Zeli's words were not finished, his meaning was clear.
Lin Qingge thought for a moment. "I do have some ideas regarding the resettlement of refugees, but whether to implement them specifically will likely require discussion and decision by everyone. My idea is to establish new villages next to the existing wastelands in Changzhou County, based on the number of refugees. Initially, each village can dispatch able-bodied men to help them reclaim wasteland and build houses. As for the related expenses, they can be covered by the yamen, but only if the refugees register their household registration in Changzhou County. All refugees who settle in Changzhou County will not only have houses but also be allocated wasteland per person."
"As expected of you, my lord! This way, not only will the refugees have a sense of belonging, but it also avoids dispersing the refugees and forcibly integrating them into various villages."
Zhou Zeli's eyes lit up. Hua Jinrong, however, spoke up:
"Your idea is indeed excellent. However, my lord, as far as I know, there isn't much arable wasteland left within a hundred-mile radius of Changzhou County."
"If there's no wasteland, aren't there still barren mountains? If all else fails, we can engage in animal husbandry or open handicraft workshops. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět In any case, I am merely providing a suggestion. The specific plans should be drawn up by Zhou Zeli, with Elder Su and the others reviewing them. Once decided, we will implement it immediately."
In fact, even without Xu Changling's sudden summons, Lin Qingge had intended to do this.
Specialization. She was only half-way through her career and could at best draw upon governance methods she had seen in her previous life. If asked to elaborate on the specifics, she truly couldn't. After all, even the best theories are mere pipe dreams when divorced from reality. Therefore, she would let these professionals handle the professional matters, and she would be a hands-off manager. If that didn't work, being a mascot would also be acceptable.
Lin Qingge and Leng Ningyue boarded the carriage sent by the prefectural yamen.
They sped along.
It was Lin Qingge's first time in Fengtian Prefecture. While not as astonishing as Liu姥姥 visiting the Grand View Garden, she still looked out with great interest. As one of the four major prefectures, Fengtian Prefecture was indeed much more prosperous and lively than Changzhou County. Carriages were seen everywhere, with elegantly dressed young masters and ladies, and even the clothes of street vendors showed no obvious mending.
Soon, Lin Qingge and her companion arrived at the Fengtian Prefecture yamen. Xu Changling, her nominal brother's teacher, was already waiting there.
"Jingxing, you're finally here."
Seeing Xu Changling with a troubled expression, Lin Qingge asked curiously:
"Esteemed Teacher, has something happened?"
Xu Changling looked around and invited the Lin Qingge couple into the side hall for guests in the back courtyard.
It had to be said that the Fengtian Prefecture yamen was several times larger than the Changzhou County yamen. Pavilions and towers were arranged intricately, and rock gardens and fish ponds complemented each other... Lin Qingge, as a working person, almost drooled with envy. Indeed, a worker who doesn't want to be a high official is not a qualified slacker.
Closing the door from the inside, Xu Changling said with a furrowed brow:
"Jingxing, I heard you have considerable experience in solving cases. To be frank, my daughter went out this morning and has been missing ever since. That's why I hastily summoned you to Fengtian Prefecture, hoping you can find Si Yun as soon as possible!"
"Esteemed Teacher, your daughter is missing?"
Lin Qingge hadn't expected that the other party would summon her for this reason, and now she understood why Leng Ningyue was also called. It was inconvenient for her, a man, to enter the women's quarters, so he brought his wife as a shield. Moreover, if she really found Xu Si Yun, with Leng Ningyue present, there wouldn't be any gossip about a man and a woman being alone together.
It was evident that Xu Changling doted on his daughter. Lin Qingge asked with confusion:
"Esteemed Teacher, why did your daughter go out so early? Was there something important?"
Xu Changling hesitated for a moment before stuttering:
"Jingxing, you're not an outsider, so I'll tell you the truth. Actually, I'm not sure if Si Yun went out this morning. Anyway, the maid Qiao'er went into the room as usual to help Si Yun wash up this morning and discovered the room was empty and Si Yun was missing."
"Esteemed Teacher, if it's convenient, could I take a look inside your daughter's boudoir?"
Although it was not appropriate for an outsider to enter his daughter's boudoir, Xu Changling nodded.
Upon entering Xu Si Yun's boudoir, Lin Qingge did not see the light pink she had imagined. The white walls were adorned with a few green plants, and with the emerald green curtains, the entire room exuded a fresh and elegant ambiance.