It turned out that when Prefect Qin proposed that the yamen fund the construction of waterwheels and the excavation of irrigation channels, Prefect Chen could not come up with the money.
"Can't even build a waterwheel in such a large county yamen?" Prefect Qin questioned loudly.
"Go, bring the county yamen's account books to this official. If you dare to falsify them or embezzle money, this official will not spare you!"
Prefect Qin was truly angry this time.
The area around Heyang County was suffering from a drought, and it was the period between harvests.
If the common people were not appeased, and the matter reached the imperial court, he, the Prefect of Shu'an City, would also be punished...
Prefect Chen broke out in a cold sweat, lamenting, "Your Excellency Prefect, it's not that your subordinate is unwilling to provide the silver, but the county yamen truly has no money!"
"For several years, ten counties and nine townships have frequently suffered disasters, with rat infestations and droughts. The county yamen has always been in a state of deficit."
"Furthermore, not only does Dashui Village need waterwheels built, but other villages also need to start construction simultaneously."
"With such a large workload, your subordinate is truly helpless!"
It wasn't that he was corrupt and had pocketed the yamen's money.
It was just that the region was truly too poor.
The tax silver he collected was not even enough to pay the imperial court, and he often had to use his own money.
There was simply no extra silver to start such a large project...
Prefect Qin frowned slightly, looking dejectedly through the county yamen's account books.
After a moment of contemplation, he suppressed his inner anger and said lightly, "It seems we can only let the villagers find their own way."
If this matter were reported to the imperial court, it would take at least one to two months for the relief funds to reach Heyang County.
Moreover, with corrupt officials at every level taking their cut, even if the money arrived, there would be very little left.
Prefect Chen's eyes darted around, and he bowed, "Your Excellency Prefect, your subordinate has an idea..."
"Speak!" Prefect Qin closed the account book and rubbed his aching temples.
Prefect Chen lowered his voice, "We can find the young master in the village and ask him to agree to the exploitation of the agarwood forest."
"As long as we sell that timber, we'll have money to build waterwheels."
Previously, Xiao Jinheng had warned Prefect Chen that the forest belonged to the imperial court of the Great Liang Dynasty and could not be cut arbitrarily.
Therefore, to obtain money as quickly as possible, they needed Xiao Jinheng's consent.
Prefect Qin did not quite agree with this method...
He was afraid of saying something inappropriate and angering the young prince.
"Have you sent people to inspect that forest?" Prefect Qin glanced at him and asked in a deep voice.
Prefect Chen nodded, "We have inspected it. Currently, ten constables are guarding it, and no one dares to enter the mountain to cut trees."
Prefect Qin nodded slightly upon hearing this, "Very well, we will go to Dashui Village tomorrow."
"Good, good!"
The next morning, at the Old Yun family's residence.
Little Xi Tian had just woken up when she heard a 'pat-pat' sound from the window lattice.
She blinked her big eyes, put on her dress, and walked out.
She saw Xiao Jinheng sitting on the wall, holding a handful of pebbles and throwing them at her small window.
"Xiao Jinheng, what are you doing?"
Little Xi Tian put her hands on her hips, her rosy little face filled with anger.
Was this brat looking for a beating?
Xiao Jinheng hooked his lips and said arrogantly, "Little village girl, come play Go with this young master."
Otherwise, I won't let you sleep well.
Little Xi Tian: "..."
Was this brat possessed?
Yesterday, Little Xi Tian had played with him for an entire afternoon, wasn't that enough?
"No!" Little Xi Tian crossed her arms, resolutely refusing.
Xiao Jinheng smiled slightly upon hearing this, "Little village girl, you'd better think carefully. If you don't play Go with this young master, the village's waterwheels won't be built. You figure it out!"
He had guessed early on that the impoverished yamen had no money to build waterwheels.
So he planned to sell some agarwood to help the entire village overcome the difficulties...
Little Xi Tian was a little surprised and asked, "Why does building waterwheels in the village require your permission?"
This brat was simply inexplicable.
Xiao Jinheng sneered, "Wood!"
"Ah?" Little Xi Tian froze for a moment, then quickly reacted, "Oh!"
This brat wanted to sell agarwood!
Hmph, that timber was originally embezzled privately.
Now it was time to use it for some good deeds.
"Alright, then I'll play two games with you. If you lose, you're not allowed to cry!"
Little Xi Tian imitated Xiao Jinheng, with her hands behind her back, and slowly walked out of the Yun family's gate.
Xiao Jinheng couldn't help but chuckle and quickly climbed down the ladder, instructing Granny Jin, "Go prepare some snacks and food."
The little village girl had just woken up and hadn't eaten breakfast yet...
Granny Jin smiled and nodded, "Yes, yes, this old servant will go prepare them now."
Old Man Yun woke up very early. After slurping two bowls of porridge, he took Da Man and Er Man to the fields.
Madam Gu and Zhao Guihua sat on the kang doing needlework.
Liu Cuihong stood in the middle of the courtyard like a wooden plank, holding a broom.
Her shifty eyes were fixed on the outside of the door.
"Did that little vixen sneak out again?" Liu Cuihong muttered suspiciously to herself.
That's right, she had just seen Hu Xi'er dressed up gaudily.
Taking advantage of Madam Gu and her elder sister-in-law's inattention, she had slipped out of the house, off to do who knows what.
The last time Liu Cuihong took her to the fields, she had already felt suspicious.
A seventeen-year-old girl, a blooming flower, was at the age of yearning for love.
Who would want to be confined to the courtyard all day, doing those dull and tedious household chores?
Just then, Jin Huaihua came out to feed the chickens. Liu Cuihong threw down the broom and pulled her to the corner.
"Ah ah!" Jin Huaihua looked distressed.
She hadn't done anything wrong, would the second young madam find fault again?
Liu Cuihong frowned and asked in a low voice, "Stop 'ah ah'-ing. Tell me, what was your sister-in-law doing so sneakily?"
"Ah ah!" Jin Huaihua gestured with her hands.
Didn't know.
Liu Cuihong could understand simple sign language.
She narrowed her eyes slightly, "Don't play dumb. Did that vixen go out to find some wild man?"
Jin Huaihua's eyes widened, and she shook her head repeatedly, making a 'cross' gesture with her hands.
No!
"Really no?" Liu Cuihong was half-believing.
A drop of cold sweat trickled down Jin Huaihua's forehead.
How would she know if there was or wasn't?
Xi'er was no longer as obedient as she was when she was little.
Even if she had something on her mind, she wouldn't tell her.
Jin Huaihua shook her head, not knowing.
"Alas, you can go. All day long, you just 'ah ah ah' and know nothing!"
Liu Cuihong pushed her away, her expression very disdainful.
She was wondering if she should tell her mother-in-law about this.
If the family's maid was involved with outsiders, it would be a disgrace to the Old Yun family.
But as soon as she thought about not having concrete evidence, Liu Cuihong dismissed the idea...
At the same time, outside the neighboring mansion, a carriage arrived.
Several guards rode on horseback behind it.
Prefect Chen and Prefect Qin alighted from the carriage, their hearts filled with emotion.
They hoped the young prince would be considerate of the people's plight and agree to their felling of the agarwood forest.
After Kong Xingzhu announced their arrival, the two entered the courtyard one after another and proceeded into the main hall...