bayedsolid Chapter 119 The Holy Office Arrives
Chapter 119 The Holy Office Arrives
"Okay, everyone, stop arguing. There's one more thing, and I'll let the daughter of the old Lin family tell it." After saying that, the head of the village waved his hand, motioning Shen Wanning to stand on the stone and speak.
"Everyone, don't get too excited. Consider the long-term benefits. Facts will prove that the small profits given up now will be exchanged for greater gains in the future. Now I want to talk about another thing. I'm sure you've all heard about our purchase of the mountain.
We plan to recruit 200 workers to help plant the trees, still paying 100 coins a day. Anyone interested can come to my house and see my second brother to register. In addition, I will hire some refugees to plant the trees. They will likely be settled in Daqing Village. I hope everyone can get along well with them. This is the intention of the county magistrate.
Of course, if the refugees can successfully settle down in Daqing Village, the county magistrate will also reward us by exempting Daqing Village from taxes for three years. Don't worry about the refugees harming anyone; the county magistrate will send people to protect you. Please rest assured."
Shen Wanning's words caused a great sensation among the villagers, and the villagers discussed it even louder than before.
"You said that the adults don't allow us to register, so are they forcing us to accept refugees?"
"Now that you put it that way, it's really possible. In order to settle the refugees, the adults might really do these things."
"No, then I don't want to move my land away from Lao Lin's family."
"I don't want to either. I want to stay with the old Lin family."
I originally thought that the villagers would sign up to work, but I didn’t expect them to have such a conspiracy theory. Now everyone is shouting that they must register the land under Lin Jingyou’s name.
The head of the village shouted several times, but the villagers just wouldn't stop, and their voices were even louder than before.
Looking from the village entrance, two carriages were approaching in the distance.
A pale-faced, beardless man lifted the curtain of the sedan chair and peered forward. He raised his orchid finger and shrilly exclaimed, "Is that Daqing Village up ahead? It's so lively! I can hear the noises from far away."
"Yes, Eunuch Xiang, I see that there seem to be a lot of people gathered under the tree in front. I don't know what they are doing. Maybe they are holding a meeting to discuss something important!" replied the coachman.
"Oh, isn't this a coincidence? We just happened to make it. Hurry up, hurry up, let me go and see the excitement too!" Eunuch Xiang urged.
The coachman did not dare to delay and sped forward. Although Eunuch Xiang was only a eunuch, he was the godson of the eunuch chief eunuch, Eunuch Xi. Eunuch Xiang was originally just a eunuch doing odd jobs in the cold palace, but somehow he caught the eye of Eunuch Xi and in just two months, he became a favorite of the emperor.
"Hey, there are two carriages coming over there." A sharp-eyed villager spotted Eunuch Xiang and his companions' carriages at a glance.
"He must be here to look for Old Lin's daughter. Isn't she doing business in the county? No one else knows the big shots outside."
"Old Lin's daughter, someone is looking for you." Lin Dashi shouted and pointed at the two carriages at the entrance of the village.
Shen Wanning looked back and saw two carriages slowly driving towards them, surrounded by a dozen soldiers. She immediately understood what was going on.
She quickly got down from the rock and went to meet him. The other villagers followed her, confused.
The carriage stopped in front of her, and the driver jumped down first, crouching down. Eunuch Xiang lifted the door curtain and stepped down on the driver's back to get out.
"It's so lively! I've arrived just in time!" Eunuch Xiang stretched and looked around the crowd.
No one else dared to speak. Shen Wanning stepped forward and said, "Greetings to this eunuch. I didn't know you were so kind to come. I'm sorry for not welcoming you."
Shen Wanning imitated the etiquette from TV dramas, bowing and saying this. She didn't know which palace this eunuch came from, but her experience reading novels taught her that it's better to offend a gentleman than a eunuch. While eunuchs may seem insignificant, these eunuchs were the best at flattering their masters.
"Oh, I never thought that there would be such a beautiful girl in this countryside, and she is also a well-mannered person." Eunuch Xiang looked Shen Wanning up and down and praised her.
"You are too kind, sir." Shen Wanning still bent over and said respectfully.
"Okay, let's stop talking nonsense. I'm here to convey the imperial edict. Where is Shen Wanning?" Eunuch Xiang turned his gaze to the head of the village and asked.
The head of the village knew that Eunuch Xiang was someone important the moment he saw Shen Wanning's respectful demeanor. He didn't dare to be disrespectful and, imitating Shen Wanning's manner, bowed and said, "Sir, she is Shen Wanning." The head of the village pointed at Shen Wanning and said.
Eunuch Xiang turned his gaze back to Shen Wanning, "Oh, what a coincidence, you are Shen Wanning? Kneel down and accept the order!"
Shen Wanning knelt down with a thud, her knees hurting from the stones on the ground, but her face remained respectful.
She really regretted not putting on two breast caps.
"The Emperor, by the grace of Heaven and the Mandate of Heaven, decrees that Shen Wanning of Daqing Village is dignified, intelligent, diligent, and docile. She discovered cassava and how to eat it, which has benefited the country and the people. Therefore, I grant her one hundred acres of fertile land, one hundred taels of gold, ten pieces of brocade, and a set of red gold head ornaments. This is my imperial decree. Shen Wanning, accept it!" Eunuch Xiang closed the imperial edict and looked at Shen Wanning lying on the ground.
Shen Wanning remained unfazed by praise or criticism, and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I thank you. Long live the Emperor!"
The remaining villagers followed suit and shouted, "Long live our emperor!"
The sound was so deafening that it almost frightened Eunuch Xiang. This was the first time he had heard so many people shouting "Long live the emperor" at the same time.
"Everyone, get up! The rewards from the emperor are all in another carriage. I'll have someone move them down and send them back to your home later." Eunuch Xiang flicked his whisk and said.
"Thank you, eunuch." After saying this, Shen Wanning took the imperial edict with both hands and took out a purse from her sleeve and handed it to Eunuch Xiang. "Eunuch, you have come all the way here and worked hard. This is tea money for you. I hope you don't mind it."
Eunuch Xiang weighed it in his hand, feeling its heft, and smiled with satisfaction, "He's truly a clever man."
"By the way, were you having a meeting just now? I heard you cheering loudly from far away. I wonder what you were discussing? Could you let me come and listen as well?" Eunuch Xiang put the purse in his arms and asked again.
"Sir, please come to my humble home for a cup of tea. I will tell you everything in detail." Shen Wanning invited.
"No, I'm busy and have to rush back to the county town soon. I'm not used to staying in the inn in this town. Tell me, what were you discussing just now?"
The village head turned to look at Shen Wanning. In front of such an important figure, he didn't dare to say a word, for fear that he would be beheaded if he said something wrong.