HCB Chapter 151 The Attentive Magistrate Liu
Chapter 151 The Attentive Magistrate Liu
After Wen Yuxia left, Nan Yi placed the gold beads belonging to An Yi and the others into their hands, saying in a light tone, "These are gold beads given by the Crown Prince."
This was the first time Nan Yi had ever held gold dug out of a mine. He played with the gold beads with great affection and made a decision in his heart: he could not give the gold beads to his parents.
Like a mountain sprite, Wen Yuxia leaped among the treetops, and under the cover of night, she successfully left the fence at the entrance to Jiulian Mountain and sped all the way to Zhaoxia Town.
Finding a secluded spot, Wen Yuxia flashed into her spatial dimension. "Brother, we've arrived at Chaoxia Town." The new algorithm hadn't been taught in Chaoxia Town yet, and Wen Yuxia wanted to know Xia Yichen's plans.
"Leave Chaoxia Town and head to the county seat," Xia Yichen said after a moment's thought.
The ore in the valley has vanished without a trace, and Chaoxia Town will definitely be affected. Staying in Chaoxia Town to give lectures at this time is not a wise move.
After leaving Chaoxia Town, Wen Yuxia moved Xia Yichen and the others, along with the carriage, out of the spatial dimension, and had Nan Yi carry the Wen Yunhai brothers into the carriage.
"An Yi, remove your blindfold and prepare to depart," Xia Yichen's voice carried an undeniable authority.
Wen Yuxia lay sprawled in the carriage, completely disregarding her appearance, and slowly closed her eyes. She had been running for two hours straight and was exhausted; now she needed a good rest.
Bei Yi thoughtfully took out a thin blanket from the hidden compartment and covered her with it. In order not to disturb Wen Yuxia's rest, Bei Yi and Bei Er did not speak. They smiled at each other and tacitly took out gold beads from their pockets to play with.
Liu Zhigang, the magistrate of Wei County, was the contact person for Wuhu Village. Xia Yichen did not bypass Wei County to avoid arousing Liu Zhigang's suspicion.
Seeing the crowded city gate, Xia Yichen quietly instructed An Yi to slow down. The carriage followed the crowd of people entering the city and slowly passed through the gate.
In every county he visited, Xia Yichen would go to the county government office to learn about the local people's lives. Wei County was no exception. After entering the town, Xia Yichen instructed An Yi to drive the carriage to the county government office.
Looking at the sweet potatoes painted on the two gates of the county government office, and the words written next to them, "If an official doesn't serve the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes,"
Wen Yuxia couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Hahahaha," she said. She had passed through many counties along the way and seen many similar slogans and images, yet she still couldn't help but laugh.
She casually told Xia Yichen the story of Tang Ruxiu, a low-ranking official who devoted himself to serving the people. After hearing this, Xia Yichen had a sudden inspiration and went to the palace that very night to plead with the emperor to issue an edict.
The emperor ordered the county magistrates to draw sweet potatoes on the gates of their county offices and write the words, "If an official doesn't serve the people, he might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes," to express the determination and attitude of the Daxia County government in serving the people wholeheartedly.
When Xia Yichen first saw the two gates of the county government office covered with paintings of sweet potatoes and slogans, he almost choked with laughter. It was his idea, and even if the sweet potato paintings on the gates seemed out of place, he couldn't bear to laugh at them every time he saw them.
Xia Yichen gave Wen Yuxia a cold look and said the same thing he always said to her at the county government office: "You're making a fuss over nothing. You've been laughing all the way here."
Wen Yuxia clasped her hands together, trying to suppress her laughter: "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to."
On this trip, it was clear from how Xia Yichen addressed Wen Yuxia and their casual banter that their sibling-like relationship was much more natural than before.
Xia Yichen affectionately calls Wen Yuxia "little sister" or "Mu Hua," while Wen Yuxia directly calls Xia Yichen "brother."
Seeing the group of people rushing out of the county government office, Xia Yichen said in a low voice, "Little sister, mind your image."
Wen Yuxia was of marriageable age, and the Emperor, fearing she might be favored by princes from other countries, had specifically instructed her on this trip to act unruly and spoiled in public.
Wen Yuxia had a cold expression on her face, her head slightly tilted back, her beautiful big eyes looking up at the sky, looking exactly like a spoiled princess.
Liu Zhigang, accompanied by the county officials, arrived at the entrance and bowed deeply: "Your humble servant Liu Zhigang greets the Crown Prince and Princess Muhua!"
"Greetings to the Crown Prince, greetings to Princess Muhua!" Liu Zhigang's subordinates shouted in unison.
The pedestrians on the street, the shopkeepers, shop assistants, and customers were all stunned by the shouts. The Crown Prince and Princess Mu Hua had graced Wei County with their presence; these ordinary people had to kneel in worship!
Everyone knelt down on the spot, bowed their heads and shouted: "This humble subject (woman, daughter) pays respects to the Crown Prince and Princess Muhua!"
Xia Yichen turned to face the people on the street, his deep, magnetic voice like a spring breeze blowing into their hearts: "Please rise, please rise quickly. I have come to Wei County to promote a new algorithm. Tomorrow morning, I would like to invite you all to come to the county government office for an algorithm lecture..."
There were small gifts for attending the lectures, and the people eagerly replied to Xia Yichen that they would come to the county government office early the next morning to attend the lectures.
Wen Yunhong stepped forward and handed Liu Zhigang several notices. "Magistrate Liu, please help me find someone to post these notices."
The proclamation was written by Gu Yue, the Minister of Rites, at the Emperor's behest. It introduced the various benefits of learning the new algorithm and was stamped with Gu Yue's official seal at the end.
Liu Zhigang had been apprehensive, thinking Xia Yichen was there for the gold mine. Only after reading the announcement and learning that Xia Yichen was the leader of the new algorithm instructor team did his anxiety subside.
"Officer Li, take your men to post the notices. Officer Zhang, lead a team to bang gongs in the streets and alleys. Make sure the whole city knows..." Liu Zhigang calmly arranged everything and invited Xia Yichen and Wen Yuxia to rest in the backyard of the county government office.
Wen Yuxia said coldly, "This princess will not stay in the back courtyard. She will stay at the best one in your county, the Guiyuan Inn. You have someone clear the inn out immediately."
Inviting Xia Yichen and the others to rest in the backyard was just a polite gesture. Wen Yuxia's stubborn refusal to stay in the county government's backyard suited him perfectly. Liu Zhigang nodded and bowed, saying, "This humble official will immediately send someone to clear the area."
Xia Yichen said with a stern face, "Clear the place, clear the place. How many times do I have to tell you before you remember? The inn is not for you alone. Magistrate Liu, lead the way. I will stay at the county government office tonight."
Liu Zhigang looked at Wen Yuxia with a troubled expression. "Princess, are you still going to the inn?"
"I'm not going. This princess is hungry. Quickly bring this princess her meal," Wen Yuxia said arrogantly as she swaggered into the county government office.
Liu Zhigang quietly instructed his advisor to order food at the restaurant. With a smile on his face but a bitter smile on his face, Liu Zhigang solicitously invited Xia Yichen and his party to the backyard.