County Government Office.
Half a year ago, the newly appointed magistrate of Song County was frowning with worry in his backyard.
Baichuan County was too poor, and it was hit by a severe drought. If the drought persisted, the commoners of the entire county would not only be unable to afford meals, but even drinking water could become a problem.
"Sir," the magistrate's wife saw his appearance and was also worried, "you should still eat a little."
"I'm not hungry, I have no appetite."
The magistrate's wife shook her head and had the food taken away. Seeing her husband growing thinner day by day, as a woman there was little she could do to help, she could only sigh silently.
At this time, the head clerk came over and cupped his fists: "Magistrate, the village heads are here."
On the first and fifteenth of each month, the village heads had to report to the county government office on time and report on the situation in each village. This was a new regulation set by the Song magistrate since he took office.
It helped him stay informed about the livelihood of the people, so that problems could be solved in a timely manner.
...
The 23 village heads of Baichuan County were talking together.
"With this drought, we can't even plant wheat. What are we going to do next year?!"
"Forget next year, our village has twelve wells, and half of them have already dried up."
"It's the same in our village. If the drought continues, the villagers will have to flee from famine."
"Village Head Wang," someone suddenly asked, "I heard last time that the wells in your Héwān Village had run dry, they must all be dried up now, right?"
In the past, Wang Jiafu would naturally have sighed along with them.
But today was different.
"There's plenty of water in our village."
"What? How is that possible?"
"Héwān Village is the highest point, even we are almost out of water, how can you still have any?"
"Village Head Wang, the magistrate does not like people telling lies, you should think clearly before you speak."
Wang Jiafu lifted his head and said, "Why would I need to lie? If you go take a look, won't you know if there's water or not?"
Magistrate Song, who was pacing over, immediately quickened his steps when he heard this.
"Wang Jiafu, what did you just say?"
"Magistrate, I said we dug several new wells in Héwān Village, and now we have more well water than we can drink."
Magistrate Song was also incredulous.
In the previous two meetings, it was Wang Jiafu who had complained the loudest that the well water had dried up and the entire village had trouble getting drinking water.
How could there suddenly be more well water than they could drink?
"Tell me exactly what happened."
"Yes."
So Wang Jiafu recounted in detail the story of the villagers digging wells. He didn't hold anything back either, and gave all the credit for finding the well water to Li Yao.
Everyone else listened and felt even more incredulous.
The village head of Báiyún Village asked, "I don't even know this Li Yao from your village? She is known far and wide as a shrew and fool, how could she suddenly know how to find places to dig wells?"
"I don't really know either."
"You..." Magistrate Song was exasperated, "As village head, how can you not know anything clearly?"
Wang Jiafu quickly said, "But the wells in our village that produce water now are all from locations she pointed out."
"If she can find well water in your village, can she do the same in other villages?" Magistrate Song asked.
"That... should work too," Wang Jiafu said. "She's at the market today, why don't I go find her and ask her right away?"
"Quick, go quickly! Tell her to come to the county government office directly!"
...
Li Yao was watching her braised food stand when Wang Jiafu hurriedly came looking for her.
Being summoned by the magistrate was a great honor that most people don't have the chance for in a lifetime.
But unexpectedly, as soon as Wang Jiafu finished speaking, Li Yao flatly refused.
"I won't go."
It wasn't that Li Yao was afraid to see the magistrate, she just didn't want to kneel and kowtow to others.
That was the annoying thing about this world.
"How... how can you not go?" Wang Jiafu said. "Or do you expect the magistrate to come see you instead?"
"That's unnecessary." Li Yao said. "Isn't it just about digging wells? That's easy, Village Head Wang, you can do it too."
"Me? No no, I don't have that kind of skill," Wang Jiafu shook his head like a rattle drum, "Lady Li, I've already agreed to this matter, one way or another please come with me this time, or else I won't be able to explain it to the magistrate."
Li Yao thought for a moment and looked at Wang Er who was serving food.
In the future, Wang Er was supposed to take the imperial examinations to become a scholar. Getting to know the magistrate's face early wouldn't be bad.
So she called Wang Er over and roughly explained to him the principles of finding wells.
"Just remember what I said."
"Okay."
Feeling nervous, Wang Er went with Wang Jiafu to the county government office. Wang Jiafu also went along.
Magistrate Song was quite meticulous in his work. He didn't immediately make Wang Er go dig wells in other villages. Instead, he asked some questions about how to find well water.
Seeing Wang Er answer fluently, and even able to talk about the different layers of soil underground and what each contained, he couldn't help but feel extremely surprised.
"I didn't expect a village boy to have such knowledge."
Wang Er didn't dare take credit for the praise, and said, "This was all taught by my mother."
"Very good, very good." Magistrate Song said, "Sheriff Wu, send two men to go with him and try at Bājiāo Village first. If they can really dig out well water, the other villages can start working."
"Yes!"
Wang Er went to Bājiāo Village with two yamen runners, and Wang Jiafu went along too.
Magistrate Song, who had been busy all day, also breathed a long sigh of relief in his heart.
Since taking office, when facing Baichuan County's circumstances, he had always been at a loss. If this time he could resolve the commoners' food and water problems, it would count as getting some real work done.
...
Business was especially good the past few days Li Yao didn't run her braised food stand. A whole pot of braised food was sold out clean before noon.
Li Yao went alone to buy some things, and on her way back ran into Da Zhuang pulling a cart.
"Wang Er went to Bājiāo Village, probably won't be back for a few days. Let's go home first."
"Mother," Da Zhuang's face didn't look well, "when I was packing up the stand, Grandma came looking for me."
"What's the matter?"
"She said Wang Er injured Little Uncle, and wants us to compensate. " Da Zhuang said, "We have to give her 5 taels of silver for medical expenses before noon tomorrow."
Li Yao humphed inwardly, so Li Xian really did go home and tattle.
The original body's old mother was also a weirdo, actually wanting compensation. She probably heard they were making money selling braised food, and immediately dared to ask for 5 taels of silver.
She really opened her mouth as wide as a lion's.
Seeing her lack of reaction, Da Zhuang hesitantly continued, "She said if we don't pay, she'll... she'll..."
"Say it."
"She said she'll bring people to our door and demand justice." Da Zhuang was very worried, "Mother, what should we do?"
It was normal for Da Zhuang to be worried.
In Li Family Village, the Li family was a big clan. The clansmen all felt that Li Xian could make something of himself, so with a snap of his fingers, he could easily gather twenty to thirty strong men.
If they really came to the door to demand justice, they wouldn't stand a chance at all.
"I'll go tomorrow."
Hearing this, the children felt slightly relieved, but also very indignant. However, they were in an inferior position, so no matter how indignant, they could only endure.
"Here's the money earned today," Da Zhuang took out the money box, "but we haven't run the stand these past few days, definitely won't be enough for five taels of silver. Mother, tell Grandmother we'll gather it together in a few days to send over, she should agree."
Wang San'er clenched his fists tightly, filled with righteous anger, "A man knows when to yield and when to resist. Let them gloat for now. When I become a Grand General in the future, I'll make them see!"
Wang Xiao Si also chimed in, "When big brother becomes an official, we'll make them see!"
Seeing the children's reactions, Li Yao was also speechless.
What were they thinking?
"I am going, but not to apologize and pay money."
"Huh?"
The children looked at each other in confusion.
"Mother," Wang Xiao Si asked, "then what are you going for?"
"To take back our old hen!"
It was time to make a clean break from this original maternal family.