Chapter 102: Chapter 103: County Town
The County Government
"My Lord, Chief Li has returned to report," Steward Mao Li said, quickly standing up as he saw County Magistrate Tian Xiuwen enter.
Tian Xiuwen asked, "So soon? Where is he?"
"He just went to the back hall to freshen up. Heāll be out shortly." He had been travel-worn, his beard caked with dust.
A moment later, Li Yong emerged, looking completely refreshed.
Tian Xiuwen asked, "How did you get back so quickly? Didnāt I tell you to wait for Lord Niuās orders?"
Li Yong handed the official documents detailing the number of refugees and their assignments to Magistrate Tian with both hands. "Lord Niu assigned the people on the same day. To prevent them from continuing to gather at the city gates, he had us bring them back as soon as possible. Now weāre just waiting for Your Lordshipās command to settle these people, and then our task will be considered complete."
Magistrate Tian casually flipped through the documents. "This is great news for Fu County. Weāve finally injected some new blood and filled up those villages.
Theyāre all poor common folk. Take some men with you tomorrow and make sure they are all properly settled.
By the way, what are the people who came this time like?"
Although he wanted to add more villages to the county, he would have a major headache if they were the kind of troublemakers who stirred up conflict.
Li Yong replied, "Iāve already looked into it. Although they all come from the same place, these people are honest and were quite united on the road, so they were a group that suffered relatively few losses.
It was through Assistant Magistrate Gengās mediation that this group was assigned to us. I also observed some of the other, more scattered families along the way, and none of them will be able to cause any trouble."
Magistrate Tian nodded in satisfaction. "Iām always confident in your work, Chief Li. Itās been a long journey for you, so go home and get some proper rest. Once this matter is settled, weāll have a few good drinks."
Li Yong repeatedly said he wouldnāt dare presume, pledged his loyalty a few more times, and then took his leave.
Ā§
"Why are you two wasting money like this? We could have just found a corner to lean against and get through the night," Li Cuicui said as she was dragged into the inn. Seeing the clean and tidy room, she felt uncomfortable and wanted to back out.
"This room isnāt half bad. Must have cost a pretty penny, eh?" Gu Dashishi said, looking it up and down. He recalled the look the waiter had given him earlier and glanced down at his own patched clothes. "Old woman, where did you put that robe of mine, the one made just two years ago?"
"Over there," Li Cuicui said, gesturing vaguely at a bundle. "You two need to be more careful with your silver. We have to provide everything for ourselves here. Even a ruined home has its value, and thereās so much we need to buy."
Ancient Wen Heng said, "Mother, we know what weāre doing. Iāve already asked the innās waiter to bring up two bowls of noodles in a bit. After you eat, you can go out for a walk and see if thereās anything you need to buy."
"Sigh, Seventh, look, your mother and I are getting old. Why donāt we just..." Gu Dashishi was cut off by Li Cuicui before he could finish.
"Go and see what you need to buy. You two didnāt bring much with you, and thereās a lot to prepare. Donāt just stand there. Your father and I know how to manage."
With that, she pushed the two of them out of the room and quickly shut the door.
"You old woman, I wasnāt finished talking! What did you kick them out for?"
Li Cuicui shot him a glare. "As if I donāt know what youāre thinking. Donāt forget what you said in front of the whole village, young and old. You said youād only have your sons take turns caring for us when we can no longer move.
You used to favor the youngest, and all the brothers knew it. Otherwise, they wouldnāt have let you get away with such nonsense."
"This Seventh is a bit better off. If we stick with them, at least we wonāt have to suffer so much," Gu Dashishi muttered, feeling perfectly justified. "Iām doing this for your own good, too. See? With a filial daughter-in-law, you wonāt have to work yourself to the bone all day long."
Li Cuicui retorted, "Since the day I married into the Gu family, when have I ever been idle? Decades have passed like this. Iām already used to it.
Besides, we have the settlement allowance, and with the silver taels we saved up before, we can absolutely support ourselves and start a new home."
"Is that really necessary? The sons have to support us in our old age anyway. Iāve toiled my whole life, itās time for me to enjoy some peace and comfort."
"Pah!" Li Cuicui spat. "Look at Third Uncle! Did he stop working at his age? Donāt give me that nonsense all day. Hurry up and get our things in order. Weāre going out to buy some household goods in a bit."
"..."
Jin Qianqian shrugged. Even if she had a good impression of the old woman, she didnāt want to be saddled with two living Buddhas.
Ancient Wen Heng also shook his head, then took Jin Qianqianās hand and disappeared from sight outside the door.
Ā§
Setting up a home required so many things. Although there would be markets in the countryside, they couldnāt possibly be as well-stocked as the ones here in the county seat.
"Besides the things weāve bought bit by bit, I still feel like somethingās missing." Jin Qianqian said, holding the seeds she had just purchased while her eyes were drawn to the furniture in the next shop.
"Even if weāre just building a heated brick bed, we at least need a table. Itās just a shame we already have too much stuff. It would be ridiculous to try and carry a table as well," Jin Qianqian sighed. "Getting started is really tough."
Ancient Wen Heng stroked her hair. "Letās not look at these for now. If it really comes to it, I can make another trip later."
"Oh, itās you?" Li Yong had just finished eating and drinking in the back room. He spotted Ancient Wen Heng the moment he came out. He remembered the two scholars in their group of refugeesāthe village chiefās son and this young man before him had both passed the child student examination, so he naturally held them in higher regard.
"Chief Li, is this your familyās shop?" Ancient Wen Heng asked, a little surprised.
Li Yong replied, "My father is an old carpenter whoās been at it his whole life. The old man canāt stand being idle, so he took on a few apprentices to keep the shop running. Are you two looking to buy furniture?"
Ancient Wen Heng said, "Weāre just looking for now. After all, we donāt know what kind of house weāll have. We have to at least get settled in before we can think about these things."
Li Yong nodded. "Thatās true. But you should be mentally prepared. Although each household will be given a plot of residential land, the original houses are definitely uninhabitable. Theyāll have to be torn down and rebuilt.
All in all, youāll probably be busy for a very long time.
Winter is coming soon, so if you have some extra money, you should prioritize getting your housing sorted out."
"Thank you for the advice, Chief Li," Ancient Wen Heng said. "There is one more thing Iād like to ask. When will our household registration be processed?"
With household registration, even if the land in the countryside wasnāt ideal, they could consider buying a place to settle in the county seat or a village. They could deal with the other matters slowly after that.
Li Yong replied, "That will probably take some time. However, the stewards at the government office have already started working on it today. Once the household registrations are ready, someone will be sent to deliver them to you.
Why? Are you in a hurry for it?"
Ancient Wen Heng didnāt hide it. "This humble studentās family has a little extra savings. I was hoping to find a house in the county seat, which would allow me to focus on my studies for a while."