When the New Year season arrived, the village was exceptionally lively.
Especially in Chu Xun's courtyard, which was crowded with children.
Candies, peanuts, melon seeds, rice balls, roasted puffed rice...
There was also tea, and good wine bought from the Bai family wine shop in town.
Even Li Shoutian specifically brought his whole family, young and old, to sit at Chu Xun's house after eating lunch.
In terms of popularity, no one in the village was better than Chu Xun.
A bare-bottomed four-year-old child squatted at the door, curiously staring at the Spirit Pearl Grass in the corner of the wall.
With the arrival of the New Year, a new leaf slowly unfurled at the root of the Spirit Pearl Grass.
The child curiously reached out his hand, wanting to touch it.
As a result, just as his hand reached out, it was caught.
Looking up, he saw Chu Xun smilingly taking a candy from his pocket, peeling off the outer paper wrapper, and stuffing it into the child's mouth.
"You can only look, not touch, understand?" Chu Xun said.
The child tasted the sweetness in his mouth and nodded repeatedly, "Understood, Brother Xun'er! I'll help you watch it. Whoever wants to touch it, I'll beat him up!"
This child was named Qi Ermao. His dad was severely injured during the water dispute, although he didn't die on the spot.
But he only struggled for a month or so. Because the family really had no extra silver to buy medicine, he finally breathed his last.
Another child ran over, clenched his small fists, and shouted, "Who is Brother Xun'er going to beat up?"
This was exactly the son of the woman who had flirted with Chu Xun before. He didn't have a proper name, only the milk name Stone.
With this shout, a whole bunch of children immediately ran over with a whoosh.
Each one was flushed with excitement, as if as long as Chu Xun gave the order, they would swarm forward.
Even if it was the Village Chief, they would have to give him two punches!
Li Shoutian, with a glowing red face, sitting on a wooden stool drinking tea, watched cheerfully and said, "Look at Ah Xun, he's become the king of the children."
Li Tianjian's wife nearby curled her lips and said, "He's the king of the children now, I think he'll have to be the Village Chief in the future!"
Li Shoutian laughed heartily and said, "For someone as smart as Ah Xun, if he's really willing to stay and be the Village Chief in the future, it might not necessarily be a bad thing."
Upon hearing these words, Li Tianjian's wife turned green with anger.
Although the Village Chief was nominally elected by everyone together, it had been passed down from the old man's generation to Li Shoutian.
Some people in the Li family already felt that the Village Chief should be someone surnamed Li.
Li Shoutian's words were tantamount to turning his elbow outward.
Li Tianjian's wife was so angry she turned and kicked her own man, "Look at others, and look at you!"
Li Tianjian also felt somewhat unhappy in his heart. Second Brother, you've been the Village Chief and had your fill of it, but I haven't been it yet.
Even if you don't pass it to me, passing it to my son or grandson in the future is fine too.
Letting Chu Xun, this person who ate the collective meals of a hundred families, be the Village Chief, what are you thinking?
However, Li Shoutian wasn't simply turning his elbow outward. He genuinely felt that Chu Xun was not a thing in a pool.
Whether it was buying an ox or the boldness to take on thirty acres of wasteland reclamation, let alone Pinecone Village, even in the town, not many people had it.
Right now, this kid was still like them, just a farmer facing the yellow earth with his back to the sky.
But in a few more years, that might not necessarily be the case.
Li Shoutian had a feeling in his heart that Chu Xun would have great prospects, and maybe one day he would move away from Pinecone Village.
If they could use the position of Village Chief to keep him, it would definitely not be a bad thing for Pinecone Village.
Compared to Chu Xun's house, the town appeared even more lively.
The Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, Lin Xianzong, had returned for the New Year this year.
When the sedan chair was carried into the town, after Lin Xianzong settled down, only the fifth-rank Sub-Prefect who had come from afar had the qualifications to accompany him.
The County Magistrate could only follow on foot behind, followed by the Assistant Magistrate, the Master of Records, and the County Commandant.
As for the officials and clerks further back, there was no need to mention them; they couldn't even squeeze in.
The relatives of the Lin family, whether old or young, even those bedridden with illness, were carried over.
The high official of the family had finally returned once; how could they not show their faces in front of him?
Even if it was just saying a single sentence, that was a blessing that couldn't be cultivated in eight lifetimes.
As the old saying goes, wealth and honor without returning to one's hometown is like walking in the night wearing brocade clothes; who would know?
Although Lin Xianzong enjoyed all the glory, wealth, and rank in the capital, with various people flattering and fawning over him below.
But returning to the town, the fawning and currying favor of these aunts, grandmothers, relatives, and friends actually made him happier.
Especially when he saw Lin Qiaoxi, he specifically praised her a few times, saying that he would arrange a good marriage for her next year.
Lin Qiaoxi's parents were naturally flushed with excitement, walking as if there was wind under their feet.
A marriage personally arranged by Lord Lin, how incredible would that be?
At the very least, it would have to be a child of a high-ranking regional official. When the time came and Lin Qiaoxi married over, the family would also rise to heaven like dogs and poultry.
Others were envious, jealous, and hateful, yet they had to offer a few compliments.
Only Lin Qiaoxi was depressed after learning about this matter.
Seeing her pouting and full of unhappiness, Zhang Sanchun asked, "Eldest Miss doesn't want to marry?"
Lin Qiaoxi looked at this honest-faced man and asked back, "Are you willing to let me marry?"
Zhang Sanchun habitually scratched his head; of course he wasn't willing.
Just thinking about never seeing the Eldest Miss again in the future made his heart feel like he had eaten countless pieces of coptis root, and like it had been cut ten thousand times by a sickle.
But he felt that he was just a short-term worker for the Lin family; how could he dare to dictate the Eldest Miss's marriage?
Lowering his head, he said muffledly, "This is the Eldest Miss's lifelong major event, I dare not speak too much."
Lin Qiaoxi glared at him, finally stomped her foot in anger, closed the door, and ignored him.
Zhang Sanchun didn't understand the meaning. Did he say something wrong?
The County Magistrate sent over various mountain delicacies and seafood, but they were all returned by Lin Xianzong, and even the County Magistrate was driven away.
Telling them to be diligent in their official duties and not delay their time for a returning traveler like him.
He only stayed in his own home, accompanying the clan elders and fellow townsmen, eating simple meals.
As plain as could be.
In his words: "I have been an official outside for many years and have seen countless people bend the law for bribes just for the desire of their palate. This should be taken as a warning."
"The current Holy Emperor is a wise monarch of the ages. Those who are officials should be even more incorruptible, cautious, and diligent!"
"Everyone puts filial piety first, I put incorruptibility first. To share the sovereign's worries and serve the Kingdom of Jing, I will give my all until death!"
Once these words were spoken, they immediately drew countless people to clap and cheer.
In the following days, Lin Xianzong paid respects to his ancestors, and then took a tour around the nearby towns and villages.
After returning, he said, "Pingshui Town is too small, and the fellow townsmen cannot become wealthy. I feel deeply ashamed. Therefore, I want to build a few roads to connect the surrounding ten miles and eight villages, gathering everyone's strength together."
"When the time comes, we will create a large town, a major town! Attracting merchants and travelers from all over the world. When the fellow townsmen's pockets bulge, they have more silver, and can eat meat every meal, then being this official won't be considered in vain."
Saying that, he paid out of his own pocket and took out two thousand taels of silver.
The Kingdom of Jing heavily emphasized nourishing incorruptibility, and the officials' salaries were fifty percent more than the previous dynasty.
A third-rank official's annual salary was about two hundred and thirty taels.
Two thousand taels of silver was ten years' salary.
Looking at Lin Xianzong's old clothes that had been washed for many years and never changed, the Lin family, young and old, were moved to bitter tears.
Saving up two thousand taels of silver was no small number. How frugal and thrifty must one be to save that up!
And so much silver, he didn't spend it on himself, but instead donated it to build roads and repair bridges for the fellow townsmen.
A tremendous merit!
For a time, the County Magistrate took the initiative to lead, donating five hundred taels, while the Master of Records and the County Commandant each donated three hundred and fifty taels.
Other officials and clerks donated varying amounts around a hundred taels.
The Lin family members who had benefited from Lin Xianzong and made their fortunes over the years also each took out a lot of silver.
All together, the total exceeded ten thousand taels.
Lin Xianzong further said that when he returned to the Ministry of Works, he would see if he could find a way to request some silver to help.
The current Holy Emperor focused on people's livelihood, so it shouldn't be too difficult.
As for how to build the road and where to build it from.
Lin Xianzong pondered slightly, then casually pointed in a direction, "His Majesty started his uprising from the southwest, so when we build the road, we will also start from this direction."
Everyone followed the direction of his finger and quickly recognized that it was the direction towards Pinecone Village.
The wealthy landlords of the towns and villages who failed to get the first road naturally felt it was somewhat a pity.
But since Lin Xianzong had opened his golden mouth, who could oppose it? They could only be envious behind his back.
A few days later, the county office sent someone to inform Li Shoutian.
Learning that Lin Xianzong had personally named to first build the road from Pinecone Village to the town, Li Shoutian danced with joy.
This was a tremendously joyous event!
Not to mention anything else, just being the first road in Lin Xianzong's benevolent act was enough to make Pinecone Village famous for thousands of miles.
(End of Chapter)