The rise of the poor

Chapter 1984: Resignation
The people of Suzhou were so reluctant to let Zhu Ping'an go that his throat almost smoked, but he still failed to persuade the people who were blocking the road.

Finally, a passerby called out to Zhu Ping'an, "Don't stop us, let Master Zhu take office quickly. With Master Zhu's ability, wouldn't it be as easy as eating and drinking to make contributions after taking office? Master is now the governor of Zhejiang. If Master makes more contributions after taking office, won't he be promoted to the governor-general of Jiangnan? At that time, Master Zhu will be our parent official again, right?!"

This sentence immediately moved the people who were blocking the road.

"Yes, with Lord Zhu's ability and capability, it would be easy for him to achieve meritorious service. If he is promoted again, he can become the Governor-General of Jiangnan."

"Everyone, please make way for him. Don't delay Mr. Zhu from making achievements. There are so many Japanese pirates in Zhejiang. Why worry about Mr. Zhu not making achievements? If you delay him for another quarter of an hour, he will be late in making achievements and becoming the governor of Jiangnan."

"Everyone, please make way for Master Zhu. This is the Emperor's order. If you block his way again, Master Zhu will disobey the Emperor's order. If he is blamed by the higher-ups, won't our great benefactor Master Zhu be the one who suffers?!"

"Everyone, please make way."

Many ordinary people followed suit, and slowly the crowded crowd made way for a path just wide enough for a horse-drawn carriage to pass.

"Your Excellency may take up your post, and you may eat these foods on the way."

"This is the old hen we raised at home. It is the most delicious when used to make soup. My Lord, please take it home and make some soup."

"Sir, if you don't take it, do you dislike us?!"

Although they made way, the enthusiastic people still pushed the things in their hands towards Zhu Ping'an.

So enthusiastic.

Everyone wanted to put their things into Zhu Ping'an's arms, and everyone had enthusiasm and reasons that could not be refused.

Zhu Ping'an walked towards a white-haired old lady and took the chipped ceramic bowl from her hand.

Then, he took a piece of pancake handed to him by an old man, took a bite of it, and drank a sip of water.

Soon, he finished a pancake and a bowl of water.

"My fellow countrymen, you are my bread and butter. I have eaten this cake and drunk this bowl of water. Your kindness has gone into my stomach. It is enough. I will definitely not embarrass you, the elders of Suzhou, when I go to Zhejiang this time."

Zhu Ping'an wiped his mouth, returned the bowl to the old lady, bowed and spoke loudly to the common people.

Zhu Ping'an took the initiative to drink a bowl of water and eat a cake, which just echoed his calling the common people the parents who provide food and clothing.

In this way, if we reject the popular specialties of the people, it will be easier for them to accept it.

"You don't want the things, but this umbrella is a token of our friendship. You must accept it, Master Zhu."

"And ours."

"our"

When Zhu Ping'an finally set off again, several carriages were loaded with nearly a hundred umbrellas with people's names tied on them.

"Hehehe, Brother Zhu, you can make a fortune selling umbrellas." Li Shu couldn't help but giggle in the carriage.

"It's really hard to refuse your kindness. What should I do with so many umbrellas?" Zhu Ping'an held his forehead with his hand, feeling a headache.

"Haha, other officials are afraid of not having the Umbrella when they leave office, and even refuse to leave until they receive it, or simply spend their own money to hire someone to get a few Umbrellas when they leave office. But you are different. You have so many Umbrellas that you are worried about what to do with them. You really don't know the hunger of the hungry."

Li Shujiao joked with a smile.

"Why not just get someone to take off the cloth strips when we get to Shaoxing and give them to the common people anonymously? That would be helpful."

Zhu Ping'an smiled bitterly.

"Miss, is it true that there are people who can't even collect an umbrella of the people? Then they haven't done a single good thing."

Huaer asked curiously.

Seeing that Zhu Ping'an had received so many Wanmin Umbrellas, he thought that the Wanmin Umbrellas were easy to get. He did not expect that there were officials who could not even receive one Wanmin Umbrella. He was very surprised and asked curiously.

"Do you think the People's Umbrella is so easy to get? Of course there are many people who cannot receive the People's Umbrella. Corrupt officials cannot receive any. Incompetent officials cannot receive any. Ordinary people have a scale in their hearts. Only good officials who serve the people and benefit the people can receive the People's Umbrella from the people."

Li Shu looked through the gap in the car window at the people outside who were reluctant to leave and were chasing after the carriage to see them off, and spoke slowly.

"If it were me, I wouldn't give them the umbrella either. If they don't do good things, it's good enough if they don't throw rotten eggs at them."

The painting is quite empathetic.

"People dare not throw rotten eggs at them in person, but when they leave, they often celebrate by beating gongs and drums and setting off firecrackers. In ancient times, there was a corrupt county magistrate who did nothing but good things. When he left office, the people could not help but give him a plaque with the words 'The sky is three feet high' written on it. They gave it to the corrupt county magistrate."

Li Shu told Huaer a story about a corrupt official leaving office in ancient times.

"Ah? He does nothing good and does all kinds of bad things, why do you still give him a beating? The sky is three feet high, but you still praise him as being higher than the sky. It's really too easy for him."

After hearing this, Huaer couldn't help but say angrily that he felt it was too easy for the corrupt officials to get away with it by giving them gifts.

"Haha, the corrupt official, the county magistrate, was so happy when he received the plaque that he couldn't close his mouth for a long time. He also felt that this was the people's praise for him, saying that the sky was three feet higher during his term of office. Isn't this praising his good governance? So, on his way out of office, he carried out the plaque to show off to everyone he met. After taking office, he even hung the plaque outside his new office and draped it with red silk. What surprised him was that many people covered their mouths and laughed when they saw his plaque. When they met those people who didn't laugh, they whispered to each other. Then those people who didn't laugh originally covered their mouths and laughed." Li Shu looked at Hua'er, who had a confused look on her face, and covered her mouth with her hands and smiled as she continued to talk.

"Ah? Yes, why do people laugh when they see him beating them?" Huaer scratched her head in confusion.

"Hehe, that corrupt county magistrate is just like you, he is also scratching his head." Li Shu giggled.

"Miss, please tell me quickly, does that Bian have any explanation?" Hua'er was as curious as a cat scratching its heart.

"Miss, I can't figure out what the deep meaning of that word is." Qin'er was also confused.

"You're stupid. The sky is three feet higher. Why is the sky three feet higher? Isn't it because the local land was taken away by that corrupt official, the county magistrate? Isn't this equivalent to the sky being three feet higher? The local people are mocking him." Li Shu explained.

"Oh, so that's how it is. Haha, that corrupt official doesn't even know he's being mocked, and he's still showing off his skills to everyone he meets. It's really embarrassing. And, miss, did he find out in the end?"

After hearing the explanation, Huaer couldn't help but giggle too, and finally asked the corrupt official with concern whether he knew about it.

"I know. It was his newly recruited advisor half a month later who told him. He was so angry that he smashed the plaque and burned it. But it was too late. The people in the city knew that he was a greedy and stupid official."

Li Shu said with a smile.

"Serves you right, cluck." There was joy in the carriage.

(End of this chapter)