Traveling through ancient times

The two were going to the county town this time, and it would take an hour to walk there. During the day, they did not dare to be too conspicuous, so they hired a carriage from a mule and horse shop and galloped straight to the county town!

A quarter of an hour later, the two arrived at the gate of the county town. The huge and ancient city wall highlighted the long and heavy history. On the city gate were written three big characters "Shannan County"!

Gu Dalian originally thought that she would have to pay a head fee to enter the city, but unexpectedly, the city guards only asked where she was from and what she did, and then let her in without making things difficult for her at all!

The county town was bustling with people. Along the way, I even saw the Fuman Restaurant, which was several levels higher than the one in the town and looked luxurious and grand!

It's not meal time yet, but there are already a lot of customers coming and going. They are all dressed rich or noble. It's obvious that business is really good!

The carriage drove for about ten minutes and stopped. We saw an archway in front of the yamen, which was the Xuanhua Archway. Beyond that was the gate of the yamen, which was tall and magnificent, with majestic stone lions on both sides, looking solemn and majestic.

There is a huge plaque above the gate with the two big characters "Yamen" inscribed on it. The handwriting is dignified and neat, giving people a solemn and dignified feeling.

After paying the coachman the fare, the brother and sister saw two yamen runners standing outside the door, so they walked up to them and asked:

"Excuse me, big brother, we two have something we want to see Your Excellency about, can you please pass it on?"

One of the yamen runners frowned and was about to speak when Gu Dalian secretly put a penny of silver into the second brother's hand. Gu Wenzhi understood what he meant and secretly put it into the yamen runner's hand, saying, "Give the two yamen runners some wine!"

The two yamen runners, smiling, frowned and said, "I'll go and report. Can you tell me your name and where you are from?"

Gu Wenzhi cupped his hands and said, "I am from Cuiyu Village, Nanhuan Township. My surname is Gu and my name is Wenzhi!"

The yamen runner responded and went in.

The brother and sister were actually trying their luck. When they registered their household registration, it should have been old man Ma Youren who used his connections. If the county magistrate was lucky enough to remember it, then they wouldn't have to think of any other ways!

About ten minutes later, the bailiff came out with a smile and said, "Please follow me, you two. The master is waiting in the back hall!"

The two of them followed him into the county government office, and after passing through the ceremonial gate, they saw the People's Hall. Gu Dalian had traveled to various places in her previous life, and had no impression of places like this!

Following the yamen runner, we walked to the door of one of the rooms on the east side, which should be a place specially for receiving foreign guests. The yamen runner said:

"Sir, the people are coming!"

Then a clear voice from inside said, "Come in!"

The bailiff lifted the door curtain and stretched out his hand to make a gesture of invitation. The two went in and saw a man who was about twenty-two or twenty-three years old, with an upright figure, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes. He was dressed in a flowing brocade suit, looking elegant and graceful, with his clothes fluttering in the wind!

Gu Dalian couldn't help but give a thumbs up in her heart! She is comparable to modern stars!

I thought he was at least a middle-aged man in his forties, but unexpectedly he was a young and promising handsome man!

The two men saluted the county magistrate, and seeing the second brother kneeling down, Gu Dalian prepared himself mentally, telling himself to adapt to the local customs and not let his pretentiousness cost him his life. He bent his legs and wanted to kneel but didn't!

Wu Shi looked at the two people kneeling down and hurriedly helped Gu Wenzhi up: "Hurry up and stand up, there is no need to be polite in the back hall!"

I heard the woman who seemed to be kneeling but not yet kneeling shouted "Thank you, sir!" She had already stood up!

Are these the Gu Dalian and his second brother who have made many contributions in Yingdang Mountain? They are really... different!

Wu Shi complained in his heart, but his expression remained unchanged: "Excuse me, what is the important matter that you two want to discuss with me?"

Gu Wenzhi bowed again and said, "Before I came here, I heard that you have a good reputation as an official, so I came to tell you the good news!"

"Oh, what is this officer happy about?"

"My three siblings and I found high-yield crops in Yingdang Mountain!"

Wu Shixin said: I knew about the sweet potato a long time ago!

Gu Wenzhi continued, "This grain can be used as a staple food or as a vegetable, and the yield per mu can reach 3,000 kilograms!"

This is the conclusion reached after discussion between the brother and sister. The minimum is 2000 kilograms and the maximum is to kilograms. They report an average value for insurance!

When Wu heard that it was not sweet potatoes, but the yield per mu was 3,000 kilograms, he stood up and asked, "Really?"

Seeing that the young county magistrate was a little unconvinced, Gu Dalian said, "We are not here to fool you!"

As soon as he said it, he felt that what he said was inappropriate and rubbed his nose with his hand!

Wu Shi calmed down immediately: You are already an old man, but you are still so unstable!

"Okay, I will send some people into the mountains tomorrow... I wonder how many people are needed?"

Gu Wenzhi: "It's about 20 acres, and it should produce at least 80,000 kilograms. You can discuss it with the chief clerk!"

Wu Shi shouted outside: "Someone come!"

A seventeen or eighteen-year-old guard came in immediately and bowed: "Sir!"

"Go and ask Wang Zhubu to come over for a chat!"

Before anyone arrived, Gu Dalian quickly gave a warning: "Sir, can we have a discussion?"

Wu Shi was a little curious about this girl who had not yet reached adulthood!

Normally, women would stare at my face when they saw me, but this woman was only stunned at first sight and then nothing happened!

When meeting the county magistrate, she was neither humble nor arrogant, and even wanted to negotiate with him. She doesn't act like a country girl at all. It's quite interesting!

"You talk first!" I'm just listening, as for whether we can discuss it or not, it's up to me!

Gu Dalian cursed in her heart: What an old fox!

"Many places in Shannan County are poor and destitute, and the people don't have enough food or warm clothes!"

“Now that we have this opportunity, my brother and I hope that after you take out the grain, you can leave 10,000 kilograms of potatoes for our Cuiyu Village as seeds!

Gu Dalian looked up at the county magistrate, and seeing that he was frowning, he said hurriedly:

"Of course, our village doesn't plant seeds for nothing. The adults can send someone to keep accounts of which family has received how much seeds. They should be able to pay it back by the end of November!"

Wu Shi saw that the girl kept looking at his expression from time to time, without hiding it at all. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Was she good at reading people's expressions or was she scheming?

He suddenly felt a sense of evil in his heart, frowned and thought, but his peripheral vision was focused on Gu Dalian, and he saw that the woman saw that he was silent and quickly added:

"Sir, this will actually be of real benefit to you!" Seeing the lord's signal to continue, Gu Dalian continued:

"You see, the people are most worried about having to save money after winter. After paying the public tax, there is not much left, and there are no wild vegetables to fill their stomachs in winter! Alas, the people are suffering!"

As she spoke, Gu Dalian wiped away her nonexistent tears and continued:

"Now that you are so wise, I will lend potato seeds to the people of Cuiyu Village on credit. When the potatoes are in season in December and every household has surplus food, I will return the seeds you lent them. The people will no longer be hungry, and your political achievements will also be improved. It's a win-win situation!"

Gu Dalian was so excited when he spoke, as if there had been a good harvest and the people were already beating drums and gongs and presenting him with an umbrella!

Wu Shi couldn't help but laugh: "Oh, so I should really sell potatoes on credit to the people?"

"Yes, yes, it's more precious than pearls!"

Wu Shi stopped teasing her and responded:

"Okay, you guys wait at home first. I've discussed it with Wang Zhubu and will call you guys when I go there in a day or two!"

At this time, Wang Zhubu came in and asked with a smile: "What instructions do you have, sir?"

Wu Shi explained the situation, and Wang Baochang's eyes brightened:

"This is a great thing that benefits the country and the people! I will go and order the transfer of personnel. The road in the mountains is difficult to travel, so at least 200 people are needed!"

Seeing that they had nothing to do, Gu Wenzhi and the other man said they would wait for them at home tomorrow while they said goodbye and left the county government office!