Chapter 67: Brother-in-law, Stop Messing Around!
After Mengyao (Female, graduated from the academy) taught a batch of useful bailiffs, the situation in Lian Town changed a lot.
When refugees caused trouble again, the bailiffs would teach them a good lesson.
Under such forceful treatment, the effect was remarkable. At least the civilians in town could come out of their homes again and engage in normal activities, without worrying about being harmed by refugees.
This situation naturally made Magistrate Bai very happy.
One could see it from how he paraded around with the bailiffs in high spirits these past few days… you must know that before, when refugees were rampant, Magistrate Bai, for his own life, would not come out of the county office if he could help it, to avoid very bad consequences.
But now, there was no need to worry too much.
Unlike Magistrate Bai, who was happy at the moment, the refugees, having been suppressed by the government office for several days, were also thinking of ways to see if they could fight back, unable to be constantly suppressed by these running dogs of the imperial court.
However, now these bailiffs were like they had taken a powerful pill. They had no capital to resist and could only temporarily stop all activities, quietly waiting for a suitable time.
Thus, with the efforts of the bailiffs, many refugees were ‘sent’ out of Lian Town, letting them seek life elsewhere.
Originally, Magistrate Bai would give these refugees food to prevent starvation on the road, but after the refugees became fierce, Magistrate Bai stopped caring about anything, as long as people were driven out of town.
One should not give these people a good face, otherwise they would take advantage.
“Your Excellency Magistrate, the refugees have been driven away a lot recently, and the situation in town has gradually improved. However, the grain problem seems to have become serious… it is estimated that a shortage of grain will occur before winter arrives.”
On this day, while Magistrate Bai was handling cases in the county office, the advisor walked over with a troubled expression. As soon as he spoke, he disturbed Magistrate Bai’s good mood for the day, making him sigh involuntarily, thinking that what must come will come!
After the refugees had been causing trouble for such a long time, Magistrate Bai had also thought of this problem.
However, the grain in the county office could not be touched.
It was only when they were truly at their wit’s end that these life-saving grains could be brought out to prevent the civilians from starving to death… if they brought them out now, and later had no grain at all, it would be the end.
Therefore, now they had to find other ways to overcome difficulties.
“Go to the Gu family and see if we can buy some more grain.”
“Your Excellency Magistrate, have you forgotten? When Gu Yu was living in the county office, he once said… that all the grain in his family had been sold to others, leaving only enough for his family’s consumption.”
“All sold? The Gu family has quite a lot of grain!”
“No matter how much, it is still the Gu family’s grain, and they naturally want to sell it if they want to sell it… Your Excellency Magistrate, you should think of another way!”
As for Magistrate Bai always looking to the Gu family for solutions when something happened, the advisor did not really agree. Thinking that His Excellency the Magistrate was so dependent on the Gu family, if the Gu family had any schemes and tricks, even the county office would suffer.
It was not that the advisor was targeting the Gu family, but rather out of concern for Magistrate Bai, not wanting to see him rely on others. He had to make every decision himself, so that things would be under the Magistrate’s control.
Therefore, at this moment, upon hearing Magistrate Bai wanting to find the Gu family to solve the problem again, the advisor also mentioned it. After Magistrate Bai heard it, he immediately sighed helplessly, thinking how fast Gu Yu’s actions were!
If the grain had not been sold, it could also help Lian Town overcome this difficulty!
However, now that the grain was sold, there was no use thinking about it. They had to think about what to do next!
…
“Brother-in-law, I discovered a very serious problem.”
“Is there anything more serious than you coming back by yourself!”
“Hmph, who asked you not to pick me up! Director Qingshan is good, he sent someone to bring me back… otherwise, I wouldn’t know you guys were already home, deliberately forgetting me, your cute younger brother-in-law, while in your two-person world.”
“Cute is enough, troublesome is more like it.”
Gu Yu lay on a chair in the courtyard. Upon hearing Gu Qingheng’s words, he couldn’t help but twitch his mouth helplessly, thinking that he couldn’t even be sweet with his little wife.
Yesterday, while he and Mengyao (Female, graduated from the academy) were being affectionate in the courtyard, the courtyard gate was suddenly opened.
It turned out that Gu Qingheng had returned.
Upon seeing his younger brother-in-law’s face, Gu Yu knew… his sweet life with his little wife was about to be ruined, and would return to its original state.
He had to be sneaky to show affection, careful not to corrupt the children.
Thinking of this, Gu Yu couldn’t help but roll his eyes to the sky, feeling extremely unlucky.
As for his sister and brother-in-law not coming to pick him up, Gu Qingheng also felt that he was really too difficult. Staying at home, being fed dog food every day, yet not being able to say much, and also not being able to not go home.
He wished he could grow up quickly! That way, he could also feed dog food to others with Sister Lian’.
“Brother-in-law, stop messing around! I’m here to talk about serious matters, truly very serious!”
“As soon as you came back, you went to the village to inquire about gossip, and heard about the trivial matters of which young woman or little wife? If your sister knew, she would definitely…”
“Stop, stop, stop, brother-in-law, why are you talking so much! Listen to me first, this time it’s much more serious, it’s not village gossip at all!”
“What is it?”
“The village’s water is running out.”
“What!!!”
Upon hearing Gu Qingheng say that the village was running out of water, Gu Yu couldn’t help but be greatly shocked. He clearly hadn’t expected such a development.
After the earthquake, not only were the prices of edible things all increased, but now there was also a water stoppage?!
If there was really no water, the consequences would be very serious.
At least, dehydration would be a major threat.
“Qingheng, is this true?”
“If it weren’t true, I wouldn’t dare to tell you! Yesterday, when I went to the village, I heard others talking about this matter. Not only is the village’s public well running low, but the wells in the villagers’ homes are also the same.”
“This is too sudden.”
“Who says not! However, our village’s situation is still okay. Because after the earthquake, the village chief led people to build a reservoir, and the water inside can last for some time.”
Speaking of this, Gu Qingheng was full of admiration for the village chief’s foresight.
As they say, experience is the best teacher. With this reservoir, Yang Family Village could hold on for a longer period and would not have the situation of having no water to drink.
But, what to do after that!
It made people’s heads hurt!