CHAPTER 155: CHAPTER 155: BAD HABITS (PART 1)

Wuyin is also a Lower County, where there are perennial droughts and water shortages. Rice cannot be grown, and only hardy crops like sorghum and beans can be cultivated.

Upon entering Wuyin County, all the people in sight appeared thin and malnourished.

Jiang Shaohua’s heart grew heavy upon seeing this.

The sufferings of the people can only be truly understood when seen firsthand. Previously, she stayed in the Brocade Palace, and later married into the Wang Family, becoming a high-ranking noblewoman. How could she have understood this before?

The County Magistrate of Wuyin County is surnamed Gao, and he is forty-seven this year. He is a diligent official who treats the people well. Unfortunately, Wuyin County is a poor place, and County Magistrate Gao already finds it difficult to maintain the operations of the county government.

Chen Zhuo is well aware of the conditions of the magistrates in the fourteen counties. While on the road, he had mentioned County Magistrate Gao to Jiang Shaohua: "County Magistrate Gao is honest and diligent. Among the magistrates of the fourteen counties, he is one of the best. But Wuyin County lacks water, and the people often have to scrape by with meager meals from the fields, barely managing to stave off hunger."

Jiang Shaohua’s first impression of County Magistrate Gao was also favorable, and she inquired gently, "How much grain is stored in the Taiping Grain Warehouse of Wuyin County?"

County Magistrate Gao responded with a bow, "In reply to the Commandery Princess, upon receiving the public document from the Prince Mansion, I immediately purchased grain. Currently, the warehouse is seventy percent full, lacking thirty percent. I planned to replenish the warehouse after this year’s autumn harvest. I hope the Commandery Princess will not blame me."

Jiang Shaohua spoke warmly, "County Magistrate Gao is conscientious in his duties. I understand and will not blame you. As for the missing grain, there’s no need to worry. I will arrange for someone to purchase and deliver it."

County Magistrate Gao’s spirits were lifted, and he quickly bowed in gratitude, "Thank you, Commandery Princess."

Jiang Shaohua sighed softly, "The people pay taxes, so it is only right that I protect them."

County Magistrate Gao couldn’t help but ask, "May I know who the Commandery Princess intends to send to purchase the grain?" The missing thirty percent of grain from the Taiping Grain Warehouse is not a small amount.

Jiang Shaohua casually laughed, "It is the West E Tang Family."

The Tang Family! They are the famous grain merchants in Nanyang County.

County Magistrate Gao was immediately relieved.

At this moment, Tang Wu, the Master of the Tang Family in West E County, sneezed heavily: "Strange! Who is talking about me?"

...

After everyone was settled, Jiang Shaohua entrusted Chief Historian Chen and Chief Clerk Wen with inspecting the grain warehouse. She herself changed into casual attire and, accompanied by Chen Sheren and Ma Sheren, wandered around Wuyin County.

As for Yang Shi, after investigating the case at White Cloud Temple on that day, he rode swiftly back to the Nanyang Prince Mansion.

No one felt sorry for Yang Shi, who traveled tirelessly back and forth.

Receiving a salary from the Commandery Princess and sharing her worries, isn’t that what should be done?

Chen Jinyu accompanied the Commandery Princess to a few households. He was also troubled by the sight, and he sighed in a low voice, "Wuyin County is indeed too poor."

The people of Zhi County are poor because they offer their grain and silver to "Buddha." Wuyin’s poverty is due to its arid land and poor harvests, a state of abject poverty.

Jiang Shaohua remained silent, her heart weighed down.

The Ma Family secretly operated a brokerage. Ma Yaosong had seen many impoverished families and wasn’t overly emotional: "If a family can have two meals a day, they’re doing okay. Even poorer families only have one meal a day, with broth so thin it reflects one’s image."

Both Jiang Shaohua and Chen Jinyu glanced over.

Ma Yaosong suddenly realized his tone had been somewhat insensitive and quickly adopted a concerned expression: "Scraping by in the fields is difficult. We should find a way to help the people."

Jiang Shaohua murmured, "Ma Sheren, you are skilled in household affairs and quick-witted. I’ll leave this matter to you."

Ma Sheren: "..."

Ma Sheren wanted to slap himself twice.

Chen Jinyu was amused by Ma Yaosong’s distressed face and kindly interceded: "Commandery Princess, don’t tease Ma Sheren. The whole county has tens of thousands of people; how could Ma Sheren have the capability to aid so many?"

Jiang Shaohua laughed as well, "I was just joking. Ma Sheren, don’t take it seriously."

Ma Yaosong wiped his forehead with his sleeves in an exaggerated gesture, which made the Commandery Princess and Chen Sheren laugh lightly again.

At that moment, the crying of a baby suddenly came from a house by the roadside.

Jiang Shaohua was surprised, "There’s a newborn in this household."

Chen Jinyu joined in jokingly, "Since the Commandery Princess has encountered this moment, why not take a look and gift a small item? It’s fate between the child and the Commandery Princess."

Jiang Shaohua nodded with delight.

The quick-witted Ma Sheren immediately went forward to knock on the door. However, after just one knock, a heartrending cry came from inside, "Don’t take my child away."

Jiang Shaohua’s face darkened.

Ma Yaosong also furrowed his brows and directly pushed open the door. In the small courtyard, the size of a palm, an elderly woman around fifty was carrying a newborn baby out. The mother, who had just given birth, clung desperately to the old woman’s arm, her face covered in tears. A man in his thirties held his head in pain, squatting nearby.

Besides them, there were four children of varying heights in the courtyard. The oldest appeared to be about twelve or thirteen years old, and the youngest looked around six or seven.

Ma Yaosong was the first to rush into the courtyard, followed by Qin Hu, Meng Sanbao, and other personal soldiers, and finally, the Commandery Princess entered at a leisurely pace.

This scene frightened the family considerably. The old woman shivered as she knelt down, and the man led a few children to kneel too.

The mother who had just given birth didn’t care about any of this. She hugged the swaddled baby tightly to her face and cried bitterly.

"What is going on here?" Jiang Shaohua asked sternly, "Where are you taking the newborn child?"

The old woman was scared into a heap, her lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

The man gritted his teeth, his eyes red as he replied, "In reply to the noble, we have too many children and cannot afford to raise another. This one was going to be sent to the tower."

The poor mother continued to weep uncontrollably, her frail arms trembling. The baby seemed to sense its fate too, wailing shrilly with its tender voice.

Jiang Shaohua’s expression was grim as Chen Jinyu’s voice questioned in her ear, "What tower?"

The man did not dare lift his head to face the noble, sobbing as he kowtowed, "It’s the Child Tower. Those with children they cannot afford to raise send them there."

Chen Jinyu’s delicate face turned pale and then flushed with rage, "This is your own child, how can you be so heartless?"

The man finally began to cry, "We truly can’t afford to raise them. Two years ago, we sent Xiao Wu away, and now Little Six has been born. If we don’t send him to the Child Tower, the older ones will go hungry. I truly have no choice."

Chen Jinyu felt something choking her throat.

Jiang Shaohua looked at the man and slowly asked, "Is Xiao Wu a boy or a girl?"

The man trembled all over, "A daughter."

"And this newborn Little Six?" Jiang Shaohua’s heart was ablaze with anger, but her voice remained exceptionally calm.

The man was completely speechless.

The old woman, like a pile of mud, gritted her teeth and spoke up, "In reply to the noble, Little Six is also a granddaughter."