Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
The old man waved his sleeve, leaving without taking a single cloud with him, embodying a carefree demeanor like that of an outsider, unbound by the mundane ties of fame and fortune.
Only Fu Zhilang was left looking bewildered, staring blankly for a long time before suddenly realizing: "Ah? Oh!" He finally understood the old man's meaning.
Since he mentioned continuing according to Liu Qingxi's method, it clearly indicated that there was no problem at all.
So? That put him at ease.
Reflecting on the old man's actions today, someone who was usually difficult to invite even after three visits to his humble abode had come forward with a single invitation. Coupled with the fact that the old man had taken the lead in donating money, Fu Zhilang suddenly understood.
Although he would need to engage in some pretense with the merchants, they were indeed generous, and a few kind words were only appropriate. Overall, things were progressing quite smoothly.
But why was it so smooth? Thinking back to when they were fundraising in the capital, the attitudes of those individuals—some even claimed illness to avoid participation—yet now each merchant was willingly opening their wallets, all under the leadership of Elder Ying.
Fu Zhilang felt warmth in his heart and held deep respect for this elder.
With his abilities, he could command respect not just in Lingjiang Province, but even in the capital.
So why had he remained in this unassuming Lingjiang Province? The elder seemed to have seen through worldly matters, choosing to spend his years here, enjoying a leisurely life.
Yet when disaster struck, he did not stand idly by. This elder acted better than many officials and even better than Fu Zhilang himself. Realizing this made the middle-aged official feel quite ashamed.
Compared to his previous somewhat perfunctory attitude, this time he began to change from the bottom of his heart.
It wasn't just about this elder; there were also those two Youth he had encountered before.
His thoughts drifted further until Mei Hansheng softly called out: "Minister Fu, what should we do now?"
"Ah? Immediately send someone to the residence listed on the Class List to sign for the silver and grain."
"Yes!" The task of escorting the silver and grain was assigned to soldiers under Ning Ze.
"The Disaster Relief Mission continues. We are racing against time; it is hot and stifling. If we do not complete this quickly, as the heat intensifies, more people will suffer from heatstroke, and the consequences will be severe. The situation is very dire."
Fu Zhilang was extremely anxious. Over the past month, they had managed to rescue all 66 people who could be saved, but those who could not be saved were often unidentifiable.
However, that was not the main issue; the key concern was how to handle the bodies. People were superstitious and did not favor cremation. To prevent bacteria from breeding in the sweltering heat, which could lead to an unmanageable outbreak of plague, Fu Zhilang ordered that all bodies must be buried at least two meters deep to avoid an outbreak.
At this moment, people were gradually accepting the reality of their loved ones' absence, and Fu Zhilang was becoming increasingly adept at post-disaster arrangements.
Always cautious, he confirmed once more, "Have all the bodies been buried according to regulations?"
"Yes, my lord. Everything has been carried out strictly according to your instructions."
"Good. Bring me the account book; I want to review it. What is the total amount?"
The Account Room trembled with shaking hands, lips quivering, eyes filled with joy. "My lord, this time we raised a total of 1.86 million taels of silver and 100,000 units of grain for disaster relief support."
This amount was enormous compared to what the Sovereign had dispatched for disaster relief, providing substantial support for what lay ahead, even if it might not be enough.
Fu Zhilang did not expect such a significant harvest today, largely thanks to Elder Ying leading by example.
Filled with determination, he thought of the old man's proud figure, standing tall like a green pine, and suddenly felt even more resolute.
As Elder Ying left the Lingjiang Provincial Government Office, his eyes brightened, revealing a satisfied yet slightly ecstatic smile.
"Return to the residence as soon as possible."
The coachman cracked his whip, and the strong steed leaped forward, the sound of the wheels rumbling loudly on the slightly chilly street.
After returning home, Elder Ying hurried to his study, picked up a letter, and wrote hastily: "Someone, deliver this letter to Miss Liu in Biqi Town, Ten Li Pu."
Outside the study, a middle-aged man dressed in a deep blue robe adorned with auspicious patterns pushed the door open. The smile on Elder Ying's face was still evident.
"Father, what has you so happy?" This man was none other than Elder Ying's eldest son, Ying Fushan. At forty-two years old, he had neatly trimmed facial hair and stood tall, though his face bore the marks of time.
"Hahaha, Fushan, we have finally found a good talent! After living most of my life, I can't let all these skills go to waste."
The old man was filled with joy at having someone to carry on his legacy.
Ying Fushan looked slightly guilty. "Father, it's our fault for not dividing things properly; otherwise, our Ying Family wouldn't be in this situation."
The old man waved his hand dismissively. "This is the fate of the Ying Family. Perhaps Old Man spent his life designing homes for others and blessing them with fortune; thus, when it comes to our own family, there are always some unsatisfactory aspects. You need not blame yourself. Fortunately, we have finally found a good talent this time."
Elder Ying's face showed a look of relief. Although his sons lacked skills in construction, they had good character and were down-to-earth in their work. Even if they couldn't elevate the Ying Family's craftsmanship to new heights, it was no problem to maintain the family business.
The old man mentioned having found someone with great talent multiple times, which piqued the interest of this middle-aged man who had never been particularly interested in architecture. "May I ask who this person is?"
"Ha ha ha, a girl."
"What? A girl? Father, you can't be serious."
"Do you still doubt it? This girl has come up with many ideas that I couldn't think of, like those Earthen Houses that people are building everywhere now. All of them are her ideas."
Ying Fushan clearly didn't believe it. A girl? Shouldn't she be at home doing needlework, washing clothes, and cooking? Building houses? What a joke!
"Hey, don't dismiss it so easily. I have to admit, I couldn't come up with her methods. After all these years of constructing houses, none have been anything but luxurious mansions, and I've hardly touched the lives of ordinary people. It's truly embarrassing."
"Alright, you go on with your business. No need to listen to my rambling. Just make sure the messenger hurries up and doesn't waste time."
Regarding Liu Qingxi, a girl suddenly emerged from Linyi County in Lingjiang Province. It would have been fine if she remained unknown, but after such a shocking earthquake, she earned people's respect in her unique way.
Especially with the new construction methods she promoted; Elder Ying noticed them immediately.
However, since she was a girl, even though he desperately wanted to take on a qualified and capable apprentice, he was reluctant to accept a woman.
Perhaps this was due to ingrained education; the concept of valuing sons over daughters is deeply rooted.
So he struggled for a long time without making up his mind until today when Fu Zhilang's words during the fundraising deeply touched his heart. That was when he decided to meet this junior.
Ten Li Pu, Liu Qingxi's home.
Comment 0 Comment Count