eurekapd Chapter 338 Longing
Chapter 338 Longing
Since the canal passed through Yanzhou, the once quiet city has gradually become busier.
Many cargo ships were moored at the canal dock. The canal transport office was still in its early stages of construction, and many things were not yet in a standardized manner. Shen Qingque oversaw all the procedures one by one. This was not only his hard work, but also the sweat of countless people.
This canal was dug out by them, shoveling soil by soil under the scorching sun and freezing winter, for their own livelihood and that of their descendants. He could not allow this river, which nourishes life and the future, to become a breeding ground for corruption.
Magistrate Qin had been running around with Shen Qingque all morning, and he was so thirsty that he drank a whole teacup of water in one go.
Ever since Qin Man was sent back, Magistrate Qin has been kept by Shen Qingque's side, following him everywhere. At first, Magistrate Qin was uneasy, wondering if Shen Qingque was deliberately trying to make things difficult for him. But after so many days, Shen Qingque had been completely impartial and hadn't found fault with him in the slightest. He then began to wonder if he had given Qin Man to him, and perhaps he had won him over.
"Lord Shen, now that this matter is resolved, shouldn't we find a place to eat?"
Shen Qingyu looked at the sky. It was October in the south, but the weather was already starting to feel like autumn in the north.
It must be snowing in the capital city by now.
"Have someone prepare the meal," Shen Qingque instructed. Magistrate Qin's heart tightened. He had asked Shen Qingque if he wanted to find a place to eat outside because he didn't want to eat there with him.
He had served as the magistrate of Yanzhou for more than ten years. Although he couldn't eat meat and fish every day, he hadn't eaten coarse food for a long time!
Shen Qingque seemed to have no sense of taste. He could swallow the coarse, hard-to-swallow rice, which made his cheeks ache, without even changing his expression.
In just a few days, his belt became much looser, and he looked haggard. His wife prepared late-night snacks for him every day, but it couldn't make up for it.
Soon the servants brought up the food: a bowl of brown rice, a plate of pickled vegetables and shredded meat, and a bowl of egg drop soup.
This is the best meal I've had in the past few days because it has shredded meat!
"Lord Qin, what do you think the Grand Canal Transport Office is still lacking?"
Little did Magistrate Qin know that although he had been busy these past few days, he had only done whatever Shen Qingque asked him to do. He had no idea what the Grand Canal Transport Office was still lacking.
But then I thought, Shen Qingque wouldn't waste his breath on him. Could this be a veiled reference to something he doesn't understand?
Magistrate Qin rubbed his beard and smiled obsequiously: "This humble official is unaware, please enlighten me, Your Excellency."
Shen Qingque ate his food slowly and deliberately, and after swallowing what was in his mouth, he said, "The Grain Transport Office is still short of a grain supervisor, and I am currently looking for a candidate. I think that the officials of Yanzhou are most familiar with Yanzhou, so it would be more prudent to choose from among you, wouldn't it?"
Magistrate Qin was overjoyed, thinking this was a hint from Shen Qingque, and immediately rubbed his hands together excitedly.
"I understand, I understand!"
On this day, after a long day of hard work, Magistrate Qin returned home still in high spirits.
Madam Qin thought he had struck it rich, "Why are you so happy?"
Magistrate Qin recounted Shen Qingque's advice to him that day, saying, "I always said that Qin Man is a pretty girl, and she's a perfect match! Send Qin Man some more nice things later, and let her get to know Lord Shen better."
When Madam Qin heard Qin Man's name, she snorted disdainfully, but still went as instructed.
Magistrate Qin was happy for only two days before Shen Qingque stopped taking him along and instead brought magistrates from other counties.
He was furious when he found out, and then discovered that a few days later, Shen Qingque had been assigned to a different person to take care of him.
He then realized that Shen Qingque didn't just "value" him; he wanted to test everyone and get them to put up their cards.
Magistrate Qin didn't know if the other magistrates had also offered their incentives, but he genuinely wanted the position. So, that very night, he took stock of his assets, wanting to see how Shen Qingque would react.
He didn't think Shen Qingque was some kind of hermit. If he were truly without desires, he wouldn't have become the son-in-law of the Prince of Xuan!
I heard that Princess Yongle has a terrible temper and is older than him. If he didn't covet Prince Xuan's power, why would he marry Princess Yongle?
If it weren't for his father-in-law being Prince Xuan, how could he have gotten the job of an imperial envoy? Although the job was arduous and thankless, he would surely receive a great reward upon returning to the capital.
Therefore, Magistrate Qin has always believed that Shen Qingque has not yet revealed his true nature because they haven't offered enough incentives. He believes that if they offered enough, Shen Qingque would definitely be tempted.
Not only did he think this way, but all the officials in Yanzhou City thought so too.
They completely forgot what happened in Jiangzhou City. In their view, it was because the officials in Jiangzhou simply didn't know how to "behave," which led to a major reshuffle of officials in Jiangzhou.
If they were to "cooperate" enough and offer enough gifts, the situation might be completely different.
Qin Man was dressed up in finery by Madam Qin and sent to the villa where Shen Qingque lived.
This time, when they saw her, the Imperial Guards did not refuse her entry as they had the first time, but instead let her in to wait.
Qin Man was flattered, and the servants who brought her were also very surprised that their young lady had been allowed to enter!
Although the old women were kept out of the door, it was easy to guess what would happen once they went inside!
Shen Qingque returned quite early today and nodded in acknowledgment when he saw Qin Man sitting upright in the main hall.
"Lord Shen." Qin Man looked at him with a hint of fear.
"Please sit down." Shen Qingque was a little embarrassed. This was the first time he had been in a room with a woman other than his elder sister's wife.
Qin Man said directly, "Lord Shen, I am willing to help you achieve your goal, I only ask that you give me a way to live!"
Qin Man explained the agreement she had reached with Yongle. Shen Qingque pondered for a moment. The fact that she could deliver messages for Yongle meant that she had passed Yongle's test. He naturally trusted Yongle, but he did not trust the woman before him.
"I understand. I will contact you if I have any further instructions."
Qin Man thanked him and withdrew. Shen Qingque pondered in his mind that in his dealings with various county magistrates these past few days, each person had their own ulterior motives, and each person had their own strengths and weaknesses. It seemed that none of them were quite suitable for the position of grain supervisor.
He rubbed his forehead, deep in thought, wanting to return to the capital, missing his father and elder sister, and missing Emperor Yongle.
Shen Qingque took out the silver hairpin. This silver hairpin was from the Yongle period. She rarely had such an unassuming hairpin in her makeup box, so when Qin Man took it out that night, he recognized it.
The secret of this hairpin was also told to him by Yongle. She said that she saw it at Song Yaozhu's place, liked it very much, and then asked for it.
I really miss her...