The emperor remained silent, his mind sifting through Yan Yi's proposal. He inwardly rejoiced.
Since ascending the throne, this was the first time the disaster relief funds "truly pleased Us."
Yan Yi: He could barely stand to watch.
Compared to previous disaster relief funds that easily ran into hundreds of thousands, even millions of taels, the amount he proposed this time was but a negligible ripple in the vast ocean.
After his initial delight, the emperor ordered Yan Yi to personally oversee the matter at the Ministry of Revenue.
Yan Yi desperately wanted to say that even if he didn't oversee it, no one would dare embezzle this time. Those bloated, greedy old officials wouldn't deign to cast their eyes on such meager sums.
The amount was too small; they'd find it tiresome even to glance at it.
However, he accepted the assignment with pleasure, for his true desire was to make a trip to Liaodong.
That evening after work, Liu Chenfeng's eyes, filled with undisguised envy, watched as his cousin mentioned going to Liaodong.
"Do you want to go to Liaodong with me? The scenery there is most beautiful at this time of year."
"It's all withered grass and yellow leaves, what's so good about it?"
"Ah, you wouldn't understand. The beauty of Liaodong at this season is something I cannot express in mere words. I say, you'd best go see it for yourself to truly appreciate its unique charm."
"I remember the first time I went to Liaodong, it was also this season. For half a day, I did nothing but stand on a perfectly straight official road, watching the yellow leaves on the trees lining it."
"What's so good about yellow leaves on trees?"
"That's precisely why I tell you, you have to see it for yourself to understand."
"I..." Liu Chenfeng truly wanted to say that his cousin had convinced him, and he really wanted to go. But thinking of his mother's actions, his handsome face contorted into a grimace.
Yan Yi understood his cousin's dilemma and ceased teasing him, offering comfort instead. "My trip to Liaodong this time will also resolve a major issue for Uncle Meng the Second. Perhaps that little girl will even have something good to thank me with."
Liu Chenfeng: He wanted to go even more.
It was just that he couldn't face that little girl; the thought of it made him feel awkward.
Yan Yi, knowing his cousin was thinking of that particular knotty issue again, began to paint a picture for him. "Don't worry, cousin. If Uncle Meng the Second gives me good things, I will definitely ask him for double portions."
"Mm." Hearing his cousin's words, Liu Chenfeng suddenly remembered something. "Cousin, the fruit wine brewed by Uncle Meng the Second is excellent to the palate and has a superb taste. Don't forget to bring back a few more jars."
"If you hadn't mentioned it, I would have forgotten. Uncle told me before that he also wanted to get more of Uncle Meng the Second's fruit wine."
Thinking of the fruit wine, Yan Yi recalled something else. "I need to send a message via carrier pigeon to Uncle Meng the Second, asking him to reserve more fruit wine."
"Cousin, you need a carrier pigeon for fruit wine?"
"Yes. Otherwise, if we're too late, those people will buy it all up."
"The demand is that high?"
"Of course. Meng's fruit wine is always in short supply. Especially the cherry and hawthorn wines; as soon as these two varieties are released, they're snapped up by everyone."
"The Meng family has cherry and hawthorn wine? How have I never tasted it?" Liu Chenfeng, thinking of his cousin's words about them being "snapped up by everyone," suddenly realized. "Cousin, you haven't been hiding them from me, have you?"
"No, I haven't. I couldn't get any either."
"Really?"
"Of course, it's true. If you don't believe me, come to Liaodong with me."
Liu Chenfeng: He really wanted to go.
Alas, it was all his mother's fault for ruining a good conversation.
Especially since his father later wrote a letter to Uncle Meng the Second with a hidden meaning.
But Uncle Meng the Second never brought it up.
He, the esteemed heir of Jinxiang Hou, was devalued to less than a head of cabbage upon arriving in Liaodong.
Yan Yi understood that some things couldn't be said too explicitly, so he changed the subject.
"Cousin, after I go to Liaodong, please keep a closer eye on things in the front hall. Don't let those old fellows stir up trouble for no reason."
"Mm, I'll keep an eye on those old fellows. Cousin, please come back soon."
"It might be a while."
"Why?"
"I want to take the opportunity to investigate the whereabouts of those assassins."
"Cousin, do you still have doubts?"
"Yes. So many people, I don't believe they could have vanished into thin air. There must be an unknown secret here."
His cousin's words also piqued Liu Chenfeng's interest. He wanted to go along again, what should he do!
...
In the Meng family courtyard, Grandpa Meng paced the yard, troubled by the resettlement of refugees from Qingzhou.
The weather in Liaodong was growing colder, day by day. Snow would fall in a month's time.
The most urgent task now was building houses. Simple adobe and thatched huts were quick to erect and didn't cost much silver.
However, building houses at this time of year lacked manpower. The reason was that most people in town, men and women, young and old, had gone up the mountains to gather mountain goods, leaving no one available to help build houses.
After all, many families in Qingxi Town relied on these mountain goods for their income.
"Sigh!" Grandpa Meng sighed again, and then heard someone knocking on the courtyard gate.
"Is Uncle Meng the Second home?"
"He is." There was no one else in the courtyard, so Grandpa Meng went to open the door himself. He was somewhat surprised to see Liu Hai.
Liu Hai now considered himself an acquaintance of Uncle Meng the Second and saw no need for pleasantries. After exchanging greetings, he directly presented the letter sent by Mr. Yan via carrier pigeon to Uncle Meng the Second.
After Grandpa Meng finished reading Yan Yi's letter, he was overjoyed, his lips unable to stop smiling.
"Hahaha, Lord Yan is truly sending charcoal in the snow! These refugees can finally be saved."
The old man had been distressed about the Qingzhou refugees for several days. Today, he burst into unprecedented laughter, which drew his granddaughter, who was inside the house helping him figure things out, out to see.
"Grandfather?"
Seeing his granddaughter's confused gaze fixed on him, Grandpa Meng's smile deepened.
"Ci'er, come quickly and look at Lord Yan's letter."
"Oh." After傅心慈 took the letter from her grandfather's hand and quickly read its contents, she too broke into a sweet smile.
"Grandfather can rest assured now. Grandpa Song and the others can spend a winter here that isn't cold."
"Yes, that's wonderful."
It turned out that Yan Yi had written in his letter that the supplies he was escorting could be used sparingly by these Qingzhou refugees until the spring warmth next year.
With the plan in place, the grandfather and granddaughter's smiles radiated from their eyes.
Liu Hai knew the contents of the letter. Seeing that Uncle Meng the Second and his granddaughter had finished reading, he knew what to do next and took his leave.
"Lord Liu, wait." Grandpa Meng stopped Liu Hai and signaled to his granddaughter.
"Ci'er, go and get Lord Liu two jars of each type of fruit wine our family brews, and also two bags of the dried seafood."
"Yes, I'll go get them right away."