bookcurios Chapter 356: See if this prefect is acting
Chapter 356: See if this prefect is acting
There were too many people on the street in front of the government office, so the carriage turned around and headed for the back door of the government office.
However, the carriage was stopped by officials at the alley behind the government office.
"Stop, this is a restricted area of the government office. No outsiders are allowed to approach."
Qin Wan lifted the car curtain and looked into the alley.
I saw the officials in the alley unloading sacks from the carts and carrying them into the government office. In addition, there were also several water carts.
Some officials were unloading the water from the water truck, and they looked extremely careful, as if they were afraid of spilling even a drop of water.
Seeing that the carriage was parked at the entrance of the alley and did not move, the guarding officer waved his hands impatiently to drive it away.
"What are you looking at? Go, go, go! Hurry up and leave! Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude."
As the officer spoke, he drew his sword and threatened the secret guards.
Qin Jingnian took out the token of Prince Ding's Palace and was about to open the car door and hand it to the secret guard, but Qin Wan reached out to stop him.
“Brother, wait a minute, let me see what they are doing first, to see if the prefect is really collecting food and water for the refugees as we thought.
Without making it clear that my identity had been exposed, I was worried that the prefect would put on a show in front of us.
If he is truly a good official who serves the people, then we will leave some water and food for the government office."
Qin Jingnian nodded and ordered the secret guards:
"Go, park the carriage next to the alley."
The sound of horse hooves could be heard, and the guarding officer put away his sword when he saw the carriage leave tactfully.
Qin Wan closed her eyes and released her mental power, which passed through the alley and followed the officials who were carrying food and water into the backyard of the government office.
In the backyard, a pot of porridge is being cooked over a fire.
The middle-aged man who looked like a butler urged everyone:
"Hurry, hurry, hurry up, there are a lot of refugees coming to the door, hurry up and cook the next pot of porridge."
"Hey, you who are carrying water over there, be careful. Do you know how hard it is to get this water?"
.......
After saying this, the butler hurriedly left the backyard and came to the court in the front yard.
In the court, the prefect, dressed in red official uniform, was discussing matters with his subordinates.
Seeing the housekeeper coming in a hurry, the prefect subconsciously asked:
"Why are you in such a hurry, but we don't have enough food and water?"
The housekeeper wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead and said with a bitter face:
"Another group of refugees have arrived at the gate of the mansion. We are running out of food and water. Please think of a solution, sir."
The prefect frowned deeply and rubbed his eyebrows in annoyance.
A subordinate next to him sighed:
"Food is an easy problem to solve. The government office still has old grain from previous years.
With the old grain, plus the relief grain that will soon arrive from the court, they can hold out for a while.
Now we are worried about how to solve the water problem. Simply transporting water from such a far place by water trucks will not solve the problem at all. "
The prefect raised his head and asked another subordinate:
“Where is the next team carrying water?”
The subordinate replied respectfully:
"According to what I have heard, it will take another two days for the next water transport team to arrive in the city."
"Two days..." The prefect groaned and looked at the butler:
"How long can the water in the government office be used?"
The housekeeper said with a sad face: "It's only enough for today."
After saying this, he worriedly said:
"Sir, if we don't have porridge for two days, what if the refugees get anxious and start making trouble?"
"They dare!"
The hot-tempered captain stood up and said, "If they dare to make trouble, it depends on whether the knife in my hand will agree or not!
They are a bunch of unruly people. The prefect has racked his brains to find food and water for them. If they still dare to make trouble, I will be the first to disapprove! "
The prefect glanced at the head of the police:
"What nonsense are you talking about? What unruly people? They are the people of Dayue!
When will you change your impatient temper? Sit down!"
The master sitting next to him frowned and thought for a while, then suggested:
“Sir, how about not letting anyone in through the city gate for the next two days?
If there is no porridge for them to eat, there will be trouble if there are too many people. "
The prefect sighed:
"That's all we can do."
Qin Wan withdrew his mental power and told Qin Jingnian what he had just seen.
"So, this prefect is really a good official who cares about the people. Sister, we should find a way to leave more water for them."
"Well," Qin Wan also thought so, "Let's not meet the prefect first. Let's rent a small courtyard in the city first, a small courtyard with a well."
Qin Jingnian understood instantly, but there was no need to rent a yard specifically.
"I remember that after my mother's business became big, she bought a lot of shops in the city. We can just pick any one of them."
Qin Wan slapped his forehead and said, "Look at your brain. You forgot about my mother's business shop. Brother, wait for me for a while."
After saying that, Qin Wan flashed into the space.
All their property deeds, land deeds, servants' indentures, etc. were placed in a wooden box on the space storage rack.
Qin Wan found the wooden box.
Chen Yunzhi arranged the industries in different places according to the regions and classified them into different categories.
Qin Wan easily found the books and deeds containing the properties of Jiangning Prefecture.
The booklet records the persons in charge of Jiangning Prefecture's industries and shopkeepers at all levels.
Qin Wan opened the house deed again.
There are a lot of property deeds, and there are no less than fifteen courtyards alone.
But Qin Wan didn't know which yard was empty and would meet her requirement of having a well.
The key to the yard is also not in the space.
Chen Yunzhi handed over these properties to the person in charge here, and the keys were also in the person in charge's hands.
The brother and sister had no choice but to find the person in charge and ask him to find a yard that met their requirements.
This courtyard is located in the East Market, close to the government office, and happens to have a courtyard.
The person in charge opened the gate and said respectfully to the brother and sister:
"Young Master, Young Master, if you two have any other instructions, just tell me."
Qin Jingnian waved his hand and said, "Boss, go and do your own thing. We will contact you if there is anything else."
"Okay, I'll take my leave."
After the others left, Qin Wan ordered the secret guards to guard the door, and the two of them quickly went to the backyard.
Find the well in the backyard.
This courtyard has five entrances and exits, with a total of five wells.
The well had long been dry, and the bottom was filled with weeds and fallen leaves.
"Brother, let's start."
"Yeah," Qin Jingnian nodded, and the brother and sister stretched out their hands towards the well at the same time.
The water flowed into the well through the palms of the two people.
An hour later, all five wells were filled.
"Sister, just rest in the yard. I'll go call the government officials over."
This time, after Qin Jingnian arrived at the alley behind the government office, he took out the token of Prince Ding's Mansion and soon met the prefect.
When the prefect heard the purpose of Qin Jingnian's visit, his eyes widened in surprise:
"Is what you said true, young master? Do you really know where there is water?"
"How can I lie to you? Just bring your people and follow me to get some water."
"Okay, okay, young master, wait a moment, I will gather the men right away."
The prefect originally thought that even if there was water at this time of year, there would not be much.
So we didn't bring many people or water trucks.
Unexpectedly, when they arrived at the courtyard and saw the well full of water, the prefect and his men all gasped in shock.
What shocked them even more was yet to come.