The Empress’ Livestream
chapter-448

Chapter 448: Money That Grew On Trees (II)

“Then you pacify her. Changsheng is about to cry her eyes out, doesn’t you heart ache?”

Wei Jingxian unjustly pinned a label on Feng Jin. He was speechless and had no comeback. Lowering his head, he looked down at his daughter who refused to let go of his sleeves.

Feng Jin shook his head helplessly, “Seriously, I must have owed both mother and daughter in my previous life.”

Thus, Feng Jin reached the government office, but his disposition wasn’t right…his subordinates didn’t dare to ask him about it, and at most they looked at him strangely.

Feng Jin went to the government office shamelessly. Because it was still early, he discreetly found his seat, and pulled over a couch. Then he hid his sleeve containing a lump of meat below the short table. However, it was hard to predict Changsheng’s temper.

She was well behaved along the way, but once she entered the office, she refused to remain within his sleeves.

“What happened to you, Huaiyu?”

Qiguan Rang was about to wrap up his projects on hand, as close to eighty percent of people had completed their registration, and his work was not so urgent anymore. He might as well slow down his pace and stop his crazy overtime work and instead sleep and eat well.

In the previous few days, his sunken cheeks has regained some meat, becoming somewhat chubbier becoming a bit rosy.

Consequently, the first person to report was often not him, but either Feng Jin or Xu Ke instead.

Feng Jin sensed his daughter struggling, and his facial features changed subtly, “No, nothing is wrong…”

As he was about to hold his daughter back, she stumbled out of his sleeves.

Qiguan Rang was stumped, he looked in surprise at Feng Jin, and then at the plump young girl, and his jaw dropped. He was momentarily speechless.

“I’ve never imagined this. You? Feng Huaiyu is simultaneously running a human trafficking business?”

Qiguan Rang changed his stance. He was obviously guessing the child’s identity, yet still cheekily poked fun at him.

Feng Jin’s face reddened, and he figured he might as well explain himself. He confessed his circumstances with his eyes closed.

“Changsheng is too attached to me. This morning she refused to let go of Jin’s sleeves. Afterwards, she cried for a quarter of an hour. I couldn’t bear to harden my heart against her, so I brought her here. She’s well behaved and doesn’t usually cry. If she’s given a toy, she will spend half a day playing.”

Qiguan Rang stretched out his hands towards her, “No one said your daughter is noisy. Come here, my niece, let Uncle Qiguan carry you.”

Truthfully, Qiguan Rang loved children. His first wife passed away early due to sickness, and she didn’t leave behind any descendants. Then he married master Wei Yuan’s elder illegitimate daughter, and they were lucky to fall in love after marriage. Their daughter was born after two years.

He felt that since wars were rampant, he elected not to bring his wife and daughter along when he left Chongzhou.

Changsheng was comfortable around others and had a bold personality. She spontaneously climbed onto Qiguan Rang’s clothes, and her actions were swift.

“Her arms and legs are so strong! Sister-in-law sure knows how to bring up her child.”

The way Qiguan Rang carried and positioned her was perfect. Changsheng didn’t fear him at all, and stretched her hands up, desiring to touch his forehead.

A dark expression swept across Feng Jin’s face. Truly his daughter was overflowing with vigour and hyperactive. The gentle and submissive disposition in Feng’s daughters seems to be absent in her.

Pulling a face at him, Changsheng planted a watery kiss full of her saliva on Qiguan Rang’s face.

Bo —

After the kiss, she smiled with her mouth open, revealing her newly sprouted teeth.

“Your daughter is more endearing than you.” Qiguan Rang gave a brief appraisal.

Feng Jin the unlovable: “…”

“Let her play by herself, and not disturb you.”

Though Feng Jin brought Changsheng over, it had never been his intention to impede his colleagues’ work.

The child was young, and if not watched closely, she might be subject to danger. Qiguan Rang oversaw compiling the registry for households. Fortunately, there were nine maidens who were his subordinates at work. As their superior, it was fine if he slacked a bit. “As for you, your case records haven’t been compiled completely, so you might be busy for some time.” he said playfully, but truthfully.

Feng Jin was silent as he watched Qiguan Rang carry his daughter to one side and keep her happy.

Shortly after, his daughter had already warmed up to Qiguan Rang.

No, this is not right… Whose daughter is she?

Changsheng giggled so cheerfully that both her eyes were about to form one line. She crawled on Qiguan Rang, and both appeared deeply affectionate.

Shortly after, Xu Ke came along.

Seeing that the government office had an additional young girl on staff, he raised his brows. He walked as if no one was there, proud beyond measure.

“Be careful, hide your child well before the lord sees and snatches her away.” Xu Ke reminded softly.

Qiguan Rang knitted his brows. “Relax, the lord’s temperament is such, she rests two days for every three days of work… she doesn’t come in every day.”

It wasn’t every day that Jiang Pengji visited the office. More often than not, she was playing with mud or researching wood. She almost slept in a room in the wood workshop every night, struggling with the mind-boggling question of which attack machinery’s design was best. Meng Hun and Luoyue looked like they had lost their minds following her around.

Holistically speaking, follow the design and soar with it.

Liyun noted the lands where agriculture could be cultivated, then segregated those areas. The plan was to rent them out during spring ploughing season to each household. The farming equipment, buffalos for cultivating the land and other potential issues will be addressed beforehand. Liyun also obeyed the order to head to Chengde county to retrieve the seeds for each crop. He was so busy, his feet seemed to never touch the ground.

Entering their third phase of rebuilding the district, the major roads within the city had been completed. The bricks had been generously laid such that they need not fear the rain, the surface of the road remaining sparkling clean. Within Xiangyang district, there was a place that the people labelled as a “distinguished people area”, and this neighborhood was full of newly built mansions.

Speaking of “honourable section”, one couldn’t help but mention the twenty ladies Jiang Pengji had recruited.

They mostly descended from wealthy or country folks. Jiang Pengji accounted for the riches they possessed before returning it to them. They made known their intention to purchase a new mansion, after all, their old mansions had been destroyed. Some had also been confiscated by the district headquarters and they had nowhere to go.

Admiring the completed new houses, everyone’s heart was moved.

“You are now considered a member of the district headquarters and you made a huge contribution here, thus you deserve to be rewarded. Let’s do this, the two sectioned apartments in the fifth phase of the building project will be worth 4000 strings of coins. If it’s unaffordable, a deposit can be made first, and thereafter, the remaining amount can be paid in installments. If you agree, I will draft a contract for you.” Faced with the requests of these ladies, Jiang Pengji considered carefully then decided on a compromise. “Have you any intentions to truly enter the district headquarters as a full-fledged worker? Your salary will be paid monthly, and you can choose between food and supplies or a commensurate amount of money.”

Their manpower was limited at present, but they are still able to cope. However, when their land area expanded, they would be unbelievably busy. While the pace was still manageable, it was time to invest in a group of men, so that when they required help in future, they could be immediately dispatched. It was a brilliant idea.

These maidens heard Jiang Pengji’s suggestion and opened their eyes wide in surprise.

All that while working at the district headquarters, the business of work had diverted their attention. They had felt some of the hurt inflicted by the Tsing Yi army abate through the work they were given. Though they were tired, the maidens seemed to like their jobs, and the work sure beat sitting silently at the back of some courtyard.

They registered that there was salary every month and their hearts were even more elated.

Some agreed immediately, while others hesitated before they signed up.

If not for Jiang Pengji, they would have been tortured to death by the Tsing Yi army. Even if they lived, their family assets would have been the property of others.

It was almost impossible for a destitute and unchaste woman to survive in that society. This young district magistrate gave them a livelihood, and only a fool would give that up.

If they held a position in the district magistrate manor, the elders in their tribe couldn’t force them to do anything against their wishes.

Without much effort, Jiang Pengji recruited 23 literate and competent workers.

They felt indebted to her for her grace, and even when they worked overtime, they never complained.

Moreover, they were so enthusiastic that they resorted to snatching all the administrative tasks.

Aww, so touching.