The Empress’ Livestream
chapter-541

Chapter 541: Happenings in the World (XI)

Okay okay okay… They’re yours, they’re yours. Everything is yours!

Looking at the pile of bamboo slips which were almost as tall as a human, Yang Si had a mental breakdown. He did not know what possessed him just now when he agreed to work as a casual laborer… Was there a casual laborer who could handle those messy but important internal government affairs?

He turned his head and saw Wei Ci sitting beside the tea boiler leisurely brewing tea.

Yang Si pointed at the pile of bamboo slips which were almost as tall as he was and asked with a grim smile, “Didn’t you say that you’re very busy?”

If the tall pile of bamboo slips tumbled, its weight could seriously injure someone. He really did not understand how the tiny Chengan District had so many trivial matters. Yang Si wanted to capture Wei Ci and question him.

Wei Ci pursed his lips into a smile shyly and replied somewhat embarrassedly, “I’m weak, so I can’t work for long periods.”

Yang Si secretly gritted his teeth and ridiculed him with a sneer. “You can deceive others with those words, but you can’t lie to me.”

He was weak? Wei Ci’s body was weak, but it was not weak to that extent.

“Jing Rong, I’m really telling the truth. I was trapped in the mountains last winter. It snowed heavily and the coldness seeped into my body so my body isn’t as strong as it used to be.” Wei Ci had been smiling softly. He sounded pitiful but a hint of slyness was twinkling in his eyes. “If I work too much and I fall ill and die, you’ll be responsible for all the trivial matters in the entire government office. If that’s the case, it’ll be on my conscience.”

On his conscience?

“Touch your heart. Were you being sincere when you said those words?”

Did he not know him well? Others said that Wei Ci was benign and open-hearted but he knew that Wei Ci was full of tricks.

“Every word is absolutely true,” Wei Ci responded.

Yang Si snickered. He did not have any energy to continue to refute him. He was really afraid that Wei Ci would really ‘fall ill and die’. Then, the trivial matters in the government office would pile up on him.

As for Jiang Pengji? After capturing a free laborer like Yang Si, she would be completely liberated from the government office. Yang Si had been working for three consecutive days and realized that Jiang Pengji seemed to have vanished. Apart from showing up on time at meal hours, she was not seen at all at other times. During lunch that day, Jiang Pengji came in carrying a pile of bamboo slips when the food had just been served on the table.

At that moment, Yang Si realized that she was not wearing the wide-sleeved clothes which she used to wear in the past. She was just wearing a set of old clothes. Her pants were rolled up above her knees and her sleeves were rolled up as well. Half of her arms were exposed and her legs seemed to have been in the water for a long time.

Yang Si glanced at the bamboo hat on her head in a strange manner. Such practical attire was not Liu Xi’s style at all! Did they not say that Liu Xi was born in an aristocratic family in Hejian and that she had an honorable family background?

“Lord, let me help you.”

Wei Ci got up and went to help her carry the heavy pile of bamboo slips. She looked at him and walked past him.

Thud…

The bamboo slips produced a dull yet loud sound when they were placed on the table.

Jiang Pengji clapped her hands and said, “More and more refugees have entered the city recently. How’s progress in opening up the wastelands?”

Without feeling awkward, Wei Ci replied, “According to the plan, about 30 percent of the wastelands have been opened up. It’s expected that the land reclamation should be completed in another two months. Each mu of land has already been recorded. They can be distributed after the household registration is completed.”

Upon hearing about the household registration, Yang Si who was beside him really wanted to thump the table and leave.The increasing number of refugees outside meant that the household registration work would become more and more arduous, not to mention the sorting and classification afterwards. If something went wrong, it would be troublesome to do it again in the future. Even a person like Yang Si could almost not stand it any longer.

Jiang Pengji sensed Yang Si’s resentment and said, “There’s no need to hurry; as long as it can be done before the spring ploughing next year. The household registration is very important. It’s fine to work slowly. It’s better to be slow instead of being chaotic. In contrast, I’m more worried that there’ll be a great drought this year.”

Wei Ci and Yang Si were stunned. “A great drought?”

Jiang Pengji took a pottery bowl, poured some cold water into it and gulped it down.

“Yes. I’ve looked for a few experienced farmers and they also think that the weather will probably be hot this year with little rain.”

Jiang Pengji made judgements according to her experience. Moreover, her strong thought processes could see details that ordinary people could not see.

However, in terms of farming, it was still necessary to listen to the opinions of the experienced farmers. Combining the information from both parties, Jiang Pengji felt that it would probably be an awful year. The water conservancy facilities in Xiangyang District were in their early stages. By taking good care of the crops in the fields and pulling through the summer, the autumn harvest that year should not be too bad.

However, the situation in Chengan District was different. There were not many crops, but there were more and more refugees. It was not possible for them not to drink water for the entire summer. She checked the old files and found a lot of information. It turned out that Chengan District had experienced several large-scale droughts. The fields cracked and the rivers dried up. The crops had basically withered!

Wei Ci said, “If a great drought really occurs, I’m afraid that the progress of opening up the wastelands will be delayed.”

After being ravaged by the Tsing Yi Army, the spring ploughing in Chengan District was basically scrapped. Not many crops were planted that spring. If there was a great drought that year, they did not have to worry about the crops in the fields, they just had to solve the water usage problem.

“Don’t worry. We still have lots of time. Take it slowly.” Jiang Pengji poured herself another bowl of water. “In the past few days, I’ve been taking a few farmers to the mountains nearby to find sources of water to see if a water channel could be built. Xiheng’s waterwheels could also come in handy…”

Zhang Ping’s courtesy name was Xiheng. Ever since he was tricked into the fire pit, Xiangyang District, by his good friend, Wei Ci, he had been ‘living his life to the fullest’ every day.

Upon hearing what she said, Yang Si secretly looked at Jiang Pengji’s legs. It was no wonder that her feet and calves looked pale as if they had been in the water for a long time. It turned out that she had gone to the mountains to look for sources of water.

The audience in the streaming room had been following the streaming. Of course, they knew how long Jiang Pengji’s feet had been in the water. They felt sorry for her.

Ouhuang Kangbazi: “Streamer, if the drought is very severe this year, I suggest that a smallreservoir can be built to store water!”

Jugaogao: “Please. Look at the time. A reservoir can’t be built in just a few days. It’s easy for you to say. Where’s the suitable place to build a reservoir? How should the reservoir be built? All of this requires knowledge. It can’t be solved by just talking. If the reservoir is poorly built, the reservoir may collapse during a flood one year and those living in low-lying areas would be drowned.”

Rencai Yinhaida: “Tsk. So, is the streamer’s plan to build a water channel very reliable? Is it that easy to dig a water channel?”

Sanpai Shudaozha: “At least building a water channel is more reliable. Do you know how long it has taken to build the reservoir near my house? Things like excavators do not exist in the ancient times, so people can only shovel manually. It’s extremely inefficient. Just by imagining it, I think that it’s not practical.”