CHAPTER 449: CHAPTER 443: BONES FROZEN ON THE ROAD

The County Governor didn’t expect his headache wouldn’t be about how to host the suddenly arriving Inspector, but rather a group of refugees and soldiers.

Setting up tables was out of the question. Even if he wanted to, there weren’t enough seats. So after a moment of silence, he said to the manager who had a troubled expression on his face, "Set up several long tables, divided on either side, hosting the soldiers on the left and the refugees on the right."

He said, "Get people to bury pots and make food, let everyone get involved."

The manager asked, "Cook for everyone?"

There are so many people.

The County Governor could slightly sense Zhao Hanzhang’s dissatisfaction. He gritted his teeth and said, "Give meals to the soldiers, and cook porridge for the refugees, make it thicker. If the food isn’t enough, take some from the storehouse, borrow from the mill..."

In short, first smooth out Zhao Hanzhang’s temper and then talk.

Not only the County Governor, but the other officials suddenly sobered up from the wine, pretending not to see the County Governor in chaos, following Zhao Hanzhang briskly through the door.

At this time, the backyard was bustling; the ladies were enjoying a garden tour, their laughter like tinkling bells, making one feel joyful just hearing it.

Zhao Hanzhang glanced back at the burly personal guards, then at the simple-minded Zhao Erlang and thought it best not to scare them by going inside. So she changed direction and headed straight for the main seating area.

It was filled with jars of wine.

As she approached, the rich aroma of wine enticed the hunger in her gut. She picked up a jar to pour but was held back by Fu Tinghan’s quick hands.

Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but look at him.

"Drinking on an empty stomach is bad for you. Eat something to line your stomach first."

Zhao Hanzhang regretfully withdrew her hand. The officials then saw their opportunity and quickly came forward with a smile saying, "The Governor wants to drink wine; how can we not have meat? Someone, quickly bring up the roast venison."

The roast venison was seasoned with spices, the tender loin meat cut thick from the stone slab, sprinkled with herbs and salt, its aroma relentlessly wafting towards Zhao Hanzhang.

She casually handed the plate to the eager Zhao Erlang, then sat down with Fu Tinghan at the main seat, asking, "Everyone is hungry, do you only have venison here?"

The officials understood immediately and quickly said, "Quickly serve the dishes from the kitchen and roast more venison."

Another official whispered quietly, "All the meat sent here must be loin."

The servants in the County Governor’s house couldn’t think about the officials overstepping their bounds. They heard the command and acted immediately.

The roasted venison came endlessly, along with various grilled meats and vegetables.

Indeed, in the depths of winter, the County Governor’s mansion not only had boiled vegetable soup but also grillable vegetables.

These were even rarer and more valuable than venison loin meat, making Zhao Hanzhang realize further the extravagance of Nanyang Country’s officials.

She wasn’t even a bit angry.

Having wealthy subordinates could be beneficial, Zhao Hanzhang thought. The County Governor’s position wasn’t high or low, yet he aspired higher; if she didn’t utilize such wealthy subordinates, she would feel regretful.

Zhao Hanzhang looked affectionately at Zhao Erlang, placing more meat in front of him, "Eat more."

Such delicious food was hard to come by outside.

Zhao Erlang nodded repeatedly as he ate, after a year in the army, he had forgotten all the etiquette he learned before; when eating, only one word mattered - fast!

Zhao Hanzhang was unhurried, while Fu Tinghan even helped cut the venison into pieces for her, making her even more relaxed.

While eating, she praised, "Your arrangement here is good, windproof with a view of the snow, grilling pit, fine wine, gourmet food, nice, nice."

The officials laughed heartily, then heard Zhao Hanzhang curiously ask, "But if I recall correctly, the government office isn’t sealed today, are you all skipping work?"

The officials’ expressions froze, and the County Governor anxiously came hurriedly and said, "I was just about to report to the Governor, our Prefectural Governor has resigned and returned his seal; the detailed report has been submitted, it’s possible it coincided that you missed it."

Zhao Hanzhang waved nonchalantly, "Missed it, so be it. I know about County Magistrate Pei’s resignation and return to seclusion, but what does this have to do with your absenteeism? With the Governor absent, shouldn’t you be more diligent?"

The officials froze, unsure how to respond.

Zhao Hanzhang poured herself a cup of wine, drank it in one go, and sighed, "The wine is good, the meat is also good, but I feel uncomfortable eating it."

Everyone quietly lowered their heads.

Zhao Hanzhang continued, "When I entered the city, I saw many ragged refugees sitting or lying outside on both sides of the road, whereas within the city, the fragrance of wine permeated the air. A beggar ran past me, saying he was coming here to wait for leftovers from the mansion."

The County Governor’s face turned stiffer, anxiousness surged.

Zhao Hanzhang sighed, "Now I see the splendor and prosperity within the mansion while there are people freezing and starving outside."

"Those outside starving and freezing is because their ancestors couldn’t shelter their descendants, and they themselves are incapable, what does it have to do with my father?" a young lady standing in the corridor asked.

At some point, the ladies in the garden had walked over, standing in the corridor nearby watching.

Hearing the daughter speak to Zhao Hanzhang in such a manner, cold sweat ran down the County Governor’s back, he urgently scolded, "Yingniang, don’t speak nonsense, this is the Inspector, come quickly to pay respects."

Yin Ying walked over calmly, bowed to Zhao Hanzhang but still looked directly at her, saying, "Please forgive me, even though my father stopped me, I have to say, those lowly people starving and freezing, how does it relate to my family entertaining guests?"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled, first asking the County Governor, "Do you think there’s a relationship?"

The County Governor blushed and said, "There is..."

Zhao Hanzhang raised her hand to stop his words, then turned to ask Zhao Erlang, who had eaten five plates of meat, "Second Son, do you think there’s a relationship?"

Zhao Erlang thought for a moment and nodded vigorously, "There is!"

Zhao Hanzhang smiled and asked, "Then tell this young lady, what’s the relationship?"

"Her father is the County Governor, the people in the county are his responsibility. If they don’t live well, it’s because he hasn’t done well," this is what Sister taught him, saying if his soldiers don’t fight well, if life doesn’t go well, then it’s the General who isn’t good!

Similarly, if people don’t live well, naturally their "General" isn’t good, "Moreover today isn’t a rest day, they aren’t in office, drinking and making merry at home, this is absenteeism, salaries should be docked!"

Several times he skipped training, ran off to play, and his sister docked his salary and forbade their mother to give him pocket money, making it impossible for him to buy sugar figurines.

Zhao Hanzhang nodded approvingly, then looked up at the young lady with only coldness in her eyes, "Eating the sovereign’s salary, fulfilling the sovereign’s duties, your father eats from Nanyang Country, uses from Nanyang Country, the silks you wear, the fine wines and delicacies in the mansion, and your privileges, all come from Nanyang Country. Now you say that the hunger and cold of Nanyang Country’s citizens have nothing to do with your father?"

Zhao Hanzhang turned to look at the County Governor, saying coldly, "Yin Sheng, your daughter hasn’t been taught well."

Yin Sheng’s face flushed red, hurriedly bowed to admit fault, "This subordinate has failed to teach properly, I hope the Governor will forgive."

Yin Ying’s face also turned red, almost to the point of bleeding.