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The County Magistrate pondered the situation. Since the livelihood and tax revenue of Shuiyun County depended on these merchants, who were now victims of the counterfeit banknote scam, the matter couldn’t be ignored. “Xujin, since your family has also been affected, why don’t you handle this case?” he suggested.

Chu Xujin bowed respectfully, “I will do my utmost, Sir.”

He then turned to the gathered shopkeepers, “Leave your statement. Then, we can officially start the investigation.”

Everyone was very cooperative and left with Chu Xujin.

Sitting behind his desk, Chu Xujin prepared to record their statements, while Ge Lihua assisted him with grinding ink.

Chu Xujin looked up at her and felt a surge of happiness, believing that she must have some feelings for him. He resolved to try even harder to win her affection.

In the Chu Village.

Xiao Chen arrived with a group of beggars, creating a unique scene that attracted the attention of the villagers. “Miss Chu, just tell us what to do, and we’ll do it well,” Xiao Chen assured.

“There are three tasks for you: clearing the wasteland, digging a channel, and bringing some silt from the riverbank to fertilize the land,” Chu Qingzhi explained and then led the group to inspect the wasteland.

The riverbank silt, untouched for years, had turned black and was very fertile, making it perfect for enriching the soil.

Xiao Chen suggested, “Let’s divide into three teams, each team handling one task.”

Chu Qingzhi offered, “How about a payment of one hundred copper coins per person per day, including a meal at noon?”

Xiao Chen replied earnestly, “No need for payment, a meal is enough.”

“We won’t shortchange you. Both payment and meals are assured,” Chu Qingzhi insisted, not wanting to take advantage of them and knowing that the beggars’ lives weren’t easy.

Xiao Chen gratefully looked at Chu Qingzhi, “Thank you, Miss Chu.”

“Fair payment for labor is only right,” she responded.

Xiao Chen felt that Chu Qingzhi was his benefactor in this life. He was grateful and immediately assigned tasks. Everyone started to work readily.

Chu Qingzhi had already bought the tools for work. Previously, she had borrowed them from the villagers, but it was not convenient, so she bought them herself.

Looking towards the mountain foot, Xiao Chen asked, “Is this the marked route for the channel?”

Chu Qingzhi confirmed, “Just dig along the markings to a depth of about a foot and a half.”

The villagers had previously dug a well at a water source during a drought, and the channel would draw water from that well, ensuring a reliable supply.

Chu Qingzhi walked to the end of the channel. Behind this was the mountain, in front and on the right was the wasteland, and on the left was the herb garden.

Chu Qingzhi looked around. Should she dig a pond here?

It was quite suitable to dig a 100-square-meter pond to raise fish, lotus roots, ducks, and so on.

As soon as she said that, everyone felt that it was a good idea, so the matter of digging the pond was settled.

Chu Qingzhi returned to the old house to process soybeans.

She had asked Auntie Zhang and four other aunts to assist, and they were waiting for her. “What are we doing today, Qingzhi?” they inquired.

Chu Qingzhi assigned tasks, “Auntie Xu will wash the pots and steamers in the kitchen, and the rest of you help me wash the soybeans. After washing, we’ll steam them.”

“Sure.”

Everyone worked together and quickly got busy.

At the free clinic, a young monk sat on a small stool, tugging at the robe of the Abbot, looking up at him with eager eyes, “Master, I want to go see Miss Chu.”

The Abbot, busy taking a patient’s pulse, replied after finishing, “Miss Chu has invited us to visit her home tomorrow. You can see her then.”

Sigh, it’s not easy to take care of children!

The young monk and the Abbot had been blessing people at the Guangxi Garden, earning over five hundred silver taels. Feeling the need to give back to the community, the Abbot gave a free medical service day. The Abbot, a skilled practitioner comparable to the chief physician of the Imperial Medical Hospital, was often sought after by locals around the southern mountain for medical treatment.

The young monk, adorably touching his head and speaking in a soft, sweet voice, persisted, “I haven’t seen her in many days, Master, let’s go see her.”

The Abbot patted the young monk’s back, gently coaxing, “I need to treat the patient..”

Pointing at Chu Qingning, who was also volunteering at the clinic, the young monk said, “Then I’ll go with Miss Qingning. She’s Miss Chu’s sister; she can take me to see her.”

After thinking it over, the Abbot agreed, “Then ask Miss Qingning if she’s willing to take you.”

The young monk’s eyebrows raised in excitement, quickly abandoning his master to run towards Chu Qingning. He looked up at her with big, blinking eyes, “Miss Qingning, can 1 go home with you?”

“Sure,” Chu Qingning agreed without a second thought.

In Daling Dynasty customs, monks are believed to ward off evil and bring blessings. Having them in one’s home is considered auspicious and fortunate.

The young monk, clutching his prayer beads, eagerly asked, “When are you going home?”

“Not until the clinic ends this afternoon,” Chu Qingning replied, feeling an urge to pat the young monk’s head but hesitating to do so.

The young monk looked down disappointedly, the kind of forlorn look that would compel any motherly figure to comfort him.

“Fourth Sister…” Chu Qingyan’s cheerful voice approached.

Accompanying her master Wang Ximing to the county to buy medicinal herbs, Chu Qingyan passed by the clinic and greeted Chu Qingning.

Chu Qingning looked up and smiled. “Qingyan, Mr. Wang.”

Wang Xingming nodded at Chu Qingning and stood at the side, waiting for the two sisters to speak.

Chu Qingyan, seeing the long queue of patients, approached Chu Qingning, “Fourth Sister, where can we buy these herbs most cost-effectively?”

Chu Qingning examined Chu Qingyan’s prescription. While she wasn’t yet familiar with such advanced prescriptions, she had an idea about where to buy the herbs, “Go to Gao’s Pharmacy. Their herbs are a bit more expensive, but they are authentic and effective.”

Chu Qingyan nodded in agreement, “I’ll head there later.”

Chu Qingning asked, “When are you heading back?”

“I’ll go back after buying the medicine.”

“Can you take the little monk with you? He wants to see our fifth sister.”

Looking down, Chu Qingyan noticed the cute little monk in monk robes, with hopeful black eyes hard to refuse. “Of course,” she said, turning to the young monk, “I’ll be going to the pharmacy to get herbs. Wait here for me, and I’ll come back to pick you up. Is that okay?”

The young monk nodded, his eyes sparkling with gratitude as he clasped his hands together, “Thank you, benefactor..”