Transmigrated into the role of the matriarch, I ensured my family had enough to eat and wear during

After Registrar Yan finished reading out the rewards, Magistrate Lu stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and said in a steady tone: "This prefecture has always been clear about rewards and punishments, rewarding those who have made contributions and punishing those who have made mistakes, and never showing favoritism. From now on, whether you are an official, a teacher, or a farmer, as long as you care about your neighbors and have made contributions to the people, this prefecture will definitely reward you."

He softened his tone, showing his approachability: "This government welcomes all opinions. If you have difficulties, good ideas, or see any injustices, you can come to the government office to speak up at any time. Even if it is a small matter in the fields, this government will listen carefully and will never look down on you in the slightest because you are farmers."

Standing in the crowd, Tang Chu secretly admired him, thinking to himself: Most officials are stubborn and self-willed, only liking to hear flattery, but only County Magistrate Lu is willing to listen to the voices of the people, which is truly rare.

Tang Susu also felt admiration and thought to herself: County Magistrate Lu does not flaunt his official power, does not look down on the humble people, and is willing to listen to good advice. He must be a good official who cares about the people and can seek the well-being of everyone.

Magistrate Lu waved his hand, signaling everyone to stand up: "Rise, all of you. There's no need for formalities. I'm here today to reward merit, not to put on airs."

The villagers all stood up, and most of them couldn't help but steal glances at County Magistrate Lu. Last time he came to guide the locust eradication, they were too far away to see him clearly. This time, seeing him up close, they all remembered his appearance and secretly planned to show off this honor to the neighboring villages in the future.

Magistrate Lu walked straight up to Tang Chengyu and said in a calm tone, "Young Master Tang, the matter of your expulsion from Chongwen Hall has been investigated by this prefecture. It was just a spoiled student causing trouble. The headmaster failed to investigate the truth due to dereliction of duty. I'm sorry you were wronged."

Tang Chengyu froze, looking up at him with a bewildered expression.

"This prefecture will send someone today to communicate with Magistrate Song of Qianjiang Town to restrain his son. At the same time, we have ordered the headmaster of Chongwen Hall to send someone to pick you up and bring you back to school to continue your exam preparation."

Tang Chengyu was shocked. He thought he would have to personally visit and beg for help to have any hope, but he still bowed and politely declined: "Thank you for your kindness, Lord Lu, but I have thought it over carefully and decided to stay in Yangqu Village as a teacher and study for the exam on my own. I beg you to understand."

Magistrate Lu was slightly taken aback, then nodded approvingly: "Good, you have ambition. Since you have made up your mind, I will not force you. In the future provincial examination, I will arrange for a government-funded student to vouch for you, and I will not delay your future."

Tang Chengyu bowed deeply: "Thank you, Lord Lu, for your immense kindness and virtue. I will never forget it!"

The members of the Tang family on the side each had their own thoughts.

Old Mrs. Tang had been staring at the hundred taels of silver in Tang Susu's hand, secretly plotting how to get her hands on it, either to give it to Tang Chengyu for his exam expenses or to subsidize her own family.

Later, when she heard that Magistrate Lu had taken charge of Tang Chengyu's case, she was overjoyed. However, Tang Chengyu's refusal to return to school made her anxious and confused. Since Magistrate Lu was present, she could only decide to argue with him later.

Chief Tang quickly pulled all the members of the Tang family together, made them all prostrate themselves on the ground, and loudly expressed their gratitude: "We, the common people, thank Lord Lu for his guidance! The Tang family will certainly instruct Yu'er to study hard, keep the people in mind, and live up to your expectations!"

Tang Chengyu lay prostrate on the ground, secretly vowing that if he were to enter officialdom in the future, he would take County Magistrate Lu as his role model and become a good official who cared for the people and was fair and honest.

It was nearly noon when Yang, the village head, stepped forward and bowed, inviting, "Lord Lu, you must be tired from your journey. Why don't you stay in the village for a simple meal? Yangqu Village has been so kind to you, sir, and we should treat you well."

Magistrate Lu gently shook his head, politely declining: "No need. The locust plague has just passed, and the people's food is just enough to keep them alive. I can't bear to eat a single bite more. After the autumn harvest, when there is enough food, I will come to ask for food again. At that time, you must not refuse."

Yang, the village head, quickly replied, "I dare not refuse. I will certainly prepare the best food to welcome you, sir."

Mentioning the autumn harvest, Tang Susu's eyes lit up, and she stepped forward, bowing, and said, "Lord Lu, I have something to report. Now that the locust plague has temporarily subsided, there must be many insect eggs in the soil. If they are not removed, it may cause another locust plague next year. I am thinking that during the autumn harvest, we should leave rice stubble that is at least eight inches long. After the stubble dries, we can turn over the soil and burn it in the fields. This will not only completely eliminate the insect eggs, but also make the fields more fertile."

She used the pretext of locust control to subtly lay the groundwork for planting a second crop of rice, without explicitly stating what had not yet been implemented.

County Magistrate Lu took Tang Susu's suggestion very seriously. He listened and nodded, and immediately instructed Registrar Yan: "Quickly write down what Yang Tang said, not a single word should be omitted. Tomorrow, issue an order to all villages in Dongtai Town to follow this method during the autumn harvest to completely eliminate the insect eggs."

"Yes, sir!" Clerk Yan quickly took out paper and pen to record.

After giving his instructions, Magistrate Lu boarded his carriage and waved his hand, saying, "I have official business to attend to, so I will leave now and come to visit you all again after the autumn harvest."

The carriage slowly started moving, escorted by yamen runners, and the group left in a grand manner. Once they had completely disappeared, Yangqu Village was instantly in an uproar, with villagers gathering together and discussing the matter animatedly.

"Lord Lu is truly our benefactor! He's only collected six percent of the taxes for three years; this year's grain reserves will definitely be much higher!"

"There are still thousands of acres of wasteland. With many sons in the family, they're about to divide the land, so finally there's land to cultivate!"

"Even if wasteland is cheap, you still need money to buy it. Half a tael per acre, where would we get that much silver? We can only watch."

"It's difficult, but it's better than nothing. If we work hard and save money, we can eventually buy a few acres."

Yang Lizheng walked up to a high place and shouted, "Everyone, be quiet!"

The villagers immediately quieted down and looked at Yang Lizheng.

"County Magistrate Lu is known for his clear distinction between rewards and punishments. Our Yangqu Village will follow his example and reward merit accordingly! Yang Chen, bring the items here!"

Yang Chen quickly grabbed a cloth bag, and when he opened it, five steel knives, each nearly two feet long and with sharp blades, appeared, gleaming with a cold, sharp light.

"This was loot from the robbers. This matter must not be told to anyone, lest it attract retaliation from other robbers and implicate the whole village," Yang Lizheng solemnly instructed, and the villagers nodded in agreement.

He picked up the first steel knife and announced loudly, "This first one is awarded to Liu Yingcai! You discovered the thieves during your patrol and reported it, preventing the village from being robbed. You have rendered a great service!"

Liu Yingcai quickly stepped forward, took the steel knife with both hands, and said excitedly, "Thank you so much, village head! With this knife, I'll have more confidence when patrolling the village, and I'll definitely protect the people and the grain!"

Yang Lizheng picked up the second sword and looked at Tang Liqiang: "The second sword is awarded to Tang Liqiang! You faced the thieves head-on and bravely knocked out the thief leader. This courage deserves a reward!"

Tang Liqiang looked on incredulously, took the steel knife, and said honestly, "Thank you, village head. I will definitely keep it safe and protect our village, so that thieves won't come back to run wild!"

"The remaining three steel knives will be kept for now. Whoever performs meritorious service for the village and protects its people in the future, I, the village head, will reward them!" Village Head Yang raised the remaining steel knives and solemnly established a rule: "I hereby set a rule: these steel knives can only be used against thieves and enemies. They must never be used to harm villagers or oppress neighbors! If anyone uses these steel knives to steal grain or injure people, they will be severely punished!"

Liu Yingcai and Tang Liqiang solemnly promised, "Rest assured, village head, the steel blades will only kill the thieves; we will not harm a single person from our village!"

The villagers, envious of the steel knives in the two men's hands, secretly resolved to serve the village well in the future and strive to earn a knife through merit.

After admiring the steel knife, Yang Lizheng loudly announced: "The villagers of Yangqu Village have decided that the thousands of acres of wasteland bestowed by County Magistrate Lu can purchase them for only half a tael per acre! Previously, the wasteland in our village was sold for eight qian per acre, which was still not easy, but it saved three hundred copper coins, leaving hope for the villagers who have no land or little land."

The villagers were overjoyed once again.

Tang Susu immediately stepped forward and replied, "Village head, I am willing to buy the wasteland! I just received a reward and want to buy all the wasteland on Gou Tuo Mountain. Please send someone to help me measure it."

Yang, the village head, nodded and smiled, "Good! Miss Tang has guts! Gou Tuo Mountain is about two hundred acres. I will send someone to measure it with you immediately, and we will complete the land deed today."

The villagers expressed their understanding: "People in the countryside buy land first when they have money. Land is the foundation of their livelihood, and they feel at ease when they have land."

"Miss Tang has performed a great service and received a reward. It's only natural that she would buy land. Her future will definitely get better and better."

Upon hearing this, Old Mrs. Tang flew into a rage, rushing forward and pointing at Tang Susu, yelling, "You spendthrift woman, have you gone mad?!"

She trembled with rage, her face ashen, her voice shrill: "That hundred taels of silver should have been saved for Yu'er's exam expenses, to buy writing materials and a tutor, but you used it to buy land! Are you doing this on purpose, trying to ruin Yu'er's future?!"

Tang Susu remained calm and stood quietly in place, offering no explanation—she had long anticipated that Old Mrs. Tang would react this way; no one could stop her from buying the land.