How can one cultivate immortality without learning modern knowledge?

At the same time.

The Donghe River Embankment in Qishan County.

As the warm sun rises, a bustling scene unfolds once again on the river.

Magistrate Zhou Liangsheng has been on the riverbank for several days now, and he has lost weight.

Although he was still full of energy, had a loud voice, and was highly motivated to fight every day.

But only he knew that he was just putting on a brave face.

He didn't know if he could actually complete the restoration of the riverbed under his feet during this winter in Lingnan.

He didn't know if the newly built river channel would be able to withstand the rainy season next year.

He had no idea that even if the river beneath his feet truly brought Qishan County tens of thousands of acres of fertile land freed from the control of the Li and He families, what kind of trouble the ruthless prefect and the tyrants from the Li and He families would cause to launch another invasion of the fertile land.

All he knew was that as an official, he should bring benefits to the people in his jurisdiction.

All he knew was that if he didn't do it, no one else would!

When he became the magistrate of Qishan, he was the sky above the heads of 300,000 people.

If he falls, these poor people will never see the light of day again...

Therefore, even though he was starving and his hands and feet were freezing, he took a deep breath and, with the loudest voice and the most passionate tone, began today's pre-battle mobilization...

As the sound of stones being broken echoed in the riverbed, he took a few steps back, climbed onto the riverbank behind him, and leaned against a large tree. A sense of powerlessness washed over him.

The former capital city.

Although it was the kind of backstabbing and infighting he loathed.

However, there were at least a few like-minded people who, in the teahouse, discussed current affairs and expressed their opinions passionately...

But what about today?

With the "Yantai case," those who followed the same path either died, went into exile, had their homes confiscated, or were imprisoned.

In the Lingnan region, even Heaven seems to have no favor to him. This great scholar, this man who holds the official seal of a seventh-rank county magistrate, cannot even receive news of the current situation of his like-minded companions…

The world is so vast, yet I feel so lonely.

Suddenly, a familiar voice reached my ears.

The sound of footsteps tapping...

Zhou Liangsheng looked up and saw a familiar person, Lao Qi.

Old Qi was holding a package, and the aroma of meat could be smelled from a distance.

"Sir, Madam just stewed a pot of chicken soup. I rushed here as fast as I could, so it should still be hot. Please drink it." Old Qi opened the package and, behind the big tree, showed his county magistrate a ceramic pot from the package.

"Chicken soup! This pot of chicken soup is half a chicken..." Zhou Liangsheng looked down at the villagers.

Old Qi was startled: "Sir, you mustn't be thinking of giving this bowl of soup to the people on the riverbank. How are we supposed to divide it among thousands of people?"

"As the head of a county, it is an official's duty to share the hardships with the people. How can it be that the villagers are eating chaff and gnawing on tree bark while I, the official, am drinking chicken soup? Old Qi..."

"Master! Have a bowl of chicken soup, and I'll tell you something you've been wanting to hear most. How about it?" Old Qi quickly interrupted his master's order.

Zhou Liangsheng frowned slightly: "What is it?"

"You'll be overjoyed, sir, but you must drink the soup first. If you don't, I'll never tell you, no matter what," Old Qi said.

Zhou Liangsheng took the chicken soup from his bowl and quickly finished it in a few gulps: "Alright, I've drunk it. Now speak!"

Old Qi said, "The second young master has already acquired literary talent; he has entered the realm of literary cultivation."

"What?" Zhou Liangsheng's eyes suddenly lit up like stars.

"Master, the Second Young Master said he was leaving Mount Huding on the river that day, which angered you greatly. In fact, he only left the outer sect of Mount Huding. He has already obtained the literary root and has fulfilled your expectations for him."

"Is this really true?" Zhou Liangsheng reached out and grabbed Lao Qi's shoulder, his voice trembling.

"After returning to the county office with the Second Young Master, we immediately went to Hexi Valley. There, a furnace had exploded, and a villager was critically injured and on the verge of death. The Second Young Master intervened and wrote a medical treatise on the spot with a precious brush and golden paper, saving the villager. Tell me, without literary talent, how could one possess the great power of literature?"

"I have received the blessing of the Mohists and obtained the literary root!" Zhou Liangsheng murmured, "That unfilial son! Such good news, yet he didn't tell me! For the past two days and nights, I've been sighing to the heavens every moment. Truly... truly..."

Although he is called a rebellious son.

He sighed softly.

But at this moment, there was not a trace of disappointment on his face. Instead, he was full of joy, and his complexion became very rosy.

"Master, there's more good news. After you've eaten all the meat in here, I'll tell you more." Old Qi's face also showed a cunning look he hadn't had before.

Zhou Liangsheng held out a bowl: "Pour in the meat! Prepare the chopsticks!"

The stewed chicken was poured into a large bowl.

Zhou Liangsheng picked up the bowl and started eating.

In a short while, the wind swept away the remaining clouds.

Old Qi said, "The second piece of good news also comes from the Second Young Master. He performed exceptionally well at Mount Huding. In addition to being granted a literary talent, the Mo family also gave him extremely generous rewards, including gold, silver, and silver notes, totaling more than seven thousand taels, all of which have been handed over to the Madam."

Perhaps he spoke too soon.

Zhou Liangsheng choked on the last piece of chicken, his neck stretched out sharply, his eyes widened, and for a moment he stood like a statue.

"Sir, swallow it, swallow it, don't choke..."

Zhou Liangsheng hunched his head and shrugged, swallowing hard: "Seven...seven thousand taels?"

"Yes, Madam no longer needs to do needlework, and the household no longer needs to worry about money." Old Qi said with a touch of emotion.

Some say that a clean prefect can amass 100,000 taels of silver in three years.

A county magistrate is not as good as a prefect, but he should never have to worry about making a living.

However, his own master is a strange character in officialdom. He has managed to turn officials into people who can barely make ends meet. What can he do if he has such a master?

Now that's good, with these seven thousand taels of silver, even if you, this eccentric magistrate, never take a single penny of your salary for the rest of your life, you can still make a living.

"How much money do you need to make a living in the manor?" Zhou Liangsheng shook his head: "Old Qi, find out if there are any winter clothes in Qishan, and buy a few thousand sets."

Old Qi's eyes widened suddenly: "Sir, you...you really intend to manage all these thousands of people?"

"They work on the riverbank every day, and I can't even guarantee their families' basic needs. Shouldn't it be the right to provide them with winter clothes? The weather is getting colder, and without winter clothes, people will die..." Zhou Liangsheng said, "In addition, give a few coins to each of their family members with the extra money. Most of them are already starving."

Old Qi stood there, lost in thought.

Master, if you do this, no matter how much the Second Young Master tries to snatch... no, no matter how much he tries to take the sect's rewards, it won't be enough...

"That's settled then! Go back and make the arrangements immediately!" Zhou Liangsheng said, "Also, tell the second young master something: having acquired literary talent, one becomes a scholar. A scholar should thoroughly study the classics and solidify his foundation. Before I return to the yamen, he must study peacefully in the backyard and not cause any trouble outside."

"Well... the Second Young Master is currently in Hexi Valley and has not returned home," Old Qi told the truth.

Zhou Liang Sheng was slightly startled: "He's in Hexi Valley, what's he doing there?"

"Don't worry, sir. The second young master is a very upright person. I don't think he would stoop to such a level as womanizing..." Old Qi explained with difficulty, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration and added, "In Hexi Valley, blacksmithing and weapon forging are the family's traditional businesses. Perhaps the second young master wants to perfect the sect's weapon-making techniques there."

Without that supplementary sentence, it's easy to predict that Zhou Liangsheng's next sentence would have been to urge Lao Qi to hurry to Hexi Valley and bring his second son, who had finally entered the world of literature, back home to study.

But after saying the next sentence, the old man was immediately convinced: "The Mohists bestowed Wen Gen with the hope that he would make achievements in the art of crafts. There are three thousand great paths, some hidden in high pavilions, some hidden in the dust... Perhaps there really is a path to be found in the ordinary lives of the common people! Alright, keep an eye on the Second Young Master in secret, but don't disturb him."

Old Qi breathed a long sigh of relief.

Second Young Master, this is all I can do to help you.

But then Zhou Liangsheng added, "As for winter clothing, hurry up and arrange it. If Qishan has no stock, go to Lingnan Prefecture..."

A sigh escaped Lao Qi's lips.

Just when we finally saw the smell of meat in the mansion, it was about to disappear again with the master's order.

The lady finally put down her needlework; now, will she have to pick it up again?

Such a head of the household is truly wonderful, but he's a bit of a "spoiler"...

Our gaze returns to the western half of the Hexi Valley, near Bandao Peak.

On the mountain peak, the sun rises and sets, the wind rises and falls.

Zhou Wenju would spend the night in Xishan every day and communicate with others on Bandao Peak.

Five days have passed.