The peasant girl has a private space, and her husband is handsome.

After brewing hot tea, Prefect Xu couldn't bear to use an ordinary teacup and took out an extremely small cup meant for drinking baijiu (Chinese liquor).

The couple drank one cup after another, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

"Madam, now you know how wonderful this tea tastes, don't you?"

Madam Xu wore the same silly grin as Prefect Xu. "Good, really good. Before I got married, I often attended various banquets held by aristocratic families in the capital. I had never seen such good tea before. I never expected to drink it in such a remote place in the south."

Prefect Xu said with a proud look, "Our daughter is really capable, bringing us such good things as a gift."

Prefect Xu was an extremely honest and upright official. He not only did not extort money from the people, but he also frequently used his own money to help them.

So, over the years since Madam Xu married into the family, her dowry money has almost been used up. She is usually very frugal and can't bear to buy anything to enjoy.

She was still wearing clothes from more than ten years ago. Luckily, she hadn't gained weight, or she definitely wouldn't be able to fit into them.

The couple couldn't bear to eat or wear anything nice.

Everyone assumed that Prefect Xu's large belly was a sign of wealth and luxury, but they didn't know that it was caused by his childhood hunger, when he had to eat clay to stave off hunger.

Because he came from a poor background, he was able to better understand the suffering of ordinary people, which is why he gave away all his wealth to help them.

Madam Xu asked with concern, "Sir, is your stomach still hurting lately? Should we see a doctor?"

"No need. I've seen a doctor several times, but he couldn't cure me. There's no need to waste any more money. But it's strange, my stomach was bloated and painful for a few days, but it got better after I drank some herbal tea at Gu's. That's why I went to Gu's twice. I don't know if it was just psychological."

Madam Xu walked to the window and took out the gold hairpin with pearls she had worn on her wedding day from her dressing case. Although she was very reluctant to part with it, she still planned to pawn it.

"Master, aren't you worried about Ruoxuan? Although my father gave Ruoxuan a lot of money, she eats and lives outside, so I'm afraid it won't be enough for her. I plan to have someone sell the hairpin to a pawnshop and send some money to Ruoxuan. Also, our second son, Ruofeng, needs money to eat and live outside, so I'll send him some money too."

Madam Xu planned to use the remaining money to pay for Prefect Xu's medical treatment.

After hearing his wife's words, Prefect Xu felt extremely ashamed.

He did not fail the people, but he failed his wife and children.

His wife had already sold off a significant portion of her dowry for him, and this hairpin was the one she wore on her wedding day; she certainly wouldn't sell it unless absolutely necessary.

Prefect Xu was heartbroken. "Madam, don't worry. Let me think of a way. If we really can't find a solution, we can pawn it later."

Three days later, Prefect Xu and his wife received another letter from their daughter, Xu Ruoxuan, along with two ten-tael silver ingots.

This silver ingot was like a sudden downpour on parched land; it came just in time.

Prefect Xu stared at the two silver ingots, his eyes shining.

Vivian Hsu wrote in her letter—

[Dad, Mom, there are a lot of out-of-town merchants in Qinghe County. I partnered with Mr. Gu to open an inn, and it was packed. We opened another one, and it was still packed.]

"Your daughter is now able to earn money too. This twenty taels is a bonus from Master Su, and I'm giving it to you as a token of my respect. From now on, you won't have to eat only porridge and vegetables every day. Our family can afford to eat meat now."

[Father, Mother, don't worry about spending this money. I'm making a fortune here every day, and I'll send you some more in a couple of days.]

After reading it, Prefect Xu was moved to tears, finally relieved that he wouldn't have to sell his wife's pearl-adorned hairpin.

My daughter is really something else; she actually managed to partner with Mr. Su, the owner of Gu's company, in business!

It seems only a matter of time before Gu's restaurant opens in Pengcheng. When it does, it will surely bring unprecedented prosperity to Pengcheng, and the people of Pengcheng will greatly benefit.

Given Miss Su's earning power, her daughter will likely send money over frequently in the future.

Heavens above! Miss Su is truly a great benefactor to this prefect!

My second son, Xu Ruofeng, also sent a letter.

[Dad, Mom, I'm doing fine in Qinghe County. Don't worry about me not having enough money. I'm staying at my sister's inn, where I can earn free accommodation by cleaning.]

My sister also introduced me to Mr. Su, the owner of Gu's restaurant. I helped with the bookkeeping at Gu's, and not only did I get to eat Gu's staff meals for free, but I also received wages. I would send half of my wages home.

Working in the restaurant is such a wonderful experience. I get to admire the solitary orchids and appreciate the calligraphy of Grand Secretary Liang at any time. It's been more rewarding than when I was studying in the capital. I might stay in Qinghe County for a while.

Prefect Xu chuckled foolishly: "Look at this silly lad, he's already a scholar with the title of Juren, yet he's still so unreliable. He seems quite happy being a waiter."

Madam Xu was in a good mood, saying, "Children and grandchildren have their own blessings; we don't need to worry about them too much."

Previously, my second son was unsettled and traveled around studying all the time, never staying in any place for more than ten days, which was quite worrying in terms of his safety.

Her son's letters, recounting his encounters with bandits on the road, kept her awake for several nights.

Unexpectedly, Gu's Restaurant in Qinghe County managed to keep the son there.

Mrs. Xu clasped her hands together and silently prayed that her son would stay and work at Gu's Restaurant so that she wouldn't have to worry about him all the time.

Madam Xu pushed all the silver in front of Prefect Xu, saying, "Sir, take some of this money to pay for medical treatment first, and then take the rest to the yamen to distribute money. The yamen runners have it tough too; they all have to support their families."

Prefect Xu waved his hand to refuse, saying, "I don't need to see a doctor. Madam, do you think my belly has shrunk?"

Mrs. Xu looked closely for a few moments and discovered that her husband's belly had indeed shrunk. Good heavens, this was really strange.

I've seen doctors and taken a lot of medicine before, but it didn't get smaller. Now it actually got smaller.

Prefect Xu explained smugly, "Didn't the doctor say that happiness cures all ailments? I've been drinking my favorite flower tea these past few days, and I'm in a great mood. I guess it's because of this good mood that my belly has shrunk."

Madam Xu chuckled, "Then I won't argue with you anymore, and I'll make sure you're happy every day. Also, I'll brew less tea from now on, I won't drink it, I'll save it all for you."

Prefect Xu pushed the last cup of tea towards his wife: "No, we are husband and wife, we should share happiness and joy. We must drink this tea together."

The couple kept passing the tea around until it got cold, and finally they each had half a cup before it was over.

The two silver ingots on the table were pushed back and forth by the couple before finally being placed in front of Prefect Xu.

"Sir, didn't you say last time that the guards in the yamen hadn't been paid for three months? They also have wives and children to support. Quickly use this money to pay their monthly salaries."

The imperial court stipulated that the expenses of each government office should be paid from the local tax revenue.

However, all the tax revenue of Pengcheng was taken from the people and used for the people, and was used up cleanly. As a result, the soldiers of the prefecture had not been paid for three months, and Prefect Xu himself was also very strapped for cash, owing a lot of people money.

After Prefect Xu left, Madam Xu smiled and put the pearl-adorned gold hairpin back into her dressing case.

She truly never imagined that she would never enjoy the blessings of her husband in this life, but she would enjoy the blessings of her own daughter. It's not bad at all.

We should really thank Mr. Su, who suggested that my daughter open an inn, but unfortunately Qinghe County is too far away.

Well then, I'll send some festive gifts to that Miss Su during the New Year holidays.

Madam Xu's head started to ache again at the thought of the New Year. The hardships of last year's New Year were still vivid in her mind. If her daughter could earn more money and send it over to make up for the monthly wages of all the yamen officials, her husband wouldn't have to be downcast and begging for money during the New Year.

\

In the backyard of Gu Ji's house, Su Qianqian was reading a letter sent by Lin, the head constable of Pengcheng.

Lin, the head constable, used to be the head constable in Qinghe County, and now he is the head constable in Pengcheng. Theoretically speaking, he has been promoted.

However, the treatment was truly disappointing.

[Miss Su, I'm sorry, there's still no news about the human trafficker Zhu Laosan...]

In his letter, Lin, the head constable, also complained to Su Qianqian that he had gone to Pengcheng to become a head constable with great joy, thinking it was a promotion, but in reality, he was having a miserable time.

The government hasn't paid out any money for three months, and the whole family is tightening their belts. If they don't get paid soon, they'll run out of food. The children are emaciated and their faces are pale from hunger. His wife is making a fuss every day, saying she wants a divorce.

Lin, the head constable, also said that Prefect Xu was far worse off than Magistrate Tang, as he spent all his money subsidizing those who couldn't afford to eat.

Don't be fooled by Magistrate Xu's potbelly; according to Wu the clerk, it's actually a sign of illness, and Magistrate Xu is reluctant to spend money on treatment even when he's sick.

Therefore, those who worked in the government offices were too embarrassed to urge Prefect Xu to distribute the money. They all hoped that Prefect Xu would make a windfall so that they could receive their money.