After ten years of accompanying me in my studies, the entire court begged me to shut up.

In the early morning, snowflakes began to fall again.

Zhang Shi was old and only slept for two hours a day.

Shunzi brought in hot water and helped him wash up.

"Sir, shall we go to the county government office now?"

Zhang Shi wiped his face and glanced out the window: "Let's just take a walk today."

The two left the Wu family residence and walked slowly along the streets and alleys.

The snowfall was light, melting as soon as it hit the ground, leaving the bluestone path damp.

By this time, the street was already filled with people—those carrying loads, pushing carts, and carrying baskets—all busy with their own tasks.

Shunzi hunched his neck and looked around: "Sir, Wuqing County is quite lively."

Zhang Shi didn't speak, his gaze sweeping over the shops on the street.

He walked a few dozen steps forward, sniffed the air, and asked, "What is that? It smells so good!"

A shed with a few benches and a large pot steaming by the roadside.

Seven or eight people were sitting under the shed, engrossed in eating.

Zhang Shi stopped and smelled the aroma, then suddenly felt hungry.

"Let's go take a look."

The two walked to the bottom of the shed and found an empty bench to sit down.

The stall owner, a woman in her forties wearing an apron, briskly greeted customers: "We have duck blood soup and sesame seed cakes. Would you two gentlemen like to order?"

Knowing his master's preferences, Shunzi said, "Two bowls of duck blood soup and ten sesame seed cakes."

"Okay!"

In a short while, two steaming bowls of duck blood soup were served. The soup was clear and bright, the duck blood was tender and smooth, and it was sprinkled with chopped green onions and pepper. The sesame flatbread was fresh out of the oven, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with the aroma of roasted sesame seeds.

Shunzi took a bite of the sesame seed cake, then a sip of soup, and nodded repeatedly, "Sir, this tastes really good!"

Zhang Shi also took a bite and said slowly, "This duck blood soup and sesame seed cake were originally Nanjing specialties. Later, when Emperor Yongle moved the capital, he brought them to the north, and they gradually became popular."

Shunzi gave a perfunctory reply and buried his head in his food.

Gradually, more and more people gathered around, and the area under the shed became full of people.

Some were carrying hoes, some were pushing wheelbarrows, and they were all dressed in coarse cloth.

As Zhang Shi ate, he secretly observed these people, and couldn't help but mutter to himself.

Wuqing County was not considered wealthy in Shuntian Prefecture, unlike the prosperous areas in Jiangnan.

But the fact that so many people are having breakfast outside so early in the morning means they have some spare cash.

It's important to understand that for the lowest-class people in the Ming Dynasty, being able to eat a steamed bun and a couple of bites of pickled vegetables every day was already considered quite good.

To be able to eat duck blood soup and sesame seed cakes on the street, one must have a stable source of income.

"Excuse me, could you share a table with me?"

Just then, a thin man came over with a bowl, sat down opposite him, and started eating voraciously.

Zhang Shi glanced at him and casually asked, "Brother, where are you headed so early?"

The man, his mouth stuffed with a sesame seed cake, mumbled, "Road repair!"

Zhang Shi was taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening.

I'm here to investigate the road repair issue.

He put down his chopsticks and asked casually, "Road repair? A form of forced labor conscripted by the government?"

The man shook his head and swallowed the food in his mouth: "It's not conscription, it's hiring. Twenty coins a day, plus lunch. If I work a full month, that's six hundred coins, enough for my whole family to eat for three months."

Zhang Shi nodded slightly: "That's not bad."

The man took a sip of soup and continued, "It's more than just good! Let me tell you, in the past, we couldn't even feed ourselves after a year of farming in this area. Last year, the riverbank collapsed, and all my land was flooded, resulting in a complete crop failure. If it weren't for the new county magistrate coming, my whole family would have starved to death long ago."

As he spoke, a look of gratitude appeared on his face: "You have no idea, our county magistrate truly works for the people, it's just a pity..."

Zhang Shi asked, "What's a pity?"

The man sighed, "I heard this road will be finished in another month. I was thinking, wouldn't it be great if they could keep building it forever! Twenty yuan a day, plus a meal—where else can you find such a good deal?"

Zhang Shi paused for a moment, then asked, "Do you think the new magistrate is good to you?"

The man couldn't help but slam his hand on the table and said, "It's more than just good! You have no idea, sir, this county magistrate sent by the imperial court is truly dedicated to serving us common people! Besides repairing roads, a huge workshop has been set up across the Hun River, covering tens of thousands of acres. Last year, when there was a great flood, many of us here were homeless and on the verge of starvation. We only survived after going to that workshop... that workshop..."

He suddenly lowered his voice and leaned closer: "That workshop is the Crown Prince's business! The Crown Prince isn't short of money, so why would he set up a workshop? Isn't it His Majesty's idea? It shows that His Majesty cares about the people of Wuqing County! His Majesty replaced that corrupt magistrate who only knew how to make money and did nothing else with a new magistrate who actually got things done. We, the people, remember this kindness!"

Zhang Shi listened quietly and remained silent for a long time.

He looked down at the duck blood soup in the bowl; the soup had long since cooled, and a thin layer of oil floated on top.

The man finished the last sip of soup, wiped his mouth, and said, "It's time to get to work. Please enjoy your meal."

After saying that, he stood up and strode away.

Zhang Shi stared at his retreating figure, his gaze complex.

Shunzi whispered, "Sir, the soup is cold. Shall I get you a hot bowl?"

Zhang Shi shook his head, picked up the bowl, and drank the cooled soup sip by sip.

Then he stood up: "Let's go!"

Shunzi pulled out a few copper coins and threw them on the table before quickly following after him.

At the street corner, Yang Shen and Wang Shouren stood under the eaves of a building, watching Zhang Shi's back from afar.

Standing next to them was another man, Wang Er, the same man who had spoken to Zhang Shi earlier.

Wang Shouren withdrew his gaze and looked at Yang Shen: "Yang, is this the method you mentioned?"

Yang Shen nodded: "That's right!"

Wang Shouren paused for a moment: "I thought you didn't know how to use tricks."

Yang Shen laughed: "What kind of trick is this? Every word Wang Er said was true. He didn't lie or exaggerate; he was just expressing the people's true thoughts through his words."

He paused, then added, "This isn't a tactic; it's called publicity."

Wang Er rubbed his hands together, then approached with a fawning expression: "Boss, how did I do just now?"

Yang Shen glanced at him and said, "It's passable, but there's still a lot of room for improvement. For example, when you speak, you're too organized. How can a peasant who can't read a single word speak so eloquently? And most importantly, the locals don't say 'I don't know,' they say 'I know but don't know'!"

Wang Er slapped his forehead: "Oh dear, I forgot! I'll definitely remember next time!"

Yang Shen waved his hand: "Alright, you can go back now."

Wang Er responded and scurried off.

Wang Shouren watched his retreating figure and suddenly asked, "Yang, do you think it will work?"

As Yang Shen watched Zhang Shi's figure gradually disappear, he said, "Did he have a look of loss on his face just now?"

Wang Shouren recalled carefully: "It was too far away for me to see clearly."

Yang Shen murmured, "I think I saw it..."