Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 495 This year's number one scholar, his surname is Li

Shen Yu has been feeling bored staying at home these days.

The restaurants have been closed for the past few days, and although there is no shortage of food, the city gates are closed, and the guests in the inn cannot leave even if they want to take a detour, and they are very anxious.

I always go out to check every day, but I never get any good news.

The neighbors around had nothing to do. Only the lobby of Fengnian Inn was spacious with many seats, so everyone gathered here to exchange all kinds of gossip.

Suddenly, the lobby of Fengnian Inn became much more lively than usual, and it was like a small activity center.

Speaking of the victims outside the city wall, everyone felt sorry for them, but because the city gates were closed, even if they wanted to collect some food to send over, the gates would not be opened.

Although Shen Yu knew that the county magistrate and his men did this to ensure the safety of the people in the county, he still felt that they should not turn a blind eye and leave the victims to fend for themselves.

Early that morning, Shen Yu was sitting there in a daze, but unexpectedly the county magistrate sent someone to look for her.

When he arrived at the county government office, Shen Yu heard that they were going to set up a porridge stall to provide relief to the victims and that Fengnian Restaurant would be the one to run it. Shen Yu agreed without hesitation.

She also said that this was a great thing and her family did not need any compensation.

But I also earnestly request the county magistrate to allow the merchants who want to leave the city to leave freely. They are waiting to deliver goods and would rather take a long detour than wait here until the water in the neighboring county recedes before leaving.

The county magistrate didn't understand this, so he looked at Master Qian.

Master Qian thought about it and asked the guests staying in the inn about their plans.

It is indeed faster to take a detour than to wait for the water to recede.

Master Qian discussed with the county magistrate for a while and said that they would write a notice and post it immediately. Any merchant who wanted to leave the city could come to the county government to get a pass and then leave the city.

After hearing this, Shen Yu hurriedly thanked the county magistrate on behalf of the merchants, and then discussed the location and time of setting up the porridge stall with Master Qian.

As a result of the discussion, the county government sent people to transport the equipment for cooking porridge and set it up.

As for rice, the county government has already made arrangements with the grain store. Shen Yu can go directly to the grain store to get the amount he needs every day. The grain store will settle the bill with the county government based on the receipt signed by Shen Yu.

Then the county government would allocate a large cart and a driver to Shen Yu to use to transport rice and grain every day.

As for firewood, Master Qian had already instructed Hong Sanlang, who delivered firewood to the county government every day, to also deliver firewood to Shen Yu every day.

After discussing these, Shen Yu hurried back to the restaurant.

When the merchants in the inn heard the good news that they could leave the city, they all thanked Shen Yu profusely. After quickly paying their bills, they rushed to the county government office to apply for passes.

When Li and her friends learned about the plan to set up a porridge stall, they all thought it was a great good deed. After discussing it for a while, they decided to split into two groups and take turns going to the city wall to cook porridge and make cakes.

The news of setting up a porridge stall quickly spread from the lobby of Fengnian Inn. Everyone said that if they needed help, Shen Yu should just let them know and they would be happy to help.

In this way, two large pots for cooking porridge and a simple chopping board stove for making cakes were set up under the city gate of Anping County.

Three meals a day were provided starting from that afternoon. Each person could get a bowl of porridge and a piece of pancake half the size of a palm.

Although some people with big appetites may not be able to eat enough, at least they don’t have to worry about going hungry.

Every morning, Shen Yu brought the people from the restaurant and the kind-hearted people to help, and went to the city gate to distribute porridge.

She worked conscientiously and generously. Under her supervision, all the rice received from the grain store was made into food. The porridge she cooked would not fall over when chopsticks were inserted into it, and the cakes she cooked would not fall apart when cut with a knife.

The county magistrate and Mr. Qian brought people to inspect the area twice. The victims were all grateful and discussed making an umbrella for the people to give to the county magistrate after the water receded and they returned home.

He also praised Miss Shen who came to cook porridge every day.

They said she was beautiful and kind, a very good girl. They had eaten rice porridge at the temple before, but they had never tasted such thick and clean rice porridge, nor had they eaten such fragrant baked bread.

Ten days later, good news finally came from the neighboring county. The water in the flooded areas began to recede, the roads were open, and the victims packed up their luggage and began to return home in groups.

Shen Yu finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the last disaster victim pick up his luggage, thank him and leave.

Although these days were very hard, we finally completed the task assigned by the county magistrate and completed the porridge relief work from beginning to end.

After the road was opened, news from all over the country also flowed smoothly.

I heard that it has rained in many places during this period, and several counties have suffered.

This section of the canal in Anping County has always been prone to accidents in previous years because of its sharp bend. However, this year it has become a blessed place that is envied by magistrates of surrounding counties.

Not only did the dam not collapse, but there was also enough energy to provide relief to the surrounding disaster victims, allowing them to return home safely. This year, the performance evaluation of the Anping County Magistrate will definitely be excellent.

Counting the days, it was already past May 18th, the day of the palace examination in the capital.

In other words, the winner of this year's top scorer has already been announced, but due to a lack of information, Anping County is still unaware of the result.

Ten days passed in a blink of an eye. With the restoration of the roads and the reopening of the city gates, Anping County regained its former vitality.

Merchants from the north and south began to move around the market again.

When a businessman from the capital talked about this year's imperial examination, everyone finally knew that this year's top scorer was named Li.

Li Zhuangyuan is over thirty years old and has a handsome face. Although he is not a young man, he is also a handsome and elegant gentleman.

When people were discussing this, they saw Li sitting next to them and joked, "Madam Li, this year's number one scholar has the same surname as you. I wonder if you are from the same clan?"

When Li heard that the number one scholar was named Li, she felt like she had lost a gold ingot. She didn't know who to tell about her sadness.

Hearing everyone's jokes, he could only force a smile, saying that there were many customers today and he was a little tired, then he got up and went back to the small courtyard in front of the restaurant.

Soon, Shen Yu also knew the news, but she was not very sad, as this was also what she expected.

Although Lu Lang had good grades in the past and had passed the provincial examination at a young age, he was not a gifted young man, so it was not easy for him to become the top scorer.

Seeing Li's dejected look, she smiled and comforted her, "Mother, don't be sad. At worst, we can see each other again."

"If I really can't find a good husband, I won't get married. It's good to be with you forever."