Eat My Childless Life: The Little Fisher Girl is Poor and Fierce

Chapter 198 Magistrate Yu Hai and Magistrate Xin'an Fight

Many hands make light work, and Lin Chang'er couldn't be happier. "Of course, we must call on Uncle Li, Uncle Chen, Uncle Zheng, and the others. In addition, we will also purchase some more grain."

"Heavy rains this season will definitely affect our ability to maintain stability, and grain prices are likely to rise. At that time, the grain we have stockpiled may need to be used to stabilize grain prices first."

"Otherwise, I'm afraid that even if the people of the prefectures and counties survive the floods, they will starve to death."

Old Zhu stroked his beard. "My niece is right. I've been in business for most of my life. Of course, who wouldn't want to earn more money?"

“But I, Old Zhu, will not profit from natural disasters. My niece, you are so young yet you have such vision; your future is limitless.”

"Isn't this all thanks to the exemplary influence of our elders? We are so grateful for their support."

Lin Chang'er didn't hold back in exchanging compliments with him, which made Old Zhu's face wrinkle even more.

Then he had his servants invite Old Chen, Old Li, and Old Zheng over.

After all, the amount of money invested was not small, and the three of them were still somewhat hesitant.

Old Chen said, "My niece is right, but the flood season happens every year, and we've been through it every year. Aren't we just overreacting and making a fuss over nothing?"

Old Zheng frowned, "The grain is fine, but this quicklime..." If we don't use it later, it'll be hard to deal with!

Old Li remained silent. One of his younger relatives was now the assistant magistrate of Ninghai County. He also benefited from Lord Wu's achievements. Lord Wu came from the capital, and those who knew him understood that he was only sent to the provinces for a few years to accumulate experience before finally joining the cabinet.

Helping Lord Wu achieve some political success and cultivating a good relationship with him would greatly benefit the careers of his younger relatives.

Speaking of which, the Zhu family also has a child who is now a registrar.

Old Li thought for a moment and said, "Even Chang'er isn't afraid, so what are you afraid of? This rain isn't just falling on our area. If we don't need it, we can donate it to places that do need it!"

Old Zhu nodded, "That makes sense."

Lin Chang'er laughed and said, "How about this? If we escape unscathed this time and don't need the quicklime, I'll take it all back, so that my uncles won't have to bear this risk." After all, quicklime has more than just these two uses, so it won't end up being wasted on her.

Old Zhu waved his hand, "How can you eat this all by yourself? Uncle will share it with you."

Old Li immediately raised his hand, "Count me in."

Old Chen and Old Zheng looked at each other, and finally said sarcastically, "The way you two are acting makes us two old men look like we're being unreasonable."

"Oh well, it's best that nothing serious happened. At worst, we can just do a good deed and donate to places in need!"

The five discussed the matter further, determined the purchase quantity, and each took out their money. The task was then entrusted to Old Zhu and Old Chen.

Lin Chang'er then got up to take her leave.

Seeing that the heavy rain continued, Lao Zhu and the others did not try to stop her, but only told her to be careful on the road.

Lin Chang'er went out with a smile, bought some pastries from a pastry shop, and delivered them to the county government office.

The gatekeeper recognized her as someone who had been there before and didn't make things difficult for her. Lin Chang'er chatted with him for a bit and learned that Wu Qingfeng had taken the yamen runners to the village below early that morning.

He gave the gatekeeper some money for tea, left the snacks, and then turned back to Linshui Village.

Since returning to the county government office in the morning, Wu Qingfeng has been so busy that he hasn't even had time to drink water.

Although they reacted promptly yesterday and avoided many risks, there were always some stubborn individuals who refused to cooperate with the evacuation efforts, and some who outwardly complied but inwardly defied orders, returning to their dilapidated houses as soon as the officials left...

As fate would have it, the house collapsed last night.

Although it is said that if you don't court death, you won't die, as the head of a county, even if the responsibility cannot be traced back to him, he still has to go down to check the situation.

He didn't return to the county office until evening, completely soaked.

When the gatekeeper saw that it was the county magistrate returning, he hurriedly reported that Lin Chang'er had come and brought some snacks.

Wu Qingfeng's fatigue from a busy day vanished almost instantly, just as the constables were all starving.

He then divided the snacks among himself before going back to change his clothes and write official documents.

The constables, having received their share of the benefits, felt their pent-up resentment dissipate. After finishing their snacks, they went about their business, while others tore off the packaging and took some home for their children. In short, they had no further complaints.

The heavy rain continued for three more days, and the river rose even higher.

The message from the provincial capital has already come back, so there's no need to deliver the goods there for now.

Sihai Restaurant and Yunlai Restaurant have also suspended operations, so Lin Chang'er rarely doesn't have to get up early.

I slept in late and am having breakfast with the younger kids.

Zhou Hai rushed in, panicking, "Chang'er, Chang'er, something terrible has happened..."

Lin Chang'er had only taken a bite of her steamed bun when she heard the call. She quickly swallowed the bun after drinking some soy milk, then got up to greet the caller. "What's wrong, Uncle Hai?"

Zhou Hai took several deep breaths before saying, "Xin'an County is going to release floodwaters. Look at the water level in our river. If the upstream releases floodwaters, how can we hold on?"

Lin Chang'er sighed, realizing that things had finally come to this. "What did the county government say?"

Zhou Hai said, "The magistrate of Yuhai County refused, saying that when there was a severe drought, they had to pay money to borrow water from Xin'an County, but now that there is a flood, they think of harming them. They even got into a fight with the magistrate of Xin'an County."

“The magistrate of Xin’an County then threw up the challenge in front of Prefect Chen, saying, ‘If that’s how it is, then we won’t release the floodwaters. We’ll just wait for the flood to break through the dam and everyone will suffer.’”

Gu's mother served Zhou Hai a bowl of soy milk, saying, "Isn't this just being unreasonable?"

Lin Chang'er frowned. "What did Magistrate Wu say?"

Zhou Hai said with a bitter face, "Magistrate Wu is shrewd. He knows that the Magistrate of Xin'an County has invited the Prefect, so Hong is bound to be exposed."

"Only after those two started fighting did he step in to mediate. In the end, he repeatedly agreed to release water through one channel, saying that releasing water through one channel would gradually divert the flow and the downstream area should be able to hold on."

Lin Chang'er took a deep breath. "The magistrate of Xin'an County agreed?"

Zhou Hai took a sip of soy milk. "Magistrate Wu has stated that one hole is the bottom line. If all three holes are opened directly, the two downstream counties will suffer from flooding."

"If the magistrate of Xin'an County does not agree, there is no need to discuss it further. The people upstream are the people, and the people downstream are also the people."

"We'll go to the Golden Palace then and discuss this further."

Lin Chang'er breathed a sigh of relief. Wu Qingfeng was indeed a negotiation genius. He first raised the bar, then backed down. What could he not accept?

"Uncle Hai, why are you in such a hurry?"

Zhou Hai sighed, "Chang girl, you don't know, our Linshui Village is located in a low-lying area. Even if the upstream can hold, when it gets to our village, it will definitely flood."

Lin Chang'er closed her eyes briefly. "Did they say when the floodgates would be opened to release the floodwaters?"

Zhou Hai replied to her, "It should be today."

Lin Chang'er took another bite of the bun. "Then what are we waiting for? It takes no more than two hours to get from Xin'an County to where we enter the sea."

"Didn't we find a few caves to hide in on the mountain before? And did some minor repairs there?"

"Go and inform the brothers of the coastal defense team to get moving. Have every household pack their grain into bags, mark them, and carry them up the mountain first. Arrange for the elderly and children to evacuate as well, quickly..."