Transmigrated into a female county magistrate during a famine, leading her country to prosperity

The evening's apprenticeship banquet was particularly sumptuous, and Yu Shizhang, Liang Fu, Shen Xingjian and others also came to join in the fun.

For Yu Shizhang, Shen Zheng accepting him as his disciple is a symbol of "growing up".

Although the girl he adopted was Cui Laogui's granddaughter, fortunately Xu Zhijie was a clear-headed person and the girl was sensible. At the dinner table, she called him "Grandpa Yu" over and over again, which made him feel as if his heart was filled with honey, as if he had accepted a disciple.

When this man was happy, he liked to have a few drinks, and Shen Zheng was happy to let him drink. If he drank too much, he could just stay at the Shen Mansion at night, which was no big deal.

But when he drinks too much, he likes to speak his mind.

For example, right now——

"You are a white-eyed wolf!"

Yu Shizhang held a cup in one hand and hooked his arm around Liang Fu's shoulder with the other, accusing him non-stop: "You're an ungrateful person. You've been living for free in Tong'an County for so long, and you've even learned Shen Zheng's craftsmanship. Now you're turning your back on me?"

Hearing his harsh words, Shen Zheng felt a little sad and went up to stop him.

"Uncle, please don't..."

"Oh, let go." Yu Shizhang pushed her hand away and stared at Liang Fu intently, their eyes locked. "Old Liang, I'm going to ask you again today, will you come back to Tongan County with us?"

Countless pairs of eyes looked over, and the scene was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.

"pat-"

Xiao Yuan accidentally knocked over the cup, picked it up in a panic, and looked at Shen Zheng helplessly.

"Take Nan Shu and the others out to play, go ahead." Shen Zheng waved at them, "Be careful of mosquitoes, and don't go to the pond. We have something to talk to Grandpa Liang about."

Xiao Yuan stood up obediently, but Yu Nanshu and the others still stared at Liang Fu and refused to leave.

"Sister Shen..." Fang Ziyan pulled Shen Zheng's sleeve and said dejectedly, "We have to go back the same way we came here. We can only have more people, how can we have fewer people..."

If Grandpa Yu hadn't said it just now, he would have had no idea that Grandpa Liang might not have returned to Tongan County.

Shen Zheng patted his shoulder and comforted him, "We hope to be with Grandpa Liang, and Grandpa Liang also hopes to be with us. But we are all citizens of the Great Zhou. Sometimes, many things are difficult to give up and make choices. You go and play first, and we will talk to Grandpa Liang for a few more words. Zhao Qi——"

She called Pei Zhaoqi, and Pei Zhaoqi nodded obediently. Together with Xiao Yuan, he took Yu Nanshu and the others out.

After the children left, the hall became quiet again.

Liang Fu took a sip of wine but was reluctant to put down the cup.

He said, "Compared to the craftsmanship of Mr. Shen and I, the people from the East and West Workshops are still a little behind..."

If both of them left Beijing, the craftsmen in the East and West workshops would have to take at least half a year longer to make a detour.

More than half a year...

To put it bluntly, how many half years are there in a dynasty?

"But we agreed that as long as Shen Zheng is in Tongan County, we will retire there!" Yu Shizhang's eyes gleamed in the candlelight, "But you say you can't go back now, isn't that a betrayal of our oath..."

"I......"

Liang Fu lowered his head, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Shen Zheng was just thinking about how to start when she suddenly heard Shen Xingjian say, "I think Sir Liang should indeed go to Tongan County, but not now."

Everyone looked at him. He looked at Shen Zheng and said seriously, "Lord Shen has many wonderful ideas in his mind, like a trickling spring. How can they dry up in a day or two?"

His words woke up almost everyone.

Yu Shizhang put down his wine glass with a thud and asked Shen Zheng, "Are you hiding anything? Are there any... new tools you haven't brought out yet?"

Shen Zheng sat down, full of confidence: "Not to mention a thousand or eight hundred, but eight hundred and ten is definitely there."

Yu Shizhang glanced at Liang Fu, no longer feeling melancholy. "Some people... can't make sense of things. They lose the big picture because of the small details. Who can I blame?"

"I......"

Liang Fu's face turned red with embarrassment, and he felt like a real villain who forgot his principles for the sake of profit.

After taking another sip of wine, he told the truth: "I have thought about leaving Tongan County as soon as the craftsmen in the East and West Workshops can handle things on their own. But I'm afraid..."

"What are you afraid of?" Yu Shizhang frowned in confusion.

"I'm afraid if I don't go back with you this time, you won't welcome me anymore."

Liang Fu lowered his voice, but the helplessness in his tone was obvious. "I feel like I've betrayed everyone. How can I still have the face to do this..."

Thinking about the "hundred and eighty" that Shen Zheng had just mentioned, he added, "Actually, I know that Lord Shen has a lot of ideas. If I could stay in Tongan County and stay by Lord Shen's side, not to mention getting promoted or making money, how much could I learn? I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to finish it in my lifetime."

"But that's exactly why I'm so conflicted. I don't want you to think that I went to Tongan County, to Lord Shen, just to steal what's in Lord Shen's head..."

After that, everyone fell silent.

Until Yu Shizhang said "Huh", "Why didn't I realize before that you, an old man, have so many thoughts?"

Even more thoughtful than the girl in the sedan chair!

What is "betrayal" and what is "stealing"?

"It's really inexplicable!" Yu Shizhang leaned the back of his hand against his forehead, his tone much lighter than before, "Lao Liang, are you suffering from a mental illness? Didn't Lao Li say that old men and women don't eat enough salt, so they like to think about all sorts of things. They need to make up for it!"

Liang Fu slowly raised his head, "You don't think so?"

Yu Shizhang looked at Shen Zheng, then back at him: "In your mind, are we so narrow-minded? Shen Zheng, you tell me."

Shen Zheng filled Liang Fu's and her own wine cups, and they clinked together with a "ding" sound.

Amidst the clear echo, she said, "What's in my head originally came from the Great Zhou. If I hadn't discussed it with you, how could it have become real? So... whenever you come to Tong'an County, we welcome you."

She couldn't help but think of the days in the blast furnace room, her eyes filled with nostalgia: "Those days when we were burning glass, we worked day and night. If it weren't for you, how could I have managed to hold on by myself?"

Liang Fu blinked: "Really?"

But during that period, it was clear that she was always comforting herself.

"Of course." Shen Zheng raised her head and drank the wine, then smiled and said, "But I want to say a few more words."

"If you think like that, it means you haven't considered Tongan County your home, your family. Just to be honest, who in this world would be afraid of being rejected if they were to return home? Who would repeatedly wonder in their heart if they could go home? So you shouldn't think like that. Why don't you... punish yourself with a drink?"

The candlelight in the hall burned brighter and brighter, and Liang Fu's voice began to choke.

"Fine, fine, three cups!"

Yu Shizhang filled his cups with three glasses, which he drank without even taking a breath.

"Now I can go home with peace of mind."