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

I left the office at the hour of You (5-7 PM).

As soon as Shen Zheng stepped out of the government office, she saw Meng Huailin standing outside, with Yu Nanshu and Cui Jinyin staring at him menacingly.

"Why are you here?" Shen Zheng walked towards Yu Nanshu and the other girl. "Did you leave school early?"

Cui Jinyin tilted her head toward Shen Zheng, but her eyes were fixed on Meng Huailin: "Teacher, we've been leaving school early these past few days to wait for you at the government office so we can go home together."

They wouldn't allow the Meng family to pester the teacher or take advantage of her!

Shen Zheng smiled and shook her head, about to speak, when Meng Huailin stepped forward: "Lord Shen..."

“Young Master Meng.” Shen Zheng nodded, glanced back at Yu Shizhang and Xu Yunyan who had arrived, and said, “Do you have time? Let’s find a place to talk.”

Meng Huailin's eyes suddenly lit up.

Could it be... that my second sister has come to her senses?!

A surge of immense joy overwhelmed him.

He nodded hurriedly, "Okay, okay! Which restaurant would you like to eat at? Brother... I'll send someone to make a reservation right away!"

“I’ve already arranged a place.” Yu Shizhang came to Shen Zheng’s side. “Wanxiang Garden in the west of the city, let’s go.”

Shen Zheng was slightly surprised upon hearing this, but she suppressed her reaction. It wasn't until she sat down in the carriage that she couldn't help but ask, "Lord, did you book a place in advance?"

After Yu Shizhang sat down, he smiled and said, "Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? We need to take the initiative and make things clear with the Meng family as soon as possible, to avoid any unforeseen complications, right?"

Shen Zheng nodded.

That's the truth.

Whether she was Meng Er or not, she didn't want to keep the Meng family hanging.

This is just like a couple breaking up; it's better for both of you to make a decision sooner rather than later.

Thinking about it, she discussed with Yu Shizhang some words that they could use later. Before they knew it, the carriage drove through the bustling main street and slowly arrived at Wanxiang Garden.

Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop, the servants were already prepared to greet it, and even the carriage benches were ready.

Shen Zheng stepped off the carriage on a small stool. When the servant saw her face clearly, he was startled for a moment, but immediately composed himself and bowed, saying, "Please come in, honored guest."

"Let's go." Yu Shizhang stepped across the threshold.

The group walked around the lake stone screen wall, through the bamboo path, and across the stone arch bridge to a waterside pavilion built by the pond.

The lotus blooming season has passed, and now only a few withered lotus leaves float on the surface of the pond. At first glance, it looks rather desolate, but upon closer inspection, one can see red carp swimming through the withered branches, adding a touch of life to this barren lotus pond.

"Everyone, take a seat."

After everyone entered the waterside pavilion, Yu Shizhang displayed the demeanor of a patriarch.

He called for the servants to serve the dishes, and then said, "Zheng'er, please sit down. Meng family members, you may also sit down."

Meng Huailin and Meng Zhu slowly sat down, but neither dared to sit properly.

After the waiter finished serving the dishes and left the pavilion, Yu Shizhang picked up his chopsticks first: "Let's talk about what we have to say while we eat. Let's make things clear today."

Meng Huailin's hand holding the chopsticks suddenly froze, and a bad premonition rose in his heart: "Lord, what do you mean by that...?"

"That means Zheng'er has no relation to the Meng family." Yu Shizhang used serving chopsticks to put a piece of candied lotus root on Shen Zheng's plate, and said bluntly, "After this meal, you should discuss when to set off back to Yanzhou."

Meng Huailin's mind went blank.

After a long pause, he finally came to his senses: "Uncle, you must be joking... Lord Shen's features are six or seven parts similar to mine, how could he not be related to the Meng family?"

He doesn't understand.

Blood relatives are the closest relationships in the world.

Even though my second sister has been missing for so many years, they still share the same blood in their veins. How can you say they have no relation?

"You mean, you're so sure that Zheng'er is related to your Meng family just because her eyes and eyebrows are similar?" Yu Shizhang took a bite of food, swallowed slowly, and said, "In this vast world, let alone people with similar eyes and eyebrows, there are people who look exactly alike but have no blood relation."

Meng Huailin shook his head violently: "No, Lord, this is different."

Yu Shizhang put down his chopsticks: "What's different?"

“Lord Shen is twenty-five this year, and his age matches!” Meng Huailin looked at Shen Zheng, his voice urgent: “And the location, Lord Shen, didn’t you grow up in the suburbs of the capital? I also said last night that the half of the broken jade was found at the border between Yanzhou and Shangjing. Isn’t that enough to prove something?”

Shen Zheng chewed on the candied lotus root and shook her head.

Yu Shizhang spoke up for her again: "Did your Meng family go to the capital to search for them back then?"

Meng Huailin nodded: "Yes! Yes! When my second sister went missing, my father and mother were very anxious. After finding the jade pendant, my father even led a team..."

As he spoke, he suddenly froze.

Yu Shizhang laughed: "You've figured it out? I wonder if you inquired before coming to Liuyang Prefecture that Zheng'er's background wasn't a secret back in the western suburbs, and the neighbors all knew she was adopted. If that's the case, why didn't your father find her back then?"

Meng Huailin seemed to be frozen in place, his entire body stiffening and unable to move.

It wasn't until Mengzhu gently tugged at his sleeve that he snapped out of his reverie: "Perhaps...perhaps Father didn't find the western suburbs back then, and that's why he missed it..."

Yu Shizhang picked up his chopsticks again: "Listen to yourself, do you have any confidence when you say that?"

Meng Huailin had to admit that Yu Shizhang's words made some sense.

But when he saw Shen Zheng's eyes, his slightly wavering heart became firm again.

“Lord, there must be some misunderstanding.” He took a deep breath. “Back then… Father did lead people to the capital to look for Second Sister’s whereabouts, but Second Sister’s disappearance is a mystery. Perhaps someone deliberately obstructed and interfered, which is why Father was unable to find Second Sister in the western suburbs.”

Yu Shizhang frowned slightly.

Cui Jinyin couldn't take it anymore and slammed her chopsticks down: "Do you think whatever you say goes? So, according to you, no matter whether you can produce evidence or not, my teacher has to change her surname to Meng and become a member of the Meng family?"

Yu Nanshu nodded in agreement: "Then I might have lost an older sister before, who also happened to be in the capital. Sister Shen should change her surname to Yu."

Yu Zheng...

After reading it aloud in secret, Yu Nanshu's eyes lit up.

It sounds pretty good!

Not wanting to offend anyone around Shen Zheng, Meng Huailin quickly waved his hand: "No, I had no intention of forcing Lady Shen. It's just that from the first moment I saw her, I knew she must be..."

"Stop." Yu Shizhang raised his hand to interrupt his "family reunion speech": "Since you are so sure, go back to Yanzhou to find evidence. I only have one thing to say today: if you can't produce evidence, then there's no point in talking about anything else."

Meng Huailin's face gradually turned deathly pale.

evidence......

His father only gave him a few words of advice before passing away.

If he has other evidence, why wouldn't he bring it up?

The waterside pavilion fell silent.

"clatter--"

"Snapped--"

A red carp leaped out of the pond, creating ripples.