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

Shen Zheng's expression was somewhat moved, and she was about to speak, but Wang Guangjin did not give her a chance to speak.

"It is true that I have some knowledge, but in the end, I am just a scholar now. I cannot repay you for your kindness. The only thing my Wang family can do to help you is the rice seeds. I am willing to use the silver to help you succeed in your career!"

Great favor.

In Shen Zheng's opinion, she had no favor to Wang Guangjin.

In the case of Wang Guangjin, she was soft-hearted and took advantage of a loophole in the law, but in the final analysis, she was also making a fair judgment, and it was because there was a loophole in the law that she was able to exploit that she was able to save Wang Guangjin.

If Wang Guangjin insisted that she had done him a favor, then he would have repaid the favor long ago. In her opinion, the three thousand taels of silver and the help in raising seedlings were all repayments.

Now she and Wang Guangjin were just the county magistrate and the county landlord. She didn't want them to associate her life-saving grace with her and then demand repayment for the favor.

Shen Zheng shook her head. "Sit down first. There's no need to make our conversation so formal."

After Wang Guangjin sat down, Shen Zheng continued, "You always say that I have done you a favor, but I did not disregard the law, nor did I try my best to protect you because I was attracted by your family's property."

Without waiting for Wang Guangjin to refute, Shen Zheng continued, "Now every household in the county can grow rice. If I am credited with the great contribution, then you are second. If it weren't for the three thousand taels of silver you threw on the table that day, even if the county government wanted to dig ditches, it would be unable to do so. Even the food for everyone during the digging period was paid by your Wang family first."

"Besides, all the rice seedlings in the whole county were grown in your Wang family farm. If you insist on repaying a favor, then you have already repaid what you should repay."

The orange light of dusk shone on Shen Zheng's back. The others couldn't see her expression clearly, but what they were thinking was different from what she said.

No matter it was Wang Guangjin, Wang Wanying, Xu Zhubu or Zhao Xiu, they all felt that such a favor should not be as light as a feather as Shen Zheng said.

That was a life-saving favor, how can I just repay it once I've done that?

Wang Guangjin became a little excited when he heard this, and his eyes reflected the light of dusk, which was a little scorching.

"Sir, you said that you judged according to the law that day. I just want to ask you one question. If it was another official who judged me that day, would there still be the law of negotiating the fine for the crime?"

Shen Zheng pursed her lips and didn't want to answer.

Wang Guangjin added: "You not only saved my life, but also saved Wanying and my mother."

Wang Wanying and Lai Xi nodded in agreement.

Wang Guangjin continued, "If you hadn't saved me, my mother and sister would have lost their husbands and fathers, and would have had to deal with a murderer's son and brother."

"Sir, people's words are scary. You understand people's hearts better than I do. Please ask my mother and sister, after I was sentenced to death, how can we get the family property from the side branches and how can we survive in Tongan County?"

Wang Wanying lowered her head. Although her brother's words were cruel, they were also indisputable facts.

If her brother had died on that day, she and her mother would not be able to get any benefit from the tribe members. As an orphan with a widowed mother, they would have no money to rely on and would have to endure the rumors and gossips of others. The rest of their lives might be over at a glance.

"Sir, what my brother said is right. You not only saved him, but also saved me and my mother. My brother will sell the rice seeds to the county government, and my mother will definitely support it."

Shen Zheng understood what they meant, but she always felt like she was reaching into the Wang family's purse. She sighed and said that she had been here for half a year but still couldn't fit in.

The gap between officials and the people is really too deep.

Seeing that Shen Zheng still pursed her lips and did not answer, Wang Guangjin directly used his ultimate move.

"The rice seeds were originally provided by you, sir. In my opinion, it is a great favor for the manor to keep some of the rice seeds. If you do not agree, I will have no choice but to sell the rice seeds to local governments on my own initiative."

He still felt it was not enough, so he added: "In the name of the adults."

"You." Shen Zheng was somewhat helpless. "Why bother?"

Seeing Wang Guangjin's firm attitude, Xu Zhubu advised Shen Zheng: "Some of what Wang Guangjin said makes sense, sir, please consider it."

In this way, both sides have a way out.

Wang Guangjin's look just now made it seem as if Shen Zheng had to agree today, which put invisible pressure on her and prevented her from thinking calmly.

Wang Guangjin also felt that he was a bit radical, and said with guilt: "I was a little impatient, please don't blame me, sir. I will follow Xu Zhubu's suggestion. Please consider it. Before the rice seeds are selected in the farm, I will wait for your reply."

Shen Zheng nodded in response and breathed a sigh of relief for some reason.

It was clearly Wang Guangjin who gave her the money to help her, but for some reason, it seemed like Wang Guangjin was forcing her to pay the money.

She thought to herself that if there were outsiders present during today's conversation, they would definitely laugh at her for being stupid. Plenty of money had been delivered to her door, yet she was still acting so noble. Perhaps she had already wanted it so much.

But in her heart, what she said before must be counted.

She didn't know what to do, and inexplicably thought of Yu Zhengqing.

This elder may be able to give her the answer.

As the sky gradually darkened, the tenants in the fields walked home in twos and threes. They were different from the villagers. If there were any villagers who were greedy, they could pick some wet rice and grind it to eat today, but they couldn't. They had to wait until the autumn harvest was over and then the Wang family would distribute it to them.

Yu Zhengqing ordered people to light torches on the open space, and the county officials who had finished harvesting rice walked over there, holding their waists.

"I'm really exhausted today. I've never done such hard work since I was in high school."

"I'm afraid my colleagues are not doing much better. The three acres of land may not look big, but you'll realize how tiring it is to cut it. Ouch, I can't even stand up straight!"

"Hey, Xiao Fang, Xiao Fang! Come over here and help me! My lords, are your wrists okay?"

"Master Kong, please stop talking... If you didn't tell me, I couldn't even feel where my wrist was. Now that you've said that, ouch, not only my wrist, but my palm is also burning with pain!"

The county magistrates were envious when they saw Shen Zheng and the others sitting under the tree and chatting.

"Alas, we are old and cannot compare to Lord Shen. She is probably the most relaxed today."

"Lord Shen is now on the rise, and with Lord Yu backing him up, colleagues, please stop talking."

When everyone saw Yu Zhengqing standing in the distance waiting for them, they quickly shut their mouths.

Seeing that they had finished cutting, Shen Zheng stood up and led Xu Zhubu and Zhao Xiu over.

The flames flickered, and Yu Zhengqing's face was illuminated. He smiled and looked at everyone, "Thank you for your hard work. How do you feel about harvesting in the fields today? Can you blame me?"

Everyone was suddenly startled, thinking that Yu Zhengqing had heard what they had just said, and they hurried to flatter him.