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

"Ah......"

Hu Likai was sitting in the tea room, thinking of what Shen Zheng said to him before she left, and suddenly smiled.

He took out a jade hairpin from his bosom and asked, "Lanzhi, if you were still here, you would definitely want me to sell you rice seeds at a fair price, right?"

He took out a brocade handkerchief, wiped the jade hairpin carefully, and said:

"You always say that we are in the grain business, and we are unscrupulous. We have to look at the market conditions for every bite of food, and we don't care if someone starves to death in front of our door. But... I have to support my family, and I have to support you too."

The waiter lifted the door curtain from the outside and was about to come in, but when he saw the jade hairpin in the man's hand, he stopped and walked out.

Hu Likai acted as if he hadn't noticed him and continued talking to Yu Zan:

"In fact, when selling grain seeds this time, Lord Shen had me at the bottom of the pile from the beginning. She sold them at a low price in the county government, and I couldn't get a very high price. Besides, Wang Guangjin, that kid..."

"Haha, don't you think that guy is stupid? He didn't make any money from tens of thousands of taels of silver and sold the rice seeds to the county government! If he hadn't done that, my rice seeds would have been able to sell for a little more money."

"Now there is Lord Shen and Wang Guangjin..."

"Alas, it's difficult, it's difficult - I can only earn a little hard-earned money from it... Actually, it's not a small amount, it's the money that your husband couldn't earn in the past few years. Haha, I was just greedy. Although it's not as much as expected, you should be happy to see it over there, right?"

"Just think of it as doing good deeds. I'll earn less, so that those who have received favors from us can be treated better by their ancestors over there."

He rubbed the jade hairpin on his heart again and said nostalgically:

"Your smile is more beautiful than flowers, really... I really want to see you again."

......

After Shen Zheng parted with Zhou Lizheng and others, she went to Manniang Teahouse with familiarity.

"Coming?"

Man Niang put down the rag, came over with a smile, and asked her, "What would you like to drink today, my lady?"

Shen Zheng swallowed the "old style" that came out of her mouth. After a pause, she said, "Sister Lao, give me a cup of thick-stemmed old tea."

Man Niang tilted her head in confusion: "The worst tea, why drink it? It's bitter and astringent, the workers in the town don't like to drink it, they have to collect money to buy a cup of tea. If you have money in your pocket... No, didn't you just get a reward from the higher-ups?"

Shen Zheng smiled and said, "I've drunk too much other teas, and they always taste the same. My mouth doesn't taste good. Let's try a different flavor today."

She was actually afraid that she would stay in a "high position" for too long and forget what it meant to be a "common people".

"Okay, I'll serve it to you if you want. Wait a moment——"

Man Niang brought her a plate of melon seeds and said, "It's free, eat them."

Shen Zheng smiled helplessly.

It seems that my image as a miser has been too deeply rooted in people's minds.

While she was eating free melon seeds, she looked around and took in the layout of the Manniang Teahouse.

Man Niang had said before that she rented the rooms at the back and connected them together, so her "small teahouse" was actually not small.

Moreover, the teahouse is in a suitable geographical location, close to the main street and full of life atmosphere.

After making tea, Man Niang lifted the curtain and walked out. Her heart softened when she saw Shen Zheng's expression.

"Are you rushing me here? Who would rush to give money to someone?"

She handed the cup of coarse tea to Shen Zheng, and placed another cup of fragrant tea in front of her.

"This old tea is too bitter, it's full of stalks. If you can't drink it, don't force yourself, drink new tea to rinse your mouth."

Shen Zheng looked at the two identical teacups in front of her, smiled helplessly, and pushed a cup in front of Man Niang.

"It's not reasonable for me to drink two cups by myself. Please sit down, sister."

"Are you really here to urge me?"

Man Niang was not polite either. She lifted her skirt and sat opposite Shen Zheng.

After she sat down, she did not talk about business, but instead talked about the scene on the day when Shen Zheng was rewarded.

"How generous! Those officials are also riding on tall horses, just like divine soldiers descending from the sky, giving you full face."

"It's true. When you came here that day, I forgot to congratulate you. Today's tea and snacks are my gift to you."

Shen Zheng saw her talking around and knew that she hadn't made up her mind yet, but...

"Opportunities don't wait for anyone, and you know that, sister."

Seeing that she couldn't escape, Man Niang could only twist the handkerchief in her hand, frowning and keeping silent.

She twisted the handkerchief into a lot of wrinkles before she was willing to let go and said:

"I know you're doing this for my own good. Many people would fight to get such a good opportunity, but you're just thinking about that day when I was so proud of you calling me sister and we became friends..."

Shen Zheng picked up the old tea and took a sip. The bitter taste instantly spread throughout her mouth.

She looked at Man Niang quietly, waiting for her next words.

"It's not that I don't want to do it. This is true. Who doesn't want to do a job that can make money? I just miss Ali..."

"It's fine to just run a teahouse now. People who come to drink tea are all local residents. They know about Ah Li's past and are especially considerate of her. Even if Ah Li accidentally spilled tea on them, they would still say happily, "It's okay." But..."

"But if the people coming and going are all strangers, officials or businessmen, you say, how can Ali handle it? Besides, she is pretty, otherwise her father would not be able to sell her for a high price. If...if..."

Man Niang thought of this and began to twist her handkerchief again.

"Sir, I really don't know how to choose. Can you... teach me?"

She looked at Shen Zheng for help.

Shen Zheng discovered more than once that beneath Man Niang's carefree appearance, there was a soft heart.

He was willing to gamble the rest of his life for a girl who was not related to him by blood.

Why not the second half of life?

Man Niang is still unmarried at her age, and is considered an "old maid" among "old maids" by others.

But she was beautiful and had a small business, so she was actually very popular among the girls, and many people asked matchmakers to propose marriage to her.

But in the end, nothing happened.

Because the other party couldn't accept that the beautiful Man Niang had a half-grown "daughter" - Ali.

A "daughter" who is not related by blood, eat her food and use her things.

It sounds better when it comes from a neighbor - Miss Man is kind-hearted, she is the reincarnation of the lotus under the Bodhisattva's seat, and good people will be rewarded.

But in the mouths of matchmakers and "blind dates", it is different.

——He has a beautiful appearance but is also a brainless person who keeps girls for others.

If you raise someone else's girl, who can say for sure whether she will be willing to have children of her own in the future?