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

After leaving the Xianhuan Club, Shen Zheng took a car to Bashang.

As soon as she entered the dam, she felt that the atmosphere there was a bit strange.

The laborers who used to chatter a lot were now working silently. Zeng Tongshi and a few others were sitting in the shed, arguing about something in low voices. When they saw her coming, they all stopped talking.

"What happened?" Shen Zheng asked as she approached.

Zeng Tongshi opened his mouth, as if thinking about how to start.

Shen Zheng tilted her head with a puzzled look.

"Please sit down first." Zeng Tongshi brought her a stool and said hesitantly, "The laborers said... when they came to the dam at dawn today, they heard some strange noises."

"Mao Shi?"

"It's the morning hour," Zeng Tongshi said. "They decided to start work an hour and a half earlier today, so they arrived at the dam before the morning hour."

A gentle breeze brushed past her ears. Shen Zheng gathered her hair and asked directly, "What's that strange sound?"

"I didn't actually hear anything..." Zeng Tongshi frowned, recalling the descriptions given by the laborers. "They said it sounded like a baby crying, a beast roaring, or a startled duck quacking."

Shen Zheng's fingers moved slightly, and she confirmed, "Did they hear correctly?"

Zeng Tongshi wasn't sure. "They were telling the truth, but none of us arrived earlier than them. By the time we reached the dam, the noise had stopped, yet they insisted they'd heard it. Everyone said it was a sound they'd never heard before, and the rumors were so eerie that I ordered them to stop spreading the story, but it had little effect."

For most people, the unknown equals fear.

The workers didn't dare to publicize the news right now, but after they left the dam, who knew what kind of rumors would spread. It would definitely do more harm than good to the dam. If someone with ulterior motives picked it up and made a fuss about it...

Zeng Tongshi couldn't stop worrying.

Shen Zheng's eyes moved slightly as she looked at the fields on the other side of the river.

A baby crying, a beast roaring, a duck quacking...it all sounds so familiar.

Could this prove that the voice she heard when she entered the city last night...wasn't an auditory hallucination?

If this is cooked well, it is a real treat.

but......

For the current Great Zhou, this thing is definitely an invasive species. If there is no human intervention, this year's rice fields... will probably suffer.

Seeing her lost in thought, Zeng Tongshi called out softly, "Master Shen?"

Shen Zheng looked at him, and he asked again: "How should we deal with this matter? If it is really as strange as the workers said, it might be detrimental to the dam."

The others also looked over, "Master Shen, none of us are as smart as you. What do you think we should do? We'll do as you say!"

If the Huihe Dam can be built smoothly, everyone present will benefit, so they are also the ones who least want the project to be hindered.

"Calm down for a moment," Shen Zheng said calmly. "Existence is reasonable. Since it appeared by the dam, it must have been born and raised naturally. Rumors stop with the wise. A scholar does not speak of strange things, supernatural forces, chaos, or gods. You are all learned people, so don't let yourselves be frightened."

Everyone was stunned, then came to their senses.

Many stories about ghosts and monsters seem to be true, but if they are honest, they have never seen them with their own eyes.

After taking the reassurance given by Shen Zheng, everyone felt a little relieved and waited for her to speak.

"Since many people have claimed to have heard it, I will leave later tonight and come back early tomorrow to see if I can encounter it. If I do, I will lead my men to capture it and see what this new creature is."

Zeng Tongshi was the first to disagree, "Sir Shen, there are so many of us here, how can we let you capture it alone? I'll stay with you!"

The others were torn between conscience and desire, and after a moment, they felt a stiffness in their necks. "We'll stay with you too!"

With so many men, how could they let Lord Shen take the lead?

That's too cowardly! Telling it to others would be so embarrassing!

Shen Zheng was silent for a moment.

Her guess was probably right. It wasn't difficult to catch that thing, it just required some method and technique. If Zeng Tongshi and the others stayed behind, not only would it cause trouble, but it would also be inconvenient for her to demonstrate her catching skills, after all, it was her "first time seeing it".

"I'd better stay here," she refused. "Too many people will make too much noise. If we scare that thing away, it won't come out, which will waste time."

The others were slightly shaken, but Zeng Tongshi, the stubborn one, kept shaking his head.

"There might be danger. I have to go with you, otherwise my conscience will be uneasy."

The two stared at each other for a moment, and Shen Zheng compromised: "Then Master Zeng and I will stay, so we can take care of each other."

Zeng Tongshi smiled happily, and the others were silent for a while and then stood up.

"I'll go prepare some common capture tools."

"I'll go get the tinder and the oil lamp."

"I'm going back to the city to get some strong medicine. If the situation gets out of hand, you two must spray the medicine and run. Your own safety is the most important thing."

Shen Zheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry: "It's not that serious. There are guards stationed on the dam, so you can rest assured."

After everyone left, Shen Zheng went to the tool shed to look for Mr. Qiao.

Beside Mr. Qiao, besides Cheng Yu, there were a few unfamiliar faces. They were people sent by the Ministry of Industry to "learn technology". When they saw her coming, they all bowed and greeted her.

Shen Zheng looked at the tools in the shed and said, "There are eight of us in total. If we divide the work properly, we can assemble these labor-saving tools today and then make the fan tomorrow."

Everyone in the Ministry of Works nodded quickly, fearing that Shen Zheng would go back on her word.

They have heard how useful these tools are. If Lord Shen is willing to teach them a little bit, they might be able to make a name for themselves in the Ministry of Works.

This is a great opportunity that you can’t find even with a lantern, so you must seize it!

Shen Zheng took out the blueprint and assigned tasks to everyone in turn. After the division of labor was completed, they officially began to assemble the tools.

When you focus on your work, time always flies by. By the time they finished installing the simple jack, it was already time for dinner.

The laborers started working early and had already had lunch and were taking a break, so they just happened to eat at a different time.

Just as he reached the kitchen, the guard at the dam entrance came to report: "Master Shen, there is a young man named Chang outside the dam who wants to see you."

"Surname Chang?"

Shen Zheng looked up, and although the distance was a bit far, she was still sure that the person coming was indeed Chang Yue'er.

"Please ask him to come in." She turned to the waiter and said, "Hander, please add another set of bowls and chopsticks."

Old Qiao glanced at the dam entrance several times, elbowed Shen Zheng several times, and winked, "Who is it? Have you found your way to the dam?"

"...someone from the Xianhuan Society." Shen Zheng said helplessly, "It's just official business. Don't act like there's something going on every time a man appears near me. He's probably the Fifth Elder's chosen grandson-in-law."

I don’t know if Diwu Tanwei has met Chang Yueer?

Old Qiao curled his lips and said, "I haven't said anything yet. Oh, by the way, when I went to wash my hands just now, I heard those laborers making some weird noises. What weird noises? As soon as they saw me, they shut up, as if I couldn't stand it."

"It's nothing serious." Shen Zheng changed the subject, "Just focus on your work. Lord Yue said that after the tools and fans on the dam are installed, he would like to invite you to teach at the Ministry of Works for two days. You will be paid generously."

When Old Qiao heard this, his eyes lit up and he coughed lightly, "Whether I get paid or not is not important. The main thing is, I want to carry forward the spirit of craftsmanship of the Great Zhou Dynasty."