On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

"Long live His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Master Qingtian!"

Inside the Hu County government office, the doors and windows were tightly closed, but they could not block out the roaring and sea-like noise outside.

Those words filled with enthusiasm, gratitude and new hope were like a surging tide, penetrating the thick brick walls, impacting the air in the room wave after wave, shaking the window frames slightly.

Lin Zhen sat upright on the rosewood armchair in the main seat, his back as straight as a pine tree.

Although it was summer, he did not feel the heat. Huanbi came in and opened the window, saying, "Husband, open the window and get some fresh air. It's not good for the world to be stuffy all the time."

Lin Zhen didn't look up. In front of him was a rough sketch of the Hu County Port and New City plan that Chu Xiling had just sketched out. The ink was not yet dry.

He did not hold a pen, but his fingertips unconsciously moved slowly across the rough paper, as if measuring the land that was about to be completely reshaped by him.

The deafening cheers outside the window were like the most passionate war drums, beating on his eardrums and also on his heartstrings that were in control of the overall situation.

On his face, which was always as calm as water, the corners of his lips were slightly raised, outlining an extremely subtle but meaningful arc.

That is not the arrogance of complacency, but a kind of calmness and confidence that the game is settled, the general trend is set, and everything is under control.

Wang Youde's parade was like a precise scalpel, completely removing the cancer of corruption from the body of Hu County, and completely channeling and venting the public grievances that had been accumulated for more than ten years!

And the boiling public sentiment at this moment is the best proof that the wounds are beginning to heal and new flesh is beginning to grow!

This surging public opinion is the most powerful driving force and the most solid foundation for him to promote the construction of the Huxian Special Economic Zone!

"Han Zhou." Lin Zhen's voice was not loud, but it clearly penetrated the noise outside the window, carrying an unquestionable command.

Xiao Hanzhou, who was standing by the door and was also shaken by the sound waves outside the window, immediately stepped forward and bowed in response, "Disciple is here!"

Lin Zhen's gaze remained on the blueprint, but he pointed at the Yangtze River's estuary. "After the parade, immediately set up a large porridge stall at each of the four gates of the city."

He paused, his tone calm but with the power to change the situation:

"Pry open Wang Youde's granary and use the rice inside to feed the people. We'll get by for a few days. When the tribute from Nanchu arrives this year, keep it all! Use it right there! Use it for relief and construction in Hu County!"

"Intercepting the annual tribute?!" Xiao Hanzhou suddenly looked up, a hint of shock flashed in his eyes!

The annual tribute is a major tax levied on the country and goes directly into the national treasury. It cannot be used without the imperial decree!

He blurted out subconsciously: "Master! This... this is probably inappropriate. Do I need to report this to His Majesty first and ask for His Majesty's instructions..."

"No need." Lin Zhen finally raised his head and looked at Xiao Hanzhou calmly.

"Your Majesty understands that extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. This one million dan of rice, while useless in the national treasury, could be used in Hu County to fuel the lives of the people, build a foundation, and unlock future wealth a hundredfold or a thousandfold! Your Majesty desires a prosperous and strong nation, not moldering grain in a warehouse. Your Majesty, wise and wise, will understand the importance of this matter."

His tone was firm and decisive, with an air of absolute certainty that brooked no argument, as if withholding the annual tribute, a serious matter that could cost an ordinary official his life, was nothing more than moving an insignificant chess piece in his mouth.

Xiao Hanzhou looked at his master's calm eyes that contained great power. All the doubts in his heart disappeared in an instant, and were replaced by an almost blind trust and excitement!

He clasped his fists tightly together, his voice trembling with determination: "Yes! Disciple will do it right away! I will definitely live up to Master's trust!"

......

Wang Youde's prison car, like a maggot carrying endless shame and pain, was escorted by dozens of Jinwuwei soldiers as it slowly drove out of Hu County and along the muddy country roads towards more remote villages and towns.

The wheels rolled over the potholes, making dull and painful groans.

Wang Youde in the cage was no longer in human form. His fat body was riddled with deep marks from the ropes. His face and body were covered with foul-smelling mud, egg liquid and dried blood. Half of his hair was shaved off, revealing his pale scalp. His eyes were empty and dull, as if his soul had been taken away from his body. Only physiological tremors and occasional weak groans like a dying beast remained.

The fields along the way are barren and the villages are dilapidated.

The ragged, pale and skinny villagers, like frightened birds, hid far away behind the ridges of the fields and beside the thatched huts, watching this unprecedented spectacle, which symbolized the complete collapse of the officials, with numb eyes but a hint of curiosity.

At this moment, a messenger from the Jinwu Guard, wearing dark light armor and carrying a powerful crossbow, came galloping from behind the prison cart team on a fast horse!

He passed the slowly moving prison cart, stopped his horse in front of the team, and then took a shiny bronze gong from the side of the saddle!

“Ding! Ding! Ding!”

The clear and loud sound of the gong suddenly exploded in the quiet countryside like thunder!

It instantly attracted all the villagers who were hiding and watching!

The messenger took a deep breath, gathered his strength, and with his hoarse voice, which carried the unique iron-blooded aura of the Jinwu Guard, he loudly announced to the empty fields and those confused faces:

"Fellow villagers of Hu County! Listen up!"

"His Royal Highness has issued an order! Effective immediately! Four porridge stalls will be opened at the four gates of Hu County, east, west, south, and north!"

"Thick white rice porridge! As much as you can eat! No restrictions on household registration! No distinction between old and young! As long as you are a citizen of Hu County! Everyone can come! Eat until you are full!"

"His Royal Highness said so! Let everyone have a good meal so that they can have the strength to help him rebuild their home!"

"Om-!"

It was like pouring a bucket of cold water into a boiling pot of oil! The originally silent and numb countryside suddenly exploded!

"What?! A porridge stall?!"

"Thick rice porridge?! As much as you can eat?!"

"Is this true?! His Highness is giving us porridge?!"

"Oh my god! The sun is rising from the west?!"

The villagers poked their heads out from their hiding places, their faces filled with disbelief and a hint of confusion from being overwhelmed by the huge surprise!

They looked at each other, with the same questions and the gradually burning, faint but extremely precious fire of hope in their eyes!

"Master! Master! Are you telling the truth?!" A white-haired old man, leaning on a wooden stick and as thin as a bag of bones, staggered out from behind the ridge of the field. His voice was filled with tears and extreme longing. "Where is that porridge stall? Is it far from our village?"

"Yes! General! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince really lets us eat whatever we want?!" A young woman holding a pale and skinny baby also mustered up the courage to ask, her voice trembling.

The messenger looked at the people in tattered clothes with humble hopes in their eyes, and a complex emotion surged in his heart.

He straightened his back, his voice became louder, and he spoke with unquestionable certainty:

"It's absolutely true! His Highness the Crown Prince's words are as good as gold! How could he lie to you?!"

"The porridge stall is right at the fourth gate of the county town! Folks who live far away, please go together! Look out for each other on the road!"

"His Royal Highness also said!" He looked around at everyone, his voice filled with excitement and encouragement, "As long as everyone has a common goal and works together! Follow His Royal Highness and work hard! Rebuild our own home! From now on, we can eat full meals every day and never go hungry again! Good days are ahead!"

"boom--!"

The immense joy was like a flood that broke through a dam, instantly washing away all doubts and numbness!

"Heaven has eyes! His Highness the Crown Prince is a living Bodhisattva!"

"I have porridge to drink! I have a full meal to eat!"

"Hurry! Go back and tell everyone! Go to the county town! Go have some porridge!"

"Long live His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!!"

The villagers were so excited that their eyes were filled with tears!

They supported each other, shouted, and stumbled back to their huts and shacks, passing this heavenly news to every relative and neighbor who was still struggling with hunger and despair!

The silent countryside was instantly replaced by an unprecedented bustle full of life!

Countless figures, like trickles of water, began to converge towards Hu County from villages and fields in all directions!