On the wedding day, my wife was abnormal

A river about three meters wide flows from west to east like a green jade belt, winding through the south side of Xinghuafang.

The river water is crystal clear, shimmering in the morning light, reflecting the newly built stone embankments on both sides and the weeping willows swaying in the wind.

There was no floating garbage or oil on the river, and the pungent stench of sewage in my memory was gone.

Several unknown water birds were playing freely in the middle of the river, sometimes diving into the water and picking up silvery little fish.

Li Xian pointed to the river and said, "Your Highness, this is a tributary of the Jinshui River.

In the past, illegal construction along the riverbank was rampant, and sewage and manure were directly discharged into the river, causing a foul odor, breeding mosquitoes and flies, and frequent outbreaks of epidemics. This was indeed a major problem in the neighborhood."

Lin Zhen asked: "How to govern?"

Li Xian reported in detail: "Your Highness, the governance will be divided into four steps. First, demolish all illegal buildings along the river, set back ten feet, build solid stone embankments and set up guardrails to ensure safety and cleanliness.

Secondly, an underground ceramic pipe sewage main was laid to connect the housing buildings and the newly built public toilets (all of which were brick-concrete structures and managed by dedicated personnel). All domestic sewage and fecal water were collected in the main pipe and transported to the newly built large "chemical sewage tank" outside the city.

After sedimentation and fermentation, the residue is made into fertilizer, and the clean water is introduced into the reed wetland for secondary purification and is only discharged into the river after meeting the standards.

Third, a 'River Chief System' was established, with the neighborhood chief serving concurrently as the chief. He would patrol the river daily, supervise cleaning, and strictly prohibit any dumping of garbage or discharge of sewage into the river. Violators would be severely punished.

Fourth, we will stock the river with algae-eating fish and plant aquatic plants to further purify the water through ecological means.”

As they were talking, a few half-grown children, holding simple homemade nets and small wooden buckets, were playing and catching small fish and shrimps in the shallow water of the river. Their laughter and joy floated on the surface of the river.

An old man with white hair and beard sat on a stone bench under a willow tree, holding a fishing rod with a leisurely expression.

Seeing Lin Zhen and his party stop to watch, the old man raised his head, his face filled with satisfaction and gratitude. He said in a loud voice: "Sir, are you here to see our 'Qingshui River'? Thanks to the blessing of His Majesty and the Prince, this river has finally come back to life! I, an old man, can sit here and fish like I did in my youth!"

Lin Zhen looked at the old man's satisfied smile and the children playing, and listened to the gurgling of the clear river, and a deep sense of relief welled up in his heart.

The transformation of this river is the result of the joint efforts of the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Households, and the Ministry of Fire and Thunder. It is also a victory of a systematic municipal project and a strict management system.

Lin Zhen and his party went into the newly established "convenience market" in the neighborhood.

The market is located in the central square surrounded by several housing buildings, and the ground is also paved with clean and tidy bluestone slabs.

The stalls are arranged in an orderly manner, with fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and meat, as well as a wide variety of needles, thread and daily necessities.

The vendors were neatly dressed, with warm smiles on their faces, and their shouts were heard one after another.

Most of the customers are residents of the neighborhood. They carry their vegetable baskets and choose things leisurely. The sound of bargaining can be heard everywhere, but there is no quarrel or noise. The scene is very peaceful.

"Fresh vegetables! Just brought from the vegetable garden in the southern suburbs this morning! They are so juicy!" a vegetable vendor shouted with full energy.

"Auntie, take a look at this honeycomb briquettes made from 'Beiyan Coal'. They burn brightly and long-lastingly, produce little smoke and ash, and are clean! The government office subsidizes the price, so it's a great deal!"

A coal shop assistant was enthusiastically selling coal to an old lady.

"My dear, look at this newly arrived improved spindle from the Institute of Gewu. It spins thread quickly and evenly, saving time and effort!"

A peddler was fiddling with the delicate wooden equipment in his hands and introducing it diligently.

Lin Zhen stopped in front of a steaming breakfast stall.

The stall owner is a middle-aged couple. Their stall cart is polished to a shine, and several layers of steamers are emitting tempting white steam and the aroma of buns.

"My dear, can you give me some steamed buns? They're stuffed with pork and green onions, and they're hot from the pan!"

The male stall owner was quick and efficient, and greeted the customers warmly. Lin Zhen signaled to his guards, "Bring me a tray."

The stall owner responded, “Okay!”

He deftly picked up a few plump white buns with bamboo tongs, wrapped them in clean oil paper, and handed them to his personal guard.

"Three pence! Here you go!"

When Lin Zhen was paying, his eyes fell on a small wooden sign hanging next to the stall, on which were written the eye-catching words "Grade A Sanitary" in red paint.

Seeing this, the female stall owner smiled proudly and said, "My dear, this is the monthly 'sanitation evaluation' from the neighborhood! Those 'inspectors' are so strict! Is the stove clean? Are the rags disinfected? Is the garbage removed promptly? Is the food fresh? Everything has to pass the test! With this 'A' rating, the neighbors will trust us, and business will improve!"

A nearby fruit vendor came over and sighed, "Yeah! This place used to be such a mess, with flies buzzing everywhere. Who would want to come and buy things? Now it's so clean! Everyone's more conscious! Not to mention littering, even spitting everywhere is a shame because they're afraid of being seen by the patrol!"

Lin Zhen listened to the stall owners' chattering but proud discussions, looked at the satisfied smiles on their faces and the gleam in their eyes, and a warm feeling quietly surged in his heart.

He deeply felt that only when one has a stable home can one work happily.

The thorough improvement of the environment and the standardized and orderly management have not only greatly improved the quality of life and convenience of residents, but also reshaped people's mental outlook and behavioral habits at a deeper level.

This spontaneous and conscious change from the inside out is the most far-reaching and moving achievement of the new policy.

Accompanied by Li Xian, Lin Zhen climbed to the top floor of one of the Anju buildings.

The rooftop is spacious and flat, surrounded by waist-high brick railings, providing a very wide view.

Looking out from the balcony, the entire Xinghuafang unfolds before your eyes like a carefully painted scroll:

The neatly arranged blue-gray buildings, the clean bluestone streets, the clear and winding river like jade, and the bustling convenience market in the central square together form a picture of prosperity and peace and contentment.

In the distance, the outline of the towering city walls of the imperial capital is faintly visible in the morning mist, adding a touch of grandeur.

Li Xian pointed and introduced:

"Your Highness, please look at that newly built courtyard with green tiles and white walls over there. It's the 'Elementary School', built with funds from the government and taught by officials. All children of school age in the neighborhood can attend and learn to read for free. Over there, with the plaque 'Spring Warmth in the Apricot Forest' hanging, is the 'Benefiting the People's Medical Clinic'. The doctors on duty are experienced, and the medicine is subsidized by the government, making it much more convenient for the residents to seek medical treatment. And there's also a reserved space over there."

He pointed to a flat piece of land.

"We plan to start construction in the spring and build a small garden. We'll set up some stone benches and tables, and plant some flowers, plants, and trees, so that neighbors can relax and chat after dinner."

Lin Zhen listened quietly, his deep gaze sweeping across this land full of hope, his heart surging with emotion. The Xinghuafang before him had long since transcended the concept of a simply rebuilt community.

It is a microcosm and a model that embodies the countless efforts made since the implementation of the new policy - the innovative application of the science of investigation of things, the effective implementation of the system of itinerant officials, and the solid implementation of a series of people-friendly policies.

It has proved with ironclad facts that as long as the direction is correct, the methods are appropriate and the determination is firm, benefiting the people is not empty talk but a tangible reality.

He called out, "Li Xian."

Li Xian immediately bowed and replied, "Your humble servant is here!"

Lin Zhen's voice was steady and powerful. "Xinghuafang is a 'model' for the imperial court's new policies benefiting the people. Its reconstruction regulations, management experience, and operating model must be recorded in detail, compiled into a booklet, and a scalable charter distributed to all prefectures for reference."

Li Xian's eyes flashed with excitement, and he bowed deeply: "Your humble servant obeys your command! I will do my best to live up to your trust!"

Lin Zhen's gaze swept over the children playing downstairs, the elderly chatting, and the busy vendors, and he added, "Also, if there are widows, orphans, the elderly, the weak, the sick, and those who are truly in dire straits, we must investigate the facts, register them, and report them promptly. The government will set up special relief funds to ensure that they have enough food and clothing, and not let anyone be displaced, starving, or cold."

Li Xian's expression was solemn, and he replied solemnly, "Yes! Your Highness is benevolent! I will do my utmost to understand the people's feelings and provide relief. I will never let Your Highness's benevolent policies go to waste!"

Lin Zhen took a last deep look at this land that was reborn from the ruins and full of vitality and hope, then turned around and slowly walked down the stairs.

The warm sunshine shines on my shoulders, bright and gentle.