After traveling through time, I was raised by a little brat

After Tang Qi's long-term, comprehensive and meticulous planning and layout, the prevention work against locust disasters finally gradually got on track and was progressing in an orderly manner according to the predetermined plan.

During this process, officials at all levels in Liu County also demonstrated a high sense of responsibility and professionalism. Everyone stayed at their post, performed their duties, and devoted themselves to the battle against the locust plague.

Meanwhile, Tang Wenshu was naturally busy too. Every morning, just as the sun rose, she would set out with the loyal and brave Kuang Tie and the clever and cunning Ah Da, embarking on patrols to various villages. Along the way, the three of them closely monitored the growth of the second rice crop, not missing a single subtle change.

Whenever they arrived at a village, Tang Wenshu would hop off the exquisite donkey cart custom-built for her and walk briskly into the rice fields. She would bend down to check the fullness of the rice ears, then squat to carefully search for locust eggs hidden beneath the leaves. Kuang Tie followed closely behind, always vigilant for any unexpected events, while Ah Da helped record relevant data and information.

From afar, Tang Wenshu sat leisurely on the small, exquisite donkey cart, slowly moving along the winding country road. The sunlight cast a golden shadow on her, making her look like a majestic "local tyrant," calmly surveying the vast land that belonged to her.

That day, just after lunch, Kuang Tie, leading his sturdy donkey and pulling the beautifully decorated donkey cart, stopped at the gate of the Tang Mansion, waiting for Tang Wenshu to board and set off. Meanwhile, several yamen runners in official uniforms had already arrived at the gate and stood in a neat row, ready to accompany Tang Wenshu to the village.

Just then, a sudden, loud drumbeat erupted, originating from the neighboring county government office. Tang Wenshu had already raised one foot to step onto the donkey cart's pedal, but upon hearing the sound, she quickly pulled her foot back and decisively ordered, "Let's go and take a look!" It had been a full week since she arrived in Liu County, but this was the first time she had heard anyone beating drums to protest a crime.

Soon, the group hurried to the county government hall. When Tang Wenshu entered, he was surprised to find that the man beating the drum was Yang Village's chief, Yang Hongtao. He was kneeling respectfully, head bowed, quietly awaiting the county magistrate's question.

At this moment, Yang Hongtao no longer appeared as a scholar, but represented all the villagers of Yang Village, coming to report the case and redress their grievances in the name of the village chief. Looking back at the courtroom, Tang Qi had already changed into the solemn and majestic attire of a county magistrate, sitting upright behind a high desk, a prominent gavel placed before him.

Tang Qi's face was solemn, his back straight as he sat on the spacious armchair, like an unshakable mountain. With a sudden swing of his right hand, he slammed the gavel down with a resounding, crisp snap. He then took a deep breath, channeling it into his dantian, and shouted with unparalleled authority, "Who is here? Tell me your name!" This cry, like a thunderclap, shook the entire courtroom slightly, drawing attention.

From a distance, Tang Qi certainly looked like a serious official, a true official. At that moment, everyone's attention was drawn to the doorway. It was the County Magistrate, Tang Wenshu, approaching with a leisurely demeanor. A nearby yamen runner, observing, hurried forward and attentively brought an exquisite chair, carefully placing it to the lower left of Tang Qi's seat. Tang Wenshu gracefully sat down, her beautiful eyes flickering to the figure kneeling in the hall.

The man replied respectfully, "I am farmer Yang Hongtao. I have come here today to sue the entire Qianjia Village." He remained kneeling, not daring to move. Only then did Tang Wenshu notice a wooden stretcher lying on the floor below. It was covered with a snow-white veil, and from its shape, it looked as if a corpse lay beneath.

Tang Wenshu's heart sank, and he pondered to himself: When he visited Yangjia Village a few days ago, it was a peaceful and tranquil scene, with everyone's faces beaming with happiness. Yet, now, something so life-threatening has occurred. It makes sense. If this were just a simple legal dispute, Yang Hongtao, as the village chief, would be fully capable of handling it on his own, without the hassle of bringing it to the county government.

Yang Hongtao continued with a look of grief and indignation, "Sir, you may not know that our Yangjia Village is located in a remote area. Most villagers make their livings from farming, but there are not many farmers in the village. On weekdays, everyone's life is pretty good. But irrigation water has become a big problem. Aside from the single well at the entrance of the village, all the farmland in the village relies on the small river two miles away for irrigation. Now is the critical period for rice filling, but the paddy fields are almost dry! We have no choice but to run to the river every day to fetch water to irrigate the crops."

At this point, Yang Hongtao's voice became increasingly agitated. "Who would have thought that the damned Qianjia Village would rely on its geographical advantage upstream to arbitrarily build a high dam in the river, directly blocking the river water! As a result, our downstream Yangjia Village is in trouble, with no water at all!"

"After learning about this, our village immediately sent several people to reason with them and discuss right and wrong, hoping to properly resolve this issue. However, we didn't expect that the people in Qianjia Village were so arrogant and unreasonable. Not only did they not listen to our advice, but they rushed forward and launched a fierce attack on the people in our village. My poor fellow villagers were beaten all over their bodies, and one of them unfortunately lost his life. That person was Yang Laosi!" After saying this, Yang Hongtao gently lifted the white cloth covering the corpse with trembling hands, and saw a scarred body appear in front of everyone.

Yang Hongtao fearlessly lifted Yang Lao Si's head, allowing everyone to clearly see the horrific wound on the back of his head—a deep indentation, clearly the result of a severe blow. Seeing this horrific scene, Yang Hongtao's eyes instantly moistened, and he said in a choked voice, "Please, sir, please help us, County Magistrate!" He knelt on his knees, prostrating himself deeply, and then respectfully kowtowed several times to Tang Qi, who sat in the hall.