Chapter 20: Just Thinking About It Makes Me Angry

“Young Master, you are truly ruthless.” Bafang had never seen this side of his master before.

“Ruthless? I was just scaring them,” Meng Changqing said. “If I only punished the one who received the slap, they would inevitably think I am kind-hearted, and then they would dare to make a fuss over every trivial matter. But if I punish both sides, they will remain wary.”

“If no one had stepped forward to plead for him just now, would you really have cut off his hand?”

“If he hadn't pleaded, I wouldn't have cut it. This place lacks medicine and doctors; what is the difference between cutting off a hand and cutting off his head? I, your master, am an expert at providing myself with an exit strategy—I can just find any excuse to move past it.”

“Then why did you say you would cut off the guarantor as well?”

“If I hadn't said that, someone might have dared to guarantee an evildoer.” Meng Changqing looked toward the direction where the porridge was being cooked. “I think I smell the aroma of porridge.”

“The first pot should be almost ready,” Bafang said. “I'll go ladle out a few bowls first. Let's eat.”

“Alright, go quickly.” Her gaze swept to Chu Mufeng, who was not far away. “Lord Bai, the porridge is ready. Tell the brothers to come have lunch.”

Chu Mufeng cupped his hands in response and let Zhou Qiwen lead a few people to eat first.

Meng Changqing returned behind the cover of the carriage.

Liang Jiuqiu had been using charcoal to keep her ink warm. Seeing her return, she asked, “What happened over there?”

“The commoners were quarreling and fighting. It wasn't a major issue; it's been handled.” Meng Changqing picked up her brush, checked the content she had previously written to ensure the wording was correct, and then continued writing.

Lady Wen watched her writing and leaned over to add more charcoal to the brazier.

Bafang came running over carrying a clay pot. “Madam, Young Master, Concubine, fresh porridge straight from the pot!”

“Why are you running?” Liang Jiuqiu called out to him. “Eat with us.”

“I'm going to help at the big pot. I'll eat later. Don't mind me.”

Lady Wen cleared the inkstone from in front of Meng Changqing. “Changqing, have some porridge first.”

“Yes.”

Opening the lid of the clay pot, the porridge was thick and hearty; one had to use chopsticks to eat it. Paired with the flatbread and pickles bought from Liangzhou City, a single bowl was enough to feel full.

As Liang Jiuqiu was tidying the bowls and chopsticks, Lady Wen spoke up. “Changqing, I see you have been writing New Year's greetings. According to the regulations of this dynasty, an official who has been in office for less than a month is not required to report to their superiors, even during the New Year.”

“Mother, you said it is *not required*, not that it is *not allowed*. With only thirty stones of grain provided to me, do you expect me to have a peaceful New Year?” Meng Changqing said. “It makes no sense that I am here eating wind and swallowing dust, while he is at the yamen eating fragrant noodles. It's infuriating. They won't even give me a yamen; I have to dig my own hole to live in. Do they think I'm a field mouse?”

Meng Changqing spread out more paper and continued writing.

Other people's New Year's greetings were usually wishes for a Happy New Year, wishes for the superior's health and prosperous career, and the last two lines would briefly mention the affairs within their jurisdiction—mostly stating that everything was peaceful and asking the superior to rest easy.

Meng Changqing was different. She had written five pages so far, and only the first two lines were greetings; the rest were entirely about the problems existing in Beishan County.

The county was not a county, the homes were not homes, and the people were not people; there was no place to settle, and no shelter from the wind and rain. She emphasized her profound realization of the necessity of building a city wall, but noted that due to the lack of manpower and material support, there was absolutely no possibility of constructing one under the current circumstances.

As Meng Changqing wrote a page, Lady Wen read it. If she felt any wording was too sharp, she would pick up a brush and help her revise it.

“Hey, why is the porridge being cooked at this hour today?” The commoners digging the pits were also observing the movements of the soldiers.

“The officials must be hungry, but there's certainly nothing for us.” This man leaned closer to the one who had asked the question earlier and whispered, “I took a peek from afar just now. It was a full bowl of porridge, and it was all dry.”

“Maybe when they add water later, they'll share a bowl with us?” He swallowed hard as he spoke.

“Perhaps. Let's hope the officials are kind-hearted.”

Had he not said that, the man who swallowed might have still held onto hope, but the comment killed it. That official was prone to cutting off people's hands at a moment's notice; how could he be a kind-hearted person?

Just as his disappointment settled in, he heard the soldier guarding them say, “First group, put down your tools and follow me.”

The crowd followed anxiously, only to find themselves at the porridge-cooking site. They took bowls and chopsticks and were served a full bowl of dry porridge, just like the soldiers. The group was astonished, but once food was at their lips, they had to eat it regardless.

Just as they were bowing their heads to eat voraciously, ignoring the heat, a soldier passed by and placed a small pinch of pickles into each of their bowls.

“Hey, this is...”

Before the man could finish his sentence, the soldier who gave them the pickles shouted, “No talking! Eat quickly! Finish and get back to work!”

Once they finished and washed their bowls, the soldiers led them back, and the fifth group went to eat.

The first group picked up their tools to continue working, but one whispered, “Why wasn't it the second group?”

“I get it! It's based on who digs the deepest. Hey, everyone, stop pretending. We only just ate dry porridge; put some strength into it!”

It wasn't just him who understood; the other groups realized the rule as well.

So, when the soldiers skipped the seventh group and called for other groups instead—because those groups hadn't dug as deep—Sha Zhu asked the soldier with a forced smile, “Officer, did you forget to call us?”

“We didn't forget,” the soldier shouted. “Your group caused trouble today. It wasn't just the two fighting; the rest of you were also at fault for not stopping the insults and not pulling them apart during the fight. You made us work harder and even disturbed the County Magistrate. Your entire group is being punished; you will be the last to eat this meal.”

Sha Zhu was yelled at and shrank back into the crowd, not daring to speak.

Yu Youcai swung his hoe even harder. When it was finally their turn as the last group, the people followed the soldiers to the porridge site with no expectation of eating anything good. But seeing the full bowls of dry porridge and the pickles on top, and knowing the previous groups had eaten so well, they wondered if there would be flatbread for the last group.

“What are you standing there for?” the soldier distributing the porridge roared. “Eat!”

Zuo Datou happened to walk by. He had a strong impression of the man who had dared to step forward to plead for mercy, so he nodded to Sha Zhu. “Everyone eats the same thing this meal; it's just the order that differs. But starting from dinner, the group that works more, eats more.”

Sha Zhu caught the key point. “There's dinner too?”

“Of course. From now on, there will be three meals a day. As long as you are willing to work, you will definitely be full.”

Meng Changqing wrote ten pages of "greetings." After Lady Wen made some minor revisions, she transcribed them into the official ledger. Once finished, she let the paper dry, placed it in a box, and waited to hand it personally to her uncle on the fourth day.

“Bafang!” Meng Changqing shook her right hand and called out loudly for Bafang to bring her horse.

“Where are you going?” Liang Jiuqiu asked her.

“I'm going to inspect the city wall. I need to know how long it needs to be and what the terrain is like.” Meng Changqing took off her cloak, put it on inside out, stepped into the stirrups, and leaped onto the horse.