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Chapter 372 Pattern
Magistrate Cai was praised by the princess in public, but he did not get carried away. He responded modestly, "I am not a smart man. I can only do trivial and clumsy things. I do not deserve the princess's praise."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and was about to say something when suddenly a girl of six or seven years old came over timidly with a bowl of warm water in her hand.

Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao were very alert and immediately stepped forward to stop the girl. The girl had originally mustered up all her courage to come over, but when she was stopped by two tall and strong young men, she was so scared that her face turned pale and her hands kept shaking: "I... I just wanted to give a bowl of water to the princess..."

"Qin Hu, Meng Sanbao, you two step back." The princess' voice came.

Qin Hu and Meng Sanbao then stepped aside.

Jiang Shaohua stepped forward and looked at the pale and skinny girl with a smile: "What's your name? How old are you this year?"

The girl swallowed nervously and answered in a low voice: "My last name is Shi, my name is Erniu, and I am seven years old."

As soon as she finished speaking, another older girl came over in a panic, grabbed her sister's hand and wanted to kneel down to the princess.

Jiang Shaohua said gently: "Don't kneel down, I'll ask you questions, just answer truthfully."

The two sisters stood up tremblingly.

Jiang Shaohua asked patiently, asking some common and simple questions.

Shi Da Niu is ten years old this year, three years older than her sister, and speaks much more coherently: "...My father's name is Shi Dayong, and we are from Bingzhou. We escaped after the locust plague and almost starved to death. Fortunately, we were taken in by the Tang family grain shop and sent to Li County."

"Li County is very good. The county magistrate treats us well, and the princess treats us even better. Our shelter, food, and clothing are all provided by the princess. My father is the head of the village. He leads everyone to reclaim wasteland and plant new crops every day. There will be a harvest in a few months."

"We can take root here and live well in the future."

"We have long stopped worshipping Buddha in our family. We now worship the princess."

As Shi Daniu was talking, her eyes suddenly turned red. She pulled her sister to kneel down and kowtowed three times to the princess: "Thank you, princess, for taking us in. If it weren't for you, our family of five would have starved to death long ago."

Shi Erniu said in a slightly childish voice: "Most of the girls who escaped from our village were sold, and some were cooked and eaten. Thank you, Princess, for giving us a way to survive!"

Jiang Shaohua had many earth-shaking experiences in his past and present lives, and had a heart as solid as a rock. But today, he was moved by the words of the sisters.

She reached out to help Shi Da Niu and Shi Er Niu up, then turned to Magistrate Cai and said, "Magistrate Cai, this is the meaning of everything you and I have done."

Yes! The people live and work in peace and contentment. This is what the princess wants, and it is also what he, the county magistrate, pursues tirelessly.

Magistrate Cai's eyes also turned red, and he responded in a low voice.

……

Cui Du worked in the wasteland until dark before returning to the county government office.

The backyard of the Li County government office was quite spacious, with many empty rooms. However, it was boring to live alone. Cui Du spontaneously went to Song Yuan's room.

Song Yuan didn't say much, but he asked the most crucial question right away: "It's not something that can be accomplished overnight to manage the soil. Are you going to stay in Li County?"

The princess would stay in each county for a maximum of ten days or half a month when inspecting the counties. It was impossible for her to stay in Li County forever. If Cui Du stayed to manage the soil and wasteland, he would have to separate from the princess.

Cui Du was also a little distressed and sighed: "It can only be like this. We will meet and spend many days together in the future, but we can't delay in managing the wasteland."

Song Yuan praised: "You are right to do this. The people's livelihood is the top priority. You can work in Li County with peace of mind. This will be more in line with the princess's wishes." After a pause, he said meaningfully: "The princess cares about the people and the world. If you want to walk side by side with the princess, you have to have a broader vision."

The whole day of love and affection is not suitable for the princess. If you want to be the princess's husband, you have to keep up with the princess's pace.

Cui Du understood and nodded vigorously: "What my uncle said is all good advice. I have taken note of it."

Song Yuan hummed. It was inconvenient and impossible to say more now. A journey of a thousand miles can reveal a person's true character. The princess is still young, and Cui Du is not that old either. Let's wait and see!

The next day, after Cui Du met the princess, he took the initiative to say: "It will take some time to manage the wasteland. I plan to stay in Li County for a while, and when the wasteland problem is solved, I will go back to the farm directly. I can't accompany the princess all the way on the rest of the journey."

Jiang Shaohua really didn't mind, and said with a smile: "It is important to manage the wasteland, and this matter cannot be done without you, so you should stay in Li County and help Magistrate Cai."

"I inspect the military camps and the fourteen counties every year. If you want to relax and broaden your horizons, come with me next year."

Yes, there is still next year, the year after, and many years to come...

Cui Du thought to himself, and the corners of his mouth naturally rose high.

In the next few days, Jiang Shaohua led his servants and guards to inspect Li County every day, while Cui Du stayed in the wasteland all day. Tang Youyin was the busiest, as he had to check all the account books piled up in the county government office.

Speaking of which, this is something that has only been available this year. In the past, when the princess inspected the counties, she would at most check the account books. This year, we have Tang Youyin, so we can make the best use of him.

Seven or eight days later, the princess and her entourage set off again.

In addition to Cui Du, more than ten personal guards were left behind.

This was also the princess' grace. She ordered the personal guards to accompany and protect Cui Du's safety until Cui Du returned to the farm.

The personal guards who were left behind were headed by Meng Sanbao.

Meng Sanbao behaved well in front of the princess, but as soon as the princess left, Meng Sanbao's lively nature gradually revealed. He stayed by Cui Du's side every day and talked a lot.

When Cui Du was working, he was focused, quiet, and basically didn't respond. Meng Sanbao talked to himself, which was also fun.

It was not his fault. He worked for the princess on weekdays and could only talk to her a few words a day, so it was rare for him to relax.

"Master Cui, can the method you mentioned really improve the soil?"

Cui Du hummed.

Meng Sanbao continued to mutter, but Cui Du turned a deaf ear and only responded occasionally.

"Mr. Cai looks honest, but he has a lot of tricks on his mind. The wasteland here hasn't been cured yet, but he asked you to go to other wastelands to survey the land and select places suitable for farmland. Tsk tsk! They are trying to fleece you, a fat sheep."

Cui Du was finally amused, and he looked up and said with a smile: "This is where Magistrate Cai is smart. I am already here, so I must put my people to good use."

Meng Sanbao thought about it and was also happy: "No wonder the princess appreciates Magistrate Cai the most. If I were in his place, I would also like such a subordinate."

So, what is there to complain about? After finishing the wasteland, I will ride on horseback with County Magistrate Cai to visit all the wasteland in Li County!