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Chapter 541 Awesome
Jiang Shaohua was quite tolerant towards the old man: "Just bear with it for a few more days."

"It's already the 27th day of the twelfth lunar month, and Madam Xue has no intention of leaving. It seems that she will spend the New Year in the palace." Chen Jinyu muttered, "I've never seen such a thing, refusing to leave during the New Year."

Jiang Shaohua glanced at her with a smile: "It's okay to complain in front of me, but don't say anything in front of Old Madam Xue. Otherwise, Old Madam Xue will be unhappy."

Chen Jinyu sighed, "I'm just upset for my mother. My mother has never been wronged at home, but now Madam Xue is nitpicking all day long, and my mother has to swallow her anger and put on a smiling face."

After all, they are biological mother and daughter. It is one thing to complain to each other in private on a daily basis, but when Chen Jinyu really sees her mother being wronged, how can she bear it?

Jiang Shaohua was somewhat helpless: "Here you are, guests. Besides, you are older and of higher generation. As a princess, it is not appropriate for me to lose my temper with you."

She didn't want to meet Old Madam Xue, so the responsibility of dealing with Old Madam Xue naturally fell on Yao.

Chen Jinyu had a lot of clever ideas. She rolled her eyes and came up with an idea: "At the year-end banquet, invite Old Madam Xue to come along and let her sit at the table with our female officials. Then, we will teach her a lesson and let her see how powerful the female officials of Nanyang County are."

Jiang Shaohua laughed dumbly: "You decide on the arrangements!"

……

In recent years, the year-end banquet at the Nanyang Palace has been the most anticipated banquet for all officials and county magistrates.

The county magistrates of the fourteen counties are busy from the beginning of the year to the end of the year, and only during these few days will they come to Nanyang County to gather and socialize in the palace.

"County Magistrate Chen, I haven't seen you for a year, and you look even more charming than before!"

"Ma, the county magistrate, is still strong and healthy. This year, his granddaughter-in-law came into the family, and he looks even rosy-faced."

"I heard that the silk production in Ye County has doubled this year, making a lot of money, and every household in the county has surplus food. This is all thanks to County Magistrate Cui!"

Bowang County, Biyang County and Ye County ranked in the top three. As soon as County Magistrates Chen, Ma and Cui came in, they attracted everyone's attention.

County Magistrate Chen was a humble person, while County Magistrate Ma was old and slick. However, County Magistrate Cui had changed the most in the past few years. The original reserved arrogance of a son of an aristocratic family had long been worn away, and he became much calmer, greeting and joking with the other county magistrates.

Nanyang County continuously absorbs refugees to enrich the population. In this day and age, population and land are the greatest wealth. With people, wasteland can be reclaimed, food can be grown, and barren land can be revitalized.

Ye County mainly grows mulberry trees and weaves cloth, and a lot of land is barren and uncultivated. Now that the population has doubled, there is no need to worry about people farming. Last year, there was a good harvest, and the Taiping granary was full. Not only does it no longer need to buy grain, but there is also enough to donate grain as military rations.

Of course, County Magistrate Cui's achievements did not stop there. The scale of Ye County Academy has been growing, especially the women's academy. Nowadays, many daughters of wealthy businessmen and officials in Jingzhou Prefecture are studying in the women's academy. This has brought far-reaching influence to Ye County.

Today, in Ye County, women have a high status and the atmosphere is open, which can be said to be the best in Daliang.

Just then, a skinny, dark, ugly man came in.

County Magistrate Cui glanced at him, then quickly stepped forward, bowed and said with a smile: "Brother Cai is finally here."

It was Cai, the magistrate of Li County.

Magistrate Cai smiled and bowed in return. Before he could say a few words, the other magistrates gathered around him. Ye County was indeed the richest, but the first magistrate of Nanyang County could not be Magistrate Cui, it had to be Magistrate Cai.

Cai County Magistrate has been the magistrate for five years. Li County, which was originally the third from the bottom, has now become the largest county in Nanyang County with the largest population and the most fertile land. Last year, Li County had a bumper harvest, and the harvested grain was enough to supply the Imperial Guard Battalion for a year. In other words, the grain produced in Li County alone can support an army.

What an amazing political achievement!
Moreover, Magistrate Cai had a very good reputation and was deeply loved by the people, and was trusted by the princess. Magistrate Cai's various methods of settling refugees and reclaiming wasteland had long become a model for other county magistrates to follow.

Even Magistrate Cui was convinced by Magistrate Cai and had no dissatisfaction at all.

In addition to the county magistrates of the fourteen counties, Tang Xianzhong, the head of the Tang family, was also present today. This fifth master Tang has been working hard all year round to promote the new grain, and his contributions are great. Tang Youyin works in the household department of the royal palace and is highly valued, with a bright future. The county magistrates were all very warm and polite to Tang Xianzhong.

When the female officials came in, everyone was already used to it and took the initiative to greet them.

Among the female officials, Li Ying and Cui Wenxiu were both from famous families, Sun Zelan was from a family of medicine practitioners, and Kong Qingwan was also the legitimate daughter of the Kong family of Lu County. Although they had not taken the imperial examinations, they were full of talent and knowledge, not inferior to the county magistrates who were Jinshi graduates. And each of them was doing well in their field of expertise.

Therefore, everyone treated the female officials with great respect and courtesy, and it was not an act at all.

Jiang Shaohua and Old Madam Xue arrived last, and when they came in, they saw exactly this scene.

Madam Xue was so shocked that she blurted out, "How could there be so many women serving as officials in Nanyang County?"

Jiang Shaohua exchanged glances with Chen Jinyu beside him, and smiled calmly: "When we have the year-end banquet next year, Xue Liuniang will also be there."

Mrs. Xue: "..."

Chen Jinyu had been waiting for this moment, and said slowly: "The female officials of Nanyang County have all been approved by the Ministry of Personnel and have official documents. This official is not high, only the seventh rank. Miss Sun is also a seventh rank medical officer. Li Shanzhang and Master Cui and Master Kong are eighth rank. Sister-in-law will start her career next year and will have to start from the ninth rank. The salary she receives is the same as that of the county magistrates of the fourteen counties."

Madam Xue was shocked again: "There are official documents? How can the court agree to this?"

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly: "I have submitted memorials for this matter many times. The court did not agree at first. However, in the past two years, Nanyang County has contributed a lot of military grain and has made great contributions to the promotion of new grain. After this princess submitted memorials again, the Ministry of Personnel agreed."

It is an eternal truth that one should be grateful when receiving favors from others and be soft-hearted when eating from others.

Jiang Shaohua donated military rations happily, but he was just asking for official documents for a few female officials. Their salaries were all paid by the Nanyang Palace, so the important officials in the court acquiesced.

Next, the officials took their seats.

Jiang Shaohua, Chen Changshi and others sat at one table, and the female officials' table was originally headed by Chen Jinyu. Today, Chen Jinyu specially invited Madam Xue to sit at the head.

Old Madam Xue was greatly shocked today. The female officials sat together, talking about their respective responsibilities. They were all energetic and high-spirited, and their confident demeanor was no different from that of the county magistrate's subordinates.

Can women really become officials?

Achieve the same achievements as men?
Shocked, Mrs. Xue went to see Xue Liuniang again after the banquet.