Eternal Immortal Dynasty: Starting as a Petty Official

The moon rises above the branches, and all is quiet.

Cao Miao returned home, tossed the reins to a servant standing nearby, and headed straight for the main hall.

It was late at night, but the main hall was still brightly lit.

"Brother!"

After taking off his shoes and entering, Cao Miao looked at the old man sitting upright in the hall and called out softly.

"Oh, it's Miao who's back. Have a seat!"

The white-haired old man trembled slightly upon hearing this, slowly raised his eyes, and greeted him with a smile.

"Elder brother, today the bandit Cao Chen Sheng from the county has arrived at Wohu Township, and the county's relief grain and seeds have also arrived at the village.

Cao Miao sat on the lower couch and spoke in a deep voice.

"Judging from your grave expression, has something gone wrong?"

The white-haired old man was none other than Cao He, the current head of the Cao family. He had served as a county official for decades, but after failing to be promoted, he returned home to manage the family business.

"We, the village officials, have already distributed all the grain seeds we received, but Mr. Chen said that we need to discuss the remaining grain seeds at the Yan family tomorrow before making a decision."

Hearing this, Cao He nodded slightly and smiled, "Chen Jun comes from a prominent family, is young and ambitious, and has distinguished himself in defeating bandits, thus earning his promotion to village head. However, he is not as easy to talk to as the previous village heads!"

"Chen Jun also mentioned that the village head, village chiefs, and other officials in the area never received any grain seeds, which was extremely harsh!"

Cao Miao picked up the conversation and continued in a low voice.

"This matter is indeed inappropriate; let's see how Mr. Chen discusses it tomorrow!"

After a few moments of silence, Cao He spoke slowly.

"Elder brother, if Lord Chen insists on reducing the grain supply for our three families, how should our family respond?"

"Ah Miao, our family's rise to prominence only began with you and me, and it's only been thirty years. How can we be qualified to call ourselves a prominent family in the village!"

"It's just the villagers' flattery!"

Cao He gave a wry smile, then looked at Cao Miao and said solemnly, "The only prominent families in Wohu Township are the Yan and Xu families. You must remember this."

Upon hearing this, Cao Miao immediately nodded slightly.

"Tomorrow, if the Yan family does not agree with Mr. Chen's actions, we will see how the Xu family responds. If the Xu family supports the Yan family, our family will also support the Yan family."

"If the Xu family does not support the Yan family, then our family will support Mr. Chen, and we voluntarily relinquish this year's government-provided relief grain seeds!"

"Do you understand?"

As he finished speaking, Cao He's tone became increasingly solemn.

"Ah Miao will obey his elder brother's command!"

......

The next morning, as dawn broke.

Zhao Xian still got up early as usual and went to the courtyard to practice his boxing.

The morning exercise only ends when the sun rises in the east and its golden light bathes the earth.

Sheathing his sword, he suddenly turned around and saw two people standing a few feet away, smiling at him.

"Ninth Brother pays his respects to Lord Chen!"

Zhao Xian's face hardened, and he quickly walked forward to within ten feet of the two people, then bowed respectfully.

"Jiulang is indeed exceptionally talented. You've only had this 'Wind Chasing Spirit Slaying Blade' in your hands for a little over a month, yet you're already so proficient!"

With a flick of his sleeve, Chen Sheng sent a gentle breeze to help Zhao Xian up, then smiled faintly.

"Yuancheng, you've been at Shanghu Pavilion for over half a year, and with Jiulang's help, your journey has been worthwhile!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yuancheng smiled and said, "Just as Uncle says, Ninth Brother is indeed a man of great talent!"

"Uncle, although Jiulang has not yet come of age, I request that you give him a courtesy name: Bozhang!"

"Bo Zhang~"

Chen Sheng repeated, smiling calmly, and said, "Xian Tong Zhang, Jiu Lang is the eldest son in the family, Bo Zhang truly lives up to his name!"

"Today, during our inspection of the countryside, we were given millet as a gift, and Bozhang accompanied us."

"I will obey Lord Chen's command!"

Zhao Xian responded respectfully.

There are seven pavilions in Wohu Township. With only one day to spare, it's impossible to inspect them all. I can only choose one pavilion to inspect.

As for which pavilion to choose, there's no need to elaborate.

The group rode horses, followed closely by four large carts, and arrived at Shanghuting in just over an hour.

Of the six villages in Shanghuting, Chunping Village had the largest population and was the poorest.

Four cartloads of millet, totaling thirty-two bushels, were distributed, with nearly half going to the residents of Chunping Village.

After the millet was distributed, the group was about to leave when, unexpectedly, the local people from the six-mile stretch of Shanghuting came to see them off.

Chen Sheng chatted with the village elders for a while before mounting his horse and leaving.

"Yuancheng, you are now a village head, in charge of ten thousand people. You should have one or two attendants."

On the way back, Chen Sheng looked at Zhao Xian, who was slightly tired but trying to keep up his spirits after a long day of running around, and said with a smile, "We can't have Bozhang running around for everything."

"What you say makes a lot of sense, Uncle. It's just a pity that truly loyal followers are hard to find."

After a moment's thought, Chen Yuancheng sighed helplessly.

"So hard to find?"

"I observe that the people of Shanghuting hold Yuan Cheng in very high regard!"

Chen Sheng chuckled lightly, then glanced back and said calmly.

"There are many matters to attend to now. Let's wait until everything is settled before Yuancheng considers this matter again!"

Chen Yuancheng nodded slightly, a thoughtful expression on his face.

......

As night fell, the main hall of the Yan family was brightly lit.

"With Lord Chen's arrival today, my humble abode is truly honored!"

"Let us raise a toast to Lord Chen!"

Yan Heng, the head of the Yan family, sat in the main seat and spoke respectfully.

"Brother Yan, you flatter me. I am merely a magistrate visiting Lady Xingchun; I am unworthy of such a grand gesture!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng immediately replied with a smile, without the slightest hint of arrogance.

Seeing Chen Sheng's humility and politeness, Yan Heng was even more satisfied.

The host and guests treated each other with respect, exchanging toasts and drinks, and before long they were both quite tipsy and flushed.

Seeing this, Yan Su, the son of the Yan family, also stood up to offer a toast, and then personally left his seat to perform a sword dance. Amidst the flashing sword light, his figure was very agile and graceful.

This scene greatly surprised Zhao Xian, who was sitting behind Chen Yuancheng.

"Is this the demeanor of scions of powerful families?"

Zhao Xian couldn't help but ponder this in his heart.

The guests present today, apart from Chen Sheng and Chen Yuancheng, are only the head of the Xu family and Cao Miao of the Cao family.

Zhao Xian, who came to the Yan family as Chen Yuancheng's attendant, was seated in the second row.

Of course, there was also food and drink.

While he was pondering, he saw Yan Su turn to Chen Yuancheng and invite him with his sword.

Chen Yuancheng, without the slightest hesitation, also drew his sword and rose to join in the dance.

In an instant, fleeting shadows danced across the hall, their cold light chilling the air.

Everyone sat upright on both sides, watching the two sword dancers intently.

After the two finished dancing, they returned to their seats, and everyone cheered in unison.

As the moon rose high in the sky, the banquet was cleared away, and the aroma of tea gradually filled the hall.

Zhao Xian picked up the teacup in front of him, took a small sip, and felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

After a few breaths, it tasted fragrant and sweet, which made one's mind clear and the drunkenness dissipated.

Having lived in this realm for seventeen years, this was the first time Zhao Xian had tasted tea. He took another small sip and savored it carefully.

"Lord Yan, I intend to distribute the government-supplied grain seeds from this year's county relief program to the various villages and hamlets!"

"What are your thoughts on this matter, Lord Yan?"

After sipping his tea for a while, the smell of alcohol dissipated, and Chen Yuancheng looked at Yan Heng, who was sitting to the left, and smiled faintly.

"According to past practice, the grain seeds will be divided equally among our three families, and then given to the people who need them."

"Such changes this year could lead to unforeseen problems!"

Yan Heng gave Chen Yuancheng a deep look, then his gaze fell on Chen Sheng, and he replied indifferently.

"What does Lord Chen think?"

"Now that the grain seeds have been delivered to Wohu Township, it is a matter for Wohu Township; how can I presume to interfere!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng immediately laughed loudly, appearing completely detached from the situation.

"Your attendance at this banquet today is an act of assisting Chen Yuancheng!"

"If you truly don't intend to get involved, you can simply return to the county seat today after coming back from the countryside!"

Upon hearing this, everyone couldn't help but think the same thing to themselves.

"Mr. Xu, Mr. Cao, what are your thoughts?"

Yan Hengfu then looked at Xu Daocheng, the head of the Xu family, and Cao Miao on his right.

"Our family has little land left this year, but we have already prepared enough rice seeds; we do not need any government relief grain seeds!"

Xu Daocheng pondered for a few moments, then spoke calmly.

Seeing this, Cao Miao recalled his elder brother's words from the previous night, sighed inwardly, and forced a smile, saying, "My family is the same!"

Seeing that the Xu and Cao families had backed down at the last minute, Yan Heng's anger surged, but when he glanced at Chen Sheng sitting below him with his unfathomable expression, he had no choice but to suppress his rage, forcing a smile onto his face as he gritted his teeth and said, "Since that's the case, my Yan family will not take a single grain of rice!"

"Yan Jun possesses lofty character and a profound understanding of righteousness; Yuan Cheng admires him greatly!"

Seeing that the matter was finally settled, Chen Yuancheng immediately stood up, bowed to Yan Heng, and sincerely praised him.

A day later, the grain seeds that had been embezzled by the village officials were quietly returned to the warehouse.

Immediately afterwards, Chen Yuancheng personally distributed the grain, and four cartloads of rice seeds were successively delivered to the poor villagers in various villages.

Meanwhile, news gradually spread throughout the village that the servants of the Yan family had been suffering greatly these past few days, and that Yan Heng would punish them severely for the slightest mistake.

Four cartloads of grain seeds, totaling over thirty shi (a unit of dry measure), amounted to only ten thousand coins. Yan Heng would hardly take them seriously!

They were simply angry that Chen Yuancheng had forced them to back down, causing the Xu and Cao families to lose face.