As Shen Yunwei spoke, he furtively glanced at Liu Bifu's expression. Only when he saw the man's face ease slightly did he quietly let out a breath of relief.
"Starting tomorrow, I will put all relief and charity stalls under the county office's name."
Shen Yunwei knew full well that Liu Bifu, as Dengfeng County's chief official, held real power in his hands.
If he offended him, the Shen Family would likely find it impossible to move even a single step in this prefectural city from then on.
On further thought, the Shen Family had already provided aid in the name of Lu Qingqing, the Shen Family's future mistress, for more than half a year. The prayers for blessings should be more than enough by now.
Over the past half year, thanks to Lu Qingqing's charitable deeds, the Shen Family's reputation among the common people had risen day by day. Yet it had also drawn some unnecessary attention.
For instance, Lord Liu before him.
There were only a few months left until a full year had passed.
The year-long relief effort had been his original decision: first, to pray for blessings for Lu Qingqing, and second, for the vast number of suffering commoners.
For the remaining few months, then, they would distribute aid to the city's impoverished people under the county office's name.
That way, he could both give Liu Bifu a way out and maintain a good relationship with the authorities, while also seeing the relief effort through from beginning to end without leaving anyone grounds for criticism.
Shen Yunwei calculated silently, his face still bearing that kindly smile, as though all of this had been willingly arranged by him long ago.
Hearing Shen Yunwei's words, the smile on Liu Bifu's face deepened. He was plainly very satisfied with