"What's with Lord Shen...?"
Looking at Shen Tang's beaming face, several officials bowed in greeting, though plenty of questions still weighed on their minds.
Shen Tang asked them, "What about me?"
One of them stammered, "Lord Shen, you look radiant this morning, with joy written all over your face. Did something good happen?"
What they really wanted to know was whether Shen Tang had gained some kind of "benefit" after visiting the Zhangs with a calling card last night. And what was that dried bloodstain by the government office entrance, and the mess inside? It all looked like signs of a fight.
Shen Tang laughed. "Heh, you guessed right. The year's almost over, so I stocked up on a big batch of 'New Year goods.'"
The officials felt a pang of sadness at her words.
Speaking of "New Year goods," it had been a long time since they'd given their families a proper New Year. Their parents, wives, and children had all been dragged into their worries, too.
After all, being an official in Heyin wasn't easy.
Fortunately, Shen Tang had paid three months of their salaries out of her own pocket. Otherwise, this year's New Year would have been even bleaker than usual.
Thinking of that, the officials felt a third less resentment toward Shen Tang for rushing off in the middle of the night to cling to the Zhangs' coattails. They congratulated her.
Shen Tang said, "Since everyone's having a hard time, once we've tallied up the 'New Year goods,' we'll settle the remaining salaries, too."
Heh heh heh, she was a rich woman now.
The junior officials' salaries weren't much. Paying them off would win people's hearts, and they'd work with even more enthusiasm and drive from here on out.
If you wanted your horse to run,