"Ah, isn't this the illustrious Lord Hai? It's been far too long."
At Tongzhou Wharf, Wang Yan greeted Hai Rui and his family with a beaming smile.
"Ah, isn't this Lord Wang Da, whose power sways the court? Shall this humble official kowtow to you?" Hai Rui replied in the same mocking tone.
"Spare me. Hurry along—it's terribly hot. None of your family is in particularly good health. Don't go getting sick from the heat."
"We've all been practicing the health-preserving exercises you taught us. I feel quite well."
Wang Yan shook his head. "What you feel doesn't matter. One glance tells me you haven't eaten anything decent these past few years. If you don't eat well, your body can't recover. You really are something. I've made so much money these past few years, and His Majesty, in his benevolence, raised the salaries of every official in Great Ming. You're already a prefectural assistant commissioner, and your monthly pay is considerable, so why are you still living so frugally? You still look malnourished."
"The people live hard lives. When I encounter them, I have to help however I can. Ah, don't mention government funds—they all have designated uses." Hai Rui grinned, his dark face bearing the marks of countless hardships.
"There are too many poor people. What can one man's strength possibly save? There are so many wealthy households. You could find any excuse at all and get plenty of money from them—who would dare cause you trouble? Those wealthy families that fleece the common people ought to be the ones helping them. The proper way is still local development, so the people can earn more money than before.
"And for those whose lives are truly unbearable, use the government's systems to solve their problems. Don't play the benevolent Lord