Return to Clear Creek

These days, the saying really holds true: only when you have food in your hands can you feel at ease.

Even if they can't finish it all, with a county of tens of thousands of people, there's no worry about finding buyers for the extra grain!

Upon hearing Yin Yunze's promise, Peng Shulan's eyes lit up, and he immediately straightened his back, saying confidently, "I guarantee, even if I can't become the head constable! No! I swear to complete this task assigned by you, sir!"

"There's no need for that. If things truly can't be done, let Xu Hanxian tear down the soup kitchen if he wants. I only ask that he do it himself! With so many people in front of him, it's still him, this county magistrate who doesn't care about the lives of the people, who will lose face. You can go to a more crowded place later; there's no need to risk your lives."

Yin Yunze didn't know what Xu Hanxian being mocked like that, so he left Peng Shulan some leeway. He was short-handed and there was no need to kill someone out of spite.

The key is to embarrass Xu Hanxian, rather than actually fighting to the death.

Hearing Yin Yunze say this, Peng Shulan was somewhat moved. Even if it was just talk, when working under the previous county magistrates, Peng Shulan had never heard anyone say something like "it doesn't matter if I can't do it."

In fact, situations where preparations are this thorough are extremely rare, if not nonexistent.

In the past, county magistrates would have been eager to get a job worth a tael of silver for a penny. Xu Hanxian was a little better, but not by much. In fact, because of his bookish and corrupt nature, he was sometimes less pleasant than those corrupt officials.

After all, corrupt officials at least know that they haven't paid enough. Sometimes, if things don't go through, they turn a blind eye and let it pass with a few curses.

Xu Hanxian, didn't think he had done anything wrong by not paying enough money. He even used some nonsense about "being a benefactor" to lecture them.

But with only a few hundred yuan a month, why would Peng Shulan risk her life like that?

Thinking about it this way, Peng Shulan discovered another advantage of Yin Yunze.

Throughout the entire day, regardless of whether the matter was resolved or not, Yin Yunze didn't scold him at all!

By not venting his anger on his subordinates, Yin Yunze's behavior stood in stark contrast to that of the arrogant county magistrates.

At that moment, Peng Shulan truly felt that being a constable was no longer very meaningful.

Thinking this, Peng Shulan's gaze towards Yin Yunze suddenly became even more intense.

Although Yin Yunze found Peng Shulan's gaze suddenly somewhat disgusting, he didn't pay much attention. After thinking for a moment, he gave another instruction. "These next few days, help me select eight—or ten, ten girls with good qualities, their ages—"

When the topic turned to age, Yin Yunze hesitated for a moment, then decided against giving a specific range. "I don't care about age. The expenses will be covered by this batch of Fox Rice. Remember, don't be stingy; I don't need it."

With this matter settled, it's time to truly put Yin Yunze's temple and statues on the agenda.

If all that's left are Sun Qin and Zhao Wan, it'll be too pathetic. At least there should be a few people in the temple to receive the worshippers!

As Yin Yunze's representative, Sun Qin didn't have time to clean every day. And Zhao Wan Yin Yunze would never let Zhao Wan do such rough work.

With so many children being sold outside the city, Yin Yunze could take the opportunity to select a few to train in advance. And it was obviously more reassuring to entrust this kind of matter to Peng Shulan, a local strongman.

"Yes!"

Peng Shulan didn't find anything wrong with Yin Yunze's intention to buy people; on the contrary, she felt that Yin Yunze was doing a good deed.

After all, Peng Shulan was even considering abandoning his position as a constable and going to work for Yin Yunze.

Even setting aside the issue of judging others by one's own standards, being Yin Yunze's servant is still better than letting those girls end up in prostitution!

Moreover, for those families, this real Fox Rice is much more valuable than money.

After giving this last instruction, Yin Yunze looked at Song Ran, who was eagerly waiting to be assigned a task.

After thinking for a moment, Yin Yunze also found a reason for Song Ran: "After Peng Shulan buys back these girls, Song Ran, you will be responsible for sending them back to Clear Creek Village. If you do this well, you may be rewarded with fifty catties of grain."

"Thank you Lord Fox Immortal!" Seeing that Yin Yunze hadn't forgotten her after all, Song Ran smiled and bowed repeatedly.

Although this is only a one-time job and not as lucrative as the ones given to Song Zhao and Peng Shulan, it's still worth considering what those two men were assigned to!

Compared to the troublesome tasks the two men were undertaking, Song Ran's fifty catties of Fox Rice was practically free. After all, as a resident of Clear Creek Village, Song Ran would eventually have to return there anyway, and getting fifty catties of grain for free by taking a few people along the way was enough to make Song Ran secretly happy.

"If you do your jobs well, I will certainly not treat you unfairly."

Finally, offering a glimpse of hope, Yin Yunze said to Peng Shulan, "Take me to the car rental shop."

Yin Yunze had no choice but to ride in an oxcart after leaving Clear Creek Village.

Now that he was heading back from the county town, Yin Yunze naturally didn't want to ride in that slow and uncomfortable oxcart.

Because Song Zhao and Song Ran had to prepare for tomorrow's porridge distribution, they didn't come along.

Led by Peng Shulan, Yin Yunze quickly arrived at the car rental shop. Almost without Yin Yunze saying a word, Yin Yunze Peng Shulan readily selected a carriage for him and settled the fare directly.

However, Yin Yunze noticed that Peng Shulan seemed about to speak several times during the process, but didn't say anything.

Not wanting to leave any potential problems, before getting into the car, Yin Yunze looked at Peng Shulan and asked, "I've noticed you've hesitated to speak several times along the way. Speak, what is it?"

Upon hearing Yin Yunze's words, Peng Shulan rubbed his hands together, saying apologetically, "My lord, could you please grant me one of your portraits of beauties? I have a great need for it! I'm willing to exchange it for fifteen days' worth of Fox Rice, my lord, what do you say?"

"So that's what it was about."

Yin Yunze didn't care what use Peng Shulan was for; he figured it was probably for his own use.

Men----

Without much thought, Yin Yunze took out the dozen or so portraits of beauties and placed them all in front of Peng Shulan: "Consider this my advance reward to you! If you accomplish the task I assigned you, then so be it. If not, don't blame me for being ruthless! You may choose two."

"Thank you, sir!"

Upon hearing this, Peng Shulan was overjoyed and quickly pulled out two bills, then carefully stuffed them into his pocket.

After putting the portraits of the beauties away again, Yin Yunze raised an eyebrow and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving!"

"Respectfully seeing off Your Excellency!" Upon hearing this, Peng Shulan bowed very respectfully to Yin Yunze.

With a crack of the whip, the carriage began its shaky journey.

Although this carriage was the best among the batch selected by Peng Shulan, it was still a bit too bumpy compared to a modern car.

Within the county town, things were alright; the pace wasn't fast, and Yin Yunze could still enjoy the novelty at his leisurely pace.

But once they left the county town and the carriage started speeding along the dirt road, Yin Yunze discovered that Zhao Wan was actually prone to motion sickness.

Of course, whether it was genuine motion sickness or dizziness caused by the bumpy ride of the carriage is still debatable.

Yin Yunze knew that even with the Heal Wounds and Cure Illness healed, Yin Yunze was barely holding on.

The damage he suffered over the past two days combined doesn't even compare to the critical hit that carriage inflicted on Yin Yunze.

After asking several times, and finally getting close to Clear Creek Village, Yin Yunze hurriedly stopped the carriage and got off, feeling dizzy.

Yin Yunze firmly refused the driver's offer to take him a further distance. The rest of the journey wasn't far, so he decided to walk a bit and get some fresh air to clear his head.

But after walking a short distance, Yin Yunze suddenly had the feeling that someone was spying on him from the shadows.

But when Yin Yunze looked around by instinct, he only saw withered yellow weeds in the woods, and the feeling of being spied on disappeared.

Yin Yunze assumed it was just a hallucination caused by motion sickness and didn't take it too seriously.

When Yin Yunze stepped onto the land of Clear Creek Village again, the Land God Divinity that had returned to his body easily dispelled the slight dizziness.

He couldn't help but let out a comfortable groan. He had to admit, he was getting used to the feeling of being empowered by the earth's veins. Running around in Zhao Wan's childlike body these past two days had really been exhausting!

He drew upon the Earth Vein Power to enter the underground, Earth Vein Power to carry his body back to Sun Qin's house Earth Escape is a type of escape technique).

However, after emerging from underground, Yin Yunze discovered that Sun Qin was not at home.

Without much thought or time to rest, Yin Yunze prepared and began his daily tasks.

If there's anything that bothers Yin Yunze, it's not Xu Hanxian's lack of pragmatism, but rather the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi that was wasted over the past two days. Enough Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to create dozens of characters has simply dissipated in the blink of an eye.

Thinking about it carefully, it hurt Yin Yunze much more than that banquet.

Inspired by his previous experience treating Xu Yue's illness, Yin Yunze's first priority was to prepare to manufacture a large batch of Heal Wounds and Cure Illness Fox Immortal Cake.

Compared to incense for Expel Evil and Dispel Filth, and amulets for Blessing and peace that may not always be effective, this Fox Immortal Cake, which is also believed to Heal Wounds and Cure Illness, is the ultimate specialty.

Eat a whole piece if you're seriously ill, eat smaller pieces if you're minorly ill, and rinse it if you're healthy.

Its main selling point is that it can treat illnesses, maintain health, be effective upon ingestion, be suitable for all ages, and be trustworthy!

As Yin Yunze thought about it, he even considered just giving himself a piece!