FID – Chapter 978

Chapter 978: Proceed Slowly

Biehe Restaurant was the most famous restaurant in this small town. Liu Zhiqiu had described it accurately: the food was indeed delicious, with a distinct local flavor. Many of the dishes could not be found elsewhere.

When the group left the restaurant, they were completely satisfied.

“It’s time to head back. Once there, we’ll gather the tenants and hand out the lease contracts. Then this matter will be settled.” Liu Zhiqiu patted his full stomach, summoned the carriage, and the group began their return journey.

On the carriage, Liu Yusheng specifically asked Feng Qingbai whether Ji Hong might cause any trouble. After all, he was the county magistrate, and if he wished to make things difficult, he could certainly create some problems for them.

They couldn’t remain at the manor forever. Even if Ji Hong didn’t dare act against them directly, once they left, he might be bold enough to target the estate.

Distant help cannot extinguish a nearby fire.

“He won’t dare,” the man said with a faint smile, his confident assurance offering peace of mind.

However, Liu Yusheng hadn’t expected to see the scene at the manor upon their return. Well, no one could have anticipated it.

At the entrance of the manor knelt four people in perfect alignment, and behind them knelt more than twenty household guards.

Each face was pale, bodies trembling. Liu Yusheng even noticed frost forming on the forehead of Magistrate Ji Hong, tiny, densely packed ice crystals. It made him look almost comical. It was obvious they had been kneeling there for a long time.

The formerly arrogant and plump Second Master Gao had lost all his earlier bravado and now looked timid and cowering.

When the group descended from the carriage, Ji Hong immediately led his men in kowtows. Perhaps from kneeling so long and being exposed to the cold, their movements were stiff. “This lowly servant deserves death. I was blind, foolishly offending Your Highness. Your Highness, please have mercy!”

“Your Highness, spare us! This lowly one failed to recognize Mount Tai standing before him. Never again! Your Highness, please spare my life!”

“Your Highness, have mercy! Have mercy!”

The entire entrance of the manor was filled with voices begging for forgiveness, rising and falling one after another. Some were so terrified that their tears and snot were running down their faces.

Feng Qingbai stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking at them calmly. “Ji Hong, Zhou Tong, Landlord Zhang, Second Master Gao.”

Each time he uttered a name, the person called trembled violently, scared out of their wits.

His Highness actually remembered all their names!

The last shred of hope that the King would never bother remembering nobodies like them was completely crushed. The three major local gentry regretted everything to their bones.

Especially Zhou Tong—why had he ever volunteered his name? Not only had he made sure the King remembered him, but now he would face resentment from the Zhang and Gao families. It was the worst possible outcome for him!

“Your affairs are none of this King’s concern. But if any of you dare so much as to touch a hair of the Liu family estate, don’t blame this King for being ruthless.”

With that single ‘this king,’ he acknowledged his royal identity.

The people kneeling on the ground trembled all over, as if sifted through a sieve, not daring to lift their heads. “We dare not, we dare not! Thank Your Highness for sparing our lives! Long live Your Highness!”

The estate gate opened from the inside. Liu Tiao stood at the doorway, bowing respectfully.

Feng Qingbai said nothing further, and the group entered the estate at a leisurely pace.

“The Liu family manor is a clean place, not to be sullied—get lost!”

No one could tell who had spoken. Ji Hong, Zhou Tong, and the others didn’t dare raise their heads, forcing their stiff bodies to roll and crawl into their carriages and flee as fast as they could.

Watching the county magistrate and the three major gentry flee in disgrace, Liu Tiao grinned broadly at the door.

It felt absolutely satisfying!

After today, no one would dare come looking to provoke or harass anyone. The tenant farmers of Chuanjiu Village could now plant their crops in peace.

“Too bad we can’t forcibly make them change the rent,” Liu Zhiqiu said as he sat down in the hall. He still felt a twinge of regret. The scare they gave them was too light, but some things couldn’t be done on a whim; just because they wanted to, didn’t mean it would work.

Even if they did it, the result would never match their ideal outcome.

Liu Yusheng said, “There’s no way around it. The overall power structure in Nanling is like this. If we forcibly issued an order, once the gentry and local elites united, it would only backfire.”

“And even if they were forced to comply and collect only low rent on the surface, behind the scenes they would find other ways to extract from the tenants. In the end, the ones who suffer are still those at the very bottom,” Liu Muqiu added.

So she could completely understand  Feng Qingbai not issuing orders.

It’s better to offend a gentleman than to offend a petty man. Those people are petty, and petty people are hard to deal with.

Besides, where there are policies above, there are countermeasures below. She has lived among the gentry and knows the darkness within.

Forcing through an edict only addresses the surface, not the root. Behind the scenes, the elites and local dignitaries would only escalate, finding every possible way to reclaim the losses.

If that happens, the entire Nanling could be thrown into chaos.

Feng Qingbai and Liu Zhixia showed no outward emotion. Both had experienced the twists and turns of officialdom; their skill in remaining unreadable was already masterful, impossible for anyone to discern their thoughts.

“Brother, Feng Qingbai, what do you think?” Liu Zhiyu asked.

He was most irritated by these two faces. They were so unreadable, always so unfathomable, yet still putting on a show in front of family. 

How exhausting.

Feng Qingbai’s lips curled lightly. “Take it slowly.”

Three simple words echoed almost in unison by Liu Zhixia.

“You can’t rush things like this. Those in governance naturally hope for a peaceful, prosperous state, but seeking quick gains only backfires,” Feng Qingbai said calmly. “If you want to change the current situation, to elevate the state’s stability and prosperity to another level, you have to proceed gradually. There’s a saying: influence through subtle, gradual change. Isn’t the current power structure itself the result of centuries of gradual shaping?”

“Are you saying that to reach our ideal, we’d have to wait centuries?” Liu Zhiqiu grimaced. By then, they’d all be dead—who would even care about the state?

“Not necessarily. Just because we don’t apply pressure doesn’t mean the gentry aren’t under pressure. Don’t underestimate the tenant farmers. Once they realize they can fight for their rights, they can accomplish far more than we can.” Liu Zhixia reached over and patted Liu Zhiqiu’s head. “So you focus on your work, brother. We’re counting on you to achieve something great.”

Liu Zhiqiu was stunned, completely bewildered.

Of course he would work hard, but did this mean his Big Brother was placing all the hope on him alone?

“Hahaha!” He laughed so hard he was almost angry. “Fine, just wait. If I can’t accomplish it, there are still the descendants of the Liu family. A thousand, a hundred years later, it’ll succeed! And when that time comes, you must remember to bless them as spirits in heaven.”

Cups and plates flew toward Liu Zhiqiu in an instant.

This rascal.

They hadn’t been sitting long when the tenant farmers received the news and hurried over, taking the officially stamped tenancy contracts from Liu Zhiqiu’s hands, their faces beaming with joy.

“Master, you’re a truly good person. Don’t worry, we’ll tend the fields on the estate properly!”

“Yes, we’re simple folk and don’t speak well, but there’s a saying: ‘A house that accumulates goodness will have lasting blessings.’ Your family will surely be happy and prosperous!”

Liu Zhiqiu burst out laughing. “That’s a wedding blessing, not for this occasion. You really are clumsy with words. Alright, I’ve received your hearts. Work well, and that’s enough; you don’t need to worry about anything else.”