Chapter 249: Good Progress
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
It would be extremely easy for the Overwatch Council to find out anything about the Xie family’s privacy if they wanted to. With the Xie family’s connections, they should know.
However, he did not know the true abilities of those people in the Overwatch Council. He only thought they were some civil officials. In reality, they were similar to secret guards.
However, even if the Xie family did not know, they would not be so stupid as to collude with the government and merchants.
“It seems like the Third Young Masters have paid a lot. I believe the Soft Fragrance Cake will sell very well.” There were quite a number of people here today. Just the number of people entering the county town showed that the people under the jurisdiction of Nanchang County, which was located in Jiangnan, had quite a lot of assets and surplus grain.
In addition, the wealthy merchants sitting in the restaurants would have a higher net worth. Although the price of the Soft Fragrance Cake was a little high, it was not without a market.
Chu Heng saw that she was happy, and the corners of his mouth curled into a happy smile.
“Sit down and rest for a while. There’s still time,” Chu Heng said.
Ye Muyu did not stand on ceremony and sat down with Chu Ziluo. Chu Heng sat behind her, with Madam Liu and Ziluo sitting next to him. Lu Chuan sat next to Ziluo.
Not long after, on the high platform, a bailiff walked up and struck the big gong.
After three rings, the bustling street slowly quieted down. In front of the officials, the people instinctively feared.
“The auspicious time has arrived. I would like to congratulate everyone on the Dragon Boat Festival.”
“Everyone, do not crowd. According to the county’s orders, do not cause trouble. Those who violate the order will be whipped twenty times. If the crime is serious, they will be imprisoned and await punishment.”
As the bailiff spoke loudly, the people who were originally still making noises instantly disappeared. It was obvious that no one wanted to go to prison. In ancient times, if they went to prison, their lives would be ruined. To ordinary people, it was a disaster that could cause the sky to collapse. The bailiff was also very satisfied with the people’s silence.
“Please come up to the stage, County Magistrate.”
He saw the county magistrate in his official uniform walking out of the room behind him.
When he passed by the stairs, he was helped up by the bailiffs beside them.
A fat and wealthy official walked up to the high platform. He looked at the people below with a satisfied smile on his face.
He coughed lightly and began his speech.
Ye Muyu was far away, so she could not see the county magistrate’s face clearly. Although he was long-winded, he was not perfunctory, especially in his last sentence. “I hope that you can show your ability and perform well. Not only will you win glory for your parents, but you will also let the reputation of the county spread and bring honor to your ancestors.”
“Well said, County Magistrate.”
The people below applauded in response.
County Magistrate Xu was pleased to see that the people’s emotions had been stirred up. He said, “Then the auspicious time has come. I hereby announce the start of the competition. After the competition is over, I have a congratulatory gift for everyone. Each family can send one person to queue up to receive it.”
“A congratulatory gift?”
“County Magistrate, what gift?” a bold man asked.
“We’ll find out after the competition,” County Magistrate Xu said calmly.
Seeing that the county magistrate did not reveal it, the commoners did not dare to ask any more questions. Anyway, it was just a matter of waiting for a while. Since every household had one, they could just let their families collect it when the time came.
After that, County Magistrate Xu left. Soon, some bailiffs came up and began to call out the competitors’ names to compete.
The first hundred people would go up in order.
At the same time, the corresponding family members sat in the first hundred seats.
Regarding the needlework competition, the county’s Silk Workshop, Thousand Clothes Hall, and Embroidery Pavilion would each send two embroiderers to be the judges.
These three shops in the county were the best clothing shops, and their embroiderers were also the best in the county..