The Anarchic Consort (282-990)

483-487

Chapter 483: Framing Wei Wei

Helian Wei Wei’s face did not change even a bit, as if she did not see the Magistrate Liao and the officials from the provincial capital brown-nosing. Everyone who came was indifferent in her eyes and she was not affected by the gifts they had brought.

Private Advisor Zhang pulled a face and muttered with disgust, “Just go on pretending then!”

To him, the one named Wei was really dumb. The officials from the provincial capital had already come yet he was still trying to be modest and arrogant. He did not even care to lighten things up, thus, he deserved to be unlucky!

Helian Wei Wei was not being arrogant, she just was not the type of person who would fawn over her superiors. She would do things in moderation yet not acting too rude.

As soon as the officials from the provincial capital sat, they started questioning, “The budget from the imperial court has been assigned. We heard that there are plans to build some roads here in Fuping, how do you all plan to do that?”

“We will use the same ways we did in previous years.” Magistrate Liao was holding his teacup as he grinned and replied, “It would be best if the roads leading to the village can all be built, this would ease the convenience of the people to travel to the city.”

After listening to that, the officials all nodded their heads in agreement. “Fuping county covers a big area, if adding a few roads could help the commoners with their traveling, it should be a good thing.” Then, they turned their attention toward the county magistrates and asked, “What about you all? Do you all have any suggestions?”

Those county magistrates would definitely not have any other ideas as they were all very happy with the project of building roads! Among their conversations, they could not help but worship Magistrate Liao up until the sky.

However, Helian Wei Wei who actually had the most right to talk was drinking tea calmly the entire time.

She only let go of the teacup in her hands until they finished with the discussion. Then, she spoke with a voice as clear as crystal, “I don’t think building roads is a good idea.”

Magistrate Liao’s smiling face suddenly deepened and he turned to look at Helian Wei Wei.

A few of the officials from the provincial capital also exchanged glances, then furrowed their thick brows. “Let’s hear your reasons then.”

“Fuping county already has two main roads going out of the village and both of them lead straight to the capital city. There’s no need to build another one.” Helian Wei Wei sounded calm, but each and every sentence was on point.

Magistrate Liao chuckled in a deep voice, “Lord Wei, you have just gotten into this field, you do not understand the meaning of building these roads to the commoners. People are building roads everywhere now. In order to let the people prosper, we will need to connect the roads and rails to the provincial capital. Otherwise, Fuping county will face poverty and be outdated in the future. This is a decision made after gathering all our concerns.”

“Let me ask you then, Lord Liao. When you made this decision, did you consider the fact that Fuping county is covered with mostly fields? To build roads, these fields will need to be replaced. All the commoners grow food in the fields, what are they going to eat if their fields no longer exist?” Helian Wei Wei retaliated with a question casually.

Magistrate Liao’s gaze deepened and he laughed, “What a good question Lord Wei! We were worried about this problem in the beginning too. But then after much thought, there will need to be sacrificed in order to achieve something. After the roads are done, the people will only need to wait until the season of harvest. By then, all losses can be earned back. If this doesn’t work, we still have a number of dry foods for the needy in the store, right? We can just use them when the time comes.”