Jia Xu smiled immediately, replying, “Of course it’s feasible.”

To be honest, Ying Yue had given him a pleasant surprise.

Not only was the farming situation in Beidi County better than expected, but the little girl’s idea was also a brilliant one.

It was a way to win the people’s hearts.

Her proposal offered reassurance to the common folk: If there were no invasions during the harvest, it would be a good opportunity to store grain.

Even if the Hu people were to raid during harvest time, the county magistrate would compensate them for their losses. Either way, the people would feel secure and cared for.

Compared to the previous Magistrate Wang, Ying Yue’s actions demonstrated her genuine care for the people, treating them like her own children.

However, the true winner in this scenario would be Ying Yue herself.

After all, Bai Qi and his soldiers would ensure the Hu people never had the chance to invade.

Jia Xu couldn’t help but think that Ying Yue might grow into her role faster than he anticipated. Still, he reminded himself to nurture her confidence along the way.

The scholar in blue thought this silently.

Bai Qi, walking silently behind them, shared Jia Xu’s thoughts.

She had begun making independent judgments on matters, as evident from her conversation with Jia Xu. Her ability to think critically was growing.

Right now, Ying Yue is still unsure about her own thoughts but believes they are “correct.”

She has a long way to go in the future.

Then Jia Xu said, “After we punish those officials, let Li Hu hire farmers who can grow cotton in the afternoon. At the same time, tell the people about growing grain. Let Xu handle it.”

This task seems simple because it’s just sharing some news with the people. But it’s not easy because it involves influencing people’s emotions, constantly telling them that it is all thanks to “Prefect Ying.” This way, the people will understand how kind she is and start to admire her.

If this doesn’t work, people might think Ying Yue, the “new county governor,” is weak and easy to bully. In such a poor area, if she shows weakness, it could cause trouble.

So, it requires careful words. Jia Xu could write a message and give it to his subordinates, but to be safe, he prefers to handle it himself.

—Deceiving people is actually Jia Xu’s specialty, and it’s how he became well-known.

“Eh?” Hearing Jia Xu, the little girl tilted her head and asked, “Only Wen He goes? Don’t I need to go?”

He smiled and explained, “My lord, as the governor, you are very busy. You can’t be involved in such small things.”

Additionally, since they worked so hard yesterday to build up Ying Yue’s image, it’s important to keep some mystery.

No matter how beautiful someone is, if you see them too often, they lose their charm. Keeping Ying Yue mysterious in the eyes of the people will make her seem more admirable.

“Oh.” The little girl nodded, though she didn’t fully understand.

Seeing Ying Yue’s confusion, Jia Xu didn’t go into too much detail. Now was not the right time for it.

_

After a while, they arrived at the government office.

The sudden appearance of these few people scared a group of relaxed government workers who had been slacking off.

They had waited all day yesterday for Ying Yue but didn’t see her, so they were surprised to see her now.

Ying Yue did not wear the fancy dress she wore yesterday. That dress was meant for impressing the common people, but she didn’t need it for official matters. Anyone involved in government would understand this.

Even though she was wearing a simple dress, the officials still feared her.

They couldn’t forget how the former county magistrate’s cronies had mysteriously disappeared.

The officials looked at Ying Yue like she was a female devil who would kill without hesitation. The people with her didn’t seem nervous, though.

Jia Xu saw the plump officials and said, “You all look well-fed. You must be living comfortably.”

His comment was rude, but the officials didn’t dare to respond. They were scared because of Bai Qi’s powerful presence and Ying Yue’s calm demeanor.

Jia Xu smiled and said, “Don’t worry, we’re not here to hurt you. We are reasonable and won’t harm you.”

He then turned to Ying Yue, bowed, and gestured for her to take a seat.

After Bai Qi and Shen Shutan stood on either side of Ying Yue, Jia Xu focused on the officials. He didn’t want to waste time with them; instead, he said directly, “I heard that the wives and daughters of these gentlemen are good at reading and have beautiful handwriting.”

The officials were shocked by this mention, but when they saw Ying Yue and Bai Qi, they quickly lost their arrogance.

It wasn’t that they were afraid, but this harmless-looking woman and the man who looked like he could kill them easily were terrifying.