TSWPF -Chapter 459 Resettlement

After having their fill, the Wolf King led its offspring and descendants away at top speed, leaving behind a scene of devastation.

After waiting for another half hour, Liu Shi, who had gone to track the wolves, returned to report that the starving wolves had already left Ninghua Mountain.

When the villagers heard this, they burst into cheers.

Seeing this, Li Qingling finally breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. The matter had been resolved perfectly.

Still, Liu Zhiming was more cautious. He instructed the guards to continue patrolling for the next few days, in case the cunning wolves tried to deceive them and launch a surprise return.

The guards nodded in response and remained vigilant at the foot of the mountain over the following days.

After several days without seeing any sign of the wolves, Liu Zhiming finally relaxed, knowing that they had truly left Ninghua Mountain.

Just after resolving the annual winter disaster, before he could even catch his breath, he was faced with another problem—resettling the refugees.

For some unknown reason, a large number of refugees had arrived at Ninghua Mountain this winter.

If they were not properly settled, they would starve or freeze to death at the gates of Ninghua County.

But arranging accommodation for so many people was no easy task. For a moment, he was at a loss as to where to house them.

Seeing his troubled expression, Li Qingling shared her ideas.

After hearing her thoughts, Liu Zhiming and Mr. Luo felt that her plan was excellent and worth trying.

“If Qingling were a man, she would surely accomplish great things,” Mr. Luo praised.

Liu Zhiming nodded in strong agreement. To him, Li Qingling was a virtuous and capable wife who always came up with good solutions.

Feeling a little embarrassed, Li Qingling shook her head and said that she was only voicing whatever ideas came to mind. It was they who put them into action.

She had simply drawn inspiration from modern methods of refugee resettlement. Whether to implement them was still up to them.

It was only because they trusted her and were willing to follow her suggestions that things worked out.

Their trust made her very happy.

Liu Zhiming squeezed her hand firmly, stood up, and said that time was of the essence—he had to take action immediately.

The faster he acted, the less suffering the refugees would endure.

Li Qingling agreed and told him to go ahead. She would continue distributing porridge, so he needn’t worry.

Looking at her, Liu Zhiming said softly, “Wife, you’ve worked hard.”

Without her, he would have been completely overwhelmed.

“Why be so polite between husband and wife?” Li Qingling teased. She gently pushed him and urged him to hurry up.

“Alright. You should also take care when you go out. Dress warmly and don’t catch a cold.”

She agreed and, after watching him leave, turned to Mr. Luo and asked him to help look after Xiaoxiao.

Mr. Luo laughed and said he would be delighted.

He wished he could be with the little one every day—how could that ever be a burden?

With Mr. Luo there, Li Qingling felt at ease. She led the guards to the city gate with pots of porridge and baskets of steamed buns.

When the refugees saw her arrive, they rushed over in a frenzy.

The guards blocked them and sternly ordered them to line up. Anyone who didn’t queue wouldn’t get food.

Hearing this, the refugees obediently lined up, staring eagerly at the steaming porridge and swallowing repeatedly.

If not for the kind-hearted magistrate’s wife, they would have frozen or starved to death long ago.

Coming to Ninghua County had truly been the right decision.

While distributing porridge, Li Qingling took the opportunity to reassure them that the magistrate would soon arrange accommodation for them.

As soon as she finished speaking, the refugees erupted in excitement, repeatedly asking if it was true.

In such heavy snow, they only wished for a place to shelter from the cold.

Smiling, Li Qingling confirmed that it was true and told them to wait patiently for the magistrate’s arrangements.

Some refugees began to sob.

They had thought they would die here, never expecting to meet such kind officials who not only fed them but also helped solve their housing problems.

How fortunate they were.

“Thank you, Your Excellency. Thank you, Madam. May the Bodhisattvas bless you with long lives!”

Seeing their emotional state, Li Qingling raised her voice and said that this was simply their duty and there was no need to thank them.

Since the refugees had come to Ninghua County, they had to be properly taken care of. Otherwise, not only would their conscience suffer, but they would also face the emperor’s wrath.

Just as Li Qingling finished distributing porridge and was preparing to leave, Liu Zhiming arrived with a large group of villagers carrying timber.

She hadn’t expected him to gather so much wood in such a short time.

This showed how highly respected he had become among the people of Ninghua County.

The villagers responded to his calls more and more readily.

They were simple and kind-hearted people who couldn’t bear to see refugees freeze, so they donated wood from their own homes.

Seeing Li Qingling, Liu Zhiming smiled at her, then turned to the refugees and announced loudly: “I will build wooden houses for you on the open ground ahead. After spring comes, if you’re willing to stay in Ninghua County, further arrangements will be made.”

With shelter from wind and snow, they would be able to survive the winter safely.

The refugees all knelt down and shouted in unison, “Thank you, benevolent magistrate!”

Liu Zhiming raised his hand to signal them to stand.

Since the weather was clear and snow-free, they had to hurry and finish the construction.

Seeing the villagers building houses for them, the refugees also rushed over to help.

With so many hands, it took only two days to complete ten wooden houses.

Men and women were housed separately, sharing the space.

With shelter, food, and donated old clothes, the refugees finally settled down in Ninghua County.

They were not ungrateful people.

Knowing how much the locals had done for them, they looked for ways to repay them.

Every morning, they got up early with brooms to clear the snow in the streets, preventing it from blocking the roads.

Seeing this, the locals grew even closer to them.

People who knew gratitude were always easier to accept.

…

Far away in the capital, the emperor was reading the memorials submitted by officials. The more he read, the deeper his frown became.

County after county reported rising death tolls.

What were those officials doing? Why hadn’t they prepared earlier and properly settled the refugees?

Then he came across Liu Zhiming’s report and froze.

Zero deaths?

Ninghua County had zero deaths?

He slammed the table and exclaimed, “Excellent!”

He hadn’t paid much attention to Ninghua County for a long time and hadn’t known how it was doing.

Now it seemed to be doing very well.

“Send a fast messenger to Ninghua County. Ask Magistrate Liu how he achieved zero deaths.”

Perhaps his former teacher had advised him.

That boy Liu Zhiming was truly fortunate to receive such full support.

But no matter what, as long as he governed well, that was what mattered.

The process was unimportant—the result was.

After receiving the imperial inquiry, Liu Zhiming promptly reported the resettlement methods in detail and mentioned that the idea came from his wife.

It was her achievement, and no one could take it away.

After reading it, the emperor praised him again, remarking on his good fortune in marrying such a wise woman.

During court, he coldly listed the death tolls of each county and asked the officials how they planned to solve the problem.

The civil officials began arguing, offering all kinds of solutions.

To the emperor, none of them addressed the root of the issue.

“I ask you all—why do other counties have so many deaths, while Ninghua County has none? Have you thought about why?”

Someone recalled that Liu Zhiming and Mr. Luo were both in Ninghua County.

“Your Majesty, isn’t Mr. Luo there? With him, how could there be casualties?”

“With his help, Liu Zhiming is like a tiger with wings.”

“I know what you’re thinking,” the emperor said. “But this time, it wasn’t my teacher’s idea.”

He then explained Liu Zhiming’s methods.

“This plan was devised by Magistrate Liu’s wife, Li Qingling.”

“Your Majesty is wise! With such loyal ministers, Heaven blesses our dynasty!” members of the Liu faction shouted.

Even their rivals dared not object and followed suit.

The emperor nodded and ordered that the method be promoted nationwide to prevent further casualties.

He then publicly granted Li Qingling the title of Fifth-Rank Noble Lady, along with a thousand taels of gold and several boxes of silk.

The ministers could only praise his wisdom.

A Fifth-Rank title carried prestige and a stipend but little real power, so it posed no threat to them.

Seeing no further matters, the emperor dismissed court.

Afterward, Liu Wenjie hurried home to share the good news with Old Master Liu.

He felt proud to have such capable relatives.

“Ah, Minister Liu, why are you walking so fast?” someone called.

He stopped and turned. “Minister Zhao.”

“Congratulations. You have such an outstanding nephew and niece-in-law.”

“Thank you for the compliment,” Liu Wenjie replied modestly.

Minister Zhao laughed and said the Liu family was too humble.

Liu Wenjie merely smiled and excused himself, saying his carriage had arrived.

Back home, he told Old Master Liu the news.

The old man felt invigorated and repeatedly said, “Good! Good!”

His grandson and granddaughter-in-law were truly remarkable.

“Father, take good care of your health. Wait for Mo’er and the others to return so we can reunite.”

After winter began, the old man had fallen ill and had not fully recovered.

Hearing this good news, he felt a little better.

He wasn’t willing to die so soon.

No matter what, he had to live to see Yan’er and Rou’er get married.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t be at ease.