TNIBFT -Chapter 260 What Are You Standing There For? Aren’t You Going to Chase?

Ye Tian’s mouth twitched slightly.

To avoid giving himself away, he chose to ignore Ye Shuangxue and led Feng Jiaojiao straight toward the hotpot restaurant.

“Big Sister Feng, this way!”

Ye Tian went ahead to guide the way, and Feng Jiaojiao politely followed behind him.

Watching her father’s back, Ye Shuangxue furrowed her little brows and persistently said, “You haven’t explained it yet.”

“You’re just leaving like this?”

Seeing the “Tough Girl” sulking, Old Yang felt a bit gleeful. Only Ye Tian could handle Ye Shuangxue; Old Yang pursed his lips, about to enter the building, when someone grabbed the back of his shirt. Old Yang instantly tensed.

“Uncle Yang, have you ever learned to be a female worker?”

Ye Shuangxue’s little face showed suspicion.

Old Yang’s eyes darted around. If he told the “Tough Girl,” she would rush over and throw a tantrum at Ye Tian, and Ye Tian would definitely scold him.

If he didn’t say anything, the “Tough Girl” would still never let him off.

Too difficult!

Old Yang felt like crying but had no tears.

“You’re a boy, so you definitely haven’t learned.” Ye Shuangxue stared at Old Yang with wise eyes. Old Yang numbly nodded, and while Ye Shuangxue wasn’t paying attention, he quickly slipped away.

Inside the restaurant.

Tao Lichun had just arrived and barely sat down when he saw Ye Tian returning with a woman.

The woman seemed a bit older. Ye Tian treated her respectfully, suggesting she was likely an elder, and Tao Lichun didn’t think much of it. He stepped forward a few paces and said, “City Lord!”

Usually, when Master Tao came, it was for something important.

Ye Tian instructed Duan Yingying to take Feng Jiaojiao downstairs and settle her before entering the backyard with Tao Lichun.

The backyard was quiet.

A wall separated it from the street, blocking out the clamor outside.

Ye Tian entered the room, and Tao Lichun closed the door and asked, “City Lord, in recent days, people from surrounding towns have been pouring into Sifang City in large numbers. How do you suggest we handle this?”

“Should we close the city gates, or…?”

Tao Lichun didn’t know what Ye Tian was thinking and couldn’t decide on his own.

Ye Tian sat down, straightened his clothes, and asked, “What is their purpose in coming to the city?”

Tao Lichun was taken aback.

The Emperor of Daliang was incompetent. City lords in various regions basically acted like independent rulers. Unless there was an urgent summons from the capital, people generally could not enter. Local governance was chaotic, wealth-hoarding common, and combined with heavy taxation and natural disasters, the populace struggled to survive and often had no choice but to leave their homes.

“There are medicine factories in the city, which pay well and provide food and lodging. Many people are taking risks to come here,” Tao Lichun explained.

“However, this period is tense. If assassins or spies infiltrate, it could be dangerous for us.”

Tao Lichun continued, expressing his concerns.

Ye Tian smiled. “Do you think closing the city gates will prevent spies?”

“Being afraid of surveillance only makes you constantly fearful. Since most of them are ordinary people, just pay them 80% of the wages that local citizens receive. Don’t be harsh, don’t exclude them. Once they earn money and settle down, they will want more wages. If they want the same treatment as Sifang City residents, they’ll have to relocate their entire families.”

“From now on, construct unified housing to facilitate settling new arrivals in the city.”

Really? That could work?

Tao Lichun’s face flushed with excitement, and he clapped repeatedly. “Brilliant!”

“Why didn’t I think of this?”

“This way, within a year, Sifang City will definitely be among the top five cities in Daliang.”

Which other place provides work with wages and arranges housing?

Most importantly, Sifang City’s laws are fair and just, citizens are protected, and officials are honest. Just this alone would win the hearts of the people.

Tao Lichun was filled with fervor and energy.

This prosperous era might even be built by his own hands. Everything he had learned and aspired to—this was exactly it.

Ye Tian looked up and down at Tao Lichun. The old man’s eyes were darkened, and he seemed a bit thinner in recent days. Even standing here, his hunched body made him appear smaller.

The new city lord had just taken office, and even a small city had countless matters to handle. That old man was probably just too tired.

Ye Tian felt a pang of guilt. He awkwardly looked at Tao Lichun and said, “Take things one at a time… don’t overexert yourself…”

The rest of the unnecessary words couldn’t leave Ye Tian’s mouth.

What if Tao Lichun felt too exhausted, his body couldn’t handle it, and he resigned?

Then the one working a 996 schedule every day would be himself. After all, who wants to be a corporate slave after transmigrating?

“I can still manage,” Tao Lichun said gratefully, looking at Ye Tian. He knew Ye Tian cared about him and was worried his health might fail. Tao Lichun continued, “City Lord, rest assured, I will not close my eyes until Sifang City is transformed into another prosperous land!”

“Then eat more tonic herbs!” Ye Tian said.

“I see there’s some thousand-year ginseng in the city lord’s treasury. Take a bit with your meals every day; it will prolong your life!”

…

Elsewhere.

At the courier station.

Qin Fengyi had just finished preparing, carrying a small birdcage, ready to go out and give her daughter a surprise.

Suddenly, someone came running in a panic. “Lord!”

“Lord! Something big has happened!”

Qin Fengyi frowned slightly. Time was being wasted, and she was growing impatient.

The messenger knelt on the ground, not daring to lift his head, voice trembling: “Master Geng, who was imprisoned in the cell, has gone missing. He killed the guards in the cell and has probably escaped the station.”

Escaped?

Qin Fengyi’s aura turned icy, her eyes sharp as she stared at the kneeling man.

On the other side, Sun Yang led a group of armored soldiers, marching in unison toward them. Qin Fengyi glanced up; Sun Yang strode forward, dropped to his knees, and clasped his fists: “Lord, we couldn’t find him. It seems Master Geng really did escape.”

Everyone knelt, not daring to breathe loudly.

Qin Fengyi’s eyes were cold as they swept over those kneeling before her. She spoke: “Who was responsible for the guard duty?”

Her voice was stern and terrifying.

After a long pause, the messenger in front shivered and stammered, “It… it was me!”

“I deserve death. Your Majesty, please give me a chance to atone!”

“A chance?”

Qin Fengyi snorted coldly, her voice sharp: “A critically injured man, and you couldn’t even watch over him properly—do you even deserve a chance?”

“Is this the strength of my armored army?”

“I was unconscious for five years—were you also unconscious for five years? With such a backbone of the Great Zhou, how can the people rely on you?”

The soldiers were mortified!

Heads bowed, none dared to look up.

Qin Fengyi’s cold gaze swept across them. Her eyes were merciless. She rolled her cloak, grabbed the sword at her waist: swish!

She threw the sword backhandedly; it pierced accurately into the messenger’s arm.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

The soldiers were caught completely off guard, eyes wide in terror.

Seeing the sovereign enraged, everyone prostrated themselves. The injured man clutched his wound, gritting his teeth, afraid to make a sound. Qin Fengyi said: “After returning to Great Zhou, this man will be expelled from the armored army. Without achievements, he will never serve again in his life!”

Expelled from the armored army?

The soldiers on the ground were filled with fear.

“No, Your Majesty, please give me another chance!”

“Being expelled from the armored army is worse than death, Your Majesty!”

“Your Majesty!”

For the soldiers of Great Zhou, entering Empress Qin Fengyi’s armored army was an honor. To be expelled was like the collapse of all their years of pursuit and faith.

“Still standing there, what are you waiting for? Go after him!”