Chapter 535: The New Governor’s Office
Chapter 530 of "The Great Ming in the Box" starts the action: After concluding their awkward conversation, Wu Shen and Shi Kefa took their leave.When they were... Find out what happens!
After concluding their awkward conversation, Wu Shen and Shi Kefa took their leave.When they were finally out of earshot, Liang Shixian smiled and called out to Chen Yuanbo, “Yuanbo, come over and take a seat.”
Chen Yuanbo sat down opposite Liang Shixian.
Liang Shixian then inquired, “You didn’t come to Chengcheng just to calculate fertilizer prices, did you? Is there some other important task?”
“No task at all! The Deity simply sent me out to roam freely.” Chen Yuanbo straightened his back proudly. “The Deity said that since I’m the first middle school graduate from Gaojia Village, with no weak subjects—all my knowledge is solid—I should travel around and see the world with my own eyes. I need to figure out where exactly my learning can be useful in various trades and professions.”
Liang Shixian nodded. “I see. Well, you’ve already made a contribution in the field of commerce.”
Chen Yuanbo beamed happily. “Yes! I never imagined my math skills would prove useful here.”
Liang Shixian chuckled. “All right then, I won’t keep you. Go ahead and explore more. See where else your skills might make a difference.”
Chen Yuanbo cupped his hands respectfully and exited the county office.
Middle school graduates, conquering the world!
Meanwhile, in Puzhou City…
After months of construction, Puzhou City was completely transformed. The speed wasn’t due to Gaojia Village’s advanced technology, but because buildings back then weren’t meant to be tall.
In later eras, constructing a multi-story building could take years. But here, most structures were only one or two stories high. Foundations were casually laid—sometimes skipped entirely. Bricks were stacked, cement slapped on… Voila!
So construction flew by.
Qiu Qianfan stood before the shiny new governor’s office, his face glowing with delight.
Having spent months working in a fabric shop, the lofty Governor nearly turned into a tailor. Hearing his new office was ready, he rushed back to inspect it.
Tsk, these cement walls are rock-solid! They could serve as a citadel within the city. If bandits breach the outer walls and pour into Puzhou, he reckoned he could rally the constables behind this sturdy barrier for one last stand.
The solid wooden doors! The spacious glazed glass windows!
“Wait… did I just see something extraordinary?”
His eyes snapped back to the windows. Yes, they truly were glazed glass.
He hissed sharply, turning urgently to Gao Yiye beside him. “Madam Li! Such extravagance! Installing glazed glass—glazed glass!—in my humble governor’s office? If word reaches the Emperor, I’ll be branded a corrupt official!”
Gao Yiye smiled. On her collarbone, the Deity embroidered with golden thread smiled too—though Qiu Qianfan, a cultured man practicing “non-improper observation,” kept his eyes strictly on her face. He wouldn’t glance elsewhere even if that golden deity started dancing.
Gao Yiye reassured him, “Your Honor exaggerates. Once we understood its fabrication, glazed glass became utterly commonplace.”
Qiu Qianfan blinked. “???”
Gao Yiye explained, “We’ve built a workshop just north of the city near the miners’ settlement. They make it using sand.”
Qiu Qianfan gasped. “…What?”
Gao Yiye smiled. “The governor’s office is the heart of governance. It must be bright and airy, radiating… well, transparency! Paper-covered windows look dim and suspicious. We installed glazed glass everywhere. The whole building is flooded with light! Would you like to step inside, Governor?”
Qiu Qianfan still felt uneasy. If Madam Li’s lying and this glass is still priceless treasure, memorials demanding my impeachment will pile up at court.
He stepped inside. It was dazzlingly bright. The glass banished the oppressive gloom that haunted traditional government offices, casting everything in a pure, almost righteous light.
This instantly lifted his spirits. Administering justice in such a place surely feels better.
He walked to his chair, sat, placed both hands firmly on the desk—feeling supremely satisfied—when abruptly, something seemed amiss. Tilting his head up, Qiu Qianfan spotted it: carved onto the ceiling directly above him was a statue of the Dao Xuan Deity.
Copies of Dao Xuan Deity’s Demon Elimination Tale had flooded into Puzhou City via cargo ships. Local printers were already churning out more. Qiu Qianfan recognized the deity, though lacking personal evidence of the divinity manifesting, he remained skeptical.
He pointed upward, puzzled. “This is…?”
Gao Yiye smiled faintly. “It proclaims: ‘the gods above are watching!’ When citizens see His Honor presiding beneath the sacred image, they’ll trust you haven’t taken bribes or abused your power.”
Qiu Qianfan nodded. “Reasonable. That’s how it should be. A clear conscience fears no heavenly gaze overhead! Though… isn’t the Goddess of Mercy or Lord Laozi more… convincing? Few know this Dao Xuan Deity.”
Gao Yiye’s smile deepened. “Lady Guan Yin is overworked. Laozi’s grown lazy over millennia. The Dao Xuan Deity takes a more personal interest in mortal affairs.”
Qiu Qianfan chuckled. “Haha! Very well, very well. Deity or ancient sage, I fear none.” He toured the governor’s office—front to back, side to side—marveling at the transformation the rickety ruin had undergone. “Madam Li, my deepest gratitude. Truly. I feel like this might just add years to my life!”
Gao Yiye returned the smile. “You honor us, Honored Governor. Would you now like to tour the various workshops nearby?”
Qiu Qianfan replied, “Naturally, we shall.”
Horses were readied, and the entourage left Puzhou City.
Closest were the iron mine town clinging to Jiguang Mountain and the allied steel factory. They headed toward Jiguang Mountain first. Before even reaching the town, Qiu Qianfan halted, stunned.
A cement road stretched like a gray ribbon from the mountain’s base far up its slope, disappearing into the iron mine town.
“Such incredible speed laying this cement road?” Qiu Qianfan exclaimed.
Gao Yiye replied smoothly, “Puzhou is the ‘Heart of the Land.’ People are plentiful. We recruited workers… and tens of thousands answered the call! With so many hands, each swinging a pickaxe twice… a clear path quickly appeared.”
Up ahead, the cement road forked. One path led to the iron mine town, the other snaked toward the steel factory.
The thought of dirty mine shafts held little appeal for Qiu Qianfan. Digging holes… what’s there to see? He gestured firmly toward the right fork. “Let us begin with the steel factory.”