Quick Transmigration: Underdog Turns out to be Untouchable

Chapter 1037: Chapter 948: Official of the First Rank 9

This ornament is crafted from a piece of mixed jade in black and white. The carver ingeniously transformed the entire jade into a scene of a beautiful Jiangnan garden. The black impurities became rooftops, land, and people’s hair.

Other areas were carved into flowers, trees, houses, and streets, even the peddlers selling goods are included. The ornament vividly displays the local customs of that place, presenting the scenic beauty of misty Jiangnan on this small piece.

The County Magistrate had seen good things before, but at this moment, he was still captivated by this exquisite jade ornament. Those notable figures from the county who came to celebrate the County Magistrate’s birthday were also amazed and admired it for a while.

Seeing such a fine piece, he naturally wanted to meet the person who presented it. Soon, Murong Ting and Murong Shuangshuang were led in by the gatekeeper to stand before the County Magistrate.

The hall for the County Magistrate’s birthday celebration was large, filled with celebrities in silk and brocade. However, Murong Ting remained calm and composed, showing no timidness in the presence of prominent figures, exuding an excellent demeanor.

Murong Shuangshuang, standing beside Murong Ting, also didn’t disgrace her father, calmly and orderly walking by his side. This duo, big and small, presented an aura different from the ordinary commoners, as if accustomed to grandeur.

The County Magistrate looked at Murong Ting, stroked his beard, and asked, ”Is this jade ornament offered by you? Judging by your attire, you don’t seem like someone who could afford such a jade ornament. Did you carve it yourself? The craftsmanship is quite fine.”

Murong Ting bowed and replied, ”To answer the lord, this jade originally came into my possession by chance in the mountains. Grateful for your benevolence towards the common people under your governance, with no extra tax levied for many years, I felt appreciative.

I thought of gifting you something, but with nothing much at hand, apart from medical skills, I only have some insight into jade carving. Thus, I spent half a year carving this jade ornament. It’s nothing extraordinary, but it’s the best I could offer.”

Truthfully, Murong Ting felt a bit ashamed saying this, as he was taking credit for his daughter’s work. Murong Shuangshuang had advised him earlier, that given her young age, it would be hard to believe such an ornament came from her hand. Others wouldn’t know she had memories from before as a cheat.

The County Magistrate was particularly pleased by Murong Ting’s words. He considered himself a good official, though he accepted tributes, he never exploited the common people. In his many years in office, he never privately increased taxes, to the people, he was indeed a good official, so he believed Murong Ting’s words were genuine.

In his delight, the County Magistrate generously waved his hand, instructing for a bag of Silver to be given to Murong Ting as a reward. As a noble in these chaotic times, the County Magistrate lacked nothing in terms of money. Because Murong Ting’s words were flattering, the reward was given effusively, with a large sum brought out.

Murong Ting didn’t check it on the spot. After accepting the reward, he and Murong Shuangshuang expressed birthday wishes to the County Magistrate again before leaving. Once back home, filled with excitement, Murong Ting opened the generous reward from the County Magistrate.

He had slyly felt it earlier; it was ten heavy objects. Upon opening it, it was indeed a row of ten five-tael silver ingots, a total of fifty taels of silver, a windfall of unexpected fortune. Moreover, it was legally acquired, allowing usage without fear of greedy troublemakers targeting the Murong Family.

Strictly speaking, that jade ornament in the hands of someone knowledgeable could be worth several hundreds, but the County Magistrate didn’t swallow it and not pay, which showed rare conscience. Although the previous tax exemption wasn’t achieved, this silver was enough for four or five years of taxes, resolving the tax crisis.

With money at home, the first thought for Murong Shuangshuang and Murong Ting was to nurse Mrs. She back to health. Murong Ting, being a doctor, while not of the highest skill, was capable of helping with health and wellness. Mrs. She’s previous poor health was ultimately due to financial lack.

Murong Ting took a certain amount of silver to the town’s bank, exchanging it for four smaller one-tael silver ingots and ten strings of Copper Coins, then he bought ten jin of polished rice, ten jin of millet, ten jin of white flour, a pile of fatty pork for lard, and lastly two silk flowers costing ten coins each, and a large packet of candy, spending nearly half a tael of silver before returning home.

Silk flowers were the most envied accessory among the village women. Although Murong Shuangshuang disdained the coarsely made silk flowers and didn’t take them, Mrs. She was very happy. Wearing them out, she inflamed envy among the village women.

Nowadays isn’t the peaceful times elders speak of from decades ago, when it’s said a common household never lacked a few silk flowers or Copper hairpins, and in better homes, even gold and silver.

Now, things are different; the world is chaotic, and common people struggle to eat, let alone buy jewelry. Forget gold and silver, even Copper hairpins are unaffordable. A silk flower is enough to stir envy.

In fact, the County Magistrate was even more generous than Murong Shuangshuang and others thought, for after the County Magistrate’s grand birthday celebration, some Government Officials brought 100 jin of polished rice and 100 jin of fine flour to the Murong Family, also informing Murong Ting that their taxes were waived for three years.

This truly was an unexpected delight, and when the officials left, each received 30 Copper Coins, enough for their families to enjoy two meals with meat, definitely a nice perk. The officials were very pleased with Murong Ting’s good judgment.

Because the officials arrived so openly, it was impossible to keep the Murong Family’s matter secret, and soon the whole village learned of the benefits Murong Ting received, including many gifts and Silver from the County Magistrate. Due to Murong Ting’s years of grace towards the village, no one felt envious; all were sincerely happy for the Murong Family.

Of course, the villagers didn’t know the exact wealth the Murong Family received, only aware of the Magistrate’s gifts of refined rice and flour, and Silver. In the villagers’ minds, they wouldn’t have imagined a reward of fifty taels of Silver from the Magistrate; their guesses ranged from three to five taels, at most daring to guess up to ten.

No matter how, Murong Ting, the doctor benefitted, and so did the entire village, because previously, Murong Ting had to frequently leave for days as a bell doctor to earn for taxes. Now, he could focus on staying in the village to treat nearby people.

Now the Murong Shuangshuang family enjoyed meals of millet porridge every day, with balanced three-meal diets rich in both meat and vegetables, significantly improving the family’s complexion and well-being.

As Murong Shuangshuang’s family lived better and better, next door, Fang Keixin’s life, on the contrary, was extremely frustrating. Knowing she was stuck in this world, having lost hope, Fang Keixin began considering some business ventures to earn money.