Clan Rise: Starting as a Grandfather

Chapter 502: Chapter 459: Earn the Admiration of the People, Like a Tiger at Heart, Gently Smelling the Rose.

”Commoner, commoner kowtows to your honor!”

This man had probably been secretly watching for a long time, seeing Yang Zhenshan approaching, he nervously knelt down and kowtowed.

Yang Zhenshan stepped forward and helped him up.

”No need!”

Helped up by him, the man was stunned for a moment, and then grew even more frantically nervous.

”Wang Laosan, please invite the Marquis inside first!”

At that moment, Xiong Hu calmed down and reminded.

”Ah, please, please!” Wang Laosan stammered.

Only then did Yang Zhenshan walk into the house.

Three mudbrick rooms, with the central room being a hall and the two sides being bedrooms – this is the most common layout in the Liaodong Region.

The humble house was somewhat dim, but still reasonably warm.

Yang Zhenshan casually looked around, well, actually there wasn’t much to inspect; the house didn’t even have a bench, just a stone.

”Sorry, Marquis, there’s no place to sit here,” said Xiong Hu cautiously.

”Hm!”

Yang Zhenshan nodded slightly, observing the clothes worn by the man and the child.

The clothing was not thick, but it was new.

Afterwards, he didn’t say much to Xiong Hu and Wang Laosan, turned around, and walked out of the hall, then into the kitchen.

The kitchen was positioned between the main house and the west wing room, inside was a clay stove, under which were still some glowing embers, clearly it had just been used for heating.

There’s no place nearby to chop wood in this village, but dry grass could be harvested.

Taking a sickle to just outside the village, one could easily cut a large bundle of dry grass.

Yang Zhenshan didn’t see any food in the kitchen, he asked, ”Where’s your food?”

Wang Laosan, in panic, ran into the main house and brought out half a bag of grain.

Yang Zhenshan opened it, pinched a few grains of coarse rice and put them in his mouth.

It was good rice, containing neither sand nor mold.

”Is this all?”

”There is one more bag in the house!” Wang Laosan said in a low voice.

Yang Zhenshan nodded with satisfaction.

”Hmm, put it away!”

Then, Yang Zhenshan visited a few more houses. His status was too revered for these villagers; even without revealing his identity, it still caused them to be apprehensive.

Thus, he did not interact much with the villagers to show friendliness but merely checked the conditions in their homes.

Conditions were harsh, but fortunately, he did not find any major issues.

The houses were draft-free, the villagers had clothing, food, and could warm up by the fire.

This was already the most that could be done by Chongshan Town.

Any more was beyond what Yang Zhenshan could manage!

After inspecting five or six households, a group of people riding horses hurriedly approached from outside the village.

”Jinghu Fortress Left Thousand Households Zhang Ye pays respects to the Marquis!”

Jinghu Fortress was under the jurisdiction of the Jianning Guard Assistant General Mansion, containing a garrison office, governing five thousand households, and a thousand-man garrison.

This cluster of villages was all administered by Jinghu Fortress.

”Since you’re here, join this old man for a walk!”

Yang Zhenshan did not blame them for coming on their own, mainly because he hadn’t found any issues here, which showed that Zhang Ye was quite conscientious in his duties.

”Yes!” Zhang Ye breathed a sigh of relief.

At this moment, as the snowstorm lessened, Yang Zhenshan mounted his horse and leisurely headed toward the next village.

”How are things on your side?”

As they walked, he inquired.

”We’re managing, but quite a few commoners have fallen ill to the wind-cold. Although I’ve requested a doctor for them, we sadly lack medicinal materials and can’t provide medical treatment,” said Zhang Ye.

Yang Zhenshan slightly nodded; the shortage of medicinal materials was an ongoing issue faced by the entire Chongshan Town.

Especially now, in the dead of winter, he could no longer use the Nine Herbs Body Nourishing Formula, and the people had lost a way to nourish their bodies.

The Nine Herbs Body Nourishing Formula used miscellaneous herbs from Spiritual Spring Space, which naturally did not lack miscellaneous herbs, but the problem was, in this deep winter, he really couldn’t explain the origin of those herbs.

”Even the General Mansion has run out of medicinal materials, this time they’ll have to endure on their own!” Yang Zhenshan said somewhat helplessly.

Zhang Ye, seeing the helplessness on Yang Zhenshan’s face, added a bit more respect in his eyes.

”The Marquis has already done plenty for the people; they all hold the Marquis’s kindness in their hearts!”

He wasn’t flattering, but stating the fact.

Not to mention the locals and military households of Chongshan Town, what about the 800,000 refugees? Who among them didn’t appreciate Chongshan Town.

The changes that Yang Zhenshan had brought to Chongshan Town weren’t just limited to the disaster-stricken commoners; the original inhabitants and military households benefited significantly too.

And as for such praises, Yang Zhenshan had already gotten used to them.

Of course, though accustomed, Yang Zhenshan still immensely appreciated such accolades.

What was he laboring for?

Was it for office?

Or for glory and riches?

Or perhaps for the recognition of his virtue?

Actually, none of the above!

It was for the sense of accomplishment that came from making achievements.

That feeling of accomplishing a great deed, winning gratitude, and admiration from countless people.

From the time he first integrated into the Yang family and helped them improve their lives, he had felt that sense of accomplishment.

Later, at Linguan Castle, Yinghe Castle, An Yuan City, Tenglong Guard helping the military households and commoners live well on their way to moderate prosperity.

In every place, blessing thousands and gaining their praises brought him immense satisfaction and a great sense of accomplishment.

This was his motivation for diligently attending to his responsibilities.

As for why he had such peculiar hobbies, it was actually quite simple.

Because in his previous life, he was just an ordinary person, without the opportunity or capability to achieve such feats.

But in this world, he had the opportunities and capabilities, thus, he also had new pursuits.

Regarding power and riches, in truth, Yang Zhenshan did not care much.