Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 677 - 348 Mark of the Years_1

Well into the second watch, the quest for pink blush.

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From a distance, people hastily dismounted from their carriages and horses, scurrying towards Master Shen Liu.

Shen Liu didn’t look at the approaching group; he slightly turned to gaze upon the endless expanse of green fields. Because of the soldier’s guard, the people were stopped, so an attendant came to ask Master Shen Liu whether to invite the County Magistrate and others to approach.

Without turning back, Shen Liu gestured, and someone led the County Magistrate and his party over to kneel and salute.

Only then did Shen Liu slowly turn around, gently raising his hand for everyone to rise.

"We’ve seen enough of this land, let’s go, head back," said Shen Liu, taking the lead to return.

The others naturally followed behind,

Shen Liu walked without riding a horse or taking a carriage, and the others also promptly sent their vehicles to the main road, walking on foot behind him.

After a few steps, Shen Liu stopped and pointed to a few stalks of sorghum that had been trampled near the roadside.

"Who has wasted this?" Master Shen Liu turned to look at the County Magistrate following him with slightly narrowed beautiful eyes, a cold light suddenly flashing.

Suddenly exerting his authority, the soldiers accompanying him immediately exuded a strong murderous aura.

The County Magistrate was taken aback, sweat beading on his forehead, while the officials and gentry following behind turned pale with fright.

"Who destroyed these crops?" Shen Liu asked again, his voice severe.

Those present looked at each other in dismay. They were either officials or gentlemen, mostly from wealthy families, there to curry favor with Shen Liu. Of course, they hadn’t paid any mind to the few stalks of sorghum and never expected Shen Liu, a military officer from a prominent family, to be angered over these crops.

"Who was it? Come out quickly, and don’t implicate the rest," said the County Magistrate in a low voice, stepping forward.

Finally, a short and chubby petty official stepped forward, admitting it was he who had damaged the crops. Kneeling before Shen Liu, he cried, claiming it was not intentional but that he had been pushed to the side in the scramble and had accidentally trampled the sorghum.

"Agriculture is the foundation of our Great Ming Dynasty. These stalks are the lifeblood of the farmers, the base of our Great Ming. How could you disregard them as an obstacle, something you can simply ruin and waste? Was it accidental, or did you not care at all? As an official, do you realize how your negligence could lead to innocent people being wronged, suffering, or even losing their lives?" Shen Liu said coldly.

The petty official continuously kowtowed, begging for mercy.

"You are the parental official of this county; it is up to you to deal with this," Shen Liu said to the County Magistrate.

With these words, Shen Liu remained stationary.

The County Magistrate, a man of wit, understood that Shen Liu expected him to deal with the petty official strictly and immediately. Naturally, he dared not defy Shen Liu’s wishes.

But the question remained: how could he deal with the issue in a manner that satisfied Shen Liu?

Stepping away from Shen Liu, the County Magistrate spotted a young military officer, the same short young man who had earlier invited Lian Manman inside.

"... This, the county’s decrees lack specific stipulations. I, being ignorant, am unsure of the proper punishment and ask for guidance from Commander Zhang," said the Magistrate.

"Lord Magistrate jests; everyone knows your ability to judge right from wrong, while I am but a rough soldier. However, since you asked, I will share the discipline of our military... instant corporal punishment with several dozen lashes would be light," chuckled Commander Zhang, "but that’s in the military, Lord Magistrate need not consider it."

Although Commander Zhang spoke thus, the County Magistrate understood the hint and was grateful for the guidance.

The County Magistrate immediately commanded his Quick Hand attendants to bind the petty official and administer thirty lashes on the spot.

Upon hearing the Magistrate’s report, Shen Liu then turned around.

"Take a bar of silver, find out to whom this land belongs, and send the silver over as compensation," Shen Liu instructed a follower.

"Sir, if compensation is in order, how could we possibly use your money?" interjected the County Magistrate.

Shen Liu waved his hand, allowing the attendant to take the silver away.

The group returned to the breakfast shop, where Shen Liu received the County Magistrate and the gathered gentry in the main hall. Lian Shouxin naturally stayed outside to coordinate, while Lian Manman, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi took Shen Qian into the inner room.

Lian Yeye followed and beckoned to Lian Manman at the doorway of the inner room.

Lian Manman then allowed Wu Lang and Xiao Qi to accompany Shen Qian, as she walked out from the inner room.

"Yeye, what’s the matter?" asked Lian Manman.

"Sister Manman, the man receiving the lashing has drawn the villagers to watch. The land belongs to Wang Xiaosan’s family; with Master Shen Liu’s silver in hand, they are outside kowtowing in our direction," Lian Yeye said excitedly in a whisper to Lian Manman.