The Humble Family's Daughter Has A Spatial Pocket! novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24.’ Chapter 22, Delivering Food 1

Translator: 549690339

“Mother, has Father been very busy lately? I haven’t seen much of him,” Daohua asked.

Madam Li put down the account book in her hand and said with gravity, “The Imperial Court sent Prince Rui to provide disaster relief, and your father certainly has to be busy.”

Daohua was puzzled, “But isn’t the disaster in Linyi County not serious?” The busier places should be those severely affected areas, right?

Sighing, Madam Li said, “It’s precisely because it’s not serious that your father is busy, busy taking care of those homeless refugees. According to Butler Sun the refugees assigned to Linyi County have been arriving one after another these days. Your father has been so busy these past two days that his feet barely touch the ground, having his meals at the County Governor’s Office upfront and only returning to the back courtyard to sleep at night.” Daohua was slightly astonished, “It seems that Father is quite diligent and caring for the people.”

Hearing this, a hint of pride appeared on Madam Li’s face, “The Yan Family is a family of scholars and farmers, and your father understands the suffering and difficulties of the people below. Ever since he took office, he has always taken the common folks’ issues to heart.”

“Linyi County is the third county your father has been in charge of; in the previous two counties, when your father left, many people came to see him off, and each time, mother could receive several cartloads of fruits and vegetables.”

At these words, Daohua was truly surprised, “With Father being so caring for the people, how come my grandmother and I encountered a Government Official who was beating someone when we arrived?”

The smile on Madam Li’s face faded slightly, “Which place doesn’t have a few bad apples? Your father has already punished those Government Officials, and if such harm to the people happens again, they will be immediately given thirty heavy beatings and expelled from the County Governor’s Office.”

At this moment, Daohua’s impression of her father improved significantly. “Mother, if Father is so good, why hasn’t he been promoted?” Daohua voiced her inner question.

Madam Li sighed, “The ways of the officialdom are not so straightforward Although your father is a good official, he doesn’t have any patrons above him, and our family doesn’t have enough silver to grease the wheels. So he has remained a County Magistrate term after term.”

“This time, your father is working so hard also in hopes of achieving some political merits, to see whether there is a chance for promotion, or at least to hope that this assessment will assign him to a better county town.”

Daohua: “Father is going to be assessed?”

Madam Li nodded, “AU officials undergo a minor assessment every year and a major assessment every three years. Those with outstanding achievements can be promoted. Linyi County isn’t wealthy, and although your father has worked diligently, he hasn’t achieved anything remarkable.”

“For this assessment, your father said that unless someone speaks up for him or he has outstanding achievements, the chance for promotion isn’t high.” Daohua propped her cheeks with her hands, “Does our family really not have any connections?”

Madam Li’s eyes dropped, “There are some connections. Your fourth uncle is already a fourth-grade official in Beijing and is said to have some friendship with the Magistrate of Zhongzhou, but our family hasn’t had dealings with them for some years.”

Daohua sat up straight, surprised, “Why?” Fourth uncle, that relationship definitely counts as very close.

Madam Li’s expression darkened, “Your fourth uncle’s family probably feels that your father’s generation will just keep circulating in the position of County Magistrate and that there’s no value in maintaining close ties. These years, your aunt has also rarely contacted our family.”

Daohua nodded.

She knew about this; she had heard her grandmother talk about it many times, each time with a look of melancholy.

“Can’t we take the initiative to contact my aunt?”

Upon hearing this, Madam Li touched Daohua’s head and sighed, “Silly child, you don’t understand. A woman’s days in her husband’s family will be difficult if her natal family doesn’t back her up.”

Your uncle’s family has clearly shown disdain for ours. If we were to disturb your aunt now, her life would become even harder.”

“Three years ago, your aunt wrote to your father, telling him that your uncle had taken a noble concubine, and the tone between the lines was very sorrowful. Unfortunately, our family was not in a position to support her.” “When your aunt needed us, we couldn’t help her, so now, how can we have the face to seek her out?”

Daohua didn’t know how to reply and after a while, she asked, “Grandmother doesn’t know about this, does she?”

Madam Li shook her head, “Your father didn’t dare to tell the old lady, fearing it would upset her too much.”