boyutpedia Chapter 161: Even if you talk nonsense, someone must believe you
Chapter 161: Even if you talk nonsense, someone must believe you
The prefect hurriedly followed Yan Wanwan closely, his face full of suspicion. He asked, "County Lady, are you just going to leave this matter alone?"
Yan Wanwan nodded slightly, and said firmly: "No need, those people will take the food and leave on their own."
As soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly felt a burning gaze staring at her from behind. With a startled thought, she turned her head abruptly and happened to meet the gaze of a man behind her.
He was a yamen runner. The moment Yan Wanwan's gaze swept over him, he panicked like a frightened rabbit. He quickly lowered his head, trying to avoid Yan Wanwan's scrutinizing gaze.
"Do you have something to say?" Yan Wanwan's voice was cold and sharp, piercing directly at the bailiff.
The yamen runner's lips trembled, hesitating for a long time, and finally mustered the courage to say, "County Lady, are you really not going to save those refugees?"
Yan Wanwan raised her eyebrows slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes, and asked, "Haven't we already given them food and water? These were all bought with real money, and this still doesn't count as rescue?"
"But... Nanping Prefecture has had good harvests over the years, and we have ample grain reserves. We are fully capable of providing them with more aid! It shouldn't be difficult to just let them stay in the city for one night."
There was a hint of urgency and pleading in the voice of the yamen runner. He looked at the refugees shivering in the cold wind, as if he saw his own former helpless self, and his heart was full of sympathy and pity.
The prefect's brows instantly twisted into the shape of a "川" character, his face full of displeasure and anger. Has this man forgotten how those refugees attacked the gate of Nanping Prefecture with knives and sticks?
He was about to open his mouth to scold the nosy yamen runner, but Yan Wanwan seemed to have noticed his intention and raised her hand to stop him.
Yan Wanwan thought to herself that if she directly scolded the bailiff at this time, it would probably make the situation even more chaotic. It would be better for her to talk to him in person, which might lead to a better solution to the problem.
She stared at the yamen runner with burning eyes. "These refugees are different from us. Their backgrounds and origins are unknown to us."
Who can guarantee that there are no people among them with bad intentions or ulterior motives?
"If we let them into the city easily and a riot breaks out, the people of Nanping Prefecture will suffer unprovoked disaster." Her voice was steady and powerful, with a majesty that could not be ignored.
"This..." The bailiff looked hesitant, wanting to refute but not knowing where to start.
Yan Wanwan couldn't help but feel anxious when she saw his expression. How could this yamen runner not understand the seriousness of the matter?
Her expression became more serious, and she stared closely into the eyes of the yamen runner, thinking to herself that she must make him clearly aware of the consequences of the matter.
So, she asked, word by word, with a resounding voice: "Think carefully, do you really want to end up harming your loved ones and children because of your momentary kindness?"
The yamen runner's expression instantly turned extremely ugly, and he stammered, "But they're not necessarily all bad people."
Yan Wanwan glanced at him with disgust, muttering to herself, "At this point, there are still people so naive." She certainly understood that there might be kind and innocent people among the refugees, but that was no reason to take risks. As the saying goes, you're not afraid of a strong opponent, but you're afraid of a teammate who drags you down. It seemed like it was time for her to start her tough training. If she was busy protecting the city gates and these guys caused a fire, she'd want to kill them all.
She suppressed her emotions and asked coldly, "So, you think I should gamble the lives of the people of Nanping Prefecture on their kindness? If someone really loses their life because of this, will you bear the responsibility, or will I?"
The bailiff's face instantly turned as pale as paper, as if all his strength had been drained away.
Yan Wanwan didn't bother to look at him again. In her mind, this kind of "saintly" behavior without any bottom line was the most disgusting, whether in ancient times or the end of the world. If you have the ability, go and save others yourself. If you don't have the ability, you still have to show your love by generously helping others. It is simply unreasonable.
She couldn't help but think back to those days in the end times. Every danger she encountered because of trusting others was unforgettable.
Coming from the apocalypse, she had endured countless life-or-death trials, and had long understood that one shouldn't easily bet against the goodness of human nature. From ancient times to the present, there had always been a large number of people who hated the rich and were jealous, and any slight negligence could lead to catastrophic disaster.
Yan Wanwan walked straight ahead without even looking back.
The prefect glanced at the yamen runner with a complicated look, then gave a subtle look to his confidant beside him, his eyes full of unquestionable meaning.
This person must be transferred somewhere else as soon as possible. If he continues to work in the government office with this kind of mentality, he will sooner or later cause a big mess. How can he protect the public security of Nanping Prefecture? He should not sell out the people of Nanping Prefecture just because of other people's pity.
When someone came to take the yamen runner away, he finally woke up from his dream, and his compassion for the world instantly disappeared without a trace. At this moment, he realized that in his own helpless situation, it was better to pity himself first. The refugees he pitied would not say a word for him.
The bailiff struggled desperately, begging for mercy repeatedly, shouting one after another, but no one around came forward to comfort him.
Those people who had originally tried to hold back their chins to look around, when they learned that he had previously proposed allowing refugees into the city and providing them with assistance, the last bit of pity in their eyes instantly disappeared without a trace.
In the eyes of everyone, such a "sanctimonious" person should be thrown into the refugee group so that he can experience the warmth and coldness of the world firsthand and realize how unrealistic his ideas are.
The next day, the prefect rushed to the county lord's residence in a panic, still thinking about the refugees, wondering how the county lord would react.
Upon seeing Yan Wanwan, he bowed respectfully and reported with some trepidation in his voice, "County Master, the refugees have already left, taking the distributed food with them."
Yan Wanwan looked calm and not at all surprised. The plants had already conveyed this to her last night.
The prefect looked at the calm look of the county lord, but he felt more and more uneasy in his heart. He frowned and thought to himself: If the refugees say nonsense in Jingzhao after this trip, the reputation of Nanping Prefecture will be ruined. Who can take responsibility for this?
After much hesitation, he finally steeled himself and spoke cautiously, "My Lady, I'm truly worried. I'm afraid those refugees will make up stories and slander our Nanping Prefecture once they reach Jingzhao."
When he said this, his eyes were full of worry, and he stared at Yan Wanwan's face closely, fearing that if she was unhappy, he would be in trouble.
Upon hearing this, Yan Wanwan sneered, her tone filled with disdain, "Slander? Other places don't give them any food, but our Nanping Prefecture generously provided them with a lot of food. If the people of Jingzhao can't even discern this, and insist on believing such lies, what are they but a bunch of fools?"
When the prefect heard this, he turned pale with fright, his heart suddenly tightened, and beads of sweat instantly appeared on his forehead.
He secretly groaned in his heart: The county lady's words are really sharp. With such words, wouldn't she also criticize the emperor? If this gets out, it will be a capital crime!
He opened his mouth, wanting to remind the county lady to be careful with her words, but he swallowed the words back. He could only close his mouth helplessly, standing there with a complicated expression, his face turning red and white.
At this moment, those people behind Jingzhao who were pushing them were afraid that the darts they were shooting would soon hit themselves.