Qi Zhenzhen quickly invited them to sit down and personally brewed tea. She was very respectful to the village head, Song. Seeing that she was still the same as when she was in the village, Song's anxious heart gradually calmed down.
The two of them had no major matters to discuss. It was about the school and the ancestral land. These had been on track for several months. Song Yan felt he should inform Qi Zhenzhen, as without her support, the school and ancestral land would not have been possible.
Song Yan spoke eloquently, with every expenditure clearly accounted for and every action detailed.
Qi Zhenzhen nodded secretly. This man was capable. She had only provided the money and had not interfered in anything else, yet Song Yan had done an excellent job. Qi Zhenzhen naturally felt that if she had personally handled these matters, she might not have done as well as Song Yan.
"Rest assured, the money for the village will arrive every spring. As for its use, Brother Song can handle it as he sees fit. Although Xinghua Village is not my hometown, it is very important in my heart. I only hope that each generation in the village will be more promising and that everyone in the village will live a good life," Qi Zhenzhen said softly. "I also have a selfish motive: I hope Xinghua Village will be a strong backing for me and Yi Ge'er in the future."
Song Yan remained outwardly calm, but the hand beneath his wide sleeve trembled uncontrollably. He had nothing and had been surviving in this small mountain village, all for the day he could avenge his loved ones. Although Xinghua Village was just a small mountain village, if it produced many talented people, it could not be underestimated. By managing all affairs now, his position in the village would become increasingly unshakeable. With this force gathered behind him, he might truly be able to avenge his family in his lifetime.
"Please rest assured, I will manage the school with care. Also, I have some ideas I would like to discuss with you," Song Yan said, his tone now respectful, though he spoke with ease.
"Brother Song, here, I am not a young lady of the Marquis's mansion, but a member of the village. Between us, let's be as we always were," Qi Zhenzhen said calmly.
Song Yan nodded. "We buy some land for the ancestral fields every year, but the villagers alone cannot cultivate it all."
"Aren't there tenant farmers?" Qi Zhenzhen asked.
"There are tenant farmers, and the harvest is split fifty-fifty," Song Yan said. "But this is not very convenient for management, and collecting rent each year is troublesome, as there is no accurate count of the yield..."
Qi Zhenzhen understood Song Yan's meaning. People's hearts are hidden. Kind-hearted tenant farmers would naturally abide by the agreement. Those with ulterior motives would naturally find ways to conceal things, as the extra grain would fill their own stomachs.
"Do you have any solutions?" Qi Zhenzhen asked.
"Jizhou has been suffering from a severe drought for two years, with no rain. Although the imperial court is actively organizing craftsmen to dig wells and dig canals to divert water," Song Yan said slowly, "the effect is minimal. As long as the heavens do not bring rain, that place will eventually turn into barren land. The people living on that land, no matter how reluctant to leave, must leave to survive."
Having said this, Song Yan saw that Qi Zhenzhen did not interrupt him. He coughed lightly and continued, "I want to bring some people from there to settle in our Xinghua Village."
Qi Zhenzhen glanced at Song Yan. This man's mind was truly sharp.
"You cannot," a cold voice sounded, it was Gu Sinian.
"Why not?" Song Yan retorted.
This matter had been weighing on his mind for a long time. Today, he suppressed his excitement to speak it out, hoping to gain support.
"It is illegal to harbor disaster victims without authorization. Moreover, if a large number of people arrive in Xinghua Village, can you handle the mere matter of settlement?" Gu Sinian asked unhurriedly.
Of course not, which was why he was telling Qi Zhenzhen, hoping to find a proper solution.
Gu Sinian's gaze towards Song Yan was not friendly. He did not expect such a small place to produce such an ambitious person. A village within a hundred households, two hundred households made it a town, and five hundred households, a county. There were many matters to consider, such as management and taxation. If handled poorly, it could be seen as a detachment from the Great Feng dynasty's control, indicating rebellious intent.
Qi Zhenzhen did not understand these matters, but Gu Sinian would not lie to her. If he said it was not possible, then it was indeed not feasible.
"I did not consider it thoroughly," Song Yan said after a moment of silence.
Qi Zhenzhen waved her hand, indicating she didn't mind. "I know you are doing this for the good of the village. It's alright, we were just discussing it, not actually doing it."
Song Yan nodded and stepped aside, no longer speaking.
Village Head Song greeted Gu Sinian and, feeling restless, beckoned Song Yan to leave.
"Is this person from the village?" Gu Sinian asked Qi Zhenzhen.
Qi Zhenzhen nodded. "Yes, he has elders in the village."
"He doesn't look like he grew up in the countryside. His eyes hide cunning, and his demeanor is proper. He looks like someone meticulously raised in a prominent family," Gu Sinian said.
Qi Zhenzhen smiled. "Although he is from this village, I heard he left home at the age of seven or eight and only returned last year. Perhaps he had some encounters outside!"
"To cultivate such bearing, those encounters must have been extraordinary. But if he had such encounters, why did he suddenly return to this small mountain village?" Gu Sinian questioned. "Furthermore, how could a child of seven or eight leave their parents to venture out alone?"
"I heard that his parents died of a serious illness at the time, and he was living with his uncle. Life as a dependent was not easy. He was young and spirited, so he ran away. After many years, he said he dreamed of his father, who could not let go of the Song family elders, which is why he returned to fulfill his filial duty. Old Master Song's life is not easy. If it weren't for his position as an elder of the Song clan, he would have likely been thrown into Tiger Tooth Mountain to fend for himself. His uncle's family is not very kind!" Qi Zhenzhen told Gu Sinian everything she knew.
It sounded plausible, like a complete story, but Gu Sinian still felt something was amiss.
Leaving home at a young age, even with encounters, would not necessarily cultivate such bearing. This bearing seemed more like something ingrained in his bones.
"He is indeed a filial person," Gu Sinian added.
"Not only filial, but also capable. The matter of the clan school was proposed by him. The Song surname is a major surname in Xinghua Village. Brother Song said that the prosperity of a family relies on cohesion and the success of its descendants. In this era, the best way to achieve success is through education. Those with talent can go even further. Those without talent can also find work if they can read and write, and will be respected wherever they go," Qi Zhenzhen said. "My mother and I, who were stranded in Xinghua Village, have received the village's kindness and always wish for the village to improve."
In this way, no matter what happened in the future, this place would be their reliance. However, Qi Zhenzhen did not foolishly say this aloud.
"This person is indeed thoughtful," Gu Sinian said calmly. He had always trusted his judgment and felt that this person was not simple. However, there was no concrete evidence at the moment, and he would just observe. As long as he harbored no ill intentions towards Zhenzhen, he could do as he pleased.