Upon hearing their words, Han Mo roughly understood. It seemed this man had a story.
However, he didn't pry further. He simply patted the man's shoulder before turning to walk ahead alone.
He wasn't an expert in river management. Now that he had the map, he was eager to see the full picture of the Wei River.
Seeing Han Mo leave, the people behind him hurried to follow.
The group followed Han Mo along the vast Wei River.
It wasn't until nightfall that Han Mo decided to return, his curiosity satisfied.
Even with his cursory inspection, the state of the riverbanks on both sides of the Wei River was still shocking.
It was no wonder that Neihuang County had become poorer over the years. This single river was likely enough to leave the common people struggling for food and shelter.
The people's lives were already difficult enough. If they were to face a flood, all their hard work for the year could be washed away in an instant.
Han Mo's mood remained heavy as he returned to the county yamen.
In later generations, when people mentioned the Song Dynasty, they thought only of its brilliant poetry, its prosperous commerce, and its astonishing national GDP.
However, by experiencing this era firsthand and getting close to the lives of the common people, he discovered that beneath the Song Dynasty's seemingly prosperous facade lay the bones and tears of its populace.
King Wen was confined and wrote the Book of Changes; Confucius was in distress and wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals. But Han Mo, filled with sorrow and anger, could only lose his appetite.
"My Lord, you've been busy all day. Please have some food first!"
It was late into the night. Seeing that Han Mo still had no intention of eating, Xu Fengnian cautiously approached.
"Leave it there. You can go back to rest. You've all worked hard today..."
In the darkness, Han Mo didn't even want to open his eyes. He simply gestured for the tray to be placed on the table nearby.
"Yes, sir!"
Seeing Han Mo's exhaustion, Xu Fengnian didn't know what to say. He opened his mouth several times but couldn't find the right words. Finally, he could only place the tray in his hands on the table and turn to leave the study.
After Xu Fengnian left, the back office fell silent again. Listening to the chirping of insects outside, various thoughts flashed through Han Mo's mind.
Troubled times were approaching, but what could he do?
He was merely a minor county magistrate. Even for tasks like repairing river dikes, he needed to file official documents with the Transport Commissioner's Office. Other matters were even more out of the question.
It was already midsummer. His troubled mood made the room feel even more stiflingly hot.
With a sigh, Han Mo finally stood up and went to the well behind the yamen. He drew a bucket of icy well water and poured it over his head.
The cold well water instantly invigorated him. The refreshing sensation brought a slight improvement to his vexed mood.
After a simple wash, Han Mo's mood gradually improved.
After hastily changing his clothes, Han Mo quietly left the county yamen through the back door.
Even though it was late at night and the streets were sparsely populated, many vendors were still stubbornly at their stalls.
"Young sir, have a bowl of cold mung bean jelly! It's just been chilled in ice-cold water and is perfect to eat now! Only five coins a bowl!"
Seeing Han Mo approach, a vendor carrying a shoulder pole hurried over.
"Alright, give me a bowl. I'm hungry, and nothing tastes good right now!"
Looking at the vendor's smile, Han Mo also smiled and said casually.
"Please wait a moment, young sir!"
Upon hearing Han Mo's words, the vendor's face lit up with joy. He quickly took a small stool from his pole and offered it to Han Mo, indicating for him to sit down.
Han Mo didn't refuse. He took the stool and sat on the street.
He watched as the vendor skillfully retrieved a wooden bucket from his pole.
After quickly serving a bowl of jelly, he took out various condiments from a wooden compartment on the other side, mixed them, and handed the bowl to Han Mo.
"It smells good and tastes decent!"
Han Mo said as he took a tentative sip.
To be honest, the taste was rather ordinary. Not to mention the delicacies of later generations, even the street food sold in Bianliang City was much tastier.
However, on this sweltering night, a bowl of cold jelly seemed like a good choice.
Especially for Han Mo, who had been busy all day and whose stomach was now rumbling. His mood had been too bad to even consider it.
"You flatter me, young sir. If you enjoy it, would you like another bowl?"
Seeing Han Mo finish more than half the bowl in a few bites, the vendor was overjoyed.
"Sure, another bowl!"
Han Mo didn't hesitate. After finishing the first bowl, he handed the bowl back.
"It's already past the third watch. Do you plan to sell until dawn?"
While waiting for the vendor to prepare the jelly, Han Mo casually asked.
"What else can I do? I have three children at home waiting to eat..."
As he spoke, Han Mo actually saw a trace of happiness on the vendor's face.
"How much money can you earn in a night?"
"To tell you the truth, young sir, I don't earn much in a night. On a good day, it's about seventy to eighty coins. After all, Neihuang County is too small..."
"Then, if we calculate it this way, at the current grain prices, your family probably can't even eat their fill..."
"Who's to say otherwise... However, I have other work during the day, and my wife is diligent. The children are also sensible. As long as the Wei River outside the city doesn't flood, we can manage to live..."
Han Mo found himself engaging in conversation, eating his jelly and chatting idly.
After finishing three bowls of jelly, Han Mo felt he could eat no more.
"This is the money for the jelly. This cold stuff is quite comforting. How about this? My home is nearby. Why don't you pass by here every day around this time?"
"That would be wonderful, young sir. Please rest assured, I will be waiting for you here at this time tomorrow!"
Upon hearing Han Mo's suggestion, the vendor's face lit up with joy, and he cupped his hands towards Han Mo.
Han Mo smiled and returned the gesture.
After paying, the vendor still showed no sign of leaving.
Did this fellow have something more to say?
Seeing him hesitate to leave, Han Mo frowned in confusion. However, looking at the vendor's hesitant expression and then in the direction he was looking, Han Mo suddenly realized that after all this talk, he still hadn't returned the stool.
"Hahaha, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I forgot about this!"