The most important matter now was to attend to an affair at the town yamen.
The town yamen was an administrative office established by the Taisha Prefecture in various towns and marketplaces, staffed by subordinate officials appointed by the prefecture.
In Tianshui Town, the primary officials were from the Chief Clerk's office and the Legal Officer’s office, both of the lowest rank, the ninth rank from the lower echelon.
Upon arriving at the county yamen, Lu Ye and his party were stopped by the gate guards. The leading guard, holding a large saber, barked in a gruff voice, "What unruly peasants are you! Do you think you can just see the Chief Clerk whenever you please?!"
*Such a small gate guard, and so arrogant? You just wait, one day this sister will show you what for!*
Bai Sheng grumbled inwardly, but her face was as radiant as a dark peach blossom. She casually took out two pieces of silver shard and, with extreme speed, slipped one into the hand of each guard. "We have an urgent matter with the Chief Clerk. We would appreciate it if you two officers could pass on our message."
The guards weighed the silver shards, their expressions immediately softening. "Wait here, I'll go inform them!"
In a short while, a guard returned, gesturing for them to enter.
The front courtyard of the yamen had a large open space, designated for the public to store their belongings while conducting business. Bai Sheng had the children lead the camels to wait under the shade of the trees, while she and Lu Ye carried two wooden buckets to find the Chief Clerk's office.
Unexpectedly, after only a few steps, they ran into Zhang Lanlan and her mother, Xue Shi.
Zhang Lanlan's gaze immediately fixed on Lu Ye, as if she completely disregarded Bai Sheng.
Xue Shi, with an air of arrogance, asked in an unfriendly tone, "Why are you here?"
Bai Sheng rolled her eyes in exasperation and gave a "tsk" sound, smiling. "Why shouldn't we be here? This is the town yamen, an institution specifically for handling public affairs. We are citizens, so we've come!"
With that, she turned her head and, linking her arm through Lu Ye's, walked inside.
Xue Shi's face contorted with anger. However, she always considered herself educated and thus wouldn't stoop to the level of those ignorant, low-class peasants.
"Brother Ye!" Zhang Lanlan called out from behind them.
Lu Ye stopped, turned back, his expression unperturbed, and his voice exceedingly cold, "Miss Zhang, it would be more appropriate for you to address me as Young Master Lu. May I ask, what is it?"
A flicker of disappointment crossed Zhang Lanlan's face, but it was quickly replaced by a sense of triumph and superiority. "Are you here to see my cousin? Do you need our help?"
Lu Ye replied expressionlessly, "No!"
With that, he turned and walked forward directly with Bai Sheng.
Xue Shi glared at her daughter with a look of bitter disappointment. "What are you looking at? That young wolf cub, apart from a good face, what else does he have? He's dirt poor, with a bunch of dependents! For him to come to our house as a son-in-law, it's already a great honor! And he—"
"Mother, please stop talking. I know what I'm doing," Zhang Lanlan said, displeased, and turned to walk towards the long corridor on the side.
Xue Shi sighed and followed her.
Bai Sheng glanced at Lu Ye, but found no unusual expression on his face.
However, every time she encountered this "white lotus" type of woman, Bai Sheng felt extremely annoyed. Staring at her husband like a fly truly ruined her mood!
Still, she needed to assess whether her husband was a perfectly sealed egg or not. If there were any cracks, she wouldn't want him even if he paid her!
The front hall of the town yamen had long desks set up on both the left and right sides. The left was for the Legal Officer, and the right for the Chief Clerk. They were of equal rank and jointly managed the town's affairs.
Bai Sheng and Lu Ye stepped forward and respectfully saluted both officials.
After the salutations, Lu Ye led Bai Sheng to the Chief Clerk and said respectfully, "Your humble subject Lu Ye, together with my wife Bai Sheng, pays respects to the Chief Clerk."
The Chief Clerk was a middle-aged man in his thirties, with a broad face and large ears, and a languid demeanor.
Wearing a peacock blue silk robe, he leaned back in his high-backed chair, lazily picked up a tea cup, and without even lifting his eyelids, asked, "What important business do you have to see this Chief Clerk about?"
Lu Ye then explained that they intended to dig a well in the Red Tree Slope and required official notarization.
"What? Dig a well?" The Chief Clerk was so startled that he fumbled his tea cup, spilling some tea on himself. He impatiently slammed the cup onto the long desk in front of him with a "clang."
"Yes, digging a well," Lu Ye repeated calmly.
Only then did the Chief Clerk raise his eyes to examine Lu Ye and Bai Sheng carefully. "You live in the Red Tree Slope? Your name is Lu Ye?"
"Indeed!" Lu Ye stated righteously.
The Chief Clerk stared at Lu Ye for a moment, then shifted his gaze to Bai Sheng, and said coldly, "You are simply wishful thinking! Taisha Prefecture is located in the heart of the desert, and it has been arid for nearly two years. For you to want to dig a well in the Red Tree Slope, isn't that a colossal joke? Tell me honestly! Is your so-called 'digging a well' a cover for some other unspeakable purpose?"
He knew that some people in Tianshui Town were secretly mining under the guise of digging wells, which was a capital offense!
*What kind of a blasted Chief Clerk is this!* Bai Sheng was furious.
Lu Ye reached out and patted her arm, giving her a gentle look that said, *Don't be rash*. He then turned to the Chief Clerk, cupped his hands, and said, "Your humble subject is indeed digging a well, and has absolutely no other purpose. The Chief Clerk may send people to investigate this thoroughly.
Moreover, your humble subject is funding and undertaking the digging of the well himself, without burdening the people or wasting resources. Regardless of whether water is found, it is a matter of absolute benefit with no harm, causing no offense to the public or the citizens.
All that is required of the Chief Clerk is to sign a notarized document for the private ownership of the well."
The Chief Clerk snorted and raised his voice in reprimand, "Private ownership of the well? Look at yourselves, what kind of thinking is this! In such dry conditions, shouldn't wells be made public? I am afraid this Chief Clerk cannot sign such a notarized document!"
Bai Sheng gave a sarcastic smile and also raised her voice, "Chief Clerk, as the saying goes, 'perform your duties when you are in a position.' My husband and I are but common folk. Our concerns and actions naturally only aim to settle our home, live our lives, and not add any burden to the court!
Chief Clerk, as an official appointed by the court, you should naturally consider the welfare of the citizens in your jurisdiction. Therefore, if you wish for the well to be public, it is not impossible. The costs and labor for digging the well can be shared jointly by the government and the citizens who will use it!"
"Nonsense!" The Chief Clerk slammed the table and said, "Where would the government get the money to dig wells for you? Who would be so foolish as to dig wells in the middle of the desert?!"
"Since that is the case, then the Chief Clerk cannot demand that our privately dug well be made public!" Bai Sheng retorted resolutely. "We are not digging this well solely for ourselves. But there is no such thing as a free lunch in this world. If everyone only wishes to gain without working, and wants to obtain all benefits without contributing anything, then wouldn't this world be overrun by parasites, with people everywhere only seeking personal gain?!"
Hearing Bai Sheng's words, the Legal Officer sitting on the left paused his brushstroke and couldn't help but look up at Bai Sheng.
"You wretched woman! How dare you speak to this Chief Clerk like that!" The Chief Clerk trembled with anger, pointing at Bai Sheng as he cursed.
Bai Sheng gave a cold smile. "May I ask, Chief Clerk, in what way have I spoken disrespectfully to you?"
"You—" The Chief Clerk's face turned ashen.
Lu Ye looked at the Chief Clerk, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. Suppressing his anger, he bowed and said, "Chief Clerk, our well digging is not solely for our own benefit. Most of the costs are borne by our family, with only a small portion set aside for fundraising to accommodate others who wish to use the well."
"Fundraising? What fundraising?" the Chief Clerk asked impatiently.