I relied on a system to prolong my life in ancient times.

Chapter 149 Xiao Sizhe Arrives in Qianyuan County

After confirming the method, Xiao Qinian devoted himself to post-disaster reconstruction.

The disaster victims knew that the government was going to rebuild their houses, and they all actively participated.

A few months later, houses sprang up, and the disaster victims no longer had to stay in the previous temporary housing.

They have a home again.

To prevent a recurrence of the dam breach, Xiao Qinian ordered the dam to be repaired.

The floods in Qianyuan County have now largely subsided. As for the farmland, Xiao Qinian plans to have the villages start planting potatoes and sweet potatoes next year.

Moreover, because of the disaster, the emperor issued an edict exempting the affected areas from taxes for three years. Xiao Qinian thought that after a few more years, the lives of these disaster victims would improve.

During this period, Xiao Siyue's sugar workshop had already produced a batch of white sugar, and Xiao Siyue still chose to cooperate with the Sheng family.

Previously, when Sheng Yashu was delivering her dividends, she learned about white sugar and directly proposed to cooperate with Xiao Siyue. Xiao Siyue thought the Sheng family was good, so she agreed.

Xiao Siyue has already received a large sum of money, which makes her very happy.

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As time went by, Qianyuan County developed better and better. These past two days, Xiao Siyue has been busy studying papermaking and movable type printing.

Papermaking existed in this era, but paper was controlled by powerful families. Farm students who wanted to use it had to pay a high price to buy it.

As for printing technology, currently only woodblock printing is available. This has led to a shortage of books. Xiao Siyue had previously thought about popularizing education, and these two things are indispensable.

Now that she has plenty of money, she can start spending it all again.

That day, just as Xiao Siyue received the newly made movable type mold, her maid rushed over.

Xiao Siyue thought something had happened, but seeing the smile on Chun Tao's face, she knew it must be good news.

"What's wrong? Is there some good news?" Xiao Siyue put down a mold in her hand and asked with interest.

"Miss, Young Master Sizhe has arrived," Chuntao said with a smile.

Xiao Siyue was overjoyed.

"You mean my second brother is here! Where is he? When did he arrive?"

"Miss, please don't be anxious. Young Master Sizhe just arrived and is currently talking to Madam in the front hall," Chuntao quickly replied, seeing Xiao Siyue's excitement.

"Let's go, let's go find Second Brother in the front hall." Xiao Siyue couldn't wait to walk out.

As soon as Xiao Siyue entered, she saw a handsome and refined man sitting in a chair.

Xiao Siyue felt that a sentence she had seen before perfectly described Xiao Sizhe: "A gentleman's temperament is like the wind, refined and elegant, his conversation graceful and unrestrained."

Dressed in a light blue robe, with her long, black hair tied back with a jade crown, she exuded a refined and elegant air.

"Second Brother, why didn't you write to us before you came?" Xiao Yue ran up to Xiao Sizhe.

"Little sister." Xiao Sizhe stood up and looked down at the little girl who barely reached his chest.

Xiao Siyue looked up and saw him looking at her second brother with doting eyes and a slight smile, which warmed her heart.

"I wanted to surprise my little sister, that's why I didn't write a letter," Xiao Sizhe said, pulling Xiao Siyue to sit next to him.

At this moment, Xiao Qinian, who had received the message, also returned.

Xiao Sizhe was the first to stand up and greet Xiao Qinian.

"Third Uncle,"

"Sizhe, please sit down. It's been a few years since I last saw you. You've grown into a refined and handsome young man." Xiao Qinian looked Xiao Sizhe up and down and said. He still remembered that before he came to Qianyuan County, Xiao Sizhe was just a 16-year-old boy.

He was very fond of his diligent, ambitious, and gentle nephew, and he had always been concerned about his nephew's studies.

“Si Zhe will be taking the imperial examination next year, so I’ll stay a little longer this time so I can get a good look at your current knowledge,” Xiao Qinian said.

"Thank you, Uncle. That's exactly what I came here for." Xiao Sizhe was very happy. Although he was very confident in himself, he had also traveled around for the past year, which had broadened his horizons and made him realize his shortcomings.

With his third uncle's guidance, he believed he would make great progress.

"Sizhe, what did you gain from your travels this year?" Xiao Qinian was very interested in Xiao Sizhe's experiences over the past year.

Xiao Siyue looked at Xiao Sizhe with sparkling eyes, just like him.

"This time, I set off from home and saw many things I had never seen before, met many interesting people, and experienced both wealthy and prosperous cities and remote and impoverished mountain valleys."

"This trip has broadened my horizons and made me understand the importance of reading more deeply." A hint of longing seemed to appear on Xiao Sizhe's usually gentle face.

What he didn't say was that after seeing those people who were starving and suffering from oppression, he became even more determined to become an official.

“But none of these are as surprising as what I saw in Qianyuan County,” Xiao Sizhe thought of the smooth and flat roads and the smiles on people’s faces that he saw after entering Qianyuan, which were different from what he had seen before.

"Haha, then this time I'll take you to see Qianyuan County properly." Xiao Qinian laughed heartily, he was also very proud of the current development of Qianyuan County.

"Thank you, Third Uncle." Xiao Sizhe thanked him and accepted.

"Second brother, I didn't see you when I went back last time. I missed you so much." Xiao Siyue quickly interjected after her father finished speaking.

"It's my fault, Second Brother. I should have stayed a little later. That way, I would have seen my little sister." Xiao Sizhe apologized to Xiao Siyue.

"Oh dear, second brother, it's not your fault. We didn't tell you when we went back. Besides, we just saw each other again not long ago," Xiao Siyue said hastily as Xiao Sizhe apologized.

She was just being coquettish; she didn't mean to blame Xiao Sizhe.

"Second brother, do you want to rest for a while?" Xiao Siyue asked.

"No need, Second Brother isn't sleepy."

Xiao Siyue suddenly had a brilliant idea: "Second brother, if you're not sleepy, let's go to the academy together to pick up my brother. He'll definitely be happy to see you."

It's almost time for Xiao Siyu to finish school.

"Yue'er, your second brother just arrived and hasn't rested yet. Don't be silly," Lin Qin scolded her daughter when she heard her say that.

When Xiao Siyue heard Lin Qin say that, she looked at Xiao Sizhe.

"It's alright, Third Aunt," Xiao Sizhe patted Xiao Siyue's head, then said to Lin Qin, "It's alright, Third Uncle, I haven't seen Siyu in a long time either."

Besides, he was also eager to see what the academy in Qianyuan County was like.

Seeing that Xiao Sizhe did not refuse, Lin Qin said nothing more.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Siyue immediately tried to pull Xiao Sizhe away.