The Marquis' Wife
The dike project was a huge success

"Good night uncle" Lu Xiang slightly bowed his body greeting Prefect Zhong.

He reached Shu village during the day while Prefect Zhong arrived in the afternoon so he only met Prefect Zhong before dinner.

"Oh Lu Xiang! Sit sit. Let's have a meal together, have you seen the embankment that's been completed by corvee workers?".

"Uncle already. Under the supervision of the corvee workers uncle did a very good job". In the afternoon he had gone around to see the new embankment that was still dry, large stones neatly arranged and fastened to make the dike beautiful in view of the eye.

"Haha. You can really make me happy. But it's true corvee workers do that job really well".

"Do you think this project will be a great success?".

"Uncle has great ability so I'm sure the project will be a great success. Uncle doesn't have to worry".

Lu Xiang's usual words of comfort sounded so special in Prefect Zhong's ears, he laughed loudly and toasted the Xiefu scholar after dinner.

The two discussed the next steps if the project did not have any problems, although their relationship was awkward because of the problems caused by Liang Chenyue, no one blamed each other and chose to forget about it.

Lu Xiang returned to the tent and prepared to welcome the tomorrow he had come from 3 months ago, before closing his eyes, he remembered his wife and the events of last night that were hot made him smile foolishly.

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The next day Lu Xiang and Prefect Zhong went to the opening gate of the water not far from Shu village. There Prefect employees, village government employees and corvee workers were waiting for their arrival.

"Welcome Prefect Zhong". Greet the prefect employees while bowing respectfully followed by the corvee workers but they had to kneel greeting Prefect Zhong.

"Welcome to Xiefu" The Prefect's employee simply cupped his hands towards Lu Xiang to greet while the corvee worker only needed to bow respectfully.

"Good morning everyone. Before we perform the ritual and release the water from the dam. I've always been a Prefect very grateful for the hard work you put in, me and Xiefu and the employees will all not forget your hard work on this project".

The corvee worker who was a farmer shook his head, feeling unworthy of the appreciation of high-ranking officials like Prefect Zhong. They kneeled down and bowed to Prefect Zhong as they felt deeply moved, Prefect Zhong still remembered the little folk like them.

New corvee this year managed to run very well, the death rate of corvee this year is very low compared to corvee in previous years.

The corvee workers knew that it was all because of the kindness of Prefect Zhong and Xiefu Lu who suggested the idea of donation so that they could eat to fullness and get medical care when sick. That kindness they will never forget.

Prefect Zhong told the corvee workers to stand up and nod at his men.

Two servants immediately called Shaman who would perform the ritual of opening the water gate to be endowed by the god and there were no obstacles whatsoever during the process.

Shaman, wearing a white robe and covering his face with matching cloth, walked slowly to the pre-prepared altar.

The atmosphere became sacred when Shaman read the scriptures and began to dance using the money sword for a while before taking a bowl of seven flowers and spreading the petals in front of a large water gate.

"Road up the mountain to avoid anything unwanted". Prefect Zhong's Order.

Employees immediately spread the order to corvee workers to immediately go up the mountain.

"Come on Lu Xiang".

Prefect Zhong gave his men a cue to open the water gate.

Slowly the water and mud came out because it had not been opened for a long time and the water came out stronger to cause a loud noise that echoed in the mountain area.

The corvee workers who had just seen the water gate opened felt so frightened by the loud sound of the water but looked at Prefect Zhong and Lu Xiang who were standing quietly, who were standing still, their anxiety dampened and then focused on the water.

The fast moving water filled a large dike towards the large trench connecting the dam with new dikes filling any area it passed through.

Lu Xiang and Prefect Zhong waited with anticipation and dismay, desperately hoping that nothing would happen to the detriment.

And their prayers were answered, although the water moved fast and fierce but the strong embankment can withstand the pressure of water to get into the embankment of Shu village new Zhong Prefect employees closed back the dam water gate from above.

"This project succeeded uncle!!" Lu Xiang laughed happily.

Prefect Zhong was so enthusiastic that he clapped loudly like a child. "Haha. This project was Lu Xiang's success, this embankment project was a great success!!".

"Congratulations to Prefect Zhong on the success of this embankment project. May Buddha repay your kindness in the next life". Prefect employees cheered happily and bowed respectfully to their superiors.

The corvee workers bowed in gratitude to Prefect Zhong and Lu Xiang for the success of this project, if Shu's village manages to build a strong dike then the other villages won't be long after Shu's village in building dikes and irrigation. Gratitude is felt by corvee workers who live in Shu village.

Lu Xiang and Prefect Zhong immediately set off towards the rice fields of Shu village and saw the already gathered citizens curious about the water they saw filling the embankment.

The villagers kneeled to greet Prefect Zhong as they said a thousand thanks for what the man had said.

"Prefect Zhong! Thank you very much for what you did, we Shu villagers no longer have to painstakingly bring water from the well to water the rice!!".

"Yes Prefect Zhong. Your kindness is like a Buddha".

"Hopefully this kindness can build sky-high merit and build seven tiers of pagodas"

Lu Xiang looked at the radiant faces of the citizens and smiled happily. Prefect Zhong was also so happy that making his smile expand wide, he laughed happily at the words of the Shu villagers.

"Now open the floodgates, let the water run through every peasant's paddy field!".

"Good Prefect Zhong".

Paddy fields that have been planted with rice only appear wet because of the hard work of the owner in drawing well water. Many things and procedures are done by farmers in cultivating rice.

They must soak rice seedlings to grow sprouts and then sow them in the place of the area that has been made until it grows to the height of one new adult palm the seedling is removed and planted back with a certain distance waiting to be ready for harvest.

All of these processes require a lot of water, low rainfall makes farmers forced to use well water and all that takes a process of 2 months more so when seeing the water that meets the embankment the residents cheered and cried.

The floodgates were opened to allow water to flow into a large trench beside the rice field road and then split into small irrigation that had been made along the rice field area of Shu village.

All the citizens clapped their hands to see the water coming into their rice fields, they cried and cheered happily and then kneeled down to thank Prefect Zhong.

The dike project was a huge success!!!