Chapter 488: Let Me Hear It First

s still relatively calm. He had long since gotten used to these water-scarce days. He was also thirsty and his physical strength was depleted, so his need for water was undoubtedly much greater than F..."Perhaps, Lord Pan, you should have dinner first. We can discuss things after you've finished eating."

Fang Jinshu sat directly on the stool in front of him. Yulian dared not sit in front of the county magistrate, she didn't have her sister-in-law's courage. Her sister-in-law even dared to joke with the county magistrate.

She obediently stood behind Fang Jinshu.

Two people stared intently at Pan Zhian as he ate. Pan Zhian was in an exceptionally good mood. If someone else were being watched like that, they probably wouldn't be able to eat.

He lifted his bowl and, as if there were no two people in front of him, continued to eat with a calm indifference.

Fan Jinshi didn't speak, quietly waiting for Pan Zhian to finish his meal.

He ate slowly and methodically, mouthful by mouthful, right in front of her.

After about two pots of tea, Pan Zhian finally finished his meal. He asked the steward to clear the dishes and stood up, making a gesture inviting Fang Jinshi to join him.

"If Lady Zong doesn't mind, let's talk in the courtyard. It's not convenient for men and women to be in a room together."

Fang Jinshi was ashamed, how could she be considered living in the same room She still had Yulian by her side.

"Okay."

Pan Zhi'an sipped his tea slowly, waiting for her to speak.

Fang Jinshi's gaze fell on the teapot. "I didn't expect Lord Pan to still be able to drink tea. It seems that the situation in Luoshui City is not as bad as I imagined."

Pan Zhian's movements of drinking tea stopped abruptly, and he looked up in surprise.

"How did you know"

Intelligent people don't need to be so explicit. Fang Jinxiu opened her mouth to offer tea, and Pan Zhian immediately knew that she was aware of the water level drop in the city’s canals.

As I entered the city, I glanced at the canal. While the water level didn't seem to change much to the naked eye, the moisture levels in the soil on either side of the canal were starkly different.

Pan Zhi'an narrowed his eyes slightly. Fang Jinshu was smarter than he had imagined.

"Unexpectedly, Miss Zong is still so concerned about the livelihood of the people in Luoshui City. So, do you have a way to help me solve this problem"

Fang Jinshi smiled, "There is a way."

Pan Zhian frowned, "What method"

He was just saying it offhand. No matter how clever Fang Jinshu was, she was still just a country woman. Even imperial officials couldn't solve this problem, so how could a woman

But she really did have her own methods. Pan Zhian suppressed the surprise in his heart and decided to listen to what high opinions she had.

“Master Pan, I am just an ordinary woman. I do not have such great feelings to selflessly dedicate myself to the well-being of all the people in the city.”

"If my method proves helpful, sir, may I request one favor in return"

Upon hearing Fang Jinshui's conditions, Pan Zhian felt a sense of "as expected," and wasn't surprised at all.

"First, tell me your method. If it's useless, why should I waste my time hearing your terms"

"My method will definitely work," Fang Jinxiu said, "The water level in the irrigation canal keeps dropping. The adults must be very worried."

"To solve this issue, there are only two methods. The first is to address it at the source by expanding the irrigation channels and introducing more water from the rivers into the canals."

Second, find ways to lock moisture in the soil and reduce the speed at which water sources in irrigation channels are lost.

Pan Zhi listened quietly without interjecting.

"The first method is a drain on the people and the treasury. Just look at the canals of Luoshui City, they stretch on forever. The lord must have spent a lot of manpower and resources digging them back then, right"

"If this were to happen again, let alone the impact on the lives of the city's people, once they knew about expanding the water channel, they would themselves guess that there would be a shortage of water in the city. Before the drought caused any losses, the people's hearts would already be in turmoil."

When people's hearts are in disarray, the city falls into chaos.

Pan Zhi'an nodded repeatedly, transitioning from initial shock to half-belief, and finally to attentively listening to Fang Jinshu's analysis. He couldn't help but be impressed by this woman's intelligence.

"So, we can only adopt the second method you mentioned, locking the moisture in the soil and slowing down water loss."

How can we keep the water in the soil

Pan Zhi'an wasn't involved in agriculture and had no idea about it.

Fang Jinxiu smiled. "Since you asked, I presume you're willing to hear my terms and agree to them"

Pan Zhian was taken aback, well, she did have some skill.

What conditions, tell me first.ead Wang, my daughter Jinxiu and those elders have had a falling out for some time. Even so, she put aside our differences, considering your face, and allowed their families to go up the mountain to w...