Chapter 494: Broken Government Office
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Su Bin finally reached Shanglin Prefecture, much to the delight of Governor Lin, who was overjoyed to have the new governor’s arrival. It signaled his opportunity to bid farewell to Shanglin Prefecture.
For lunch, Governor Lin ordered four dishes and a soup from the local restaurant in the prefecture capital, making a show of welcoming Su Bin.
Fortunately, Su Bin had arranged for Qin Zhenzhen and her companions to stay in a separate residence, bringing only Mr. Chen with him. Otherwise, this meager meal wouldn’t have sufficed.
Governor Lin had no intention of expending too much money to ingratiate himself with Su Bin. He understood that those appointed to govern Shanglin Prefecture typically had no influential connections and often found themselves in this position due to some unfortunate circumstances.
Governor Lin himself had a similar background – hailing from a modest family and lacking powerful connections. He had managed to offend certain individuals in the bureaucracy, leading to his unwanted transfer to Shanglin Prefecture.
Not only was Shanglin Prefecture impoverished and lacking in benefits, it was also plagued by rampant banditry, which had left Governor Lin so terrified that he didn’t dare to bring his family to accompany him in his official duties. He lived in constant fear.
The memory of the previous governor’s fate haunted him daily. It was common knowledge that the former governor had been killed by a bandit, supposedly due to his corrupt practices in an attempt to curry favor with higher-ranking officials.
The killer had even left a message on the wall, serving as a warning to the governor about the consequences of corruption. There were also rumors suggesting that the culprits were not mere bandits but skilled martial artists.
Regardless of who the culprits were, it was clear that Shanglin Prefecture was an unfortunate and perilous place.
Governor Lin’s impoverished situation left him bereft of any benefits, and while he did possess some loose change, he didn’t dare to utilize it. His fear of being murdered had rendered him obedient, despite his yearning to earn a substantial income.
He believed that he was fated to remain in Shanglin Prefecture for the rest of his life, as he lacked influential connections and the means to win favor.
However, unexpected joy had fallen from the heavens in the form of a new governor’s sudden transfer to replace him. Though he was relocated to another prefecture capital and still held the role of a prefecture governor, Governor Lin considered it a promotion.
Following their lunch, Governor Lin was eager to hand over everything to Su Bin and eagerly anticipated his departure from this forsaken place the following morning.
Su Bin didn’t create difficulties for him, understanding the urgency of the situation. Since he was already there, it was best to facilitate the handover as swiftly as possible.
Surveying the shabby government office, Su Bin couldn’t help but remark, “This might be the most dilapidated government office in the entire country.”
“It leaks when it rains, doesn’t it?”
In other places, even the county offices were far more dignified in comparison.
Governor Lin commiserated with Su Bin. “To be honest, Governor Su, if it rains, only the courtroom remains dry. In other places, there are varying degrees of leaks.”
“It’s not that I’m unwilling to repair it, but there’s truly no funds available.”
“I’ve reported the issue to the Imperial Court, but they simply don’t allocate the funds. I have no choice in the matter.
“I’ve heard that the previous governor faced the same challenge. No matter how often he appealed to the Imperial Court, it was like casting a stone into the sea.”
“They’re in the same predicament as me and can only occasionally dip into their own pockets to hire laborers for repairs within the court.”
“The constables’ quarters are no different. They have to pool money from time to time and arrange for repairs out of their own funds.”
While Su Bin was already familiar with this state of affairs, he remained somewhat surprised. “Governor Lin, are you suggesting that no one has ever funded repairs in the prison cells?”
Governor Lin nodded. “That’s right! As long as it rains, the cell will become a water prison..”
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