Chapter 83

"Then I will add Expert Shuxun and his group?"

Expert Shuxun was nearly seventy years old but very skilled with his phone.

Not only did Expert Shuxun add people, but General Zhao, General Ulric, and Teacher Qin also invited their friends to join.

They didn't just join; they also sent red envelopes.

"Happiness Family (Amelia): Everyone who joins, please send a red envelope!"

Then, one after another, more than ten people each sent a red envelope.

Sophia pulled more people in, and the screen filled with red envelopes.

There were about thirty people in the group now. It was late when they checked WeChat, and they opened the envelopes with curiosity.

The first "receive" button clicked opened an envelope with 1,256 yuan.

Sophia really didn't expect such a big amount, but she had the best luck, so her red envelope was the biggest.

The surprise was not just the amount, but that she got the best luck.

After that, the other more than ten red envelopes were also opened. The amounts ranged from 99 yuan to 1,000 yuan. The first envelope was still the largest.

Everyone started discussing and commenting on the pictures Sophia sent.

"If these collections are real, they have high value."

Sophia looked carefully.

Then she used a small program to make an invitation with clear time and place.

"October 21, 10 AM to 4 PM. Looking forward to seeing everyone."

The group was very excited, and many people said they would come. Sophia knew she had to prepare well.

After all, she still needed to get money from these people.

"It seems I also need more help at home."

Sophia muttered to herself.

More workers were needed for the job, and she had to manage this side too.

There would be more exhibitions like this in the future, as long as General Yves kept sending antiques.

While thinking about this, her food delivery arrived.

Holding the food, Sophia felt even more frustrated.

No one at home cooked meals, and every day they had bad food.

Now, she was tired of outside food and just wanted some home-cooked meals.

The next day, Sophia went to the third floor first to arrange the things she brought back.

Among the many items, she found a letter from General Yves.

"Already going south for disaster relief? Ah, those two trucks must be sent to him quickly!"

Sophia quickly grabbed paper and pen to write a letter to General Yves.

Meanwhile, General Yves had already arrived at the first disaster area.

The situation was much worse than in the capital.

As soon as they entered the city, they saw many people thin to the bone, like walking corpses, easily knocked down by the wind.

Countless people lay on the roadside. Some smelled rotten, some were uncertain if alive or dead, and some had weak chest movements showing they were barely alive.

General Yves and all his companions felt very heavy-hearted.

Local officials walked with them and were sweating after a long walk.

Finally, they reached the government office and were quickly served tea by the staff.

"Now the water is scarce. Everyone must make do."

General Yves stared fiercely. "Officer Yang, do you know your crimes?"

He slammed his palm on the table.

Suddenly, his anger was like thunder. The governor immediately dropped to his knees with a thud.

"General, I admit my guilt. There are many floating corpses in Fugu County. I am guilty! Please, General, reduce my punishment!"

Officer Yang lay face down on the ground, crying with tears streaming down his face.

General Yves chuckled coldly. "Officer Yang! Is this what I meant?"

"For years you have stolen taxes from the people. Your Yang family sons have bullied women, using the government's name to force money and goods from people. With so many crimes, you still want to confuse the truth?"

The man, in his forties or fifties, who was lying on the ground, suddenly lifted his head and looked at General Yves, speechless.

He stood there, stunned.

When he tried to argue, General Yves threw a stack of papers all over his face.

"What else do you want to say?"

Officer Yang picked up the papers with shaking hands. When he saw the list of crimes and the evidence, his face turned pale instantly.

He quickly knelt and crawled toward General Yves, bowing his head and knocking on the floor again and again.

"General, I admit my guilt! I had no choice, General!"

Until Officer Yang's head was bleeding from hitting the floor, General Yves shouted sharply, "Enough!"

"When you killed people carelessly, it was because you had no choice. When you forced people to pay taxes without care for their hardship, it was because you had no choice! You knew the country of Zhao was already in danger. As an official, if you don't help the country, it is bad enough, but you even made things worse!"

Only then did Officer Yang kneel down in defeat, his face full of shame.

The hall was quiet. A cold breeze blew through.

Then General Yves slowly sat down and spoke calmly, "Because this drought is very serious, I order you to help the disaster relief minister with all the relief work. After the disaster, we will judge your merits and crimes. You may avoid death, but you cannot avoid punishment. Officer Yang, I hope you won't disappoint my hard work!"

Officer Yang, with a bloody hole on his forehead, slowly regained his spirit. He looked gratefully at General Yves and bowed again to say thanks.

"I will do my best to assist the disaster relief minister. Thank you, General!"

General Yves and the other officials began to plan relief measures based on this area.

After General Yves' tough talk, Officer Yang dared not slack off anymore. He told everything he knew without hiding.

He had worked in Fugu County for ten years. No one knew the place better than him, so General Yves could not move against him yet.

Officials who have been in power for a long time become like local tyrants. Without a serious warning, they are like stones in a cesspit—stinky and hard.

General Yves had come south to help with disaster relief. Sophia was supposed to assist him. He only brought enough food for the trip.

Now they reached Fugu County. The food would last only two or three more days.

Luckily, Sophia finally saw the letter he had sent.

As soon as General Yves returned to the mansion Officer Yang assigned him, he received a letter from Sophia.

"The food has finally arrived!"

General Yves did not rest. He rushed outside and shouted for people. At his call, bags filled with rice and flour started falling from nowhere.

He did not ask for Officer Yang's servants. His own people were all well trained. They came out immediately.

Without orders, they started moving the piles of food to the corners.

Every time the gods send food, there is always more, never less, so they arranged the food according to the amount.

"Yves, go and call Officer Yang and Disaster Relief Minister Deron!"

Now that they were in Fugu County and the food had arrived, there was no time to delay the relief work.