Building Momentum and Recording Good Deeds
After handing the medicine to Simon Sun, Serena Feng didn’t return to the ward. Instead, she went back to her own courtyard and summoned Jada Tang and Mira Tang.
“Jada, Mira, the heavy snow hasn’t let up these past few days. Has it affected many of the common folk? Has the number of people falling ill increased lately?”
“Miss, yes. Every year when it snows heavily, many commoners fall ill or freeze to death. Today’s snow was especially bad. These past few days, though lighter, haven’t stopped, and several places have seen houses collapse under the weight, killing quite a few people. The government’s relief halls are packed, and the number of people suffering from cold-related illnesses is rising sharply.”
This kind of thing, Jada and Mira didn’t even need to investigate—they already knew. Because of the snow disaster, quite a few officials had already been stripped of their posts for negligence…
Disasters are both a test and an opportunity for officials.
Every time a natural disaster strikes, plenty of officials lose their positions for dereliction of duty, but just as many seize the chance to stand out and rise swiftly through the ranks.
Do you think there aren’t any officials who truly care about the people when disaster strikes?
Of course there are. If an official doesn’t advocate for the people or seek their benefit, how would they have achievements? How would they get promoted?
Before you become an official, maybe you’re full of passion and want to be honest and good. But once you’re in the bureaucracy, you’ll realize your main task is to climb higher. If you don’t, others will step on you, and then you won’t be able to fulfill any of your ambitions.
If you want to do things for the people, you need enough power. The higher your rank, the more you can do. And if you want to rise, you have to seize every opportunity to climb.
And natural disasters are undeniably a great opportunity for promotion—if you seize it, you’ll not only earn a reputation as a good official who serves the people, but also climb higher and higher. As for Serena...
She knew she was shameless, but she still wanted to take advantage of this disaster.
“Jada, Mira, what do you think about me going outside the city to do free medical consultations?” Serena admitted her motives weren’t pure, but... she was at least doing something for the people.
If she were an official, she’d also be the kind who climbs by racking up achievements—even if her motives weren’t pure, the people would still benefit in the end.
“Free consultations? Miss, that’s certainly good, but it’s exhausting work. And you’re so busy already—how would you find the time?” Jada and Mira were happy about their Miss’s decision, but...
Here’s the problem: once you start a public clinic, you can’t just quit halfway.
“With snow this heavy, what else do I have to do? Right now my main concern is giving my parents a proper burial, but as long as the snow doesn’t stop, I can’t do it. Until then, I have time for free consultations—let’s just say it’s to pray for my parents’ souls.” Right now, she was under surveillance; every move had to be cautious. Instead of scheming in secret, she decided to put all her actions out in the open, under the sun, for everyone to see.
“Miss, if it’s for praying for the Master and Madam, we shouldn’t just hold free clinics—we ought to serve porridge too. But grain is so expensive now, and our household stores are only just enough for us. We can’t spare any for charity.” Doing good is important, but only within your means.
If you’re starving yourself just to help others, that’s not charity—that’s foolishness. Serena didn’t think she was that noble.
“Don’t worry about grain, I’ll figure something out. Jada, Mira, go find out how bad things are outside—that way I can decide what to do.” Vincent Su definitely wouldn’t be short of grain. She’d go talk to Vincent; if he came out to do charity with her at a time like this, then...