"But you don't need to worry too much. The porridge distribution is only temporary. Specific measures will be announced tomorrow—all able-bodied men must work to receive food."
"Work for relief?" Shen Yunyun recalled the Grand Marshal's suggestion.
"As long as the people are given a way to survive, they won't think about rebelling or causing chaos. Rebellion is a capital offense; they won't resort to it unless absolutely necessary."
Shen Yunyun nodded and reminded, "Work for relief is a good approach, but it comes with certain concerns."
"Please elaborate."
If the court gives them work, the fundamental purpose is to provide relief and, to the greatest extent, prevent unrest.
But if they find working here better than farming at home, might they develop a reluctance to return to their land?
The Empress Dowager pondered this seriously. "Does the immortal have a good strategy?"
Shen Yunyun thought about offering relocation subsidies when they returned home, but seeing how squeezed Great Li was, she held her tongue.
Great Li was either robbing Peter to pay Paul or drinking poison to quench thirst.
She had no doubt that without her intervention, how dire would the people's suffering in this nation become?
"Let's go with work for relief for now. We'll figure out the rest later."
The next day, the work-for-relief announcement was posted.
Of course, the notice didn't call it that. Instead, it stated that the court was recruiting a batch of laborers to build reservoirs before the drought worsened, with each able-bodied man receiving two jin of grain per day.
As soon as the notice went up, all the refugees spread the word and rushed to sign up.
"Your Majesty, we have no water left."
"Is the well empty too?"
"There's very little water in the well. The servants waited half the day today and only drew two buckets."
The Empress Dowager waved the servant away and turned to Shen Yunyun.
Shen Yunyun gave a slight nod. That night, she sat by the well and released water for them all night long.
As dawn approached, she saw the well was full, stretched lazily, and went to ask the Empress Dowager for something.
The Empress Dowager directly offered her jade hairpin and ruby headpiece.
Although Shen Yunyun had said she could take common items like bowls, plates, tripods, or cauldrons, the Empress Dowager felt too embarrassed to offer those.
Shen Yunyun saw the ruby set—it was indeed beautiful.
But she couldn't bear to take it. The Empress Dowager's position was already miserable, like a radish being sliced from both ends.
Beiyan and Nanchu, relying on their strength, bullied the small states. They had already endured enough as the "Ninja Turtles."
On top of that, the nation was poor, so Shen Yunyun truly felt awkward asking for it.
But the rules of the trading center couldn't be broken—a transaction had to happen.
So she smiled and said, "I don't want this ruby headpiece. I want a salt jar, a fruit plate, and a hundred-bird lamp stand."
"This..." The Empress Dowager hesitated but still had Gui Mama arrange it.
Shen Yunyun took what she wanted, went back, closed the trading center, and went to sleep.
She completely missed a massive wish that was nearly bursting the wish orb.
At three in the afternoon, she was woken by a phone call.
Seeing it was a local landline number, she answered.
"Is this Miss Shen? I'm from the water company," the caller introduced themselves immediately.
Hearing it was the water company, Shen Yunyun instantly understood.
It must be because she had let the water run all night, causing an abnormal meter reading.
"Oh, our company detected an anomaly in your water meter. We suspect it might be faulty or that there's a leak in your pipes. Would you like us to come and check it?"