4: Chapter 4 Save My Sister!

As soon as he finished speaking, he looked away, as if afraid that Zhou Yun would refuse.

"Of course you can!" Zhou Yun said softly. "Take as many as you want!"

The Little Boy was overjoyed, his mouth almost splitting to the back of his head. "Thank you, City Lord!"

He bowed in thanks, then walked to the mountain of steamed buns, grabbed one, and was about to leave.

But just as he took a step, he stopped, gritted his teeth, and grabbed another one!

Zhou Yun watched his retreating figure and smiled knowingly.

What a good child.

Even though the metal ring around his neck was also glowing red.

But a child like this—should he be expelled from the city?

He couldn't bring himself to do that.

Inspired by the Little Boy, he raised his right hand and shouted:

"If any of you have friends or relatives in need, you can also help take some steamed buns back for them!"

As soon as the words fell, many people showed expressions of disbelief.

They could eat themselves, and even take some for others?

Had they encountered a deity who saved the world?

At that moment, in their eyes, Zhou Yun seemed to be shining with golden light!

"My mother is sick in bed. Can I take two for her?"

A young man cautiously asked Lei Lie.

"Take." Lei Lie said expressionlessly.

Although he thought that this would inevitably lead to some people taking more, causing unnecessary loss of steamed buns.

But since the City Lord had spoken, what more could he say?

"My grandfather is disabled in both legs and can't move easily. Can I take two for him?"

"Take."

"My sister..."

"Take."

...

Lei Lie remained expressionless throughout.

However, this way, they were relieved.

Because everyone took the initiative, there was no need for them to help distribute.

Besides that, the mountain of steamed buns quickly disappeared.

But just before it was completely gone, Zhou Yun replenished another mountain.

Steamed buns!

He had plenty!

Only Lei Lie's mouth twitched slightly. "The third mountain."

Then quickly came the fourth...

The fifth...

By the time the sixth mountain of steamed buns appeared, Lei Lie finally couldn't hold back!

"Stop!"

He shouted loudly, halting those who wanted to come for more.

Facing the puzzled looks of the crowd and Zhou Yun, he cupped his hands to Zhou Yun and said:

"City Lord! Although Flower City is small, there are 46,021 people across the city who have fallen below the execution line!"

"Just giving them steamed buns, two each, would require 92,042!"

"If there are people taking advantage of the situation and taking a few more, it could even consume a hundred thousand, or even a hundred and fifty thousand!"

Saying this, he took a deep breath. "I understand! The City Lord has an extraordinary background and comes from wealth, but you can't waste like this!"

The people around stopped and involuntarily stepped back a few paces.

Although they were the beneficiaries, they thought Lei Lie was right.

Nearly a hundred thousand steamed buns!

In Flower City, what a precious resource that was!

They were already satisfied with one meal. How could they expect that their acquaintances could also eat their fill?

That would be too greedy.

As the atmosphere cooled, Zhou Yun smiled.

"Captain Lei is right." He nodded, his tone gentle. "From an accounting perspective, it is indeed a considerable expense."

Lei Lie breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

But Zhou Yun changed his tone: "However, Captain Lei... the people are the foundation of the state; when the foundation is stable, the state is at peace."

Zhou Yun's gaze swept over the gaunt and sallow-faced commoners around him, his voice soft but firm:

"No matter how large a city is, without citizens, it is just an empty city. No matter how much food there is, if the citizens starve to death, what use is it?"

"To me, steamed buns are food, and perhaps they can also represent money. But to everyone who is starving, they are the continuation of life!"

"Exchanging steamed buns of limited value for the continuation of life of unlimited value—I think it's worth doing no matter what."

"This..." Lei Lie's gaze softened.

Exchanging the limited for the unlimited...

Such reasoning made him feel ashamed.

Zhou Yun nodded slightly at him, then looked around and declared loudly: "Today is my first day in office. It's also my first time as City Lord."

"The first thing I want to do is to let all my hungry citizens across the city eat a full meal!"

As his words fell, the entire venue fell silent, with only the howling wind.

"Long live the City Lord!" someone suddenly shouted.

Then, as if highly contagious, everyone joined in the chant.

"Long live the City Lord!"

"Long live the City Lord!"

"Long live the City Lord!"

...

Watching the excited crowd and hearing the roaring cheers, Lei Lie was momentarily dazed.

In all these years, had he ever seen any previous City Lord receive such treatment?

It seemed not.

No, truly not.

Even if there were similar scenes, they were fake, performative, far from the sincerity and passion before him.

He looked at Zhou Yun, and the suspicions in his heart were completely overturned.

Zhou Yun spoke sincerely; he heard it clearly.

Now he understood: Zhou Yun had never thought about so-called last meals, nor had he considered killing two birds with one stone!

What cunning?

What scheming?

What tactics?

They simply didn't exist!

This was a soft-hearted do-gooder overflowing with sympathy and misplaced kindness!

Could such a person be called kind?

But was kindness a commendable word?

Naive!

Too naive!

The reason these people fell below the execution line was not just due to weakness from hunger.

Regardless, under Zhou Yun's push, the distribution of steamed buns continued.

More and more people showed satisfied smiles.

In this freezing season, it had been a long, long time since they had eaten their fill like this!

"City Lord! City Lord! Save! Save my sister! Save my sister!"

A cry for help suddenly came, growing closer.

The crowd parted, and a Little Boy squeezed through to stand before Zhou Yun.

On his back was a little girl of about six or seven.

Zhou Yun recognized him; he was the Little Boy who had tugged at his pant leg earlier to take steamed buns back!

"City Lord! Please save my sister!" the boy panted, red-eyed. "She's dying!"

Dying?

Zhou Yun's expression turned serious, and he immediately said, "Come, let me have a look."

But no sooner had he spoken than Lei Lie shouted, "No! She has a cold!"

Then he scolded the boy, "Your sister has such a contagious disease, and you didn't report it? How dare you!"

The boy, never having faced such a situation, was frightened into tears.

"I know my sister has a contagious disease."

"But she's my sister!"

"I have no father, no mother. My sister is my only family!"