Good Man Operation Guide

Nearly a year passed in calm tranquility, and Lin Shiheng smoothly passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi.

(TNote: Jinshi = the highest and final degree in the imperial examination in Imperial China.)

He didn’t come in first place, but rather second place.

However, as a farmer’s son, being able to rank second was quite impressive. Throughout the year, Lin Shiheng had provided counsel and assistance to the young Emperor, helping him regain his rightful power bit by bit. But this ranking was purely his own merit, unrelated to any backdoor dealings.

During the palace examination, the young Emperor unsurprisingly named him the top scholar.

Throughout the year, as he followed Lin Shiheng’s strategies and gradually grasped control of the court, he became more and more certain that he had truly picked up a treasure. He had long decided deep in his heart to value Lin Shiheng.

He couldn’t trust his younger brothers or the powerful ministers holding authority, but he had great trust in Lin Shiheng, the newly appointed top scholar, who possessed exceptional intelligence.

There were naturally many reasons for this.

First, Lin Shiheng had no imperial lineage and couldn’t even be considered a member of the officialdom. Besides the Emperor, there was no one behind him. As long as the Emperor wished, Lin Shiheng could fall from his high position at any time.

Lin Shiheng’s wife, Lady Li, also came from an ordinary family. Although she gained an honorable status due to her husband’s achievements, her family background was that of a common farmer. Since Lin Shiheng persisted in not taking concubines, it also prevented him from forming alliances with other officials through marriage.

As for the future, when his children grew up and had to form marriages with court officials, who knew how old the Emperor would be at that time? If he still couldn’t grasp control of the court, it would be better to commit suicide.

Due to these various factors, along with the old officials in the court ignoring his advice due to their advanced age, the Emperor made no effort to hide his regard for Lin Shiheng. First, he kept him by his side as a court official for two years. Once the court became somewhat stable, reluctantly granting Lin Shiheng’s repeated requests, he approved his appointment to an official position outside the capital.

The Emperor was afraid that his loyal courtier without any backing would suffer losses outside without his supervision. Sending a capital official on an external assignment usually required a promotion, so the Emperor decisively raised Lin Shiheng’s rank by three levels in one go. In just two years, Lin Shiheng, from an ordinary top scholar, was promoted to the third rank.

He didn’t disappoint the Emperor’s expectations. Initially, the Emperor wanted to send this highly regarded minister to a prosperous region, but Lin Shiheng volunteered himself and requested to be assigned to a poor area.

The Emperor was puzzled, and Lin Shiheng had a serious expression on his face, “As a minister, I should alleviate Your Majesty’s worries and difficulties. It is simple for prosperous regions to become even richer, but it is challenging for impoverished areas to become prosperous, if I only think about seeking a simple and wealthy place, how can I face being Your Majesty’s courtier?’’

These words greatly moved the Emperor, who had just received a distressing poverty report from the court.

If all the court officials were like Minister Lin, considering his welfare, then he wouldn’t need to suffer from sleepless nights and nightmares every day.

However, what the Emperor didn’t know was that in Minister Lin’s mind, he didn’t admire power or seek wealth. He wholeheartedly faced difficulties. When he returned home, he explained to his wife...

“In those prosperous places, they have been wealthy for many years. Many local influential figures and most local officials are connected to them. It’s like an old tree that has grown for a hundred years. They think they’re just moving a small root, but above, there’s a formidable force.”

“Poor areas also have various people involved, but most officials sent there throughout the generations have no significant background. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be assigned there. Even if they have some dirty dealings, I can handle them.”

Lin Shiheng chuckled lightly and continued, “Moreover, since I entered the officialdom, His Majesty has always regarded me highly, despite my lack of actual achievements. If I can transform that impoverished area into a prosperous one, it can be considered a political achievement for me.”

Since entering the officialdom, Lin Shiheng consulted with his wife, Li Lanlan, before doing anything. Whether it was scheming against someone, tripping someone up, or someone attempting to harm him but being countered instead, he openly explained everything. Even though she didn’t understand at first, after hearing it repeatedly, she became knowledgeable about court matters and various forces.

Compared to these thrilling and significant events, the trivial matters within their household couldn’t stir much emotion in her.

When she interacted with the other wives, even without deliberately showcasing it, her gradually mature and serene demeanor, as well as her ability to handle any situation calmly, impressed some of the wives who had initially assumed she was a peasant woman who hadn’t seen the world. They secretly admired her.

No wonder Minister Lin refused to take concubines. With a wife who wasn’t only beautiful but also capable of managing household affairs, why would he need concubines?

After Lin Shiheng finished explaining the reasons for his departure, Li Lanlan, though reluctant, nodded understandingly, “Alright, I will pack your things. After you leave, I will take good care of our parents’ and the household.”

Yes, Li Lanlan couldn’t accompany her husband to his new post.

She had given birth to their eldest son last year, and the child had just turned one. It wasn’t the time to go out. In addition, the Lin parents were getting older. Although Lin Shiheng immediately bought maidservants to serve them once he had money, they didn’t want to risk their health by embarking on a long journey.

After discussing it as a couple, they decided that Lin Shiheng would bring a few young servants with him to his new post, while Li Lanlan would stay at home to take care of their parents and child.

For her, who relied more on her husband, this was indeed quite challenging.

Lin Shiheng understood this as well. Before leaving, he hugged their chubby son and sincerely told his wife, who was seeing him off, “I promise, just this once.”

“When I achieve something here, even if I stay in the capital, I can do what I want. This time, I’ll come back quickly.”

Li Lanlan nodded earnestly, and as her face, which had become more radiant since she stopped doing farm work, gazed at her husband, it was filled with trust.

“I’ll be waiting for you.”

Lin Shiheng did keep his promise, and the Emperor played a significant role in it.

As an official who diligently worked on developing the economy and tried to alleviate the pressure on the treasury upon arriving at his new post, how could he not be highly regarded and granted greater authority?

With the Emperor supporting him behind the scenes, Lin Shiheng had no reservations. He boldly started making achievements in his new post.

He was already exceptional on his own, and with the Emperor’s support, within a short year, he transformed the previously impoverished region into a well-known tourist destination that generated countless revenue for the treasury.

Many officials were puzzled. How did Minister Lin manage to make such a poor region so prosperous within a year?

Curiosity got the best of them, so they decided to investigate. As soon as they looked into it, they were convinced.

The land in that region wasn’t fertile for growing crops, so Lin Shiheng switched to cultivating fruit trees. Before the fruits even matured, he used the previous harvest to make preserves. Then, he employed marketing strategies to elevate the already delicious preserves to great heights.

He had no shame about it. He even wrote a letter back to the capital specifically asking the Emperor for help in creating a market for the preserves. He requested the Emperor’s endorsement and praised the taste, intending to leverage the Emperor’s fondness for them to boost sales and generate revenue.

If it were any other official, the Emperor might have been displeased, “You dare to exploit me, your superior, for your own gain?"

But in Lin Shiheng’s case, the Emperor was more than happy to cooperate. Not only did he publicly praise the preserves brought by Lin Shiheng, but he also ordered that they be included as tribute, requiring a yearly shipment to the capital.

That was the Emperor!

If it was something he enjoyed eating, could it be anything but good?!

The preserves sold like crazy at the time, and yet Lin Shiheng, that cunning person, categorized the preserves into three levels; top-tier, mid-tier, and lower-tier. Even the lower-tier ones made a lot of money. All the profits naturally went into the treasury.

While he returned with a clean slate, the Emperor couldn’t let his loyal and capable advisor fall into poverty. Since Lin Shiheng’s return to the capital, he was showered with rewards, making the entire city envious and awestruck.

But his achievements were undeniable, and even though they envied and resented him, they couldn’t utter a word against Minister Lin.

As the Emperor’s favorite and most accomplished minister, Lin Shiheng naturally had political rivals. It wasn’t due to personal grudges but rather differing positions. They admired Lin Shiheng but also held grudges against him. Sometimes, when they saw his triumphant appearance, they couldn’t help but think that with such prominence, sooner or later, he would face trouble.

They hoped and hoped, until Lin Shiheng turned 40. Yet he remained firmly seated in his position as the head of the ministry, unperturbed.

What was most infuriating was that he retired!

Other courtiers, even at the age of 60, were still active on the front lines of the court. But at 40, he retired. The Emperor surely wanted him to stay, but Lin Shiheng was resolute. Despite the Emperor’s repeated attempts to retain him, he ultimately couldn't be persuaded.

Being asked to stay by the Emperor so many times, that was such an honor. It would be recorded directly in history books for future generations to see.

Since Lin Shiheng retired, the old courtiers who continued to stand in the court despite their advanced age felt that the Emperor’s gaze from the dragon throne wasn’t quite right. Sometimes it was filled with regret, and other times it was full of longing, as if they were reminiscing about the loyal and capable Minister Lin.

Indeed, the Emperor had such thoughts. He had wanted to work with Minister Lin until their deaths, but he never expected that Minister Lin would retire at such a young age.

Fortunately, Lin’s beloved son was just as capable as his father, and he bore a striking resemblance to Minister Lin himself. When the Emperor looked at him, it was as if he were seeing the younger version of Minister Lin, the one who had contributed to the prosperity of the treasury and had the same determination and vision.

This child was truly a continuation of Minister Lin’s legacy.

Even though he had left, he had left behind this child to take care of the country and alleviate any concerns and difficulties.

Truly considerate.

Thus, the Emperor directed his affection and admiration towards Lin Shiheng’s son.

Lin Shiheng’s political rivals: “...”

Meanwhile, as Lin Shiheng enjoyed his retirement, he lived a carefree and blissful life.

Retiring as a high-ranking official, the local authorities treated him with utmost respect and reverence, ensuring that he never suffered any grievances. He spent his days fishing, tending to his flowers, and found great happiness in these simple pleasures.

When Widow Zhang couldn’t help but propose a divorce, it seemed to trigger something within Father Li. He chose to become a monk and spent his days reciting scriptures in the temple.

The two other Lin families lived ordinary lives, neither particularly good nor bad.

However, there was a small incident. While Lin Shiheng and his wife were strolling through the streets, a younger woman rushed in, looking pitiful, and claimed that her husband had killed her father, pleading for Lin Shiheng to intervene.

Lin Shiheng promptly took her to the magistrate’s office.

After investigation, it turned out that the woman was dissatisfied with her husband bringing home a mistress, so she had planned the murder scheme and tried to frame him.

As for why she impulsively sought help from Lin Shiheng?

Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that, despite his age, he still retained his handsome appearance and charm.

One day, Lin Shiheng and his wife, Li Lanlan, departed from this world, hand in hand.

[Ding! Mission accomplished. Please choose: 1. Vacation, 2 Continue the mission.]

[Vacation, find someone to support me.]

Lin Shiheng opened his eyes.

Closed them again.

Then opened them again.

Then, as he looked at the furry paws in front of him, he fell into contemplation.