Chapter 584: Chapter 584: The New County Magistrate
Before long, a group of people arrived at Village Chief He’s house, shouting loudly at the gate: "Uncle Chief, please hurry up and open the door, we have something to discuss with you! Don’t pretend you’re not there, we know you’re home!"
Village Chief He was wearing a cotton-padded jacket and roasting sweet potatoes while counting silver coins at home. Hearing the deafening shouts, he was startled, thinking it was bandits coming to rob him of his silver, and he shuddered so hard that a piece of broken silver fell from his hand.
Village Chief He quickly picked up the silver, wiped it clean, and grumbled in a low voice: "A bunch of shrews, each shouting louder than a copper gong, are you trying to scare an old man to death?"
Bang bang bang!
The knocks on the door sounded again, and after cursing once more, Village Chief He hid the silver and then let He Tongsheng go to open the door.
As soon as the door was opened, the wives of He Daqiao and others rushed in, all laughing in a way that made Village Chief He feel uneasy: "Uncle, did I hear that your grass sold for nearly ten taels of silver?"
Village Chief He felt like vomiting blood: "Which bastard is spreading such rumors?"
His two taels and forty cents had suddenly turned into nearly ten taels of silver – what an exaggeration.
He Laoqiao’s wife was the oldest and of the highest status among these women, and she was the one who casually made up this tall tale on the road. Afraid that Village Chief He would accuse her of slander, she hurriedly cried out: "Brother Village Chief, you have to help us. You can’t just get rich and ignore us. Your nephew Dachai is still serving labor service, and if there was silver at home, he wouldn’t have to suffer like this."
With that, she immediately started wailing.
He Tongsheng squatted in the house, watching but not seeing any tears from Old Qiao’s grandma.
Soon after, the men of the village who got wind of the news also came to the door. After He Laoqiao scolded his wife a few times, he said to Village Chief He: "Brother Village Chief, we know we were wrong. We shouldn’t have mocked you for planting grass and we apologize. But you are the village chief and also the He Family Patriarch, having such profitable silver-making opportunities in your hands – you can’t forget about us He Family People."
The other He Family men also said: "Yeah, Village Chief, we know we were wrong, and we’ll definitely listen to you from now on. Please help us out."
What Village Chief He was waiting for was exactly this – their plea. Now, following Gu Jinli’s example, he did not relent immediately but instead made a show of difficulty: "Our family has signed a contract with the Gu Family, and it’s not proper to bring you along."
"We can also sign a contract," He Daqiao’s wife said. "We understand the Gu Family’s rules, and we’re willing to sign."
Though the Gu Family’s contract was strict, it was profitable. For the sake of silver, a little restriction was nothing.
But Village Chief He knew well the nature of the He Family: coveting the profits from the Mingya Grass now, they were naturally quick to agree, but after a few days and their excitement fell away, he guessed they would start taking it lightly again.
Little Xiao Yu had said that Mingya Grass was a medicinal herb, and dealing with medicinal things related to human life must be treated seriously. It needed to be done with precision, and carelessness was not tolerable.
So, Village Chief He said with difficulty: "You all go back first. I need to ask the Gu Family about this and will get back to you after some time."
He also warned: "You know what the Gu Family People are like. If you want to make money relying on the Gu Family, you have to act respectfully. Don’t go looking for the Gu Family behind our backs. If you anger the Gu Family and cut off the livelihood of the village, I’ll expel you from the village!"
After the incident of He Cui’er being expelled from the clan and the village, the He Family People now understood that Village Chief He was not just scaring them; he really dared to do it. They hurriedly replied: "Rest assured, elder, we’re not destitute like He Daqian and Fourth Son He, we won’t cause trouble for the Gu Family."
After sending them away, Village Chief He put the matter aside, planning to wait a month or so to temper the He Family People’s temperament before discussing it.
The news of the Mingya Grass had caused quite a stir, so much so that even County Magistrate Xu knew about it and exclaimed: "The Gu Family is indeed blessed with good fortune, making money by merely planting grass, it’s miraculous."
Master Tian also nodded: "Indeed, those who can survive such a desperate escape surely have some good fortune. I heard that Mingya Grass doesn’t take up farm land; it’s planted in the empty spaces in front of the houses and behind them, yielding three harvests a year. Village Chief He planted twenty pounds of grass seed and sold this harvest for two taels of silver."
County Magistrate Xu exclaimed in surprise: "That’s six taels of silver a year, truly a valuable thing."
It was just a pity that they couldn’t tax it as grain. Taxes could be levied on things grown in farm fields, but not on things grown on the empty spaces in front of houses.
However...
"Lord Zheng has indeed made a fortune; this is a significant political achievement."
Lord Zheng is the new county magistrate of Tianfu County, a junior branch of the Jinling Zheng Family. After studying diligently for over a decade, he finally passed the examinations with high marks. The Zheng Family placed great hope in him, pulled strings to secure him the position of Tianfu County Magistrate, allowing him to accumulate some achievements. He was due to arrive in a few days.
However, County Magistrate Xu wouldn’t be able to leave until after the New Year.
The case involving County Magistrate Zou had caused a great stir, and many aspects were still not fully investigated. Thus, the court had ordered County Magistrate Xu to remain, to mentor County Magistrate Zheng, until the Imperial Court of Judicial Review concluded the case, sentencing County Magistrate Zou, Gao Tong, Magistrate Gong, Magistrate Tan, and those from the Ru Yang Marquis Mansion, at which point County Magistrate Xu would be summoned to the Capital.
Two days later, County Magistrate Zheng arrived with three stewards, several staff members, and a group of Protectors in tow.
As for his family, they stayed in Jinling, temporarily residing in a separate yard belonging to the main branch of the Zheng Family, waiting to move over after County Magistrate Xu left with his family.
"Lord Xu, it has been tough on you; I, Zheng, admire you greatly. Please accept my bow," said County Magistrate Zheng as he alighted from the mule cart, promptly paying respects to County Magistrate Xu.
County Magistrate Zheng had heard about County Magistrate Xu from the Zheng Family People, about how he dared to propose the encirclement of the river bandits and even succeeded at it, truly showing bravery and unparalleled wisdom.
Yet, he was unaware that County Magistrate Xu was simply a victim of circumstances.
Startled, County Magistrate Xu quickly went to assist County Magistrate Zheng: "What are you doing, Lord Zheng? We are of equal rank; it’s improper to offer such salutations."
County Magistrate Zheng, being from a junior branch of the Zheng Family, came from a much more distinguished background than he did, which made County Magistrate Xu feel somewhat intimidated.
However, County Magistrate Zheng smiled with deep significance, shaking his head: "My lord has been promoted; I’ll take the liberty to congratulate you in advance."
County Magistrate Xu’s eyes widened. Has it come, has it come? Has the promotion he had been awaiting for nearly a decade finally arrived?
Since County Magistrate Zheng has the support of the Zheng Family and would make such a statement, the court’s official appointment decree should be arriving soon.
Indeed, the next day, a delegation arrived at the Prefecture Government Office to announce County Magistrate Xu’s new appointment.
A promotion, and even a double promotion at that, with reassignment to the Capital, directly to a position as a Capital Official. It was truly unexpected; a single elevation that startled everyone; yet, County Magistrate Xu couldn’t feel any joy at all.
What did the appointment decree say?
It stated that he was unrivaled in courage and wisdom, possessed stratagems for cracking cases, and that he was an exceptionally rare talent, warranting his appointment as the Monk from Da Li Temple. He was to report to the Capital before March of the next year to assume his duties.
County Magistrate Xu felt like crying. Unrivaled in courage and wisdom, possessed stratagems for cracking cases, and was an exceptionally rare talent... were they speaking of him? Why didn’t he know he had such abilities?
...He was just a victim of circumstances; he thought he would be framed to death, but somehow the case was solved. The matter of encircling the river bandits really had little to do with him.
Was it still possible for him to clarify the situation with a report now?
The official who came to announce the decree was still grinning as he said, "Lord Xu, congratulations. A double promotion, directly to a position as a Capital Official, it’s an event that hasn’t happened in decades. You, my lord, have certainly caught the attention of the major players in the Capital."
County Magistrate Xu: "..."
He wished the Capital’s bigwigs would kick him out of their sight! He truly couldn’t handle the work of settling cases; it might cost him his life.