In November of the seventeenth year of Hongwu, Wei Guogong Xu Da returned to Beijing to recuperate. The emperor went to the Duke's Mansion not only to comfort him, but also had lunch at the Duke's Mansion.
Moreover, Lao Zhu finally did not come to the Gu family this year, but went to Wei Guogong's mansion for dinner, which made it rare for Gu Chen to spend a quiet year in Yingtian.
"It seems like it's better to be an old brother."
Without Bandit Zhu coming, Gu Chen was in a good mood, but he missed his good brother and wondered when he could see him again.
In previous years, Chen Baochuan would have given New Year's greetings to his family long ago.
Why is there no movement this year?
Xinfan County.
The streets were decorated with lights and colorful decorations, and the faces of the common people were all filled with joy, but the parents and officials in the county government had sad faces.
It was obviously the big day of the New Year, but there were only three dishes on the table, a plate of tofu, a plate of fried pork slices, and a pot of cabbage soup.
If this dish were served in an ordinary person's home, it would be pretty good.
But if it were a county magistrate's house, celebrating the New Year, this would seem a bit too much.
"Mr. Cun, brother Cun, girl, let's eat."
Lin's cooking skills are indeed good, but it's hard for a clever woman to make a meal without rice.
The plate of fried pork slices on the table was something she bought on the street after selling the handkerchief she had embroidered for half a month.
"Dad, don't be sad." Chen Haicun used chopsticks to pick up a piece of meat for his father: "Prefect Zhang used the excuse of building roads and building dams to increase taxes."
"Dad, you couldn't bear the suffering of the people, so you used your own salary and private money to fill in the tax again and again. You sold the books, and Mom also sold the jewelry to make up for the extra tax."
"Although we live a poorer life, at least it has benefited the people of Xinfan County, and it has not delayed our county's tax revenue."
"If His Majesty knew about it, he would definitely praise dad for his good job as an official."
It is said that children from poor families become masters early. Chen Haicun is younger than Gu Shuning, but he is smarter and more sensible than other children of the same age.
"Good boy, just eat, you are still growing." Chen Baochuan was also helpless and sighed: "Don't worry about adults' matters."
I just don’t know if His Majesty will blame himself for not reporting the information.
Do you want to write a letter to Brother Gu and explain the situation?
But it's not easy for Brother Gu now, why should he trouble him to worry about himself again?
After dinner, Mrs. Lin walked into the study carrying a tea bowl, looked at her husband and said.
"A few years ago, Mr. Gu asked Brother Cun to study at Bailudong Academy because he wanted to marry our family, but what about you?"
"You were afraid that Magistrate Zhang would expose the case, and that you would be guilty of not reporting the incident, which would implicate Mr. Gu, so you found an excuse not to let the child go."
"The good marriage is gone." Mrs. Lin sat next to her husband, sighing for her husband's temperament and for her children.
"You used the gift from Mr. Gu this year to repay the grain loan from the next county, but we didn't even send a penny gift to Mr. Gu."
"I wonder if Mr. Gu will feel that our friendship has weakened."
"Ms. sir, it won't be a problem if this continues. You have to think of a way?"
Mrs. Lin couldn't help but wipe the tears from her eyes as she thought about today's days.
This was the first time she had heard about being a county magistrate and being in debt.
"In retrospect, when your lord came to us, our lives were still relatively easy, because the prefect often provided aid and rewards."
"Now the prefect refuses to help. He only wants money and food."
"And his appetite is getting bigger and bigger every time. There will always be a day when we can't satisfy his appetite. What we have saved over the years has already made up for the shortfall."
"That's all I want. Girl Xiwen is still young and can't even afford a nice headband. As the head of the family, you should always think about your children."
"Listen to me and write a memorial to Mr. Gu to impeach Magistrate Zhang."
Now think about it, the gift of good things in the first three years was deliberately to let these magistrates taste the benefits of money and arouse their desire for enjoyment.
Then you can make demands on them, and the magistrates are reluctant to give up their good life.
What to do?
Then we can only oppress the people!
As a result, we became people in the same boat and weaved a big greed net.
Then he turns everyone into a leech that lies on the people and sucks their blood.
The husband hasn't boarded the boat yet, but no one knows how long he can hold on.
One day, I won't be able to bear it anymore and will become like them.
Corrupt officials will not end well!
In this case, it's better to pull the trigger and expose the bad things that Magistrate Zhang did to the emperor.
In this way, everyone's life will be better.
"Head of the family, we have sold all the books. Brother Cun has not yet received a dowry for next year. When Xiwen grows up, he will also need a dowry when he gets married."
"You...can you just bear it?"
In the yard, the son was holding a branch and teaching his sister to write on the snow. The girl's cheeks and hands were red from the cold, but she still insisted on learning to write.
I am the head of a county, but I can't even provide the children with pens, inks, paper and inkstones for calligraphy.
It really is……
Chen Baochuan closed his eyes, thought for a long time, and finally compromised.
"Get a pen and paper."
If taking a step back will not lead to a brighter future, then he will have no choice but to take a step further and make decisions for the people.
This new year passed quickly, no matter how Gu Chen tried to persuade his brother and sister-in-law to stay, they just asked him to help take care of Brother Hao in his free time.
Gu Chen sent Brother Hao to school, and asked Guo Chong, who was second in Hongwu's rankings for four years and is now the sixth-ranked official, to help make up for the lessons.
Guo Chong was a pure minister who only cared about learning and never cared about the secular affairs of the court.
"Gu Guangxi, you are not bad at learning, can't you teach yourself?"
He was busy studying the Spring and Autumn Annals, and also busy discussing knowledge with the scholars who were taking the imperial examination this year. How could he have so much time?
"This gentleman can teach other people's children well, but he cannot teach his own children well. Brother Guo should understand this truth."
He is an elementary school teacher, a junior high school teacher, a high school teacher, and a college teacher.
Their own children's grades are not very good. They can teach other people's children well, but they may not be able to teach their own children well.
Gu Chen supported him and smiled politely: "I have good garlic and a noodle-making lady from Huguan."
"The noodles she pulled are called Yi Jue. Brother Guo really doesn't want to try it?"
Guo Chong was from Shanxi, so he swallowed his saliva when he heard the words.
Gu Chen continued to seduce: "I also have the balsamic vinegar from your place. Add it to the noodles, then cover it with fried pork and garlic..."
Guo Chong's eyes widened and he agreed straightforwardly.
"I'm not doing this just for a bite to eat, but because of our relationship with Brother Gu, I must help, absolutely must help..."
Jinling's noodles are also good, but not the same as their Huguan noodles.
Gu Chen didn't bother to expose him, as long as he could make up for his eldest nephew's lessons.
Not to mention the noodle-pulling lady from Huguan, he had to find a way to get even a big girl.
When Chen Baochuan's letter arrived at Yingtian, Gu Chen had already been working for half a month. The moment he opened the letter, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Guo Huan's hands are really stretched out long enough."
The Ming Dynasty had a total of two capitals and thirteen provinces, except Yunnan, which had just been pacified.
Everything else was taken over by this guy. He had only been the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue for a few months.
Moreover, behind him, the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, there is the word "test" written in brackets.
In other words, he is still in the probation period and has not yet become a regular employee.
During the probation period, he coveted food from twelve provinces. How did he do it?
Corrupt officials exist in every dynasty.
But for someone like Guo Huan, He Shen would have to accept defeat, right?
Moreover, it was still under Lao Zhu’s strict supervision.
Guo Huan, a guy who doesn't care about his life, probably doesn't believe in being an official, but that "life is precious, and corruption is worth even more", right?
Fengtian Temple.
Lao Zhu took Chen Baochuan's report letter and looked at Gu Chen and Fan Congwen. He was not surprised at all and just said something lightly.
"Go to work, we understand."
