"Sir, what do you want to do with this news?" Leng Ping poured another bowl of tea and asked quietly.
"I have always felt that nothing big can happen if I just stay in Taizhou. I have to unite with one force to find a way out for myself. Of course, I mean to pay off his debts," Chen Tongpao said.
"Then what?"
"What's the word 'then'? Build a good relationship with the Lu family first, and everything from now on will fall into place. There's no need to rush." Chen Tongpao took a sip of tea.
"I think..." Leng Ping deliberately acted as his think tank in order to win his appreciation, so he boldly suggested: "Please forgive me for saying a little more."
"Say." Tongpao Chen shook the bowl and a few tea leaves floating on top of the tea.
"The daughter of the people thinks that the marriage between you and the Lu family is over. The Lu family has no blood relationship with you, and since there are no daughters, it is naturally impossible to get married. After all, if you are not a member of the Lu family, you will have to do it. There is a layer of estrangement. Why not borrow the favor of repaying the debt and let him take you to get to know the people in the province privately and get closer to the province in order to develop?"
After hearing what she said, Chen Tongpao's eyes suddenly lit up. He seemed surprised that this poor, illiterate woman could have such an insight. It was an unexpected joy.
He remained calm and silent for a long while, then Fang responded with a smile: "Your insights are very wise."
"Thank you for the compliment, sir." Although Leng Ping acted very calmly in front of him, his heart was already surging and he was extremely excited. She held the teapot, her eyes gradually drifted away, and she secretly said with joy: "If we continue with this momentum, I'm afraid we can establish a long-term plan!" '
"Cold screen."
Zhuo Lengping was called back by his call, and he quickly smiled and said: "Please do as you please, sir!"
"It would be too imprudent for me to go to Jiangdu alone to pay off the gambling debts of the Lu family. It's better for you to accompany me and wait on me." Chen Tongpao drank all the tea, lifted up his sleeves, and got up to go.
Only Leng Ping was left standing there blankly, slowly shedding a few tears and muttering to himself: "Thank you, Mr. Chen...Thank you, Mr. Chen..."
From here on, she began to have a good impression of this cold man. The kind of firmness and stability shown by this magistrate is something ordinary people don't have. He never seems to be anxious, and his temperament is as gentle as his face... The more she thought about it, the more she became addicted to it. Of course, she didn't forget what Chen Tongpao said when he was drunk, but she felt that there was no truly hard-hearted person in the world. She was confident that she could impress him with her true feelings and that she could make him abandon her. It was just so-called 'use'. A shallow view of value'.
But Tongpao Chen on the other side had no time to think about this. He was changing clothes and facing the direction of the Yamen. At the moment, his head was filled with weighing the pros and cons, so he was too lazy to take care of his heart. He quickly put on the green magistrate's robe, put on his official hat, and stood in front of the mirror. Without any delay, he hurried outside and closed the door.
"Meixian Cheng, do you know this female prisoner?"
A man in plain clothes and white trousers wiped his nose in front of Prime Minister Meixian, then reached into his arms, copied out a scroll of images, and handed it to him.
Prime Minister Meixian put his feet on the ebony table, tilted his toes, raised his eyelids slightly, and looked at the image. The image depicted appeared to be that of a woman, with delicate eyes and nose.
"Female prisoner..." Meixian Cheng muttered, "I have never seen one."
Before the man could speak, Prime Minister Mei Xian blew at the flying insects crawling on his fingernails and complained: "You Lu family sent people to work here and there, but for such a small thing... Speaking of Lu The young master is already quite old. He has no worries about food and clothing, and is pampered. No one dares to say "no" to find a noble lady. In the end, he either takes a poor concubine or looks for a female concubine. He has nothing serious to do and wastes money. Such hospitality from me!”
"You have misunderstood us," the man said with a smile, "Master Lu heard that this criminal has arrived in Taizhou. He sent me here just to arrest him and bring him to justice. It has nothing to do with family matters."
"Oh..." Meixian Cheng suddenly became silent and his face turned a little red.
"To be honest, I have never seen this female prisoner. If you go anywhere else..."
"No, no, no," the man waved his hand hurriedly, "This girl's name is Zhuo Lengping. She is doing odd jobs in Chen Tongpao's house, but she is right next to you!"
Meixian Cheng's eyes flashed: "Is this really happening?" He said, then put his legs back, "I'll call Magistrate Chen over right now!"
"Don't tell him." The man stepped forward and held down his arm. "I'm afraid he won't let me go."
"how?"
"Our young master said that since Chen Tongpao took her in, it means that he had other agendas. He would not hand over the prisoner obediently. Instead, he would scare the snake and ruin a big thing. But it can be done wisely..."
"Your Majesty, County Magistrate Chen is here." The official outside reported.
After hearing this, the Prime Minister of Meixian County said to the man secretly: "You go and hide for a while."
The man hurriedly nodded in agreement, opened the study door, and went out from the side of the county government office.
The Prime Minister of Meixian County coughed a few times and shouted: "Please come in, Lord Magistrate!"
After a while, Tongpao Chen was led by several yamen servants to the door of the study. When he saw the Prime Minister of Mei County, he said jokingly: "You are so grand. As the magistrate of this place, I came to my yamen and also You must be notified before you can enter, Master Mei."
The Prime Minister of Meixian County had something in his mind, and when he heard Chen Tongpao talking like this, his hand trembled, and he accidentally hit the penholder on the ground.
Suddenly, his eyes exuded abnormal fear, staring closely at Chen Zhixian's face.
Chen Tongpao was stunned for a while, then smiled, bent down and picked up the pen holder as if nothing had happened, and gently put it back on the table.
"I was just joking with the county magistrate, don't take it seriously, don't take it seriously... did I scare you?"
Meixian Cheng licked his lips, his face turned earth-colored, and he hesitated: "No...it's nothing..."
"County Magistrate," Tongpao Chen specifically helped him change the subject, "You know that I don't usually talk to people in your yamen, as I find it troublesome. However, I do have important arrangements today, and I ask you to take care of them."
"What's going on?" Mei Xian Cheng's nerves were still tense.
"I'm going to Jiangdu tomorrow, which may take at least three or four days, or at most ten days. During this time, people will inevitably be needed to handle Taizhou's official affairs, so you, the county magistrate, will take care of them."
After the thrilling torment just now, the Prime Minister of Meixian County suddenly received this good news, and his heart boiled like boiling water. He didn't even have any doubts, so he grinned and said, "Master Chen, just go, I'll take care of it!"
Chen Tongpao saw that he agreed so neatly, so he took out a snow-white dagger and stuffed it into his hand: "If anyone disobeys you, just use this dagger to give orders."
"Understood!" The county magistrate was filled with joy, clutched the dagger, knelt down and kowtowed three times.
