Everyone in the Cao family was tied up and thrown into the carriage.
County Magistrate Shen said, "Don't worry, Suiru, the accounting officer will definitely get this money back for you."
His eyes fell on Cheng Wanwan, feeling happy for her but also slightly disappointed.
When she was just a village girl, she was unwilling to marry him.
Now that she has become an official wife of the imperial court, it is even more impossible to be with him.
He sighed inconspicuously, took out the hairpin that he had not given away before from his sleeve, and said, "This, this is my congratulatory gift to you."
The butterfly on the hairpin is lifelike, spreading its wings and ready to fly.
Cheng Wanwan had a headache. She really didn't want to keep this hairpin.
It happened to be at this time.
Shen Zheng came over with the Four Treasures of the Study given by the emperor.
He opened the box as if offering a treasure: "Dad, look, this is an inkstone, it's so beautiful, and this brush, it's more handy than the wolf brush..."
Magistrate Shen was afraid that his son would see that he was embarrassed because he could not give the gift, so he immediately hid the hairpin in his sleeve.
He picked up the inkstone, which was exquisitely carved and as shiny as jade. The wolf-hair brush had a straight barrel and an elegant body, combining hardness and softness...
These are the best things that he has never seen in all his years as an official. They must be special items for the Holy One.
"Zheng'er, you are really promising."
Magistrate Shen's hands were stroking the gift from the emperor, and his eyes were slightly hot. He didn't know if he would be able to receive this reward in his life.
Shen Zheng grinned and said with a silly smile: "Dad, you can take these back."
Magistrate Shen couldn't believe it.
This kid actually wants to give the gift given by the emperor to his father?
In the past, he always felt that his son was unfilial and had ruined the Shen family's family tradition. Only at this moment did he realize that he had misunderstood Zheng'er.
Zheng'er has a father in her heart...
"Does grandma still worship Buddha in the temple? Then dad will send someone to deliver these to the temple." Shen Zheng nodded his chin and said, "Grandma loves me the most. She is always afraid that I will make dad angry if I have no future. Now the emperor has rewarded me with the four treasures of the study. , Grandma will definitely be very happy. Dad, without further ado, go back to find Grandma! By the way, you must relay to Grandma the exact words of the edict praising me, do you understand?"
Magistrate Shen: "..."
He was careless and thought that this boy wanted to give something to him.
He waved his hand: "Okay, I know everything."
Magistrate Shen reluctantly got on the carriage.
The Shen family's carriage was in front, and the Cao family's carriage was behind, leaving Dahe Village in a mighty manner.
The rivers and fields in the countryside receded rapidly from the car window. Master Yuan looked at the scenery outside the window and said: "A village woman like Zhao Cheng can receive such a generous reward. It seems that your reward is even greater."
"Don't talk nonsense." Magistrate Shen said quietly, "What I do is what an official should do, and it is not for the sake of generous rewards from the court."
Even so, he knew in his heart that his political achievements this year would definitely be among the best, and if nothing unexpected happened when he went to Beijing to report on his duties in three years, he would definitely be promoted.
If you are lucky, you may move up a level this year.
He had been an official in Ping'an County for so many years, and his political achievements were mediocre. When people mentioned him, they only thought of him as a clean-blooded official.
In fact, it seems that he has never really done anything practical for the people.
When it was time to leave, reluctance arose in my heart.
Magistrate Shen said: "Master Yuan, think about it carefully. What can we do for the people during the slack season in autumn and winter?"
Master Yuan cupped his hands and said, "Yes, please give me a few days to draw up a charter."
Magistrate Shen did not return to Ping'an County. Instead, he sent the carriage to Hekou County and went straight to the county government office in Hekou County.
Magistrate Fu had already heard the news about the Huzhou messenger going to Dahe Village, Ping'an County to spread the imperial edict. He was like an ant on a hot pot, walking around in the county government hall, and asking people to hurry up every quarter of an hour. A trip to Ping'an County. As soon as Magistrate Shen returns home, he will go there immediately. If he doesn't ask questions in person, he will not be able to settle down.
At this moment, the Yamen servant hurried in: "Sir, County Magistrate Shen is here."
Magistrate Fu was originally eager to see Magistrate Shen, but when his subordinates said that Magistrate Shen had come in person, most of his eagerness subsided in an instant.
He snorted coldly: "You can't wait to show off in front of me. In the past, Hekou Town's tax payment was more than three times that of Ping'an County, but now Ping'an County has surpassed Hekou County only this time. What's there to show off? Forget it. It has not been easy for Lao Shen these years, but he can finally feel proud and proud, let him be proud for once."
Magistrate Fu went out to welcome him with his hands behind his back.
As soon as they walked out, they saw nearly ten people tied up and thrown to the ground in front of the county government office.
"Master Fu, these are servants of the Cao family. The Cao family is a big family in Hekou Town. If the Cao family commits trouble, it will naturally be left to Master Fu to deal with it." Magistrate Shen straightened his official hat and said coldly, "Master Yuan, tell me, they What did you commit?"
Master Yuan stepped forward: "The slaves of the Cao family pretended to be officials to arrest people and injured innocent people in the village."
The Cao family is the number one merchant on the wharf in Hekou County. Most of the boats on the river belong to the Cao family, and the Cao family accounts for most of the annual business tax in Hekou County. Therefore, paying the county magistrate is a great honor to the Cao family.
Upon hearing that the Cao family had committed a crime, Magistrate Fu's first reaction was to help cover it up.
However, before he could say these words, Magistrate Shen spoke up: "Master Fu, does he know who the Cao family hurt? It was a ninth-grade Sui Ruren who was personally conferred by the Holy Lord, a merchant slave, and he dared to hurt an official." If this matter reaches the ears of the magistrate, Sir Fu, does he know what the consequences will be?"
Master Yuan said loudly: "The ninth-grade Sui Ruren is from the Zhao Cheng family in Dahe Village, Ping'an County. Because of his ability to regenerate rice, he has traveled thousands of miles to preach edicts. What an honor is this? However, on the day of canonization, Sui Ruren was tricked by the Cao family. The slave was injured, and the official said it with his own eyes. The long knife slashed through Sui Ruren's arm, and blood gushed out like a fountain. It was shocking, and Sui Ruren fainted on the spot..."
"Uh-huh!"
Mrs. Xu sobbed loudly.
But her mouth was blocked and she couldn't say a word.
She felt that she was so wronged, even more wronged than Dou E. That Zhao Cheng had a small cut on her arm, and the wound solidified even after a drop of blood flowed. She was actually described as so terrifying by Master Yuan... The scholar opened his mouth, it was really dark. It can all be said plainly...
When the servants of the Cao family were summoned to the court for interrogation by the county magistrate, Dahe Village became lively.
Cheng Wanwan's house has a large courtyard, but now, there is no room for feet in either the inner room or the outer courtyard.
The whole village, men, women, old and young, all gathered here to watch the fun.
"Oh my God, it turns out that this is the imperial edict. My eyes have been opened."
"The imperial edict smells so good. Is it smoked with spices? Let me take a whiff."
"Let me touch it first. It looks like silk, but it is smoother than silk..."
"Everyone! Get out of my way!"
Old man Zhao roared angrily, and a group of women quickly put down the imperial edict.
"The skin is rough and the flesh is rough. Can you afford to pay for it if it gets damaged?!" Mr. Zhao carefully put the imperial edict into the lacquer plate and turned to look at Cheng Wanwan who was squeezed in the corner. "Boss, wife, this is good news. , we should also inform the ancestors of the Zhao family whether I can invite the imperial edict into the ancestral hall..."
Cheng Wanwan smiled and said: "This imperial edict rewards Dahe Village with three thousand acres of land. Naturally, we should invite him to the ancestral hall to make all the ancestors happy."
Li Zheng and Old Man Zhao protected the imperial edict and led a group of old men in the village towards the ancestral hall.
The women who stayed behind continued to observe the gifts given by the emperor.
"This is a children's uniform. It's really beautiful. I don't know what kind of fabric it is made of. It looks very valuable."
"Look at this hat. It's made of gold, silver, and jade. It's so heavy. Does it hurt your neck while wearing it?"
"This is not a hat. I heard from the imperial edict that this is called a hat for children. Dashan Niang, put it on and let us see it and open your eyes."
Old Mrs. Zhao coughed and said: "I don't know if this children's uniform and children's crown fit. Boss, wife, you go in and try it on first. If anything doesn't fit, you have to change it quickly. If you have to wear it for work in the future, it's too late to change it temporarily. …”
Actually, she wanted to see what the boy's clothes looked like on him.
She has lived for sixty years, and has never seen these things, nor experienced such battles, so she just wants to... open her eyes.
The other people in the village nodded and watched eagerly.
