Zhang Hao went to the banquet, carrying a jar of wine.
The banquet was placed on the patio, with clear moonlight and sparse stars.
Zhang Hao exchanged a few words with Gu Zhengchen. After sitting down and looking at a table of quite sumptuous food and wine, he couldn't help but frown slightly: "Gu Zhifu comes from Jinling. You should know that your Majesty advocates simplicity and does not see big fish and meat. Now there are fish and duck on the table. Aren’t you afraid that if someone with an intention sees it, they will say that the prefect is preying on the common people for his own selfish purposes?”
Gu Zhengchen disagreed and stood up to pour wine for Zhang Hao: "Before I came here, the officials paid me a fare of fifty thousand dollars. I can still afford this little meat. If anyone wants to use this to impeach, let them talk. As long as Gu doesn't take advantage of the people, he will be able to speak of His Majesty."
Zhang Hao looked at Gu Zhengchen with admiration: "So, this wine is drinkable."
Gu Zhengchen put down the wine pot and looked at the half-moon in the sky: "The Double Ninth Festival has just passed, so we shouldn't hold a banquet to disturb us. It's just that Magistrate Zhang seems to be in a hurry to leave here. Is there really no chance of Magistrate Zhang staying in this Quanzhou Prefecture?"
Zhang Hao picked up the wine glass with both hands and looked at Gu Zhengchen seriously: "I love the people and businesses of Quanzhou, the sea and the river, but I'm just not accustomed to the climate. If I stay here, I'm afraid I'll die here without getting sick, or I'll encounter some monsters and go crazy. I'm old. , it’s time to go back and take care of yourself, let’s leave this place to Magistrate Gu to display his ambitions.”
The words were tactful, but Gu Zhengchen sensed a crisis.
What's wrong with getting old is to take care of yourself.
Except for those who are too old to have any energy, have no hope of official career, and are disappointed in the court, there are a few officials who are obedient to their elders. They all wish they could live a long life, be among the elders of several dynasties, and hold on to the seal of power until they die. Let go.
Zhang Hao was not yet fifty, and there were many people in the court who were older than him.
Mainly due to acclimatization and monsters!
Gu Zhengchen clinked glasses with Zhang Hao and looked at Zhang Hao who was quite happy after finishing the drink. He said with a smile: "It seems that it's not that I am not accustomed to the climate, but that there are too many monsters and monsters here. Before leaving, can Magistrate Zhang tell me that there are many monsters and ghosts in the place?" Where are they all?”
Zhang Hao lamented, looked at the magistrate's house, and shook his head: "Ghosts can break into the house through the wall, and they can be found anywhere. For the sake of this drink, Zhang will say one more word."
"Please say."
Gu Zhengchen listened respectfully.
Zhang Hao picked up the chopsticks and crushed the tofu bit by bit, then dropped the chopsticks and stared at the puddle of tofu residue: "This is the Quanzhou government."
"They're all scum?"
Gu Zhengchen looked at Zhang Hao.
Zhang Hao almost jumped up. He didn't mean to curse, but - in fact, it looked similar.
Gu Zhengchen picked up his chopsticks and tapped it: "There is only one complete piece. It's a pity that the tofu is so white."
Zhang Hao laughed and said: "There are complete ones, but they are not on the table. Maybe they are in the garbage under the table. In short, those tofu cannot be put on the table."
Gu Zhengchen understood.
The innocent people were speechless and ostracized.
Those who can speak up and take charge are all at the table.
The two chatted for a while, and Zhang Hao stood up and said goodbye: "Zhang is not a good prefect, and there is nothing he can do. I hope Prefect Gu can find a way to survive for the people here."
Gu Zhengchen sent Zhang Hao out of the office and looked up at the night sky, feeling sad.
According to Zhang Hao, the entire Quanzhou Prefecture is probably lazy, just like a patient with sores and pustules all over his body, and as a doctor, no matter where he starts, pus will splash on his body.
The overt and covert fighting finally began.
What makes Wu Kang, Qin Xin, Tang Xian and others strange is that Gu Zhengchen has not done anything since he took charge of the government office. He has disappeared from his original imposing manner. He only takes over the government office step by step all day long, checking the money and food. Quantity, counting warehouse.
For three days, Gu Zhengchen finally took stock and took over the government affairs. Zhang Hao only left a letter to Gu Zhengchen, and then left Quanzhou Mansion with his wife without saying goodbye.
Another seven days passed, and Gu Zhengchen still just stayed in the government office, neither releasing the charges, nor overturning the case, nor punishing anyone. Although sometimes Magistrate Gu would stay at the Magistrate's house and not see anyone for half a day or even a whole day, he would always treat everyone with kindness whenever he showed up.
Upon seeing this, the officials and servants in the government office relaxed.
Obviously, the new prefect is no different from Zhang Hao who left. He doesn't care about things and just throws his hands away.
After the handover, jailer Huang Kexiumu walked out of the government office, bought more than twenty kilograms of rice on the street, carried it out of Jinjiang City, exited the south gate of the town, and walked for nearly two miles before arriving. Xihou Village.
The fenced yard was half open, and a black and gray hen was crowing. It was obvious that another egg had been laid.
"Daddy!"
When a five or six-year-old girl dressed in gray linen saw the visitor, she quickly ran over, hugged Huang Ke's thigh, and shouted into the room: "Grandma, daddy is back."
Huang Ke put the rice bag on the ground, stroked the girl's head, and said with a smile: "Xiaoyu, when dad was away, did you listen to grandma and your mother? Did you go out to climb trees or catch fish?"
Xiaoyu raised her head, stretched out her hands, and when Huang Ke picked her up, she said: "Xiaoyu didn't go out. Grandma said that climbing trees is for boys. She also said that there are water monsters in the river. If you get close, there will be disaster. Mazu is Sacrificed to save people trapped by water monsters."
Huang Ke laughed loudly: "Yes, for Mazu's sake, Xiaoyu can't go into the water."
A woman who was nearly fifty years old came out of the room. Seeing Huang Ke coming back with food, she complained: "If you don't come back, this family will probably starve to death."
Huang Ke picked up the rice bag and said, "Mom, something happened in the government office and it was delayed for a few days."
Mrs. Zhang took the rice bag and weighed it: "Eat sparingly, you can eat it for half a month. But yesterday Shu Niang borrowed five kilograms of rice from your second uncle's house. You will pay it back in person later."
Huang Ke nodded in agreement and asked, "Where is Mrs. Shu?"
Mrs. Zhang sighed: "If you don't come back, Shu Niang will not have to go to Xiqian Village to see the family. The family is suffering very hard. How can a woman live with half a leg and two children to take care of?" Gotta go down.”
Huang Ke was a little sad and said to Zhang: "There is a new prefect in Quanzhou, and he is a young man in his early twenties."
Mrs. Zhang glared at Huang Ke and her tone became stern: "Don't bother me with anything. So what if Magistrate Zhang came here? He couldn't do anything and left in despair. So did the court. , sending an inexperienced boy as the prefect, the people just want to live a good life, why is it so difficult."
Huang Ke nodded heavily and assured: "Don't worry, mother, I won't be able to do anything without someone like Bao Zheng coming to Quanzhou."
Mrs. Zhang walked to the kitchen with satisfaction and shouted: "Mom, I just want our family to survive. It doesn't matter if you are hungry. Since you have taken a break from bathing, go and chop some firewood. Niang Shu is weak and pregnant. She has such strength." You still need to do the work."
Huang Ke agreed, put his daughter Xiaoyu down, walked to the firewood pile, spit into his hands, grabbed the axe, placed a piece of wood on the stake, raised the axe and chopped it down!
boom!
The ax was embedded in the wood. Huang Ke stepped on the wood, pulled out the ax, and raised the ax again. He suddenly heard a movement, looked up, and saw Shu Niang appearing at the door, smiling: "I'm finally back. "
When Shu Niang saw Huang Ke coming, she looked a little angry with a straight face, as if she felt something was wrong, and shouted to the people in the alley: "Aren't you collecting eggs? Come on, this is it."
Huang Ke was stunned for a moment and said quickly: "The eggs are reserved for you, your children and your mother, how can you sell them, not to mention you are pregnant."
There are always old hens in the house, and the children are so greedy for these eggs that they shed tears.
Shu Niang rolled her eyes at Huang Ke and said quickly: "I can't afford to eat anymore. How can I survive by keeping the eggs? Use it to exchange for some money. You can buy more rice, and you don't have to pay for it on credit."
Huang Ke lowered his head, holding the ax tightly and feeling sad.
For those who work in the government office, 80% to 90% of their families have moved into the city. There are not many people like me who have been working in the government office for two years and are still penniless.
I never complained about myself, and my wife never said a word of blame even though she was pregnant and went to get rice on credit.
As long as you lower your head and reach out, this family will be much better off, at least you won't have to worry about food and drink.
But, in this way, I am no different from them!
"I'll get you eggs, and you can sit in the yard."
Shu Niang greeted and asked Huang Ke to chat with her.
Huang Ke lowered his head and responded. After the person entered the yard, he collected his emotions and raised his head. When he saw the person, he was stunned on the spot. The ax in his hand let go and fell on the wooden pile with a dull sound.
"Gu, Gu..."
Huang Ke was so nervous that he couldn't speak.
Gu Zhengchen glanced at Huang Ke and looked around the yard. He saw that the little girl was hiding in the room because she was afraid of strangers, but she still looked at him with her head exposed. He couldn't help but smile and said: "I'm just here to buy eggs. The rest is just There’s no need to tell them.”
Huang Ke raised his sleeves and wiped the cold sweat. He looked around uneasily and saw that his mother was cooking and his wife and children were in the room. He walked to Gu Zhengchen and whispered, "Prefect Gu is not buying eggs, right?" ?”
Gu Zhengchen took the small stool next to him and sat down: "This is your home, and I'm a little surprised. It seems that there is something that has always been unknown, and it is very likely that I will make a breakthrough here."
Huang Ke didn't know why, gritted his teeth and said, "I don't know anything."
"I didn't ask anything."
"Even if you ask me, this is my answer."
Gu Zhengchen looked at Huang Ke, who had a determined look on his face, and chuckled: "If I'm asking about Xiqian Village affairs, do you still know nothing?"
Huang Ke's expression suddenly changed.
Thinking of Shu Niang going to Xiqian Village to deliver food, Gu Zhengchen mentioned Xiqian Village. Obviously, Gu Zhengchen came from Xiqian Village. In other words, he probably went to Hu Benmo's home!
Gu Zhengchen straightened his clothes and said softly: "I heard from the old man in Xiqian Village that Hu Benmo has a good friend named Huang He who lives in Xihou Village. I asked along the way and found that there is no one named Huang He in this village. Now think about it, if a fight is added to Heli, wouldn't it become a branch? Huang Branch, who are you fighting, or who do you want to defeat?"
