Chapter 469: Visiting the County Magistrate

As Miao was helping him pick up some food, she said, "Master, I've already prepared the gift money for the county magistrate. You can just send it over in a few days."

After being reminded of this, Doctor Miao suddenly remembered that this month was the day to give gifts to the county magistrate.

In previous years, I would have set off for Anyang several days in advance, but this year I was so anxious that I forgot such an important matter.

He looked up at Miao and asked, "Madam, what gifts have you prepared?"

"Same as last year, desserts, calligraphy and paintings, ginseng, deer antler, cordyceps, and ganoderma, plus one hundred taels of silver."

"No, no, there are too many things." Miao Lang felt heartbroken. In previous years, he wouldn't have even blinked an eye at these gifts, but now he couldn't do that. No one came to visit all day long, and he couldn't make any money at all.

Miao was stunned, "Master, what do you mean?"

"Our store used to have good business, and many people came to see the doctor. If we met a wealthy client, all these expenses would be covered." Doctor Miao shook his head and sighed, "But business is not good this year, so let's forget about giving gifts to the county magistrate."

Upon hearing this, Miao shook her head and waved her hands. "No, Master, you should know that the County Magistrate is not someone we can afford to offend. He keeps a special account book. If he really finds out that we didn't send him the filial piety money this year, it won't be long before he sends people to cause trouble at our pharmacy."

Miao Lang's heart skipped a beat. There was no shop in the entire Qingshui Town that didn't give gifts to the county magistrate. To put it nicely, it was filial piety money, but to put it bluntly, it was protection money. If you really didn't give it, you couldn't even think about doing business.

Last year, He Laoba, who ran a steamed bun shop opposite Huichuntang, failed to give gifts to the county magistrate on time. As a result, a group of yamen runners threw him into jail on the pretext that someone got sick from eating buns from his steamed bun shop. He has not been released yet.

Thinking of this, he sighed helplessly, "Then give him a smaller gift. The gift remains the same, but the gift money is halved to fifty taels of silver."

"Master, the gift money must not be less."

"Why is that?" Doctor Miao was slightly stunned, obviously not understanding what Miao meant.

Miao straightened her expression and expressed her concerns. "Jishitang's business is booming. I think they will definitely have to give gifts to the county magistrate. If we are outdone by them, the county magistrate will definitely be dissatisfied with us and may even take action against us. So, we must spend what we need to spend and never save money."

Doctor Miao frowned and said, "Your analysis is correct, but this year we'll give you 100 taels. What about next year? If you listen to me, I'll give you 50 taels. I have my own plans."

"Okay, then when do you plan to go to Anyang?"

"Of course, the sooner the better. While there are fewer people around, I can also take this opportunity to communicate with the county magistrate and improve our relationship."

"You're right. Giving the gift will make me feel less worried." Miao poured a glass of water and handed it to Doctor Miao. "Master, when do you plan to leave?"

"It's better to do it now than to wait for a day. After dinner, I will rush to Anyang to give gifts to the county magistrate."

"The clinic is closed?"

"Why open the door? I'm bored all day long. Even if I open it, there will be no customers." Doctor Miao said as he picked up the bowl and took a few sips from it. Then he closed the door, took the gifts, got on the carriage and headed towards Anyang County.

Qingshui Town is not far from Anyang County, and we arrived at the county government office in less than an hour.

Although Doctor Miao comes here once a year, he always feels nervous and thinks this place is creepy.

He took a deep breath, leaned forward, and cautiously said to the gatekeeper, "Hello, sir. I would like to see Lord Qin. Please let him in."

The yamen runner looked Doctor Miao up and down with a cold gaze and said unhappily, "My master is not at home. If you have anything, please come back in a few days!"

It is easy to see the King of Hell, but hard to deal with the little ghosts.

Doctor Miao knew that the officials in the government office were a bunch of money-hungry vampires.

If I don't give him some benefits, he will show off his power as if he owes him hundreds of dollars.

As long as there is some token of appreciation, it is like meeting a real father, with a smile on the face, nodding and bowing,

He casually took out some loose change that he had prepared long ago and stuffed it into the yamen runner's hand.

"Your Excellency, I've worked so hard. Please inform the insiders that Miao Hong from Huichun Hall in Qingshui Town wishes to see you."

The yamen runner took a look at the silver in his hand and immediately changed his expression, "Oh, it turns out to be Manager Miao from Huichun Hall. You are very polite, but my master is not at home right now."

"When will Master Qin be able to come back?"

"It's hard to say. It could be as short as three to five days. If my master is pleased during the inspection, it could be as long as ten or eight days."

"What should I do?" Doctor Miao was in a dilemma and felt puzzled.

At this time of year in previous years, the county magistrate would not go anywhere and would just sit and wait for his family to collect money. But this year he actually went out for an inspection?

Could it be that he has a change of heart and has stopped accepting bribes and exploiting the people's wealth?

Impossible, the county magistrate is not an easy person to deal with.

He's a man who would squeeze the piss out of a toad and pluck all the feathers from a passing goose. How could he miss this great opportunity to make a fortune?

What should I do now? I’m already here, so I can’t take the gifts back!

Just as he was frowning, the yamen runner spoke again, "Manager Miao, although my county magistrate is not here, my wife is here. If you have any questions, you can talk to my wife."

"What? Your wife?" Doctor Miao was stunned. He knew that the county magistrate's wife had died a few years ago. How come the county magistrate's wife appeared now? Did he remarry?

This is possible. After all, for an official, marrying a wife is like buying a new piece of clothing.

The yamen runner saw his concerns and explained with a smile, "To be honest with you, Shopkeeper Miao, this new lady is my master's recently married second wife. Seeing her is like seeing my master. It will definitely work."

"That's great. I'll have to inform you, sir."

"No need to report, just follow me in."

Under the guidance of the yamen runner, he walked through the corridor and into the inner house.

Arriving at the door of a room, the yamen runner stopped and said, "Manager Miao, please wait here for a moment. I will go in and ask for instructions."

Doctor Miao clasped his hands and said, "Very well, thank you very much, sir."

Not long after, the bailiff hurried out and said, "My wife is talking to a guest. Please wait a moment. Someone will come to call you in. I won't be here with you anymore."

"Okay, sir, please do as you please."

Seeing the yamen runner turned around and left, Doctor Miao did not dare to move, and stood outside the door holding the gift box.

After waiting for a long time, no one came out, and he became anxious.

The wife of the county magistrate is so slow in doing things. She hasn't finished talking for such a long time.

Just when he was about to curse, the door suddenly opened and a man walked out...