Zheng Ruqian, carrying Pang Dashan, went from knocking on the door to entering in just a dozen or so breaths.
So fast that even they themselves were momentarily confused, thinking they were the nephews of the magistrate of Yunshui County.
Until he saw Magistrate Pang in plain clothes in the backyard.
His first question was, "You two, were you bullied again?"
Zheng Ruqian's nose suddenly felt sore.
This kind-hearted magistrate ordered the door to be opened so quickly because he was afraid they would be bullied again.
"In reply to your question, sir, it is this humble subject who, to express my gratitude for your rescue, has specially prepared local specialties from Xiyang County. I hope you will accept them with a smile." Zheng Ruqian bowed respectfully, concealing his red eyes, and presented several packets of candied fruit.
Magistrate Pang breathed a sigh of relief, stroked his mustache, and shook his head with a smile, "No need for the items, you can keep them for yourselves."
“Sir, these are just local specialties, not worth much.” Zheng Ruqian refused to retract his hand. “This is a token of our gratitude from my siblings and me. Please accept it.”
Magistrate Pang's hand, which was stroking his beard, paused in mid-air. He sighed and waved to the old servant.
The old servant of the Pang family stepped forward with a beaming smile and took the local specialty from Zheng Ruqian's hands.
Over the years, the county magistrate has been honest and upright, devoting himself to the people, yet he has never taken a single needle or thread from them.
If I hadn't had something to say to Zheng Ruqian today, I probably wouldn't have accepted this local specialty.
Sure enough, the old servant had just sent off the local specialties.
Magistrate Pang then carefully spoke, "I heard that you've been collecting vegetables in Yunshui County all this time."
Zheng Ruqian was flattered that the magistrate of a county would pay attention to such matters. "It's because... the people of Xiyang County dare not sell their vegetables to me."
What a fine "dare not"!
Magistrate Pang put his hands behind his back and said, “Yunshui County is a good place with abundant produce and a suitable climate. The villages and towns in the south can still harvest vegetables at the end of the year. It’s just a pity that the Da Yu Dynasty has a vast territory, and every household is used to staying in their small area, so much of the produce ends up being thrown away to feed chickens and ducks, which is a real waste.”
“When I was young, I thought, if I had a few horse-drawn carriages, could I transport these vegetables to another place to sell them and benefit both sides?”
"Unfortunately, I later became a county magistrate and was too busy to keep up with the work, so I had to put my idea aside."
"Young man, you have done what I wanted to do most when I was young. From now on, Yunshui County will always welcome you with open doors."
After delivering his powerful speech, Zheng Ruqian remained stunned for a long time.
Only when Magistrate Pang patted his shoulder did he clasp his hands in a resounding fist salute, “Rest assured, my lord, Ruqian will definitely see this matter through to the end. One day, we will be able to ensure that meat and vegetables can circulate throughout the entire Dayu Dynasty, so that the people of the south can also enjoy the vegetables of the north!”
The Dayu Dynasty did have traveling caravans, but they only sold gold, silver, silk, and delicacies; no one paid any attention to meat and vegetables that cost only a few coins per pound.
But it was precisely this that gave Zheng Ruqian an opportunity. He was willing to buy vegetables and meat, and to be the transporter between the two cities, to earn money that others disdained to do.
Magistrate Pang was surprised by the young man's ambition and couldn't help but pat him on the shoulder again.
Zheng Ruqian's arm trembled as he slapped the ground, and he withdrew his hand, saying three times, "Good, good, good."
Magistrate Pang was delighted and laughed heartily.
Zheng Ruqian opened his mouth several times, wanting to confess about exposing the tiger's skin incident, but he swallowed it back down.
Just before leaving, he finally couldn't hold back and knelt down on the ground with a thud.
Magistrate Pang was taken aback.
“My lord, we were threatened by the wife of the magistrate of Xiyang County. In order to protect ourselves, we had no choice but to lie and say that we were close to your nephew. Ruqian knows that this is wrong, so we have come to ask you to punish us.”
Zheng Ruqian lowered his head and honestly explained what had happened.
Finally, pointing to Pang Dashan, he said, "This is the nephew we fabricated."
Magistrate Pang stroked his beard.
To be honest, Pang Dashan was born with regular features, was tall and strong, and was not ugly.
Wearing a fine cloth robe and new cotton shoes, he also had a rather dignified demeanor.
Most importantly, they only used this as a means of self-preservation; they were neither acting tyrannically nor harming the local community.
Zheng Ruqian's kneeling startled Magistrate Pang, who thought the two boys had done something outrageous.
"Alright, I'll accept this nephew." Magistrate Pang glanced at Pang Dashan. "You can all go about your business as you see fit. As long as you don't harm the people, I'll let it slide for now."
This is a true, good official who serves the country and its people.
If Xiyang County had such virtuous officials, how could they have forced them to this point?
With tears in his eyes, Zheng Ruqian pulled Pang Dashan along and solemnly kowtowed three times to Magistrate Pang.
Magistrate Pang didn't try to avoid it and accepted it openly and honestly.
Finally, he helped the two children up and escorted them to the door.
"Good boy, come again when you have time."
To the two yamen runners of Xiyang County, this farewell was like an uncle saying goodbye to his nephew.
They were horrified and dared not linger. They rushed back to Xieyang County and reported the whole story.
"This shouldn't be happening, this shouldn't be happening," the magistrate of Xiyang County murmured.
He acted quickly, uncovering Pang Dashan's ten-year history of begging in Xieyang County right after the Lantern Festival. He initially thought it was just a bunch of kids using someone else's name to make a big fuss, but it turned out to be true.
Even if it's not true, Magistrate Pang is still supporting these beggars.
This is a difficult situation.
The magistrate of Xieyang County and the magistrate of Pang County were of the same rank. If they were to really fight, they would at most end up losing to each other.
Moreover, Gao Hu was reckless first, and if it really came down to a head-on confrontation, the magistrate of Xieyang County would probably be no match for the magistrate of Pang County.
"What can we do? What can we do?" The magistrate's wife cried behind the screen. "My lord, I only have one brother. I can't just watch him be imprisoned for seven years. He still has to carry on the Gao family line!"
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