Chapter 205: Soft and Hard
Since Zhao Xiang was going in person, everyone was still a little worried, so the headmen of Zaihu Village and Bajiao Village simply took a few students with them and went along.
"Mr. Zhao is the teacher of the children in our village. It's only natural that we accompany him!"
"That's right. We finally have a good husband. When he goes out, shouldn't we follow him and serve him?"
Seeing this, Zhao Liya thanked him and advised Zhao Xiang, "Dad, the village head and the others also mean well. If that's the case, let's all go together. We can look after each other."
Zhao Xiang thought about it, nodded in agreement, and expressed his gratitude with great emotion.
The people here are simple and honest, and he really likes this place. If he can select a few of the best people and teach them, it will be worth the trip!
Zhao Xiang asked for a meeting, but County Magistrate Yin couldn't refuse. The village head and others did not follow him in, but waited outside the yamen. Soon, they attracted many curious onlookers.
This was the first time that County Magistrate Yin met Zhao Xiang. He couldn't help but look at him secretly, feeling a little jealous.
Even though Zhao Xiang was wearing coarse clothes and had a gentle and calm expression, he still made people look up to him. This feeling made him very uncomfortable, after all, he was the county magistrate!
"Zhao—Zhao Xiang, right? What is the reason you want to see me?"
Magistrate Yin almost called him "Mr. Zhao" and felt embarrassed.
Zhao Xiang bowed and said, "Sir, I do have something important to tell you. Otherwise, I wouldn't bother you. Please allow me to report this to you."
Zhao Xiang's respectful attitude finally made County Magistrate Yin feel better. He nodded, and his tone softened a bit: "Tell me now."
Zhao Xiang then told Magistrate Yin about the officials' request for tribute, seemingly oblivious to the slight change in his expression. He sighed bitterly, "Is there some misunderstanding here? This is difficult to comply with, and we cannot do it. I've come to ask for your instructions today. If it's a misunderstanding, we'll be relieved if we can explain it. If it's not, we dare not delay the tribute, much less embarrass you. I have no choice but to write this letter, asking our old friend to be flexible."
County Magistrate Yin was extremely angry.
Mao Dexing is really getting bolder and bolder! He actually dares to act on his own!
I don't know anything about this.
If Zhao Xiang really wrote a letter and sent it out to tell me about this, what would I do? Who knows who he would send the letter to? What if I ran into someone else in the future? I would still be dreaming!
Magistrate Yin cursed Mao Dexing a hundred times in his heart, but he couldn't say in front of Zhao Xiang that he didn't know about this, otherwise he would lose face.
He was surprised and said, "Did the messenger really say that? How ridiculous! What a cunning fellow! He's talking nonsense! That's not true! Even if the imperial court were to send forced labor, they wouldn't be so absurd! However, we do need the finest Ganoderma lucidum and wild delicacies. Just go find them and hand them over to us."
The meaning is very clear. You go and look for it. If you find it, hand it over. If not, forget it.
Zhao Xiang understood that County Magistrate Yin was going down the stairs, so he had to save his own face. It was impossible for him to say in front of Zhao Xiang that nothing had happened and that it was all the subordinates' own decision.
Wouldn't that make him seem incompetent?
Zhao Xiang agreed and said, "Yes, sir. I understand. I will take my leave."
Magistrate Yin nodded.
Zhao Xiang and Hu Ling walked out of the yamen. Everyone was delighted to see that they were safe and sound and to hear that the matter had been resolved. They surrounded him and left in high spirits.
As soon as he left, County Magistrate Yin's face darkened. He sneered at the lawyer, "Am I the father and mother of this place, or someone else? Good, good, good, very good. The imperial decree has reached the village, and I'm still completely unaware of it! How can this be possible?"
The master dared not say a word and quickly apologized: "I didn't know about this matter. Please punish me, sir."
Magistrate Yin sneered, "It's no wonder you didn't know. Ha! Go, give each of the officers who delivered the message that day thirty lashes of the cane and a fine of three months' salary. Tell that bastard Mao Dexing to get out of here!"
He cannot tolerate anyone who dares to instruct his people to do things without telling them.
In fact, Mao Dexing soon found out that Zhao Xiang and others had entered the yamen. He did not take it seriously and instead mocked Zhao Xiang and others for overestimating their abilities.
Did he think he was still a high-ranking official in the imperial court, the Prince's tutor? He was an exiled criminal!
What was the point of bringing so many people to find his brother-in-law? Was he threatening him? Haha! That was fine, he was actually hoping for a threat.
Look who listens to whom nowadays.
As long as he dares to threaten, my brother-in-law will never let him go!
Mao Dexing didn't expect that instead of waiting for the news that Zhao Xiang was severely punished, he was called over by his brother-in-law and scolded.
"If you dare to use my name to use the government officials to issue a false decree next time, don't blame me for not letting you off easily!"
Mao Dexing was filled with anger, resentment, and grievance. "Brother-in-law, I have no choice. This—the Zhao family is so despicable! They fanned the flames and instigated those unruly people in Zaihu Village and Bajiao Village to cause trouble. If I don't report it to the government, they won't be afraid at all!"
Magistrate Yin sneered, "A mere Zhao family has made things so difficult for you? Don't talk nonsense to me, figure out a solution yourself!"
Mao Dexing had no choice but to retreat.
This time when he went back, he actually came up with a solution.
So, the next morning, before Zhao Liya, Hu Ling and others left the house, a matchmaker wearing flowery clothes and with a festive smile on her fat face came to their door with a smile on her face.
"Congratulations, Mr. Zhao and Mrs. Zhao! Someone has fallen for Miss Zhao. This family is from a good family, rich and powerful, of the same age as Miss Zhao, and very handsome! Their family has endless silks and satins to wear, and every meal is filled with chicken, duck, fish and meat, and there are maids and servants to serve them! If Miss Zhao marries him, even if she is a concubine, she will have nothing to worry about, and she will have endless happiness in the future! And you two will also have no worries for the rest of your lives! Oh, this is a blessing that has been cultivated for several lifetimes, and only a family like yours can afford it."
The matchmaker laughed and spoke with envy and emotion. The whole family was stunned at first, and then furious!
"What family are you talking about? A concubine?"
The matchmaker didn't think there was anything wrong and continued to smile: "There's nothing wrong with being a concubine. To put it bluntly, if the girls in Yan Village want to live a good life, don't they all become concubines of wealthy families? The one I'm talking about is the county magistrate's brother-in-law, the son of the Mao family. Listen, isn't he from a first-class family? Hahaha!"
"What!"
"How can this be possible!"
Zhao Xiang, Deng, Hu Ling and others were almost furious.
"Get out of here! Luckily you're not from the Mao family, otherwise I would break your legs!"
"Our Ya'er won't be someone's concubine? Ha, is she worthy?"
(End of this chapter)
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