Chapter 2961 What a coincidence
Bai Shan sighed. If Governor Guo hadn't caused him trouble, he would actually have had a lot of free time, because all the county magistrates and county lieutenants under his command would have been put to use.
Unlike other counties where the positions of county magistrate and county lieutenant were abolished and power was delegated to the chief clerk except for the county magistrate, Bai Shan basically handed over county affairs to the county magistrate and public security to county lieutenant Dong.
Therefore, County Magistrate Fang and County Lieutenant Dong now both have real power, and their power is considerable.
It is also because of this that County Magistrate Fang and County Lieutenant Dong are very concerned about Bai Shan and the affairs of the county government.
At the prime of life, who doesn’t want to build a career?
Not to mention County Lieutenant Dong who had always been neglected, even County Magistrate Fang was very happy to have Bai Shan as his boss.
He was grateful for County Magistrate Lu's recognition, but he had to admit that even if he was County Magistrate Lu's confidant, County Magistrate Lu could not hand over so many county affairs to him and then go to the countryside every few days instead of being in the county government office.
Feelings are forged through time, and people's hearts can become biased. County Magistrate Fang's heart was a little biased at this moment. He couldn't help but consult with County Lieutenant Dong, "Do you think we should ask County Magistrate Lu for help? It's not a good thing for County Magistrate Bai to stay out all the time. The Song family has sent people to guard the county government office, and someone from Qingzhou City comes every other day to inquire about him. I don't think the county magistrate can hide for much longer. If he doesn't come back, I'm afraid Qingzhou City will send people directly to the countryside to look for him."
It would be embarrassing if County Magistrate Bai was invited back like that.
County Magistrate Dong: "This is against Governor Guo. Can County Magistrate Lu help?"
County Magistrate Fang was also unsure and could only say, "Let's try?"
County Magistrate Dong encouraged him, "You are familiar with County Magistrate Lu, go and give it a try."
County Magistrate Fang: ...
He scratched his head, and finally sighed and said, "I'll find an excuse to go to Qingzhou City tomorrow."
County Magistrate Dong thought for a moment and said, "Didn't County Magistrate Bai say that he would be recruiting laborers to repair roads and water conservancy projects in June this year? Why don't we take the official documents to Qingzhou City for approval?"
As long as this kind of service does not involve large-scale transfers or takes up farming time, there is basically no need to report to the Governor's Office, and the county itself can make the decision. However, there is nothing wrong with reporting it, as it appears closer. The most important thing is that they now need a reason to go to the Governor's Office.
County Magistrate Dong thought his idea was good, so he looked at County Magistrate Fang, waiting for praise.
County Magistrate Fang glanced at him and said, "Tomorrow is a day off. Can't I take my wife and children to Qingzhou City to buy some cloth and utensils? Why does something like military service have to go through the Governor's Office? What if he and County Magistrate Bai get angry and things get stuck? Will we still be recruiting conscription this year?"
County Magistrate Dong: ...That makes sense. He just didn’t think about it enough.
As expected, County Magistrate Fang took his family to Qingzhou City the next day. At this time, Governor Guo, who was extremely annoyed, was also thinking about whether to go to Beihai County.
He glanced at the coral tree on the antique display shelf, walked over and touched it. It was as lustrous as jade, and it was indeed a rare coral tree.
Since you have taken advantage of others, you have to help them eliminate disasters, otherwise you must return this thing.
Governor Guo was reluctant to do so.
After thinking for a moment, he called his servants and ordered, "Tell them to prepare the carriages and horses. Let's go to Beihai County."
"When will the Master depart?"
Governor Guo said, "It's too late today, let's do it tomorrow."
After thinking it over, he still didn't want to make his relationship with Bai Shan too awkward, so he said, "Send someone to Beihai County to tell them that I will be inspecting the county tomorrow and ask them to have the county magistrate wait at the county government office."
The servant agreed and sent someone to Beihai County to notify them.
The document was given to County Lieutenant Dong, who then handed it to Zhou Man. He said anxiously, "Sir Zhou, Governor Guo is here in person. Should we call back Sir Bai?"
Zhou Man put away the documents and asked, "Do you know where your Lord Bai is?"
"It's in Dajiawa, not far from the county town." So if we go to notify Bai Shan now, he can still come back in the dark, or he can rush back early the next morning.
Zhou Man glanced up at him and said, "No, you don't know."
"Ah?" County Magistrate Dong looked at her in confusion.
Zhou Man said, "I'm saying you don't know where County Magistrate Bai is. I don't know either. He's gone to the countryside. Beihai County is so large, and there are many remote and impoverished areas within it. Who knows where he and his men have gone? We've searched several important places, but can't find him. County affairs are managed by you and County Magistrate Fang. You should entertain Governor Guo first."
County Magistrate Dong understood, "...Sir Zhou, tomorrow is a day off. County Magistrate Fang has gone to Qingzhou City."
Does he have to face Governor Guo alone?
He can't do it.
Seeing that his forehead was beginning to sweat, Zhou Man didn't make things difficult for him and said, "Forget it, we will go to the medical department to entertain him."
Zhou Man thought for a moment and said, "It just so happens that the medical office in Beihai County is now up and running. In the past few days, people from several villages have been coming to see a doctor, and there are quite a few patients. It's a good opportunity for Governor Guo to see the results. It's time to set up the medical office in Qingzhou City..."
All of these require money.
County Captain Dong also understood Zhou Man's hidden meaning and remained silent for a long time.
So was it a blessing or a curse that Governor Guo came here?
The next day, Zhou Man took out his crimson official robe and put it on, then sat in the county government office with a palm-leaf fan, waiting for Governor Guo to come in.
County Magistrate Dong walked back and forth in the yard, stretching his neck to look outside from time to time. Knowing that the governor was coming, the other officials and yamen runners were also wandering around the yard a little nervously.
Zhou Man felt the lobby was still a bit hot, so he moved from his chair to sit in the corridor, enjoying the occasional breeze while fanning himself with a palm-leaf fan. Seeing how nervous they were, he couldn't help but ask, "I say, today is a day off, aren't you guys taking a day off?"
Even Chief Clerk Song hadn't gone home, and for the first time ever, he came to the county office to work overtime. He smiled and said, "Master Zhou, we have never met an official as high-ranking as Governor Guo. We are nervous and curious for a moment, and I apologize for making you laugh."
Zhou Man pointed at his official robe with a palm-leaf fan and said, "Look here, look here! What do you mean you've never seen such a high-ranking official before? Am I not sitting right here?"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the yard turned to look at Zhou Man.
She was wearing a crimson official robe and an official hat. Her lips were red, her teeth were white, and her face was fair and tender. Because the official robe was a round-necked, long robe for men, it was impossible to tell whether she was a man or a woman when she wore it...
Zhou Man raised his eyelids and glanced at them lightly, then asked, "Does it look good?"
Everyone woke up with a start and immediately turned their heads away, not daring to look anymore.
Zhou Man snorted and said, "Isn't it just a fourth-rank official? Why are you making such a fuss? This fourth-rank official of mine is even a Beijing official."
It seems to be true now. In terms of nobility, Zhou Man seems to be higher than Governor Guo, but they are just in different departments.
Everyone looked at each other and seemed to be less nervous.
Zhou Man fanned himself with a palm-leaf fan, looked up at the sun, and sighed, "Tomorrow is June, and it's really too hot."
Everyone nodded in unison. It was very hot, very hot.
(End of this chapter)
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