Are women really not suitable for being officials?
Jiang Yushu sat upright, with an indifferent expression, staring at the old teacher intently, thinking to herself: Next, are you going to curse me as "a hen crowing at dawn" again?
Guo Honglei had been leisurely sipping tea, watching with great interest. But when his wife was accused, he immediately put down his teacup and spoke in a deep voice, "Teacher Jing, be careful with your words!"
"No matter who is the county magistrate, anyone with any sense will never change his orders overnight unless there is a compelling reason. Just ask yourself, who would respect a county magistrate who has no authority and goes back on his word?"
Fortunately, Jing Yuanshan wasn't drunk today. He stood, frail and old, panting slightly with every breath he took. He felt both regret for his gaffe and a sense of frustration for not being able to reach his full potential. He tried to persuade her, "But Wen Xi really isn't suitable! That guy is bloated and notorious for his greed. He—"
"Oh, old man, stop it!"
Mrs. Jing was almost furious. She quickly grabbed her husband and lowered her voice, reminding him with a headache: "You are impatient again, you are impatient again. Alas, the older you get, the less polite you are! Why did we ask to see the county magistrate? We came all the way here to apologize! Lord Jiang just graciously accepted your apology, and in the blink of an eye, you are rude again! Apologize, apologize quickly!" After speaking, she trotted to the county magistrate and bowed to apologize:
"Master Jiang, I'm so sorry, so sorry. Yuanshan is old and confused, and often speaks without thinking. But he has no bad intentions, he's just impulsive and likes to nag. Alas, I've been admonishing him all my life, but he won't change! I beg you to forgive me for any offense I caused him. Please don't take it to heart."
The old woman with silver hair apologized humbly in order to help her husband.
Jiang Yushu had already stood up, raised her hand to restrain the other person, and said gently: "This matter has nothing to do with you."
Immediately, her face hardened as she walked towards the teacher, scrutinizing him. She asked sternly, "Everything requires evidence. You accuse Wen Zhubu of greed. How exactly did he commit this? How much did he embezzle? If you don't have solid evidence, you're just making irresponsible remarks and maliciously slandering the teacher. Instead, you'll be charged with false accusation and punished by the government."
"I—" Jing Yuanshan was speechless. Locked by the female official's gaze, he involuntarily took a few steps back and explained awkwardly, "I have been trying to collect evidence, but the other party is too cunning. We haven't caught him yet."
Jiang Yushu was at her ease. "'We'? Who are you?"
Jing Yuanshan snapped back to his senses, immediately stiffened his neck, and denied, "No, there's no one else, only me!"
Seeing that his wife was calm, Guo Honglei sat down, continued to drink tea, and accompanied her silently.
"It's good that you know. There's no one else like you, you old fool!" Mrs. Jing apologized repeatedly, secretly pinched her husband a few times, and whispered to him, "Apologize quickly!"
"Shh, stop pinching me, let go, stop pinching me, you're almost twisting my flesh off." Jing Yuanshan blew his beard and glared, but he just broke free, never really getting angry with his wife. Regretting his gaffe, he bowed and apologized awkwardly: "Ahem, I'm so ashamed. I was anxious just now and said something inappropriate. I offended you. Please forgive me."
Jiang Yushu sighed and said expressionlessly, "It seems that the last punishment of 'suspension for three months for reflection' was too light and it didn't teach you a lesson."
"He deserves to be punished. Yuanshan definitely deserves to be punished." Jing's wife choked up, fearing that her husband would completely offend the new magistrate. She suggested, as if to sacrifice her own family for the greater good: "Sir, please simply dismiss such an unrepentant subordinate!"
"You--" Jing Yuanshan was stunned, and Guo Honglei couldn't help laughing.
Jiang Yushu suppressed a laugh, then suddenly had an idea and threatened, "The instructor was disrespectful to the magistrate. Although he made a mistake, he won't be dismissed. But there are no rules without rules, and mistakes should be punished. Listen: From now on, if the instructor speaks disrespectfully again, the money originally intended for the construction of the county school will be diverted to other uses!"
"W-what? What's the purpose of moving?"
Jiang Yushu threatened calmly, "Building workshops, repairing city walls, cleaning rivers, etc., there is a lack of money everywhere."
Jing Yuanshan was stunned for a moment, as if he had been pinched by a needle. His beard trembled, and he asked anxiously, "When County Magistrate Huang called for donations, he clearly stated that the funds were to be used exclusively for building the school. How could they be used for other purposes?"
Jiang Yushu remained calm and composed. Instead of answering, she asked, "Then, the order for the workshop manager has already been issued. How can you ask the magistrate to change his order every day? When I refuse, you become rude. How can that be considered disrespectful?"
“This, this…”
The old teacher was speechless and at a loss for words. His face flushed, and after a moment, he bowed again, making apology. He bowed straight and said carefully, "I have been disrespectful so many times, and I am deeply ashamed. I am unworthy of being a teacher. I beg you to punish me, or even to dismiss me. I only ask that you please do not use the money donated by the gentry and wealthy merchants for other purposes."
"Tunning is such a big city, we can't be without a decent school! Now, students are crowded in the county government office to study from morning to night, making so much noise that adults can't handle official business quietly. This is not a long-term solution." Jing Yuanshan was worried. He was not afraid of punishment or losing his job, but he was afraid that the construction of the school would be delayed for a few more years.
Jiang Yushu raised her head slightly, deliberately being ambiguous, and said slowly, "The county school will definitely be built, but I've just taken office and there are so many things to do. There's not much money in the government treasury, but there are a lot of IOUs! Alas, even the best cook cannot cook without rice. Now we have to build a workshop and a school at the same time. It's so difficult, so difficult."
Jing Yuanshan was no fool. He gritted his teeth and said gruffly but earnestly, "My lord, you have worked so hard. I am incompetent and not only have I been unable to help you with your worries and difficulties, but I have also been disrespectful to you time and again. I am willing to accept any punishment! Please punish me."
Jiang Yushu thought: Forget it, who would dare to expect you to "share my worries and solve my problems"? I just hope you can stop yelling "hens crowing at dawn" in the future, and I'll be thankful!
She waved her hand generously, "Don't be afraid, old man. It's nothing serious. It's just a private chat. Although I'm a woman, I'm not narrow-minded enough to be petty."
"Thank you for your tolerance, sir." Jing Yuanshan asked nervously, full of anticipation, "I wonder, I wonder when the construction of the school will actually begin?"
Jiang Yushu frowned and replied meaningfully, "Well...it depends on both the fundraising situation and the priority of government affairs. The money should be spent where it's most important first."
Jing Yuanshan had no way to refute it, and he emphasized: "The school and Tuning cannot be without the school, and cannot be without cough, cough, cough, cough--" He got anxious, choked on the cold air, and coughed violently.
"Old man, are you okay?" Jing's wife hurriedly patted her husband on the back and said goodbye. "Alas, my master has just recovered from a serious illness and is very sensitive to the cold. I have been bothering you for a long time. I should take my leave now. I will come to pay my respects another day."
"Sir, please listen, please listen to me, I cough, cough, cough--" Jing Yuanshan coughed so hard that he couldn't straighten his back.
Jiang Yushu calmed down and looked at the two gray-haired old men. Feeling helpless, she softened her expression and said, "What's the rush? Stay and have a quick meal."
Guo Honglei also tried to persuade him to stay: "You came here in such a cold weather, you should stay a while longer."
"No, no, Yuanshan needs to go home to take his medicine. Goodbye, goodbye!" Jing's wife was tall and strong. She supported her husband, who had difficulty walking, as they walked out. "Thank you both for your hospitality and tolerance. I am very grateful."
——The old woman did not allow any resistance and forced her struggling husband to leave. At first glance, it looked like hostage-taking.
Jiang Yushu almost laughed out loud, but she tightened her face and reminded him, "The road is slippery in the snow, go slowly."
Seeing the age of the guest and Jing Yuanshan's difficulty walking, the couple politely walked him for a while.
"Please wait, please wait. I dare not trouble you two to see me off. It's cold, please go back to your room and rest." Jing's wife had been bold and capable in her youth, and even in her old age, she was still impetuous. She ordered the servants to support her husband, and she herself faced the magistrate, bowed again, apologized, and thanked him, with a trembling look on her face.
Jiang Yushu looked at the white-haired old man, and even if she was angry, she calmed down and said gently, "I'm not angry. You two can go home without worry."
After Jing's wife confirmed it again and again, she left with many thanks.
After a while
The couple walked back side by side.
Suddenly, "Pa pa pa ~" applause rang out, and Jiang Yushu turned her head and saw:
"Madam, you're becoming more and more impressive!" Guo Honglei clapped his hands in praise. "It's amazing that you have both the patience and the skills to tame a troublemaker."
Jiang Yushu immediately smiled bitterly, "I have no choice! If I don't find a way to deal with him, he will really think that the female county magistrate is a soft persimmon."
She stepped over the threshold and said distressedly, "Alas, I'm actually quite angry. The thought of 'hens crowing at dawn' makes me angry. But I'm concerned about Instructor Jing's age and frailty, and about him being an old gentleman dedicated to public service and having difficulty walking. If I punish him strictly every time, it would make me look petty. So, I can only scare him."
Guo Honglei consoled him, "If you don't have official business, don't see him. Instruct them to stop him from coming to your house in the future to avoid unnecessary anger."
“Good idea!”
As Jiang Yushu washed her hands and prepared to eat, she lamented, "I heard there was a deep rift between Mr. Jing and the previous magistrate, Lord Sun, so deep they were practically at loggerheads. However, I suspect Lord Sun never intended to stay long, cherishing his reputation. Although he disliked the magistrate, he tolerated him for three years, only deducting his salary once."
"As soon as I took office, I ordered him to suspend his duties and reflect on his actions, which caused dissatisfaction among many students."
Guo Honglei raised an eyebrow. "Helping relatives instead of justice? They study but don't understand etiquette. It's a waste of time to read the sages' books. Their dissatisfaction is not worthy of the government's attention."
"Anyway, I've already decided to hire Wen Xi. I can't change my mind just because of a suggestion from the old man!" Jiang Yushu wiped her hands quickly and said, "Let's go eat!"
Guo Honglei said, "I'll go check on Yan first to see if she's gained weight."
"She's a little fatter." Jiang Yushu put aside her worries for the moment and went to play with her daughter happily.
Before going to bed at night, the two of them usually talk about everything.
When she revealed Huang Yichun's accusation, Guo Honglei was surprised and worried, and his smile disappeared without a trace.
"Li Qigong?" His brows knitted together. "How could he be so bold?"
Jiang Yushu hesitated and replied, "I haven't seen the letter or witness Huang Yichun mentioned."
As the husband, Guo Honglei was worried, his face dark. "I've spoken with County Magistrate Huang several times. Unless he's incredibly cunning, he's probably a loyal and honest man. He dared to report this, so he must have some evidence."
"But for some reason, Huang Yichun only revealed a few words and then fell silent. This is a serious matter, and I'm very busy at the end of the year. I haven't thought it through yet, so I haven't asked him yet."
Guo Honglei stared at his wife, pondered for a moment, suddenly lifted the quilt, and quickly put on his boots.
Jiang Yushu was stunned. "Hey, what are you doing?"
"You go to sleep first, I'm going out to do something!" Guo Honglei acted decisively, wrapped himself in his outer robe and walked out.
Jiang Yushu hurriedly got off the bed, "Wait, come back! It's so late, where are you going?"
The author has something to say: I will update early today (＾－＾) V
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