Pingchuan County Government
Two months into his term, Zhang Zheng was filled with worry. Before him lay a mountain of files, all of which were reports from refugees from various places about bandit activity and urgent requests for food.
The previous magistrate of Pingchuan County kept the city gates closed when King Zhou raised his army, attempting to resist and fight back. However, ten days later, he secretly fled the city under the cover of darkness.
When the county magistrate and other officials discovered that the magistrate had fled with gold, silver, valuables, and his family, they immediately divided up the official granaries and fled as well, causing chaos in the city.
The original garrison fled and looted villages and towns, becoming bandits. Refugees poured into the city to steal. The new army entered the city and brought the situation under control, but only managed to control the chaos.
Now Zhang Zheng is facing the county government office, which looks as if it has been washed clean.
His first announcement was about displaced people returning to their hometowns to resume farming, but after spreading the word, it didn't have much effect.
In short: food and medicine were scarce, and the displaced people were in a state of unrest.
Lanzhi, the maid who had served him closely for many years, brought over hot tea: "Master, you went to bed late last night and got up at dawn today. It's already noon now. Why don't you eat something and rest for a while?"
"Master has been spending these days without eating or drinking, just reading through case files, and he can't even get paid. If something happens to his health, Madam will worry again!"
Zhang Zheng put down the file, rubbed his aching lower back, and slowly moved his knees until he stood up with a click: "Alas, time is running out! As long as you don't tell her what happened here, how will Madam know?"
He is now nearly sixty years old and was a fifth-rank magistrate before coming to Ba County.
Because he couldn't stand the scoundrels in the court exploiting the people, he submitted a memorial impeaching them, and as a result, he was demoted to a commoner.
Now that I have been invited by King Zhou to serve as the magistrate of Pingchuan County, I also want to do my part for the common people.
Although his willpower remains undiminished, he has reached an advanced age.
After days of running around, he immediately had to reorganize the general affairs, gather the six shifts of the yamen, and look at the annual case files. Even his usually strong physique couldn't keep up.
There was nothing I could do but follow Lanzhi's instructions and go back to my room to rest for an hour.
Just as Zhang Zheng lay down, the clerk who had come with him came over to report: "Master, Zhang Xing, the head of the medical shed in Xujia Village, Lihua Town, brought a woman with him to report something. She said she found a fruit that could relieve the food shortage."
"What?" Zhang Zheng was a little confused.
"Master, we have found a way to alleviate the food shortage!" the clerk said again.
"Quick, Lanzhi, bring the clothes!" Zhang Zheng instantly woke up, quickly sat up, and urged him repeatedly.
Lanzhi felt a pang of pity: "Master, you've only just lain down..."
"Sigh! You can sleep anytime, and never wake up again after a hundred years! Hurry up!"
Zhang Zheng was about to get out of bed wearing only a thin undergarment, so Lanzhi had no choice but to fetch his official robes for him to wear.
In the reception hall of the county government office, Jiang Zhi and Zhang Juntou were waiting.
Xiang Dejin, Wu Hongmao, and two soldiers stood upright to the side, while Xiaoman and Xu Errui looked around, gesturing at the surrounding flowers, trees, and corridors.
From the moment they entered the city, seeing the colorful shop signs and rows of shops, the two of them instantly transformed into mice that had fallen into a rice jar, looking around and chattering incessantly.
Upon entering the county government office, they were amazed to see the imposing eight-character gate, the solemn main hall and second hall, and the red and black water and fire sticks. They kept whispering among themselves.
When Jiang Zhi heard the two of them start commenting on the painting of blue sky, green sea, red sun and auspicious clouds on the wall next to them, she turned around and glared at them.
The two fell silent instantly and then behaved themselves.
Not long after, the dry-stiff clerk came over and invited, "Squad Leader Zhang, Sister-in-law Jiang, this way please."
Xiang Dejin and Xu Errui stayed behind, and servants brought them tea. Jiang Zhi and Zhang Juntou went to Magistrate Zhang Zheng's study.
Jiang Zhi was slightly surprised when she saw the magistrate. It wasn't because the magistrate's head and ears didn't emit purple smoke, or because he was quite old, but because the magistrate was really tall, a full 1.9 meters, which was very rare in Ba County.
Without exchanging pleasantries with the two men, Zhang Zheng went straight to the point: "Squad Leader Zhang, I heard you found a way to alleviate disaster, is that true?"
Zhang Juntou said, "Yes, the medical shed where I work has produced a fruit that can be used to satisfy hunger with just a little processing."
"Oh, how exactly? Tell me in detail!" Zhang Zheng became interested.
So Jiang Zhi opened the bundle she had brought, and the yamen runner serving beside her took it and handed it to Zhang Zheng.
As Zhang Zheng looked at the fruit, Jiang Zhi explained, "This is oak fruit, which is a fruit that looks like an acorn. The difference is that acorns don't have a bitter taste, while oak fruit is slightly poisonous and tastes bitter. It needs to be detoxified before it can be ground into powder and used to make porridge or pancakes."
Zhang Zheng dipped his finger in the mixture and tasted it on his tongue. He then looked up at the bailiff and said, "Tell the kitchen staff to make a bowl of this dish according to this lady's method."
After the constables left, Zhang Zheng began to question the two men about how they discovered that oak seeds were edible: "Although this substance is similar to acorns, it is slightly poisonous, and most people are afraid of it. So how did you come up with the idea of soaking and steaming it to neutralize the poison?"
Zhang Jun turned to look at Jiang Zhi, who calmly said, "I have known about herbs since I was a child, and I know that all medicines have some toxicity. I have my own way of neutralizing it."
In the past, when my family was short of food, they would occasionally cook a few meals. This time, after the disaster, seeing the hillsides covered in oak trees, I thought of donating this method to give some food to the starving refugees.
This was a story she had already come up with. She had also told Xu Errui and Qiaoyun that if anyone asked, they should say it was a secret recipe from her maternal grandmother's family.
In fact, Jiang Zhi didn't know where the original owner's maternal family was. According to Xu Errui, his maternal grandmother's family was in the mountains, but he had never had any contact with them when he was a child.
Zhang Zheng didn't ask her about her family background, only frowning slightly: "You said you understand herbs and live in the clinic in Xu Family Village?"
Jiang Zhi nodded: "Yes, we lived in Xujia Village before the chaos of war. But when the bandits burned the village, we had already taken refuge in the mountains. Now that Chief Zhang has set up a medical shed, the surrounding area is a bit more peaceful, so we came down the mountain to move around."
Magistrate Zhang pondered for a moment and said, "Some time ago, when I passed through Xu Family Village, a young man mentioned that the herb Loach String could cure abdominal pain. Do you recognize it?"
Jiang Zhi was immediately astonished. She realized that the outsider Er Rui had mentioned was the county magistrate. She stood up in surprise and exclaimed, "So the person who gave my son the earring that day was the county magistrate! He even said it was given to him by a sister!"
"My lord, my foolish son only knows a little about herbs and is ignorant of etiquette. If he has done anything wrong, please forgive him."
There's a reason she's so nervous.
It is said in the world: the Way should not be easily passed on, the Dharma should not be sold cheaply, a teacher should not be found on a busy road, and a doctor should not be knocked on the door.
In ancient times, it would have been taboo for Errui to ask others about taking medicine; in modern times... it's even more inappropriate to give food to others casually.
"Hahaha!" Zhang Zheng laughed heartily, a rare occurrence for him. "If Lanzhi knew someone was calling her 'sister,' she would definitely be happy! Don't worry, I also know a little about traditional Chinese medicine, and I know your son is right. Did he come with us today?"
When Jiang Zhi heard that Magistrate Zhang was skilled in medicine, she immediately felt relieved: Thank goodness, she wouldn't be extorted or have a complaint filed with the medical department.
Sigh, I've really developed a psychological trauma from living in the modern world!
Feeling relieved, when asked about Errui, she quickly replied, "I was afraid that those monkeys would hurt the magistrate's eyes, so I had them wait for me in the main house over there."
Zhang Zhengjian saw that although her language was vulgar, she was very straightforward, so he didn't take it to heart. He got up and walked out, saying, "Come on, let's go and try the taste of Qinggang powder, and also see your son."
Seeing the two men chatting so animatedly, leaving him out in the cold, and now that they were about to talk to Xu Errui, Zhang Juntou hurriedly asked, "Magistrate Zhang, have you checked the sixteen heads of bandits that I sent over the other day?"
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Zhang, who had been all smiles, immediately changed his expression, paused in his steps, and said in a deep voice, "Chief Zhang, do you know your crime?"
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