Encouraging Jiang Zhi, Magistrate Zhang addressed Xia Xiucai, who was standing beside Jiang Zhi, in a deep voice: "Those who study serve the court above and the common people below; what they need is an unwavering will."
You've only failed a test, yet you've become so dejected and lost your composure, disregarding the teachings of the sages you've studied for years, and ignoring the earnest expectations of your parents and family.
“A cowardly and timid person, even if he tries his best to be an official, will not be able to cope with the ups and downs of officialdom, and collapse is only a matter of time.”
Magistrate Zhang's words were like heavy hammer blows, leaving Xia Xiucai pale as snow and his body swaying precariously.
Seeing that he seemed to be unsteady on his feet, Jiang Zhi quickly helped him up, but Xia Xiucai pushed her away: "Village Chief Jiang, don't worry, I can withstand the magistrate's reprimand. It's all because I am too ignorant and incompetent to withstand the test!"
At that moment, he felt a splitting headache, yet he was also incredibly clear-headed.
Magistrate Zhang said no more, walked directly to Xia Xiucai's side, patted him on the shoulder and said, "No, you are very good. What I want to say is that you are better than being an official in terms of educating the villagers and enlightening the ignorant people."
"For a tree to flourish, its roots must be deep; only with stable living conditions can people live and work in peace. If you can teach the villagers to read and write, to know shame and honor, you are saving them from suffering!"
Xia Xiucai was clearly stunned, staring blankly at Magistrate Zhang. Although he was still trembling, his voice rose sharply: "Your Excellency, Your Excellency... Your Excellency said... said that I..."
Before he could finish speaking, Magistrate Zhang added, "The current prosperity of Xu Family Village is certainly due to the leadership of Village Chief Jiang, but it is also inseparable from your excellent guidance!"
"Excellent teaching! Excellent teaching!" Xia Xiucai murmured.
Magistrate Zhang turned to face Song Tingzhang and the others, and said loudly, "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, and you are all capable people in your respective areas."
Xia Shuyan's ability to remain true to his original aspirations despite his illness is a model for us all!
He only said so much, and Xia Xiucai was already trembling all over and unable to stand.
Magistrate Zhang's combination of praise and criticism stirred his emotions and made his blood boil.
It also shattered his long-standing facade, revealing the proud heart hidden behind his vulnerability.
Having failed the imperial examinations repeatedly and still feeling lost, he has no direction in life. Although he found peace of mind in Xujia Village, something is still missing.
Now he knows what he really wants!
Beside him, Pavilion Chief Song was also very excited.
He also had the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations), but he had to catch up now because Jiang had already lost face in front of the county magistrate.
He quickly added, following Zhang Zheng's words, "It is truly difficult to pass the imperial examination like the county magistrate."
We are aware of our own talents; if we can educate the people in the future, then our more than ten years of hard study will not have been in vain.
“Hmm, very good. You are all scholars, you should understand and respect each other!” Magistrate Zhang began to contradict him again.
Song Tingzhang and the other two scholars immediately blushed with embarrassment.
Jiang Zhi was amazed by Magistrate Zhang's skill in navigating officialdom, and sighed that the officialdom was not a place for ordinary people to survive; she knew her own brain would be fried.
Magistrate Zhang said a few more polite words, then asked Jiang Zhi and Song Tingzhang to stay, while everyone else left.
Soon, only Magistrate Zhang, Jiang Zhi, and Pavilion Chief Song remained in the hall of the post station.
Magistrate Zhang then brought up what Jiang Zhi had said to him in the village: "Village Chief Jiang, you said you wanted to build a medicine shop in the small valley next door. You can talk to Old Song about that now!"
Build a pharmacy!
Song Tingzhang's eyes widened instantly as he looked at Jiang Zhi in disbelief: "You want to build a medicine shop? What do you mean?"
Jiang Zhi said seriously, "Chief Song, I have a contract with the Huo family's pharmacy, which allows me to manufacture and sell medicines. I want Qingquan Bay."
Qingquan Bay!
Old Song, the newly appointed head of the pavilion, changed his expression and said seriously, "You should know what happened there?"
An hour ago, the prejudiced Song Tingzhang would have definitely scolded Jiang Zhi first, but he can't now!
Magistrate Zhang once said that the purpose of appointing him as the head of the pavilion was to support the village heads and village chiefs in managing the villagers, rather than suppressing them, especially those who were doing the work.
If they were to provoke another reprimand, it would be blatantly going against the county magistrate.
Having had the previous conflict with Jiang Zhi, he was now eager to show a change in front of Magistrate Zhang, at least to avoid being accused of trying to steal credit.
When Jiang Zhi mentioned Qingquan Bay, he didn't dare to show any displeasure and even kindly reminded her.
Jiang Zhi nodded: "I know. During the chaos of war, those families were taken away, and their fate is unknown!"
Song Tingzhang glanced at Magistrate Zhang, who was drinking tea beside him, put aside all his thoughts, and tried to get used to discussing things with a woman.
He took a deep breath before slowly saying, "After the town of Pear Blossom was opened up by bandits that night, a number of people died in the chaos."
Afterwards, the unclaimed bodies were collected and buried in a large burial mound outside the town. Some acquaintances had seen them, and it seemed that some of the bodies belonged to those families.
If you intend to set up a pharmacy in Qingquan Bay, are there any taboos you should be aware of?
Song Junheng had already fled to the county town and was not fully aware of the situation in the town. He only heard afterward that the town's soldiers retaliated and the first to be killed were the villagers who had been used as human shields.
Jiang Zhi naturally knew the situation in that valley, and without avoiding Magistrate Zhang, she said directly, "After the war, people were devastated and there was no clean land left. Xu Family Village was also burned to the ground."
She didn't mention that there were dozens of decapitated corpses on the mountain near the village, which made the people of Xujia Village rarely go up the mountain now.
The dead are not scary; what's scary is the living!
However, that valley is not within the boundaries of Xujia Village, and it is large enough that I would need to inform the town before I could buy it.
After a moment's thought, Song Tingzhang realized that Qingquan Bay was originally inhabited by three or four families; it was just an ordinary mountain bay.
It is now extinct and has become a desolate place with few inhabitants.
Since Jiang Zhi was asking for it, he, as the head of the pavilion, had nothing to say, and besides, he was about to curry favor with Magistrate Zhang in front of him!
"Alright, that place will belong to you from now on, but the land deed is still with the county government. If the original owner still has descendants..."
Magistrate Zhang looked up and said, "The clerk has already completed the transfer procedures. If the original owner returns, all they need to do is take the land deed and then acquire another piece of land."
His specialty is this Qiankun Great Shift technique!
Song, the village head, nodded repeatedly: "In that case, let's do it this way!"
He muttered to himself, "The sale of land deeds is handled by the county government. Since Magistrate Zhang and Jiang have already made their decision, what use is my opinion as a mere village head? Why bother asking me about it?"
Jiang Zhi ignored Old Man Song's doubts. Since he asked her directly, she naturally told him that he had Magistrate Zhang protecting him and that he should stop being so ignorant.
She simply smiled and said, "The establishment of this medicine shop will benefit everyone. First, it will require the collection of a large quantity of herbs, providing an income for the surrounding villagers. Second, it will contribute to the government's tax revenue."
Magistrate Zhang tapped his fingers lightly on the table a few times, reminding him, "You can delay paying for the land for six months. After six months, you will receive the full amount of tax revenue and the full amount of money from selling the land!"
Jiang Zhi replied respectfully, "Your Excellency, rest assured, I will definitely pay the money within six months!"
He secretly thought to himself: I have no money, but you can take my life!
If someone wants to start a business, the local government should allocate land and funds.
However, Magistrate Zhang was short of money. It was already difficult enough for him to owe money for half a year. There was no way he could get funds, but he could put himself in debt and delay it for a year or two.
I'll pay you when you bring me the promised letter from King Zhou.
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