Chapter Seventy
Manager Zhou has served Zhang Ge Lao's family for many years, but he has been greedy for money because of his seniority. Now that he has fallen into the hands of his former master, how can he expect to have a good end?
A servant who covets his master's money is like a cat stealing fish. Once caught, he will either be flogged and exiled or beaten to death. Since Grand Secretary Zhang has taken action, he must be making an example of him.
"Well, that's settled then." She looked up at Qin Wenzhang. "From now on, Kangzhuang will depend on you guys to manage it. You can't do it if you can't read."
"If you can't understand the ledgers and can't distinguish the contracts, you won't even know you've been cheated. After this busy period, I'll find a tutor for all of you. You'll all have to learn, even if it's just learning one character a day."
Upon hearing this, Qin Wenzhang's bullwhip fell "thud" onto the cart floor.
He quickly bent down to pick it up, his face instantly turning into a bitter expression.
Literacy? That's harder than carrying a sack weighing a hundred pounds!
Before, he had stopped wasting his days serving Qin Wenzheng and his brothers and had even attended school for a few days, but in the end, he still couldn't even write down his own surname and given name and couldn't remember them.
Now that the young lady wants him to learn to read, isn't that making things difficult for him?
But seeing Qin Zhining's serious gaze, he dared not object and could only reply with a bitter face, "Yes, Miss."
The oxcart swayed and rattled into the county town, and the streets gradually became more crowded.
The shouts of vendors selling steamed buns, the footsteps of those carrying loads on shoulder poles, and the laughter of children mingled together, creating a lively atmosphere.
Qin Zhining lifted the carriage curtain to take a look, thinking to herself that once she donated half of her mother's dowry and established connections with the county magistrate, she would face fewer obstacles in her future endeavors in the county.
Besides, this half of the dowry was originally meant to be brought from the Qin family. Using this money to pave the way for myself is the most appropriate thing to do, and it's better than raising a scumbag father who is an ingrate.
Before long, they arrived at the county government office.
The vermilion gate was very imposing, with two yamen runners standing at the entrance, holding fire and water sticks in their hands, staring sternly at the people coming and going.
Qin Zhining got off the oxcart, straightened her clothes, and asked Qin Wenzhang to wait at the door. She then stepped inside with Granny Cheng.
Just as I stepped across the threshold, I heard a thunderous shout from behind me, "What are you doing here?"
Qin Zhining paused, turned around, and saw Qin Youming dressed in a blue county magistrate's robe with a jade belt around his waist, glaring angrily at her.
He had just arrived at the yamen from home to "clock in for work," and before he even entered the main hall, he bumped into this rebellious woman, and his anger instantly flared up.
He had just broken off relations with his family a few days ago, and now he's chasing him all the way to the yamen. Does he want to make a scene and lose face as an official, so that his colleagues can laugh at him?
"Is this a place for a young lady like you to come to?"
Qin Youming pointed at Qin Zhining, his voice shrill like fingernails scratching against a glass window, his goatee bristling with anger. "Guards, drag this rebellious woman out and beat her. Beat her out of the yamen so she'll know what rules are."
The constables standing nearby looked at each other, none of them daring to move.
They all knew that this Miss Qin had just returned to the county magistrate's office a few days ago, and they heard that she had caused quite a commotion. How did this happen—to the county government?
I heard that the county magistrate had already set up a separate household for this girl. It's not certain whether County Magistrate Qin knows about this. If he really beats her now, and the county magistrate blames him, who will be able to take responsibility?
However, it seems that County Magistrate Qin probably doesn't know that Miss Qin saved Grand Secretary Zhang's nephew. Otherwise, given his sycophantic nature, how could he possibly be so quick to attack and kill his own daughter?
Seeing Qin Youming's furious and embarrassed appearance, Qin Zhining couldn't help but sneer.
She took a step forward, her gaze as cold as ice shards in early spring, staring directly at Qin Youming. "What's the rush, Magistrate Qin? I came to the yamen to see the magistrate, not you."
She paused, then deliberately raised her voice, "Besides, since you acknowledge me as a 'rebellious daughter,' why do you refer to yourself as 'this official'?"
Or are you afraid? Afraid that I'll reveal here your 'rules' of letting a concubine preside over my mother's funeral and mistreating me, the daughter of your deceased wife?
Upon hearing this, the minor officials and yamen runners passing by stopped in their tracks and looked over curiously.
Qin Youming had always maintained an image of integrity and honesty in the county, but after Qin Zhining shouted at him like that, his face instantly turned from red to green, and his fingers trembled even more violently.
"You...you're talking nonsense. When have I ever mistreated you? You're the one who's ungrateful and insists on severing ties with me."
"Whether I'm talking nonsense or not, the neighbors of the county magistrate's office know it clearly."
Qin Zhining was too lazy to waste words with him and turned to walk towards the main hall. "I came here today to fulfill my promise and donate half of my dowry to the county government, not to argue with you."
"What? You—you really want to donate your mother's dowry?"
Qin Youming was taken aback and paused for a moment, then looked at him as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, "You, a girl who has just broken off her marriage, where would you get a dowry?"
"Donate half a set? I think you're trying to fool the magistrate and cause trouble!" he said, reaching out to grab Qin Zhining's arm. "Stop right there! You're not leaving until you explain yourself!"
Qin Zhining dodged his hand, her eyes filled with disgust. "County Magistrate Qin, you are, after all, an official of the imperial court. How can you lay hands on me in front of so many people? Aren't you afraid of losing your official dignity?"
She had barely finished speaking when she heard footsteps coming from the direction of the main hall, followed by the magistrate's voice: "What's all this commotion about?"
Everyone turned around and saw the county magistrate, dressed in a scarlet official robe, walking out of the main hall, followed by two clerks.
The county magistrate had just finished handling a case when he heard a commotion at the door. He thought something had happened, but when he came out, he saw Qin Youming and Qin Zhining standing there, and his face darkened.
"Your Honor!" Qin Youming quickly stepped forward, pointing at Qin Zhining and saying, "This rebellious daughter is ungrateful and has come to the yamen to cause trouble, even saying she wants to donate half a dowry. I think she's just trying to deceive you! Please don't believe her nonsense!"
Before the county magistrate could speak, Qin Zhining had the nanny Cheng, who was waiting behind her, take out a list of the original owner's mother's dowry and hand it over with both hands.
"Your Honor, I, Qin Zhining, have come today to fulfill a promise I made a few days ago. This is the dowry list my mother left me."
These past two days, I had my mother's maidservant prepare half of the set, which included twenty bolts of silk, 1,800 taels of silver ingots, several jade artifacts, and some jewelry. I'm now voluntarily donating these to the county government for the repair of the county's granary and road paving.
The county magistrate took the list, looked at it carefully, and his eyes were full of surprise and joy.
He had heard a few days ago that Qin Zhining was going to donate her dowry, and he thought it was a joke. He didn't expect her to actually come, and the list of items was quite long.
He looked up at Qin Zhining, then at Qin Youming, and immediately understood—these two were truly at loggerheads, fighting tooth and nail, neither willing to give in.
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