Chapter Eighty-Three: Incompetent Officials
The magistrate still disagreed; in his view, things that were unacceptable could not be easily changed.
"There is no precedent or precedent for this from ancient times to the present. Alright, let's leave it at that. Don't cause any more trouble. If you continue to spout nonsense, I'll charge you with disturbing the peace!"
Huo Ran's eyes darkened. It seemed that some officials had been in their positions for too long, only knowing how to live a comfortable life instead of truly caring for the people. It was time to clean up the corrupt officials.
Jiang Mi had finally managed to meet the county magistrate, and she didn't want to let such a good opportunity slip by.
“Magistrate, you are the people’s official. Now the locusts have begun to damage the grain. If we can’t produce any grain by autumn, we won’t be able to pay taxes, let alone fill our stomachs.”
"Who are you? When did it become your place to speak, you little woman?" The magistrate then turned his gaze to Jiang Mi's face. He had only thought she was a fat woman from the corner of his eye, but upon closer inspection, he found her to be quite delicate-looking.
"This young lady is the one who suggested this method. She is very clever, even more so than men."
When Huo Ran introduced Jiang Mi, he also praised her extensively.
Jiang Mi was a little embarrassed.
Unexpectedly, the magistrate didn't take the matter seriously at all. He said indifferently, "That's because you unruly people didn't protect the grain and ruined it for nothing. In the end, the taxes you paid were still too low, which allowed you unruly people to be lazy and make excuses. In my opinion, the taxes should be increased to prevent you from being too idle!"
Upon hearing his words, Jiang Mi flew into a rage: "You are supposed to be a public official, how could you say such outrageous things? The people still regard you as their provider, it's truly disheartening!"
When has a county magistrate ever been spoken to like that? Everyone who sees him has to fawn over him and would love to lick his feet. This woman is simply asking for trouble!
"How dare you speak to me like that!" The magistrate stood up abruptly. "Guards, take this shrew away and give her a hundred lashes!"
When Jiang's mother heard this, she almost fainted. One hundred strokes of the cane?! Let alone one hundred strokes, even thirty strokes would be unbearable for women like them!
"My lord, my daughter is only thinking of the people. If there is grain, won't you go hungry? You mustn't be so blind to right and wrong!"
The magistrate pointed at Jiang's mother and said, "If you shout it again, I'll beat you too!"
Huo Ran shielded the two behind him and shouted, "Let's see who dares to make a move!"
Some people, just by standing there, exuded an imposing aura, and no one dared to approach them easily. Even Magistrate Sun began to stutter when he spoke.
"You...you're being insolent! Do I need your permission to punish whomever I choose?"
Huo Ran stared coldly at him, making the magistrate break out in a cold sweat: "May I ask, Your Honor, on what crime do you intend to punish this young lady?"
The magistrate couldn't help but wipe the sweat from his forehead, raising his voice to bolster his courage: "I am the magistrate of this county, and I can punish whomever I want. Moreover, this shrew just defied me, and I will punish her for the crime of insubordination!"
Huo Ran continued leisurely, "Insubordination? Just now, Miss Jiang was clearly giving you, the magistrate, advice. But you were intolerant and unwilling to listen to others' opinions. Instead, you arbitrarily accused others without distinguishing right from wrong. If your words today were to spread, it would not only arouse public anger, but also reach the ears of the emperor in the capital. At that time, you might not even be able to keep your official hat."
Upon hearing this, the magistrate quickly touched the hat on his head, straightened it, and put it back on.
"Nonsense! When have I ever refused to listen to advice or acted like a scoundrel?" For some reason, the magistrate always felt a sense of fear in front of Huo Ran.
The magistrate glanced at Jiang Mi and had no choice but to give up for the time being.
"Alright, alright. I'll let it go since you're just a village woman. Now, get out of here and don't talk nonsense again."
Looking at the magistrate's greasy body, Jiang Mi hadn't forgotten that in her previous life, it was this corrupt official who had killed her brother and sister-in-law. If he had been a good official who served the people, her family wouldn't have suffered so much in their past life!
"Magistrate, about the locusts..."
Huo Ran had barely started when the county magistrate became displeased. He had released them all without holding a grudge, but this man was still trying to push his luck.
"I know what's going on with the locusts. It's not for you commoners to point fingers at me."
The magistrate left immediately after speaking. Even if they stayed, it wouldn't make a difference. If the magistrate were willing to issue a proclamation explaining that eating locusts could ward off disaster, the people would listen. But this magistrate was clearly unreliable.
Seeing the disappointment and indignation in Jiang Mi's eyes, Huo Ran felt sorry for her, but could only try to comfort her first.
"It's okay, there will be other ways. Let's go back first."
Jiang's mother cursed and swore, "All the respect and love we common folk have for him is wasted! We never imagined he would turn out to be such a beast in human form!"
The three of them had just come out when they bumped into Sun Qinwan.
"Who are you?" She saw that the three people came out of the study and assumed they were her father's guests.
Jiang Mi still remembers how angry she made this young lady last time. Like father, like son!
"Why do you look so familiar to me?" Sun Qinwan looked at Jiang Mi and felt a strange sense of familiarity. This woman looked plump, but upon closer inspection, her features were exquisite, especially her eyes, which were truly beautiful!
Jiang Mi didn't want to pay any attention to her at all. Although she wasn't afraid of this woman surnamed Sun, she was still on someone else's turf and was somewhat at a disadvantage.
Sun Qinwan glanced at Jiang's mother again and suddenly remembered.
"I remember now, it's you!"
"How dare you come to my residence! Let's see what tricks you have up your sleeve this time! Guards, tie them up! I'm going to torture them slowly and painstakingly!"
At this moment, the burly men in the mansion surrounded them. Jiang Mi did not want to implicate Huo Ran because of her, so she said to Sun Qinwan, "Don't let our grudges affect others. This young master has no grudge against you, so please let him go first."
Sun Qinwan had noticed Huo Ran long ago. This man was the most handsome she had ever seen in her life, even more stunning than Jiang Xuan.
"Of course, I am also a person who clearly distinguishes between gratitude and resentment. Young master, you may leave on your own or stay."
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