At this time, the boat arrived at the dock and the boatman outside reminded us to get off the boat.

Zhao Shouzheng hurriedly asked: "What about the third point?"

"Three... " County Magistrate Zhang rubbed his fingers habitually, as if he was trying to monetize his knowledge.

Soon, he realized that the help Zhao Hao provided was money-worthy and he would have to count on him in the future.

Magistrate Zhang, who never accepted gifts, quickly put his hands into his sleeves and whispered, "This is only because we are close brothers. I won't tell anyone else."

"Thank you very much." Zhao Shouzheng stretched his neck and listened carefully.

"Third, don't throw troubles to your superiors unless it's absolutely necessary." Magistrate Zhang lowered his voice and said, "When the clerks below push their troubles to you, remember how they feel. That's how your superiors feel when you do this."

"Believe me, sooner or later he will pay you back tenfold." County Magistrate Zhang pressed Zhao Shouzheng's shoulder hard and walked towards the cabin door.

But he heard Zhao Hao behind him asking: "What if it's a last resort?"

"Kill him." Magistrate Zhang said these three words lightly, then stepped onto the deck in a casual manner.

Unexpectedly, he drank too much and his legs were very weak. The pedals were slippery in the rain, so County Magistrate Zhang almost fell into the water.

Fortunately, his attendant was very alert and quickly grabbed the master's arm tightly.

Zhao Hao and his son also hurried forward to help, holding up County Magistrate Zhang's butt, and it took a lot of effort to get him ashore.

Fortunately, it was dark and no one recognized the master who almost fell.

"You idiot, you scared me to death." Magistrate Zhang was sober now. He sat on the ground, panting heavily, and pretended to be Boyi to Zhao Shouzheng:

"It's the same when you're an official. You have to be extremely careful. If you make a wrong move, you'll be wiped out."

Zhao Shouzheng nodded and thanked County Magistrate Zhang again.

After spending most of the day, he felt that he was no longer confused and at least knew how to be a county magistrate.

~~

On the way back, Zhao Shouzheng took the chisel and the small notebook, recalled the words of County Magistrate Zhang, and took notes carefully.

His memory is not good to begin with, and he loses memory when he drinks, so he has to write it down. Otherwise, next time he drinks, he might forget it.

Judging from his memory alone, Zhao Hao is certain that he is his biological son.

As Mr. Zhao copied, he said excitedly, "I thought he was just a money-obsessed Sichuanese, but I didn't expect he was actually a master."

"The magistrate who can become addicted to his job in Jing County must be the best official." Zhao Hao smiled faintly.

"Yes, I think so too!" Mr. Zhao nodded heavily, patted his notes, and said with a sense of relief: "I finally have a little confidence that I can be a good county magistrate."

Seeing that his father was determined to follow Zhang Dongguan's way of being an official, Zhao Hao couldn't help but say helplessly:

"Don't be impatient. As the saying goes, listening to both sides leads to enlightenment, while listening to only one side leads to ignorance. Father has listened to the opinions of the person who is the most capable of being an official, so he still needs to listen to what the person who is the least capable of being an official has to say."

"Uh, you mean..." Mr. Zhao looked at Zhao Hao and couldn't figure out who it was for a long time.

"Hehe..." Zhao Hao smiled helplessly and turned to look at the Qinhuai River, which was even more filled with the scent of cosmetics amid the sounds of oars and lights.

I thought my mission as a parent was over after my father passed the imperial examination.

Who knew I would have to worry about teaching him how to be an official.

Alas, how pitiful the parents are, their tears will not dry up until the candle burns out...

I have so much to worry about!

~~

The next day, the rain continued to fall.

The water levels of Qinhuai River and Xuanwu Lake have risen a lot, and the water surface is almost level with the bluestone pavement beside the lake.

A thin old man with gray hair and beard, but a straight back, holding an umbrella in his hand, wearing a pair of clogs and a pair of dark-powdered boots on his shoulders, walked steadily on the bluestone street in the rain.

If he is not Zhao Hao’s old neighbor, then who is Hai Rui and Hai Gangfeng?

Behind him was an old man with white hair and beard, who was naturally Hai Rui's only designated, all-round and all-weather servant, Hai An.

Hai'an also followed silently behind, holding an umbrella and carrying a bamboo basket covered with oil paper.

The bamboo basket contained Hai Rui's official robe, black gauze hat and plain gold belt.

On normal days, even Hai's official boots would be put into the basket. But because it was raining today, he carried them on his shoulders.

Don't get me wrong, although Hai Gong is extremely masculine, he definitely doesn't have a habit of streaking.

Before leaving the yamen, he would just change out of his official uniform, put on a linen robe and cloth shoes, and then walk eight miles home.

Why bother?

Hai Daren didn't want this either. At first, he wanted to go home directly in his official robes like he did in Beijing.

Unfortunately, the fourth-rank official's scarlet robe was too eye-catching and attracted onlookers wherever he went.

Especially after knowing that he was the famous Hai Rui, the people would wait for him to get off work at Baihu Bridge and then follow him all the way home.

The fans didn't mean to harass their idol, they just wanted to see him...

Although Hai Gong is not afraid of other people's eyes, he is also afraid of disrupting the hard-earned peaceful life of his family.

Since then, he has changed his clothes and his route home...

What? I can ride in a sedan? How dare you! You know that I am overstepping my authority!

The Ming Dynasty Code stipulates that, except for the prefectural, state, and county officials who represent the majesty of the imperial power in the local area and whose sedan chair bearers, ceremonial guards, and guards are provided by the government, only civil officials of the third rank are qualified to ride in sedan chairs, and those below the third rank are not allowed to ride in sedan chairs.

That is why there is a saying in official circles: "Carrying a sedan chair to express gratitude, and riding a horse to take up the post"... It means that when an official is promoted from Guanglu or Taipuqing to Qiandu Yushi, although it is actually a promotion, the official position will be downgraded from the third rank to the fourth rank.

At this time, he lost the qualification to ride in a sedan chair and could only ride a horse to report to the Censorate.

Of course, in this era, all rules have been relaxed. There are not many seventh-rank officials in Beijing who ride in sedan chairs at their own expense to go to get off work, and the censors never care... because they are one of them.

Not to mention that Hai Rui was now a fourth-rank official, a high-ranking official in the imperial court. The Nanjing Tongzhengsi wanted to equip him with a sedan chair, and it was at public expense.

Unfortunately, after being scolded by Hai Rui, no one dared to mention it again.

"I have legs, and I won't treat people like animals!" said the old Neo-Confucianist Hai Gong.

~~

Hai Rui and Hai An each held an umbrella and walked to the end of the bluestone street.

There was a small courtyard with two entrances and tightly closed doors. The sound of the rain could not block out the sound of the spinning wheel inside.

When I pushed open the half-open courtyard door, I saw a white-haired old lady, a middle-aged woman and another younger woman, sitting on low stools in the hall and spinning.

Two little girls, about five or six years old, squatted beside the spinning wheel, helping the adults while stealing glances at the door from time to time.

"Dad is back!"

Seeing the door open, the two little girls cheered, dropped their work and ran towards their father.

"Slow down..." Hai Rui hurriedly stopped him, "I'm holding an umbrella!"

But the child didn't care about that and jumped into his arms.

Hai Rui had no choice but to throw away his umbrella and catch one with one hand. He smiled bitterly and said, "Ouch, my old waist..."

As he said this, he quickly carried the child to the eaves, took off his clogs, and then went in and kowtowed respectfully.

"Mother, my son is back."

The old lady spinning had high cheekbones and deep wrinkles, and it seemed that she was not an easy person to get along with when she was young.

But as an old lady in her eighties, who finally got her family together, how could she be so angry? She said calmly, "You're back so early?"

"Mother, we have guests tonight." Hai Rui replied hurriedly and respectfully.

ps. Third update, please give me monthly votes and recommendation tickets. The remaining two updates will be posted at noon~~~~