In the flower hall, County Magistrate Feng introduced the county officials to Zhao Shouzheng, starting with the second master He Wenwei.
"He, the county magistrate, was born in Liaoyang, Liaodong, and was an old scholar who failed the imperial examinations many times. Ten years ago, he was selected as a county instructor, and the year before last, he was promoted to the county magistrate of this county together with me. He is a thoughtful senior who has helped me find and fill in the gaps over the years and never steals the limelight. I have been able to run my business until today thanks to his help."
Zhao Shouzheng nodded, thinking to himself that I would not be mean to him anymore...
"Bai Shouli, the chief clerk, is a very docile official. He only obeys his superiors' orders and never raises any objections."
Magistrate Feng then introduced the third master, Bai Zhubu, and said, with some difficulty in describing:
"I heard that he likes to take advantage of small opportunities, but he hasn't gone too far. However, it's best not to give him the opportunity to make mistakes."
"Yeah." Zhao Shouzheng looked at Zhao Hao and quickly wrote it down.
Zhao Hao thought that the five hundred taels of silver were well spent and would be profitable if there were fewer unexpected problems.
Then came the fourth master, Xiong Dianshi.
"I cannot see through this man. Like Bai Zhubu, he is very humble in front of me and never argues or talks much. However, there are many legends about him in the county, many of which are outrageous."
Magistrate Feng couldn't help but lower his voice and said, "It's best not to offend him."
The layout of the county government office has its own specific rules. Behind the front hall, the second hall and the third hall, there is a moon gate.
Inside the gate is the inner court, also called the magistrate's office, where the magistrate works on a daily basis.
To the west is the flower hall where Zhao Shouzheng and County Magistrate Feng talked, and it was the place where the County Magistrate met guests.
Opposite the flower hall, across a rockery and pond, is a three-room suite, the county magistrate's office, the 'signing room'.
Behind the signing room there is a small courtyard with five rooms, where the assistants live.
The status of a friend of the emperor was higher than that of a legal advisor in later generations, and was between a counselor and a subordinate. The employer treated him as a teacher or friend.
Therefore, Yu Ben, who was in charge of arranging accommodation, originally planned to arrange for Xu Wei and Wu Chengen to stay in separate courtyards.
Unexpectedly, Xu Wei insisted on living in the same courtyard with his beloved writer. Wu Cheng'en was supervising the distribution of porridge in the north of the city at that time, so naturally he had no way to object.
At this moment, without even bothering to unpack his luggage, Xu Wei pulled the old man named Zheng Ruozeng to sit on the kang and have a chat with him intimately.
"Old Zheng, haven't seen you for five or six years?" Xu Wei leaned on the kang, pinching salted fennel beans and drinking wine.
Zheng Ruozeng was the descendant of Zheng Yinian, a Grand Secretary of the Northern Song Dynasty. His family had been studying and practicing medicine for generations, and was one of the most prominent families in Kunshan.
He certainly wouldn't be as unruly as Fatty Xu. Sitting upright on the kang, he said with a look of emotion, "Yes, after the dissolution of the shogunate, I didn't expect that we would meet again one day."
"I came to you on my own initiative." Xu Wei said shamelessly, "If my boss hadn't come to Kunshan to be an official, I would still be happy in prison."
"They say you have a brain disease. It seems the rumors are true." Zheng Ruozeng laughed and said, "Are you addicted to being in prison?"
"Of course. Not only does no one bother me, but I also have wine to drink and meat to eat, people to serve me, and people to write novels for me. I am so happy." Xu Wei put a handful of beans into his mouth, closed his eyes, and chewed with enjoyment.
"Is there anyone who writes novels for you?" Zheng Ruozeng didn't believe it.
"Don't disbelieve me, it's your brother-in-law who made you so miserable." Xu Wei finished eating the beans and couldn't help but sigh. "Great!"
Zheng Ruozeng and Gui Youguang studied together under the tutelage of the great scholar Wei Xiao from Kunshan. Later, they married the two daughters of Wei Xiao's younger brother Wei Xiang and became brothers-in-law.
"Wu Sheyang." Zheng Ruozeng suddenly realized and couldn't help but said happily: "It's great that he is here too. Every time Zhenchuan writes, he says that he owes Mr. Wu a lot and doesn't know how to make it up to him."
"Hehe, that's simple. Just let him stop being an official." Xu Wei said with a half-seriously half-fake smile: "Anyway, that lousy Tongpan is just a decoration. It's better for him to resign and come back to be my boss's staff."
"Oh?" Zheng Ruozeng couldn't help but laugh, "He gave up his job as a sixth-rank official and came back to be a staff member?"
"Yes, he has a strong desire to be an official." Xu Wei took a sip of wine and did not mention it again.
Gui Youguang had a hard time in the imperial examinations. He failed the provincial examinations five times before he passed. He failed the imperial examinations eight times in a row. He finally passed the imperial examination when he was almost 60 years old. Naturally, he cherished it very much. Even if his career was not going well for a while, he would not give up easily.
"How about you apologize on behalf of your brother-in-law?" Putting down the wine cup, Xu Wei suggested: "Old Wu needs someone to help share the burden. He is too busy to write a book."
"Me?" Zheng Ruozeng pointed at his nose and said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, "I'm already 65 years old, just let me enjoy a few days of peace and quiet."
"You have changed, Old Zheng. Back when you were in the shogunate, you did whatever you were told to do and never complained." Xu Wei sighed.
"Yes, I have changed." Gui Youguang did not deny it. He looked at Xu Wei, who seemed to have changed into a completely different person, and said, "You are the same, aren't you? You used to be the most talented scholar in the world, but now you have become a fat man with no appearance."
"What's wrong with being fat? Don't discriminate against fat people." Xu Wei blew his beard and glared, then smiled and said, "But I really advise you to have a good chat with my young master. He might be the soulmate you have been waiting for half your life."
"Oh, really?" Zheng Ruoceng thought about it carefully and said uncertainly, "Could it be the boy who held an umbrella for the county magistrate?"
"You have a good eye." Xu Wei praised him and said, "I heard that he is writing a book called 'On Sea Power', which coincides with some of the views in your 'Compilation of Maritime Charts'."
"For example?" Zheng Ruozeng asked with interest.
"For example, you said 'If you want to sail on the ocean, you must first fight a decisive battle on the ocean.'" Then Xu Wei said in a deep voice: "He believes that the purpose of the navy is to fight, and the ultimate goal is to gain control of the sea and control the ocean."
"Really?" Zheng Ruozeng's eyes lit up and he said, "It's rare to see you. I will definitely ask for your advice some other day."
"Yes, ask him for advice." Xu Wei nodded like pecking at rice, revealing a triumphant smile. "That guy knows too much, he knows everything about astronomy and geography, and he can even teach people how to write novels."
He had seen the longing look Zhao Hao had for Zheng Ruozeng, and he thought that as long as he could get Old Zheng to Mr. Zhao's lips, there would be no way he could escape.
Sorry, Lao Zheng. A person who is an accomplice to a tiger can only be freed if he finds a new accomplice...
"Don't try to seduce me, it's useless." Zheng Ruozeng was too familiar with Xu Wei and knew his various tricks very well.
After laughing and scolding, he said seriously: "But let me ask you, is the county magistrate determined to control the flood?"
"Well, about this..." Xu Wei thought to himself, Mr. Zhao shouldn't be that persistent, right?
"Hahaha, Mr. Kaiyang, don't doubt it!" Zhao Hao laughed and walked into the room. Just based on your reputation, I can't let you run away.
Young Master Zhao accompanied his father to complete the handover with County Magistrate Zhang and was extremely sleepy. However, thinking of Zheng Ruozeng, whom he had been thinking about, who was still being kept in the yamen by Xu Wei, he suppressed his tiredness and came over to flirt with him:
"In a few days, you will see my father's determination!"
ps. This is the third update. I am very proud of myself for completing the basic update after spending a whole day preparing the outline.