Xu Rurong led a group of people, banging drums and gongs as they went, visiting each house. Every time they arrived at a mansion, before the heads of the families could even speak, he would start offering his congratulations.
"Congratulations, Head of the Zhao Family! I've come on behalf of the people to express our gratitude!"
Xu Rurong waved her hand, and a constable quickly stepped forward and presented the Zhao family patriarch with a basket of vegetables.
The head of the Zhao family was somewhat unsure of the situation, but he was very cautious. He simply accepted the vegetables without having them sent to the kitchen.
Who knows if those people are truly grateful? He is very clear about his own actions!
When they arrived at the Wang and Ma families, Xu Rurong gave the same explanation. However, the heads of both families were clearly excited, and the head of the Ma family even secretly came over to inquire.
"Magistrate Xu, is this really a gift from the people?"
Seeing the Ma family head's radiant face, Xu Rurong nodded firmly.
Anyway, if he says it's true, then it's true! Aren't the families of those constables considered ordinary people too?
"Very good, very good!" The head of the Ma family was overjoyed. He had always said that he was respected. Even the county magistrate hadn't thanked him, yet they came to deliver vegetables to him immediately. This must be genuine!
"How can I repay them? Should I lower the grain price again tomorrow?" he muttered to himself.
"Patriarch Ma, I have a brilliant idea. Would you like to consider it?"
Xu Rurong walked forward calmly.
"Magistrate Xu, please speak freely!" The head of the Ma family was still in high spirits, waving his hand with extraordinary generosity.
"Luo Yong, bring the things up!" Xu Rurong raised her chin slightly and winked at the person next to her.
Luo Yong stepped forward and ripped off the red cloth covering the stone tablet.
"This is a blank stone tablet?" The head of the Ma family was stunned. What kind of method is this?
"Patriarch Ma, please don't be in a hurry. Let me tell you about the wonderful uses of this stone tablet." Xu Rurong said with her hands behind her back, looking inscrutable.
"To be honest, this stone tablet is actually a merit tablet. I planned to write the names of those who have contributed to the barren county on it, but the Zhao family head accidentally saw it."
"The head of the Zhao family insisted on handing over five hundred taels of silver and also sent a large amount of grain to the county government, asking me to distribute it to the villagers."
"No matter how I refused, I couldn't refuse! I had no choice but to write his name on the first line of the merit stele!"
"However, Magistrate Chen hasn't even written it down yet, but I've come to congratulate you!"
Xu Rurong paused at this point, his implication very clear, and anyone with a discerning eye could understand it.
Sure enough, the head of the Ma family slapped his thigh, looking indignant: "A mere five hundred taels isn't even enough to cover Zhao's expenses at Chunhua Pavilion. He's really stingy!"
"With this little bit of silver, he thinks he can have his name inscribed on the merit monument of the entire wasteland, and even be ranked first? He should just go eat shit!"
"I'll offer a thousand taels! No, two thousand taels! You give me the first place, and I'll send you another batch of grain, guaranteed to be more than his!"
"This, this is too much trouble. I didn't really intend to do anything else. I just planned to build a few more courtyards with heated kang beds for the people before the cold winter comes, take in some homeless people, store a batch of emergency food, and repair a few roads." Xu Rurong said with a embarrassed expression.
“I know you are a man who does practical things for the people, Magistrate. It doesn’t matter what you do with this money, but you must remember to write my name on it. It must not be listed after the other two!” The head of the Ma family repeatedly instructed.
As a grain merchant who colluded with the other two companies, he naturally had little kindness. The Ma family was more concerned about his reputation and the position of his name.
Who isn't a bribe? The previous magistrate took a lot of money from them!
The name "Merit Stele" sounds like it represents immeasurable merit. If his reputation can spread, he might be able to expand his family business and open a branch in the provincial capital!
It's not unimaginable what might happen in the capital!
The head of the Ma family was immersed in his own beautiful fantasy, wishing that the newly arrived county magistrate would immediately publish the merit monument.
"Your Excellency, isn't this merit stele a bit too small? I'll give you some more money, and you can get a larger stone stele. Then we can erect it at the entrance of our desolate county so that all the people entering and leaving the county can see it!"
So when Xu Rurong left, there was an extra large box in their group.
The head of the Ma family was still promising to deliver the grain to the county government office immediately.
Luo Yong was dumbfounded when he saw the whole box of silver ingots.
So this newly arrived county magistrate easily obtained more than 2,000 taels of silver, as well as a batch of grain.
That's two thousand taels! I wonder how much grain that could buy!
He thought the magistrate would stop soon, but to his surprise, the magistrate turned around and went to the Wang family.
The head of the Wang family had his servants investigate and found that the magistrate had indeed come from one of the other two families, which made him somewhat convinced.
In addition, the rows and rows of silver were really eye-catching, so Xu Rurong quickly used the same words to swindle 2,500 taels of silver and a cart of grain.
This action terrified Magistrate Chen, who feared he would be beaten out of the scene by the servants of these grain merchants.
Finally, they returned to the Zhao family's residence.
Before entering, Magistrate Chen specifically reminded him, "Your Excellency, the head of the Zhao family is not someone to be fooled. If you anger him, all the silver you swindled today will be wasted."
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