After the carriage came to a stop, Magistrate Cao got off and saw Zhao Xian and Li Guang standing at the door. He quickly walked over and bowed.
"This humble official greets Marquis Zhengyang and General Li."
"Magistrate Cao, you're too kind. Please come in and have a seat."
When Magistrate Cao saw that Zhao Xian's house was decorated with lanterns and filled with joy, he knew that there must be some happy occasion in the house, but he was too embarrassed to ask.
Seeing the magistrate's puzzled expression, Zhao Xian spoke up:
“A few days ago, General Li and I were both blessed with a son. We were preparing to celebrate today when Magistrate Cao arrived. We can have a drink together to celebrate.”
"So that's how it is. It seems I've arrived at the perfect time." Thinking this, Magistrate Cao quickly offered his congratulations.
"So it's the Marquis of Zhengyang and General Li who have a son. Congratulations!"
By this time, almost all the guests had arrived for the banquet, and Zhao Xian and Li Guang led everyone into the restaurant to take their seats.
After settling down, Zhao Xian asked:
"What important matter brings Magistrate Cao here today?"
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Cao immediately beamed with joy and said:
“A few days ago, I received a transfer order to go to Shuzhou to serve as the prefect of Shuzhou. I will be going to Shuzhou to take up my post in two days. Today I have come to bid farewell to Marquis Zhengyang and General Li.”
Magistrate Cao was promoted directly from a seventh-rank county magistrate to a fifth-rank prefect, a promotion of two ranks at once, which was indeed not easy.
"Congratulations, Magistrate Cao! No, you should now be called Prefect Cao!" Zhao Xian immediately offered his congratulations.
"You're too kind, Marquis Zhengyang. I was able to be promoted to Prefect of Shuzhou entirely thanks to you and General Li. Today, I've come to Shuixian Village not only to say goodbye but also to express my gratitude."
After Magistrate Cao finished speaking, he stood up again and bowed to Zhao Xian and Li Guang.
"No need for formalities. Magistrate Cao was promoted to Prefect of Shuzhou because he is diligent in his duties and loves the people, and has made great contributions to Zhengyang County."
Three years ago, Zhao was a poor scholar who started by selling kimchi to support his family, and has now accumulated some wealth.
Over the years, the county government has provided Zhao with tremendous assistance. Without Magistrate Cao's strong support, Zhao would not have accumulated such a large fortune today.
Zhao Xian's words were true. Since transmigrating to this dynasty, he had met Prefect Shen and Magistrate Cao. With the help of their modern knowledge, Zhao Xian developed his business and things went very smoothly.
If it weren't for the protection of these two officials, Zhao Xian would hardly have gotten to where he is today.
In this era, murderous and thieving forces are everywhere, and if you lack sufficient protection, you are very likely to perish.
Of course, in any era, interests are reciprocal. Zhao Xian used his modern knowledge to help Prefect Shen and Magistrate Cao a lot, and their rapid promotions were inseparable from Zhao Xian's assistance.
By this time, all the dishes on the table had been served, and the banquet had officially begun. The guests all knew that today's banquet featured fine wines and dishes, delicacies that were hard to find even in some high-end restaurants.
In their good spirits, Zhao Xian and Li Guang, for the first time ever, drank baijiu (Chinese liquor). After a few cups, Zhao Xian became noticeably more talkative.
"Prefect Cao has gone to Shuzhou to take up his post. I wonder who will succeed him as the magistrate of Zhengyang County?" Zhao Xian asked.
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Cao couldn't help but laugh and said, "Wang Zhibo will take over as magistrate of Zhengyang County. He is an official in the provincial government, and Marquis Zhengyang should know him."
"Wang Zhibo".
Zhao Xian read the name aloud. He felt a little familiar with it, but he couldn't quite place it.
Seeing this, Magistrate Cao spoke up:
"Does Marquis Zhengyang remember that two years ago at the poetry gathering held in Qing'an Prefecture, Wang Zhibo, as one of the talented scholars selected by Zhengyang County, participated in that poetry gathering?"
Reminded by Magistrate Cao, Zhao Xian finally remembered that when he had just produced millet wine, Magistrate Cao had invited him to the annual poetry gathering held in Qing'an Prefecture. Accompanying him were not only Wang Zhibo, but also a talented scholar named Li Qi.
"After being reminded by Prefect Cao, I remembered that Wang Zhibo is from Zhengyang County and is a great talent. I never expected that he would take over as the magistrate of Zhengyang County."
"Yes, Zhengyang County is not what it used to be. Being appointed as the county magistrate of Zhengyang County is a sign of being highly valued by the provincial government."
Wang Zhibo is not only young and exceptionally knowledgeable, but also possesses a pioneering spirit. With him as magistrate, Zhengyang County will be governed even better.
Zhao Xian nodded. Having Wang Zhibo appointed as the magistrate of Zhengyang County was a good thing for him, since they were acquaintances. It was always easier to get things done with someone you knew.
"It is estimated that Wang Zhibo will take office in three days. After he has dealt with the affairs of the county government, he will definitely come to Shuixian Village to visit Marquis Zhengyang."
“Okay, I will be waiting for Magistrate Wang to grace Shuixian Village with his presence then,” Zhao Xian said excitedly.
The restaurant was bustling with activity and the atmosphere was very harmonious. All the guests attending the banquet were Zhao Xian and Li Guang's relatives and friends.
Just then, Li Chun'e carrying Zhao Yue and Li Xue carrying Li Nan walked into the restaurant, allowing the guests to meet the two young masters.
Since Yang Ruotong and Meng Yaoyao were both in postpartum confinement and couldn't be exposed to cold winds, neither of them came out.
The two babies were only a few days old and still very fragile, so everyone immediately stopped making noise, afraid of frightening them.
The child was very cute, with bright, dark eyes looking at everyone curiously.
As expected of descendants of a prestigious family, Zhao Xian and Li Guang are a remarkable figure in the Great Northern Dynasty, and the other is a war god in the Great Northern Dynasty. As future emperors, this determines that the two children will be extraordinary and will surely become the pillars of the Great Northern Dynasty in the future.
After a round of walking, the child was taken away, and the guests resumed their drinking and merrymaking.
After Li Xue carried Li Nan back, they went to the restaurant for a meal.
Li Xue has been taking care of the two little ones for the past few days and is exhausted.
Zhao Xian and Li Guang both had children, and Li Xue was very happy, but deep down she felt a sense of loss that was hard to describe.
Only Li Xue herself could understand this feeling; she dared not reveal it, but buried it deep in her heart.
Li Guang was very clever. Although Li Xue appeared indifferent on the surface, he had already sensed it.
He knew that Li Xue had fallen deeply in love with Zhao Xian, but she would never confess her feelings to him, which caused her great pain.
Li Guang didn't know if Zhao Xian had seen through Li Xue's inner world, and even if he did, Zhao Xian wouldn't say it.
Perhaps he himself is the one who can break the deadlock; he needs to find an opportunity to let the two lovers become a couple.
After the wedding banquet ended, the guests quickly dispersed.
After talking with Zhao Xian for a while, Magistrate Cao prepared to take his leave.
Zhao Xian had two jars of liquor prepared and asked Magistrate Cao to take them with him, but Magistrate Cao quickly declined.
"Prefect Cao, this is wedding wine, you must bring it. If I have the chance in the future, I will go to Shuzhou to pay my respects to you, Prefect, and we will have a drink together then."
Seeing this, Magistrate Cao no longer declined, bid farewell to everyone, and left Narcissus Village.
After that, Zhao Xian focused all his attention on his own business.
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