Chapter 27 Love the People
The ninth day of the seventh lunar month is an auspicious day.
Mei Niang hosted a thank-you banquet, helping her daughter, Magistrate Su Qing, to welcome and see off the guests.
Not only that, but the official robes Su Qing wore were all provided by her.
Having prior experience, this light green official robe with mandarin duck patterns was made exceptionally exquisitely, and the plain silver belt specially tied around the waist added a touch of composure.
Seventeen-year-old Su Qing looked incredibly dashing in his official boots.
Su Qing even walked around a few times with her hands behind her back, and laughed at herself.
However, when she goes out to greet guests, she is extremely composed and proper. Her peach blossom eyes are smiling, yet no one dares to underestimate her.
After all, this is Su Qing.
She was the first female county magistrate of Shunchang Kingdom.
Such skill is not something ordinary people possess.
Since it was a thank-you banquet, everyone present naturally knew each other.
Upon hearing that the Emperor had appointed Su Qing as the magistrate of Nanjiang County, they immediately sent him gifts.
Mei Niang was experienced; she accepted what she could, and found a way to return what she couldn't accept, while also keeping a good list of gifts and hosting a thank-you banquet.
The banquet was held in the back courtyard of the government office.
The county's wealthy families and gentry, the owners and doctors of the seven pharmacies, and the village chiefs and neighborhood heads.
In addition, there were colleagues from surrounding counties such as Xin County and Wuzhai County.
Commander Zhou and his men from the army's inner circle all came.
However, the arrival of Commander Xue in person was the biggest surprise to Su Qing.
Commander Xue also took some time to come over, but he had to go back after a short while.
Attending the banquet under such circumstances is a clear indication of support for Magistrate Su.
“We’re both straightforward people, no need for further words,” said Commander Xue. “And no need for any further gifts. I should thank you again for the wounded soldiers sent from Beijiang County.”
"But as you know, the front lines need manpower."
Su Qing nodded slightly and watched Xue Shoubei and his party leave.
She knew the fighting on the front lines was tough.
Hopefully things will go more smoothly from now on.
Su Qing turned to return to the banquet, and as she passed a small garden, she heard someone mocking Instructor Gu and his wife.
"Once your family members pass the imperial examination and become successful candidates, they will also become officials. At that time, your family will have two county magistrates."
"A woman serving as a county magistrate is unprecedented in this dynasty! Your Gu family is really lucky!"
The tone was sarcastic, so it was obviously not a compliment.
The reaction of Instructor Gu and his wife was exactly what they wanted; they were so angry they were speechless, making them a laughingstock.
After the people who had mocked them left, Instructor Gu angrily exclaimed, "This is a disgrace to our family tradition and to our culture!"
"It's one thing if we get laughed at, but what if we get laughed at by our classmates and peers?!"
Madam Gu said directly, "This marriage should be called off immediately; it can't be delayed any longer."
"You know Si's attitude."
“Mingming had always disagreed. But ever since Su Qing recovered from her injury and took charge last year, he has shown no intention of breaking off the engagement.”
Whether it was Su Qing's casual distribution of grain, his ignoring of others' opinions to donate medicine, or his decision not to hold the county examination, etc.
Their son showed no intention of breaking off the engagement.
Recently, they have been trying to persuade them to propose marriage, and even want to finalize the marriage before the provincial examination.
That's why the couple didn't call off the engagement.
If I could have withdrawn, I would have done so long ago.
Su Qing was taken aback.
Last year, Gu Congsi had a really sour face.
They don't even want to call off the engagement?
I can't tell.
Up to now, in the most recent period of time.
Su Qing touched her head.
Not to boast, but she felt that Gu Congsi had no intention of breaking off the engagement.
“Congsi is the most filial son. I threatened to kill myself if I didn’t comply, how could he not do it?” Madam Gu said finally. “But we’ll talk about it after he finishes the provincial examination.”
"So as not to affect his exam."
Instructor Gu nodded: "Yes, put everything else aside, the provincial examination is the most important."
"Whether we pass the exam or not, we're moving away."
Su Qing is relieved. You two need to work hard.
This saved her a lot of trouble; at least she could easily get past Mei Niang's hurdle.
She could pretend to cry then, and Mei Niang would definitely comfort her first, so she wouldn't have time to be sad.
But Instructor Gu is leaving.
Another thing is causing me worry.
That means Nanjiang County needs to find a new instructor.
Regardless of the Gu family's thoughts, he was still a qualified instructor.
County Magistrate Tian now drinks every day, and many people have almost forgotten about him.
The positions of chief clerk and clerk are also vacant.
She approved her third uncle's resignation.
Now we need to find a tutor in advance.
Su Qing took a detour back to the banquet, her mind filled with thoughts of the government's personnel arrangements.
Now that she has become an official, her subordinates will certainly not mistreat her.
Like Chief Constable Wu, and his three subordinate constables.
The sixth branch of the family was in charge of affairs, etc.
These were originally acting positions, but now they've all been promoted to permanent positions.
To put it simply, they will all become permanent employees and be formally employed.
besides.
The county will also set up two additional departments.
One was the Canal Transport Office, responsible for ensuring smooth navigation at the wharf, scheduling of docked vessels, and miscellaneous tasks such as dredging.
The second is the Medical Training Department, which oversees local pharmacies and trains medical personnel.
Although these two positions were minor official posts, they were very important to Nanjiang County today.
Careful selection is required.
If it doesn't count, then so be it.
This means the government will need to hire more people.
Su Qing declined the drinks offered by her subordinates and only drank tea.
The clerk leaned over and said, "Magistrate, why are you frowning? Is something bothering you?"
Seeing the worry on Xiao Fei's face, Su Qing couldn't help but say, "What a pity."
What a pity?
Gu Congsi walked over and looked at Su Qing.
"It's a pity you have to take the imperial examination next year, so you can't continue as a clerk. Otherwise, you could have managed the Grand Canal Transport Office."
ah? !
Fei Kaiyu almost said, "I'm not taking the exam! I'll become the head of the Grand Canal Transport Office!"
Of course, that's unlikely to work.
After all, only by passing the imperial examination could one have a bright future.
Gu Congsi asked, "The Grand Canal Transport Office?"
Su Qing nodded, and seeing that many people were looking over, he simply said, "We will hold a large meeting at the yamen tomorrow and explain everything in detail."
When Su Qing was in charge, there were very few large meetings.
The fact that the people in charge are all going means there must be something important going on.
The couple, Officer Wu and his wife, were overjoyed.
The six acting heads of the household also looked over.
Su Qing chuckled and said, "It's the thing you're thinking about."
Are they all to be promoted to permanent positions?
That's all they're thinking about!
Su Qing replied firmly, "How could I go back on my word?"
Everyone was stunned for a moment, then became extremely happy.
Very good!
Although we know that Magistrate Su will not treat everyone unfairly.
But I was still excited to hear the confirmed news.
I didn't think it would be so quick, but who is Magistrate Su? Her efficiency in handling affairs is unmatched!
The excitement of the government officials was palpable.
It made the other guests envious.
The same applies to the owners and doctors of the seven pharmacies, but Su Qing added to Doctor Bai and Doctor Hao, "You should come tomorrow as well."
ah? !
The two of them?
The two people who were suddenly called out were dumbfounded.
What does the collective promotion of officials in your department have to do with doctors?
No way.
Are you all going to the yamen too?!
Su Qing invited the two doctors, naturally for the purpose of establishing a medical training department.
Both men are of impeccable character and have made outstanding contributions in taking care of the soldiers, so they should naturally be given priority in this matter.
At this moment, although the two did not know what was going on, they understood that Magistrate Su would not harm them.
As for the envious glances from others, they accepted them without question, and even pretended to decline, saying, "Oh, no, we don't care that much."
Actually, I was secretly thrilled!
The tenth day of the seventh month in the second year of Yongsheng.
The heads of the three shifts and six departments of the Nanjiang County government finally removed the "acting head" from the title.
Even the unofficial clerks under his command were listed in the yamen register as official officials of Shunchang Kingdom.
Apart from clerks like Fei Kaiyu who still had to take the imperial examinations, everyone else underwent changes.
Gu Congsi, needless to say, did not hold any position and there is no need to elaborate further.
The biggest change was that Luo Hufang was promoted to Luo Zhubu.
He is currently serving as the chief clerk and will temporarily also serve as the head of the household affairs department. He will resign once a suitable replacement is found.
Gong Bingfang was promoted to Gong Dianli, succeeding Su Sanshu in his position.
He was in charge of local militia and local militia training.
The position of head of the military affairs office was filled by his subordinate, Wang Long.
The three of them had their eyes light up.
Being diligent in your work always has its advantages!
They were the busiest before, especially after the medicinal herbs ran into problems, they would stay up all night trying to find a solution.
Magistrate Su witnessed all of this!
Those who should be promoted will be promoted, and those who should be given a permanent position will be promoted.
The Grand Canal Transport Office and the Medical Training Department were two newly established departments.
The former did not have a suitable person.
The latter was headed by Dr. Bai as the chief administrator, Dr. Hao as the deputy chief administrator, and the remaining clerks were recruited.
Both Dr. Bai and Dr. Hao were shocked.
With 29,000 mu of medicinal herb fields in Nanjiang County today, who doesn't know that the local pharmacy is about to take off?
Furthermore, with the number of wounded soldiers increasing, a greater number of medical personnel are needed.
These two things were like a stroke of good fortune for them.
There was no way they could refuse, and the two immediately bowed in gratitude.
The atmosphere in the main hall of the yamen was so intense it seemed to reach the heavens.
There is no greater joy in life than this!
I told you, following Magistrate Su Qing was the right thing to do, wasn't it?!
If it were anyone else, they wouldn't have such a good life.
Gu Congsi glanced at the cheering officials, then at Su Qing.
But I found only calmness and scrutiny in her eyes.
After a moment, Su Qing raised her hand, signaling everyone to quiet down.
She slowly stood up and pointed to the plaque above her head.
This is the new plaque she replaced.
Four large characters were written on it.
"Uphold the law and love the people."
Su Qing, with his hands behind his back, asked, "Where did this saying come from?"
Gu Congsi replied: "A governor's love for the people must be both evident and substantial; you should be the weft and I the warp." This is a poem by Feng Bogui.
Fei Kaiyu recited the entire text.
With sincere prayers for rain, one can expect a bountiful harvest to spread throughout the land.
The silkworm cocoons are reeled in neat rows, the silk threads curl white, and the rice seedlings are planted with ease, turning the rice green.
Enjoying the wine and sorghum, we are blessed with heavenly bounty, and the fragrant buds sprout from the earth's spirit.
To uphold the law and love the people, one must act both outwardly and inwardly; the ruler should be the weft and I the warp.
This poem is easy to understand.
"The people worked hard and prayed for a good harvest, and they truly succeeded," Su Qing said.
"Have the officials upheld the orders and cared for the people?"
The people have done so much.
We pray for rain with all our hearts, we weave and cultivate, all for a bountiful harvest.
Have officials fulfilled their duties of obeying orders and caring for the people?
Only by doing so can we weave a magnificent picture, with one as the weft and the other as the warp.
The previously noisy courtroom fell completely silent.
It wasn't that Su Qing wanted to spoil the fun.
It's certainly good to get promoted and make money.
But let's not forget how they managed to keep this government office, which had no officials, afloat before.
She was distributing porridge and medicine to the people.
But if the common people followed her to seize grain, didn't they make a contribution?
Later she said she wanted to grow medicinal herbs, and so many people helped her.
Did she and the officials personally plant the seeds, fertilize and water them?
Not to mention when there are problems with the medicinal materials.
Who exactly came step by step to the yamen and helped them overcome this difficulty?
How did she become the first female county magistrate of Shunchang Kingdom?
Is it solely based on her abilities?
I don't think so.
How did you get promoted?
That seems easier to understand now.
The answer lies in the four words: "obeying orders and loving the people."
The crowd, who were initially excited about the promotion, slowly looked up at these four words.
Some things seem to be slowly returning.
Yes, now that we've become official officials, does that mean we can enjoy ourselves?
If that's the case, wouldn't they be just like local officials?
As Nanjiang County has developed, it has become a logistics transit point designated by the imperial court.
He didn't get his position by indulging in the lust for power.
Many people felt as if they had been struck by lightning, and couldn't help but feel ashamed.
Heaven knows, when they first came to the government office, all they wanted was to be able to feed their families.
I've forgotten all this; I wanted to relax properly.
"There's no way we can relax," Su Qing said with a smile. "Anyone who breaks the law and disregards the people will be punished."
"I will punish them severely without leniency."
"I, Su Qing, keep my word."
The clerks, including Fei Kaiyu, stared with delight.
Magistrate Su was the model official he had read about in the books of the sages.
He has no regrets in this life for having such an enlightening boss.
Gu Congsi slowly clenched his fingers, his heart beating faster than usual.
Su Qing.
How could there be someone like Su Qing?
His eyes grew increasingly intense with emotion; this was none other than his fiancée.
How fortunate he is.
Su Qing had already sat down, her usual smile returning: "How are the newly added 20,000 mu of medicinal herb fields doing?"
"If there are any people familiar with the canal transport, please recommend them."
“There is still a household head in charge; those interested can contact me.”
A series of tasks were given out.
The atmosphere in the courtroom had somewhat returned to normal.
But everyone who saw the four large characters above Magistrate Su Qing's head would tense up.
Don't become a corrupt official!
Magistrate Su really won't hold back!
Trying to outsmart her or bully the people in front of her?
If you want to die, just say so!
Don't drag them down!
Uphold the law and love the people.
They all remembered it!
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