Over there, Li Erlang and his daughter returned home. Lin asked hurriedly, "What happened? Why did my younger sister have to be carried back by my elder brother?"
Li Yan recounted what happened today! Scared, Lin covered her chest and said, "You can only know a person's face but not his heart. Fortunately, there was no danger! From now on, our little sister is finally free!"
Li Erlang sat on a stone bench in the courtyard and took a sip of the tea his wife handed him. "We didn't get the divorce agreement today. With the character of the Liu family, I'm afraid the longer we stay, the more trouble we'll have!"
The more he thought about it, the more he felt that this matter had to be settled quickly. So he stood up, went back to his room, and wrote another letter of divorce.
Blow dry the ink and put it away.
Li Erlang said to Li Yan, "You stay at home with your mother. I'll go to the county government office right away."
Mrs. Lin looked at her husband going out again, feeling both distressed and worried.
Li Yan looked at her worried mother and comforted her, "Don't worry, Mom. Our aunt is the victim. County Magistrate Zheng won't make things difficult for Dad!"
Lin listened to her daughter's words of comfort and stroked her daughter's soft hair. "Are you hungry? I made some steamed buns in the kitchen. They should be ready by now!"
Li Erlang returned to the town and came to the gate of the county government office. He saluted an elderly official and said, "I, Li Wenzhi, am seeking an audience with the county magistrate regarding my younger sister's divorce. I wonder if the county magistrate is available at this time?"
People at that time were particularly tolerant of scholars. The gatekeeper saw that Li Erlang was dressed like a scholar, although his clothes were shabby, but he did not make things difficult for him. He asked his companion to report to him.
At this time, County Magistrate Zheng had just learned that his daughter had brought back a prisoner.
The Yang brothers explained the whole story to County Magistrate Zheng.
After hearing this, County Magistrate Zheng threw the teacup in anger. "This Liu Zhongwang has read the books of sages, yet he is capable of such shameless behavior! I think the moral character of the students at Rongcheng Academy needs to be carefully examined!"
As they were talking, the messenger outside the door reported: "There is a scholar outside who claims to be Li Wenzhi, asking to see you, and he said he wants a letter of divorce."
County Magistrate Zheng calmed down and ordered the person to come in.
When County Magistrate Zheng saw Li Erlang, he felt quite familiar with him for a moment.
Isn’t this the person who came to see my girl last time?
I still vividly remember the day when that man came to me anxiously, asking if my daughter was at home.
Li Erlang hurriedly bowed upon seeing County Magistrate Zheng. "Disciple Li Wenzhi, greetings to the magistrate! I've made this presumptuous visit in the hope that you can help me secure a divorce agreement for my sister."
As he spoke, he took out the written divorce agreement from his bosom and held it forward with both hands.
County Magistrate Zheng took the divorce letter and looked at the elegant handwriting. He couldn't help but admire it and said, "Your handwriting is very good and full of style. I think you put a lot of effort into it!"
He has been in Rongcheng for less than half a year and is already overwhelmed by many things.
The parachuted county magistrate, who was unfamiliar with the place, mostly did his job perfunctorily.
County Magistrate Zheng also wanted to build up his own power for his own use.
Li Erlang is a local. Judging from his clothes, he looks like an ordinary citizen. He doesn't have any backers, so he won't do things insincerely.
Magistrate Zheng made up his mind and asked, "Have you taken the provincial examination this year?"
Li Erlang said dejectedly: "I am not talented enough and did not pass the provincial examination!"
Seeing the young man's coarse clothes, starched and bleached, County Magistrate Zheng offered a lure: "Reading books is a luxury, not to mention the annotations by famous scholars. Even money can't buy official gazettes! But I have a collection here."
Li Erlang nodded in response. Although he longed for it in his heart, he could also accept it calmly. He didn't know how much his family had paid to support his studies over the years.
Seeing that Li Erlang was eager but did not ask to borrow the book, County Magistrate Zheng felt that this young man was a man with a good sense of propriety.
Patting Li Erlang on the shoulder, he said, "I'm still short of a clerk. If you don't mind, come over tomorrow and help me with copying and writing. I'll pay you 500 coins a month, and you can also read my collection of books in your spare time!"
Li Erlang never thought that such a good thing would happen. He was so happy that he bowed deeply to express his gratitude.
You have to know that this was an era when books were monopolized by the aristocracy, and even if you paid money you might not be able to read books annotated by famous authors!
County Magistrate Zheng waved his hand and said to Li Erlang, "I've heard about your sister's situation. The man is now imprisoned in the prison. I'll have someone take you there to deal with it yourself!"
After that, he ordered the yamen runner outside the door: "Take him to the prison cell and let Lieutenant General Liu sign the divorce book!"
Li Erlang bowed again to express his gratitude and followed the bailiff to the county jail.
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