Chapter 187: Helping the World
"I have been in Wu County for more than 20 years, and this is my first time to visit Huanggou Village!" Mrs. Hu exclaimed as she looked at the scenery outside the car window.
"Madam, Huanggou Village was just a gathering place for criminal officials exiled from Chang'an twenty years ago. It was gradually formed into a small village with only 32 households now." County Magistrate Hu said with a smile.
"Ah? I thought this village existed a long time ago!" Mrs. Hu was embarrassed and made a fool of herself.
"Are there really talented people in this place?" Hu Dalang looked at the desolate mountain road with doubt.
The official road from the provincial capital to the county town was mostly crowded with merchants carrying goods by carts and horses, showing a prosperous atmosphere.
The small path leading to the countryside is full of villagers in ragged clothes, carrying baskets filled with vegetables, vermicelli, etc. to sell at the market.
There are a lot of people, but it can’t compare with county towns or state capitals.
"You little brat! Do you suspect your father of lying? The governor has been here, and the recorder, Lord Wang, has been here for two months. How could it be fake?"
County Magistrate Hu patted his eldest son on the back of the head.
The two sons were studying in the provincial capital, and they always thought that Dalang was better, more steady and focused.
But now County Magistrate Hu feels that Erlang should be the winner.
I read a variety of books and don't like rote memorization. I have a lot of strange ideas in my mind all day long and I am free and easy.
Pay attention to people's livelihood, have the world in mind, have a broad vision, and have lofty ambitions.
Moreover, he is lucky and always meets noble people. Ever since he became acquainted with the Su family, he has had good luck.
The family business was booming, and Mr. Fu took him to meet dignitaries from all over the country.
Similarly, when he arrived in Huanggou Village, Erlang was full of novelty and felt that there was always something to learn.
Dalang is a very conventional person. He is not that sensitive to people's livelihood. He devotes himself to reading books of sages and philosophers in order to pass the imperial examinations and bring honor to his family.
If you are poor, you should take care of yourself; if you are rich, you should help the world.
County Magistrate Hu hopes that his sons will bring honor to the family, and even more so, he hopes that they will benefit the people when they serve as officials.
In this regard, the eldest son is slightly inferior to the second son.
"Dalang, if you have the chance, go out with Erlang more often and broaden your horizons!" County Magistrate Hu said earnestly.
"Father, what you said is very strange! The official school has famous teachers to guide it, isn't it better for Erlang to study on his own?" Hu Dalang was puzzled.
"Books are dead, but people are alive. Read thousands of books and travel thousands of miles! When you leave Lingnan, you will see a different world!" County Magistrate Hu shook his head and smiled.
Erlang often sent letters back home. He could not imagine the prosperity of Jiangnan and the bustling Grand Canal.
There were so many exciting things that County Magistrate Hu wished he could go there in person.
After reading the prosperous Tang Dynasty described in Erlang's letter, and then chatting with my eldest son, I felt that the great rivers and lakes had turned into trickles, and the spirit, vision and knowledge were all gone.
"Father, when I graduate from the official school next year, I will go to the capital to take the imperial examination. Walking and seeing things along the way, isn't that also traveling thousands of miles?" Hu Dalang disagreed.
County Magistrate Hu smiled but said nothing.
There is a lot of knowledge that can only be truly understood by going deep into the fields! This is also what County Magistrate Hu realized after visiting Huanggou Village several times during this period.
As the family was chatting and laughing, the carriage slowed down and the road ahead was blocked.
"What's going on?" Hu Dalang asked Acai.
"I don't know, sir!" Ah Cai stood on tiptoe and looked forward. "It seems to be our caravan."
"Ours?" Hu Dalang looked at his parents.
"Today is the last transaction before the New Year. The caravan came to purchase goods from Huanggou Village and Jinfeng Village. There should be transactions going on ahead." Mrs. Hu guessed.
"Let's go down and take a look." County Magistrate Hu jumped out of the car first, turned around and reached out to help his wife.
Mrs. Hu got out of the car with her husband's hand, and Hu Dalang jumped out and walked along with the flow of traffic.
"Shopkeeper Zhu, let's load the things from Jinfengzhai first!" A thin girl was talking to Shopkeeper Zhu, directing the loading of the things from Jinfengzhai.
A group of Li people were smiling and calling out "Aying Aying", which was very friendly.
The men from Huanggou Village were also busy helping out, and the people from the two villages were as close as a family.
"This girl is from the Su family, right?" Mrs. Hu watched Su Ying count the types and quantities of goods loaded onto the truck, and quickly reported the total amount and the total sum.
The speed of mental arithmetic is astonishing.
"Madam, you have a keen eye. You recognized her at a glance." County Magistrate Hu nodded. "Mr. Su's eldest daughter is quite famous among the women of Chang'an!"
"She's quite an amazing person. Just looking at her mental arithmetic is incredible. With so many items, she can count the total and the total amount in just a split second. Not everyone has this skill."
Mrs. Hu's eyes were full of admiration. She was completely different from the girl who pretended to be her that day.
The eyes of this girl named Su Ying were also rolling around, and they were bright. Because her brain was calculating quickly, she was smart, lively and energetic.
And the impostor Su He had calculations in his rolling eyes.
He seems to be eloquent, but in fact he is extremely stupid and makes a fool of others. He doesn't know that in the eyes of others, he is the clown.
"Hey, who is this? Has she studied mathematics? So amazing!" Hu Dalang was impressed by Su Ying's mental arithmetic.
Even the few students who excelled in mathematics in the official schools could not reach this speed.
"Don't underestimate this girl, she's very powerful! She's Su Ying, the daughter of the former Chang'an County Magistrate." County Magistrate Hu introduced.
"Is he the first official of our dynasty to be exiled to Lingnan?" Hu Dalang heard his parents mention him on the way.
"Yes, the girl has two older brothers who are students of the Imperial College. They are much more knowledgeable than you, a student from the provincial capital! If you have the chance, please ask them for advice!" County Magistrate Hu patted his eldest son.
There is always someone better than you. Students from remote prefectures and villages are no match for students from the Imperial College!
"Aye!" Hu Dalang looked resentful.
No matter how incompetent I am, I am still one of the top students in Wuzhou. How can a father like me destroy my prestige and boost others' ambitions?
"Da Lang, Er Lang is better than you in this respect. You really should go out more often and don't let the reputation of being one of the Four Talented Scholars of Wuzhou blind you! You're really not good enough outside!"
County Magistrate Hu knew that his eldest son was arrogant.
"Sir Hu!" Su Bucheng saw Magistrate Hu and his family outside the crowd and hurried forward to greet them. "Congratulations, Sir, on your promotion to County Magistrate!"
The noisy villagers finally noticed Lord Hu. Upon hearing his words, they all bowed and congratulated him, "Congratulations, sir!"
"Dear fellow villagers, congratulations! Judging from the current situation, the trading volume is quite large, and we will have a good harvest this year!" County Magistrate Hu returned the greeting with a smile.
"We are where we are today thanks to your support!" the villagers said happily.
"Sir, we will celebrate the festival in Jinfeng Village tomorrow. Please follow me to Jinfeng Village to drink rice wine!" Ah Hei took the initiative to invite.
"Yes, sir, come to our Jinfeng Village to drink rice wine!" The Li people invited in unison.
"Thank you very much, thank you very much! I will definitely come to bother you tomorrow. Today, let's go to Huanggou Village to see how the road is being repaired!" County Magistrate Hu bowed to the people and happily accepted it.
This was the recognition of the Li people towards himself. County Magistrate Hu felt a sense of pride in his heart. He had to go there anyway to get closer to them!
"Okay, I will come to Huanggou Village to pick you up tomorrow!" Ah Hei made an appointment with County Magistrate Hu.
"Ah Hei, why don't you invite A De and the other grandpas to our Huang Gou Village for lunch tomorrow at noon? Thanks to your help, our road was opened so quickly.
How about inviting Mr. Hu to your Jinfeng Village for a drink this afternoon?" Su Bucheng suggested.
"Okay! Since Mr. Su has invited us so kindly, we won't refuse! Grandpas Ade and I will attend the banquet on time tomorrow at noon!" Ah Hei agreed readily.
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