Chapter 55: Mother, is the top scholar really smiling? (4000 words, 2-in-1)
It was the fifth day since Xiao Mo returned to Shiqiao Village.
County Magistrate Sun found Xiao Mo.
County Magistrate Sun obviously knew that Bai Rushue was "taken away by the immortal", and he also knew that Xiao Mo, a man who valued friendship and loyalty, would definitely feel very uncomfortable when he saw that Bai Rushue was missing after returning.
He returned home in glory, but the most important person was not there.
"Alas" County Magistrate Sun couldn't help but sigh for Xiao Mo whenever he thought of him.
That’s why County Magistrate Sun didn’t come to disturb us in the past few days.
On the fifth day, County Magistrate Sun felt that Xiao Mo's emotions might have calmed down, so he cautiously came to ask Xiao Mo about the parade.
As for the three words "white as snow", County Magistrate Sun naturally did not mention a single word.
Xiao Mo also knew that parading the top scholar through the streets was a custom in Qi State since ancient times. If he didn't go, it would be disrespecting the county magistrate, and it would also have a significant impact on his future political career.
So Xiao Mo naturally agreed.
"Xiao Mo, you don't need to prepare anything. Just leave everything to me. I will make sure you are in great shape!"
At the beginning, County Magistrate Sun thought that there might be no hope.
In fact, even if Xiao Mo did not parade through the streets, County Magistrate Sun would not blame him. After all, County Magistrate Sun also knew how deep the relationship between Xiao Mo and that white girl was.
But when he heard that Xiao Mo agreed to parade through the streets, County Magistrate Sun was naturally very happy!
The next morning, the team welcoming the top scholar arrived at the entrance of Shiqiao Village.
A little girl dressed in festive clothes walked into Xiao Mo's courtyard, put on the top scholar's wedding clothes for Xiao Mo, and put a big red flower on his head.
The villagers saw Xiao Mo out of the village and followed the top scholar.
Everyone in Shiqiao Village put on their new clothes.
Among them, the old village chief was happier.
Influenced by Xiao Mo, Village Chief Wang was recruited by County Magistrate Sun as a clerk.
When Xiao Mo was taken to Qingshan County, the streets were already full of people, all eager to witness the top scholar.
"Mom, why does the top scholar look so unhappy?" A little girl rode on her mother's neck and pointed at the top scholar and said.
"No, isn't the top scholar very happy? Look, he is smiling." said the girl's mother.
"Really?" The little girl bit her finger and tilted her head. "Is the top scholar really smiling?"
In June, the imperial capital appointed Xiao Mo as the magistrate of Jianshui County, Liuyun Commandery, Liangzhou, and he took office that same day.
For a top scholar, this starting point is indeed a bit low.
But no one thought that Xiao Mo would not be valued.
On the contrary, letting a top scholar become the magistrate of a remote prefecture is a way of first suppressing and then promoting him, and focusing on training him.
"Xiaoqing, do you want to stay here?"
Before leaving Shiqiao Village, Xiao Mo went up Sheshan and asked Xiao Qing.
"Hmm." Xiaoqing nodded. "That Elder Fuchen from the Tianxuan Sect taught me some techniques. I want to practice here and wait for my sister to wake up."
"Okay." Xiao Mo nodded. "If you have anything, just go find County Magistrate Sun and have him notify me."
"Don't worry, Brother Xiao, nothing will happen." Xiaoqing nodded.
"I'm leaving."
"I'll take Brother Xiao home."
Xiaoqing escorted Xiao Mo down the mountain.
When Xiao Mo left Shiqiao Village, all the villagers and County Magistrate Sun came to see him off.
County Magistrate Sun patted Xiao Mo's shoulder and said, "Xiao Mo, it was Mr. Zhang's idea that you be appointed as the magistrate of an ordinary county in Liangzhou this time."
Xiao Mo's eyes froze for a moment, then he nodded: "Junior understands."
"Do your best, and your future will be limitless." Magistrate Sun didn't need to explain it clearly, as smart people would understand it immediately.
"Thank you, Lord Sun, for your support over the years." Xiao Mo expressed his gratitude.
"Have a safe journey. I'll wait for you to shine in the court." County Magistrate Sun looked at the young man and felt a little reluctant to let him go.
Xiao Mo bowed deeply, got on the carriage, and took office in Jianshui County.
"Daddy, why didn't you tell me about my marriage to him?" After Xiao Mo left, Miss Sun came over dissatisfiedly, "That Miss Bai has gone to practice cultivation, so can't I be the wife of the top scholar?"
"Stop it!" Lord Sun knocked his daughter on the head.
After arriving in Jianshui County, Xiao Mo did not go to the government office immediately, but stayed in an inn in Jianshui County for some days.
Xiao Mo learned from the local people about the reputation of the previous county magistrate, whether there were any bullies in the county, which famous aristocratic clans were there, the personality of the head of the family, etc.
After learning the final answer, Xiao Mo could only sigh that it was indeed not easy to be the county magistrate of Jianshui County.
After understanding everything, Xiao Mo went to the government office, completed the handover procedures, and officially took office.
Xiao Mo immediately summoned the core team of the county government and expressed his humble attitude of "I am new here and I rely on you all."
Others felt that although this top scholar was young, he was very capable and could make money with them.
But they soon found out they were wrong.
Xiao Mo began to look through the household registration book, fish scale map book, money and grain account books, criminal case files, and official documents.
Then he used one faction to fight against another in the yamen and the county town, and supported those who supported him.
Establish rules, show favors, audit finances, review criminal cases, regulate taxes and levies, and cut down on unnecessary expenses.
He supported the local aristocratic families and suppressed them at the same time, using a stick in one hand and a date in the other.
Xiao Mo quickly established his own prestige.
In less than four years, the politics in Jianshui County were not as clear as water, but at least no one dared to act arrogantly.
There is a nursery rhyme that goes—
The sun is shining, the clouds are floating. Jianshui County, the lucky star has arrived.
Xiao County Magistrate was a man of great ability. He built canals and bridges over rivers.
Fight the wolves and protect the lambs.
Reduce taxes, plant new crops. Fill the granaries, and be happy.
Written in ink, Taiping Tune.
Five years after taking office, Xiao Mo was transferred from Jianshui County and promoted to Xueyang County, Qingyang Prefecture.
On the day he left office, the people saw him off for ten miles, all crying and trying to keep him.
Before going to Xueyang County, Xiao Mo first returned to Shiqiao Village to visit old friends and then visit the new county magistrate.
The previous County Magistrate Sun was also promoted, mainly because Xiao Mo mentioned County Magistrate Sun several times in his letters to Zhang Qianzhi.
Xiao Mo came to Sheshan to visit Ruxue and Xiaoqing.
Xiaoqing has grown a lot taller now and has become more like a grown-up girl.
However, Xiaoqing's realm is not as good as her sister's. Now Xiaoqing's realm should be at the Longmen realm.
Xiaoqing thought that after five years, Brother Xiao would have married, but now Brother Xiao has not.
"Has Brother Xiao found a sweetheart in the past few years?"
In the courtyard, Xiao Mo and Xiao Qing had a rare meal.
Xiao Mo shook his head and said with a smile: "I'm too busy with official duties and don't have time to think about that."
Xiao Qing lowered her head and said, "Brother Xiao, if I were here, I wouldn't want you to be alone forever."
Xiao Mo didn't say anything, but just picked up some food for Xiao Qing: "Eat more, it feels like you've lost weight in four or five years."
Xiaoqing opened her mouth slightly, wanting to say something, but finally closed it.
A few days later, Xiao Mo took office as the county magistrate of Xueyang County.
The prefect of Xueyang County was very polite to Xiao Mo.
Everyone knows that Xiao Mo is Zhang Qianzhi's disciple, and the current Prime Minister's junior brother. He is also appreciated by His Majesty. The poems "When Will the Bright Moon Rise" and "Spring Li Palace Fu" he wrote in the imperial examination spread throughout Qi.
It is even said that the original manuscript of the current "Enfeoffment Order" was written by Xiao Mo.
Not to mention that Xiao Mo's reputation has been extremely high in the past few years. The people have been seeing him off for ten miles, which has become a good story in the area. Your Majesty has known about it for a long time.
Xiao Mo's future is limitless!
During the first few months of Xiao Mo's tenure as county magistrate, he basically familiarized himself with local affairs, made friends with some local aristocratic families, and understood the personalities of his subordinates and superiors.
Talk less and listen more.
Wait until Xiao Mo feels that it is almost done before officially taking over.
Xiao Mo is a humble person and usually looks like an elegant scholar.
But when Xiao Mo does things, he is decisive and efficient, and even has a sense of unconventionality.
In the second year of Xiao Mo's tenure as County Magistrate, Xueyang County was struck by a major epidemic!
An unknown plague spread throughout Xueyang County. The infected people suffered from fever, nausea, vomiting, and pus-filled boils on their bodies, and finally died of diarrhea.
The governor of Xueyang County had never encountered such a thing before, and he was instantly panicked.
Xiao Mo stepped forward to take charge of the situation and blocked the county town where the patients were, allowing only entry but not exit.
Any supplies can only be delivered to the city gate and then transported in by people inside the city.
Xiao Mo has been collecting herbs for a living since he was a child. When he grew up, he also read some medical books and learned some medical skills.
He went to check the symptoms in person. After finding the cause, Xiao Mo advocated that cold water should not be consumed directly, but must be boiled. The infected people were divided into different areas for treatment and various epidemic prevention guidelines were set.
The medical monk sent by the palace arrived in Xueyang County and proposed a solution, but the herbs in his prescription were too expensive. Expensive herbs meant that the quantity was small, and many people could not use them.
So Xiao Mo tried his best to find alternative herbs, and tasted hundreds of herbs personally with the medical monk.
Anyway, the medical monk is here, so I won’t die from eating it.
Finally, Xiao Mo extracted elements from the "white osmanthus flower", which is very effective in treating diseases!
During the past six months, Xiao Mo slept less than two and a half hours a day, and spent his free time among the patients.
The medical monk was already ready to treat Xiao Mo.
But Xiao Mo didn't get sick.
Although Xiao Mo has the good fortune of mountains and rivers, the good fortune of mountains and rivers cannot protect officials from life, death or illness.
I can only say that he is really lucky.
Five and a half months later, the plague in Xueyang County dissipated.
The people can see everything Xiao Mo does.
The people spontaneously built a shrine for Xiao Mo.
Although Xiao Mo is only the second in command of Xueyang County, in the hearts of most ordinary people, they have forgotten who the top leader of Xueyang County is.
As for the prefect of Xueyang County, he naturally had no objection at all.
Because he knew that Xiao Mo's future achievements would not be in the lower realms, but in the temple.
Instead, Xiao Mo refused several times, but the people just wouldn't listen.
As a result, shrines were built in various places in Xueyang County, and the words in the shrines depicted a scholar "holding a scroll in one hand and medicinal herbs in the other."
Xiao Mo could clearly feel that more and more luck from the mountains and rivers was blessing him.
"The waters of the Yellow River come from heaven, rushing to the sea and never returning."
Once, in order to test his official skills, Xiao Mo went to kill a ferocious beast in Xueyang County.
As Xiao Mo finished reciting the poem, the sky broke open and the illusory water of the Yellow River appeared, which directly smashed the ferocious beast into pieces.
But afterwards, Xiao Mo felt that the luck of mountains and rivers in his body had dissipated a lot, and it took several days to return to its original level.
Two years later, the former governor of Xueyang County was transferred to Qingyang Prefecture, and Xiao Mo became the governor of Xueyang County.
During the three years that Xiao Mo was in power, Xueyang County enjoyed good government and harmonious people. Every household left their doors unlocked at night and no one picked up things on the streets.
The people of Xueyang County hope that County Magistrate Xiao can continue in his post.
In Xueyang County, County Magistrate Xiao is like the blue sky.
But what surprises many people is that
County Magistrate Xiao is already in his twenties and should have gotten married long ago.
But why is County Magistrate Xiao always alone?
In fact, many of the aristocratic families in Xueyang County were also confused. They thought that Xiao Mo had not found a suitable partner, so they introduced their daughters to Xiao Mo.
But Xiao Mo declined them all.
Later, more and more news about Xiao Mo spread to the public.
It turned out that County Magistrate Xiao came from a poor family and was not even considered a child of a poor family.
County Magistrate Xiao had a childhood sweetheart. The two of them were inseparable, grew up together, and depended on each other.
After the two grew up together, County Magistrate Xiao passed the imperial examination, but his childhood sweetheart followed the immortal and left to practice cultivation, and the immortal and mortal were separated from then on.
But County Magistrate Xiao always waited for her to come back and did not want to marry another woman.
The story of "Mr. Xiao" became more and more popular, and was even written into vernacular novels by many scholars and widely circulated.
Faced with these exaggerated stories, Xiao Mo was quite amused and helpless.
"Master, I've bought you the osmanthus tea you requested."
At the Xueyang County Magistrate's residence, Xiao Mo was reading a book when two maids came into the yard carrying two bags of tea.
"Yeah." Xiao Mo flipped through the pages without looking up. "Did you pay?"
"Yes, sir," Caidie nodded.
Wangyue added, "At first, Shopkeeper Li was reluctant to accept it, but after much persuasion, I finally managed to get him to agree."
"That's good, you guys go down."
"Yes, sir." The two maids bowed and put down the tea, but they did not leave immediately. Instead, they pushed each other.
Xiao Mo raised his head and looked at Caidie and Wangyue: "Do you have anything else to say?"
"No," Caidie quickly shook her head, "I'm fine."
Xiao Mo smiled and said, "Why don't you just stand there and not leave?"
"Your servant." Caidie blushed and mustered up the courage to say, "Master, your servant, can you ask me something?"
"Um."
Wangyue said quickly, "Master, there have been rumors lately that your childhood sweetheart has joined the Immortal Sect, and that you haven't married yet, just waiting for her to return. Is this true?"
In fact, Caidie and Wangyue felt that their master was approachable, so they dared to ask this question.
But this does not mean that they do not respect Xiao Mo. On the contrary, she thinks her master is the best man in the world.
The description in the book of a modest gentleman as gentle as jade is just like this.
Xiao Mo shook his head: "Those rumors are too outrageous, not many of them are true."
"Then sir, why don't you get married yet?" the two maids asked with puzzled eyes.
Xiao Mo smiled, rolled up the book, and knocked on the head:
"Because
There was a very stupid woman who fell asleep.
I'm waiting for her to wake up."
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
