Hearing Xiao Bei's words, Liu Yan didn't stare blankly. He held his head and squatted on the ground.
On the other hand, the yamen runners who came to work were in a daze.
The children who came to Willow Village were arrogant.
The old villager sighed. He knew that Liu Yan was hopeless. The Zhang Family and Wang Family's style of dealing with each other had always been to give others a chance first and understand them at the same time. They didn't mean that when they encountered someone who might make a mistake, they would kill him without asking.
Liu Yan, who was squatting in front of him, obviously lost this opportunity. Previously, Xiao Bei had already asked him if he had to develop the tourism economy. He had a positive attitude. Then, Xiao Bei discussed with the others and helped to come up with ideas. However, he expressed another meaning.
He had completely exposed his thoughts. He didn't care about the development at all. His purpose was very simple, which was to overthrow the plan left by Zhang Xiaobao.
Not to mention that Xiao Bei was Zhang Xiaobao's family, even a superior would be angry when he heard such an answer. It was too targeted.
Of course, the old villager understood that even so, it was not the main reason for Liu Yan's bad luck. The main reason was that he couldn't come up with a perfect tourism economic development plan.
In recent months, the old villager had seen Liu Yan being held back by his subordinates. Not to mention that Liu Yan didn't have a perfect plan before, even if he wanted to make a plan, he would need time.
Now, Xiao Bei and the others began to ask about politics again. Although it was a group of children asking questions, it was absolutely impossible to get through with a few words. After all, the children usually followed Xiao Bao and Cuckoo, and they were learning every day.
Liu Yan's deceptive words could fool ordinary people who didn't read newspapers and didn't argue in tea stalls, but people who cared a little about politics wouldn't be convinced by him.
"County Magistrate Liu, get up and tell me. You can't hide from it." The old villager thought for a while and said to Liu Yan.
Liu Yan also sighed. He was the one who knew his specific situation best. He originally wanted to change the previous administrative method as soon as he came to Hongnong County, and then develop tourism. When the basic construction was completed this year and the results could be seen next year, he wouldn't have to worry anymore.
However, the idea was good, but the reality was not satisfactory. Now that he had been caught by Xiaobei and the others, where could he go to come up with a perfect plan?
Looking at the indifferent faces of the nine children, Liu Yan felt a sense of pressure. He finally realized that his heart palpitations often didn't just appear after knowing someone's identity. He had already felt the special look and expression on the little girl's face before.
"County Magistrate Liu, let's talk. What specific measures do you have in mind for Hongnong County's education and economy?" Xiao Bei suddenly asked Liu Yan with a smile.
Liu Yan knew that this smile was not Xiaobei's genuine smile. It was a kind of peaceful smile that a superior showed to his subordinates. He had seen it before. Before he became the county magistrate of Bajiang County, the officials of the Ministry of Appointments would smile like this. Before he came to Hongnong County, the officials of the Ministry of Appointments would still smile like this.
Even when he was invited to a banquet by the Emperor, when he looked at the Emperor, the Emperor and General Gao also smiled and said a few words of encouragement. There was a distance between them and their identities.
Liu Yan believed that if the nine children in front of him saw His Majesty and General Gao, their smiles would definitely be different from when they saw him.
For example, when Xiaobei smiled with the children of Old Willow Village, his eyes turned into the shape of a crescent moon.
Taking a deep breath, Liu Yan thought quickly and replied, "As for the education of this county, I think that first, we need to increase the literacy rate of the people. Second, we need to let the people understand the policies of the imperial court. Third …"
"County Magistrate Liu, what specific measures have you taken to increase the literacy rate of the people?" Xiaobei didn't wait for Liu Yan to finish and asked the first question.
"Ah?" Liu Yan paused and rolled his eyes. He said, "I've decided to increase the circulation of the newspapers."
"If there are more newspapers, the people will be able to read? What kind of newspapers do you want to increase the circulation of? "Xiaoyuan asked.
"I want to report to the government. As for the literacy problem, since there are more people reading newspapers, there will naturally be more people who can read."
"How can people read newspapers if they can't read? Do you think you can publish as many newspapers as you want? "Xiaoqiang also asked.
"Well …"
Xiaofang got Xiaobei's signal and said, "The second point you just mentioned is to prevent the people from understanding the policies of the imperial court. What should we do?"
"Ah? What should we do? Newspapers. "Liu Yan was obviously confused by the question.
"Let's talk about the economy." Xiaobei nodded with a smile.
Liu Yan began to sweat. He knew that he didn't answer the first question. Not to mention Xiaobei and the other nine people in front of him, any of the officers in front of him would be dissatisfied.
He raised his trembling hand and wiped the sweat on his forehead. Liu Yan continued, "As for the economic development, I'm thinking about using tourism to promote other industries in this county. With the increase of tourists, we can sell all kinds of local specialties in this county."
"What local specialties do we have in this county?" Xiaonan pulled his sister forward and asked Liu Yan.
Liu Yan was still sweating, and his mouth was dry. He swallowed hard and answered, "There is Liu Yan. Yes, Liu Yan."
"Only Liu Yan? That's from Old Willow Village. You can directly develop the tourism economy of Old Willow Village. Why do you mention the county? Are there any other local specialties? "Xiaonan asked.
"Yes, yes, yes … Yes, there are cabbages. Look, over there, our county has a new variety of cabbages. I plan to make them all into pickled cabbages and organize the people in the county to conduct research, production, and sales. We also want to build a group of immortals …"
"Next question, according to your plan, how much do you think we can pay in taxes this year? How much can the average income of the three classes of people increase?"
Xiaohai also began to show his presence.
Liu Yan's face was scrunched up. He thought for a while and said, "Probably … maybe … maybe …"
"Okay, this conversation ends here. Now we ask you to come to the capital with us. Come, look at the conversation record. If there are no discrepancies, put your fingerprint."
Xiaobei didn't want to ask anymore. He took the conversation record from Xiaozhu's sister and asked Liu Yan to put his fingerprint.
Liu Yan withdrew his hand. He knew the consequences of putting his fingerprint. He couldn't be an official anymore and might even lose his life.
"Come, help County Magistrate Liu." Xiaobei looked at Tong Hui.
Tong Hui straightened his back and ordered the yamen runners who followed Liu Yan, "Let County Magistrate Liu put his fingerprint."
"Yes!" The yamen runners answered in unison. They rushed over and restrained Liu Yan. They took the stamp and pressed Liu Yan's hand a few times. When they let go, Liu Yan directly sat on the ground.
After two seconds, he cried and patted the ground. "Why am I so unlucky? Why is my luck so bad? I'm so unlucky."
"County Magistrate Liu, please stand up. You have to believe in the imperial court and the law. We won't wrong a good person, and we won't let a bad person go. We can guarantee that no one will deliberately frame you. Because what you said before involved our brother, we won't put you on trial directly. You should be prepared to be questioned a second time in the capital. "
Xiaobei was still smiling and said to Liu Yan with concern.
Looking at Xiaobei, Liu Yan felt a chill in his heart. He finally knew what it meant to be an outstanding child raised by his family.
He knew very well that the nine smiling children in front of him wanted nothing more than to eat him alive, but they were still able to hold themselves back and even said such words. Thus, more tears flowed down his face as he pleaded, "Xiao Bei, I know I was wrong. I won't dare to speak ill of Xiao Bao in the future."
Xiao Bei shook his head in disappointment. He sighed and stopped smiling. Instead, he sincerely said to Liu Yan, "You were wrong, but you weren't wrong in denying my brother. If we were satisfied with your answer when we asked you about politics, not only would we not have a bad opinion of you, but we would also find ways to support you through other means.
Well, let's not talk about this. I hope you can pass the second interrogation and keep a good attitude. You can continue to work for the welfare of the people in a suitable position. You can be an honest and flexible official and be a useful person to the Tang Empire. "
When he said the last words, Xiaobei regained his smile again.
Seeing that the county magistrate was no longer needed, Tong Hui immediately followed the other two people behind Liu Yan. Each of them grabbed one of Liu Yan's arms and said as if they were very loyal, "Sir, we will protect you. Don't worry, with us here, we won't let anything happen to you. Please get in the car."
Liu Yan didn't say anything and didn't resist. He was escorted into the carriage.
"Go and call my brother and sister here. The problem is solved. I thought it was something big, but it turned out to be such a small thing. People's hearts, why can't they be set straight? Sister Feifei, are there any mushrooms in the village? We have hundreds of people. We plan to stay in the village for the night and leave early tomorrow morning. "
Xiaobei sighed and jumped to Liu Feifei. He held her hand and talked to her.
Liu Feifei laughed happily. The children around cheered. They liked to play with Xiaobei and others.
"Xiaobei, when I saw you smile at Liu Yan just now, why did I feel so scared?" Liu Feifei thought of the previous situation and asked Xiaobei with a shiver.
Xiaobei was still smiling, but it was different from before. It was very sweet and natural. He explained, "Fear is the right thing to do. My sister taught me that. My sister is the best at this, even better than my brother. When officials talk to their subordinates, they don't have to show their authority with a gloomy face. Even if they smile, they can make people feel scared.
In fact, I don't like it, but sometimes I can't help it. In order to protect the people you want to protect, Sister Feifei, you have to learn it. It's called being round on the outside but square on the inside. You just need to remember that your heart is not moved. "
After waiting for a while, Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan came down. They looked disappointed. They stayed in Old Willow Village for the night. The next morning, they took Liu Yan and left for the capital.
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