The next day, snow filled the sky. It started snowing at night and showed no signs of stopping at noon.
The citizens of Sanshui County who lived close to the county government gathered and followed the County Secretary, Deputy County Magistrate and other people. They stood three miles away from Sanshui County in the snow and waited for the arrival of the new county magistrate.
Deputy County Magistrate Zhang wrote about the new county magistrate yesterday. The whole paper was full of good things about the new county magistrate. He said that he loved the people like his own children, that he was good at strategizing and that he could bring a better life to the people. He asked people to put up posters all over the county in the morning. Some people who had horses and some people who lived further away rode their horses to cross the snow.
The citizens did not know that the new county magistrate was preparing to take a good look at the county government yesterday to think of a way to deal with the corruption. They really thought that it was like what the Deputy County Magistrate wrote. Those who were illiterate asked those who were literate to read the contents of the notice. Their faces were filled with happiness. Deputy County Magistrate Zhang only wrote at the bottom of the paper that they were going to welcome the new county magistrate and the citizens rushed over spontaneously.
They did not have many requests. They just wanted the county magistrate to be like the county magistrate during this period of time. Their biggest wish was that their family members could do some odd jobs when they were free and have a good new year.
Jia Weiran and his father had come out yesterday, and they had to go back today. The two of them did not dare to delay. This time, they were smarter. They brought a few of their family members, and more family members followed behind. They took the car and rushed back.
"Father, what do you think will happen when we arrive at the county magistrate's office today? Can we not meet a single person? Are we the only ones going to take up the post? Then, when you take office, there will be many citizens who come to complain about you. What kind of trivial matter will it be? Your desk will be filled with documents from a few years ago. It will be ten feet high. "
Jia Weiran said worriedly. After thinking for a while, he added, "When you gave the order, there were so many bailiffs, but they claimed to be sick and did not come. The deputy magistrate and the registrar changed their shrewdness yesterday and said they did not know anything. Also, which powerful person came to find trouble?"
Jia County Magistrates did not know what would happen. What his son said seemed to be right. Usually, when the people below did not want the people above them to send people, they would use these seemingly simple but effective methods. There were not many people who could survive.
After pondering for a while, he said to his son, "Don't be afraid. We'll think of a way to deal with it."
Jia Weiran was in a bad mood and knew that this was the only way.
His bodyguards were also not so calm. They were not stupid. They knew that their master had used some tricks to become an official this time. Perhaps he lived in a dilapidated house and did not eat good food.
Everyone had their own thoughts as they gradually approached the county town. When they were about four li away, it was impossible to see the situation in front of them because of the heavy snow. However, as the group got closer and closer, they could finally see the situation in front of them. Countless people were standing in the snow, looking in their direction.
The people on the other side should have seen them too. Under the lead of some people wearing the same clothes, they came over to welcome them. Such a scene frightened Jia Weiran and the rest. They thought that they were going to attack them.
"Master, judging from their clothes, they should be the yamen runners of Sanshui County. There are so many of them," a man beside the carriage reported to Jia County Magistrates, who lifted the curtain and looked out.
"Yes, I saw them. Stop." Jia County Magistrates was in a bad mood, but he had to put on an act.
Zhang Mingsheng and Zhao Xiang came to the front of the carriage at the same time and said to Jia County Magistrates in the carriage, "Sanshui County's Registrar Zhao Xiang (Zhang Mingsheng) is here to welcome County Magistrates. Welcome, County Magistrates. Please set off."
As soon as the two of them finished speaking, the yamen runners and the commoners also said welcoming words at the same time. They also made way and stood on both sides of the road.
Jia County Magistrates, who was sitting in the carriage and did not know what would happen, could not sit still anymore. Even if he had planned to get a lot of things when he came here, he could not help but be moved when he saw so many people welcoming him in the snow.
It was fine that the Registrar and the Deputy County Magistrates came to welcome him because they wanted to give him face. The yamen runners came because they were afraid that he would make things difficult for them when he took office. However, the commoners also came. He did not know if it was the arrangement of the yamen. Anyway, it was a grand occasion for him to take office.
He could not sit still and got out of the carriage. He looked at the serious and respectful expressions of the yamen runners and the happy faces of the commoners. He immediately knew that the commoners were not forced to come here. He walked forward for a while and came to a seven or eight-year-old child who was snuggling up to his parents. He squatted down and asked,
"What's your name? How old are you? Are you cold? "
The child was a little shy, so he hid behind. He hugged his father's waist and poked his head out. He said in a clear voice, "My name is Li Xiaoshu. I'm seven years old. I'm cold. I feel cold when the wind blows. My father said that you are a good official, so I'm not cold anymore. Are you a good official?"
The child's innocent look and Weiwei's trembling body made Jia County Magistrates speechless. He could feel the anticipation of the commoners around him. He wanted to say that he was a good official, but he felt that it would be against his will. Say that he was not a good official? What a joke.
While the child was waiting, Jia County Magistrates finally spoke, "I don't know if I'm a good official, but I'll do my job well."
As he spoke, he took off his cloak and put it around the child. He patted the child's head and then stood up. He said to the people behind him, "Follow me in."
With him leading the way, the rest of the people who were on the horses also got off and led the way. Jia Weiran followed behind in a daze. He had thought of many things that would happen, but he did not expect it to be like this. Being surrounded by so many commoners, the cold wind was weaker and his body was warmer. However, he did not feel good.
Looking at the Registrar and the Deputy, he could only praise them in his heart. So many commoners were welcoming them in the snow. If they really did something in the future, what would the commoners say? The Zhang family and the Wang family had two seventh-ranked officials. If they joined forces with the commoners to submit a petition, not to mention the County Magistrate, even the Provincial Governor would be taken down. Especially since it was so close to the capital.
Thinking of this, Jia Weiran went to the Deputy and said in a low voice, "Good plan."
Zhao Mingsheng also replied, "Good official."
After walking for three miles, the moment they entered the county, the sound of gongs, drums and firecrackers could be heard. There were many commoners waiting along the streets. When they saw the new County Magistrate, they cheered. The children were also laughing and jumping happily.
Jia County Magistrates smiled and signaled to the people on both sides. However, there was an indescribable feeling in his heart. He could imagine that many people would know about what happened today. The people in the province and even the imperial court would probably reward him in a few days. Everyone would know that he was a good official.
Good official? Aiya ~! Impressive. This was more impressive than what his son had thought. A good official should not be greedy for money and should not think for himself. If not …
As he was thinking about these things, the road seemed to be very long. It was not easy to reach the yamen. He already knew that it looked very glamorous from the outside, but he did not know what it was like inside. His son could not find out either.
As he entered the main hall, he saw that it was not bad. Jia County Magistrates was quite satisfied. After the handover, the commoners left happily. A group of people began to look at the place where they would live in the future. Everyone felt uneasy.
"Ah? Father, this, this is where we will live in the future? " When they reached the back, Jia Weiran saw the neat limestone bricks on the ground, the withered flowers on both sides, the beautifully painted courtyard walls, the newly tiled house, the winding path that led to the back, and the tall locust tree. He could not believe his eyes.
Jia County Magistrates was also shocked. He looked at the courtyard that was just renovated. He did not expect the yamen to treat him like this. When they walked past the first courtyard and reached the second courtyard, he was even more suspicious that they had come to the wrong place.
The road was still paved with limestone bricks. There was yellow sand on both sides of the road. There was a flower bed on the left and a moon gate on the right that led to another courtyard. This time, it was clean and tidy.
After passing through the moon gate, they saw the winding path in front of them. There was a small pond and a corridor leading to it. There was a pavilion beside the pond. On the other side of the pavilion, there was a clump of plum blossoms. There were wind chimes hanging from the hexagons that rang in the wind.
"Sir, please come this way." A yamen runner walked in front and led the Jia County Magistrates and the others along the winding path. They came to a place surrounded by big trees. There were some curtains there and there were people clearing the snow from time to time. Before they could see what was inside, they could smell the fragrance of cucumbers.
"Sir, these are cucumbers prepared for you. You can pick them and eat them fresh. Go to the pavilion to boil some wine and enjoy the snow and plum blossoms," the yamen runner introduced.
"Oh, okay. Deputy Zhang, may I know why?" Jia County Magistrates suppressed the shock in his heart and asked Zhang Mingsheng who was following behind him.
Zhang Mingsheng showed a puzzled look and asked, "Sir, what are you talking about?"
Jia County Magistrates knew that he did it on purpose. He had to make it clear and said, "Why did you fix my place so well?"
"Sir, you are asking about this? It's not very good. It's just enough for one person to live in. We can't let your whole family live in the courtyard. This is the idea of the people in the county. Sir, you are a good official. Of course, you have to fix your place. It's cold. If you catch a cold, the people will suffer. "
Deputy Zhang Mingsheng told the reason, but no one around him believed him.
"Sir, in the future, there will be people in the courtyard from time to time to send some food and necessities. They are all from the merchants themselves," Zhao Xiang added.
"Well, thank you very much."
Jia County Magistrates couldn't say anything else. He completely understood now that the people here, or to be exact, the Zhang family, didn't want him to be greedy. They could give him benefits, let him live well, and provide him with food and necessities. He just had to do his job honestly. As a county magistrate, he should never interfere. Otherwise …
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