Zhang Zhong rode his horse in the heavy rain. When he arrived at the foot of the mountain, he found that the people had not eaten and were still working. It was so dark that he couldn't see the situation there clearly.
"The Lord is here, the Lord is here." A sharp-eyed child shouted, and other people also found the county magistrate coming through the rain.
Zhang Zhong dismounted and wiped the rain on his face with his hand. He looked at the people under the shed. At this time, there were not only people working, but also some children with their families. Some of them gathered together and looked at him with curious eyes.
"Where is the person in charge? What's going on? It's so dark, why aren't you eating? Why are you working? "Zhang Zhong shouted loudly as he saw the flickering figures under the shelter.
Immediately, a person in charge ran over and said respectfully, "County Magistrate, everyone is not tired and wants to work more. Don't worry, we didn't go up the mountain at night. In the afternoon, someone gave an idea to let everyone just dig before dark and only transport at night. It's easier to transport the soil than to dig, and it can be transported even if you can't see."
"Who gave the idea?" Zhang Zhong didn't expect that the people in the county could use this method to work.
"It's brother Pan. Come here, brother Pan. The Lord wants to see you." The person in charge shouted to the crowd, and a twelve or thirteen year old girl squeezed out. She didn't know what was rubbed on her face, but there were streaks on her face.
She was wearing a pair of straw sandals. The front part of the sandals was open, revealing her big toe. Her pants were shorter and were patched up like her clothes. In her arms was a naked two-year-old child. The child grabbed the clothes around the girl's neck with one hand and waved the other hand curiously with a half-clenched fist.
"Brother Pan, come here. Lord, this is Brother Pan who gave the idea. Her family name is Zhu, and that child is her younger brother. She has an older sister and two younger sisters, one is nine years old and the other is seven years old. One is called Brother Wang, and the other is called Brother Dai."
The steward beckoned for the little girl to come over and introduced her to Zhang Zhong in great detail. Zhang Zhong immediately understood. There were four sisters in the family, and one of them had a younger brother. From the name, one could tell that there was a boy in the family.
"S-Sir." The little girl Pan Di took a few steps forward and called out timidly to Zhang Zhong.
"Oh, okay. Brother Pan, how did you come up with that idea?" Zhang Zhong tried his best to make his voice as gentle as possible. He waved his hand and asked the person who was preparing the clothes for him to come over. He took the dry clothes from the person's hand, pulled off the blue silk shirt inside, and wrapped it around the naked child's body.
"My Lord, how could I bear to do that? Brother Pan, the Lord is asking you a question, hurry up and answer. " The steward felt a little distressed for the torn clothes, but at the same time, he was grateful to the County Magistrate in his heart. He urged the little girl who didn't dare to speak.
Brother Pan touched the silk cloth with her hand and felt the smoothness of it. Finally, she mustered up the courage to say: "My older sister is married. When I am at home, I have to take care of my younger sister and younger brother. I also have to work. I can't do it alone, so I thought of some things to do first and then to do later.
That is, when I am chopping firewood, I let my third sister take care of my younger brother when I am picking vegetables, and let my fourth sister do the laundry. In the courtyard, I can see them. When I go in to cook, I let my fourth sister take care of my younger brother and watch the pot, and let my third sister light the fire. When I am cooking, I can see them. "
Brother Pan couldn't explain it too clearly. She gave a simple example, which seemed to have nothing to do with the idea of working over there.
Many people may only understand the general idea, but Zhang Zhong could understand the things contained in it. This was what his son and daughter-in-law talked about when they were arranging things in the family.
Thinking that his son and daughter-in-law would always spend a lot of effort to cultivate some smart children, Zhang Zhong decided to keep this little girl.
"Good, well said. Reward." Zhang Zhong nodded with satisfaction and gave a look to the person next to him. That person immediately took out a dozen copper coins and handed them over to Brother Pan.
"Daren rewarded you. Quickly take it, otherwise, daren will not be happy." The steward saw that Brother Pan didn't dare to reach out his hand, so he urged again.
Zhang Zhong watched Brother Pan take the money and asked the steward: "Why are there so many children and old people?"
"Daren, they are all working people's families. You let people eat a lot of food every day. Everyone found that as long as some wild vegetables are mixed in, more people can eat. The children can pick the wild vegetables, and the old people can help to repair the household furniture, weave baskets and so on.
In the morning, the people close to the family called their families over. Daren, these people don't need to be paid. The food we eat every day is still the same food, oil and salt. We won't let daren spend more money. "
The steward was a little worried and explained to Zhang Zhong, emphasizing that they didn't need to spend more money. He was afraid that the county magistrate would drive them away.
When Zhang Zhong heard this, he felt uncomfortable in his heart. It was not caused by him, but now that it was under his control, he could not just grab the person surnamed Wen from the capital and make him spit out the money without a single cent missing.
"Well, let's do it like this first. Tomorrow, let people send food, oil and salt. Add a little bit and we'll be fine after this period of time."
Zhang Zhong could only arrange like this. Driving people away was absolutely impossible.
"Thank you daren, everyone is relieved now. Daren, you haven't eaten yet, right? Let's eat here in a while. "The steward said happily. The people around him who were also worried were now relieved.
"I've eaten. You guys eat. I came over to take a look. Eat early and rest. I still have to continue working tomorrow." Zhang Zhong felt uncomfortable when he thought that there would be fat slices for him when eating.
The steward waved his hand and asked the people around him to disperse. "Daren, I'm not tired. Usually when I find something to do, I can only get one meal. Once I work, it will take an entire day."
Zhang Zhong nodded and didn't say anything more. He followed the steward who took a set of dry clothes to a corner and pulled up a curtain to change his wet clothes.
This night was another night that made the people happy. The mark of the county magistrate as a good official had been deeply engraved in their hearts.
The next morning, Zhang Zhong woke up and ate breakfast with the people. He prepared a little and looked up at the sky. The light rain was still falling. He knew that today was the time to face some things. He flipped over on his horse and led a group of guards. Under the respectful farewells of the people, he splashed the water and left.
Registrar Zhan and Deputy Xiao also woke up early in the morning. After freshening up, they took a carriage and went to the yamen. The merchants also brought the sellers of the fields over.
The door of the yamen was half opened and propped up with a stick. They began to deal with the things that would happen today. Maybe it was because of the rain, or maybe the people really didn't have anything to trouble the yamen. After waiting for more than two hours, no one came.
When the sound of the horse's hooves came, it also told the people that the county magistrate was here.
Zhang Zhong came to the entrance of the yamen. He dismounted from the horse and landed on the ground. He straightened his official uniform which was already wet and stepped in.
There were also people who prepared dry clothes for him to change into. After a busy period, Zhang Zhong finally came to the signing room while Registrar Zhan and Deputy Xiao were anxiously waiting.
"What happened to the two of you today? Last night, I went to the mountain to have a look. The progress is good. "
Zhang Zhong said to Registrar Zhan and Deputy Xiao indifferently.
Deputy Xiao looked at Zhang Zhong's appearance and thought to himself, "You can just pretend here. Let's see what you will do later."
Then he said, "County Magistrate Zhang, the people in the county live and work peacefully. There is nothing to do today. Oh, those businessmen have come and bought the land. Why don't we deal with their land first?"
"Isn't it a little too rushed? It's still raining outside. Even if we buy the land, we can't immediately build the house." Zhang Zhong said so deliberately.
Sure enough, his words made Registrar Zhan and Deputy Xiao reveal an expression that said they already knew it.
Deputy Xiao wouldn't let go of the opportunity. He continued, "It's raining now, so we can't build the house. But we can do other things. The main thing is to let the businessmen rest assured. Look, Registrar Zhan and I have written down what you said. As long as they come and read it, we three will stamp it and it will be done."
When he spoke, he deliberately emphasized the word stamp and looked at Zhang Zhong with a smile. Zhang Zhong cooperated with him and hesitated for a moment. He said, "Why don't we take a good look at it? If there is something not suitable, won't someone suffer losses?"
"Whether it's suitable or not depends on what the businessmen say. County Magistrate Zhang, I think you won't think it's not suitable. Why haven't you come yet?"
Deputy County Magistrate Xiao looked at the door when he was talking. Zhang Zhong thought that when he came in, Shen Wendan passed by behind him. He should be looking for the businessman. Seeing Deputy County Magistrate Xiao looking at the door, Zhang Zhong also looked at the door.
Speak of the devil. In less than ten breaths, the sound of footsteps could be heard. After waiting for a few breaths, Shen Wendan came with a group of businessmen.
First, the person who sold the land and the businessmen made a deal. In this kind of deal, it didn't have to use the county magistrate's seal. There were three people in the yamen who could take care of things. Any one of them would do. Therefore, Zhang Zhong didn't take out his seal.
Deputy Xiao didn't force him. He stamped with his seal and waited for the person who sold the land to go out. He said to the businessmen, "This is the document drafted by the county. Take a look. Is there anyone who disagrees with it?"
A piece of paper was sent to the businessmen. They just went through it. Yesterday, they already knew what was written on it. Each of them had a copy. After glancing at it, they shook their heads to show that they didn't disagree with it.
"Put your fingerprints." Deputy Xiao stamped the paper with his seal one by one. Registrar Zhan also followed suit. Then the businessmen put their fingerprints on the paper. One by one, they put their fingerprints on the paper and put their red fingerprints on the paper.
After the fingerprints were put, everyone's eyes were on Zhang Zhong. Deputy Xiao finished a piece of paper and handed it to Zhang Zhong respectfully. "County Magistrate, it's your turn."
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