Chapter 106

County Magistrate Meng cupped his fists at Hua Qingfeng and said: "I will take my leave now!"

County Magistrate Meng did not wait for Hua Qingfeng's reply. He flicked his sleeves and left.

Hua Qingfeng stared at his back with a complicated expression.

Ever since he came to Hulu County, he had been held back by County Magistrate Meng and Register Wang. These two people had close ties with the local tyrants. Hua Qingfeng hated these two people to the core. But when he encountered difficulties, he could not leave these two people. On one hand, he hated his own incompetence, but on the other hand, he could not suppress his hatred for these two people. This feeling was hard to describe.

The three halls of the county government were located in the last courtyard of the county government. This was the residence of the County Magistrate and his family. The buildings of Hulu County government were not like those in the Central Plains. The main buildings had to be built on a central axis. Due to the terrain, the backyard was a private residence and was built arbitrarily.

Behind the moon gate of the backyard was a bamboo garden. There were a few fake mountains and rocks in a picturesque disorder. After passing through a winding path, there was a dark green pool in the shape of a crescent moon.

The pond water was like a piece of warm jade. There were a few lotus flowers on the surface of the water, and a few fish swimming under the lotus leaves. However, they were not the kind of ornamental Jinli fish. Looking at the fish, it was most likely that the owner of this place had brought back his catch from fishing somewhere, and then released them here. It was quite a unique taste.

From the hall, a lady in a red dress walked out. Her steps were graceful and she waved a small round fan in her hand. She turned into the corridor and walked towards the three halls.

From afar, a slim figure could be seen passing between the red pillars and green railings. Under the railings, there were banana leaves and some unknown flowers the size of a bowl. It was like a painting of a lady in spring.

The graceful lady walked along the corridor for a few dozen steps and arrived at the three halls. At the entrance of the hall, there was a servant in green standing with his hands down. When he saw her, he quickly bowed and greeted: "Madam."

The young woman was only twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. Her skin was fair and tender, and her eyes were curved. She had a different kind of charm, like a ripe peach. She nodded slightly and the golden ornament on her head swayed gently. She asked casually: "Is Master in the hall?"

The lady's voice was soft and soft. Although she was speaking in Mandarin, there was a hint of Jiangnan's Wu dialect. It was very pleasing to the ear.

After the servant replied respectfully, the lady walked into the hall. She was dressed in an autumn fragrance robe that fluttered in the wind, leaving behind a wisp of fragrance. The manservant raised his head and looked over, only to see a graceful figure with her black hair tied up in a bun. The mature and charming charm of a young married woman caused one to be fascinated by her.

The lady walked in. The floor was made of green bricks and there were pentagonal palace lanterns hanging from the beams. In the middle of the hall, there was a majestic painting of pine and green mountains. Other than a few tables and chairs, there were two flower racks near the wall. Each of them had a Qi Shou Chang Chun white stone bonsai.

On the right side, there was a small space separated by a screen. On the screen was a bright and beautiful painting of a rich and noble peony. The lady walked slowly and gracefully, as if she had walked into the painting.

Behind the screen was a study. The window was open and outside the window was a green water. There were mountain rocks on the edge of the pond. Countless creepers covered the entire high wall. Below the window was a small corridor that was only wide enough for a person. On the left and right side of the window was a pomegranate and a begonia.

On the table and on the floor were pieces of paper with faint ink stains. Hua Qingfeng leaned against the round chair and tiredly raised his head. He was motionless and his eyebrows were still furrowed, forming a "Chuan" character. It seemed that he was so tired that he was too lazy to even breathe.

The charming lady sighed softly. She had come to find her husband today because her younger brother had asked her to do something for him. However, seeing her husband's tired appearance, she could not bear to use her own matters to trouble him.

The lady leisurely walked behind Hua Qingfeng and placed the circular fan on the table. She raised her jade-like wrist and took off her jade sleeves. The two jade bracelets reflected on her jade-like and slender wrist, making it look like a delicate and beautiful orchid.

Hua Qingfeng's eyebrows moved. That pair of jade-like hands pressed on his shoulders. The lady gently massaged his shoulders and softly said, "Is Master still worried about the Warden's matter?"

Hua Qingfeng lazily grunted and did not answer.

The young lady softly said, "Husband, you don't have to be so hard on yourself. The officials in the court know better than you about the situation in Gourd County. Who else could have opened up the situation here? How can you blame the husband?"

Hua Qingfeng bitterly smiled and said, "How can you not blame me? I am the muddle-headed County Magistrate of Gourd County."

The young lady said, "You are the one who is not muddle-headed."

Hua Qingfeng said, "If I am not muddle-headed, then I am completely incompetent."

The young lady angrily said, "Husband!"

Hua Qingfeng slowly opened his eyes and looked at his wife. Her delicate pink skin complemented her delicate and dignified facial features. She was like a beautiful woman painted by a skilled painter. Even though the two had been married for ten years, she was still as beautiful as a pink pearl.

As for himself … In just three years, he already had wrinkles, white hair, and a hunchback. The high-spirited man he was when he first became an official had long been buried in the depths of his memory.

Hua Qingfeng called his wife's name and sadly said, "Suya, the court will naturally understand my difficulties, but this does not mean that they will empathize with me. The world does not belong to one person, and the court is not decided by one person. Whether it is the Emperor or the Grand Secretary, there are times when they cannot act freely. On the chessboard that is the world, I am simply an insignificant chess piece! "

Suya was silent. Looking at her husband's rapidly aging face, she sorrowfully said, "Is there … no other way?"

Hua Qingfeng gently stroked the back of his wife's hand and shook his head. "The year-end examination. At the latest, my punishment will be issued by the middle of next year. Unless a great benefactor descends from the heavens, he may be able to protect me. However, if there is such a great benefactor, why would he support a little seventh-ranked official like me? "

…

Inside the courier house, Ye Xiaotian was carrying a large bundle, and Shuiwu was carrying a small bundle. Even Le Yao was carrying something. The little panda Fuwa wore a bamboo hat on his head and carried a bamboo basket on his shoulder. Inside the basket were his rations — a dozen bamboo shoots.

The Household Register Li Yuncong stood in front of him and looked coldly at Ye Xiaotian. "Hand over the travel permit. You cannot leave this county for the time being. What do you need the travel permit for?"

Ye Xiaotian said, "But … if I want to stay in a hotel, I need to check …"

Li Yuncong said, "There are many places in this county that you can stay in without checking the travel permit as long as you have the money. Hand over the travel permit. What if you take it and run away? "

Ye Xiaotian helplessly handed over the travel permit. "Shuiwu, let's go."

Li Yuncong stretched out his hand to stop him again. "Wait! Put down all your belongings! "

Ye Xiaotian was shocked. "Why? Do I have to be a robber as a county magistrate? "

Li Yuncong said, "If you have the money, can't you just run away? Moreover, the case is not clear yet. Who knows if your money came from a legitimate source. Your money will be kept by the county magistrate for now. When the truth is revealed, you will be returned. "

Li Yuncong waved his hand. Immediately, two bailiffs rushed forward and snatched the bundles from Ye Xiaotian and Xue Shuiwu's hands. Immediately, another bailiff came forward to search Ye Xiaotian's body. Shuiwu and Le Yao were also searched by the deputy magistrate's wife. They searched them thoroughly.

Fuwa stood to the side in a daze. Unexpectedly … unexpectedly, one of the unscrupulous bailiffs tugged at the basket on its back and took away two bamboo shoots.

The family of four was chased out of the posthouse naked. In one night, they had gone from being treated like the wives of an official to being a pauper.

Ye Xiaotian stood at the entrance of the posthouse. He looked at the two couriers standing there with their arms crossed. They were coldly glaring at him. He then looked at Li Yuncong and the other bailiff, who were dressed in civilian clothes and responsible for secretly watching them. He sighed and rubbed Fuwa's "dog head". "Brother, if I had known this day would come, I would have let you eat all your money."

Fuwa looked left and right. Its short tail lifted up. With a clang, it spat out a piece of a large coin.

Although Ye Xiaotian was full of worry, he was still amused by this clown. He couldn't help but laugh and scold, "Look at you!"

Fuwa raised its head and looked at him foolishly.

… …

In the evening, the family of four moved into the Earth Temple.

As long as there were Han people, there would always be a deity in charge of the land. But what was strange was that the Han people attached great importance to the land. Every time they went to a new land, they would not forget to build a temple for the deity in charge of the land. But they would only build a temple for him.

It seemed … as long as they built a temple for the deity, they would have fulfilled their responsibility. After that, they would not care about the deity anymore. They attached great importance to the land, but at the same time, they did not care about the Lord of the Earth. In the myths and legends, they always ridiculed the deity.

Therefore, most of the Earth Temples in the world did not receive much incense, especially in places like Hulu County. As a result, Ye Xiaotian's family of four moved into a dilapidated Earth Temple.

"Brother Ye, I'm sorry!"

Xue Shuiwu looked at the ruins around her and suddenly burst into tears.

She knelt in front of Ye Xiaotian and kowtowed with tears: "Brother Ye, at first I didn't know you well, so I didn't dare to confide in you. But later, I sincerely asked you for help. I'm a weak woman, without a man to help me, I can't do anything in this place. But I never thought that I would cause you to fall into this situation. If I didn't persuade you to report to the government, how could you be like this today? Brother Ye, I'm sorry … "

Xue Shuiwu was devastated. She cried and kowtowed to apologize. When she looked up with tears in her eyes, she was suddenly shocked. She didn't know when, but Ye Xiaotian was already kneeling in front of her. Xue Shuiwu kowtowed, he also kowtowed, one kowtowing and one returning the favor.

Xue Shuiwu said in surprise: "Brother Ye, you … what are you doing?"

Ye Xiaotian said seriously: "I didn't expect a girl like you to be so impatient. You see, we have already bowed to heaven and earth, when will we consummate our marriage? "