Su Xuntian curled his lips impatiently. When he was about to say something to make his brother-in-law choke, he turned his eyes and suddenly saw Ye Xiaotian. He suddenly looked happy.
Ye Xiaotian hurriedly gave him a wink. Su Xuntian understood and stopped. He turned to Hua Qingfeng and said, "County magistrate, it's not that I want to offend you, but there's a very important matter. It's urgent, so I have to interrupt the banquet. Please forgive me."
In order to "strengthen the defense and clear the field" against Ye Xiaotian, Hua Qingfeng "put family before righteousness" and transferred his brother-in-law, Su Xuntian, from a strong arrester to a guard officer who was responsible for the security and security of the city gate. Su Xuntian had a big quarrel with him because of this. He was still angry, so he inevitably spoke in a strange tone.
Hua Qingfeng treated him badly, so he had to follow the rules. But it was not good for him to teach him a lesson as his brother-in-law in front of all the guests. He had to pinch his nose and swallow his anger. He said with a straight face, "What's the important matter? Tell me quickly!"
Su Xuntian said slowly, "If I tell you this matter, I'm afraid I can't explain it in a short time. Even if I can explain it clearly, I still can't answer if you ask me a few more questions …"
Hua Qingfeng endured it again and again, but the blue veins on his forehead still stood out. He shouted in a deep voice, "Bastard! Are you teasing me? If you can't explain it clearly, why do you still report to me? "
Seeing that his brother-in-law was so angry that the blue veins on his forehead stood out, Su Xuntian was not anxious anymore. He said with a smile, "Don't worry, Your Excellency. If I can't explain it clearly, there will be someone who can explain it clearly. It's a pity that it's too difficult to enter your door. He is blocked outside. "
For the sake of his wife, Hua Qingfeng could not do anything to Su Xuntian. If he continued to be angry with him, it would be a joke to the other officials. Su Xuntian could do it, but Hua Qingfeng could not do it without scruples. He could only shout, "Someone, bring the person waiting outside the door in!"
The servant who knocked over the table had just stood up when he heard his master's order. He hurriedly agreed and ran out like a wisp of smoke. Not long after, he led a tanned old man in his fifties into the hall, dressed in a short brown robe.
The servant pointed at the old man and said, "This is the county's Old Master. If you have anything to say, quickly report it to him!"
When the old man heard this, he turned pale with fright. He had spent his entire life in the mountains as a farmer and had only been to the county town a few times. To him, the position of village head was a very, very high official, but the county magistrate? How could he have the chance to see the county magiin this life?
The old man quickly knelt in front of Hua Qingfeng and kowtowed like pounding garlic. He said, "Wang Xiaoer greets the county magistrate."
There were very few people who were this respectful to Hua Qingfeng. When he saw the old man kowtowing sincerely, Hua Qingfeng's expression slightly relaxed. He revealed a slight smile and kindly said, "Alright, alright. You are so old, there is no need to salute. Stand up and answer!"
The old man quickly said, "Yes, yes!" He crawled up in fear and nervously rubbed his palms on his clothes. He did not dare to raise his head to look at Hua Qingfeng. Hua Qingfeng smiled and said, "What do you want to report to me?"
The old man quickly shook his head and said, "This old man has nothing to report to the county magistrate."
Hua Qingfeng was furious and immediately glared fiercely at Su Xuntian. Su Xuntian said, "Uncle, what did you say to me at the city gate? You can just say it to the county magistrate."
The old man suddenly said, "Oh! So it's like this! This old man was originally from Mayang in Chenzhou. I fled to Gourd Ridge eighteen years ago … "
Hua Qingfeng listened and frowned. He said, "You don't need to say this."
When the old man heard this, he was at a loss. He didn't know where to start even if he didn't say anything.
Su Xuntian saw that the old man was too slow. He could only stand up and say, "Sir, it's like this. After nightfall, this lowly official closed the city gate. Who knew that Wang Xiaoer would suddenly bring his family to the city and beg this lowly official to enter the city.
This lowly official told them that they could either go to their relatives and friends or spend the night outside the city and enter the city at dawn. I just had a bad mouth and asked him why he wanted to enter the city so late at night. Wang Xiaoer told this lowly official that there was a fight between the Gao and Li clans. He was fleeing here! "
The old man quickly nodded and said, "Yes, yes, yes. The people from the two clans were fighting fiercely!"
Su Xuntian continued, "This Wang Xiaoer's house is at the edge of the Li clans. He cultivated five to six mu of land on the mountain and made a living by farming. Now that there has been no rain for months, the big river has become a small stream and the small stream has dried up into a river. The mountain is even more dry. The Gao Clan Village and the Li Clan Village had been fighting each other for water.
This morning, the young master of the Li clans, Li Bohao, went up the mountain to find trouble with the Gao clans. He stabbed Gao Ya's crotch with his saber and almost cut off his manhood. The Gao clans were furious and gathered a large group of young men to fight with the Li clans in the afternoon. Wang Xiaoer was worried that he would be implicated so he fled during the night. "
The old man nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes, yes, yes. That's what happened."
Su Xuntian glanced at Hua Qingfeng, whose expression suddenly changed. He leisurely said, "This lowly official felt that Sir would be interested in this matter, so I brought him here to see Sir. If Sir feels that this matter is not important, this lowly official will bring him away immediately! "
"Wait!"
Hua Qingfeng shouted and walked a few steps with his hands behind his back. He suddenly stopped and said to Ye Xiaotian and Zhao Wenyuan, "Yeh Dianshi, Deputy Zhao, there is an important matter today. This welcoming banquet will have to end here."
Zhao Wenyuan hurriedly stood up and said, "Sir, as the parent of a county, of course you should focus on your official duties. This lowly official has already drunk too much and will take my leave now. "
Hua Qingfeng cupped his fists at him and loudly said, "County Magistrate Xu, Register Wang, Patrol Inspector Luo, Yeh Dianshi, please stay. As for the other Sirs, please go back and rest early!"
Everyone took their leave. In a short while, only Hua Qingfeng and the four officials he specially left behind, as well as Su Xuntian and Wang Xiaoer were left in the hall.
Wang Xiaoer stood there anxiously. Hua Qingfeng brought them to the main hall and asked Old Man Wang in detail about the fight between the Gao and Li stockades. He waved his hand for Su Xuntian to lead him out. With a serious expression, he asked, "Sirs, what do you think about this?"
Official Registrar Wang frowned and said: "At that time in Gourd Ridge, it was precisely because the Yi and Miao families were fighting each other that they called upon their friends and called upon the tribes in the vicinity to assist in the battle that the situation gradually became uncontrollable that the imperial court sent out troops to quell the dispute. In a fit of anger, the Emperor deposed the two Chieftains and selected an official whose virtue and prestige could convince the masses to accept him as the tribal chieftain. Now, the two tribes are fighting over water again. I'm afraid that the situation will go out of control. In addition, the common people's crops have been destroyed and they have lost their livelihood. If it leads to a riot … "
Magistrate Hua's expression changed greatly. This was what he was most worried about. If it was just a fight between two stockades, it would not be a big deal. However, if the two stockades called for their friends and called for the tribes in the nearby mountains and even the nearby counties, it would lead to a great turmoil that would shock the imperial court.
In the past, when the peasants rebelled, it was usually because of natural disasters that caused them to lose their livelihood. Now, it happened to be a drought. The autumn harvest was near but there was no harvest. Once more peasants rose up because of the drought and took advantage of the fierce fighting between the nearby tribes, the small Gourd County would be conquered by them in an instant. Even if they could escape in time, if either of these two incidents were to become a reality, it would be enough for the imperial court to chop off his head. How could Hua Qingfeng not be careful?
Thinking of this, Hua Qingfeng was somewhat grateful to his brother-in-law. "The two stockades have never cared about the county yamen. If there was a problem, they would solve it by force and never inform me. If I only found out about it when the situation was out of control, then it would be too late! Although this fellow Xuntian is angry with me, he still knows how to be close to me and thinks for my sake. "
After listening to Register Wang's words, Hua Qingfeng's eyes lit up. "Register Wang is very familiar with the Gao and Li stockades. Tomorrow morning, Register Wang will go up the mountain and mediate the dispute between the two stockades. What do you think?"
Why did Wang Ning become the Roly-Poly Man of Gourd County's officialdom? He had his own way of being an official. If he did not handle this matter well, it would fall into his hands. Since there was a bigger figure to take the lead, he would not take the initiative to take the responsibility. He immediately shook his head and said, "This lowly official is only in charge of civil affairs. The conflict between the two stockades started from a natural disaster and has now developed into a fight. This lowly official is old and can't take the strain of running around. My duties are also suspected of exceeding my authority. This is not appropriate, not appropriate. "
Hua Qingfeng's tone was one of negotiation and pleading. "Register Wang, if this matter continues to develop, the consequences will be unthinkable. Register Wang is the person who is most familiar with the two stockades' chieftains. He is the best candidate … "
"Cough! Cough … Oh ~ ~ ~ Cough! "
Before he could finish, Register Wang started coughing and snoring. He looked like he was about to stop breathing, interrupting Hua Qingfeng's words.
Ye Xiaotian thought, "Didn't Gao Ya and Li Bohao join hands with Tycoon to set up the 'Luo, Li, and Gao Horse Carriage Company'? Why did the two of them become so incompatible?"
Seeing that Register Wang refused to go, Ye Xiaotian took the initiative to ask, "County Magistrate, since Register Wang is not feeling well and is not fit to climb the mountain, then this lowly official is willing to go …"
Before Ye Xiaotian could finish, Hua Qingfeng's eyebrows wrinkled. When Xu Boyi saw this, he suddenly stood up and said loudly, "I'll go!"
Ye Xiaotian looked at Xu Boyi. Xu Boyi's face was full of righteousness. He said passionately, "The people of Hulu County have already suffered from natural disasters. How can they be ravaged by man-made disasters? Since the two stockades are fighting for water and it has developed into a fight, I am in charge of the justice and prison of this county. I should come forward to mediate!"
What Xu Boyi wanted to do to Ye Xiaotian was to "strengthen the walls and clear the fields". He wanted Ye Xiaotian to have no one to use and nothing to do until Ye Xiaotian became a dispensable puppet. At that time, Ye Xiaotian would be at Xu Boyi's mercy. How could he give Ye Xiaotian a chance to do anything?
Moreover, Xu Boyi had just arrived in Hulu County, and his reputation in Hulu County was not good. He needed an opportunity to establish his prestige and status. Although the fight between the two stockades was troublesome, there was also a great opportunity in the risk. He was very confident in his ability and believed that he could mediate the dispute between the two stockades. Therefore, he rushed to deal with this matter before Ye Xiaotian.
When Hua Qingfeng heard that Xu Boyi was willing to come forward, he happily said, "Good! This matter will be handled by County Magistrate Xu! "
