The First Volume of Qinghe County

  Wu Qianhu looked at his former son-in-law, who was calling him "Old Wu" repeatedly, and then at his daughter's dull expression. He felt an overwhelming urge to punch Ximen Qing to the ground.

  But Wu Qianhu's fist went from relaxed to clenched and then back to relaxed, yet he still didn't have the awareness of breaking the jar. The Ximen Qing in front of him was no longer the Wu Xiaoming of old, and it was really hard for Wu Qianhu to see through him.

  "What a lie! There are only five..." Wu Daishu's brain didn't turn around for a moment, and he almost blurted out, but Wu Qianhu reacted quickly and directly turned his head to give Wu Daishu a big slap.

  "What nonsense are you talking about?" Wu Qianhu glared at his son and shouted: "It's clear that Ximen Qing is relying on his power to bully people, driving away his good wife, what property invasion are you talking about?!"

  Ximen Qing smiled and looked at Wu Qianhu, without any intention of refuting him. As the director of the Qinghe County Public Security Bureau, wasn't it up to him to decide what crime to convict someone of?

  This old man Wu must be up to something sneaky behind the scenes.

  Wu Qianhu finished scolding his own son, turned around and bowed to Niu Dutou with a stern expression: "Niu Dutou, my son's words were unbridled, please forgive him! I only ask that you bear witness today and speak the truth in court tomorrow. I am eternally grateful!"

  "Huh?" The cattle head tilted to the side, completely ignoring Wu Qian's words, and instead looked up at the clear sky. After Wu finished speaking, he pretended not to hear and said: "I'm illiterate, I don't understand what you're saying, old man. If there's something going on, just speak up tomorrow in court, and Magistrate Zheng will handle it fairly. As a small cattle head, I'm not in charge of these things."

  Wu Qianhu saw Niu Dutou's reaction and frowned, pulling his daughter along with a group of people to leave far away.

  "Old Wu, remember to go to the yamen tomorrow... don't sleep and forget! Also, get the money ready!"

  "One! Ten Thousand! Guan!" Ximen Qing loudly reminded Wu Qianhu from behind.

  Wu Qianhu was so angry that he trembled with rage, but there was nothing he could do. The group of people left dejectedly, their previous enthusiasm having turned into silent despair.

  Originally brought people over to support his own daughter, but unexpectedly was heavily calculated by Ximen Qing, making Wu Qianhu really unable to swallow this breath.

  As the sad soldier turned over the street, Wu Qianhu and his son discussed: "This time Ximen Qing is not good, and there is a abacus Li as evidence. We have no other way but to go find someone with the surname Zhu to suppress that Ximen Qing."

  Wu Dalang's cheeks were burning with anger, and he thought of Ximen Qing with hatred that made his teeth itch: "Dad, the only way to deal with this now is to spend money to avoid disaster. What kind of goods is Ximen Qing that he was favored by Zhu Zhi County?"

  Wu Qianhu looked at this useless son of his and sighed, saying: "I've asked Master Shi to mention it to the Zhu family countless times, but they never agreed. With your behavior, others don't think highly of you."

  "Your sister, although a woman, is far stronger than you. She originally had the Ximen family under her control, but unexpectedly became careless this time. That scoundrel Ximen Qing doesn't care at all..."

  Wu Yue-niang seemed to have come back to her senses, gritting her teeth and stamping her foot: "This Ximen Qing is going to drive our Wu family to ruin before he's satisfied. It's clearly only five or six thousand taels, but this scoundrel opens his mouth and mentions ten thousand taels. I'd rather give the money to Zhu Know-County than give it to him!"

  "Dad, as the saying goes: those who take action first will be strong, while those who act later will suffer. We can think of finding someone with the surname Zhu, and Ximen Qing may not be able to do so either. You should quickly use your connections to find someone with the surname Zhu and spend the money!"

  "That's right!" Wu Qianhu's eyes lit up: "You're indeed my good daughter. Son, take the people back first, I'll go find Master Shi and use his relationship to talk to Zhu."

  "This time, I'll go all out! I'll spend a thousand taels to crush Ximen Qing and make him unable to lift his head!" Wu Qianhu's fists clenched involuntarily: "Son, by that time, maybe the Zhu family will be able to get you this county magistrate position."

  Wu Da Shu was told by his father that he suddenly saw his incredibly bright future!

  Wu Qianhu was just about to use his sugar-coated cannonballs to get Zhu Zhishou to do his bidding, when Ximen Qing took a step ahead of him. As soon as Wu Qianhu left, Ximen Qing ordered Xia Tianqing to prepare the horse and went to the county yamen to look for Zhu Zhishou.

  "Ah, it's the new County Magistrate who has arrived!" The teacher's face was beaming with joy, and he ushered Ximen Qing to the back courtyard of the county yamen: "The Honorable Magistrate is in his study."

  Ximen Qing nodded and directly handed over a note, which was just searched out from Wu Yueniang's room. The teacher smiled and declined on the one hand, and on the other hand, he directly put it into his sleeve.

  When Ximen Qing entered the study, Shi Ye secretly took out the IOU and was immediately stunned by Ximen Qing's large handwriting: 50 taels!

  In Qinghe County, Zhu knew the county would scrape off a layer of land, and in one year it wouldn't be more than 1,000 yuan. Although Ximen Qing had only one hand, he was worth 50 yuan, and the IOU flew into his own sleeve.

  This temperament is absolutely for people who do great things!

  The master suddenly admired Xi Menqing even more, and for the first time felt that Zhu Zhi County's vision was not wrong at all. Compared to Wu Qianhu's family, it was simply a heaven and an underground.

  Even if it's Wu Qianhu, he only bribed himself with three or five taels of silver. He was originally very grateful and took the risk of offending County Magistrate to mention Wu Da Shu several times. But looking at it today, this Wu fellow is really too petty.

  The master is no longer young and has no hope of entering the officialdom, but these fifty taels can make the master live a little better in the Baifang Building and have a few more carefree days.

  Thinking of this, the teacher also went to the study room, collecting money and doing things for others. He had to help Ximen Qing speak, didn't he?

  "I was saying, Brother Ximen, why didn't you come over earlier? Now it seems like you have some free time to come over?" Magistrate Zhu smiled and looked at Ximen Qing who was sitting across from him.

  "Just now there was something at home, really can't get away. " Ximen Qing played with the sheep's fat jade pendant, his face with an inexplicable smile: "This time all are handled properly, hurry up to come and pay respects to the adults."

  "Is everything settled?" Zhu Qian continued to smile, looking at Ximen Qing with an appreciative gaze: "Although you've already driven Wu Yueniang out of the house, how do you plan to deal with Wu Qian, have you thought it through, brother?"

  "The county magistrate is well-informed, I admire him greatly." Ximen Qing stopped and said seriously: "That Wu Qianhuai instigated his daughter to secretly occupy the property of my Ximen family, it's really despicable. Just now, after calculating, there are more than 10,000 taels!"

  "What?" Zhu Zhi County was shocked: "If it's really that many, this case can be considered the first major case in our county, and we must investigate carefully."

  "Abacus Li made a false account for Wu Yue'e, and the money was transferred to their Wu family." Ximen Qing nodded: "I have all the evidence in my hands, both human and physical evidence are complete, it's already an ironclad case. I'm not afraid that Wu Qianhu won't admit it, but rather that the Wu family will deny the debt and refuse to repay."

  "Since the evidence is conclusive, this county will naturally handle it impartially." Magistrate Zhu leaned back in his chair: "Repaying debts is a matter of heavenly justice. Younger brother, rest assured that with me presiding over this case, Wu Qianhu won't dare to deny his debt."

  "This humble position of county lieutenant was also given by your honor, and yet you're helping me out like this, I'm truly grateful beyond words." Ximen Qing first expressed his gratitude, then directly quoted a price.

  "If Wu Qianhu returns the 10,000 taels of silver to me, I am willing to contribute 3,000 taels to help defray your expenses."

  "Huh?" Zhu Zhi County was originally leaning steadily against the back of his chair, but when he heard Ximen Qing's price, his body suddenly leaned forward: "Is this for real?"

  "More valuable than a piece of jade." Ximen Qing knew the weight of this price in Zhu's heart, and smiled in response.

  "Good! Very good!" Zhu Zhi County stood up straight, pacing back and forth in the room, looking at Ximen Qing with an approving gaze: "With your three thousand taels, this county also has a say in the matter of the Eastern Capital's Commander-in-Chief!"

  The master entered the house and saw that the atmosphere had reached its peak. From the expressions of County Master and Ximen Qing, it seemed that they had already reached an agreement...

  "Master has come just in time!" Ximen Qing laughed and said: "That abacus Li made a false account, I've already locked him up in the woodshed, waiting for tomorrow's trial. But this way, our household is short of an accountant. Master, do you have any familiar good hands to introduce me?"

  The teacher had not spoken yet, but Zhu Zhiyuan opened his mouth: "Younger brother, why didn't you say so earlier! I happen to have a suitable candidate here, surnamed Jiang, single name Jing, from Tanzhou. This man is infatuated with mathematics and has some reputation, unfortunately he did not pass the imperial examination, and was preparing to return home. He stayed in Qinghe County for a few days because he had drunk wine with me in Dongjing."

  "Jiang Jing!" Ximen Qing asked: "Is he also known as 'Divine Mathematician'?"

  Jiang Jing, the abacus expert, can be said to be the financial controller of the Liangshan Water Margin group. He can settle accounts with just a flick of his wrist!

  "It wasn't him!" Zhu Zhixian was somewhat surprised: "I never thought that Ximen's younger brother lived in this county, and I've also heard of this person's name!"

  "He had some dealings with Zhangzhou for medicinal herbs, and once overheard it by chance." Ximen Qing casually fabricated a few words: "If this person is willing to come to my mansion as an accountant, wouldn't that be a wonderful thing?"

  Magistrate Zhu saw Ximen Qing speaking in this manner, so he had the teacher directly summon Jiang Jing, the divine calculator. After a short while, Jiang Jing arrived and bowed to Magistrate Zhu: "Brother called me, what's the matter?"

  "Come, come, come!" Zhu Zhi County introduced Ximen Qing: "This is Ximen, the owner of a Chinese medicine shop in our county, who is also the county lieutenant. His family is currently in need of an accountant. Jiang Xian's brother has returned to his hometown and will either be engaged in farming or teaching, but it would be better if..."

  Zhu Zhi County had not finished speaking, when Ximen Qing rushed up in one swift motion, grasping Jiang Jing's hands: "I've long heard of the great name of the divine calculator! How can you be treated as just an accountant? The master's brother is my brother!"

  Jiang Jing was momentarily stunned and unclear about the situation, so he could only say a polite phrase: "Ah, that's great..."

  "There's no problem with the salary at all." Ximen Qing smiled complacently: "We'll pay according to the standard of a financial director."

  "What is a financial director?" Jiang Jing was completely confused.