Li Xia muttered to herself about the case of dividing the property, along with a few other small matters, "...... Ah, Father is just a bookworm, sigh, also from childhood being raised like a dog by Clock Mother, and in that mansion they only taught bad things not good ones, things not written in books, no one taught, and no one to follow and learn from, Father was stupid too, sigh! Can't blame him either."

  Li Wenshan scratched his head in distress.

  "Besides, Father's eyes are really useless, with or without them, it's all the same. In his eyes, only Master Chen is good, how can he think Master Chen is better than Master Guo? It's really suffocating me, where did he get that from?"

  It's pointless to say more, there are many people who have eyes but no pearls, and he is just one of them.

  But he discusses everything with Master Chen first and has to call Master Chen for everything. What kind of thing is this?

  Under his rule, these two stewards have a clear division of labor, even the wet nurse knows... no, even Little Ninth knows that when it comes to food, you look for Tang's wife, and when it comes to salary, you look for Hong's wife. How can Father not know that Steward Chen is only in charge of provisions and salaries, while Steward Guo handles criminal cases? How can he confuse their duties himself?"

  Li Xiayue said, getting more and more angry, Xiao Pang patted his chest, "Fifth brother, I'm really going to be driven mad by Father! Luckily these two masters have someone backing them up, and both of them know each other's secrets. Father is acting recklessly, but the two masters are not, if it weren't for this... Alas, no wonder in the past... with a father like ours, even without any disasters, we would still invite a bunch of troubles!"

  Li Wenshan listened with a series of nods, Li Xia got angry, but he worried instead, "What to do? Mr. Qin said that being a local official is the most difficult job, to enter the central government one must have experience in the provinces and counties, it's because being a local official is not easy, if you're not careful it'll be a big disaster, Father is like this..."

  "Alas, this term is definitely fine, the higher-ups are taking care of it, can't take care of it anymore. The two masters in the government office are also like this, even if Father is a muddy loach, he can still be made into a god, Father is better than a muddy loach after all, just worried about the next term... I'm worried about the next term."

  Li Xia propped up her cheek, sighing one after another.

  Father's official position is too low, very unfavorable to the fifth brother and their siblings. But if Father does this, how can he move up? Even if he forces his way up, the risk is too great! Alas!

  "This term still has more than two years, and Father Li is not stupid. Even if he didn't experience it before, in two years or so, who knows, maybe he'll learn? You think so?" Li Wenshan said to comfort Li Xia, but actually, it was more like comforting himself.

  "You're right, anyway, there's no use thinking about it." Li Xia hung her head in despair.

  In the past, Wu Ge always said that A Ye was very good, she thought that the case was A Ye being framed by others. Now it seems that this A Ye doesn't need anyone to frame him, he can frame himself perfectly well.

  ………………

  Mr. Qin stayed in Hangzhou for another day, sent warm stoves as gifts to Luo Shuai's residence and several other places, gathered with a few old friends, had a warm stove wine meal, made arrangements at various places, and then slowly rushed to Hengshan County.

  In the evening, he invited Guo Sheng and Chen Shiye to drink huangjiu again, and didn't return to his own rented small courtyard until night had fallen.

  Just washed hands and face, changed into comfortable clothes at home, leaned on the couch, sipping tea to read a book for a while, the servant reported outside the door that Zhao Da had arrived.

  Mr. Qin's heart skipped a beat, and he hastily ordered him to come in.

  Zhao Da hurriedly wiped the sweat from his face, and Mr. Qin quickly called for a servant to bring over hot water and towels. After washing up, Zhao Da drank several cups of tea, then sat down in a chair beside the bed, saying in a low voice: "It's urgent business, so I rushed here in a hurry."

  Mr. Qin heard him say this and hastily signaled to the young servant, "Go outside and keep watch."

  Xiao Cong exited, and Zhao Da continued: "The young master of the Ming family will arrive in Hangzhou city tomorrow evening."

  Mr. Qin was taken aback, his face filled with confusion, "He went to Hangzhou..."

  "We're going to Mingzhou to buy birthday gifts for Jiang Niangniang, and we'll take a detour from Hangzhou." Zhao Da explained in a low voice.

  Mr. Qin nodded and didn't say a word, just looked at Zhao Da, waiting for him to continue speaking.

  "This afternoon, Master received a letter from Young Master Ming that he will be entering Hangzhou City tomorrow. That's when we found out that our Third Master Lin also came along with him." Zhao Da said with a hint of bitter smile, "Master said that Young Master Ming must have taken a detour to Hangzhou City in order to meet the Empress Dowager, or at least meet Prince Wang, and brought our Third Master along..."

  Zhao Dà looked at Mr. Qin and didn't say anything more.

  The Empress Dowager took the King of Qin to temporarily reside in Hangzhou City. Many officials, whether passing through or taking a detour, came to request an audience, but neither the Empress Dowager nor the King of Qin granted any of them an audience.

  This time, Master Ming brought Li Wenlin, the third master of the Li family. He came prepared.

  Mr. Qin's face was gloomy, and he remained silent for a moment before looking at Zhao Da and asking, "What does 'Cao Si' mean?"

  "Zhang said, 'Please, sir and Fifth Master, consider it carefully.'"

  "Tell Xiao Si, I know." After a moment of silence, Mr. Qin responded in a low voice.

  "Yes, I'm going back. You stay here, sir." Zhao Da stood up and bid farewell with a bow.

  Mr. Qin stood with his hands behind him under the corridor, lost in thought for a long time before turning around and entering the house.

  ………………

  The next morning, Li Wenshan was summoned by Mr. Qin.

  Guo Sheng stood at the gate of the government office, watching Qin's servant pass by. Before long, Li Wenshan followed the servant, hastily passing through the gate.

  Guo Shengjin walked into the yamen, and after a moment, he took out a small purple sand teapot, stood at the entrance of the yamen, with one hand behind his back, slowly savoring the tea, as if enjoying the rare leisure time in the early morning.

  It was only about two hours later that Li Wenshan returned, frowning and hurrying along, giving Guo Sheng the feeling of a swallow returning to its nest.

  Guo Sheng slowly walked out of the yamen, watching Li Wenshan turn a corner and head towards the back door of the county yamen. After pacing back and forth at the entrance for a few steps, he slowly turned around and went back inside the yamen.

  Li Wenshan entered the back door of the county government office, walking and running at the same time. He rushed into the upper room, but didn't see Li Xia, so he turned around and came out, taking three steps at a time to head towards his own study.

  Li Xiazheng stood on a stool, tiptoeing to reach a book on the top shelf.

  "Ah Xia!" Li Wenshan shouted, startling Li Xia who had just reached the book and almost fell down, shaking for a while before regaining balance.

  Li Wenshan went around the table and chairs, and suddenly hugged Li Xia, who had already stood firm.

  Li Wenshan put her on the desk, bowed his head to look at the book in her hand, "What is this? Scripture? What are you looking at this for? The most boring book. A Xia, there's something important."

  Li Wenshan furrowed his brow, pulled over an armchair and sat down opposite Li Xia.

  "What about Big Uncle?"

  Just now it was Mr. Qin who called him over, Li Wenshan said he had something to say, and Li Xia thought of her uncle at once.

  "It's not, but it counts." Li Wenshan said what Mr. Qin had said, "...Mr. said that the eldest brother also just knew, and immediately sent someone to say that the eldest brother had said, let Mr. and I handle it carefully."

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