Chapter 110: Arrangements 1/2

Magistrate Gou was not a bad person, but undoubtedly, he was just an ordinary person who sought benefits and avoided harm.

Letting him confront a prince would definitely be unwilling.

Li Qingzhi felt that if Magistrate Gou knew his situation, he would probably distance himself from him.

The same goes for Zhu Qian. The relationship between him and Magistrate Gou Zhu was not good enough for them to offend important people for him.

Chang Zhan looked conflicted.

Li Qingzhi continued, “We are too insignificant. If we want to deal with those people in Linhu County, we can only rely on Magistrate Zhang. Chang zhan, Magistrate Gou will send documents related to Linhu County to the capital tomorrow. At that time, I will recommend you to him, and you will go with him. When you arrive in the capital, you go to find Magistrate Zhang and help me with something.”

“What?” Chang Zhan asked.

Li Qingzhi took out his pen and paper and started writing in front of Chang Zhan, “Help me deliver a letter to Magistrate Zhang.”

Li Qingzhi had been following County Magistrate Gou recently.

At that time, besides teaching them about the imperial examination, Magistrate Gou also helped some people from Linhu County who came to petition for grievances. As for other matters… Magistrate Gou didn’t see anything.

County Magistrate Gou was investigating the tea gardens. Although the tea gardens hadn’t suffered from pests, County Magistrate Gou observed that the tea production was very low, similar to the situation after a pest infestation. Therefore, County Magistrate Gou was planning to write a letter to Magistrate Zhang, stating that the tea production in Linhu County had indeed decreased and that the tea farmers were indeed facing difficulties.

However, according to the information Li Qingzhi obtained…

The good tea gardens in Linhu County were all occupied by the Lou family, and the entire county’s white tea business was monopolized by them.

The tea trees in the Lou family’s tea gardens grew exceptionally well!

County Magistrate Gou observed the tea gardens belonging to ordinary tea farmers. Because the Lou family purchased tea leaves at low prices, ordinary tea farmers had been suffering losses for years and couldn’t afford to fertilize their tea trees. How could their tea trees grow well?

In this way, after a couple of years, when they couldn’t hold on any longer, the Lou family could buy their tea gardens at low prices, then hire some tenant farmers to manage them. By then, those tea gardens would flourish and bring in a lot of money for the Lou family.

What’s even better was that with County Magistrate Yan’s intervention, the Lou family didn’t even have to pay tea taxes!

The report that County Magistrate Gou would send to Magistrate Zhang would state that the tea gardens in Linhu County had indeed suffered from a disaster, and this letter would be different!

Li Qingzhi clearly wrote down the true situation of the tea gardens and began documenting other misdeeds committed by the Lou family.

County Magistrate Gou had arrested many corrupt officials in Linhu County, all of whom had committed wrongdoings, but none were related to the Lou family. To avoid implicating their families, they didn’t dare to involve the Lou family.

However, after County Magistrate Gou passed judgment on their cases, Li Qingzhi chatted with them and managed to extract a lot of information from them.

Relying on various pieces of information, Li Qingzhi roughly knew which people in the Linhu County government were associated with the Lou family and what wrongdoings the Lou family had committed.

Now, he wrote down some confirmed information and then asked Chang Zhan about things he wasn’t sure about.

Chang Zhan was a local in Linhu County and had a grudge against the Lou family. He had been paying attention to the Lou family for the past two years and would inquire about the various misdeeds committed by the Lou family. With his help, Li Qingzhi wrote one piece of paper after another for this letter.

He naturally wrote about the Chang family’s situation: “Chang zhan, I’ve written about your family’s situation here, and I’ve also written a petition for you. You can show this petition to Magistrate Zhang, but until Magistrate Zhang has control over the Lou family, don’t file any complaints, and don’t show off in public. The King of Jin holds considerable power, and the newly appointed county magistrate and prefect of Hexing Prefecture are closely connected to him. There are definitely their people in the prefectural city. If you act too conspicuously, you might attract attention. You might not fear death, but think about your niece and your brother.”

In this chaotic society… If County Magistrate Yan and the Lou family’s people couldn’t resolve a lawsuit, they might resort to dealing with the person who wanted to sue.

Didn’t Chang Zhan’s father get dealt with because he went to file a complaint?

If Chang Zhan attracted too much attention, he might be targeted and killed.

Later, this matter might also involve Chang Chui and then implicate their family.

This was something Li Qingzhi didn’t want to see.

Chang Zhan had calmed down by now. Hearing Li Qingzhi enumerate the crimes of the Lou family, he gained confidence in seeking revenge for his family and no longer wished to die, let alone involve Chang Chui.

His niece was so pitiful; she hadn’t experienced a good life since her birth and lost her mother at a young age… He wanted her to have a better future, to become a young lady who was served by maids.

Chang Zhan readily agreed, and Li Qingzhi continued, “After you arrive in the prefectural city, seek an audience with Magistrate Zhang and hand this letter to him personally. But if Magistrate Zhang asks about the origin of this letter, don’t say anything and don’t mention me. However, you can tell him that you are from the Chang family. If there’s an opportunity, stay by Magistrate Zhang’s side…”

Li Qingzhi patiently instructed Chang Zhan.

Their conversation lasted nearly two hours. By the time they finished, preparations for dinner had already begun downstairs.

Li Qingzhi gave Chang Zhan one or two taels of silver. “Go to the clothing store and buy yourself some clothes. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to see County Magistrate Gou.”

Chang Zhan accepted solemnly and said to Li Qingzhi, “Once I’ve avenged my family, I will definitely repay you.”

“That won’t be necessary. I don’t lack cows and horses.” Li Qingzhi smiled. “Besides, I’m seeking revenge for myself too.”

“I will repay your kindness!” Chang Zhan said firmly before heading downstairs.

After Chang Chui went upstairs, she stayed under the stairs, refusing to go anywhere else.

Fortunately, she stopped crying and started playing with the toys given to her by Li Damao and Li Ermao.

When Chang Zhan came down from upstairs, Chang Chui immediately stood up and ran up to hold his hand. “Uncle, Chui Chui is good!”

“Yes, Chui Chui is the best!” Changzhan hugged Chang Chui for a moment. “Uncle is going out to buy some clothes. Chui Chui will wait for Uncle here, okay?”

Chang Chui refused to let go of Chang Zhan’s clothes.

Chang Zhan said, “Chui Chui, Uncle has many things to do and needs to earn money to support you. You must be good and stay here, alright?”

Chang Chui reluctantly let go of Chang Zhan’s hand, her eyes red as she looked at him with longing.

But Chang Zhan still made up his mind not to take Chang Chui because he knew he would be leaving again tomorrow.

Chang Chui had to get used to the days without him.

After Chang Zhan left, Li Qingzhi called Jin Xiaoye and told her about the Chang family’s situation, mentioning that he had encountered Chang Duan before.

Jin Xiaoye couldn’t help but sigh after hearing it: “This family is also too unfortunate.” Compared to this family, she felt truly fortunate.

“Yes,” Li Qingzhi sighed.

The Chang family’s plight reminded him of the original owner’s family. Originally, they had lived very happily, but now… He didn’t know if there were still any family members of the original owner alive.

Back then, it was said that they were all executed, but the original owner’s sister was already married, so she shouldn’t have been implicated. Before he escaped, he even asked his family to find a way to send away his younger siblings.

But due to the Yao River flood, everyone was scattered, and even if there were still survivors, they might not meet again.

Li Qingzhi hugged Jin Xiaoye and buried his head in her neck. “Xiaoye.” He vowed that he would never let his own family fall into such a situation.

He wanted Jin Xiaoye, Li Damao, and Li Ermao to live happily and peacefully.

Jin Xiaoye patted Li Qingzhi’s back and instinctively said, “It’s okay, it’s okay.”

After comforting him, Jin Xiaoye felt something was off.

Li Qingzhi wasn’t a child, so it felt a bit strange for her to comfort him like this!

The frustration in Li Qingzhi’s heart disappeared in an instant, and he couldn’t help but laugh.

He kissed Jin Xiaoye on the cheek and pulled her downstairs. “Xiaoye, I’ll make you something delicious.”