Chapter 124: Method 2/2

After learning about this incident, Li Qingzhi’s mood was very complicated.

He didn’t know what Magistrate Zhang would face after doing such a thing.

But now, he couldn’t do anything.

After dark, Li Qingzhi, as usual, went to the room of his three children, telling them stories to help them fall asleep. But after they fell asleep, he didn’t sleep himself. Instead, he went to the study, took a piece of paper, and practiced calligraphy to calm his mind.

Whether it was him or the original owner, they were not very clear about the affairs of the court, and the only officials they knew were County Magistrate Gou and Magistrate Zhang… He couldn’t help Magistrate Zhang.

While practicing calligraphy, suddenly there was a knock on the door. Shortly after, Li Qingzhi heard the voice of County Magistrate Gou: “Li Qingzhi! Li Qingzhi!”

Guo Ying followed his father cautiously as they came down from the boat.

He didn’t like boats; he always felt seasick when on one.

So, he really hated this place, Chongcheng County!

His father’s lover was called Li Qingzhi? He didn’t know what kind of person that was!

Guo Ying stared fixedly at the door in front of him, then saw a slender man open the door: “Master Gou, what brings you here?”

“Li Qingzhi, do you know about the situation in Linhu County? Isn’t your relative by Magistrate Zhang’s side? Has he sent back any news?” County Magistrate Gou asked anxiously, “What should I do now?”

Li Qingzhi invited County Magistrate Gou into the house and took a seat in the dining room where they usually ate.

It was just a simple dining room with a rectangular table. Li Qingzhi gestured for County Magistrate Gou to sit at the table, and Guo Ying followed suit.

Guo Ying felt a bit embarrassed now. He had thought his father was going out to meet his lover, but it turned out… his father had some serious business?

But the next moment, his embarrassment disappeared—County Magistrate Gou looked at Guo Ying and scolded, “You’re just a kid, what are you doing here? Go out and play.”

Guo Ying’s face immediately changed color. He was already grown up! And what could he play outside at this time of night? It’s full of mosquitoes out there!

Upon seeing Guo Ying, Li Qingzhi knew that this was the thirteen-year-old son of County Magistrate Gou.

“At thirteen, he’s not too young, and what we have to discuss isn’t classified,” Li Qingzhi said. “Sir, let him stay here.”

County Magistrate Gou was afraid of scaring his son, “He’s still young.”

“He’s not that young anymore. In a few years, he’ll be eligible to take the imperial examinations,” Li Qingzhi said.

County Magistrate Gou frowned, “But this brat… where can he possibly pass…”

Li Qingzhi noticed that Guo Ying’s expression was off and interrupted County Magistrate Gou, “Sir, I’ve already heard about the situation in Linhu County. You seem a bit flustered. What are you afraid of?”

“Magistrate Zhang directly killed Magistrate Yan. Will he also be displeased with me?” County Magistrate Gou asked Li Qingzhi anxiously. “You see, now, what should I do?”

“Sir, you can rest assured about this. You’re a good official, and Magistrate Zhang won’t lay a hand on you,” Li Qingzhi assured him.

“But you never know… He’s not exactly an upright official! He’s taken bribes!” 

“Sir, from what I’ve seen, Magistrate Zhang is very satisfied with you. But if you’re still uneasy, there are things you can do.”

“What can I do?” County Magistrate Gou asked.

“You can take advantage of Magistrate Zhang’s handling of Magistrate Yan’s case to survey the land in Chongcheng County and ensure that the wealthy households in the city pay their grain taxes honestly…” The grain taxes for this year haven’t been collected yet. If County Magistrate Gou really does this… after the wealthy households pay their grain taxes in full, the people of Chongcheng County will have to pay less in taxes! Their lives will be much better.

Li Qingzhi’s voice was calm, and County Magistrate Gou’s mood unknowingly calmed down as they began to discuss what he could do next to ensure his safety.

And from County Magistrate Gou, Li Qingzhi also learned the specifics of what happened in Linhu County.

Magistrate Zhang was even more ruthless than he had imagined, and he had killed even more people!

Magistrate Zhang must have thrown caution to the wind.

“I never expected that that Yan fellow would be so insane!” After County Magistrate Gou’s mood calmed down, he began to curse Magistrate Yan, feeling that Magistrate Yan was too much.

Ordinary people wouldn’t do something like what Magistrate Yan did.

“Sir, I’ll go to Linhu County tomorrow to investigate the situation. As for you, you don’t need to worry. As long as you have a clear conscience,” Li Qingzhi reassured him.

“Alright,” County Magistrate Gou was somewhat moved. At a time like this, Li Qingzhi still wanted to go to Linhu County; it must be for him!

Li Qingzhi didn’t know what County Magistrate Gou was thinking. After learning about the specific situation in Linhu County, he had an idea.

Perhaps he could offer Magistrate Zhang a little help.

It was getting late, so Li Qingzhi got up to see County Magistrate Gou off. He also gave Guo Ying a basket of books, whispering, “Young Master Guo, these are some storybooks. You can read them when you have free time.”

County Magistrate Gou’s son was said to be quite rowdy, so hopefully, he wouldn’t cause trouble for County Magistrate Gou.

Guo Ying wasn’t happy when he saw the books in the basket, but he didn’t expect Li Qingzhi to say they were storybooks… He immediately hugged the basket to his chest.

“What’s this?” County Magistrate Gou asked.

Li Qingzhi smiled, “I gave him a few books.”

County Magistrate Gou said, “He won’t read books; he only knows how to play!”

Li Qingzhi: “…”

County Magistrate Gou had been separated from his son for a long time, and their relationship wasn’t that great to begin with. Now, he kept criticizing his son all day long. Wasn’t he pushing his own son away in front of others?

But County Magistrate Gou had his own busy matters to attend to. He probably didn’t have time to bother with his son anymore.

And the books he gave to Guo Ying… they were actually stories about County Magistrate Gou written by Li Qingzhi. After Guo Ying read them, he might develop some affection for County Magistrate Gou.

After seeing off the father and son, Jin Xiaoye came down. “County Magistrate Gou has left?”

“Yes,” Li Qingzhi said.

Jin Xiaoye said, “Ah Qing, go to sleep.”

Li Qingzhi refused, “Xiaoye, you go to sleep first. I’ll stay up a bit later tonight; there are some things I need to do.”

Li Qingzhi told Jin Xiaoye to go to bed while he took out a piece of paper and wrote down the title “Records of Injustice”.

Then, he began to write the main text: “I traveled to Linhu County and saw that the people were impoverished and living in misery. I began to investigate and found countless cases of injustice… This book is based on the accounts of the people, transcribed onto paper by me…”

Li Qingzhi wrote a string of text, probably about someone who arrived in Linhu County and then found many people to record their grievances.

As for the rest, he planned to write down each case of injustice in the voice of the common people!

Li Qingzhi had thought before about writing about what Magistrate Yan and the Lou family had done and spreading it.

But he didn’t dare to write it, fearing that someone would recognize his handwriting.

Now, he thought, why not change the style?

He could use the first person, writing in the voice of the common people!

By then, everyone would probably think that someone had indeed asked the common people and learned these things from their mouths, but they wouldn’t link the book to him!

As for how he could help Magistrate Zhang after writing this book…

The King of Jin had enemies in the court!

Today, when he talked with County Magistrate Gou, he learned that Lü Qingxi had been opposing the King of Jin all along.

The enmity between them couldn’t be resolved, and if the King of Jin really ascended to the throne, his first order would likely be to kill Lü Qingxi.

If Lü Qingxi saw this book, he would probably take action!

It would take time for the news of Magistrate Zhang’s killing of Magistrate Yan to reach the capital, and it would also take time for people from the capital to come and investigate. Generally, people like Magistrate Zhang would be escorted to the capital for interrogation… It would definitely take a lot of time in between.

During this time, even if Lü Qingxi didn’t act, he could think of a way to spread this book in the capital! Just… printing books required money, and he didn’t have any now!

Of course, whether he had money or not, he should write it first and figure it out later!

Li Qingzhi didn’t write about the Chang family’s affairs but instead chose the experience of someone his original self had met at the stone quarry, starting to write in that person’s voice.

He knew nothing about Magistrate Zhang’s interrogation today, but just from what he knew now, it was enough for him to write several articles.

He could write this story very tragically in the first person!

In his previous life, reading some pure literary works had hurt him a lot, and now, he planned to hurt others a bit.

He wasn’t only capable of writing light-hearted stories.

Li Qingzhi used his faster left hand to quickly write…