Chapter 138: Chili Pepper 2/4

“Okay,” Chang Zhan said.

The two of them walked towards Magistrate Zhang’s residence. On the way, they heard people discussing Magistrate Zhang.

“I saw the people from the capital going to the prefectural government office.”

“Are they looking for Magistrate Zhang?”

“It should be to find Magistrate Zhang, I wonder if Magistrate Zhang will be okay.”

“I heard someone say that Magistrate Zhang killed the county magistrate of Linhu County, which is a serious crime.”

“But that county magistrate of Linhu County wasn’t a good person. Magistrate Zhang killing him, how could that be wrong!”

“He is a seventh-rank official appointed by the court! You can’t just kill him at will.”

“I don’t know if Magistrate Zhang will be arrested this time.”

“Magistrate Zhang is really good. If Magistrate Zhang is gone, I wonder what kind of magistrate will come.”

…

Li Qingzhi and Chang Zhan exchanged a glance, deciding not to go to Magistrate Zhang’s residence but to the prefectural government office instead.

They were quite worried, fearing that Magistrate Zhang might be in trouble. However, when they arrived at the gate of the government office and looked, everything seemed calm, and the guards outside looked rather pleased.

Upon seeing this, the two of them hurriedly approached to inquire, and then they learned a surprising news — Magistrate Zhang had been promoted and had actually become Governor Zhang!

It was quite a coincidence. At this moment, as Magistrate Zhang came out of the government office, there was still a group of people congratulating him.

In the previous period, the atmosphere in Hexing Prefecture’s government office was tense, except for those like the Assistant Magistrate who were supporters of Prince Jin; others were all on edge.

They didn’t want anything to happen to Magistrate Zhang!

Now that Magistrate Zhang was fine, they were overjoyed!

Magistrate Zhang had originally planned to handle official business in the government office, but there were too many people coming to congratulate him, so he couldn’t get anything done. He decided to leave.

But as soon as he stepped out, he saw Li Qingzhi.

Magistrate Zhang immediately said to the people around him, “Please stay, one of my students has come to see me. I’ll talk to him for a moment.”

After speaking, Magistrate Zhang stepped forward and looked at Li Qingzhi and Chang Zhan. “When did you come to the prefectural city?”

“Today. Congratulations on your promotion, sir,” Li Qingzhi smiled.

“Thank you… It’s been a long time. Come to my house for a meal,” Magistrate Zhang said.

“As it happens, sir, we specially brought some delicious food for you,” Li Qingzhi uncovered the gauze covering the basket he was carrying, revealing the braised chicken and duck inside.

Magistrate Zhang was in a great mood. “This chicken looks delicious. Let’s buy some wine and drink together!”

Li Qingzhi readily agreed.

In the prefectural city, many people knew Magistrate Zhang. When they went to buy wine, some even came up to inquire, “Magistrate Zhang, are you okay?”

Magistrate Zhang smiled, “I’m fine, I’m fine.”

“It’s good that you’re okay!” The nearby residents were very happy and some even brought gifts for Magistrate Zhang.

They were all gifts of a single egg and a few green onions, nothing valuable, but Magistrate Zhang refused to accept them and quickly left.

They soon arrived at the wine shop in the magistrate city.

Magistrate Zhang ordered two kilograms of yellow wine and a large bowl of sweet fermented rice wine. “I forgot to bring a bowl today, I’ll bring it back later.” The wine he bought was poured into the small wine jar provided by the shopkeeper, and the sweet fermented rice wine was poured into the bowl provided by the shopkeeper. Both the wine jar and the bowl were to be returned.

“Magistrate Zhang, you’re too polite. If it weren’t for you refusing, I would’ve wanted to give them to you,” the shopkeeper said.

Magistrate Zhang had bought wine from them before. At first, he refused to take money, but later, when Magistrate Zhang insisted on paying, he accepted half.

As a result, Magistrate Zhang somehow found out the price of their wine and insisted on paying them back…

Magistrate Zhang smiled and walked home with Li Qingzhi and Chang Zhan, introducing the surroundings to them along the way.

It could be seen that Magistrate Zhang was in a very good mood.

Li Qingzhi and Chang Zhan were also in good spirits.

“I thought we were doomed this time, thanks to you,” Magistrate Zhang said after returning to his residence, taking out several volumes of “The Record of Injustice”.

Li Qingzhi didn’t expect that he had actually helped Magistrate Zhang, but this was undoubtedly a good thing!

Magistrate Zhang’s promotion to provincial governor was even better news for them!

Li Qingzhi accompanied Magistrate Zhang drinking, chatting as they drank. Then he watched as Magistrate Zhang, who hadn’t drunk much, became flushed and somewhat drunk.

Drunk as he was, Magistrate Zhang didn’t do anything inappropriate. He just moved a stool to sit in the courtyard and began reciting articles: “The way of the great is to act with the world as one’s public, to select the worthy and employ the capable, to discuss matters with sincerity, and to cultivate harmony…”

He recited with great passion, clearly infused with genuine emotion.

Magistrate Zhang’s tolerance for alcohol was really not that great… Li Qingzhi watched Magistrate Zhang not far away, feeling a fire burning in his heart.

Daqi was an unjust feudal society, and Magistrate Zhang had no choice but to unleash a massacre in Linhu County.

Now, although Magistrate Zhang had been absolved of his crime, it was because of his good luck.

And in this world, there were always people with bad luck.

Wasn’t the original owner’s family one of them?

He really should do something… Whether it was because of the alcohol or not, Li Qingzhi felt the fire in his chest burning hotter and hotter.

Chang Zhan had also drunk some wine, but he seemed very sober, with nothing to do. He whispered, “Mr. Li, this wine isn’t very good… Mr. Li, my family has a recipe for brewing wine, and the wine brewed with that recipe is truly delicious.”

Li Qingzhi said, “Then you can brew some. I also have a recipe here that can make already good wine even better.”

Many people who love drinking enjoy distilled spirits.

However, for Li Qingzhi, the most important thing was… distilled spirits could disinfect. He felt it was necessary to stock up on some high-proof alcohol.

“Chang Zhan, what do you use to brew your family’s wine?” Li Qingzhi asked as he ate the sweet fermented rice wine.

“We use sorghum,” Chang Zhan said.

“After we get back, you go buy some sorghum and try brewing some wine. It doesn’t need to be too delicious, just keep the cost low,” Li Qingzhi spoke up, then thought for a moment and added, “Forget it, brewing your own wine is troublesome. Next time you go to buy marinade, help me buy some more wine. I want to try and see if I can make delicious wine.”

Li Qingzhi hadn’t initially thought about making high-proof alcohol, but once the idea came to mind, he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

At critical moments, this could be a life-saving thing!

After chatting with Chang Zhan, Li Qingzhi approached Magistrate Zhang, “Magistrate, it’s getting late, you should rest for a while. I’ll give you a shoulder massage.”

Magistrate Zhang came to his senses and said to Li Qingzhi, “Nephew, you’re really good at giving shoulder massages. Ever since you massaged my shoulders, I’ve been able to fall asleep! I’ve seen many doctors before, but they didn’t have your skill.”

“As long as it helps you, Magistrate.”

“Nephew, thanks to the book you wrote this time, I may say I’m indifferent to life and death, but in my heart, I don’t want to die. Today, I am very happy,” Magistrate Zhang’s eyes turned red, “I am very happy.”

Li Qingzhi and Chang Zhan helped Magistrate Zhang into the house together. Using his ability, Li Qingzhi helped Magistrate Zhang restore some of his body. When Magistrate Zhang fell into a deep sleep, Li Qingzhi left Magistrate Zhang’s house.

It was late today, and they couldn’t make it back to Chongcheng County. They had to find an inn to stay for the night.

When Li Qingzhi and Magistrate Zhang were eating together, in the capital city, Chang Duan and Wu Baichuan were also dining together.

The restaurant owned by Lu Qingxi had reopened.

Previously, Chang Duan attached great importance to the family recipes of the Chang family and was unwilling to teach the dishes to others. He was determined to pass down the recipes through generations so that future generations could eat and drink without worries based on their cooking skills.

However, after experiencing the destruction of his family, these recipes became just tools for Chang Duan.

He selected a few distinctive dishes from his family recipes, taught them to the restaurant’s head chef, repainted the restaurant, and replaced the old tables and chairs.