Chapter 138: Chili Pepper 3/4

He also introduced some elements from the Jiangnan region to decorate the restaurant, changed the name of the restaurant to Qingyun Restaurant, and then reopened it.

Many people wanted to try out the newly opened restaurant, especially since the name of the restaurant, “Qingyun Restaurant,” had a good connotation… In these two days, the restaurant’s business was very good.

Chang Duan hosted Wu Baichuan for a private dinner on the second floor.

After eating meat and drinking wine, he said to Wu Baichuan, “Shopkeeper Wu, I have some letters here. Can I trouble you to deliver them to Li Qingzhi?”

Chang Duan wrote a thick stack of letters and asked Shopkeeper Wu to deliver them to Li Qingzhi.

Although he wrote a lot, he was very careful not to write anything he shouldn’t have.

He didn’t even sign them, so even if someone else read the letters, it wouldn’t matter.

“I will personally deliver these letters to Li Qingzhi.” Shopkeeper Wu said excitedly.

Shopkeeper Wu was eager to help Li Qingzhi with his affairs. After all, after doing things together for a long time, their relationship became closer!

“Thank you, Shopkeeper Wu,” Chang Duan poured a glass of wine for Shopkeeper Wu, “Shopkeeper Wu, some ingredients are only available in Jiangnan. Could you please bring some next time you come? We can discuss the price.”

By saying this, he was giving money to Shopkeeper Wu.

Shopkeeper Wu was pleasantly surprised.

At the same time, in Chongcheng County.

County Magistrate Gou wasn’t feeling too good at the moment.

In the past month, County Magistrate Gou had been measuring the land of Chongcheng County, and he has been quite successful.

With his measurements, Chongcheng County gained a lot of land!

The imperial tax was apportioned, as long as enough was paid, but due to losses, a little more needed to be paid.

In the past, some minor officials and servants in Chongcheng County would line their pockets, plus some local gentry didn’t pay taxes… The common people had to pay a lot of grain.

But this year was different.

After his steward calculated, County Magistrate Gou found that the common people could pay half as much tax this year as in previous years!

Half as much tax!

County Magistrate Gou felt especially proud of himself. He looked forward to seeing the shocked expressions of the common people when they paid taxes.

He had already noticed that although some wealthy people in Chongcheng County were unhappy with him, the common people really liked him, and naturally, he wanted to do something for them too.

But these past few days, he has encountered some trouble.

It couldn’t be said to be trouble… Actually, it was just that some wealthy people and gentry in Chongcheng County were unhappy with him.

When Magistrate Zhang was making big moves in Linhu County, even if they were unhappy, they didn’t dare to show it.

But now that Magistrate Zhang had returned to the magistrate city, it seems he didn’t plan to do anything in other counties!

And most importantly… They all heard that Magistrate Zhang was going to be in trouble.

“Magistrate Gou, you’re using Magistrate Zhang to suppress us, but now Magistrate Zhang himself is in trouble!”

“Magistrate Zhang falsely claimed an imperial decree, he might even be beheaded… Magistrate Gou, since you’re close to Magistrate Zhang, have you figured out what to do?”

“I heard that King Jin really hates Magistrate Zhang. Some of Magistrate Zhang’s friends were implicated without doing anything… Magistrate Gou, you always listen to Magistrate Zhang, with him as your model… I wonder what King Jin will think.”

“Magistrate Gou, my classmate is an official in the capital. If you oppress the people, I will definitely write to him!”

…

Those who were unhappy with County Magistrate Gou in Chongcheng County approached him.

They all said Magistrate Zhang would be taken care of… After that, County Magistrate Gou would have no backing!

They wanted County Magistrate Gou to stop measuring the land, and the land that had been measured before, pretend it never happened.

County Magistrate Gou frowned.

He had also heard rumors related to Magistrate Zhang.

He knew that Magistrate Zhang was likely to be in trouble, and for his own safety, he’d better keep a low profile and mind his own business.

His relationship with Magistrate Zhang wasn’t that much, actually just a normal superior-subordinate relationship, but if these people spread rumors everywhere, saying he had a close relationship with Magistrate Zhang… He was very likely to be implicated.

But measuring the land was the first time he sincerely wanted to do something for the common people, and he even went to many places himself to watch the servants measure the land.

During this time, he also saw how the common people lived.

He saw an old man, without relatives or land, living in a small shack by the river, only able to eat earthworms.

He was already so miserable, and there were even children stealing the wood from his shack to burn at home.

That child sounded despicable? But he was miserable too.

His mother died early, his father broke his leg while working, barely having enough to eat, and his limbs were thin with a swollen belly, not knowing if he could survive to adulthood.

Such incidents were numerous.

And measuring the land could help these common people live a little better. Some “ownerless” land could even be leased to the common people for cultivation.

Seeing County Magistrate Gou unmoved, one person became anxious and spoke more harshly: “Magistrate Gou, if you insist on being unreasonable, I’ll find someone to let King Jin adjudicate! I’ll tell King Jin that what happened in Linhu County also involves you! Even if you don’t care about yourself, think about your wife and children!”

“You!” County Magistrate Gou’s face changed dramatically.

This person’s intention was to spread rumors in front of King Jin and provoke him?

Such a thing… King Jin might really believe it, and then…

County Magistrate Gou was very angry. He didn’t want to comply with these people’s wishes, but it seemed he had no choice but to comply.

Just when County Magistrate Gou was feeling uncomfortable, a bailiff came in from outside. “County Magistrate, good news!”

“What good news?” County Magistrate Gou asked.

The bailiff said, “Sir, there’s news from the capital saying that Magistrate Zhang won’t be a magistrate anymore!”

County Magistrate Gou: “…Magistrate Zhang not being a magistrate anymore is good news?”

The bailiff quickly added, “Magistrate Zhang is going to be a governor!”

County Magistrate Gou was stunned. “What did you say?”

The bailiff said, “Magistrate Zhang is going to be a governor. The emperor has promoted Magistrate Zhang! Sir, Mr. Li has gone to the capital, and he sent this message.”

County Magistrate Gou was overjoyed. “What wonderful news! Li Qingzhi is truly my lucky star!”

After saying this, County Magistrate Gou looked at those who had come to threaten him. “Is there anything else you want to say?”

Those who had been aggressive before, now all had smiles on their faces. “Congratulations, County Magistrate!”

“Magistrate Zhang is rising rapidly, and County Magistrate Gou will surely have a bright future too!”

“County Magistrate, I’ll definitely pay all my taxes this year!”

“County Magistrate, you have great foresight!”

…

These people did indeed know some influential figures, and they had some connections, but they weren’t as powerful as they claimed to be.

For example, the person who claimed to have a classmate serving as an official in the capital… His classmates might not even remember him.

Their main goal before was to intimidate County Magistrate Gou.

But now… they were all scared to death by County Magistrate Gou!

“I didn’t expect Magistrate Zhang to be so formidable. After killing a bunch of people, he can still become a governor!”

County Magistrate Gou was highly regarded by Magistrate Zhang. If they went against County Magistrate Gou, he would bring Magistrate Zhang…

These people immediately changed their demeanor.

County Magistrate Gou snorted coldly and sat calmly in his seat, looking at them.

These people really needed to be taught a lesson!

Before, County Magistrate Gou had been lenient. He wasn’t so strict during the land measurement. But now… he would be stricter with these people!

Thinking like this, County Magistrate Gou thought of Li Qingzhi again.

Li Qingzhi’s advice had all been excellent. This time… after he got things done, Magistrate Zhang, no, Governor Zhang, would surely take notice of him!

I wonder if Li Qingzhi has any time. It would be great if he could turn what I’ve been doing lately into a book.

It’s been a long time since any new book related to him was published!

County Magistrate Gou sent those who had come to intimidate him out with a stern face. When he got home, he burst into laughter. His mood was exceptionally good. Even when he saw his son, Guo Ying, not studying at home but coming back from outside, he wasn’t angry.