Chapter 145: Education 2/4

But for Mrs. Gou, who was standing downstairs and heard this conversation, it wasn’t a good thing.

Mrs. Gou didn’t understand at first, but later, seeing her husband’s attitude, she immediately guessed Magistrate Zhang’s identity.

She thought that old man with Zhu Qian was actually Magistrate Zhang?

Mother Yang was behind when she criticized the things Shopkeeper Jin was selling?

He listened to her scolding their son, too?

Mrs. Gou covered her chest, not knowing what to say.

Her maternal family was more influential than the Gou family, but the highest-ranking official in their family was only a fourth-rank official…

She couldn’t afford to offend someone like Magistrate Zhang!

“I-Is that… is that really Magistrate Zhang?” Mrs. Gou’s voice trembled.

Mother Yang didn’t dare to speak, and one of the bailiffs said, “Madam, yes, that’s Magistrate Zhang.”

“How come he’s with that Li Qingzhi…” Mrs. Gou couldn’t finish her sentence.

“Magistrate Zhang has always valued Mr. Li. County Magistrate Gou used to send gifts to Magistrate Zhang, but Magistrate Zhang never accepted. However, later, Mr. Li had his relatives send gifts along with him, and Magistrate Zhang accepted them and even gave County Magistrate Gou gifts in return! Magistrate Zhang also kept Mr. Li’s relatives by his side.” The bailiff explained.

Mrs. Gou was even more flustered.

The person she had always looked down upon was actually related to Magistrate Zhang?

What should she do now?

Mrs. Gou looked at Mother Yang, but Mother Yang was even more panicked than her.

Downstairs, the two were trembling with fear, while upstairs in a large private room, everyone was happy and harmonious.

Li Qingzhi and Chang Zhan both brought their children, and County Magistrate Gou also brought his two daughters upstairs.

Since they needed to discuss official business, County Magistrate Gou asked Gou Ying to take his sister and Li Damao to play in the adjacent room, while he stayed to talk with Magistrate Zhang.

Li Qingzhi didn’t interrupt, but requested Zhu Qian to bring paper and pen over, then began to write down the method of salt drying.

Technically, salt drying wasn’t difficult; he had read about it in his past life, remembered it, and now wrote it down.

Of course, these things he wrote down would need to be adapted to specific circumstances and adjusted during the actual operation.

By the time Magistrate Zhang finished speaking with County Magistrate Gou, Li Qingzhi had already finished writing down the salt drying method.

County Magistrate Gou glanced at the sky and invited Magistrate Zhang to stay at his mansion.

Magistrate Zhang declined, “I’ve already booked a room at the inn here, sleeping there will be fine.”

County Magistrate Gou could only accompany Magistrate Zhang to the inn he had reserved.

Li Qingzhi followed along, and after Magistrate Zhang settled in, he and County Magistrate Gou left together.

Outside, County Magistrate Gou immediately asked, “Zixiao, how did you become so familiar with Magistrate Zhang?” Magistrate Zhang didn’t come to find him after arriving in Chongcheng County; instead, he went to find Li Qingzhi… County Magistrate Gou felt a little sour.

Li Qingzhi replied, “Magistrate Zhang appreciates my talent, so we talked a lot. He even mentioned recommending me to Anjiang Academy.”

County Magistrate Gou became even more envious and believed Li Qingzhi’s words, “Zixiao, your knowledge is really impressive!”

“Magistrate Zhang also really likes Gou Ying,” Li Qingzhi added.

Thinking of his son calling Magistrate Zhang “Grandpa Zhang” just now, obviously having established a good relationship with Magistrate Zhang, County Magistrate Gou suddenly looked more favorably upon his son.

His son was pretty good? Not as useless as he had thought?

“Yeah, Grandpa Zhang really likes me!” Gou Ying said confidently.

He had been praised by his grandparents since he was young. Though he had been scolded by County Magistrate Gou all along, he had almost lost his confidence.

But recently, his confidence had returned.

Previously, he couldn’t learn even though his father taught him to read, but that wasn’t his fault; it was his father’s inability to teach!

“You little brat, don’t get too proud all at once…,” County Magistrate Gou muttered.

Gou Ying became unhappy, “Dad, why do you always scold me? Why don’t you say anything to mom?”

“What’s wrong with your mom?” County Magistrate Gou frowned.

“But that nanny by mom’s side is really not good. She’s getting old and her mind is all muddled…” Gou Ying recounted what happened before.

If it were in the past, he might not have spoken ill of his mother, but a few days ago, when he brought some things for his sister, his mother threw them all away and criticized him, thinking he would spoil his sister with those things…

He was a bit unhappy about it.

County Magistrate Gou hadn’t expected this, couldn’t care less about his son, and angrily went home.

Li Qingzhi sighed, hoping his eldest and second eldest wouldn’t turn out like this in the future.

Well, he and Jin Xiaoye wouldn’t be like County Magistrate Gou and his wife, so naturally, their eldest and second eldest wouldn’t be like Gou Ying either.

After County Magistrate Gou left, Li Qingzhi took his two children to find Jin Xiaoye, only to see Wu Baichuan personally helping Jin Xiaoye pack up his stall.

Seeing him, Wu Baichuan was even more smiling, “Magistrate Zhang has gone to rest?”

Li Qingzhi nodded and thanked Wu Baichuan.

The next morning, Magistrate Zhang was about to leave, Li Qingzhi personally went to see him off and gave him the salt drying method he had written and the two revised essays.

Some other methods he proposed would also be written into essays, and he would have someone send them to Magistrate Zhang in a few days.

He could also write down some of the policies implemented by his country for the benefit of the nation and the people from his memory and give them to Magistrate Zhang to see if they could be implemented.

For example, he previously mentioned the “barefoot doctors.” Speaking of this… perhaps he could have someone compile a basic medical book.

The medical skills of barefoot doctors often weren’t very good. In the history he was familiar with, tragedies occurred due to mistakes made by barefoot doctors, such as improper medication.

There were very few drugs available in this era, so the role that barefoot doctors could play was even smaller.

But something was better than nothing. At least some correct knowledge could be disseminated.

Accompanying the farewell to Magistrate Zhang was County Magistrate Gou. County Magistrate Gou didn’t look too good, obviously not having rested well last night.

Li Qingzhi didn’t ask much, and County Magistrate Gou didn’t say anything either. The two sent Magistrate Zhang away together and then went home separately.

Upon returning home, County Magistrate Gou saw his wife with teary eyes, still crying.

After returning home last night, County Magistrate Gou had accused his wife and made her send Mother Yang away… His wife had promised, but she had been silently crying all along.

Seeing her in tears, County Magistrate Gou didn’t know what to say to her… Then his wife cried all night, and County Magistrate Gou couldn’t sleep well.

“Why are you still crying?” County Magistrate Gou couldn’t help but ask.

His wife’s tears welled up instantly. “I didn’t mean to…”

She was in such a pitiful state, yet her husband didn’t comfort her.

His son was unreliable, too. He had said something wrong yesterday, and she was blamed for it.

Even her two daughters didn’t listen to her now.

“I know you didn’t mean to. Just don’t do this next time,” County Magistrate Gou said.