Chapter 87: A New Story 2/3

“Even if you pay more, it won’t work. I need to go back,” the boatman replied. “With so many people just now, they’ve dirtied my boat. I accept that, and I won’t ask you for much more money, but I really have to leave. I still need to clean the boat.” Seeing Qu Yunqing’s expression, the boatman knew he didn’t have much money. Even if he was willing to pay more, it wouldn’t be much.

He couldn’t afford to neglect his customers for the next day.

Qu Yunqing could only watch helplessly as the boatman carried his luggage off the boat, and then the boat he had hired disappeared from his sight.

With things having come to this, Qu Yunqing could only shoulder his burden and walk home.

As for watching the spectacle… he decided to give the county office’s commotion a miss, lest he accidentally get involved.

Since giving Zhu Qian’s autobiography to County Magistrate Gou this morning, County Magistrate Gou has been reading, not even putting the book down during meals.

He admired Zhu Qian while marveling at Li Qingzhi’s talent.

Li Qingzhi’s calligraphy already had a distinguished style, but beyond that… some of the sentences in this book deeply resonated with him.

The book was written in vernacular Chinese, but even so, its straightforwardness had a direct impact on people’s hearts.

For example, the sentence he was currently pondering — “Some people see difficulties in opportunities, while others see opportunities in difficulties…” was indeed true!

As he mulled over this sentence repeatedly, someone came to find County Magistrate Gou, saying that a group of people had gathered at the dock…

County Magistrate Gou attached great importance to the construction of the new dock. He didn’t go there every day, purely to avoid interfering with the laborers.

Now, upon hearing that something had happened there… he immediately headed out.

But as soon as he stepped out, he was accosted and berated: “You scoundrel! We would tolerate your demands for labor, but allowing your constables to beat us…”

County Magistrate Gou was bewildered.

And as if that wasn’t enough, County Magistrate Gou also spotted Magistrate Zhang. What was going on? Was someone plotting against him? County Magistrate Gou’s nerves tensed up in an instant.

After all, when he first took office and visited Magistrate Zhang, Magistrate Zhang hadn’t shown him a friendly face. And now, someone was openly insulting him…

However, even so, remembering the autobiography’s account of how Zhu Qian remained calm in any situation and how he always sought opportunities in difficulties…

He believed he was in the clear. Perhaps he could use this incident to change Magistrate Zhang’s opinion of him.

County Magistrate Gou took a few steps forward and said, “Magistrate, why are you here?”

Sun Juren’s close associate, who had been cursing County Magistrate Gou, was actually feeling quite flustered. If he hadn’t felt that Magistrate Zhang was on their side, he wouldn’t have dared to curse anyone.

Now, when County Magistrate Gou spoke… he immediately looked at Dr. Zhang and said, “Magistrate, are you going to intervene for us?”

Magistrate Zhang glanced at the bewildered Dr. Zhang and then at the person kneeling in front of Dr. Zhang, and said to County Magistrate Gou, “Wen Zheng, these people want to frame you. You must interrogate them thoroughly!”

County Magistrate Gou was stunned — Magistrate Zhang was actually siding with him?

Sun Juren’s close associate was dumbfounded — the person they had pushed down and even beaten a few times was actually the magistrate?!

Jin Liushu’s legs went weak. He had dared to be lazy in front of the magistrate and even joked around…

Regardless of what everyone else was thinking, County Magistrate Gou began interrogating them swiftly.

But in reality, there was no need for him to interrogate them much; they all confessed.

Realizing that they had actually assaulted the magistrate, Sun Juren’s close associate was terrified, let alone the tenant farmers Sun Juren had brought… They answered every question County Magistrate Gou asked, detailing everything they had done.

In this way, the situation became very clear — it was Sun Juren who wanted to frame County Magistrate Gou!

After hearing the confessions, County Magistrate Gou immediately ordered someone to summon Sun Juren. At the same time, he felt extremely fortunate that he had followed Li Qingzhi’s advice and treated the laborers exceptionally well!

If he hadn’t been attentive to this matter and had treated it like previous years, conscripting laborers to repair the old dock, and then Sun Juren had caused trouble…

Magistrate Zhang’s impression of him would have definitely worsened!

Fortunately, Li Qingzhi had helped him! Thinking that the laborers had actually helped him apprehend the culprits and bring them to the county office, County Magistrate Gou was deeply moved.

County Magistrate Gou was very pleased, but Sun Juren was a different story!

Sun Juren’s plan was actually quite good.

He planned to incite trouble when Magistrate Zhang arrived, stirring up the laborers who were working.

He knew County Magistrate Gou treated the laborers working on the dock very well, feeding them meat every day. But he had never interacted with the common people and didn’t think that just this could make them have no complaints about the construction of the dock.

That was hard labor!

And throughout history, common people have never liked forced labor.

In his view, as long as someone incited them by claiming that the constables had beaten someone to death, there was a high probability that the oppressed laborers would join in the troublemaking. Even if those laborers didn’t cause trouble, they definitely wouldn’t side with the constables.

In addition to inciting trouble, he had also bribed several constables to secretly assist.

Sun Juren’s plan was good, but plans couldn’t keep up with changes.

And they changed fast.

First, this matter took a while to reach Magistrate Zhang’s ears. But when Magistrate Zhang finally learned about it… he unexpectedly arrived the next day, catching him off guard!

Then… after he arranged for people to cause trouble, the laborers unexpectedly rushed forward and apprehended the troublemakers he had arranged, sending them to the county office.

All day today, Sun Juren had been waiting for news from the dock. And when the news finally arrived…

Sun Juren couldn’t believe it and looked incredulously at the messenger. “What did you say?”

The messenger had to repeat what had happened at the new dock.

Sun Juren covered his head with his hands, feeling waves of pain and dizziness.

And at this moment, someone else entered from outside. “Sir, some constables are here, asking you to go to the county office…”

Sun Juren couldn’t bear it anymore and collapsed backward…

At the same time, Qu Yunqing finally returned home carrying the heavy burden.

As he saw his home getting closer and closer, Qu Yunqing felt excited.

It had been ten months since he last saw them, and he missed his wife and children terribly.

His wife must have been in tears these days, waiting for him.

And his children must have been longing for their father.

When he reached home, they would surely rush out of the house. When he presented the gifts he brought, they would surely be overjoyed.

Finally at the doorstep, a smile spread across Qu Yunqing’s face as he prepared to call out his wife’s nickname.

Wait a minute, something seemed off with his home!

The door of the Qu family’s house was open, and many people had gathered inside. His wife was laughing heartily, saying, “Jinniang, your little husband has been eagerly anticipating your return. You should go back soon! Ah, I envy you. My husband has been leaving me a widow!”

Qu Yunqing: “…” This wasn’t quite what he had imagined!

At that moment, Sister Wang noticed Qu Yunqing.

In the past, she would have burst into tears without saying a word, but this time… Sister Wang stood with her hands on her hips and said, “Qu, you finally came back! Why are you two months late?”

Meanwhile, Li Qingzhi and the others were about to go home when they saw Sister Wang’s husband.

Peddlers like them usually bought goods from one place, then rented a boat or a cart to transport them to another place for sale. After selling the goods, they would buy more and move on to the next destination.