novelapdf Chapter 68 is still missing two people.
Chapter 68 is still missing two people.
On her way home, Zhang Anxiu was still somewhat unhappy.
"Why are you dragging me into this? Sending teenagers to the army. That's how Stone's mother was driven to her death!"
Chu Xun said, "Times have changed. Back then, there was no one in the army to look after him, and Shi Tou had to sneak off. Now, these families are all doing it voluntarily; it's not the same as before."
"Aren't you afraid they'll die out there..." Zhang Anxiu started to say, but then felt it was unlucky and swallowed the rest of her words.
Chu Xun knew that although she was stubborn and wouldn't listen to his "reasoning," it was because she was worried about the children in the village.
Both of them were getting on in years; Chu Xun was forty-nine and Zhang Anxiu was forty-seven.
All the children in the village, starting with Qi Ermao's generation, were raised by the couple.
If anything were to happen to anyone's family, Zhang Anxiu would be more anxious than anyone else.
A few days later, Chu Xun went to the county government office to attend the banquet for local worthies, as was customary.
When they arrived at the county government office, they ran into County Lieutenant Feng Jintang.
Chu Xun bowed respectfully, saying, "Lord Feng."
Feng Jintang looked up at him, then lowered his head again and left without saying a word.
Chu Xun found it strange; his relationship with this Lord Feng wasn't exactly good, but it wasn't bad either.
At least once a year at the village elders' banquet, I can always meet him.
They always greeted me with a smile, what's wrong with them today?
Upon entering the county government office, they just happened to see County Magistrate Li Zhaoming arrive. Chu Xun stepped forward to pay his respects and then asked, "I just ran into Lord Feng; he seemed to be in a bad mood?"
Li Zhaoming sighed and said, "His Majesty has decreed the abolition of the county magistrate's post, retaining only the position of county assistant. Lord Feng, alas..."
In the county government, every position was like a radish, with each post filled with its own hole.
Even if you are a county constable, there are no extra positions available.
The imperial court didn't say they wouldn't give you a position; they only said that if there was nowhere to place you, you should go home and await further orders.
All salaries will continue to be paid at 70% of the original amount.
Many people might be happy to receive money without having to work.
But the wise understand that this is only a temporary reassurance.
Once the uproar over abolishing the county magistrate's post has passed, if there is truly no position available, what does it matter if your salary is cut off?
At that time, you were just a nobody with an official title but no power or influence.
Chu Xun then realized why Feng Jintang's expression had been so unpleasant when he left.
At the banquet for local dignitaries, Chu Xun, as the only distinguished guest from Zhangnan County, sat to the right of Li Zhaoming.
On the left is Guo Chongyue, the county magistrate.
Next are Song Jingmin, the owner of Zhenwei Martial Arts School, and his second son, Song Yuanshan.
Even after recovering from his injuries, Song Jingmin remained a third-rank martial artist.
The damage caused to Cao Yuanhui by his trump card has been largely absorbed.
However, this delay will inevitably postpone his advancement to the second rank of martial artist.
However, Song Jingmin didn't care at all and boasted that he would definitely be promoted to the second rank in five years at most!
Although he was seated second on the right, below Chu Xun, Song Jingmin exuded a powerful aura.
With eyes as fierce as tigers and leopards looking over, few dared to meet their gaze.
He attended the banquet for local worthies, but only to appease the county magistrate.
Throughout the entire process, he didn't exchange more than a few words with these rural guests, let alone clink glasses and drink together.
Even though Chu Xun was the only distinguished guest from Zhangnan County, Song Jingmin didn't give him a second glance.
Or perhaps they see Chu Xun's hair turning white year by year, while they themselves are getting older but have a full head of black hair.
The look Song Jingmin gave him was full of superiority and disdain.
What do you mean by "big guest" or "small guest"? They're just old, decrepit dogs. Only the county magistrate would take these old things who only know how to farm seriously.
After a few rounds of drinks, Song Jingmin excused himself, saying he had something to do at home, and got up to leave.
Li Zhaoming did not stop him; instead, he smiled and personally saw him out.
The saying goes that Confucian scholars use their literary skills to disrupt the law, while knights-errant use their martial arts to break the law.
Song Jingmin may not be considered a chivalrous person, but he possesses martial arts skills.
Even a county magistrate has to give them some face.
Otherwise, if trouble really breaks out, it will be much more troublesome than the plight of displaced people.
Even if they were to risk everything and ambush you in the middle of the night, how many heads could withstand a third-rank martial artist?
When Li Zhaoming returned, he saw Chu Xun looking towards the door and assumed he was watching him condescend to see off a martial artist.
After taking his seat, he raised his glass and said, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh again. It only happens once a year, which is something to be criticized, but there's nothing we can do about it."
Chu Xun understood what he was talking about and said, "Sir, you are only thinking about the bigger picture; no one will laugh at you."
"I don't want to think about the big picture!" Li Zhaoming slammed his wine glass back onto the table, drawing the attention of everyone around him.
He didn't care, his voice was low and his words were direct: "After Song Jingmin recovered from his injuries, the Song family became even more arrogant. A few days ago, someone came to beat the drum to appeal for justice, saying that the Song family had seized more than ten acres of their family's land and had even beaten several family members until they vomited blood."
"I summoned Song Jingmin, but he said it was the work of villains in private and had nothing to do with the martial arts school. Even if it's a matter of beheading, just chop down the villains."
"Zhenwei Martial Arts School now has hundreds of students, making it the largest martial arts school within a radius of two or three hundred miles. I really hope they can do something earth-shattering so we can borrow troops from the garrison and wipe them out in one fell swoop!"
No one dared to utter a word; at most, they would offer a few words of flattery such as "Your Excellency is wise."
Li Zhaoming was not a strong-willed person to begin with, and he never intended to do anything serious.
He would say these words at the annual banquet for local dignitaries, without any hesitation about having many people around and causing a stir.
The intention was to use other people to tell the Song family.
The government is indeed wary of you, but don't go too far.
If you really push them too far, the county yamen runners and constables can't handle you, there's also the garrison camp.
No matter how powerful your Song family is, or how many disciples you have, do you think you can stop an army of thousands?
To put it bluntly, this is Li Zhaoming's linguistic intimidation.
It did have some effect; otherwise, Zhangnan County would be in far more trouble than this.
But that's about it.
After Li Zhaoming finished speaking, he told everyone to enjoy themselves while he took Chu Xun's hand and complained.
The position of county magistrate may not seem like a high-ranking official post, but it involves a great deal of work.
I'm so overwhelmed with work every day that I miss the days when Lord Tang and Lord Zheng were still around.
Although I was just a clerk back then, and my voice carried little weight, I didn't have to worry about so many trivial matters, nor did I have to worry about losing a handful of hair every day.
If I keep falling like this, I'm afraid I'll be bald in a few years.
"My lord, don't be too distressed. Just relax. The Song family has been evil in this area, and one day they will bring about their own demise," Chu Xun said.
"Will that day ever come?" Li Zhaoming said with a wry smile, "Song Jingmin is sixty years old this year, but he has more vitality than me. His newly married concubine gave birth to a son weighing eight pounds and eight ounces a few months ago."
"It is said that he has exceptional talent and is a good candidate for martial arts training. He may even reach the first rank or even the innate grandmaster level in the future."
"I'm afraid that even after I die of old age, he can still have sons."
"A son with exceptionally good physique." Chu Xun blinked, picked up his wine cup, and said with a smile, "In that case, Song Jingmin, including his children and grandchildren, would have eight people."
"If he weren't so picky, only accepting young women of exceptional beauty and with the potential for martial arts. And it's not just him who's like this, but also his son's choice of wife. Otherwise, the Song family would have more than eight people, eighteen would be here by now," Li Zhaoming said, shaking his head.
Chu Xun said nothing more and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.
The wine is very good; its mellow aroma is in no way inferior to the aged wine of Baijia Laopu.
Even though its aftereffects were stronger than Yu Nian Niang, Chu Xun still felt that something was missing.
When I got home and saw the Spirit Pearl Grass by the door, I realized what had happened.
"Two more people are needed."