Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 273: Have some relationship with the other party

Although cows are livestock, they understand human nature. After getting along with them for a long time, you can even read their emotions.

Not to mention Ding Aixue couldn't bear it, Meng Changqing couldn't bear it either.

I knew that he said this because something must have gone wrong with the oxen he borrowed last year.

"Did last year..."

Meng Changqing had just opened his mouth when he saw Ding Aixue raise his hand, "It's hard to talk about the past, so let's not mention it.

It is the busy farming season right now, and I don’t have any cows to spare. It was the same last year. You should remember that I can only spare you a cow around the end of the month at the earliest, and I don’t have many cows to spare.”

"Yes, of course I can't delay you." Meng Changqing promised: "I will have someone take good care of the oxen I borrowed this time, and make sure they are well fed."

"Eating is only one aspect. Being tired is being tired. When you are tired to a certain extent, you can't make up for it by eating alone. This is the same for cows and humans."

Meng Changqing nodded, "You make sense. These are things I didn't take into account before. Now that you've reminded me, I will definitely take good care of them. Not only your oxen, but also my own oxen in the county government office, I will have to take extra care of them."

After saying this, she continued, "I am young and inexperienced, and the county is also short of such people. If you have someone who knows how to take care of cows, can you lend them to me?"

Ding Aixue laughed out loud after hearing this. "Okay, since you said so, I'll lend this person to you. You should find a few reliable ones to learn from."

"sure!"

"There is one more thing I want to tell you in advance." Ding Aixue put away the smile on his face. "This is the last time I will lend you the oxen. I believe you will find another way even if you don't have enough oxen next year."

Meng Changqing stood up and thanked Ding Aixue solemnly, "You helped me twice. Without you, many fields in Beishan County would not be able to catch up with the season. Changqing remembers your kindness."

"Don't say such polite words." Ding Aixiu said, "When you first came to Beishan County, I felt that you were very compatible with me when I saw you for the first time."

Meng Changqing was surprised that Ding Aixue would say such words.

She had been in Liangzhou for some time, but had only dealt with Ding Aixue a few times. When she had met him before, she felt that he looked very serious and always handled things in a businesslike manner, so it was difficult for her to have a private relationship with him.

"Thank you, Lord Ding, for your appreciation. This is my first time meeting you, and I also feel that you are very reliable."

Ding Aixiu tried to hold back, but couldn't help laughing out loud. Perhaps he felt it was inappropriate to laugh so loudly in front of strangers, so he quickly lowered his head and covered his mouth.

“This is the first time I’ve heard someone say that.”

"Sir Ding, just by looking at the farmland and people in your county, I know that you handle government affairs with great care and efficiency, and you also attach great importance to farming."

Ding Aixue shook his head, not daring to accept Meng Changqing's praise, "After all, the world is based on agriculture. No matter if you are rich or poor, you must have food to survive.

"Scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, farmers are second."

Meng Changqing was thoughtful. "You are right. Without actual output, any money gained through intermediary transactions will ultimately be castles in the air."

"Master Ding." Meng Changqing met Ding Aixue's gaze and said, "I have a humble request. I would like to ask you to teach me about the management of farming in the county."

Ding Aixue said: "As long as you want to learn, I will definitely teach you."

Meng Changqing knelt on one knee when he heard this. Ding Aixue, who was sitting, jumped up immediately and quickly helped Meng Changqing up. "Master Meng, please stand up quickly. We are officials of the same level. These are just small matters for mutual consultation. I, Ding, cannot afford such a great gift from you."

"Changqing admires your abilities and wants to become your disciple." Meng Changqing either recognizes relatives or takes in masters. Whenever she likes someone, she will always find a way to establish a relationship with the other person.

Ding Aixue was an accident on top of an accident. He became the apprentice of a colleague of the same rank? And he was an apprentice of a person with a good background.

There is such a good thing in the world!

"I am grateful to Lord Meng for his liking for me." Ding Aixue was a little relieved and was about to refuse to show his modesty. Unexpectedly, as soon as he said this, Meng Changqing knelt down again, this time on both knees.

"Disciple Meng Changqing greets Master." After saying that, she took out a red envelope from her pocket. "I became a disciple in a hurry this time and did not have time to prepare a gift. I will make up for it later. It's a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it, Master." She did not expect that the red envelope would be given out in this name.

Ding Aixue hadn't been to the capital for a long time. He didn't expect that people in the capital have become so unrestrained.

But in the final analysis, he liked Meng Changqing, no matter his temper or background. Besides, the other party had already humbled himself so much that there was no reason for him to make trouble.

After thinking about it, he took the red envelope from Meng Changqing, and then held Meng Changqing's elbow and helped him up, "I am taking advantage of you to have a good apprentice like you."

"Having a master like you is an advantage for Changqing."

Ding Aixiu looked at the person in front of him and nodded continuously.

Before, he thought of him as Lord Xiao Meng, just a colleague, but now, he is his apprentice, and the more he looks at him, the more he likes him.

"The last time you came, your leg was still injured, and you only took a quick look around. Since you asked me to teach you farming, why don't I take you to the county today to take a closer look? It's busy farming season now, so you can see something useful."

Meng Changqing was naturally happy to do so. He didn't even have a sip of tea in the flower hall before following Ding Aixue out of the county.

The two men came to the fields and looked at the layout of the fields and ditches, and saw where there were any inconveniences for the people in farming.

They walked around the fields for a long time. Along the way, Ding Aixiu talked a lot with Meng Changqing about the current shortcomings of agriculture and what policies the court should take for agriculture.

It was only at this time that Meng Changqing realized that her new master was such a talkative person.

During the break, Ding Aixue sat on the ridge of the field and asked Meng Changqing, "We have talked about so much. In your opinion, which is more important, the grain or the people who grow the grain?"

Meng Changqing asked in return, "If there are no people growing crops, where will the food come from?"

"You have a point, but who are these people who grow crops working for?"

"I want to work for myself, and I want to get what I sow." Meng Changqing observed the field in front of him, "Looking at the size, it's probably the land of a landlord. Most of the people on the field rent the land and grow crops there."

“Yes, although Luojiang County has a lot of fertile land and good grain production, there are still people who starve to death every year. Many of those who work in the fields are busy working for others.

You say that I handle government affairs diligently and effectively, but I don't have the nerve to admit it.

Although every citizen could get his own land when he came of age, it would not take long for the land to fall into the hands of wealthy farmers who had plenty of money, and then the rich would become richer and the poor would become poorer.

Those who lost their land were not necessarily addicted to gambling or lazy. There were also ordinary people who were diligent but could not keep the land in their hands. "