Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 407 Not to Your liking*
Perhaps because he didn't want to make any effort, the elder spoke very bluntly.

Meng Changqing could understand what the other party wanted to express.

The knowledge and skills she learned from Zong Ruwen were what Zong Ruwen could actually give her, but his reputation and connections would not be passed on to her through the master-disciple relationship.

The elder of the clan was willing to use those things to help her because he was kind-hearted as a master. It was also normal if he was unwilling or unable to take care of it. She, Meng Changqing, still understood some of the truth.

"At the end of last year, I had something to say to you, but unfortunately we are far away. I became increasingly ill some time ago, and I thought I had to ask someone else to convey those words to you." Zong Ruwen curled his lips, "After all, the fate between us as master and disciple is not over yet."

Meng Changqing took the warm water from the servant and brought it to Zong Ruwen's lips, "Drink some water and talk slowly."

Zong Ruwen paused for a long time before continuing, "Let me ask you, what are the people?"

Meng Changqing was stunned by the unrelated questions, but he immediately responded, "The public."

Zong Ruwen waved his hand, "You just said it in a different way.

Officials always say they want to work for the people, and so do you.

You have done a lot of things in Beishan County, which have brought many benefits to both the country and the people.

But what is the people? Can it only be a group? Should certain people who are separated from the majority still be considered the people?
Are those who do not obey your wishes still the people?"

Zong Ruwen's series of questions made Meng Changqing understand what the other party was asking.

Meng Changqing always treated the first group of people who came down from the dangerous mountain differently.

Although she admitted to Yang Zheng that she was narrow-minded, she didn't actually think that way in her heart.

She insisted that the difference in treatment was right and within her rules.

But now that Zong Ruwen said this, it must mean that her behavior was seriously flawed in the eyes of outsiders.

"Master, I am indeed not mature and steady enough in my handling of matters." Meng Changqing admitted decisively, but also wanted to defend himself a few words, "But I have been as fair as possible."

Zong Ruwen did not deny her, but said, "It is precisely because I know your intentions that I am worried that you will not be able to see the people under your rule turn away from you in the future.

Your only shortcoming in that matter was that you did not tell them in advance about the different treatment they would receive. Zong Ruwen said, "People have closeness and distance, and so do groups and classes. This is human nature. But if you want to treat certain people differently, you have to tell everyone the reason and put it on the table so that everyone will have nothing to say.

If you have to wait for them to realize and figure it out themselves, they will definitely blame you in their hearts.

Any disaster begins with resentment that is suppressed in the heart."

Zong Ruwen leaned back on the couch to rest for a while, then asked Meng Changqing, "I taught you a lesson as soon as you came back. Do you blame me in your heart?"

"Master was willing to teach Changqing even when he was ill, and Changqing could only be grateful."

Zong Ruwen said: "Compared with many officials in Daliang, you have done much better than them, but I know you too well. You have high expectations of the people, and it is inevitable that you will be sad in the future.

There is an irreconcilable contradiction between officials and the people, just as you told me privately in the early years, the ruling class and the ruled class. "

Meng Changqing could no longer remember when she had said this. Hearing it now, she felt cold sweat coming out. She was too ignorant of life and death in her early years to dare to tell anti-feudal words to the beneficiaries of the feudal system.

Meng Changqing sat in Zong Ruwen's room for a long time, so long that Zong Shouqing came outside the courtyard twice to ask about the situation.

When Zong Shouqing came for the first time, everything inside and outside the courtyard was normal, but when he came for the second time, all the servants in the courtyard stood at the gate.

"Why are you all outside?"

"The old master has something to say to Lord Meng." The servants replied.

"Are there only the old man and Lord Meng inside?" Zong Shouqing asked.

"Yes."

"How long have you been out?"

"We just came out. The old man told us to wait until Master Xiao Meng comes out before we can go in."

Zong Shouqing stood at the gate for a while and said, "Wait for Master Xiao Meng to come out and take him directly to the dining room."

"Yes."