Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 497 Cutting Red Paper to Post Notices
Bafang quickly delivered the two letters to Meng Changqing.

Meng Changqing took out the letter paper and handed it to Hua Rujin.

Hua Rujin quickly finished reading it, but asked Meng Changqing, "What does this mean? Does the emperor not believe us?"

"If you didn't believe it at all, you wouldn't have sent officials to investigate." Meng Changqing took back the letter, walked up to Zeng Jing and asked, "Does Lord Zeng want to see it?"

Zeng Jing sat on the stool and seemed to die instantly.

At this moment, he had no mind to look at anything. His mind was filled with only two words: It's over!

If only Liu Dexiang had made trouble, he might have had a chance to beg for mercy, but if the imperial court investigated, he would surely be doomed.

"Master Hua!" He grabbed Hua Rujin's sleeve, "Master Meng!" He also wanted to grab Meng Changqing with his other hand, but unfortunately Meng Changqing had already stepped back a few steps and was no longer in front of him.

"My two lords, please help me! I studied hard for several years to get my current official position. I have never made any major mistakes during my years as an official. I was just forced to get involved in these things. How can I be considered an unforgivable sin? Why are you picking on me?" Zeng Jing's face was covered with tears as he spoke.

Meng Changqing flipped out a handkerchief and handed it to him.

Zeng Jing took it but didn't wipe his face. He clenched it tightly with both hands, as if he wanted to hold on to these two straws.

"What's the point of telling us this now!" Hua Rujin sighed, feeling angry at his lack of fighting spirit.

It is precisely because of this loophole that the new tax rate proposed by Liu Dexiang may really be implemented.

What will happen to the people then? What will happen to these people?
"You really are..." Hua Rujin wanted to scold him, but because Meng Changqing was still beside her, she had to hold back.

"My Lords, you must plead for me." Zeng Jing still did not give up, "Lord Hua, you are an old minister, maybe the people from the court will let me go for your sake. Lord Meng..." He staggered to Meng Changqing, "You have a wide network of contacts, please plead for me."

Meng Changqing said nothing and looked at Hua Rujin.

Hua Rujin sighed and looked away.

"You two, you two!" Zeng Jing saw that they refused to agree and was so anxious that he wanted to kneel down in front of them.

"How can you do this!" Hua Rujin couldn't bear to see this and held the man back. "You broke the law knowingly. How can we plead for you?"

Zeng Jing saw that the two of them were unwilling to agree, and the sadness on his face gradually faded.

Meng Changqing didn't know Zeng Jing's character. In this situation, it would be no good for her to force him into a desperate situation, so she said, "Sir Zeng, if I have the chance to speak, I will naturally plead for you. However, how the court wants to deal with you is really not something that a small county magistrate like me can decide."

"As long as you two are willing to plead for me, I will be deeply grateful!"

Zeng Jing said it seriously, but Meng Changqing turned away and didn't look at him.

"Sir!" Qi Renli's voice came from the door, and then the door curtain was lifted, revealing Qi Renli holding a large red paper rolled up in his hand. When he saw Meng Changqing, he opened his mouth and wanted to say something.

But he didn't seem to expect that there were other people in the room. His eyes swept over Zeng Jing and Hua Rujin, who were obviously stunned. "Your humble servant is reckless." He raised his foot and was about to step back.

Hua Rujin raised her hand towards him and said, "It's okay. We have almost finished talking about our business."

"Lord Meng." Hua Rujin clasped his fists towards Meng Changqing, "Sorry to bother you any more."

"I'll send you two off."

"Master Meng, please stay."

After seeing the two men off politely, Meng Changqing and Qi Renli stood at the gate of the county government office for a long time.

"Sir, is it time for me to go in?" Qi Renli asked.

"It's just in time!" Meng Changqing turned around and invited him to go to the study.

"Bafang listened outside for a long time." Qi Renli said, "I saw that his brows were furrowed and he wanted to go in several times."

Bafang jumped over from the stairs and continued Qi Renli's words, "But there is no need to send tea and snacks. It would be impolite to go in rashly. I have to ask Lord Qi for help." "Why are these two gentlemen here? Why do they make Bafang so worried about you?" Qi Renli asked.

Qi Renli is not the same Qi Renli as before. He is now nosy and likes to meddle in other people's affairs.

"It's unlucky. Today is New Year's Day, so let's talk about our business first." Meng Changqing lifted the door curtain and let the two of them in.

Bafang then remembered, "Master, there are still a bunch of skewers at Ximen."

"Bring the ones we just grilled inside to eat, and use the remaining raw meat to make meat patties for Dai Ge." Bafang did not forget to take care of him, "Leave a few skewers of grilled meat for Mancang, she will definitely want to eat them when she comes back."

"understood!"

Meng Changqing said to Qi Renli, "Brother Qi, please come in and sit down."

Qi Renli walked in with a smile, unfolded the red paper and pressed it on the round table.

"Look at this notice. Is it okay to write it like this?" Qi Renli asked.

To talk about the notice, we have to start from this morning.

On the first day of the new year, Qi Renqi arrived at the county government office early to pay New Year's greetings to Meng Changqing.

Seeing Meng Changqing cutting red paper, Qi Renli asked immediately, "What are you doing cutting red paper for? Aren't there enough Spring Festival couplets?"

"There's no need to make up for the lack of Spring Festival couplets." Meng Changqing said he would write a notice.

Qi Renli immediately said that he would write it, of course he mainly wanted to know what the content of the notice was.

"The county government is short of staff, so I plan to recruit another 20 runners." Meng Changqing saved himself some trouble by stuffing a half-cut red paper to Qi Renli and began to talk about his requirements. "The wages of these 20 runners will depend on what they do, and they will be different from the previous recruitment. They must pass an exam. After they pass the exam, the county government will also examine their character. Only if they have no problems with their character can they be hired."

Qi Renli became curious about what she said, "What will the exam be about?"

"It's divided into a literary test and a martial arts test." Meng Changqing said, "The martial arts test will test your physical fitness. How about you set the questions for the literary test?"

"Me?" Qi Renli's expression was both surprised and delighted.

"Are you free?" Meng Changqing asked.

Qi Renli nodded, "Yes, yes, yes, I just need you to give me the scope of the test questions."

"You have to go to the school and ask what level they teach. It's up to you to decide what level you think you need to pass the exam."

"Okay! I'll ask Mr. Cai to make another test paper."

Qi Renli stayed at Cai Rong's house for two hours before he made up his mind. He returned to the county government office and wrote out the notice and the test questions. He was about to look for Meng Changqing when he ran into Bafang Eavesdropping.

Meng Changqing stood by the round table and read the contents of the notice. He said, "There is one thing I forgot to tell you, so I'll add it at the end."

Qi Renli immediately went to the desk and fetched a brush, "Please speak, sir."

"You must be over 15 years old, regardless of gender."

Qi Renli raised his pen to write, but stopped when the tip of the pen touched the paper. "Sir, is the martial arts test also open to both men and women?"

"No limit, as long as you can beat everyone."

"What can beat me?" Bafang just came in carrying barbecue.

"I'll let you be the examiner of the martial arts test." Meng Changqing asked, "Are you willing?"

Bafang: "Of course I am willing!"