Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Interactions between people are often not as straightforward as they appear on the surface.

If one lacks talent, one can only learn from experience when it comes to managing relationships and utilizing human connections.

Clearly, Xiangrui and his companion lacked talent in this area. They only knew that Meng Changqing and their young master had a good relationship, but they didn't know the extent of that relationship, what matters could be discussed with him, or what matters had to be resolved within their own household.

Judging from this letter, the reason why Xiangrui and his companion were so inexperienced was mostly due to the influence of the Qi family's overall environment.

"I won't meddle in your young master's affairs. I'll pretend I didn't see this letter, and neither of you came looking for me." Meng Changqing folded the letter and handed it to Qi Xiang.

Qi Xiang went to see Qi Rui, unsure if he could bring the letter back.

Meng Changqing said again, "Take it!"

Qi Xiangcai accepted it with both hands.

“I’ve told your master and madam everything I’ve said, word for word. Tell them to think carefully about what they’re doing in the future. Is it more important for your young master to be obedient, or for his future to be more important?” Meng Changqing pointed to the letter in Qi Xiang’s hand, his tone serious. “Tell your young master about this letter, including the matter of you coming to see me today.”

Qi Xiang and Qi Rui looked at each other, and as they left the county government office, they had a bad feeling.

The two of them sighed. It was clearly a battle between the young master and the master and mistress, so why were they caught in the middle and suffering?

They dared not disobey Magistrate Meng's words, so they could only wait for their young master to arrive home and tell him the truth honestly.

Qi Renli had been busy outside all day, and when he returned home, he was met with this bolt from the blue.

After reading the letters—two letters, one from his parents and one from Meng Changqing—and hearing Xiangrui and the other relay Meng Changqing's words, Qi Renli's hands trembled with anger.

Driven by filial piety, he dared not speak ill of his parents, and instead vented all his anger on Xiangrui and his companion.

"Are you my people or theirs?!" Qi Renli clenched his fists, emotions surging through his mind, almost unable to think straight. "Get out! Get out of here!"

Qi Xiang and Qi Rui knelt down and admitted their mistakes, but the more they admitted their mistakes, the angrier Qi Renli became. "If one day they ask you to poison me, would you do it too? I never knew you two were such idiots!"
"I really can't afford to use you anymore!" "Young Master, we'll take any beatings or scoldings, but you can't abandon us." Qi Rui pleaded.

"What? You think I can't do without you? Who do you think you are, telling me what to do?..."

The words got uglier and uglier. Qi Renli never thought he would resort to violence. If he had, he would have done it.

Although the buildings on Xinjie Street are new, I don't find it particularly offensive.

The commotion was eventually heard by the patrolling guards, who quickly reported it to Meng Changqing.

Even though Meng Changqing was already in bed, he still had to get up in the middle of the night to mediate the fight.

She had anticipated that Qi Renli would likely explode once he found out about this, but why did he choose this time?

Meng Changqing resigned himself to his fate.

Dealing with these small matters is always better than dealing with those unsolvable problems outside.

When she arrived, Qi Renli had stopped calling out and was standing in the corner by himself, with Qi Xiang and Qi Rui kneeling behind him. The atmosphere among the three of them was tense.

“You’re disturbing the peace at night. Shall I arrest the three of you?” Meng Changqing said, pushing open the door.

Even from behind, it was clear that Qi Renli was startled. He quickly wiped his face with his hand, straightened his outer clothes, and then turned around to bow to Meng Changqing, "My lord."

"How so?" Meng Changqing asked him.

"My family is ignorant and has disturbed you, sir," Qi Renli said. "I will tell my family that this will never happen again."

Meng Changqing took a deep breath. "I'm asking you what these two have to say? Why aren't you letting them get up?" (End of Chapter)