Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Chapter 714 Which Ship to Get On
Meng Changqing spoke even softer, but the hairs on Qi Renli's hands stood on end.

The way he looked at Meng Changqing at that moment was almost like he had seen a ghost.

Good heavens, in his mind, Meng Changqing had always been someone who followed the right path.

Although they sometimes resort to underhanded tactics, even resorting to threats of violence, those were always direct confrontations, unlike this time.

Qi Renli felt as if a snake was pointing him the way with its tail.

It turns out that the person in front of me is also skilled in scheming, but I just don't use those methods on him.

Having learned this, Qi Renli is still naive.

"Lord Qi, what are you daydreaming about? Does what I said make sense?" Meng Changqing asked.

Qi Renli nodded hastily, "Yes, that makes sense."

"Alright, you can handle your own family matters. I'm leaving." Meng Changqing walked to the door and then realized he was still holding Qi Renli's things, so he put them back on the table.

Qi Renli was still in a daze even after Meng Changqing left.

Qi Xiang and Qi Rui peered into the room again and again, but dared not go in.

Qi Xiang closed his eyes, steeled his resolve, strode in, and knelt before Qi Renli. "Young Master," he said, "we were foolish and did something wrong, and we deserve punishment. Please beat and scold us as you please, until you're satisfied. As long as you're satisfied..."

Before Qi Xiang could finish speaking, Qi Renli had already stood in front of him. In just a short while, the young master, who had been jumping up and down in anger, was now kindly helping him up.

Qi Rui, standing at the door, was dumbfounded. He was extremely grateful to Magistrate Meng.

The next day, Meng Changqing had just finished practicing his skills when Xiao Dai reported that Qi Rui had arrived.

"Is he alone?" Meng Changqing asked, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

Xiao Dai nodded, "Yes."

"Let him in."

Qi Rui came to Meng Changqing and knelt down with a thud, then quickly kowtowed three times. "Thank you for pleading for us last night. Qi Xiang and I will remember your kindness. If there is anything we can do to help you in the future, as long as it doesn't conflict with my young master, Qi Xiang and I are willing to serve you like dogs and horses."

Meng Changqing thought to himself, this loyalty comes with preconditions.

However, if he were to completely abandon any past feelings, Meng Changqing would not dare to employ such a person.

Meng Changqing also sighed at the unpredictability of people's hearts, and she herself could only let her heart lead her way. "Get up quickly." Meng Changqing gestured to Xiao Dai next to her to help the person up. "Why say such formal things? I've known your young master for as long as I've known you. Considering all these years of getting along and your honest and upright character, it's only right that I speak up for you."

As Meng Changqing spoke, he despised himself, saying he was a complete scoundrel and that even his own men should be punished.

"Go back now, and think things through before you act in the future," Meng Changqing said.

But just as Qi Rui reached the door and was about to leave, Meng Changqing stopped him again, "Let me ask you a question: Is it easier for a person to ride one horse at the same time, or to ride several horses at the same time?"

"How many horses?" Qi Rui suspected Meng Changqing had mispronounced a word. "How can one person ride several horses at the same time?"

“Yes,” Meng Changqing said with a smile, “How can one person ride several horses at the same time? If a person wants to climb up, there is no time to hesitate. Which horse do you want to ride? Which boat do you want to board? You have to choose carefully and be sure of it.”

Before Qi Rui could understand what was happening, Meng Changqing had already left.

"Please do so," Xiao Dai said, seeing that he hadn't moved for a long time.

Only after the small gate of the county government office closed did Qi Rui realize what was happening.

Magistrate Meng wasn't talking about horses, was he? He was telling him that he couldn't treat everyone in the Qi family as his master, and that he needed to make him recognize the young master as his master.

Looking at the wooden door in front of him, Qi Rui felt as if the door in his heart had opened.

He suddenly realized what was going on, bowed again towards the door, and solemnly said, "Thank you for your guidance."

No wonder people say birds of a feather flock together; Qi Rui and Qi Renli are both too naive.

After taking a bath, Meng Changqing went to the front office. Mancang had already brought breakfast to his study. While eating, Meng Changqing listened to Cheng Guang and others report on various matters in the county.

By the time she had finished eating, the county had also dealt with most of the matters that needed to be addressed.

After that, he went to the fields with Xidong.

In July, August, September, and March, the people were busy with the autumn harvest, and Meng Changqing was also busy watching the people harvest.

She often wanders around the fields, making it easier to listen to the farmers' opinions. She would point out minor issues such as inadequate irrigation canals or insufficient water storage tanks. It would be too cumbersome to wait for the farmers to report these issues to the village head, who would then relay them up the chain of command, and finally have Cheng Guang tell her.

It would be better if the farmers could just tell her when they see her, and she could go and see for herself. If it's true, she would write it down and coordinate manpower and land to handle it after the busy farming season.

Furthermore, what you hear while sitting in the county government office is different from what you hear while standing in the fields.