Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

It was Luo Yun who arrived.

"Sir, what brings you here?"

"Please have a seat." Meng Changqing waited until Luo Yun was seated opposite him at the desk before asking, "Are you engaged?"

Luo Yun blushed instantly and lowered her head shyly, "Mm."

"Who arranged this for you?" Meng Changqing pretended to know nothing. "Who's the person you're dating?"

“I know that man, he’s Xiao Wuzi from Andong Village,” Luo Yun said. “My father asked County Magistrate Zuo to act as matchmaker.”

"Have you met Xiao Wuzi?" Meng Changqing asked the question that concerned him most. "Did you marry him willingly?"

Luo Yun was surprised to hear these questions and felt embarrassed, her cheeks growing redder and redder. But since the adults had asked, she couldn't not answer, "Yes."

"Are you sure?" Meng Changqing couldn't bear to see his subordinates forced into marriages they didn't want by external forces, so he added, "If you're not willing, just tell me, and I'll make the decision for you."

Luo Yun looked up in surprise, puzzled, and asked Meng Changqing, "If I didn't want to, my parents wouldn't have agreed to this marriage on my behalf. Why do you say that, sir?...Is it because I shouldn't have agreed? Or is there something wrong with that person...?"

"No, no." Meng Changqing realized he had misunderstood and quickly waved his hand. "Don't overthink it. I was just worried you might not be happy, so I asked one more question. Just consider it me being nosy."

Since you're willing, I naturally wish you a happy marriage. I'll send you a wedding gift on your wedding day.

"My lord," Luo Yun asked hesitantly, "am I doing something wrong?"

“What’s wrong with it?” Meng Changqing stood up. “What’s right or wrong about engagements and marriages? If you don’t regret your choice today in the future, then it’s right.” As she spoke, she walked to the small round table and stuffed a plate of pastries into Luo Yun’s hands. “Take this and eat it.”

"Thank you, sir."

"Go and attend to your business." Meng Changqing personally escorted Luo Yun to the study door.

After seeing Luo Yun off, Meng Changqing didn't even think to ask Xiao Wuzi if he was willing.

It is evident that people are born with a stance, making it difficult to be thorough.

Meanwhile, Luo Yun, having made a rare trip into Lord Meng's study, even brought out a plate of snacks.

Thinking that Xi Dong hadn't left yet, he wanted to ask her to go to Sister Mei's room together.

When the two met, before Luo Yun could even speak, Xi Dong asked, "Did Sister Mei introduce you to someone?"

"Sister Mei?" Luo Yun asked in confusion. "No, I don't know." Xi Dong grabbed Luo Yun's hand nervously. "I heard you're engaged and getting married next month."

"That's true," Luo Yun said, putting down the plate. "But it was my father who asked County Magistrate Zuo to act as matchmaker; it has nothing to do with Sister Mei."

"Which family are you talking about?" Xi Dong pressed.

"That's strange, why are you asking the same question as the adults?"

"Say it quickly."

“It’s Xiao Wuzi from Andong Village, not far from our village.” Luo Yun couldn’t hide his joy. He had a lot to say to his friend. “My dad went to his house. He lives alone. He’s not loud. He’s learned a trade and now works for the county government, working for the Left County Lieutenant.”

Xi Dong thought to himself, "Just as I suspected," and immediately asked, still worried, "Having said all this, have you ever seen Xiao Wuzi?"

“Last night, County Commandant Zuo brought the man to my house. We had dinner together, and I think he’s a nice guy. Although he’s a bit thin, my mother said he’ll gain weight if he eats more.”

Luo Yun leaned closer to Xi Dong and whispered, "My mother said that tomorrow she'll have my father go to Andong Village to talk to the village chief there and ask him to move Xiao Wuzi's house and farmland to our village. They'll build a house for us on the vacant land closest to our house."

Xi Dong understood. "So, it's Xiao Wuzi who's marrying you?"

Once the wedding date was set, both families got busy: some built houses, some transferred household registrations, and others bought furniture.

These are all things that are time-consuming, labor-intensive, and expensive.

Take changing one's household registration as an example. It's not easy for ordinary people to do it. First, a village must be willing to accept them, and the original village must be willing to release them. On this condition, they also need to go to the county government to complete the procedures.

It would take six or seven trips to get this done. But for the Luo family, it was a very easy matter.

Luo Sanmu understood the situation in the village. There was still surplus residential land in the village. As for arable land, as long as he didn't ask for good farmland, there was plenty of uncultivated wasteland outside. In addition, there were two servants in Luo Sanmu's family. As long as he didn't make excessive demands, the village wouldn't make things difficult for him.

It's easy to talk to the villagers in Andong Village. They just need to ensure that Xiao Wuzi will voluntarily give up his farmland and homestead after leaving, and that he won't ask the village for it again.

As for going to the county government to complete the procedures, that was even simpler, since Xi Dong himself was in charge of household registration management.

What is extremely difficult for others is a piece of cake for someone with a little power.

But as long as people govern people, those who wield power will emerge.

Both families were overjoyed and happily prepared for the wedding feast. The unluckiest person was the matchmaker, who was banished to the city wall. (End of Chapter)