Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

After lunch, a clerk from the government office came to report, "The magistrate of Hongjia County has come to pay his respects."

Zheng Jie rinsed his mouth and washed his hands before taking the visiting card and letter. He then asked Meng Changqing, "Changqing, have you eaten?"

"Yes."

Zheng Jie smiled and said, "Come with me to the study."

Meng Changqing thought this meant she should wait in the study first.

Unexpectedly, the two of them entered the study together. After Zheng Jie checked the contents of the letter, he directly ordered the yamen runners to bring the person in.

The man outside entered with his head bowed. "Your humble servant Yan Qiliang greets the Prefect."

Only after he finished speaking did he raise his head and see two people sitting in the room.

Of course, Zheng Jie sat in the main seat, and his identity was beyond doubt. It was only Meng Changqing next to him whose identity was unclear.

"You should all get to know each other," Zheng Jie began, introducing Yan Qiliang first, "This is the newly arrived magistrate of Hongjia County." After Meng Changqing took two steps forward, Zheng Jie continued, "This is Magistrate Meng of Beishan County."

The two greeted each other face to face, and Yan Qiliang suddenly asked Meng Changqing, "Is your father General Meng?"

"Yes." Meng Changqing sized up the person in front of him. The person had an ordinary appearance, and Meng Changqing felt offended as soon as he spoke.

If the other person were an elder who had once disciplined her father, then starting with her father would be perfectly acceptable. However, although the person in front of her was older than Zheng Jie and the others, he was not of the same generation as her father.

This was already considered impolite. Meng Changqing waited to see if what he said next could reverse her impression of this person, or what.

“Then this must be the legendary Magistrate Meng,” Yan Qiliang said. “I had heard of him before when he was in office, but I’m only meeting him today.”

Meng Changqing smiled faintly and said, "Lord Yan's words are truly interesting."

Yan Qiliang thought Meng Changqing was praising him, and laughed heartily to himself.

Meng Changqing, however, had already categorized this person as not very bright. "You've come to see the prefect, yet you're exchanging witty remarks with a county magistrate. You don't know what's important."

Zheng Jie asked the two to sit down and talk, and then asked his attendants to serve hot tea. "Hongjia County and Beishan County are adjacent. Magistrate Yan has just arrived here. If there is anything you need help with, you can ask Magistrate Meng."

Since Zheng Jie had spoken up, Meng Changqing didn't mind offering his help verbally. "What the Prefect says is true. If there is anything you need, Lord Yan, please don't hesitate to ask."

After the three chatted for a while, Yan Qiliang suddenly stood up, took out a delicate little lacquer box from his sleeve, and offered it to Zheng Jie. "Your Excellency, this is a small gift I prepared for you. Please accept it."

Before Zheng Jie could even utter his refusal, Yan Qiliang followed behind and said, "I'm sorry, Magistrate Meng, I didn't know you were here. I didn't prepare a gift for you. I'll definitely make it up to you when I have the chance."

Zheng Jie looked at Meng Changqing, his expression quite understandable: Look, another vulgar person has arrived.

Yan Qiliang didn't notice Zheng Jie's displeasure. He didn't even look at Zheng Jie, holding the small box in both hands and waiting for the person next to Zheng Jie to take it from him.

He held it up for a while, but no one took it or said anything. Then he looked up and took two steps forward himself.

“Magistrate Yan, take it back.” Zheng Jie said sternly. “Just do your job and don’t do this. This prefecture never accepts these things.”

Now that Meng Changqing is one of Zheng Jie's men, it's time to say a few words: "Yes, Magistrate Yan, Prefect Zheng doesn't like this kind of thing. We should just focus on doing our work. The magistrate can see right and wrong in his eyes. There's no need to bother with these things."

If Zheng Jie himself had said he wouldn't accept it, Yan Qiliang would have felt that his gift wasn't sincere enough, and he would have had to explain the contents of the box further and say a few more nice words. Maybe then the official would have accepted it. But if someone else had intervened, the gift would have been difficult to give. He could only awkwardly take it back, saying, "It was my presumption."

"Enough of the small talk. There's something important you need to know." Zheng Jie then recounted the incident of lax guarding the city walls of Hongjia County a couple of days ago, and also mentioned the personnel transfers within the county. "Let's consider this matter closed, but once you take office, be sure to pay attention and don't let them fall into the same lazy trap again."

Yan Qiliang nodded in agreement and promised that once he took office, he would never allow any problems to arise with his subordinates.

“You have come from afar, and the journey must have been arduous. It is also getting late. If I keep you any longer, it will probably be dark by the time you reach Hongjia County,” Zheng Jie said.

"Yes, I will take my leave now," Yan Qiliang said, bowing.

Zheng Jie nodded to Meng Changqing and said, "It just so happens that Magistrate Meng is going the same way as you. Ask him to give you a ride for a while."

"Then I'll have to trouble Magistrate Meng."

"You're too kind. It's just on my way anyway." Meng Changqing stood up, bowed to Zheng Jie, and took his leave.

As soon as they left the government office, Yan Qiliang's attendant quickly came to greet them. "Master, the carriage is ready and we can leave at any time."

"Are you blind?!" Yan Qiliang scolded. "Didn't you see Magistrate Meng here?"

It would be strange if someone who had never met him before could recognize Meng Changqing, but the attendant still acted as if he had done something wrong, bowing and apologizing to Meng Changqing.

"Alright, stop blocking the entrance to the government office, it doesn't look good," Meng Changqing said to Yan Qiliang. "Lord Yan, let's hurry up and get going."

When he met Meng Changqing's gaze, Yan Qiliang smiled and nodded, "Magistrate Meng is right."

Now those who wanted to get on the bus got on, and those who wanted to get on the horse got on.

Yan Qiliang was on his way to take office, and he brought a lot of people with him. Meng Changqing's side had three people and three horses, so they cleared the way for him.

After Xi Bei figured out who the group of people were, she said, "Of all the officials who have changed in Liangzhou, the magistrate of Hongjia County is the one who arrived the fastest."

Meng Changqing said, "After all, this is Hongjia County. The day I leave Beishan County, my successor will arrive very soon."

Upon hearing this, Xi Bei inquired with interest, "You're leaving Beishan County? Where are you going? Are you getting promoted? Is there any progress?"

“I also hope to see some progress.” Meng Changqing looked at Chu Mufeng beside him and joked, “Lord Bai, we’ve known each other for many years. If you have the chance, please help me out. If I get promoted, I will definitely treat you well.”

Chu Mufeng sighed, "I am honored by Lord Meng's high regard. If I had this ability, how could I have let Lord Meng delay me until now?"

Just then, they heard an unusual noise behind them. It turned out that Yan Qiliang's convoy had stopped.

Meng Changqing turned her horse around and looked back to check the situation. When she got to the carriage, she saw Yan Qiliang getting off. "Is Lord Yan feeling unwell?" Meng Changqing asked.

"No," Yan Qiliang said as he got out of the carriage. "It's stuffy inside, so I've changed horses. I'll travel with you."

“I see. Although Liangzhou is not as beautiful as other places, it has its own scenic spots. Since you are on horseback, I will give you a tour along the way.”

Yan Qiliang's horse was quickly led to him. Meng Changqing could tell that it was a well-bred young horse; this Lord Yan was either an extreme horse lover or quite wealthy. (End of Chapter)