Be a small county magistrate in ancient times

Leaving aside how dumbfounded the two from the Snow Night tribe were, as soon as the outer city gate opened, the two quickly ran out.

Inside the inner doorway, Meng Changqing caught up with Zhang Yuan in two steps and reminded him with his eyes not to just follow along, but to go and talk to Zheng Jie.

Zhang Yuan, ever the tactful one, cautiously said to Zheng Jie, "Your Excellency, the Snow Night Tribe is quite a distance from here. Why don't you rest inside for a while?"

The inner room he mentioned was the room below the city wall where the guards would take a short rest.

The space inside was cramped, with no windows, and things were piled up in the corners. To be honest, Zheng Jie didn't want to go in; he would rather stand outside for a while.

"No, thank you." Zheng Jie then asked Meng Changqing, "How long does it take to get here from the Snow Night Tribe?"

Meng Changqing calculated, "A round trip would take at least two or three hours."

If the leader of the Snow Night tribe really came back in two or three hours, Zheng Jie wouldn't need to return to Liangzhou Prefecture, since Liangzhou Prefecture is not close to Beishan County.

"I'll come sit at your place for a while," Zheng Jie said to Meng Changqing, then instructed Zhang Yuan to inform him immediately if anyone from the Snow Night Tribe came over.

"Yes." Zhang Yuan took Zheng Jie's horse and handed the reins back to him after he mounted. "Please take care."

It wouldn't take long for a fast horse to travel from the wall to the county government office of Beishan County.

Meng Changqing invited Zheng Jie into the room reserved for distinguished guests. Zheng Jie did not sit down after entering. He could tell from a glance that this was a room specifically for guests and that there were no personal belongings of Meng Changqing inside.

"Where is your study?" Zheng Jie asked.

“In the back row.” Meng Changqing naturally knew what he meant by asking that question. He immediately went through everything in the study in his mind and made sure there was nothing that Zheng Jie would not want to see before continuing, “If you don’t mind, sir, please come and sit in my study for a while.”

"Let's go."

Meng Changqing led Zheng Jie slightly ahead, walking towards the study.

Zheng Jie's expression remained unpleasant, and Meng Changqing knew that his unpleasantness wasn't directed at her.

"Please come in." Meng Changqing opened the door and invited Zheng Jie to enter first. As he entered, Meng Changqing said, "The study was messy and hadn't been tidied up beforehand. I apologize for neglecting you, sir." After saying this, she instructed Chen Qingyang, who was at the door, to serve tea and hot water.

Zheng Jie took two steps ahead, went around the curtain, and saw Meng Changqing's desk, bookshelf, and open book box.

It is indeed messy.

A large desk, half of which was covered with things, mostly official documents or papers covered with writing.

Zheng Jie walked toward the desk and noticed three or four pictures hanging on the wall behind it: a panoramic view of Beishan County, a layout of water conservancy and farmland, and a planning map of the southern part of the city. The pictures were covered with various markings.

Zheng Jie was so engrossed in watching that he accidentally kicked something.

"Be careful, sir." Meng Changqing made a gesture to help him up, but actually stopped halfway through reaching out.

"It's nothing." Only then did Zheng Jie notice that what he had mentioned was the rattan frame placed next to the desk. The frame was full of rolled-up papers. Zheng Jie pulled one out and found that it was also a diagram. The top of the paper read, "South Street Drainage Layout Diagram".

Looking at these diagrams, at the dense annotations written on them, and then at the various trivial matters listed on the right side of the desk.

Zheng Jie's complexion was much better than before.

"Please sit down, sir." Seeing that he was staying still by the desk, Meng Changqing simply pulled out a chair for him to sit down.

Zheng Jie exclaimed, "Beishan County wouldn't be where it is today without you, Changqing. I didn't misjudge you."

"Your Excellency is exaggerating. I was merely doing what an official should do."

At this moment, Chen Qingyang brought in tea, snacks, and hot water. Meng Changqing took this opportunity to avoid the topic, so as not to waste time and emotions saying useless things.

Meng Changqing gestured to the constables to bring forward a hot towel, saying, "Sir, please wipe your face first." (End of Chapter)