Republic of China: Guandong Ginseng King

Chapter 243 Lord Magistrate
After hearing what Cao Zhubu said, Qu Shaoyang began to feel uneasy in his heart.

Go to the county government? Learn about the treatment of the previous epidemic? Really?

Could it be that they were using this as a cover to lure the father-in-law and son-in-law over and then arrest them?
After thinking about it, it doesn't seem likely.

Regarding what happened between the Jiang and Tong families last year, there had been no news in the government office, so it was impossible for it to be traced back to Qu Shaoyang.

Was that what happened to the Chen family two years ago?

That’s not right. Both the Jiang and Tong families have gone bankrupt, so the government is too lazy to investigate.

The fact that the Chen brothers could go out and do business openly and return to Daqinggou openly proved that the matter was over.

Could it be that the magistrate was looking for them because of the previous epidemic?

Judging from Cao Zhubu's attitude, it is very likely.

I guess the magistrate wanted to use this epidemic to gain some political achievements.

However, he was not clear about the specific situation and had no way to report it in detail, so he thought of asking Qu Shaoyang and Doctor Chen to go there together and explain it in detail.

“I come from the countryside, and my language is crude.

Since the magistrate does not despise me, I am grateful. Whenever you have any orders, I will do my best and go all out. "

Qu Shaoyang acted as if he was deeply valued by his leader and was moved to tears of gratitude.

"Lord Cao, it's almost noon. How about you all go to my humble abode to have a meal first, and then leave in the afternoon or early tomorrow morning?" Qu Shaoyang asked tentatively.

Cao Zhubu nodded when he heard it, "Okay, I'll bother you then."

They came all the way from the county town, why shouldn't they have a meal? Can they go back hungry?
Qu Shaoyang turned his head and glanced at Chen Xiuyun, who immediately understood. She went back to Qu's house with Li and hurried to prepare wine and food.

Since someone is coming from the county government, the food must be good.

It just so happened that the work was tiring during the early spring and they couldn't do without oil and water. Qu Shaoyang had just led people to kill a pig yesterday, so there was no shortage of meat at home and they could do anything with it.

Chen Xiuyun sent people to the fishermen on the riverside to look for some fresh fish.

Then catch a chicken and kill it to add another dish.

I have some frogs at home that were sent to me the day before yesterday morning, so I can stew them in a plate. Wow, that makes exactly eight dishes.

Here, Chen Xiuyun led people to prepare wine and food, while over there, Qu Shaoyang and Chen Langzhong chatted with Cao Zhubu and others.

During the conversation, Cao Zhubu revealed that the magistrate was very impressed with the Maoershan Security Team.

It is believed that although they are a spontaneous grassroots organization, they have played a very important role in this epidemic.

The area under Tonghua's jurisdiction is too large, the villages and towns along the Yalu River are too scattered, and the county government has limited staff, so it is indeed unable to manage it.

The emergence of the security team is very helpful to the management of the government office.

After hearing these words, Qu Shaoyang felt relieved.

So he became more attentive and chatted with Cao Zhubu, asking about the magistrate's preferences in roundabout ways.

The conversation was lively here, and the food was soon ready over there.

So everyone moved to Qu's house. Doctor Chen and Qu Shaoyang accompanied Cao Zhubu and the two servants, eating and drinking together, and chatting while drinking.

All eight dishes were very good, and Cao Zhubu was very satisfied. Everyone toasted each other and drank more and more.

Originally we planned to have lunch and go back in the afternoon, but it turned out that we drank all the way until the afternoon.

"Brother Qu, I'm telling you, be smart when you go to the county government this time.

If you can please the county magistrate, you will definitely benefit from it."

Cao Zhubu was drunk, and he put his arm around Qu Shaoyang's neck and called him a brother. How could Qu Shaoyang not understand what Cao Zhubu meant?
It simply means that Qu Shaoyang should be more capable and give the necessary gifts. As long as he can get close to the county magistrate, he will have a backer no matter what he does in the future.

"Yes, yes, thank you for your guidance, Lord Cao. Come, come, I will toast you again."

Qu Shaoyang knew what was going on, so he picked up the cup with a smile and toasted Cao Zhubu and the two men with another glass of wine.

How could it not be too much if they kept drinking like this? In the end, Cao Zhubu and the two officers were all drunk.

As soon as Qu Shaoyang saw this, he had someone help them to the guest room and settle them down.

"Wife, please find me a good ginseng and a pair of deer antlers, and then give me five hundred taels of silver."

After settling Cao Zhubu and the others, Qu Shaoyang turned and went to the backyard, asking Chen Xiuyun to prepare things for him.

Nowadays, if you want to make a living, besides having money and connections, you also need to have someone to back you up.

It would have been fine if he hadn't had the opportunity before, but since the magistrate specifically asked to see him, Qu Shaoyang would definitely seize the opportunity and find a way to make friends with people in the government.

Take the silver and gifts with you and go explore the way first. If you can really establish a relationship with the county magistrate, his future development in Maoer Mountain will be more stable.

Chen Xiuyun never interfered with Qu Shaoyang's affairs outside. She did whatever her husband said.

In this way, Qu Shaoyang prepared the gifts. On the morning of March 19th, after Cao Zhubu and others had breakfast, they rode on horseback to the county town.

It is about 200 miles from Maoer Mountain to Tonghua, and you have to cross mountains in the middle. The journey is long. If you get up early and ride a fast horse, you can barely get there.

But Cao Zhubu and his men were used to a life of luxury and were not in a hurry. How could they be willing to rush on the journey?

After walking for most of the day, we had no choice but to find an inn to rest at night.

At noon on March 20th, the group finally arrived at the county town.

After entering the city, they found a place to have lunch first. Then Cao Zhubu and others returned to the county government office to report. Qu Shaoyang and Chen Langzhong waited outside the county government office.

The father-in-law and son-in-law waited outside for a long time before someone came out and invited them in.

The father-in-law and son-in-law followed the visitor, walked around the main hall of the county government office, and came to the side hall.

In the side hall, there was only Cao Zhubu and a man wearing the uniform of a seventh-rank official. Needless to say, that man was the magistrate Chen Yuzhang.

"We, the common people Chen Weian and Qu Shaoyang, come to pay our respects to Your Excellency." As the father-in-law and son-in-law entered the room, they knelt down and kowtowed, praising him.

"No need to be so polite, please stand up quickly." County Magistrate Chen was sitting behind the desk and waved his hand, signaling the two to stand up.

Qu Shaoyang and Chen Langzhong stood up, stood with their hands down and waited for the magistrate to question them.

"I think this person is my relative, Doctor Chen, who was instrumental in curing the epidemic this time, and has excellent medical skills, right?"

County Magistrate Chen had already known about the relationship between Qu Shaoyang and Doctor Chen from Cao Zhubu, so he went to talk to Doctor Chen first.

"My lord, I am a humble commoner and do not dare to call myself a relative of yours. I am not considered to have excellent medical skills. I just happened to be there and it was just luck." Doctor Chen bowed and replied.

"Alas, Doctor Chen, you are too modest. Your medical skills are obvious to all. The doctors in the county respect you very much.

We both have the last name Chen, but I wonder where your ancestors came from? Maybe we are from the same clan."

County Magistrate Chen smiled and shook his head, his attitude was gentle and amiable. If you didn't know him, you would really think he was related to Doctor Chen.

"No, no, my ancestors lived in Chenliu, and later our family moved to Qingzhou Prefecture in Shandong, and then crossed the Guandong Pass to come here."

Doctor Chen did not dare to hide anything and quickly explained his family background.

Upon hearing this, County Magistrate Chen slammed the table and stood up, "What a coincidence, my ancestors were also from Chenliu.

I was thinking, maybe we are from the same clan?"

(End of this chapter)