This god is really evil

Chapter 85: Lord Li manages the entire county's human fat (asking for monthly tickets)
Qinghe County has one town and six townships under its jurisdiction. Weizi Town is one of the most prosperous towns, and Qinghe County is even more prosperous.

A horse-drawn carriage slowly arrived at the tall city gate with "Qinghe County" written on it. Zhao Qingshan, Hou Qi and others followed the carriage, looking through the doorway at the street in front of them, and heard the sounds of hawking, chatting, and bargaining.

There were people selling candied haws, pot cakes, making sugar figures, selling fruits, fortune tellers, selling magic pills, performing at street stalls, writing letters for people, and so on and so forth. It was a bustling place.

All the apprentices in the charity cemetery were stunned.

Zhao Qingshan murmured:

"Tsk tsk, this county is really rich. There's a market every day... It's not even Chinese New Year yet, but they're already selling candied haws."

Monkey Seven on the side laughed and said:

"Brother Qingshan, didn't you say you used to come to the county town often to play? Why do you talk like it's your first time here?"

Zhao Qingshan's face flushed instantly and he said:
"I'm... I'm telling you this. When I was a kid, my mom often brought me here to go shopping. But then she died of illness, and my dad married me a second wife. I haven't... haven't been here since."

Everyone immediately laughed again, but this time not so loudly.

As he was speaking, two city guards stopped the carriage and shouted:

"Who are you? This is the gate of the county town, not your hometown in the countryside! Bring me the city entrance tax, two cents per person!"

Although Zhao Qingshan, Gao Zhijian and other Yizhuang apprentices wore what they considered to be the best clothes, they were still washed bleached and had patches on them.

The two gatekeepers were used to seeing people coming and going, and they could tell at a glance that these people were not from wealthy families. The carriage was also ordinary, so it should be a local rich man from the countryside coming to the city.

This is the best kind of rip-off.

Hearing this, Zhao Qingshan was stunned and shouted:
"Isn't it one cent? How come it has increased to two cents?"

A fat city guard frowned and said:

"What, I said..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a waist badge flew out from behind the curtain of the carriage and fell into Zhao Qingshan's hands.

This waist badge is a black metal plate with a circle of flowing cloud and dragon patterns around it. On the back is a tiger head pattern with three large gold-plated characters "Si Tian Jian".

The fat city guard was originally arrogant and was about to teach these country brats a lesson and extort money from the local rich man in the carriage. But the moment he saw the waist badge, his calves immediately cramped and his whole body trembled:

"Si Si Si Si... Mr. Lingguan of the Sitianjian!?"

Zhao Qingshan quickly raised the badge, held his head high and said:
"So, the city entry tax is one cent this time, right?"

The two city guards knelt down with a plop, kowtowed to the carriage repeatedly, and said:
"I have been blinded by greed and have offended the Lord Lingguan. Please forgive me! Please enter the city quickly! No one in the Sitianjian needs to pay a penny of tax!"

The apprentices at the charity cemetery didn't expect the other party to react so strongly, but when they heard that they didn't have to pay taxes, they couldn't help but feel happy. Doesn't this mean that everyone can save a penny?

Then a faint voice came from the carriage:

"Qingshan, let's go."

Zhao Qingshan immediately led the horse, held his head high and strode into the city gate with the carriage and a group of apprentices from Yizhuang.

Behind them, the two gatekeepers kowtowed repeatedly. When they were completely far away, they wiped the sweat from their foreheads, stood up, and said politely to the villagers queuing to enter the city:

"One cent."

At least I won’t dare to be so arrogant for the next three days.

Zhao Qingshan came to the window of the carriage and returned the badge to Li Yan, saying:

"Brother Li, there's a guy doing tricks up ahead, do you want to take a look?"

The person sitting in the carriage was Li Yan, who came to work at the Qinghe County Astronomical Observatory.

After skinning Master Ji in the martial arts arena of Weizi Town, Li Yan stayed in the town for another day to tie up the loose ends. Then, as Liu Yunhe had instructed, he set out for the Sitianjian in the county town to take up his post.

My eldest brother has now been promoted to the third manager of Fu Ren Tang, and his salary has increased dozens of times. He is very content with it, and he and my eldest sister-in-law won’t have to work so hard in the future.

Because of this incident, Li Yan was also invited to a banquet hosted by Manager Gao of Fu Ren Tang, where the other party naturally tried his best to flatter him.

After all, for the Gao family, being able to climb up to the high position of the official in charge of supervising living things in the Sitianjian would naturally make many things much easier in the future.

As for the three families, Zhou family of the fish stall, Liu family of the firewood gang, and Yang family of the boxing gym, they involved a lot of industries. Liu Yunhe also gave the task of confiscating their property to Li Yan. In the past few days, he still asked the financial advisor of the Imperial Observatory to take inventory and settle the accounts. After the inventory is completed, it will naturally be transferred to the Xuanzhengyuan and then handed over to the inner treasury.

Li Yan said:

"I'll go back and check it out later. I'll go to the Sitianjian to start my job first."

Zhao Qingshan and the others looked at each other, shook their heads like rattles, quickened their pace, and took Li Yan to the Sitianjian.

They were just peasants from Yizhuang, and they were able to come to the county town because of their relationship with Li Yan. If they didn't hold on tightly to him, it would be a waste if they were chased back. They asked along the main road of the county town and soon arrived in the west of the city. They saw a magnificent mansion located on the north side of the road, with three big characters "Si Tian Jian" on it.

Li Yan got off the carriage and shouted towards the rooftop:
"Brother Chongyun, come out."

Then a figure in black jumped up and landed gently in front of Li Yan. It was Chongyun who had followed and protected him all the way from Weizi Town.

The two men immediately entered the Imperial Observatory. The carriage was naturally settled by the government servants, and Zhao Qingshan and others were also taken to the side room to wait.

As Li Yan walked forward, he saw that although the Sitianjian was not magnificent with carved beams and painted buildings, the buildings were all decorated with flying eaves and brackets, taking advantage of the terrain and giving it a solemn and murderous aura.

When I entered the main hall, I saw Liu Yunhe in official uniform, standing in front of a drawing table, writing with a brush and a smile on his face. It was obvious that he was in a very good mood.

"I am Li Yan, a student, and I am here to meet you, teacher." Li Yan bowed obediently.

Liu Yunhe held the brush in his hand, smiled and nodded:
"You've come at the right time. I'm going to the county government today. Before I leave, I have something to tell you."

Li Yan stepped forward and picked up the ink block beside him. While helping Liu Yunhe grind the ink, he praised:

"Teacher, your calligraphy is so good! The two characters Zhenxie are still so vigorous. I gave the last copy to my elder brother and sister-in-law. I wonder if you can give me another copy this time?"

These two words were also written with great courage. Li Yan still remembers what Ao Le said.

One thousand taels!

Liu Yunhe laughed and scolded:

"Slippery!"

Then he said:

"This piece of noble calligraphy, and the following ones, are all written for you."

Then his face turned serious and he said:

"The Yuhua Society sacrifice case in Weizi Town has spread in the court in the past few days, and has even been reported in the capital's 'Dibao'. Even if someone wants to cover it up, it can't be covered up. Master has a lot of evidence in his hands, pointing directly to the Huzhou extermination case. I plan to take this opportunity to contact old friends in the court and report the demon minister Yan Shiren. At least we have to re-examine the Huzhou extermination case."

"In addition, I have to go and ask for merit for you. The demon prime minister's followers are all over the government offices. I am worried about relying on the memorial to ask for merit, so I have to go and do it for you personally."

Li Yan couldn't help but feel warm in his heart and said:

"For a student's achievement, it's enough to have a name. Other things are not important. The teacher doesn't need to worry too much."

Liu Yunhe chuckled and said:

"You are still young and don't understand the pros and cons. Your merits are the faults of the prime minister's party. As a teacher, I must not only help you to get the credit, but also unite with the upright people in the court to publicize it. The proper reward must not be less than a tael of silver from the emperor! Moreover, I will promote you!"

Li Yan nodded. Although he really wanted to tell Liu Yunhe that he had also struggled for more than ten years in his previous life and knew everything, he still had an innocent look on his face at this moment.

Liu Yunhe continued:

"Since you have come to the Si Tian Jian, you should take on the corresponding responsibilities. I will briefly tell you about the power and position of the Si Tian Jian."

The Sitianjian of Da Qi was in charge of exterminating evil spirits. The Sitianjian at the county level had one supervisor and six officers in charge of supervising living spirits. At the same time, it could recruit clerks, clerks, and craftsmen according to the situation, and had the authority to recruit 300 regular soldiers to suppress evil spirits at its own expense.

However, now the Qinghe County Astronomical Observatory, including Li Yan, has only three supervising spiritual officials, mainly because there has been no suitable candidate.

As for the 300 evil-suppressing warriors, the supervisor or spiritual officer would need to pay for it themselves, and they had to be trustworthy and considerate people. Liu Yunhe had just arrived in Qinghe County and had not made any preparations.

The reason for such arrogance was mainly that the Sitianjian also had the authority to mobilize local patrol and garrison forces.

Theoretically speaking, all the detectives and runners in Qinghe County, including the county lieutenant, were under the supervision of Sitian in terms of exterminating evil spirits.

At the same time, the Qinghe County Sitianjian was also in charge of the entire Qinghe County's anti-evil patrol, charity cemetery, coffin shop, incense shop, cemetery, funeral, etc.

The power of patrolling and suppressing evil spirits alone is enormous. No matter which shop the spiritual officer of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau goes to, whether it is a teahouse or a tavern, if he says that the shop is unqualified in suppressing evil spirits, then the shop is unqualified and must be closed for rectification. The opening hours are also decided by the spiritual officer, and there is no room for negotiation.

Of course, Liu Yunhe and his two disciples, Chongyun and Aole, naturally disdain to do such a thing.

Liu Yunhe sighed and said:
"Aole and Chongyun are both devoted to cultivation and don't like to interact with others. As a poor and mean master, I naturally don't want to take over those chores. In the past, they were all left to the clerks of the Imperial Observatory to take care of. They would report to me every once in a while, which was a headache for me."

"I have thought about it and found that since you cannot practice, you do have some free time. You can take care of the daily affairs of the Qinghe County Astronomical Bureau, such as the inspection of evil spirits and the management of the charity cemetery. Don't think it's too much trouble, because it's mainly done by the clerks and the masters. You can just assign personnel and check the accounts occasionally."

"Of course, you won't do these things in vain. We will also give you an extra salary. What do you think?"

Li Yan was stunned when he heard this.

What do you mean?
All the human fat in the county belongs to me?

~
(Give me some monthly tickets, brothers~~~)

(End of this chapter)