Qingxian asked

Chapter 22 New Home
Xu Qing bent down and pulled Guo Zhuang up.

Guo Zhuang was shocked. He had planned to kneel for a while to show his sincerity, but he did not expect Xu Qing to be so strong that he could only stand up.

He therefore understood even more clearly that even if the two brothers had not rushed back before, Zhao Bao's men would not pose a threat to Xu Qing before the county examination.

He then laughed at himself and said, "I didn't expect that you have learned all the skills from Master Li. My brother and I may not be your opponents, let alone Zhao Bao's minnows."

Xu Qing: "Brother Guo, since you are willing to work for me, I naturally don't want to hide my martial arts from you, so as to avoid any misunderstandings in the future. What I value is Brother Guo's character. As for whether I need Brother Guo's protection, that is not important. I don't want Brother Guo to be my slave."

Guo Zhuang was deeply moved when he heard Xu Qing's sincere words. "Anyway, I'll give my life to you from now on. I'll die however you want me to."

Since the previous contribution of "saving the emperor" has been greatly discounted, the more nice the words are, the better.

He has no money and his kung fu is not as good as that of the uncle and nephew. The only things he can sell are his life and loyalty.

Not to mention that doing this is pitiful, many people like him don't even have the chance to risk their lives.

If a man is not appreciated by anyone in this world, it is worse than being a ghost!
Xu Qing couldn't help but laugh: "Brother Guo, I need you to help me, why do I need your life? Your life is precious to me."

Guo Zhuang was touched by Xu Qing's heartwarming words, even though he knew that the other party was trying to win people's hearts. Xu Qing took out another ingot of silver, which he had obtained from Dong Dahai.

"Brother Guo, you are doing things for me, so you can't be shortchanged. These are the tea money I give to the brothers, you must accept it."

Guo Zhuang knew that it did cost money to get things done, which was the secret of why the Zhao family had been able to be head of the police for many years.

The detectives can make money by working with Zhao Xiong.

Otherwise, even if most of these constables are Zhao Xiong's relatives and friends, after a long time, they will lose their morale if they just work hard without getting paid.

Guo Zhuang accepted the money readily.

Xu Qing nodded slightly and took Xu Fu away from the Guo family.

As for the slave contract, Guo Zhuang would naturally handle it and register it with the government.

...

...

"Auntie, I'm back."

"Well, I'll go cook. Hey, who is this?"

Xu Qing smiled and said, "This is the servant I just bought. I need him to run errands for something later. Let him stay in the woodshed tonight."

"what's up?"

Xu Qing informed Zhou about his plan to run a chicken farm with Dong Dahai.

"Hire someone to raise chickens and pay them wages? Just provide them with food. I can also raise chickens! Just give me the wages." Zhou was a little angry. Qing'er was not the head of the family, but he spent money without knowing how to count.

It is unreasonable to provide food and wages to these landless peasants.

Even great people don't do this.

Xu Qing smiled and said, "Aunt, this chicken farm will naturally bring in a steady stream of income. Why do you still need to work in the future? Just wait for the dividends."

"Dividends? Isn't this chicken farm yours?"

Xu Qing: "It's mine, not your aunt's. You can just enjoy your life in peace. By the way, you should learn how to check the accounts. From now on, all the income from the chicken farm will be managed by your aunt. Xu Fu will just keep an eye on it for us."

Zhou: "No, I can spend some of this money, but I'll keep most of it for you to marry."

Xu Qing smiled and said, "Aunt, you forgot that I am the top candidate and will soon be a scholar. A 14-year-old scholar, are you still worried about not being able to find a wife?"

"That's true. Alas..." Zhou suddenly looked worried.

"how?"

"You will definitely marry a lady from a wealthy family in the future. I'm afraid my background will bring shame to you." Zhou felt melancholy when she thought of this.

"Then I will get married later, and I must find a daughter-in-law who is well-educated, well-mannered, and respectful to my uncle and aunt."

"No, not too late, otherwise your uncle will definitely blame me." "Well, wait three years. The provincial examination will be in two years. If I pass the provincial examination and become a juren, we will be considered a gentry family, so there is no need to find a family with a high status."

Jin Juren and Yin Jinshi.

After becoming a Jinshi, one can only serve as an official in other places, which cuts off his influence in his hometown.

If you are a juren, you can directly participate in local governance. Especially in the countryside, juren have a lot of say.

"Well, you are still young, don't worry." Zhou knew that the candidates were all the gods of literature, how could it be so easy to pass the exam. But she didn't want to say anything harsh to dampen her nephew's enthusiasm.

While the aunt and nephew were talking, there was a noise outside. It turned out that Li Dianshi had returned.

Zhou went forward to help him take off his official uniform, only to see that Li Dianshi looked a little sad, so she asked, "Why did you come back so early today? What happened?"

Seeing that there were many outsiders in the house, Li Dianshi first asked about Xu Fu. Knowing that he was a servant bought by Xu Qing, he asked him to go to the kitchen to light a fire first, and then said to Zhou and Xu Qing: "Zhao Bao returned to the government office from the countryside today."

Zhou said angrily, "This guy hired someone to try to hurt Qing Ge'er, and he dared to come back? Did you give him fifty lashes first?"

Li Dianshi sighed, "This guy was asking for forgiveness by carrying a bundle of thorns on his back. He was bleeding profusely, and he walked on his knees from the entrance of the government office to the police station where I worked. Many people saw him."

"So cruel." Zhou said in surprise.

"He almost killed Qing Ge'er. How could I let him off just because he was playing the victim? But even Magistrate Wu stood on his side this time and advised me to forgive him when I could."

Zhou couldn't help but say, "Qing'er isn't his nephew, so of course he doesn't feel bad. I tell you, we can't let him off this time. If Qing'er hadn't been blessed by heaven, and if he had been harmed by them and failed the imperial examination, who would we be able to count on for the rest of our lives?"

Li Dianshi: "That's exactly what I meant, but..."

Xu Qing: "Uncle, is Zhao Xiong back?"

Li Dianshi: "Not only did he come back, he also established connections in Jiangning Prefecture. Now the document for his transfer to the prefectural government as the chief constable has been sent to the county government."

Xu Qing was not surprised at all. "With the background of the Zhao family, it is only a matter of time for Zhao Xiong to become a police chief in the government office. However, as a police chief in the government office, he is definitely not as good as the police chief in Qingshui County in taking care of the family. This time, he was forced by us and had to go to the government office to endure it."

Zhao Xiong's move was a wise one, because firstly the county magistrate disliked him, and secondly his immediate superior was an enemy. No matter how good the position of the head constable was, he was still uneasy.

It’s better to avoid the spotlight for the time being.

Because once County Magistrate Wu leaves, it is not certain whether Li Dianshi can continue to hold this position.

In fact, if Zhao Bao had not been reckless, Zhao Xiong would definitely have hidden his minions and endured, waiting for an opportunity to kill him with one blow.

Li Dianshi: "Qing'er, what do you think I should do?"

Xu Qing said softly, "The county magistrate doesn't want to cause any trouble. Even if uncle wants to investigate, we can't. Uncle, tell us about their compensation."

Li Dianshi sighed and said, "Did you expect this?"

"Zhao Bao's confession saved our face, but he didn't make up for the crime. He thought we were fools. My uncle is the county magistrate's confidant, and I was personally selected by the county magistrate as the first case. If they don't make up for the crime, how can the county magistrate save his face?"

"Well, they compensated us with a large courtyard with four entrances and exits."

"Such an expensive gift?" Zhou exclaimed at first, then looked at Xu Qing embarrassedly: "Brother Qing, Auntie didn't mean to say that you are not worthy..."

Xu Qing smiled and said, "It's really worth it to get such a big yard for such a trouble."

Li Dianshi added, "I heard that the feng shui of that courtyard is not good. It was the old house of old master Gu Feng. Over the past thirty years, two generations of the Gu family died young and eventually had no descendants. The clan members sued for the Gu family's property. This house was exactly what Zhao Xiong knocked from the Gu family. No one lives there until now, and it is quite dilapidated."

Xu Qing: "Is there any rumor that this yard is haunted, or has anyone died there?"

"I haven't heard of it. The only bad thing is, as I just said, the previous two owners of the yard both passed away early."

"Uncle, please promise us that we can move early." Xu Qing said softly.

What's the point of telling him that he will die young when he has less than three years to live?
What's more, he has a bronze mirror to observe his own condition, so if there is anything ominous, he can find it out.

As for not having any descendants, my uncle and aunt don't have any descendants for the time being. This is not something that needs to be considered at the moment.

Moreover, he was blessed and had a vague feeling that this house might contain some opportunities.

(End of this chapter)