Confucian and Taoist scholar

Chapter 185 What the People Want

“Learning is endless…”

Lu Zheng closed a book, sat cross-legged on the ground and rubbed his eyebrows gently.

Even at his current level, reading books without sleep for several days was a bit too much for him.

Since the knowledge in the books he read was somewhat disorganized, he felt that he needed to take a good break and slowly digest what he had read.

"Master, please have tea."

Xiao Qingqing held the teacup and moved in front of Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng quickly took the teacup and said, "Thank you, young lady! You don't have to worry about me."

Xiao Qingqing smiled and said, "I came here to read a book as well. I came here a long time ago. The young master was so engrossed in his book that he didn't even notice me."

Lu Zheng smiled, drank the tea in the cup, then slowly stood up, walked out of the study, and stretched his muscles in the yard outside.

In a place in the yard, Qing Wan was controlling the bean soldiers and learning spells.

Qing Wan saw Lu Zheng coming out and asked, "Hey, have you finished reading?"

"No, I just came out to get some fresh air." Lu Zheng said with a smile.

He found a stone bench to sit on, took out the Su Wu Festival and held it in his hand, half-closed his eyes and rested.

Seeing this, Qing Wan excitedly ran to Lu Zheng and tried to get some of the scent of Su Wu Festival.

Xiao Qingqing came out with a collection of poems and saw two people, one big and one small, sitting in the yard. She couldn't help but smile.

She looked at the bamboo stick in Lu Zheng's hand. She had seen Lu Zheng holding this bamboo stick twice.

Although the bamboo stick looked ordinary and did not have any spiritual energy, it reminded Xiao Qingqing of the Dong Hu pen she had seen before.

This short bamboo stick must be something extraordinary... Xiao Qingqing thought to herself.

Lu Zheng rested for a while, looked at Qing Wan, and asked, "Have you been bored these past two days?"

Qing Wan shook her head when she heard that, "No."

In the past, she always stayed alone in the peach blossom forest and never felt bored.

"Do you want to go out for a walk?" Lu Zheng asked again.

"Where are we going?" Qingwan tilted her head back.

Lu Zhengdao: "On the street, go outside and get some fresh air."

Xiao Qingqing, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but say, "I advise you not to show up in public."

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Lu Zheng couldn't help but ask.

Xiao Qingqing smiled and said, "Young Master, you've done a lot of good things that everyone knows about. Now that the county government has issued a new decree, your reputation has grown even greater than before. Right now, many people are waiting outside your residence and County Magistrate Li's mansion, hoping to see you. Among them are some ladies from prominent families..."

"Today, I was curious and went to your residence. There were officials guarding it, and many people spontaneously sent gifts. The gifts piled up like a mountain. I have never seen anyone so loved by the people."

Xiao Qingqing couldn't help but sigh in her heart, fearing that the people of Kaiyang County were now on Lu Zheng's side.

Lu Zheng thought about it, then took the Su Wu Festival and walked out of the academy.

Xiao Qingqing couldn't help but ask, "Master, are you still going out?"

Lu Zheng nodded and said, "I can't stay at home forever. It's better for them to meet me. Once they see that I have the same nose and two eyes as them, their enthusiasm will be dampened."

Lu Zheng also planned to go to the county government office to check the situation. It was impossible for him to hide and not see anyone.

Xiao Qingqing couldn't help but chuckled, "Sir, what you said is true. In fact, you are very different from them."

"What's the difference? Aren't we all human?" Lu Zheng smiled. "Maybe there are some differences between people, but I don't think I'm nobler than them."

Influenced by the thoughts of his previous life and his own path of cultivation, Lu Zheng never felt that he was nobler than ordinary people.

Xiao Qingqing heard Lu Zheng's sincere words and knew that Lu Zheng really believed this and it was not empty talk.

"Young Master is truly a wise man." Xiao Qingqing said softly.

Lu Zheng smiled when he heard this. This girl actually knew what the Changchuan County magistrate said about him.

He didn't care much about these things and left Beishan Academy directly.

Xiao Qingqing followed closely behind, thinking that if anything happened, she could help out.

Lu Zheng walked outside and prepared to go to his residence first.

After he walked for a while, he was recognized by passers-by.

"Huh? It's Master Lu!"

Hearing this, Lu Zheng nodded and smiled back.

After a while, people gathered around, curious to see Lu Zheng's true appearance.

There was also a brave woman who ran directly to Lu Zheng, forced the sachet into his hand, then ran away with her face covered, causing the people around to burst into laughter.

Lu Zheng held the sachet, not knowing whether to keep it or throw it away.

Seeing Lu Zheng's affability and good temper, some people came over to offer small gifts or offer a few compliments, hoping to share in his good fortune. Everyone said that Lu Zheng was the incarnation of the God of Literature, and how could such a rare opportunity to get close to him be missed?
For a while, the streets were crowded with people who came to pay their respects to Lu Zheng.

Seeing the people's enthusiasm, Lu Zheng had no choice but to stop and bow, saying, "Thank you all for your kindness. I am just an ordinary person. In fact, there is no need to be so kind. I may have done some things that made you remember my kindness, but as fellow villagers, we should help each other. As a scholar, I have more power, so naturally I should do more good things and live up to the teachings of the saints... Speaking of which, I have a good reputation now, and I can receive some money for cloth, rice, and oil every year. These things are only available to me because of the taxes paid by everyone. I eat the salary of the people, so I should do something for my fellow villagers..."

Lu Zheng was used to dealing with ordinary people, so he spoke very fluently.

Everyone present found these words pleasing to the ear and made them feel at ease.

Lu Zheng paused, then continued, "The government has issued some decrees that will benefit the people. We hope everyone will cooperate. We may all have to work hard for a while... I hope everyone can contribute to the development of our hometown!"

"it is good!"

Some people applauded.

Many people were moved by Lu Zheng's words, and immediately there was thunderous applause and cheers.

Lu Zheng bowed again and said, "Now that you have seen me, please go back. Don't delay your own affairs, and don't disrupt the order of the county. Actually, I am just a mouth and two eyes, nothing special to look at, just like everyone else. Please disperse."

Everyone was happy to hear this.

Many people satisfied their curiosity and gradually dispersed.

[You are supported by the people and teach them, your literary spirit +100!]

In the distance, Li Yuan stood on the rooftop and saw this scene. He couldn't help but smack his lips, feeling a little sour...

As a county magistrate, I have never been treated like this before.

County Magistrate Zhou, standing nearby, couldn't help but say, "Sir, our county is really going to produce a remarkable figure!"

"Of course. Let me tell you, Lu Zheng..." Li Yuan paused, still not revealing the truth, and then said, "Follow me carefully and do those things well. There will be a chance for you to be promoted!"

Zhou Wei quickly said, "I will do my best to serve you, my Lord!"

Li Yuan patted Zhou Wei and said quietly, "This is for the people, not for me. Do you understand? Didn't you hear what Lu Zheng said? Remember this well."

"I understand!" Zhou Wei nodded repeatedly.

Li Yuan took a single step and floated down from the roof. He said in a deep voice, "Those in prison who can be dealt with will be dealt with. Those who cannot be dealt with will be asked to pay money to reduce their sentences and do hard labor. Kaiyang County needs to develop now, and money and people are indispensable. Find a way to squeeze them more. These matters are left to you... Don't be afraid of anyone trying to pressure you to release them. I will protect you."

"I will definitely get it done!"

Zhou Wei's eyes were sharp, and then he left in a hurry.

Lu Zheng waited on the street for a long time until most people left.

He called out to several nearby officials who came to maintain order and asked them to take away all the gifts he had received and try to give them to those in need.

The officials did not dare to embezzle these items, so they prepared to take them to the county government office to arrange for their distribution.

Lu Zheng returned to his residence, and the gifts piled up outside were taken away by the officials.

He found the key to open the courtyard and discovered that there were also a lot of things lost inside. He couldn't help but shake his head and laugh, and then asked someone to pick them up.

He looked towards the house again. The cultural relics posted outside were still there, and there was still a hint of restrained aura.

Xiao Qingqing looked at the words Lu Zheng had posted outside the house. There were words on every door and window.

She asked puzzledly, "Why did you put so many words outside?"

"It's to protect against demons and ghosts. There were demons and ghosts haunting the city before." Lu Zheng explained.

Xiao Qingqing recalled the large-scale raids that had been carried out in the county before, during which many wealthy families were raided, and it seemed that some of them were arrested because they had connections with demons and ghosts.

She usually lives in Beishan Academy and doesn't notice any demons or ghosts. But even Lu Zheng's place is being attacked by demons and ghosts.

Lu Zheng pushed the door open and entered the room, only to find it spotlessly clean, without a speck of dust. It must have been thanks to the protection of the cultural treasure that it could remain clean and tidy even without anyone living in it for two months.

Seeing this, Lu Zheng took out Dong Hu's brush and wrote a poem in the main hall to ward off evil spirits.

After that, he closed the door of the room and the yard and left the residence.

Lu Zheng felt that he would most likely not live in this small courtyard for long, so it would be empty for a long time.

As soon as I walked out of the door, I saw a pretty woman in plain clothes standing by the door.

The woman saluted respectfully, "Mr. Lu!"

Lu Zheng looked at the person who came and smiled slightly, "So it's Miss Wang. How are you these days?"

This girl from the Wang family, who had once pretended to be crazy and fooled demons, had become much more mature after not seeing her for a while, and Lu Zheng almost didn't recognize her.

Wang Xiu said, "Everything is fine. I heard that you have returned to the city, so I came to thank you."

"You know, I don't care about these things." Lu Zhengdao.

Wang Xiu said softly, "I know, so I came to see you without any gifts. I just wanted to see if you were okay. I heard that you donated a lot of money to Kaiyang County. I don't have much money, so I donated half to the county government and also set up a charity in town. From now on, I will do more good deeds to accumulate virtue."

Lu Zheng nodded and said, "Miss, you are kind. If you encounter any problems in the future, you can come to me. If I am not here, go to the county magistrate and others and say that I said it."

How could ordinary people go directly to the county magistrate to do things? Lu Zheng's words carried a lot of weight.

(End of this chapter)