Union

Chapter 78 She Doesn't Know What's Good for Her

What could Yunying do when she saw Sui'er trembling with fear and crying uncontrollably?

She had no other choice but to take Liu'er and go to the front yard herself.

They ran into Sui Yu, Lei Ting, and Mo Xue outside the front yard, who were walking out together.

Seeing her bring Liu'er over, the three of them nodded slightly to her.

Yunying wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that the way the three men were looking at her was strange.

How should I put it? His gaze was quite appraising and meaningful, making Yunying's scalp tingle and making her want to turn around and go back immediately.

But Sui Yu already smiled and said, "You're looking for Second Master, right? He's waiting for you in his study. Just go over there."

Yunying responded with a casual "okay" and led Liu'er into the front yard.

Sui Yu wanted to stay and watch the excitement, and he even tiptoed after them, but Lei Ting dragged him back.

Sui Yu kicked her feet and yelled, "Why are you pulling me? Hey, aren't you curious? Let me through, and I'll tell you two what I've heard later."

Mo Xue grabbed his other arm and led him outside. "We don't need you to tell us. If we want to know, we can just ask your brother later."

“My brother is a tight-lipped man. He won’t say a word about Second Master. You’d better not dream about trying to get information out of him. Hurry up and let me go back. It’s not too late to let me go back now.”

This time it was Thunder's turn to speak, "You better behave, or we'll knock you out and take you away if you keep babbling."

Sui Yu quieted down and dared not grumble anymore.

But he truly hated it.

All he wanted was to see some excitement, why can't they even satisfy that?

If he had known Yunying would come, he would have switched shifts with his brother earlier.

Very angry!
They are siblings from the same mother, so why are their lucks so different?

He always gets the bad luck, and his brother gets the good luck. It must be because his parents didn't check the almanac properly when they had him.

Sui Yu was taken away feeling resentful and frustrated.

As for Yunying, after approaching the front yard, she saw that Suiyun was guarding the door today. Yunying nodded slightly to him and opened her mouth to explain her purpose.

Unexpectedly, Sui Yun said directly, "Miss, please go in. Second Master is waiting for you in the study."

"Second Master...was he waiting for me?" Yunying's voice faltered. "Did Second Master know I was coming?"

Sui Yun's gaze towards her was also somewhat intriguing. "Second Master doesn't know. He just said before that if you come, you can just go in directly without needing to announce your arrival."

Yunying thought he was referring to the time when she helped the Second Master with the accounts, when he had indeed given her permission to enter the study without prior notice. But the accounts had long been settled, and she couldn't just act so casually anymore.

Yunying said, "Why don't you ask him? Maybe Second Master doesn't want to see me right now?"

"What are you still dawdling outside for?" The Second Master's voice suddenly came from inside the study. "I heard you enter the courtyard just now, but you haven't come to the study yet. What, did you come here to enjoy the scenery today?"

Yunying was startled, then choked.

The familiar feeling is back.

Second Master is still the same Second Master.

If he doesn't speak, fine; but when he does speak, he can be incredibly rude and hurtful.

Yunying quickly replied, "Coming right away."

Then, ignoring Suiyun's suppressed laughter, she pushed open the study door and went inside.

The second master was sitting at his desk, writing something on a document.

Yunying entered and bowed. Before the Second Master could speak, she eagerly explained the purpose of Sui'er's visit.

The Second Master completely ignored all of this, only telling her, "You handle it as you see fit. Just send a banquet to the staff, and I won't have a separate feast with them."

The Second Master has now recruited two advisors, one of whom is that eccentric scholar.

Although this person was destined to become a county magistrate, his return was ill-timed. The county government office had already been sealed off, and it would not be reopened until the nineteenth day of the first lunar month.

In other words, at the very least, the appointment document could only be issued by the Second Master after the county government officially opened for business, and only then could the scholar take office.

Since he was not yet the county magistrate, the scholar stayed at the county government office as a staff member.

The other advisor was an elderly gentleman who was in his fifties.

Yunying roughly knew its origins.

It seems that this old gentleman's ancestors were also officials exiled to Lingnan. At that time, the old gentleman was not yet of legal age, but he was both learned and skilled in military affairs and should have had a bright future. However, he became the son of a criminal and could not hold office for the rest of his life.

It all started before the New Year when a brawl broke out among people doing forced labor. My second uncle went to investigate and not only resolved the situation but also discovered this talented individual. He was said to be well-read and had mastered all the skills related to the river. However, due to his labor dredging and other work, he looked like an old man in his seventies despite being nearly fifty. His pitiful state was so palpable that it evoked pity and sighs.

Leaving aside these digressions, once Yunying received instructions from the Second Master, she knew what to do, so she bowed to him and prepared to take her leave.

Unexpectedly, the Second Master called her over and asked her to come and grind ink for him. Yunying thought she was hallucinating, so she asked the Second Master, "What did you just say? I didn't hear you clearly."

The second master finally raised his head to look at her. His eyes were deep and unreadable. He looked calm, and his handsome face was unforgettable.

However, for some reason, Yunying always felt that he was like a volcano suppressing his emotions, ready to erupt at any moment.

Yunying was terrified of this second master.

The second master said, "I told you to come and serve me with my writing materials, what, you think I can't afford to use you?"

That was even more sarcastic.

Adding to what she overheard at the door earlier, Yunying made a decision: Second Master is in a bad mood today!
I wonder who offended him!
Then she'd better behave herself and not provoke the Second Master into getting angry, or become his punching bag.

Yunying quickly stepped forward, walked to the table, and began grinding ink.

Seeing that she was still quite obedient, the Second Master lowered his head and continued writing the document, which made Yunying breathe a sigh of relief.

The study was extremely quiet, and Yunying couldn't help but look at the Second Master.

Second Master's profile is sharply defined, with a straight and prominent nose. His thin lips are tightly pressed together, and the curve of his jaw is sharp.

Yunying then looked at what the Second Master was writing in his hand.

It turned out to be an appointment document.

The person appointed was none other than Liu Songyun, the scholar she had just been thinking about.

The scholar has been confirmed as the county magistrate, which is a joyous occasion. We'll prepare an extra dish for him when we get back today.

While Yunying was lost in thought, she saw that Second Master had finished writing this document and was about to write the next one.

The next appointment, however, was to appoint Lou Yongchun as chief clerk.

Regardless of who Lou Yongchun is, the current registrar is still in office.
Suddenly remembering the current Registrar Li, Yunying couldn't help but ask, "Second Master, when do you plan to deal with Registrar Li?"

That being said, since the Second Master asked her to come and grind ink, and didn't try to hide what he was writing from her, it shouldn't be a problem for her to take a look at it once or twice, right?
Yunying belatedly realized the problem and then wanted to take back her question.

Unfortunately, what's done is done, and words spoken cannot be taken back.

Yunying quickly added, "Second Master, if you feel it's inconvenient to say, you don't have to."

“There’s nothing inconvenient about it.” The Second Master paused writing, turned to look at her, “You do care about him.”

These words carried a hint of sarcasm, and the deeper meaning they implied made Yunying's heart uneasy. But she could only pretend to be stupid and laugh it off, saying, "Second Master, please don't say anything more. This is official business. I was overstepping my bounds by asking a question, and I won't ask again in the future."

“Ask if you want to, I didn’t tell you to keep it to yourself.” The Second Master retorted before continuing, “The imperial court has regulations that criminal cases are not tried during holidays, so as not to affect the festive atmosphere. Li Zhubu’s case will be tried as soon as the yamen opens its seal.”

Second Master chuckled self-deprecatingly, “The yamen is too poor, and spring plowing is just around the corner. I’m planning to squeeze some money out of Clerk Li, at least enough to get the seeds, oxen, and farm tools ready.”

That's a wonderful idea.

So, how much money did Clerk Li embezzle? Is it enough for you?
On the other hand, who knows if Clerk Li sensed the danger beforehand and ran away in time, or if he vowed not to confess at all, or to confess less?

As Yunying thought this, she unconsciously blurted out her thoughts. Then the Second Master said, "Since you know it's him, do you think I didn't have someone watching him? Don't worry, he won't run away, and neither will the goods. As long as I keep him under control, not a single copper coin will be spared; they all have to be handed over."

Yun Ying: "..." Speak properly, why are you being so fierce?

And he just happened to be talking to her.

That tone almost scared her to death.

Yunying looked around, no longer glancing at the Second Master.

The second master silently watched her for a while, then continued writing other documents.

Then Yunying discovered that Second Master was truly remarkable.

This time, he not only replaced the county magistrate and the registrar, but also seven or eight minor officials who were in charge of the county's reservoirs and dams, fish tax collection, warehouse management, and receiving and sending official documents.

The county government was almost completely overhauled.

In addition, the county constables and guards had already been replaced... If this continues, the entire county government will truly become the Second Master's personal fiefdom, and the entire organization will be dominated by the Second Master's faction.

Replace everyone in the county government with your own people, Second Master. What are you trying to do?

If this weren't just a county government office in a barren wasteland, Yunying would have thought that Second Master was some big shot.

But this was truly a third-rate county government office, and the clerks who were replaced by the Second Master were all labeled as having either accepted bribes, oppressed good people, falsified records, or embezzled public funds... In short, they were all replaced because they brought it upon themselves. Since they brought it upon themselves, they couldn't be blamed for the Second Master's lack of consideration and his decision to punish them.

The Second Master's pen moves with divine inspiration; every stroke is precise and deadly.

Yunying was overjoyed by this scene, and her heart was filled with excitement.

But she couldn't help thinking that she was destined to be "ungrateful," and that she had offended the Second Master thoroughly! If the Second Master turned his knife on her, she wondered if her fate would be any better than these people's.

My period is here! It was due three days ago, but it only arrived yesterday. I've had stomach cramps for three days, and today it's so bad I just want to lie down. That's all for today, everyone, I'm going to rest and I'll come back to check for worms tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)