Transmigrated into a minor official in a county government, with children at home waiting for rice t

The next morning, Zhang Sanlang did not go to the county government office.

He asked Feng, the clerk, for half a day's leave, saying that there were things to do at home.

The door panels of Zhang's General Store have been removed.

Wang Er, the shop assistant, stood at the door sweeping the floor. The broom swept across the ground, raising dust that floated in the morning light.

"Wang Er, is Manager Zhang here?"

Wang Er looked up, saw Zhang Sanlang, and was stunned for a moment. "The Third Manager is here. The Manager is checking the accounts in the east wing."

Zhang Sanlang nodded and walked straight inside. "The Zhang family has severed ties with me. Don't call me Third Manager anymore."

Wang Er reached out to stop him, but withdrew his hand halfway through.

In the east wing, Zhang Shouren was sitting at the accounting table, working on his abacus. The abacus beads clicked and clattered as he muttered numbers, his brows furrowed.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up, his expression shifting from focused to wary. "Sanlang? What are you doing here?"

Zhang Sanlang stopped in front of the accounting table. "Manager Zhang, is your wife home?"

Zhang Shouren's brows furrowed even more. "What do you want with her?"

"I have a few things I want to say to her in person. The other day, she was chatting with someone at a teahouse and mentioned me. I want to ask her who she heard it from."

Zhang Shouren's expression changed slightly, then he became stern. "What did she say? I don't know anything about it."

"Manager Zhang doesn't know?" Zhang Sanlang looked at him. "Then let me tell you. She was yelling in the teahouse, saying that I was unfilial and disrespectful, that I had seized the ancestral home and land, and that I didn't even recognize my own father."

Zhang Shouren stopped counting on his abacus. "Did she say that? Who told you that?"

"It's all over the docks. Someone investigated and found that it originated from your shop; the shopkeeper's wife said it herself."

Zhang Shouren's lips moved, but he didn't reply.

Zhang Sanlang pulled up a chair and sat down. "Manager Zhang, I have a few words to say to her for me."

"The ancestral home and land are clearly stated in the severance document, and the household registration has been transferred and stamped. Is this considered usurpation? This is called dividing the family property! If you, Madam, feel this is unreasonable, you can go to the county government to file a complaint. I'll accompany you."

Zhang Shouren's face flushed red. "Sanlang, you..."

Zhang Sanlang interrupted him, "The things she shouted in the teahouse have already spread all over the docks. If this gets to the county government, I might lose my job as a clerk. Don't blame me for turning against you then."

"I'd rather give up this lowly clerkship. But you're in business, and Zhang Silang is studying; reputation is of utmost importance. If you keep making such a fuss, it won't be good for anyone."

Zhang Shouren's Adam's apple bobbed. "Sanlang, your sister-in-law is outspoken and blunt. She's not..."

Zhang Sanlang stood up. "Manager Zhang, we've severed ties. From now on, don't address me as Sanlang. I don't care who she is; if she dares to make a sound again, I'll go to the county government and file a complaint against her for defamation and disturbing the public!"

Zhang Shouren's face turned from red to white.

Zhang Sanlang glanced at him. "Oh, right, Manager Zhang. There's one more thing."

Zhang Shouren's voice was a little tense, "What is it?"

"Wang Er, the shop assistant in your store, said something to someone at the docks the other day. He said something about how an old gatekeeper like me setting up a stall is shameful."

Zhang Shouren was stunned. "Wang Er said that? I didn't tell him to say it..."

"Manager Zhang didn't tell him to say it, but he did. Uncle Sun is from my old family home. He has a stall at the dock, and all his tax permits are in order, issued by He Lantou. If anyone goesssips about it again, I'll sue them."

Zhang Sanlang pushed open the door and went out.

Wang Er was sweeping the floor at the door when he saw Zhang Sanlang come out, and hurriedly moved aside.

Zhang Sanlang glanced at him and walked away.

That afternoon, Zhang Sanlang was copying documents in the clerk's office when Fang Zhong'an came in from outside, a barely suppressed smile on his face. "Zhang Sanlang, have you heard? Something happened at the Zhang family's general store."

Zhang Sanlang didn't even look up. "What is it?"

"Manager Zhang fired the shop assistant, Wang Er, saying that he had been spreading rumors outside and ruining the shop's reputation. Manager Zhang also threw a tantrum in the shop, saying that anyone who continued to gossip would be fired."

Fang Zhong'an leaned closer and lowered his voice, "I heard that Manager Zhang's wife was also confined to her home today and didn't leave the house all day. Everyone in the teahouse is saying that Boss Zhang is really worried this time."

Ma Tiesi looked up from the corner. "What did Wang Er say?"

Fang Zhong'an spread his hands. "Who knows? Anyway, Manager Zhang said he was talking nonsense, so he fired him."

Zhang Sanlang put down his pen, neatly stacked the copied documents, and pushed them to the corner of the desk. "Brother Fang, you're very well-informed. If there's any gossip in the future, please let me know."

Fang Zhong'an patted his chest and said, "Of course. Would we, the people of the Civil Affairs Bureau, let outsiders bully us?"

Back at the old house, happy Mei'er had already prepared the meal.

There was millet porridge, pickled radish, and an extra dish of braised meat. It was leftover from the packet He Lantou had given us yesterday. Xi Mei heated it up, sliced ​​it, and arranged it on the plate.

Qingge'er lay on the low table, picked up a piece of braised meat with his chopsticks, stuffed it into his mouth, and chewed until his mouth was glistening with oil. "Dad, this is delicious!"

"Eat more if it's delicious."

Zhang Sanlang sat down and picked up the bowl of porridge.

happy Mei sat down opposite him, holding a bowl in her hand. "Father, someone came to the alley entrance today asking about you."

Zhang Sanlang paused, his chopsticks still. "Who is it?"

"I don't know her. She's a woman in her thirties, dressed quite well. She said she's a distant relative of my aunt and wants to borrow some money from me."

Zhang Sanlang put down his bowl. "What did you say to her?"

"I told her Dad wasn't home. She didn't believe me and insisted on coming into the yard to see. I told her Dad wasn't home and wouldn't let her in. She just stood at the door for a while and then left."

Qingge picked up another piece of braised food and stuffed it into his mouth. "Dad, Grandpa Sun brought me a cricket today. It's in a bamboo cage and it chirps really loudly. I'm showing it to you."

Qing-ge was about to run away when happy-mei grabbed him, saying, "Eat first, then you can go."

Qingge pouted, sat back on the bench, and picked up his bowl to eat his porridge.

The fire in the stove was burning brightly, and the firelight reflected on Ximei'er's face, making her cheeks look rosy.

Zhang Sanlang looked at her profile and suddenly spoke, "happy Mei'er."

"Um?"

"If any strangers come asking about your father again, don't say anything. Just say he's not home and we don't know when he'll be back. Your sister Yun and Granny He are in the yard all day. You usually spend a lot of time with Qing-ge'er and them."

Xi Mei put down her bowl and looked at Zhang Sanlang. "Father, have you offended a lot of people?"

Zhang Sanlang picked up a piece of pickled radish with his chopsticks, chewed it twice, and said, "No. It's just that some people don't want Dad to have an easy time."

After a moment of silence, happy Mei'er murmured, "Then Father, don't let them succeed."

Zhang Sanlang laughed, "No. As long as you and your siblings are safe and sound, no one can do anything to me."

Qingge'er, holding his bowl, glanced at Zhang Sanlang, then at Ximei'er, his cheeks bulging, his mouth stuffed full of porridge. He swallowed, wiped his mouth, and said, "Dad, who doesn't want us to have a good life? I'll go beat him up!"