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

The next morning, before the thin mist on the official road had dissipated, Wu Dutou and four archers were already waiting at the east intersection of the city.

Old Zhao, carrying a bag of dry rations, along with Zhang Sanlang and his group of seven, walked along the official road toward Chenjiazhuang.

Wu, the head constable, walked at the front, a short stick tucked into his waistband. His steps were slow but steady.

Old Zhao kept rambling on and on, saying that Chenjiazhuang was a big village with two prominent surnames: the Chen family was the largest, and the other was the Liu family. The two families had intermarried for generations, and most of the villagers were related by marriage.

The Chen family's old house is located at the east end of the village. It has blue bricks and gray tiles, with five or six courtyards in total. A faded old plaque hangs above the door. The two old locust trees at the entrance are withered. Villagers say they were drowned in a flood two years ago.

In previous years, when the tax collectors came to collect taxes, the Chen family was never allowed into the main hall. They were only made to wait in a side room next to the gatehouse, without even a cup of hot tea. This time, with Zhang Qianxing coming in person, they will probably be able to sit in the main hall and have a cup of hot tea.

They arrived at Chenjiazhuang in about an hour.

Just as Old Zhao had said, the Chen family mansion had five or six courtyards with blue bricks and gray tiles, and the old plaque above the door read "Passing down the family tradition of farming and reading".

Two gatekeepers were sweeping fallen leaves at the entrance when they saw Old Zhao coming again and were about to stop him when Wu, the head constable, stepped forward and placed his hand on the short stick at his waist. Old Zhao then stepped forward and announced the name of Zhang Qianxing from the Household Department, who had come to urge the collection of taxes.

The gatekeeper was taken aback for a moment, then bowed and stepped aside. "So it's Zhang Qianxing who has come in person. Please come with me to the flower hall to rest for a while, officers."

The flower hall is located in the front courtyard. It has three bays, with an open hall in the center and partitions on the left and right sides by lattice doors. A few stone steps lead to the hall, with blue bricks paving the ground below. On both sides are two pomegranate trees that are about half a person tall, with a few old pomegranates with cracks still hanging from their branches.

The fruit peel cracked open in the cold wind of early winter, revealing the dry and dull flesh inside. A few yellow leaves curled up on the branches, ready to be carried away by the next gust of wind at any moment.

He led the group to the entrance of the flower hall and respectfully called out, "Miss Chunlan, these are officials from the yamen, here to see the master. Please serve them some tea and inform them of your arrival."

The gatekeeper bowed to Zhang Sanlang and turned back to the main gate.

A clear, crisp reply came from inside.

An eighteen or nineteen-year-old maidservant emerged from the hall; she was pretty and charming.

She ushered everyone into the flower hall, brought out several teacups, and placed them one by one on the octagonal table. She gave Zhang Sanlang a slight curtsy and said, "Please sit down, gentlemen. The master is in the study reviewing accounts. I will go in and inform him shortly."

After saying this, seeing Zhang Sanlang nod, she swayed as she left the flower hall and headed towards the main courtyard.

A landscape painting hangs on the wall directly opposite the hall entrance, flanked by a couplet that reads, "Cultivating the land and studying the classics will ensure a long-lasting family tradition; poetry and books will ensure a lasting legacy."

The painting depicts a long table with a delicate porcelain teapot, several upside-down teacups, and a plain porcelain vase containing a few sprigs of osmanthus flowers, most of which have dried and whose fragrance is faint.

Several books were stacked on the corner of the table, their spines frayed from repeated readings, each clearly having been flipped through many times.

In the center of the hall is an eight-immortal table with four official hat chairs, the main seat back to the central hall.

A row of armchairs is placed against the wall on both the left and right sides, and two tall flower stands stand in the corner of each wall, with a pot of begonia about half a person's height on it, with thick leaves and bright red flowers.

On the other side, in the corner, there was a slightly worn antique display shelf with a few pieces of pottery, a few inkstones, and two tightly packed tea cakes scattered on it.

At the very top is a plain bronze incense burner, with a half-burnt incense stick stuck in the ashes. The fragrance has long since dissipated, leaving only a faint, cool, rusty smell, giving it a rustic and elegant charm.

Zhang Sanlang picked up his teacup, took a sip, glanced at the stack of books on the table, and put the teacup on the corner of the table.

Old Zhao smirked, "This is the first time we've ever been inside this main hall. In previous years, we'd wait in that room next to the gatehouse, without even a cup of hot tea. Thanks to Zhang Qianxing, we're finally able to sit in the main hall this time."

Before long, a man dressed as a local gentry entered. His gaze swept over Old Zhao, paused briefly on Wu Dutou, and then turned to Zhang Sanlang with a smile.

Zhang Sanlang looked up and saw that the man was probably under fifty, slightly plump, wearing a worn-out gray-blue silk robe, and spinning two walnuts in his hand, making a crackling sound. Behind him was a middle-aged man who looked like a steward, holding an account book.

The man's gaze swept over the people in the hall, he cupped his hands in greeting, and a smile spread across his face. "Is this Zhang Qianxing? I've heard so much about you. I've heard that the Household Department has recently promoted a new acting Qianxing, and his autumn tax inventory is extremely clear and concise; even Registrar Gu praised him."

"Today's meeting reveals your remarkable talent and maturity. I am Chen Youde, please forgive me, I was reviewing accounts in my study and kept you all waiting." He gestured to the guest seat opposite the octagonal table, "Please sit down."

Without waiting for Zhang Sanlang's response, he walked straight to the head seat of the octagonal table and sat down casually. The low-backed chair creaked under his weight. He placed two walnuts on the table.

Zhang Sanlang smiled slightly and sat down in the guest seat. Wu Dutou sat to his left and Lao Zhao sat to his right.

The steward stood behind Chen Youde's chair, holding the account book in his hands. The four archers went to sit down on the chairs next to them.

"Old Zhao is an acquaintance too." Chen Youde nodded to Old Zhao, then looked at Wu Dutou, "I haven't had a chance to ask who this is yet?"

Wu, the head constable, clasped his hands in a fist salute. "Head constable of the county magistrate's office, I have been ordered to accompany Zhang Qian to urge the conscription."

Zhang Sanlang didn't want to waste time and got straight to the point, "Master Chen is too kind. The inventory is well done thanks to the hard work of the several clerks in the Revenue Department who worked day and night. I only led the review."

"More than half of the autumn taxes have been collected, and the amount owed must be checked in person. Master Chen is a busy man, and Old Zhao has made three trips this year without seeing him, but we finally met him today."

Chen Youde nodded, picked up the walnuts again, and looked at Zhang Sanlang: "Zhang Qianxing, so you came to Chenjiazhuang today to collect the taxes owed by those tenants?"

Zhang Sanlang looked up at Chen Youde and spoke slowly, "Since Master Chen has seen the register, he naturally knows what's going on. I'm not here to urge the tenants, but to urge you."

He pulled the inventory list from his sleeve and placed it on the table. "This year's new debts and previous years' accumulated debts are all on this list. The land of the seven lower households has been transferred to you, the land in Liushugou has not been transferred, and the paddy field at Guangji Bridge has not been deeded. The total is sixty-three shi."

Chen Youde slowed down the spinning of the walnut in his hand, but his smile remained. "Zhang Qianxing, there are some discrepancies in these old accounts. It's not as simple as you see in the documents."

"Although several plots of land are in my name, the middleman promised that the seller would bear the deed tax when the transfer was made. Why are you urging me again after several years? Well then, you have come from afar and have had a hard time. Please stay and rest for a day or two."

"We can discuss the tax matters slowly and carefully in the accounting office later." He gestured with his chin to the steward. "Take a few people to the east courtyard to rest. Have someone send a table of food and wine over at noon to welcome Zhang Qianxing and Wu Dutou."

Zhang Sanlang knew things weren't that simple. Hearing this, he put the inventory list back into his pocket, stood up, and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Chen Youde. "Then I'll have to trouble you, Master Chen."

Chen Youde didn't get up, but simply turned the walnuts back to their usual pace, watching the group cross the courtyard. The creaking sound continued unhurriedly from the entrance of the flower hall all the way to the end of the courtyard.