Li Xia arranged many things in succession that day, and did not return to the county town from Qingfu Military Camp until late at night.
Every time this happened last year, he would spend the night directly in the military camp. It's different now. He is the county magistrate. After the county government office rings in the morning, he has to sign a lot of documents, and sometimes he has to go to court to resolve the case... However, these can also be handed over to
The county clerk who is diligent in his official duties.
Li Xia went back every night, and the main reason was that Gao Mingyue was here. With her here, the mansion felt like home to Li Xia.
After passing through the city gate and walking along the long street, only the lights on the Qinxiang Tea House were still on, and Yan Yunyun was standing there.
At that time, Han Chengxu adopted Yan Yunyun as his adopted daughter. Li Xia was a little puzzled. But after thinking about it, he gradually understood that people these days attach great importance to family.
The Han family in the North, the Li family in the Song Dynasty, and the Gao family in Dali can only unite and trust each other through family relationships.
For Yan Yunyun, no amount of money can bring her a sense of security that her status as a foster daughter brings.
A while ago, Yan Yunyun was very nervous about the case of illegal salt supervision in Qiaojing. But as soon as Li Xia came back, he did nothing and the case disappeared.
Yan Yunyun covets this kind of prestige. She doesn't need to be too close to Li Xia. She can draw strength from just seeing him passing by downstairs occasionally.
To put it bluntly, this kind of thing is called "the fox pretends to be the tiger's power", and the light in the teahouse is the process of her "pretending".
The more capable Li Xia is, the deeper the bond between her and him, the prouder she will be, and the more confident she will be when facing the world who have trampled on her.
Not only Yan Yunyun is like this, but also many people in Qingfu County...
Li Xia walked to the front office and entered the public room, only to see Han Qi'an still burying his head in the papers.
"Mr. Yining is still awake?"
"Alang." Han Qi'an said: "The autumn harvest is coming soon, and we are calculating the grain. There is no need to send taxes to the state capital this year, and Alang wants to expand the Qingfu Army and leave more military supplies."
"You are weak and don't work too hard. Leave this matter to the landlord."
"There have been several cases in the county. There are three brothers fighting over property in the east of the city. There is a woman in Miao Village who committed adultery and killed her husband... The landlord's book is also busy."
The county is so big that there are endless cases, big and small. Li Xia is focused on training soldiers and doesn't like solving cases. As a county captain, he didn't pay much attention to the affairs of the fast class, so Fang Yankai, the chief clerk, has always been in charge of criminal proceedings.
Of course, this is a matter of people's livelihood and public security, and should not be ignored. It can be seen that Fang Yankai did a lot for Qingfu County, whether it was when Jiang Chun or Li Xia were in power.
"The landlord likes to do things, and now he will not deduct food and grass from Qingfu's army. There is no harm in helping him bear the burden."
Li Xia said, pushing the medicine bowl that was cold on the table in front of Han Qi'an.
Han Qi'an held up the medicine bowl and said with a smile: "Don't worry, Alang. My bones are getting better every day, and I still have to wait and see if Alang becomes... Shu is handsome and powerful in all directions."
Li Xia signed the documents of the day, chatted casually with Han Qi'an about official matters, and then turned to the back office. Passing by Fang Yankai's public room, he saw that there was still candlelight inside.
After walking through the long corridor, passing through two courtyard doors and returning to the back office, Han Qi'an turned to the west wing, and Li Xia stepped into the lobby.
Asha was sitting there picking at a basket of herbs. She raised her head and glanced at him without saying hello, her expression a little cold.
Because Li Xia asked her to make some anesthetics and gold medicine for the soldiers to use when treating their injuries. Ashayu hated being treated like a minor official and kept doing things, and she had been in a bad mood for many days.
"You need to make the medicine into a paste to make it easier to store and carry." Li Xia said.
Asha did not answer, but listened.
She was originally a ghost-like figure, but now she seemed a little pitiful...
In the inner hall, Gao Mingyue and Han Qiaoer heard Li Xia's voice and ran out quickly.
"Brother Li, do I really have to learn so many things? Planning is so difficult." Han Qiaoer dug her mouth and said aggrievedly: "I've been doing all the calculations all night and still can't figure it out."
Recently, Gao Mingyue often helped Li Xia review the account books, and Li Xia taught her many things including Arabic numerals and simple arithmetic rules.
Moreover, Li Xia believed that Han Qiaoer was at the age where he should study, and asked Gao Mingyue to supervise his studies.
The little girl has a good memory. When Han Chengxu taught her articles and poems in the past, she could memorize them easily after listening to them once or twice. But when it came to things like arithmetic and chess, it was extremely difficult.
For Han Qiao'er, this was just a small worry after her life settled down, but she was still good and only dared to act coquettishly. After talking for a while, she was sent to bed by Li Xia.
"We boiled water for Brother Li. We stood around the stove while we boiled the water. It's bright enough and won't hurt our eyes."
"It still hurts your eyes. It would be better if you get up early and study during the day."
"Oh, but you're not here during the day, and Aunt Asha only gets up at night."
Han Qiaoer muttered and reluctantly followed Gao Mingyue back to the house.
Li Xia sweated all over in the camp and went to wash up. He saw that hot water and clean clothes were ready.
After washing, he turned to the main house and walked around Gao Mingyue's house, and saw her gently pushing the door open and coming out.
"Qiao'er asleep?"
"Well, she is obviously very sleepy and will not go to bed until you come back."
~~
Inside the room, Han Qiaoer turned over and sighed in distress.
Since the last New Year's Eve, she has considered herself a big girl, but the more she feels like a big girl, the less she knows how to behave in front of Li Xia and Gao Mingyue.
She obviously wanted to act more natural and help Gao Mingyue liven up the atmosphere without putting too much pressure on her, but in the end she was treated even more like a child.
"Actually, I know everything." Han Qiaoer looked at the silhouette outside the paper window and thought to herself, "Then let's wait until you get married. You've obviously grown a lot taller..."
~~
The two people outside the house had sat down in the corridor. Gao Mingyue stretched out his arms, looking a little relaxed, and said, "Qiao'er has become more and more like a child after you took care of him."
"They are just children, and so are you." Li Xia thought it would be nice for them to be more lively.
"No, I'm the same age as you."
"By the way, I asked Mrs. Li to help organize our wedding. She said December is better, so we can prepare properly and have an auspicious date."
When it comes to marriage, Gao Mingyue is always a little shy. But now she is more relaxed in front of Li Xia and dares to talk about her feelings.
"It's so difficult to be a mistress. My mother taught me before, but I still don't know how to do it. There are too many people and things to take care of."
She sat there with her toes pointed, beautiful, delicate and a little calm, just like a little girl who is working hard to grow up.
"It is indeed more difficult than imagined." Li Xia said: "I thought getting married would be a very simple matter, but they said that just sending invitations to guests and asking them to arrange their affairs and set off would take three or two months. The carriage is really slow.
Ah...it's better to be more solemn."
"Who are you going to invite?"
"Muru probably won't be able to make it. I need to inform you. Old Nie needs to ask me to send some gifts to Chongqing Mansion and Yunding City Army. Lin'an's backers should also say something to show respect."
"What about your home?"
"Someone from the family should be coming over." Li Xia said thoughtfully, "By the way, I will also forge an identity for you, saying that you are from a family you have been engaged to since childhood. Mr. Li is handling the household registration."
Regardless of whether it is true or not, the Gao family in Dali calls their ancestor Gao Xiang, who was a general of the Shu Han Dynasty during the Three Kingdoms period and was granted the title of Marquis of Xuanxiang. There are also descendants of him in Shu today.
As an official of the imperial court, Li Xia had a troublesome marriage with Dali, so he registered Gao Mingyue's household registration under the name of the Gao family in Shuzhong. It would be difficult to restore his status in the future.
"Then it's too late today. You go to bed early. I'll teach you Yi tomorrow night and you can tell me stories, okay?"
"Okay, there's one more thing. I'm planning to go on a long trip and I need to meet someone. I'll be back in about three or two months."
"Then... well, you must be careful on the road." Gao Mingyue didn't ask Li Xia where he was going, and just whispered: "I will take care of my family."
"I won't leave in two days. I have to make arrangements in the county first. I'll tell you in advance... Well, you should go back to the house and go to bed."
"You can stay a little longer."
The man and woman sitting on the corridor got closer...
Due to their respective personalities, although they have known each other for more than a year, the progress between the two has always been slow.
Li Xia is not in a hurry to let this relationship heat up. He is willing to slowly get to know someone and get along with them in this life. After all, getting married is a lifelong matter.
This was different from those casual romances in his previous life, and he didn't have much experience.
~~
The days after returning from Chengdu can be regarded as a small break for Li Xia.
He has a fiancée and an elder or staff member who is like his father but not like him. Although he is still getting along with them, the sense of alienation from a foreigner is gradually diminishing during this process.
He arranged county affairs, and it soon arrived in two days.
"The magistrate." Jiang Fan quickly walked into the public room and whispered: "The things arranged by the magistrate have been completed, and they have already set off..."