In the next few days, there was heavy rain in the village, and the wind was so strong that it almost blew off the roof.
Li Ce took some stored tiles from home and helped Chu Nanzhi thicken the blown tiles from the roof despite the wind and rain.
In this way, there will be no leaks in the house.
While waiting for the rain to stop, Chu Nanzhi went to the market at the entrance of the village to stock up on a lot of vegetables. After that, the rain became heavier and heavier, and she was too lazy to go out anymore. She stayed at home and maintained a very friendly relationship with the family.
Let's keep the water from the well and the water from the river.
Lin Jinxiao escaped death again. Although he was still wary of this evil woman in his heart, he was looking forward to recovering from his leg injury soon, so he was quite obedient to Chu Nanzhi's instructions.
Try not to move around if you have nothing to do.
unless.
Can't help it.
Sometimes Chu Nanzhi would cook some medicine and go over to feed him. Seeing that he was so suffocated that his face was red and his ears were red. She knew that he wanted to go to the toilet and wanted to help him, but this guy had to hold it in and let Li Ce eat and go home before letting Dabao go.
Please come to Li Ce.
And Li Ce could see what his brother was thinking. No matter how late he came home every day, he would always come over and check on him to feel at ease.
Looking at the two men, one strong and powerful, the other fair and delicate, graceful and in love with each other, she really felt that she was superfluous and was hindering the good things of the two of them.
Although the four little treasures are not very close to her yet, they are not as resistant to her as they were in the past few days.
Especially Dabao, he was so polite when talking to her,
A little bit.
Such peaceful days lasted until the third morning after the rain, when a carriage stopped at the door of the small courtyard.
The person who came was a horseman from the county government. Chu Nanzhi still remembered that person.
She had just finished making breakfast and boiled the medicine for Lin Jinxiao. The groom came over respectfully and said with a smile: "Madam Chu, my lord invites you to come to the county government office to tell the story."
"Narrative?"
Chu Nanzhi looked confused: "I am a woman, what can the county magistrate do to talk to me?"
She had just bid farewell to Taoist Ximen, and she did not want to have any more scandals with the county magistrate.
But looking at the groom's friendly expression, it didn't seem like he was trying to embarrass himself.
Moreover, she abides by the law and has nothing to do with the county government.
Could it be that the county magistrate wants the money back?
Chu Nanzhi thought this way.
Surely one of the parents should not be so stingy.
Seeing that she was still refusing to leave, the groom had no choice but to say, "The county magistrate said that he has something to discuss with Madam Chu. Madam, please go there, but don't embarrass me."
Chu Nanzhi thought for a moment. If the people don't want to fight with the officials, they still have to go there.
She went to the hut to change into clean clothes and took ten taels of silver. This time she went out but it was locked. When she turned around, she saw a pair of bright little eyes staring at her.
When Chu Nanzhi saw it was Little Si Bao, she immediately laughed warmly: "You woke up before I called you?"
Xiao Sibao had a sad face and did not answer her question. He blinked and expressed his thoughts: "Where are you going?"
"I have to go to the county government office. The county magistrate invites you. You can talk to your father later."
After that, he hurriedly went to the kitchen to serve the porridge, and brought it to the dining room table in the living room to cool along with the pickles.
After finishing everything, she pointed to the soup on the table and told Xiaosi Bao: "After dinner, remember to ask your father to drink the medicine."
Then it's time to go out.
Seeing how well prepared she was, Xiao Sibao suddenly became worried and chased her and asked, "Are you coming back?"
"certainly."
At this time, the other little ones rushed out, rubbing their sleepy eyes and staring at her warily.
Chu Nanzhi thought of the original owner's escape and immediately explained: "Look, I didn't bring anything with me, and I will come back."
After that, he motioned to the groom and said, "If you don't believe me, ask this grandpa?"
The groom walked up to the four little guys with his back bent, and said warmly: "Your mother-in-law has indeed been invited by the county magistrate to be a guest. You don't have to worry, grandpa will send her back soon."
The four little guys were dubious and had no choice but to run in together to find their father.
They feel very complicated now.
If you call a bad woman mother, they won't be happy;
But if the bad woman just walks away, they still won't be happy.
Chu Nanzhi didn't dare to keep Magistrate Hu waiting for a long time. Anyway, he wouldn't really run away, so he might as well go earlier and come back earlier.
After following the groom into the carriage, she began to feel anxious, still wondering what the county magistrate could do to her.
She suddenly remembered that two days ago, Li Ce and Lin Jinxiao were muttering in the back room that a wealthy family in the county had lost a child.
But the county magistrate shouldn't come to her for this kind of thing.
Thinking like this, she became confused again.
…
Anlin Village is the closest village to Luyanggang County, and it takes only two-quarters of an hour's drive to reach the city.
When entering the city, there was a routine interrogation by the government officials at the city gate, but when they saw that it was the county magistrate's carriage, they immediately let him go.
When they arrived at the county government office, Magistrate Hu had already laid out a table of food for Chu Nanzhi.
Seeing the mysterious look on the fat, middle-aged, greasy uncle's face, Chu Nanzhi became a little wary without realizing it: "There are many trivial matters in the house of a common woman. I wonder what you mean by inviting a common woman here?"
Showing courtesy for nothing is either cheating or stealing.
An official arranged a table of food for her, a commoner, but she did not dare to eat even though she was hungry.
Magistrate Hu smiled all over his face and did not answer her words. He asked her to take a seat in a mysterious manner. This time, he was followed by a man with a mustache who was nearly fifty years old. He only heard the magistrate call:
"Prime Minister Sun, please quickly pour tea for Mrs. Chu."
County magistrate?
That is a person equivalent to the level of deputy county magistrate.
Pour her tea?
Chu Nanzhi was so frightened that she quickly stood up: "I don't dare to take it seriously."
Be prepared to escape immediately.
"Mrs. Chu, don't panic."
Magistrate Hu continued to smile, personally took the tea cup from Sun County Cheng and handed it to her, comforting her and sitting down:
"A while ago, Mrs. Lao Chu investigated the tax money case for me and restored the white tax money for me. I am very grateful. I have been busy with official duties and have not had time to express my gratitude. I specially set up this table today.
Let’s express our feelings over a banquet.”
"Your Majesty, you're welcome. A commoner's wife took your money to do things for you. We already owe nothing to each other. You don't have to worry about this."
Chu Nanzhi smiled politely.
She was already used to hearing words like this in situations like this.
"Mrs. Chu saved my future for me. Fifty taels of silver can express my gratitude."
"So you are sincerely asking me to prepare this table of food for a common woman today?"
"Of course that's the case. Is it possible that this officer can harm Mrs. Chu?"
"Thank you so much for your kindness, a commoner woman won't be polite."
"You're welcome, you're welcome."
When Chu Nanzhi came over, she didn't have time to eat. Looking at the delicious food on the table, she couldn't help it. She rinsed her mouth, picked up the bowls and chopsticks, and started eating with confidence.
Magistrate Hu felt much better when he saw that she was eating with gusto.
After a while, he suddenly said:
"I heard that Erlang of the Lin family committed a crime a while ago and was sentenced to prison. He stole money from Madam Chu's house. This guy has been running rampant in the countryside for many years and should have been severely punished. This time he fell into my hands. I will definitely teach Madam Chu a lesson.
He must be beaten to pieces."
"Your Majesty is joking. The civilian woman has no personal grudge against him. Please handle it fairly. If he is sincere, please give him a lighter sentence."
After saying this, Chu Nanzhi thought about it carefully, and then added thoughtfully:
"Lin Erlang has indeed caused a lot of trouble to his neighbors for his troubles in the countryside over the years. The reason why the women of the village and the husband of the family were so determined to send him to prison is because they hope that he can receive some punishment and be able to live a steady life in the future.
When you are a real person, you don’t have any intention of harming others.”
"Ms. Chu is kind-hearted and upright, which puts me to shame."
Magistrate Hu originally thought that this woman would be punished for her anger, but he never thought that he would be wrong.
Chu Nanzhi had also filled her stomach at this time. Seeing that Magistrate Hu was still unwilling to reveal his true intention of inviting her over, Chu Nanzhi had to pretend to stand up and leave:
"Thank you so much for your hospitality today. The woman has also eaten. If you didn't send me, the woman would have resigned."
Unexpectedly, before she could move, Magistrate Hu suddenly became anxious and stopped her immediately:
"I really don't want to be sent here. If there is something wrong, I really have something to ask Madam Chu."