After all, Shi Xiancheng was an eighth-rank court official.
If Magistrate Zuo wanted to see him, he couldn't just send someone to convey the message.
He thought for a while and decided to go to Shi County Cheng's home in person.
The house of the Cheng family of Shi County was near the county government office. Magistrate Zuo did not wear official uniform, but changed into civilian clothes and took a sedan to the Shi family home.
When Shi Xian Cheng learned about the visit of Zuo County Magistrate, it can be said that he was more surprised than happy.
Magistrate Zuo married the daughter of the minister, so he had the support of the minister. Even though he had never done anything wrong based on this relationship, County Magistrate Shi and Secretary Wang still had more worries when facing him, for fear that
offended him.
Now that he learned that the other party was coming, Shi County Cheng was so surprised that he had to straighten his clothes and come to greet him.
After some pleasantries, Shi County Cheng invited County Magistrate Zuo to his study room.
Magistrate Zuo looked around and saw that there were only two bookshelves in the study room and no decorations at all.
Magistrate Zuo didn't know whether Shi County Cheng did this on purpose or if his family was really poor, so he looked at his desk and said, "I just got a pair of paperweights yesterday. Seeing that your desk is empty, Brother Shi, why don't I give this paperweight to you?"
Bar!"
Shi County Cheng was older than Zuo County Magistrate. Zuo County Magistrate did not want to call him by his first name, so he called him "Brother Shi", which was also a way to win over him.
"Thank you for your kindness, sir!" Shi Xiancheng hurriedly declined, "I'm just a low-ranking official who is used to frugality and can't use expensive things. I'd better leave the paperweight to you, sir!"
County Magistrate Zuo said: "I also know that you are frugal, but there are many kinds of frugality. Some people are frugal on the surface, but secretly they prey on the common people."
This meant something. Shi Xian Cheng turned pale and said, "Sir, this official is definitely not this kind of person."
"I also believe that Brother Shi, you are not this kind of person." County Magistrate Zuo said, "It's just a rumor in the public that you, Brother Shi, connive with a bunch of local ruffians and collect a lot of protection money. Is this true?"
Shi County Cheng wiped the sweat from his face. Magistrate Zuo was not unaware of the matter of collecting protection money in the past. Why did he come here to remind him this time? Could it be that those local ruffians caused some trouble.
Shi Xiancheng's mind was spinning very quickly. Since the other party had caused trouble, he naturally wanted to clean it up as soon as possible. He hurriedly said: "My lord, I will never dare to condone this matter, let alone instigate them to the fish and meat village.
It is untrue to say that the lower officials allowed them to collect protection money and then put the money into their own pockets.
But if you say that your rank has nothing to do with this matter, then you are clearly deceiving your Excellency.
Xiaguan has some relationship with them, but at most he only accepts a little filial respect from them. This is also customary. Otherwise, Xiaguan and his family would not even be able to have enough to eat with just that little salary."
After all, Shi Xian Cheng had been in the officialdom for so many years and knew what to say to win the sympathy of the Zuo County Magistrate.
These words not only clarified oneself, but also played the bitter card.
Sure enough, Magistrate Zuo's face looked much better than before.
As a court official, of course he knew that Shi County Cheng was telling the truth. Let alone a county magistrate, he could not even afford meat if he relied on his salary alone, let alone a maid.
Since the salary could not support the family, people in the county government had various ways to make money.
Regarding this kind of thing, County Magistrate Zuo knew that he could not prohibit it, so he turned a blind eye.
But in this case, those local gangsters really went out of their way, so County Magistrate Zuo gave Shi County Cheng a warning.
"Since Brother Shi has nothing to do with those local gangsters, that's all." County Magistrate Zuo said, "I was still worried that you would have an old relationship with those local gangsters. If you beg, I would not be able to lose your face. Now it's better.
, I can now let go of my hands and feet."
Shi Xiancheng originally thought that everything would be fine if he picked himself off. Unexpectedly, Zuo County Magistrate had a better move and was waiting for him here.
He endured the pain in his heart and pretended to be upright and solemn, "Your Excellency, you don't need to look at this official's face, just deal with it fairly."
Having said that, Ke Shixian Cheng's heart was bleeding.
Several of those local ruffians were his confidants, and they could almost be said to have been trained by him. Especially the leader, Lu Si, had done a lot of things for him and could be said to be very easy to use.
Without these few people in the future, where can he find such capable and cruel people?
However, County Magistrate Zuo had reached this point, and even if he wanted to plead for mercy, he could not, so he had to endure it and continue to deal with Magistrate Zuo.
Magistrate Zuo's goal has been achieved. He not only expressed his attitude, but also beat the other party.
Seeing Shi Xiancheng's face, he was afraid that he would become enemies if he stayed any longer, so he said goodbye at the right time.
After Magistrate Zuo left, Shi County Cheng fell on his chair and did not recover for a long time.
Mrs. Ma walked over with her skirt in hand, "Why did the magistrate leave? I asked the kitchen to prepare six dishes and one soup, all of which are the magistrate's favorites. Why did you let him go?"
Shi County Cheng didn't know that all these disasters were caused by that jade bracelet. He just covered his heart and said: "Who asked you to prepare six dishes and one soup? I think entertaining the county magistrate is a lie. You are greedy."
is true."
It was already heartbreaking to lose several of his confidants. Now this prodigal woman took the opportunity to harm the food, and Shi Xiancheng felt that his heart ached even more.
However, Mrs. Ma was slow, so she approached Shi Xiancheng and said, "Master, it's all done anyway, so why don't you eat with me? If you don't eat, that plate of ham and stewed elbows will be mine."
.”
Stewed elbow with ham.
Shi Xiancheng became angry and couldn't help but pat the coffee table beside him, "How many times have I told you that Xuanwei ham is reserved for New Year's gifts. You prodigal woman, you have to pay for your fat chickens and ducks every day."
You don't have enough to eat, and you dare to touch my ham. I'll beat you to death, you ignorant woman."
Shi County Cheng became angry and gained some strength, so he chased Mrs. Ma and beat her.
It's a pity that Mrs. Ma is thick-skinned and has rich avoidance experience.
Half an hour later, Shi Xian Cheng was out of breath after chasing her, but Mrs. Ma only had her hair in a slightly loose bun.
"Master, you can't hit me anyway. Even if you hit me, I don't feel any pain. Why don't you take a break? The ham stewed elbow has been stewed for an hour. If you don't eat it, it will be really rotten."
Faced with such a shameless woman, Shi Xiancheng could only blame his family for not living up to expectations and not being able to become a scholar before the age of twenty, so that he asked a butcher's daughter to be his wife.
You shouldn't have coveted the Ma family and didn't want the betrothal gift in the first place. Even if you spend ten taels of silver to marry an ordinary village girl, it is better than marrying a stupid and ignorant woman.
Shi Xiancheng thought as he walked towards the chair.
It's a pity that he just got sulky and chased his mother-in-law for so long. Once the anger subsided, he lost all strength.
It would be fine if he took good care of himself, but he only cares about making money and is reluctant to eat anything, chicken, duck, or fish, so it is inevitable that he is malnourished.
So before he could even reach the chair, his feet gave way and he fell to the ground.