The county magistrate sought out He Zifeng. He greatly admired He Zifeng – young with real ability, daring to think and act. He said to He Zifeng: “Yesterday several major merchants were praising you, saying your porridge shop is lively.”
He Zifeng said: “It’s all thanks to everyone’s support!” He had spent some small money on giving out porridge, but other things in the shop sold extremely fast, making up for about seventy to eighty percent of the brown rice and mixed grain costs. Plus with lunch and evening wine, the small cost of hiring people was also recovered.
The county magistrate said: “For the Lin family’s seasoning workshop in the county town, whatever you need, just get it from there! I’ve already given them notice.”
“Thank you, sir.” He Zifeng sincerely thanked him. This shop was the Lin family’s pledge of loyalty to the county magistrate. He had dry shares in it – the county magistrate was essentially one of the bosses.
He Zifeng indeed needed to find some seasoning merchants to cooperate with. Vegetables and grain didn’t cost much – the expensive parts were all in seasonings and spices. The county magistrate’s gesture was really too thoughtful.
The county magistrate said to He Zifeng: “This afternoon I’ll have Chief Zhu pull out people from those villages that didn’t pay taxes this year to repair the city walls!”
He Zifeng was somewhat stunned. Winter was approaching – repairing city walls was hard work. Their county’s city walls were built thirty years ago. After years of wind and sand erosion, when climbing the city tower, some corner areas had become crumbly. They indeed should be repaired, but it was already late autumn – why suddenly think of this now?
He Zifeng only paused briefly, then said: “Good.” Once construction of the city tower began, everyone would have to get busy.
The county magistrate very much liked subordinates like He Zifeng – when encountering matters, he could execute without asking too many questions.
The county magistrate said to He Zifeng: “Do you know why I’m collecting grain so vigorously this year?” This year’s grain collection efforts were greater than every previous year. The higher-ups had issued death orders, and those below were even more merciless. There were quite a few poor villages like Lingshan Village where the land wasn’t fertile and a year’s earnings weren’t enough for their own consumption. This collection even used violence. It was said the grain pulled out filled the county’s granaries.
People below were saying the county magistrate collected so vigorously because he was newly arrived and wanted good-looking political achievements. He Zifeng had once thought the same. But at this moment when the county magistrate asked, he couldn’t tell the truth: “This subordinate doesn’t know.”
The county magistrate said: “I have a classmate who was a third-year graduate and went to the Imperial Observatory. He monitors climate changes nationwide and said this year there might be heavy snow that could easily become a snow disaster. Knowing I’m stationed here, he specifically wrote me a letter.”
He Zifeng’s face showed some alarm. Since birth, he had never seen a snow disaster. His few memories were passed down from the older generation. No matter what it was, once it became a disaster, many people would die. As a local official, the more grain he controlled, the more power he held.
The Imperial Observatory was full of strange people – either skilled in divination or knowing some mystical arts. Now in just late autumn they were saying this year would have snow disasters – it sounded mysterious. Many people didn’t believe in that stuff. The county magistrate didn’t believe it either, but he trusted his classmate friend. Many things required early preparation.
The county magistrate felt the advisor was a local power broker. Although Chief Zhu had submitted to him, he was an old hand at the government office. For many major matters, he feared leaking information and causing panic among the people.
Looking around, He Zifeng was youngest and a newly promoted direct subordinate. Neither arrogant nor impatient, he even had charitable acts like giving out porridge. Whether in terms of ability or character, he thought highly of him. So he told He Zifeng the truth.
The county magistrate said: “I’ve only told you about this matter. If even half a word leaks out, I’ll only hold you accountable.”
He Zifeng said: “Alright. Is there anything you need me to do?”
The county magistrate liked smart people like He Zifeng and said: “Nothing needed right now, but there will definitely be times I need you later.”
After He Zifeng finished his brief chat with him, he took his leave. He had only walked a few steps when he was stopped by the advisor’s subordinates, who told He Zifeng to go see the advisor.
The advisor knew He Zifeng was the county magistrate’s person. He got straight to the point: “What did the county magistrate want with you?”
He Zifeng said: “The county magistrate said the city walls are old and in disrepair and need to be renovated.”
When the advisor heard this, he scoffed: “Indeed someone from a big place who doesn’t know the people’s hardships at all. Where’s the silver for this?” He felt quite displeased. The better the county magistrate did, the more passive his position became.
Then he said to He Zifeng: “In the future, no matter what the county magistrate says to you, come report it to me.” Then the advisor put on a smile and said: “I know you’re a smart person. The county magistrate is just an empty show. My roots in the county can’t be compared to his. If you’re obedient, I’ll favor you.”
Then his gaze shifted, his eyes somewhat sharp: “I heard you have a son studying in the county… If he gets bumped or hurt, as a father you’d inevitably feel heartache.”
He Zifeng’s expression changed: “Advisor, my son is still young.”
Seeing he had achieved the intimidating effect, the advisor said to He Zifeng: “Don’t worry too much either. I was just speaking casually.” As long as someone was human, they had weak points. Grasping this could control a person.
Then he waved his hand, his face showing some fatigue: “I’m also tired.” He dismissed He Zifeng.
After He Zifeng left the advisor’s room, his body was still slightly trembling. The advisor had thought he was scared. Actually, he was trembling from trying hard to control his emotions.
Ranran and Qiu Yu were his most important people. The advisor actually wanted to use his son to threaten him, making him very displeased. The advisor deserved to die just for having that thought. He should properly deal with him.
The advisor was determined to compete with the county magistrate. If this person wasn’t eliminated, he would definitely face many obstacles in other matters.
He Zifeng’s mind went blank. On the road, two small officers greeted him: “Hello, Brother He.” He didn’t hear them at all, surprising the two. They looked at each other and said: “Who offended him?” His aura was so scary, like he wanted to kill someone.
But the two were only shocked for a moment, then forgot about it. They went back to the county office to get silver and continued to Flower Street to drink. They heard two gers from the Western Regions had arrived there with first-class looks and figures – they went to broaden their horizons.
He Zifeng returned to his own residence in the county. He needed to calm down.
The advisor was a big shot in the county and had unclear relationships with the Gong family. With money, power, plus years of maneuvering, now quite a few people from top to bottom in the county were his subordinates.
For He Zifeng to fight him would be pure fantasy – an arm couldn’t out-twist a thigh. But he didn’t need to completely uproot the advisor. He just needed to make him step down from the advisor position. Then it wouldn’t matter who he was.
He Zifeng’s facial expression was unpredictable. No one knew what he was thinking.
Author’s Note: Advance warning – this story will probably end around the end of this month or early next month.
R : Soon… I feel like I’ll miss them a lot !!
