Chapter 25 Two Cases

  As soon as Xiang Jia Ding heard Wen Zhuzi's words, he was stunned. Tang Lin? The Commander of the Prefectural Government? He had just used his landscape painting to intimidate Deng County Wei by pretending to be acquainted with him, but in fact, he didn't know this Commander Tang at all. How could he have recommended him as the personal secretary of the county magistrate?

  Although Xiao Jia Ding's brain turned quickly, he couldn't think clearly about the subtlety of it for a while.

  However, he now understands why Deng Xianwei would be like that. To say that the lie Xiao Jiading made up about his relationship with Tang Sima earlier, Deng Xianwei only half believed it, but now, Tang Sima's recommendation of Xiao Jianding as the magistrate of Kang County has made him completely believe it. No wonder he had an awkward and embarrassed look on his face.

  The county magistrate's personal secretary is naturally a fat post, and it is also a good prospect. From the previous Kang County order to directly enter the flow and become a county Wei, you can know that your own road will be completely from this road into the flow and walk on the official career, without having to take part in that strict imperial examination. So Xiao Jiading was naturally very happy in his heart, but on his face he just smiled and didn't show any surprise or excitement, as if he had already known it before. He cupped his hands and said: "Thank you, Wen Zhuzi, for telling me."

  Xiao Jiading's expression made Wen Zhubu's smile even more radiant, and it could be understood as a kind of fawning. He said: "Tomorrow at the yamen, you come directly to my signing room, I'll take you to see the county magistrate, and tell you what you need to do in the future. Alright?"

  His tone was extremely polite, which didn't seem like an official speaking to a low-ranking clerk.

  Xiao Jiading hastily nodded in response.

  The Wen Zhongbo took out Xiao Jia Ding's road guide and a waist card from his sleeve pocket, handed them to Xiao Jia Ding, and said: "Right, when Deng County sent someone to deliver your road guide for registration, I just learned about this matter. , I changed the waist card to Xizhuang because things were busy, and now I'm sending it to you."

  Xiao Jiading hastily took over the token and the road guide.

  The county clerk said, "You are now the county magistrate's attendant, and it is possible that the county magistrate will ask you to work overtime or something. You need a place to rest, so I have arranged for you to live in a house next to the flower house outside the inner courtyard of the county government office. Just move there and settle down. The place where you will be working has also been cleaned up by someone. We'll talk about the details later."

  "Yes! Thank you, Lord Wen."

  The host then said to Deng County Wei: "Wait a minute, you take Xiao and show him around everywhere, let everyone get familiar with each other."

  County Magistrate Deng hastily agreed.

  The host smiled and bowed his hands, bidding farewell and leaving.

  After he left, Deng County Magistrate and Xu Sifa, Dong Fazuo hurried over to congratulate him with clasped hands, Xiao Jiading busily returned the courtesy one by one.

  County Magistrate Deng had regained his composure, beaming with smiles, and bowed to Xiao Jiading, offering congratulations. Then, he turned to Xu Sifa beside him and said seriously: "By the way, regarding the case of Xiao Zhixi's maidservant and Zhao's family, we should follow Xiao Zhixi's opinion - that maidservant is a member of the Xiao family, just like their cattle and horses. The calves and foals born to them naturally belong to the Xiao family as well. That maidservant's child with Zhao's eldest son should also be returned to the Xiao family. How can you people not understand such simple logic?"

  Xu was taken aback, this case was originally dismissed by County Magistrate Deng after reviewing it, and at the time he said that the child was a member of the Zhao family's flesh and blood, and should naturally belong to the Zhao family. How did it become his fault now? However, he didn't dare argue with the leader in charge, and could only laugh and nod in agreement.

  Deng Xianwei looked at Xiao Jiateng with a somewhat self-satisfied smile and said, "Xiao Zhii, do you think this way of handling things is appropriate?"

  "Alright, I'll thank County Magistrate on behalf of my uncle for upholding justice impartially."

  "Alright, alright."

  Xiao Jiading suddenly remembered the case that Yu Gui mentioned at breakfast, and said lightly: "Oh, yesterday I saw an old man named Yu Gui kneeling and crying in front of the yamen. I asked him what was wrong, and he said that his cow had accidentally fallen to death. The yamen ruled that it was a case of negligent homicide, but did not punish him. However, they confiscated his cow. This kind of thing is not specified in the criminal law, so I was thinking about it last night when I met Tang Sima, and I asked him for guidance on this case. He smiled and said that although there is no specific provision for this situation, the law has already made it clear that only instruments used to commit a crime can be confiscated, but in the case of killing a cow, the cow is not an instrument used to commit a crime, but rather the victim. How could it become an instrument used to commit a crime? Since it's not an instrument used to commit a crime, it shouldn't be confiscated and should be returned to its original owner. Tang Sima also asked discontentedly which place handled this case in such a way..."

  As soon as Xiao Jiading said this, Deng Xianwei and Xu Sifa both tensed up, their faces flushing bright red as they stared at him.

  Xiao Jiading smiled slightly and said, "I just thought so, I don't know if the government really has such a case." His face color then eased up a bit.

  County Magistrate Deng and Xu the Judge both let out a sigh of relief, exchanged a glance, and County Magistrate Deng smiled and said: "Thank you, Xiao Zhīyī, for your kind words. I'll immediately order them to return the confiscated beef to its original owner. Hehe."

  Xu said in a low voice: "But the beef has already been divided..."

  County Magistrate Deng turned around and glared at him fiercely, then turned to Xiao Jiading and said: "This matter will definitely be handled properly, don't worry."

  "Well, I'll have to thank County Magistrate Yu on his behalf. Alas, it's quite pitiful. I'm just a soft-hearted person who can't bear to hear others cry."

  "Xiao Zhixin is a kind and gentle person, it's rare to see someone with such a compassionate heart. Now that Xiao brothers have taken over the position of Zhixin, they will need to interact with all sorts of people in the future, so I'll take you to meet everyone at the county government office first, get familiar with them, and make things easier to handle later on."

  "Thank you, County Magistrate."

  "Brothers at home, no need to be polite."

  County Magistrate Deng took Xiao Jiading to meet County Lieutenant Cong Zhao Hui, who was very enthusiastic and patted Xiao's shoulder, saying "good job" and "great prospects". Then, County Magistrate Deng also took him to see another county magistrate, Wen Youde.

  Shaocounty belongs to Shangxian, with two county lieutenants set up to manage the six houses of the county government, equivalent to deputy leaders. Among them, Wen Youde is in charge of the three houses of officials, households and rituals, while County Lieutenant Deng Quansheng is in charge of the three houses of punishment, military affairs and engineering. Of course, important matters of the six houses all require the nod of the county magistrate.

  Wen Youde spoke slowly and with a somewhat pedantic tone, looking every inch the old scholar, but he was also very enthusiastic towards Xiao Jiading.

  County Magistrate Deng introduced him to his colleague, Xing Xuzhong. Xiao Jiading had heard from Du Erniu's grandfather that this man was well-versed in criminal law and was County Magistrate Deng's trusted aide. As a fellow professional, Xiao Jianding greeted him warmly, but Xing Xuzhong merely bowed respectfully without actively responding to Xiao Jianding's enthusiasm, appearing somewhat indifferent. Many capable people have this temperament, so Xiao Jianding didn't think much of it.

  County Magistrate Deng took him to the outer offices of the county government, including the Office of Punishment, Office of Revenue, Office of Rites, Office of Military Affairs, and Office of Public Works. He met with the heads of each office, their deputies, and the clerks. Then he went to the county granary, where he met with the Granary Director, Market Supervisor, and other officials. Next, he visited the three shifts of constables at the county yamen, as well as the prison, where he met with the Captains, Constables, Gate Guards, Prison Wardens, Interrogators, and other personnel. Finally, he went to the county school, where he met with the Doctor, Assistant Instructor, and students. In all, he met with over a hundred people from the entire yamen. These people looked at Xiao Jiading with a mixture of reverence, admiration, envy, and indifference in their eyes.

  After turning around in a circle, it was almost time to disperse. County Magistrate Deng sent him back to the prison cell and Zhu Haisheng volunteered to take Xiao Zhixi to his residence in the yamen. County Magistrate Deng agreed and then bid farewell and left.

  As soon as Xiao Jia Ding returned, the clerks in the prison rushed to congratulate him with a mixture of fear and trepidation on their faces. They all regretted not being more cautious when they first saw Xiao Jia Ding arrive, and now they were worried that the county magistrate, who had gone out of his way to curry favor with Xiao Jia Ding, would take revenge on them in the future.

  The clerks of the Tang Dynasty were different from the civil servants of today. Civil servants are iron rice bowls, while the clerks of the Tang Dynasty had a limited term, usually five years. After the expiration, the county magistrate would decide whether to continue using them, and they could continue for another five years. Otherwise, they would be dismissed. When the term was up, whether the county magistrate would continue to use them or not, because the county magistrate basically did not directly deal with the clerks, so how the clerks performed, the county magistrate only relied on reports from subordinates. At this time, the words of the attendants beside the county magistrate often played a decisive role. Therefore, these clerks, while congratulating Xiao Jia Ding, were all thinking about how to give gifts to Xiao Jia Ding in order to reverse their bad impression in his mind.

  The sound of the wooden clapper echoed. All the clerks nodded and bowed, looking at Xiao Jiateng, waiting for him to leave first before they could go out. Xiao Jiateng saw Zhu Haishan winking at himself, knowing that he had something to say, so he said to those clerks: "You all go ahead, I still have some things to take care of."

  Those book clerks finally bid farewell and left. Before leaving, Xu Sifa smiled and told Xiao Jiading that the cases he had entrusted to him didn't need to be handled, just hand them over to the internal affairs department. Unexpectedly, when Xiao Jiading arrived at the yamen's prison, two cases were handed over to him, neither of which was successfully handled, but others got promoted instead. It really is true that when luck comes, even mountains can't stop it.

  After the book officials left, only Zhu Haixin and Xiao Jiading were left in the house.

  Zhu Haixin stepped forward, cupped his hands and said: "Congratulations, big brother! Congratulations, big brother! Come on, let's go to the Emerald Jade Building and celebrate properly for you!"

  Before, things happened too suddenly, Xiao Jiading hadn't figured out what was going on. Now that Zhu Haishan mentioned Cuiyulou, he immediately lit up, could it be that Yanni helped with this matter? It's possible, because Tang Sima is Yanni's honored guest and has written many calligraphies for her. This shows that the two have a good relationship, but promoting a bookkeeper is too trivial for a dignified Sima. Yanni should have some say in this matter.

  Was it really her who helped? If so, he had to get to know this Tang Sima through him. This kind of relationship, if not utilized, would be foolish.