Chapter Eighteen: Making Things Difficult

  Wu Jie left Wujiacun, it was the top priority of Wujiacun. The villagers not only had to see him off, but also Wu Qing brought several strong men to escort Wu Jie to Guixian County.

  Actually, there's no need for such a grand sendoff. Wu Qing and the others insisted that Wu Ji had a good heart and hadn't forgotten them. With Wu Ji leaving, who knows when he'll return? If they didn't see him off, they'd feel uneasy in their hearts. Wu Ji could only let them have their way.

  Wu Jian and Wu Xing also came to see them off, sending them off again and again, reluctant to part.

  "Brother Qian, you're going to the county town, who will teach me characters now?" Wu Jianwei stood beside Wu Qian, reluctant to part with him.

  Towards Wu Jian, this clever younger cousin, Wu Jie also had affection. At the moment of parting, it was hard to bear. Suddenly, a thought occurred to him, "Wu Jian, don't go back. Follow me to the county and I'll find you a job."

  "Really?" Wu Jian's eyes sparkled with stars, his face filled with surprise, tightly grasping Wu Ji, jumping up and down.

  "Ji'er, are you really going to make Jian'er whole?" Wu Qing was somewhat incredulous, his eyes wide with wonder.

  Although Guixian County is small, it is much better than Wujiazhuang. In the eyes of Wu Qing and others, there is not much difference between that place and heaven. If Wu Jie brings Wu Jian to Guixian County to find a job, it would be giving Wu Jian a good start in life, and his fate will change as a result.

  "Yes! In the mountains, it's like this for a lifetime. If one can learn a skill, with Wu Jian's intelligence, he might make a name for himself." Wu Jie had high hopes for Wu Jian, but unfortunately, during the Song Dynasty, there was no universal education, and Wu Jian couldn't read or write, otherwise, his fate would have been different.

  "Thank you, Jie Er! Thank you, Jie Er!" Wu Qing knelt down with a thud and kept kowtowing to Wu Jie. This was the gratitude for Wu Jian's rebirth, how could he, as a father, not be delighted?

  "Third Uncle, quickly get up!" In the Song Dynasty, having a good birth was extremely difficult. Wu Jie understood Wu Qing's feelings and hurriedly pulled him up.

  "Thank you, Brother Jie!" Wu Jian was overjoyed, with tears welling up in his eyes, so excited that he almost cried.

  Wu Xing looked at him with a face full of envy, his eyes fixed on Wu Ji. Wu Ji understood what he meant, and for this Wu Xing, although they had not been in contact for long, he knew that he was as intelligent as Wu Jian. If possible, he would also bring him to the city, find him a good job, and his life would be greatly different.

  "Wu Xing, don't worry, after I've settled Wu Jian down, I'll find you a job. At that time, I'll send Wu Jian to pick you up!" Wu Jie stroked Wu Xing's head with affection.

  "Thank you, Uncle Jie! Thank you, Uncle Jie!" Wu Jie was just a promise, not yet a reality, but as an official, his words were like a divine decree in the small heart of Wu Xing.

  It was settled, Wu Jian didn't go back, and he happily followed Wu Ji to the city. Wu Xing was extremely reluctant to part with him, and they hugged each other tightly, tears streaming down their faces as they bid farewell.

  Along the way, Wu Qing was the happiest, Wu Jian was the most excited, Yang Xiuxiu was the most nervous, and Wu Jie was the calmest.

  Wu Qing was delighted because Wu Jian would have a good start in life, his fate would be greatly different, and as a father, he was naturally overjoyed to the point where his mouth couldn't close.

  Wu Jian had never been out of the mountain village before. This was his first time going to Guixian County, and he was very curious. All along the way, he couldn't stop talking, looking forward to a bright future.

  Yang Xiuxiu was also leaving the mountain village for the first time, but she was much more mature than Wu Jian. She worried about life in the city and had many concerns along the way, feeling very anxious and uneasy.

  As for Wu Ji, the core figure, he was calm and composed. He was a modern person who had seen many big cities, much larger than Guixin City, so he didn't take this small city to heart, treating it with indifference.

  Dozens of miles of mountain roads are nothing for this group of people who are extremely happy. Even Wu Ji, who is thinking about his munitions factory, is in high spirits and has walked a lot. When they really can't walk anymore, they are either supported by Wu Jian and Yang Xiuxiu or carried on the backs of several strong men.

  Upon arriving in Guixi County, Wu Jian and Yang Xiuxiu were shocked and sighed with emotion, "Is this the county town? It's so big!"

  Wu Ji heard it in his ears, feeling a bit sour and bitter. The sky of the ancients was much smaller compared to modern people. If it were in modern society, a small place like Guishen County would not be noticed at all, let alone evoke any sighs.

  After entering the city, they found a fairly large courtyard with six rooms, and the rent was very cheap. Wu Jie rented it all out, which became their residence.

  Yang Xiuxiu, Wu Jian and Wu Qing were busy cleaning up, sweeping and dusting, making the house spotless. Wu Jie went to buy some daily necessities, and this home was finally in order.

  Wu Qing and his men stayed here for one night and left early the next morning. Wu Ji had breakfast and went to the county government office to see County Magistrate Zheng.

  County Magistrate Zheng was reviewing official documents when he saw Wu Ji arrive, and hastily put down his pen to welcome him. "Ah, Wu Xiucan, you've finally arrived! Please, sit down!" He helped Wu Ji take a seat and poured him a cup of tea: "You're not feeling well, have some tea first and catch your breath."

  "Thank you, Lord Zheng!" Wu Ji took the tea and drank a mouthful, saying: "I'm grateful for Lord Zheng's concern! A humble body like mine, Lord Zheng doesn't despise me, I'm truly thankful."

  "Wu Xiuciai, what are you saying?" Zheng Tai smiled warmly and said: "Don't keep calling me Lord Zheng, my name is Zheng Tai."

  He told Wu Qian his name, which was treating Wu Qian as a relatively close person: "This matter of money and grain is not ordinary. Many cases of corruption have originated from here. Therefore, this accountant must be extremely cautious. People like you who can read and write, come from a clean background, and are not greedy are really rare!"

  It's clear that Zheng Tai has a high opinion of Wu Ji.

  The two of them chatted for a while, and then Zheng Tai took Wu Ji to the main bookkeeper's room. This matter only required Zheng Tai to have someone escort Wu Ji there, but instead he personally led the way, which was a sign of his esteem for Wu Ji.

  The accountant's house is not small, with several rooms, all filled with various account books. There are three accountants in total, one of whom is a man in his 40s or 50s, with some gray hair. The other two are much younger, over 30 years old.

  A man in his forties or fifties sat alone on one side, looking idle. The other two men sat together, drinking tea and chatting, looking relaxed.

  Wu Ji looked at it and felt deeply moved. Being an official is really different, whether in ancient times or modern times, it's very easy-going, the treatment is not low, and people are one level higher.

  The three clerks stood up and greeted him as soon as they saw Zheng Ta coming in: "We've seen Zheng, sir."

  "Never mind! This is Wu Jie, Wu Xiuciai, the new chief clerk." Zheng Tai waved his hand to introduce Wu Jie and pointed at the older man, saying: "This is Huangfu Song, a long-time chief clerk."

  "Wu Ji has seen Lord Huangfu!" Wu Ji bowed.

  "Long time no see, Lord Wu!" Huangfu Song replied with a calm and collected demeanor, his tone neither hot nor cold.

  At the first meeting, everyone was unfamiliar and didn't know each other. Huang Fu's calm and collected demeanor was his true attitude, showing that he was a straightforward person. Wu Ji had already made an initial judgment about Huang Fu.

  The other two men exchanged a glance, curled up the corners of their mouths, and looked somewhat disdainful, with a hint of envy in their eyes. Wu Ji was just a small main book, Zheng Tai actually took him here personally, and introduced him, which was a sign of favoritism, and the two couldn't help but feel jealous.

  "This is Niu Qiqing, this is Yang Yuan!" Zheng Tai introduced Wu Ji.

  Wu Ji saw the courtesy, and the two returned the courtesy, with a face full of smiles, without any deficiency in etiquette. However, Wu Ji could feel that the two were very hypocritical, and the smile on their faces was a bit like the wolf's grandmother's smile, which was even less reassuring than Huang Fu's indifference.

  Zheng Tai finished introducing and said a few more things before leaving.

  Zheng Taiyi left, Niu Qiqing and Yang Yuan exchanged a glance, brought over a thick stack of account books, and placed them in front of Wu Ji. Niu Qiqing said: "Wu Zhubu, these are the account books. Lord Zheng is urging us to hurry, please put your heart into it and complete it within seven days."

  "Here it is!" Yang Yuan put another stack of account books in front of Wu Ji: "It's urgent, there's no other way, it must be completed within seven days."

  This is blackmail!

  Barefaced bullying!