Chapter 1: The Wedding Night (New Book...)

  "County Magistrate is too stingy, we brothers of the constabulary went sleepless for a whole night and used great effort to capture Liu's father and son, but he only rewarded us with twenty taels of silver, isn't this just treating us like beggars?"

  This rough and powerful voice can only belong to Cheng Er Niu.

  "It's really infuriating, those bastards from the Catching Squad picked up the leftovers of our Soap Squad and got a reward of 300 taels of silver from County Magistrate, it's truly depressing."

  This is the voice of a soap opera actor.

  "Too much deception!"

  The sentence was short and dry, undoubtedly the voice of Gan Zhushou, that rarely speaking dead ghost.

  Kuang Yeren had just arrived at the entrance of the soap house when he heard a surge of resentment and sourness coming from inside.

  It seems that the brothers of the soap class are not very satisfied with the reward given by County Master, but twenty-two silver rewards are really stingy and petty, no wonder the brothers are complaining.

  Just as they were about to go in, a strange voice suddenly rang out: "What's all the commotion? This is Magistrate County's kindness to you jailers, what more do you want? A group of ignorant and ungrateful jail attendants."

  Shut up, Guo Ye's ears turned cold and his teeth ached at the sound of this voice, which was as sharp and piercing as that of an eunuch in a TV drama.

  Could it be that this person was specifically sent by County Magistrate to give rewards to the soap makers?

  Just as Guo Ye was guessing, that sharp voice sounded again: "Who is Guo Ye? Is the Guo Ye from Dongliu Village here?"

  As soon as he heard his name being called, Guo Ye couldn't help but perk up and stepped across the threshold into the main house.

  He glanced around the room and said in a loud voice: "I'm here, I'm here! Guo Ye from Dongliu Village is here!"

  Suddenly, in the room, there were Pang Feihu, Cheng Erniu, Gan Zhushou, and a group of yamen runners, surrounding a stout man of about forty years old.

  At this time, in the big house, including Old Three Ruan and himself, all the brothers of the soap class had arrived.

  No, Guo Ye suddenly realized that Zhang Xiaoxiao hadn't come.

  Just as Guo Ye was wondering why Zhang Xiaoqi hadn't arrived, Pang Feihu stepped forward and pulled Guo Ye into the crowd, saying to the middle-aged short man: "Chang Sui Da Ren, this young fellow is Guo Ye from Dongliu Township. This time, our constable team was able to capture Liu Jia's father and son who stole tax grains in one net, it really relied on his meticulous planning!"

  Pang Feihu is a good superior, who does not take credit or seek favor, and directly introduces Guo Ye to the long-following county magistrate in front of him.

  "Guo Ye, this is the long-time follower of County Magistrate, Qian Guiqian Changsui, who specializes in handling trivial matters for County Magistrate and drafting and issuing official documents. He's indeed a red person in front of County Magistrate!"

  Guo Ye knew that Pang Feihu deliberately introduced himself in this way, not only to formally introduce himself, but also to remind himself that Qian Gui was a man who had won the trust of County Wei Gu Dezhao and should not be offended.

  What is a long follow? Guo Ye has been in the Tang Dynasty for some time, and having mixed in the government office for so long, he naturally knows what a long follow is.

  What is called a "long follow" is a private secretary hired by the court officials with money, similar to the teacher of the county lieutenant or the governor, who can only be held by the confidant.

  With Pao's introduction, Guo Ye obviously understood that Qian Guiqiang was the life secretary and work secretary of Gou Dezhao, the number one public security legal system in Longxi County.

  Although they are not on the official payroll like the master's attendants, they are all close confidants by the master's side, and a casual remark can be worth more than spending 180 taels of silver to curry favor with the county magistrate.

  These people are often some discontented individuals, and Guo Ye really didn't dare to offend them.

  He immediately made a fist and said: "It turns out that it is Qian Gui, the red man beside County Wei, Qian Changsu. Guo Ye has courtesy."

  He then made a polite and respectful gesture with his fists clasped together towards Qian Gui, without realizing that he had just lost several ounces of weight.

  Qian Gui was originally a child prodigy, but after taking the imperial examination for over a decade, he failed to become a scholar. As he grew older, he gave up on his dreams of becoming an official and followed County Magistrate Gu Dexiang's path, doing some writing work by his side.

  Having served beside Gao Dezhao for nearly five years, handling affairs to his great satisfaction, he was gradually drawn into Gao's inner circle.

  Guo Yexin's analysis was correct, this expensive is indeed the kind of person who is depressed and unfulfilled, always regretting that they are talented but not recognized, so they cannot tolerate others looking down on them.

  Now hearing Pang Fei Hu and Guo Ye being overly polite to him, he couldn't help but feel pleased.

  The expression with the nostrils facing upwards slowly converged, and then nodded with a smile, looking at Guo Ye, thinking: "Hmm, not bad, young age, but understands some etiquette. Guo Ye, County Magistrate has specially ordered me to bring you a message."

  Huh?

  Kuai Ye's shoulder shook slightly, why did County Magistrate Gu Dezhao specially ask Qian Gui to bring a message for himself?

  Was County Magistrate Gu Dezhao because he had handled the Liu family father and son, wanting to frame Qin Wei, starting to pay attention to himself?

  Although Guo Ye put on a sincere and fearful expression, he couldn't help but feel some anxiety in his heart. If County Magistrate Qin Wei was not as simple as he seemed on the surface, then he had unintentionally offended him.

  Looking at Guo Ye's terrified expression, Qian Gui felt an indescribable sense of relief and his impression of Guo Ye had greatly improved. Indeed, he was well-mannered, knew his place, and was different from those corrupt officials. He would make sure to put in a good word for him with County Magistrate.

  He immediately smiled lightly at Guo Ye and said: "Guo, don't worry, the county magistrate is not here to scold you. On the contrary, after hearing about your plan to capture Liu's father and son, the county magistrate was very satisfied and happy. In front of Ben Chang Sui, he praised Guo Ye, a young man from Dongliu Township, for being brave and resourceful, a talented person."

  Shrimp rice?

  Guo Ye was confused by Qian Gui's ups and downs, and unexpectedly Gu Dezhao would praise him?

  Wasn't he trying to find an excuse for Qin Wei and severely punish himself? Was everything he had thought before all wrong?

  Guo Ye's mind was getting more and more confused, and he said to Qian Gui in a respectful tone: "Qian Zhang has been following County Magistrate around every day, I hope you can enlighten me."

  Satisfied, very satisfied. The price is expensive but I'm extremely satisfied. What a polite young man! Compared to that arrogant Qin Wei, he's a hundred times better.

  Then, with a hearty laugh, he said: "The county magistrate has a message for you, Guo Ye. You were introduced to the yamen by this humble official, and although you haven't been here long, your reputation is excellent. Especially in the case of Liu's father and son, it was handled cleanly and efficiently, and this official is very satisfied. Work hard, and this official will definitely not mistreat capable people. As for the position of head of Dongliu Township, I'll report to County Magistrate Wu Mao-cai later, and let your father-in-law take over."

  My goodness!

  What is Gu Dezhao trying to do?

  Unexpectedly attaches great importance to Xiao Ge, even the promise I made to my father-in-law before is fulfilled, can't understand, really can't understand.

  When the county magistrate praised Guo Xiaoge like this, all the brothers in the whole police force were happy for him. Now they and Guo Ye are birds of a feather, inseparable as a melon and its rind.

  Guo Xiaoge is favored by County Magistrate, they are on good terms with each other.

  Only Pong Fai-hung was not so optimistic in his heart, because he knew that Kwok De-shing was by no means as simple as imagined.

  Guo Ye and Pang Feihu had the same idea, but his mouth was still stuck on Qian Gui's thanks, letting him pass it on to County Magistrate, he Guo Ye would definitely do a good job and not tarnish the reputation of County Magistrate.

  Unfortunately, just as everyone was still basking in the joy of congratulating Guo, Qian Gui came out with another sentence that killed the atmosphere: "The county magistrate has decided that Zhang Xiaoqi, a member of the constabulary, was derelict in his duty and lost the tax grain, although it was later recovered. Although he can be spared from death, he cannot escape punishment. From today on, Zhang Xiaoqi is stripped of his official position and expelled from the county yamen. This decision is made as a warning to others, and we hope that all constables will be diligent in their duties and not make the same mistake again."

  What?

  Remove Zhang Xiaoqi from his official position?

  These words were like a thunderclap on a clear day, stunning everyone and leaving them bewildered.

  Especially Pang Feihu, his face turned green with rage. The county magistrate didn't even ask any questions and just dismissed the brothers under him. Isn't this killing a chicken to scare the monkeys?

  Ruan Lao San, Cheng Er Niu, Gan Zhu Shou, and Zhu Peng Chun, as well as a group of yamen runners, were all filled with righteous indignation and fought for justice.

  Moreover, complaints grew more and more, voices got louder and louder, gradually, unpleasant words were also spoken.

  "What's going on? Are you trying to get us killed?"

  "County Magistrate, you are being unfair."

  "We will not give up, we must seek justice for Xiao Qi."

  "Let's go reason with County Magistrate then."

  Guo Ye was cautious of Qian Gui, who was in front of him, and did not dare to scold Gu Dezhao's ancestors loudly. He couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart, thinking that County Magistrate Gu Dezhao was a good official who could distinguish right from wrong. It turned out that the previous praise was just a prelude to removing Zhang Xiaogui now.

  Typical first give you a sweet date then hit you with a blunt stick.

  Removing Zhang Xiaoqi is false, warning the brothers of the soap class that this time's arbitrary crossing of authority action is true.

  Gu Dezhao just wanted them to understand that he, Gu, was the real number one in Longxi County's procuratorate, police and court, and could make them roll out at any time.

  Listening to the indignation of his fellow soldiers, Guo Yu's heart was also filled with resentment. Reason? If this world could reason, there would be no distinction between right and wrong, black and white.

  Suddenly, he saw Qian Gui's face getting uglier and couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. He mustn't let the nonsense of the brothers from the soap workshop reach Gu Dezhao's ears, otherwise, they would offend County Magistrate Gu, who held the lives of all the yamen runners in his hands, and there would be no good outcome to eat.

  He immediately gave a wink to Pang Feihu, then gritted his teeth and took out the only five taels of silver from his sleeve, handed it over to Qian Gui's palm with a faintly painful smile, and said in a low voice: "We brothers are all rough men, our words have no weight. Qian Zhangshui, let's talk outside, so as not to pollute your ears. These bastards."

  As he spoke, he stuffed the silver into Qiangui's hand and dragged him out by his sleeve.

  At the moment when the five taels of silver touched Qian Gui's palm, his face suddenly became complex, looking at Guo Ye with some surprise, his eyes revealing a hint of complexity, it was covetousness, greed, admiration, and consent.

  Qian Gui clenched his fist, gently grasping the small silver ingot in the palm of his hand. He clicked his tongue in satisfaction - it was a full five taels of fine silver, almost enough to equal a month's worth of silver coins for Ben Chang's entourage.

  Qian Gui couldn't help but praise him again in her heart. What a capable young man! Not bad, really not bad at all.