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

  Looking at Cheng Erniu's heavy heart, Guo Ye suddenly felt that something was wrong and asked suspiciously: "What's wrong again?"

  Cheng Er Niu scratched his head, feeling embarrassed about his own rough branches and big leaves, and said weakly: "I remembered that Pang Ban Tou mentioned earlier that the backstage boss of this Daxing Casino seems to be Qin Bo."

  Whoa!

  Guo Yezhen wanted to kick Cheng Erniu to death, why did he go so early? You said it early, why bother intervening in this matter.

  This is getting out of hand, I originally had an old grudge with Qin Wei, now there's a new feud added to it, isn't this going to get me killed?

  As soon as he thought of Qin Wei's gloomy eyes when he left that day, Guo Ye couldn't help but frown.

  Although Qin Wei did not suddenly rise up in revolt yesterday, it does not mean that he will not retaliate against him in the future. Even Pang Fei Hu said so, Qin Wei is a person who must repay grievances with his teeth.

  It seems that once this matter reaches Qin Wei's ears, many contradictions will no longer be resolved.

  Kuai Ye couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy and said, "I was originally just a small fry, why am I constantly getting into trouble?"

  It seems that Qin Wei's case cannot be taken lightly and should be handled properly as soon as possible. After all, a tiger's tail will not fall off on its own, and it is only a matter of time before something big happens.

  Having made up his mind, Guo Ye shook his neck and said to Cheng Er Niu: "Forget it, what's the point of caring. I've already offended him, so I don't care about offending him a few more times."

  Then he bent down and slowly helped Jingniang up from her squatting position on the ground.

  Hiss...

  Just as he grasped Zhen Niang's right arm, Guo Ye couldn't help but secretly praise her softness. Her slender and delicate skin was like it had no bones, with a faint scent of perfume on her body, different from Wu Xiu Xiu's orchid fragrance. Zhen Niang's scent was stimulating and alluring, causing Guo Ye's heart to skip a beat.

  Although the woman was good, her husband was right next to her, so she could only suppress the turmoil that was rising in her lower abdomen, and after helping Jingniang up, she retreated a few steps back.

  Then, with a burst of anger, he scolded Hu Pi, the rascal: "Hu Pi, your wife Yang Wan is elegant and virtuous, but you don't strive to improve yourself and spend your days idling away. Can you still call yourself a man? You even dare to beat your wife, such a despicable act, you're truly unworthy of being a man."

  For a shameless and rascal like Hu Pi, Guo Ye's words are no different from playing the piano to a cow, purely nonsense.

  Hú Pí nodded repeatedly after listening, without any sign of remorse, and was only afraid that Guō Yè, the government official, would take action against him again.

  However, Guo Ye's words were heard by Zhen Niang, who was silently weeping beside him, and they had a different flavor in her heart. She listened with beautiful eyes flashing, occasionally stealing glances at Guo Ye, this young and handsome little official.

  As the time for Guo Ye to go to the yamen with Shi Er Niu was approaching, Guo Ye looked at Zhen Niang again and then slowly turned around.

  As he walked out of the store, Guo Ye saw a large hole in the rice table and immediately pulled out several pieces of silver from his waist and threw them into the store. Without looking back, he said loudly: "This silver is for your family as compensation. Hu Pi, listen to me, if I find out you're beating and abusing your wife again, humph, we'll meet in the big prison, where there are all sorts of torture devices, see if I don't make you die."

  After finishing speaking, he ignored the reactions of Zhen Niang and Hu Pi behind him, and walked shoulder to shoulder with Cheng Er Niu towards the government office.

  The shopkeeper saw a small piece of silver being thrown into the store and falling to the ground, hurriedly pounced on it, knelt down, picked up the silver, and stuffed it into his waist.

  Action one big pull pulled the face that was just slapped by Guo Ye into a red and swollen cheek, involuntarily inhaling cold air and shouting in pain.

  Zhen Niang gazed at Guo Ye's departing figure for a long time, silent and unmoving.

  Listening to her husband's cries of pain, she hastily bent down and helped him up, with a sudden surge of concern.

  For a woman like her, her husband is heaven and earth. Even if he is the most despicable scoundrel, he is still the sky of her chastity.

  Guo Ye and Cheng Er Niu finally arrived at the county government office on time.

  As soon as they entered the main hall, the leader Pang Feihu had been waiting for everyone early. Guo Ye and Cheng Erniu had just stepped into the main hall, and Zhu Pengchun and Gan Zhushou, a fat and thin pair of attendants, followed closely behind. As for the other seven yamen runners who went to the countryside to collect taxes, they did not return in time and were still in the countryside.

  Pang Feihu signaled a few people to sit down and make some arrangements for the near future.

  In Guo Ye's eyes, it felt a bit like the managers of various departments in modern companies gathering their colleagues and subordinates for an early morning meeting to arrange the main work for the week.

  It really is like that when you think about it.

  As expected, Pang Feihu pulled out a notebook from his sleeve and opened it to glance at the records inside before saying: "Zhang Xiaosi, Ruan Laosan and seven others are busy with grain collection and tax collection in various towns, so no further arrangements will be made. As for you four, oh, this is Guo Ye, our new colleague, I think you all should know each other."

  Guo Ye slowly stood up and solemnly nodded to several people present.

  Gan Zhu Shou still had that expression, glanced at Guo Ye, then continued to lower his head, with no smile on his face, like a dead man.

  Cheng Er Niu just chuckled foolishly, but Zhu Peng Chun, that little scoundrel, was smiling rather slyly, and who knows what he was thinking in his heart, perhaps still plotting to curry favor with Guo Ye.

  After Guo Ye sat down, Pang Feihu continued: "From today on, Guo Ye and Cheng Er Niu will be in charge of collecting taxes at the East Gate. As for Gan Zhu Shou and Zhu Peng Chun, you two will be responsible for collecting taxes at the vegetable market and fair from East City to South City. Does anyone have any questions?"

  Guo Ye knew he had a shallow foundation in the government office, with no experience or achievements to speak of, and was just a new person who couldn't get any newer.

  So we must follow a workplace rule: whatever the leader asks us to do, we will do it without any complaints. If there are conditions, we will go up with them; if not, we will create conditions and still go up.

  Otherwise, it will be dissatisfied with this and disagree with that after only a few days, which is tantamount to seeking death.

  Although he knew that guarding the east gate was a very dull and tasteless thing, he still put on a sweet expression and said to Pang Feihu: "Don't worry, leader, I will definitely guard the east gate well with Brother Er Niu, and not let our team lose face."

  As expected, Guo Ye's words that knew when to advance and retreat won over Pang Feihu's favor once again. He thought to himself with a sense of relief, it was worth treating this kid differently, not bad.

  Zhu Pengchun, who was on the side, saw Guo Ye and Cheng Erniu teaming up and immediately stood up to apply to Pang Fei Hu: "Team leader, do you think it's okay for me to team up with Guo brothers? If he doesn't understand something, I can also remind him from the side?"

  What is Zhu Pengchun thinking that others don't know, and how could Guo Ye not know? It seems this kid has really mastered the art of scheming, not letting go of any opportunity.

  However, his words caused dissatisfaction from Cheng Er Niu. Cheng Er Niu felt that he had a good conversation with Guo Ye, and upon hearing Zhu Peng Chun's words, it was clear that there was a hint of "beating the wild geese, forcibly breaking up good friends". His face suddenly turned black, and he glared at Zhu Peng Chun, saying in a harsh tone: "What's wrong? Can you, Zhu Peng Chun, remind Guo brother from the side, but I, Cheng Er Niu, can't? Are you the only one with experience? You silly fool, look at your ability."

  After finishing speaking, he waved a copper ladle-sized fist at Zhu Pengchun to show his protest and added a bit of threat.

  Zhu Pengchun saw Cheng Er Niu again and started to get confused, involuntarily shrinking his head, then reluctantly looked at Guo Ye and stopped speaking.

  Kuai Ye couldn't bear to see Zhu Pengchun's resentful eyes, so he pulled at Cheng Er Niu's arm and said with a smile: "Er Niu, don't be like this, we're all brothers in the same class, we must unite as one."

  Then he bowed his fist and bid farewell to Pang Fei Hu: "Head, the time for opening the city gate is approaching. I'll go to the East Gate with Er Niu first."

  Pang Feihu looked at Guo Ye with satisfaction, nodded and waved his hand, saying: "Go."

  Kuo Yeh and Cheng Erh Niu immediately left the main hall of the county government office and hurried towards the east gate.

  Before leaving the house in Youmahu Hutong, Guo Ye still wanted to ride a donkey to work, but he thought about it and gave up. Even Pang Banhou walked to work on foot, and as a small official, riding a donkey to work was too luxurious and high-profile.

  Then, Cheng Er Niu and he walked quickly on foot, slowly catching up at the East Gate.

  About half a time of work had passed, the sky was already bright, the sun rose in the east, and a piece of golden light covered the ground.

  Eeeeek... Creak creak creak creak...

  Guo Ye and Cheng Er Niu used all their might to slowly open the east gate, and a ray of sunlight shone on them, making Guo Ye feel great, his heart suddenly feeling more spacious.

  "Open the city gate! Those leaving the city, farewell! Those entering the city, pay your taxes!"

  Guo Ye listened to Cheng Er Niu's loud shouting with a strong Sichuan accent, and he couldn't help but imitate him, shouting: "Open the city gate, go out and walk well, come in and pay taxes."

  In his heart, he silently added that all things would revive, all phenomena would be renewed, and a new day had begun.

  At one time, the crowd of people leaving the city surged forward, while those entering the city lined up in an orderly manner, each person throwing two copper coins into a basket as they entered.

  Repetitive work, repetitive actions.

  Thus, Guo Ye began his first day of work as a minor official in the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

  The little city manager of the Tang Dynasty is also very happy.

  In the following days, Guo Ye's small official career gradually entered a state of perfection and thoroughly integrated himself into Tang society.

  In just a few days, all the people of Longxi County who had passed through the city gate knew that there was a happy little official at the city gate. Unlike other officials, he was not fierce and arrogant, but instead had a warm and friendly attitude.

  This little official is called Guo Ye.

  Day after day, Guo Ye and Cheng Er Niu continued to get up early and return late, still in charge of gatekeeping and tax collection at the East Gate.

  That evening, before arriving at Guancheng Gate, Zhu Pengchun ran towards the east gate with great enthusiasm.

  Cheng Er Niu and Guo Ye continued to stand guard at the gate, one on the left and one on the right. "Brother Guo, Er Niu, hurry up and gather your things, let's go to Zui Xian Lou."

  Cheng Er Niu didn't want to see Zhu Peng Chun, this scoundrel, and frowned, saying: "The time for closing the city gate hasn't arrived, why are you leaving?"

  Zhu Pengchun chuckled and pointed to the four-sided hat on his head, saying: "Isn't it up to us to decide whether the time is right or not? Hurry up, don't waste words. Manager Pang has told you to close the city gate quickly and meet him at Zui Xian Lou. I'm telling you, if you go early, there will be wine, meat, and dishes to eat. If you go late, even a hair won't be left for you to eat. You two handle it."

  Finished speaking, turned around, and with a whooshing sound, ran back again.

  Guo Ye looked at Cheng Er Niu with a puzzled expression and asked, "What's the point of Pang Ban Tou inviting us to eat at Zui Xian Lou for no reason?"

  Because Zui Xian Lou is one of the top restaurants in Longxi County, a meal with wine and dishes costs at least half a tael of silver, otherwise it's not worth staying.

  In his impression, Pang Feihu's family environment was also ordinary.

  Cheng Er Niu was also at a loss, shaking his head in ignorance, but he had already started gathering the baskets and preparing to close the city gate.

  Guo Yu also stepped forward and pulled the gate shut with his hands. Since Pang Ban had invited him, how could he possibly not go?