BSI Chapter 27 Challenge 1: Hitting a Weak Point
Chapter 27 Challenge 1: Hitting a Weak Point
"Old Master Zhu is so kind and righteous."
"That's right. Everyone in the surrounding area knows that the Zhu family are great philanthropists. They distribute porridge and grain, build bridges and roads, and they do everything they can."
"That's not bad, but his second young master..."
"Hey!" someone interrupted, "Every family has a good-for-nothing son or grandson. Zhu's second son will naturally get better when he's older."
"That's right, that's right. Just by looking at Old Master Zhu, you can tell that the Zhu family has a good family tradition. They've spent much more money on bandit suppression than others."
When Li Chong arrived at the yamen gate, all he heard were such words of praise.
Looking ahead, a well-off old man was bowing to the onlookers with a kind expression on his face.
"Old Master Zhu Zhicheng, a great villain who appears loyal, a great hypocrite who appears genuine. The ancients were right." Li Chong sneered inwardly. "A gentry and landlord who made his fortune by annexing land and exploiting the people, yet he still has such patience to put on a show. He is indeed not simple."
Zhu Zhicheng was the name of Old Master Zhu.
Li Chong stood by and watched coldly, while Yang Chengde had already stepped out to greet him.
He stepped forward to help Zhu Zhicheng up, saying, "Grandpa Zhu is so old; even if he wanted to make a donation, he should have had someone deliver it to him. Why did he have to come all this way himself?"
Although Zhu Zhicheng is old, he still looks quite agile.
He smiled at Yang Chengde, then stepped forward and looked at Li Chong: "I heard that the magistrate is going to rid us of the bandits, and all the families in the county have donated money. How could my Zhu family fall behind? It's just that my health is not very good, which is why I'm late. Please forgive my negligence, magistrate."
Upon seeing the people around him, Li Chong instantly put on a fake smile.
"Grandpa Zhu, what are you saying?" Li Chong stepped down the stairs. "This county magistrate is merely doing his duty. Suppressing bandits and ensuring the people's safety is our responsibility; otherwise, how can we call ourselves the parents of the people?"
Zhu Zhicheng nodded repeatedly with a look of satisfaction on his face: "Good, good. It is a blessing for us common people that Yanggu County has a magistrate like Magistrate Li."
Li Chong waved his hand: "Grandpa Zhu is too kind."
Before the pleasantries could be finished, another person rushed out of the yamen.
Zhu Binghe rushed over, repeatedly calling out, "Father! Father! Why have you come?"
After the father and son reunited, Li Chong looked at Zhu Binghe's caring manner towards his father and a hint of suspicion appeared in his eyes.
Did he really not know his father would be coming today?
Or is it an act?
After calming his son down, Zhu Zhicheng looked at Li Chong again: "Your Excellency, I am but a humble old man, and I am willing to do my part to rid Yanggu of this scourge. My meager sum of one hundred strings of cash is but a small token of my respect; I hope Your Excellency will accept it with a smile."
As he spoke, servants carried copper coins up from behind.
As if it were all pre-arranged, the moment the silk cloth covering the copper coins was lifted, someone shouted, "The Zhu family has donated one hundred strings of cash to help the magistrate suppress the bandits!"
Upon hearing the word "one hundred strings of cash," the onlookers all let out a low groan.
A moment later, the crowd cheered, "Bravo!"
"Old Master Zhu is very generous!"
"Those thieves shouldn't be able to escape now, right?"
Sensing the atmosphere around him, Li Chong could only order his men to accept the money and then thank Zhu Zhicheng.
Zhu Zhicheng repeatedly said he dared not, and then took his leave with his men.
He had just said goodbye when his son, Zhu Binghe, stopped him.
"Your Excellency," Zhu Binghe pleaded, "my father is old, and I'm afraid he'll hurt himself if he rushes back. Could you let him rest at the yamen first, and I'll take him home after my shift ends?"
Before Li Chong could speak, Yang Chengde spoke first.
"That's only right! Since Master Zhu made such a sincere donation, how can we not come in for a cup of tea?"
As he spoke, he seemed to remember something and turned to look at Li Chong: "What does the County Magistrate say?"
Now that things have come to this, how could Li Chong possibly refuse in front of so many people?
However, through this incident, Li Chong learned one thing: they had definitely discussed this matter in advance.
"Of course." Li Chong smiled and turned to the side. "I heard that Master Zhu used to work in the yamen. I'm new here and there are many things I don't understand. I need to ask the old man for advice. Today is the perfect time, so please don't refuse."
Zhu Zhicheng lowered his head in trepidation: "This old man is unworthy of such a title from the county magistrate. Please, Your Excellency, go first. Whatever Your Excellency wishes to ask, this old man will answer to the best of his knowledge."
After exchanging a few polite words, Li Chong walked ahead, and the others followed him into the yamen.
The servants of the Zhu family were naturally not allowed into the yamen, but they were not idle. As their activities progressed, the news of the Zhu family donating money continued to spread, and for a time, the whole city was filled with praise.
In the government office, since the elderly are to rest, it's impossible to invite them to the main hall.
The only place in the entire yamen that could accommodate Zhu Zhicheng was the back yamen where Li Chong lived, which had a reception hall.
After leading the people to the hall, Li Chong instructed Cui Shi, "Go and brew a pot of tea."
In front of outsiders, Cui Shi didn't dare to disrespect Li Chong and obediently went down to make tea.
After watching Cui Shi leave, Zhu Zhicheng looked around and asked, "Is the county magistrate arriving to take up his post with only a servant by his side? I wonder what the county magistrate's wife is like...?"
There was no point in hiding it, so Li Chong replied truthfully, "The journey to my new post is quite long, and she, being a woman, cannot endure such hardship. I've sent her back to her parents' home to take care of them, as a way of showing filial piety. Once I've established myself here, I'll bring her back for a reunion."
"I see." Zhu Zhicheng nodded slowly.
He looked at Li Chong and said earnestly, "I am old and dare to offer this advice to the magistrate. A man still needs women to serve him, especially an official like the magistrate who is busy with official business all day. When he returns home, he needs someone to care for him. In this respect, men are not as good as women."
Upon hearing this, Li Chong's eyes flickered. He glanced at Zhu Zhicheng and then at Yang Chengde.
The group appeared completely at ease, showing no signs of anything amiss.
So, it seems they came today for this very reason?
"Trying to bribe me? Testing my weaknesses?" Li Chong thought to himself.
As he speculated, Li Chong's heart raced a little.
He hadn't experienced bribery much in his life, except for the time when he was in school, when he accepted a few spicy snacks from his deskmate in exchange for letting him hand in his homework a little later.
Li Chong was genuinely a little unsettled by this sudden leap in level.
"Ahem." Li Chong coughed lightly and shook his head. "I'm new here, so I should focus on handling official business first. As for servants, we can talk about that later."
Zhu Zhicheng, however, raised his hand with a serious expression and waved it: "Hey, this is no small matter. The county magistrate is the head of the county. If he doesn't get enough rest, how can he manage the affairs of the county well? How can we, the people, be at ease?"
After saying that, Zhu Zhicheng clapped his hands together.
Li Chong looked curiously towards the door, where two women gracefully walked in.