Qing Yao

Chapter 155 A Public Discussion in the Incense Hall
If there are any requests, they must be fulfilled, after all, she is his beloved wife whom he married through proper channels.

Besides, the little girl might cry if her needs aren't met.

Because it seemed to be her mother's request.

Helpless, Zhao An had no choice but to adopt the older brother's approach and teach him step by step.

I'm so tired, really tired.

Because the young wife was too nervous and kept crying out in pain, it took the two of them almost half an hour to finally get it right.

The little girl started wailing like a ghost, then quieted down.

Why is it quiet?
Zhao An said something that was similar to "Since we're already here."

Surprisingly, thinking "since I'm already here," the girl gradually felt better and didn't feel much pain anymore.

It might be a placebo effect.

Afterwards, as instructed by the mistress, Zhang Ma entered the room as an elder of the woman to verify the bloodstains. She then solemnly handed the blood-stained white cloth, which had been laid out on the bed, into a box and handed it to Zhao An.

At first, Zhao An thought the ceremony was a bit boring, but when he took the box, he suddenly felt that it was very heavy.

It is a weight of responsibility.

How could the rules passed down from generation to generation by our ancestors be boring?

After instructing Zhang Ma to take good care of Wanqing, Zhao An went to work at the prefectural school. Although he was the principal and no one could control him, it was still a bit inappropriate for him to skip work every day.

As soon as I arrived at the door, I saw my cousin Wang Wanquan carrying several things and about to leave. When I asked, he said he was going to the government office to deliver some materials.

When Zhao An had his accident in Jiangyin, his cousin returned to work at the school. Vice Principal Ma did not become hostile towards Director Wang because of the principal's accident; he respected Director Wang as much as the principal did when he was alive.

My cousin is unaware of Zhao An's accident. He's been working diligently in the school office every day, increasingly resembling a school office director.

Seeing that no one was around, Zhao An stopped his cousin and asked him what was happening with the Qian family.

My cousin said that after the third son of the Qian family was released by the authorities, the Qian family stopped causing trouble, probably because they were afraid that if they did, they might lose their son's life.

Qian Laosan has been assigned by Lao Ding to work in the criminal division of the county government. He has no official position, but he has some power, and his role is similar to that of a security captain.

Old Song arranged for Qian Laoda's son to study at the county school.

Zhao An had instructed Lao Song that if Qian Laoda's child was academically gifted, he should nurture him and not quietly ruin the child's future because of Qian Laoda.

Zhao An didn't care about the saying "if you don't cut the weeds at the root, they'll grow back in the spring."

In his view, even if Qian Laoda's son became the top scholar in the imperial examination, the threat to him would be almost zero.

To put it bluntly, the two Qian brothers did not deserve to die. Zhao An felt somewhat guilty afterward and wanted to make amends to the eldest son of the Qian family.

She didn't tell her cousin about her marriage to the granddaughter of the magistrate of Ganquan County yesterday, thinking she would tell them about it after she was transferred away from Yangzhou.

If there are any blood ties in this world, it's only my uncle's family.

Getting married is such a big deal, I definitely need to tell my cousin.

Zhao An planned to get his cousin promoted from a clerk to an official before the expiration of his term as a supervisory committee member, and would do so after the New Year.

If you don't use your power, it will expire.

At this time, there were many teachers and students coming and going at the school gate. Zhao An couldn't talk much with his cousin, so he told his cousin to go and do his work before returning to the school.

I plan to take some time this morning to meet with all the faculty and staff, so they won't miss me too much. I'll also arrange for the logistics department to purchase New Year's goods, ensuring everyone has a good and prosperous New Year.

In the afternoon, I met with the students who were taking the college entrance exam and gave them a good talk about the principles of personnel management.

It's a bit unreasonable to ignore everything and ask no questions.

The security captain at the entrance quietly approached the principal and reminded him that there were two people looking at him from a distance.

"Sir, these two men are acting suspiciously. Should I arrest them and send them to the county for questioning?" The headmaster's office was attacked by thugs last time, which made the security captain a bit nervous. He had already secretly arranged for people to take care of those two guys.

"No need, I recognize those two."

Zhao Anzhen recognized the two men; they were Ren Chaoyang and Zhuang Yingjiu, servants of the Green Gang.

The two men probably knew that Zhao Shaojun was an official, so they didn't dare to come over and call him directly. But when they noticed that Zhao Shaojun had spotted them and was coming over, they quickly came to greet him.

Zhao An didn't speak to the two immediately. Instead, he casually turned into an alleyway before stopping and asking the two who had followed him, "What is it?"

Ren Chaoyang hurriedly clasped his hands and said, "Young Master, it is your uncle who asked you to go to the incense hall immediately."

"Now?"

Zhao An frowned. It wasn't that he didn't have time, but he disliked Zhang Baofa's way of treating him like a subordinate, expecting him to be at his beck and call.

If things continue like this, we'll have to find a way to ask Uncle Zhang to retire early.

"Yes, Uncle told us to make sure that Young Master goes there immediately."

Ren Chaoyang nodded.

Zhuang Yingjiu pointed to a street corner not far away: "The carriage is parked there."

Zhao An glanced at the street corner and asked the two men, "Do you know why Uncle wants to see me?"

"It's about Master Sun."

The speaker was Zhuang Yingjiu.

Master Sun was referring to Sun Rui.

Zhao An asked, somewhat puzzled, "What happened to Sun Rui?"

"Brother Sun was arrested by the canal transport authorities. They're demanding 100,000 taels from our detachment to settle the matter, or they'll label him a kidnapper and report him to the Ministry of Justice for execution."

After saying this, Ren Chaoyang said with some grief and indignation, "Senior Brother Sun was working for the guild. If something happens to him, the guild should redeem him. But it seems that Uncle is unwilling to pay. Some senior brothers in the guild are so angry that they demanded to hold a public meeting. That's why Uncle sent the two of us to invite Young Master over."

"Let's talk about it after we get in the car."

Without hesitation, Zhao An walked to the street corner first, and Ren and Zhuang quickly followed.

Zhuang Yingjiu drove the car, while Ren Chaoyang explained the situation to Zhao An in detail inside the car.

Whether Sun Rui misjudged the situation and turned intimidation into a real threat, or whether the councilor in charge of the grain transport was a tough nut to crack and not afraid of gangsters at all, somehow they suddenly arrested Sun Rui along with several Green Gang members sent to Huai'an.

The canal transport authorities were very firm, implying that if Yangzhou didn't offer 100,000 taels, Sun Rui and his companions would definitely be killed.

Uncle Zhang Baofa, who was in charge of the Yangzhou branch, refused to pay the money. As a result, not only were the canal transport authorities and the Yangzhou branch vying for power, but the leaders of the three factions within the branch were also arguing fiercely due to their differing opinions.

The only way to resolve this matter is to hold a public meeting.

As the "number two" figure in the Yangzhou Green Gang, Zhao An naturally had to attend this public meeting.

And he absolutely has to go.

It was his bad idea after all!

Upon arriving at the incense hall, one would find the atmosphere tense, with two groups arguing and clearly divided on their positions.

Uncle Zhang Baofa, who was in charge, sat in the middle chair without saying a word, while Ding Jiu, the "White Paper Fan" sent down from the temple, stood expressionless under the portrait of the Third Patriarch.

"Young Master has arrived!"

Ren Chaoyang shouted to register Zhao An, and the hall immediately fell silent.

(End of this chapter)