Starting as a cowherd, he sought a way to cultivate immortality.

The following morning, Li Youcai paid a visit with generous gifts.

After a long absence, Li Youcai was dressed in a blue brocade robe, and his whole demeanor had become more profound and reserved, resembling the head of a wealthy family.

"This contains the finest Anzhou jade. Wearing it will nourish your mind and bring good fortune," Li Youcai said with a smile, pointing to the exquisite wooden box in his attendant's hand.

Chen Chi'an took the seat of honor and had Fang Yong take the wooden box from Li Youcai's attendant.

"Patriarch Li, you've gone to a lot of trouble."

Li Youcai bowed respectfully and said sincerely:

"My two servants were blind and didn't recognize Magistrate Chen. They offended you. I gave them thirty lashes last night, and they can't get out of bed today. I beg Magistrate Chen to spare their lives."

Chen Chi's eyes narrowed slightly.

Thirty strokes of the cane would surely leave their backs a bloody mess.

Li Youcai's methods of managing his subordinates can be described as ruthless.

"I called you here today not for the two of them, but to resolve the matter of Chen Erhu owing you rent grain." Chen Chi looked at Li Youcai.

After Chen Chi finished speaking, Li Youcai slapped his forehead and suddenly realized:

"I forgot that County Magistrate Chen and Chen Erhu have been friends for many years."

Since that's the case, out of respect for County Magistrate Chen, Chen Erhu's debt of rent and grain to the Li family will be waived.

Chen Chi smiled coldly to himself.

How could Li Youcai possibly forget his relationship with Chen Erhu?

It was just an excuse Li Youcai used to figure out that he was really going to stand up for Chen Erhu.

"Paying back debts is a matter of course," Chen Chi said calmly.

"How about this, Erhu owes you 4,500 catties of grain, and I'll repay you with silver at today's market price?"

"How can you accept money from an official's family?" Li Youcai quickly waved his hand in refusal.

"County Magistrate Chen, please don't be so rude to this humble subject."

"It seems that Patriarch Li is unwilling to give this county magistrate any face," Chen Chi said coldly.

Li Youcai's expression changed slightly, and he cupped his hands and said, "If Magistrate Chen says so, how dare I disobey?"

Chen Chi's tone softened slightly, and a smile appeared on his face.

"That's the best way."

"Master Li, your new method of land leasing is quite interesting. Could you explain it to me in detail?"

Li Youcai looked up at Chen Chi, and the other man's ambiguous smile made him suddenly panic.

"This humble citizen's method is not worth mentioning. He only asks the tenant to pay 300 catties of grain per mu, just to ensure stability and not have to change the amount of grain rent due to different harvests each year."

The Li family's land is fertile, and as long as the tenants take good care of the crops, it is not difficult to support their families and even save some extra money.

Alas, I never imagined that Chen Erhu would work himself to the bone for money, completely ruining his health.

"County Magistrate Chen, this was not my original intention in using this method."

"Erhu's situation was due to his own impatience; you can't be blamed," Chen Chi said slowly.

Hearing Chen Chi say this, Li Youcai breathed a sigh of relief.

"My question is, what would you do if your tenants faced a famine and had no food to pay rent?"

Li Youcai's expression froze for a moment, then he chuckled dryly and said, "County Commandant Chen, the famine you're talking about, our Changqing County hasn't experienced one for over a decade..."

"Answer me," Chen Chi said, his eyes fixed on Li Youcai.

After a moment of silence, Li Youcai slowly spoke:

"County Commandant Chen, you just said that it is only right to pay back debts."

If it's truly a famine year and the tenants have no harvest, the agreed-upon rent and grain allowance still have to be paid.

A cold glint flashed in Chen Chi's eyes.

"The people of Changqing County are already struggling to have enough to eat every day. In years of famine, who will have surplus grain and silver to pay you rent?"

"In the end, you will force them to sign indentures, turning them into complete slaves of the Li family, destined to spend their entire lives farming the Li family's land!"

Li Youcai's face turned pale, and his gaze became unsteady in the face of Chen Chi's aggressive tone.

"County Lieutenant Chen, you overestimate this humble subject."

Chen Chi snorted coldly and warned Li Youcai:

"Li Youcai, stop with your tricks to fool the villagers."

If you cause chaos in Changqing County, this county constable will punish you severely to quell the people's anger.

"County Lieutenant Chen is right to teach us a lesson."

After bowing respectfully to Chen Chi, Li Youcai turned and left the Qin residence.

On the way back to the Li family home, Li Youcai clenched his fists tightly, and the ferocious look on his face became more and more obvious.

……

A few days later, news of Chen Erhu's death came.

Chen Chi stood there stunned for a moment before personally going to Chen Erhu's home to pay respects to Erhu.

As Chen Chi stepped into the mourning hall, Chen Erhu's relatives all turned to look.

Unexpectedly, Chen, the renowned county magistrate of Changqing, would condescend to come to Chen Erhu's mourning hall.

For a while, all the worshippers wanted to get close to Chen Chi and try to become familiar with him.

Chen Chi's gaze turned cold, frightening everyone into no longer daring to approach him.

After Chen Erhu's coffin was buried in the tomb, Chen Chi offered Wu two options.

"If you don't remarry, I will pay for your and Erhu's two children to continue living," Chen Chi said firmly, pausing slightly before continuing.

"But if you want to remarry, Chen Erhu's two children must stay with me and be raised by me."

After much hesitation, Ms. Wu decided to entrust the child to Chen Chi for upbringing.

"With Magistrate Chen by my side, my two children will surely amount to something great in the future." Wu's eyes were filled with tears, her voice brimming with reluctance to part with her children.

Although Chen Chi was not entirely comfortable with Wu's choice, he nodded and let her say goodbye to her children.

The older son, who was old enough to understand, cried uncontrollably when he learned that his father had died and his mother was leaving him.

The two-year-old daughter, seeing her brother and mother crying, also started to cry.

After returning to the Qin residence with the two children, Chen Chi instructed Fang Yong to hire a few more servants to take care of the children's daily needs.

The once empty and deserted Qin family courtyard has regained some of its former liveliness.

……

At the end of the month, Chen Chi received a letter from Youzhou Prefecture.

Chen Chi took a closer look and realized that the letter was actually written by Yang Jin, the governor of Youzhou.

"Go to Youzhou Prefecture to report on your duties..." After reading the letter, Chen Chi stood in the courtyard, his gaze following the busy figure of the new servant.

I don't know whether this trip to Youzhou Prefecture will be a blessing or a curse for me.

Chen Chi's gaze deepened.

After the Crown Prince's rebellion failed, Chancellor An Degui purged dissidents and wielded immense power.

Meanwhile, Yang Jin, far away in Youzhou, was also rapidly expanding his power, showing signs of rivaling An Degui.

Yang Jin's decision to send him to Youzhou Prefecture this time was likely driven by motives far beyond a simple duty report.

"I can't hold back any longer..."

After much deliberation, Chen Chi finally decided to go to Youzhou Prefecture to report on his duties.

Thanks to the influence of his "Accumulated Strength Unleashed" destiny, Chen Chi can easily defeat even when facing other experts at the same Innate Realm.

As long as Yang Jin doesn't have a cultivator like Zhao Xianshi by his side, if things come to a head, Chen Chi can quickly capture Yang Jin to protect his own safety.

Two days later, the carriage carrying Chen Chi to Youzhou Prefecture began to turn slowly.