In the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era: I became Yang Guozhong's eldest son.

Xu Jingyao cursed inwardly, but could only force a smile:

"The new magistrate is efficient, which is a blessing for Yanjing County. However, no matter how muddle-headed He Liu is, he is still just a bailiff. The little money he makes at the city gate supports quite a few runners and porters. If he really cuts everything off, I'm afraid the people below will be in turmoil."

"chaos?"

Yang Xuan gently pressed the old seal against the edge of the paper.

"People's hearts are in turmoil because some people used to live too comfortably on this ill-gotten money."

"Since things are already unstable, let them think about how they're going to live their lives from now on."

He looked at Afu.

"Take He Liu to the east wing and keep an eye on him alone."

Before Zhao Suanpan returned, he forbade anyone else to see him.

"Yes."

Ah Fu answered readily, still seething with anger, and with two old men, he grabbed He Liu and lifted him up.

He Liu wanted to say something more.

"Your Excellency, I..."

You had a chance to tell the truth last night.

Yang Xuan didn't even look at him again.

"I had another chance to talk about it this morning."

"You don't want it yourself."

"Then let me settle the accounts one by one before I listen to you."

When He Liu was dragged away, his legs were still a little weak.

Those watching from outside the gate also moved aside.

It's obvious to everyone.

The new magistrate is serious; it's just a matter of how long he can hold on.

As Xu Jingyao watched He Liu being dragged away, the last bit of hope in his heart gradually sank.

He knew very well that from this moment on, those in the government office who had originally wanted to play dumb and observe the winds of change would have to reconsider.

Although He Liu was not a big shot.

However, it is just one link in a chain of interests in Yanjing County.

Now that this chain has broken, it's probably not so easy for others to make money while lying down like before.

The wind outside the courtyard had not stopped blowing.

But the affairs within the government office were not yet over.

In less than half an hour, Zhao Suanpan returned running back, followed by two porters carrying wooden boxes.

His face was even paler than in the morning, and his cuffs and hem were covered in dust, clearly indicating that he had been forced to rummage through the shed and the cracks in the old table to retrieve all the items.

"Your Excellency..."

"The ledgers, receipts, loose change slips, and end-of-month account statements are all here."

Yang Xuan didn't rush to flip through it, but instead told Cui Shen and Han Jitong to take over on the spot.

When the wooden box was opened, it was filled with all sorts of odds and ends, a complete mess.

There are old records of miscellaneous expenses.

There are wooden signs that were hand-painted after money was received.

It records the scraps of paper showing which family's carriage passed by, which day they were shortchanged by two coins, and which time a porter argued and an extra penny was added to his name.

Ah Fu's eyes were dazzled by the sight.

Cui Shen flipped through the pages faster and faster.

This kind of chaos isn't a bad thing.

The more chaotic it is, the more it shows that no one keeps proper records of this money in accordance with official procedures.

The more you explain, the more it shows that it was originally meant to be shrouded in mystery.

Han Jitong only read a few pages before pointing to a crumpled piece of paper and whispering:

"This is incorrect."

"The money for cleaning the ditch was given to a man named Liu Qi."

"But I remember that the ditch outside the city gate was always cleared by the Tian family and their porters in previous years. If the money really went to Liu Qi, it was most likely just a pretext."

Cui Shen glanced at him.

"Liu Qi?"

"Is there such a person in the county?"

"have."

Han Jitong thought for a moment.

"A shop assistant at Liu Ji Cloth Shop in the south of the city."

"But people like this shouldn't be collecting the clean ditch money."

Yang Xuan paused slightly with his fingertips, but said nothing more, only memorizing the character "Liu" in his heart.

After noon, the number of people at the government office gate did not decrease but increased.

No wonder.

He Liu was pinned down, the tents at the city gate were overturned, and the old grime in the yamen was torn open early in the morning.

In places like Yanjing County, news travels fast, and people move quickly.

At this point, those who truly need to act should finally step in.

The first one to arrive was Tian Chengyi.

It's just different from yesterday.

Yesterday he came on behalf of the Tian family to "deliver a small gift to welcome them."

But today he changed his tune.

Before the person even entered the courtyard, laughter could be heard first.

"The county magistrate is truly decisive and efficient."

"When I went back and told the master what happened this morning, he sighed and said that the yamen had been too lax for too long and that it was time for an official who was willing to set rules to come and rein it in."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a servant behind him carried in two items.

A basket of high-quality medicinal herbs.

A box of silver ingots.

Further on, a servant boy was holding the invitation.

Tian Chengyi presented the invitation with both hands, still maintaining a respectful tone.

"The head of the family said that since the magistrate has seen the dilapidated shed at the city gate, it is the county's fault. If the yamen is unable to spare the time, the Tian family is willing to advance some money for repairing the shed and cleaning the ditch. In addition, we will hold a small banquet on East Street tonight. We dare not say that we are welcoming the magistrate, but only to apologize on behalf of the local people."

Ah Fu, who was listening nearby, couldn't help but laugh.

That sounds nice.

Repairing sheds and cleaning ditches yields silver.

apologize.

But what really matters is the following sentence: "A banquet will be held tonight."

Once you sit at the table, many things cease to be official business.

It becomes a favor.

Once the favor is done, the knife becomes half dull.

Yang Xuan did not refute it.

He glanced at the box of silver and asked:

"Your master is quite enthusiastic."

"He remembers even the smallest things in government offices, like repairing sheds and cleaning ditches, so clearly."

Tian Chengyi's smile remained unchanged.

"We're all from the same county, so we should share the burden."

"it is good."

Yang Xuan nodded.

"Then go back and tell your master."

"I will not accept the money, nor will I attend the banquet."

"But since he's so enthusiastic, I do have something I'd like to ask him."

"According to the records, the ditch at the city gate has been cleared four times in the past three months. You just mentioned that the Tian family is willing to repair the shed and clear the ditch."

"Then the Tian family must be very familiar with this place."

"Since you are familiar with the business, I would like to trouble you to make a list of all the things the Tian family has handled in the county over the past six months, including wells, porters, odd jobs, intermediary goods, ditch repairs, and shed repairs, and send it to the yamen."

"So that in the future, if someone says that this is an old custom in the county or a family's old relationship, I won't even know the proper channels."

The smile on Tian Chengyi's face finally began to falter.

This is not as simple as refusing a gift.

The new magistrate followed their outstretched hands and felt their pulses on their wrists.

Didn't you want to share the burden for the county?

Well.

Please explain clearly what worries you shared and what things happened to you.

Tian Chengyi paused for only a moment before forcing back his smile.

"Your Excellency is too kind. The Tian family is just an honest family; how could we dare to handle so much?"

"It's best if you don't dare to handle it."

Yang Xuan said calmly.

"Then the list will be much easier to compile."

Tian Chengyi felt a lump in his throat, but could only agree verbally.

The ritual was naturally sealed off under the eaves.

The post, naturally, could only be taken back exactly as it was.

No sooner had Tian Chengyi left than Hu Rong arrived.

This salt merchant in the West Market was better at reading people's expressions and better at speaking in riddles than Tian Chengyi.

The gift he brought today is not silver.

There were two new abacuses, a stack of fine Sichuan paper, and three bolts of fine cloth.

It doesn't look like a bribe.

It seemed more like they were procuring public supplies for the newly appointed county government.

"The magistrate checked the registers last night and realized that these handy items are what he needs most."

As soon as Hu Rong entered, he smiled and clasped his hands in greeting.

"Having worked in the salt trade, I understand the hardships of bookkeeping. Old paper and worn-out pens are the worst things that can go wrong."

"These are just a small token of our appreciation; we wouldn't dare offend the magistrate's eyes."

Cui Shen didn't even lift his eyelids when he heard this.

This shopkeeper, Mr. Hu, certainly knows how to pick a location.

Last night they spent half the night flipping through the books, and today they delivered an abacus, paper, and cloth. It was as if they hadn't touched money at all, but every sentence was saying: You check the accounts, and I'll save you the trouble.

This is another kind of test.

Whether you take advantage of this "convenience" or not.

If you eat it, many debts can be settled through the "convenience" channel.