Chapter 207: Two hundred and fourteen, the old man has nothing, a mere 'craftsman's work' as a gift

Two hundred and fourteen, the old man has nothing, a mere 'craftsman's work' as a gift.

The second phase of the Zhe Yi Channel was completed.

When County Assistant Diao ran into the main hall excitedly to announce this news, Ouyang Rong was burying his head in writing an important letter.

"Completed today?" Ouyang Rong stopped his pen in a daze, rubbed his eyebrows, and looked up, slightly surprised. He subconsciously looked out the window; it was another sunny morning.

Since the end of the plum rain season and entering the Summer Solstice, Longcheng County had been sunny every day. The crisis of the Yunmeng Marsh water level rising and the dam collapsing not long ago seemed as if it had never happened. Ouyang Rong's eyes were a bit dazed, and he put down his pen and said:

"These days, starting and stopping, it's really been hard on everyone. Let's go take a look."

Ouyang Rong didn't move immediately; he lowered his head and silently put away the letter paper he had almost finished writing. Only after everything was packed properly did he stand up and leave his seat.

County Assistant Diao didn't care about these small details. The Magistrate had indeed been very fond of staying in the county office hall to write letters lately, and he even had Liu Ashan send them frequently. Perhaps he was writing to contact friends from the same year.

"Is that old craftsman playing an April Fool's joke on my brother?" "It's nothing." Ouyang Rong shook his head.

"Fine, let County Assistant Diao handle that matter. Just don't blow it out of proportion."

Looking at this familiar object, not knowing that it had originally been thrown into the furnace and vanished into smoke, he looked at this recovered item with a puzzled expression:

"What is it?"

After a pause, Liu Zian asked in a daze:

The smiling County Assistant Diao seemed to have remembered something and asked:

Seeing this, Liu Zian followed Ashan, picked up a few mouthfuls of food for her brother, and turned to continue chatting and smiling with Zhe Yi and Ashan.

"By the way, what I said yesterday might have been a bit offensive. Don't take it too much to heart, County Assistant Diao. Thinking about it, your work is still quite steady. Staying in this small county town is indeed a bit of a waste of talent."

Dai Qingxiang heard this and shook her head directly:

"What's the matter?" Liu Zian asked immediately: "Is someone bullying you?" The family stood up to greet Dai Qingxiang when they saw her.

"This time we were able to complete the Zhe Yi Channel early, Liu Ashan and the Liu family indeed contributed quite a bit... Fine, let's do it according to his wishes. However, all the expenses will be covered by Liu Ashan; the county office will just show its face to go through the motions."

The young girl's big eyes were clear, like a clear spring, even brighter than the candles beside her. Sure enough, Ouyang Rong and Zhe Yi looked at each other, the former nodded slightly, but then sighed, squeezed out a smile, and said:

He looked at the sky, tucked the envelope into his bosom, stood up, finished his shift, and went home.

These days, he helped Liu Zian with things and also happened to socialize widely. Plus, being a local of Longcheng County, naturally, many local officials and wealthy families took the initiative to show kindness and befriend him. Some people even had thoughts of marriage, which was a matter of course.

Liu Zian called out, waiting in the courtyard.

Although the things Liu Ashan did, if they reached the ears of the dead Liu Ziwen, the latter's coffin lid definitely wouldn't be able to be held down.

Liu Zian silently filled in the signature, stamped the seal, and put the letter paper into the envelope. "It's not."

Liu Zian was stunned listening.

Ouyang Rong looked at Liu Zian's expression and nodded.

But at this time, Dai Qing ran out with a small bundle and said timidly:

"Magistrate, this channel opening is truly magnificent! The old man has only seen such a vast scene in his life."

"'Craftsman's work'... besides the title of special craftsmen in the sword shop, in the dictionary, it seems to mean a rigid work created by ordinary craftsmen, full of craftsmanship but lacking spirituality..."

Beside her, her brother, while eating, turned his head frequently to look closely at the gentle expression on Liu Zian's face when he talked to her mother.

After a while, the carriage arrived at the county office, and the two got off one after another, returning to their offices to work.

"During the day, someone came from the sword shop. It was Miss Cheng who took care of me before. She sent me this, saying that the old craftsman who likes to drink yellow wine asked her to send it to me."

County Assistant Diao stroked his beard, and his head leaned over:

Returning to Meilu Garden, Liu Zian first returned to the study, took out a bronze beast mask from the box, put it into his sleeve, then walked straight out of the courtyard and walked towards a courtyard in Meilu Garden.

The wooden man hesitated, preparing to say something.

Liu Zian decided to carry forward the spirit of diligence and thrift once more before leaving, squeezing the big spender of the Liu family.

"What is it?"

Or perhaps it was because he had been writing intermittently for the past two days, and the melancholy mood had been interrupted repeatedly, so it had faded a lot.

"However, these days, being able to govern the county office with you, County Assistant Diao, I've been quite happy."

Ouyang Rong had been following Liu Zian, and even without the title of master and servant, he was already a well-known figure in the county office.

Liu Zian waved his hand, went to press them back onto the stools, and while laughing and talking, he went to the back kitchen to get a pair of bowls and chopsticks and returned. He rolled up his sleeves and sat down with her brother's family to eat.

The young magistrate smiled sincerely, lifted the window curtain with his finger, looked at the sunset street outside, and said.

Not long after, dinner was finished.

Of course, there was also Dai Qing and Dai Qingxiang's empty bowls; she didn't forget to take them either.

"By the way, County Assistant Diao, I forgot to say, I might take a day off the day after tomorrow to return to my hometown to worship my ancestors. Report this to Jiangzhou as well... By then, the affairs in the county will be temporarily handled by you, County Assistant Diao."

Bumping into her brother Ouyang Rong's steady and probing gaze, her brother buried her small face in the bowl, and she shoveled the white rice even more diligently.

"Three... seven... do we have to wait seven days?"

Liu Zian took the blue butterfly flower, a curious look appeared on his face, he frowned and chewed: "This official understands."

Perhaps it was because of the completion of the Magistrate's Channel, he was in a good mood.

After all, there was a young, marriageable, and beautiful younger sister in Ouyang Rong's family. Even if the word "Yue" was tattooed on her forehead, it didn't count as much of an obstacle, and it wasn't disfigurement. In Liu Zian's words, she should still be a hot commodity in the marriage market of a small Jiang Nan county town.

"My brother is really well-behaved."

Liu Zian was unusually not annoyed or angry today. He nodded and waved his hand casually: Her brother presented the bundle:

The old County Assistant laughed and waved his hand. Liu Zian laughed, didn't think much, and said directly: Thinking of this, he smiled embarrassedly.

Liu Zian turned to look at the old County Assistant who was endlessly imparting experience; the latter had a radiant expression on his face.

No matter what, Liu Zian's sudden visit for dinner, she should be quite happy. "'Craftsman's work'?"

Getting a chance to show off for free, County Assistant Diao immediately looked happy and gladly agreed.

After dinner, her brother took the initiative to jump off the stool and go to get hot rice for Liu Zian, whose bowl was empty.

Zhe Yi tacitly went to the back kitchen to wash the dishes, Ouyang Rong walked out, and the two gathered to go to the pavilion nearby for a private chat.

County Assistant Diao was quite understanding.

In the young girl's fair little hands lay a blue paper-folded butterfly flower.

I don't know if it was because she was repaired and subdued by the incident of dismantling the Liu family, but so far, Liu Ashan was indeed much more honest than Liu Ziwen. Liu Zian looked quite satisfied; this was a law-abiding citizen. Other local tyrants and evil gentry should learn more. Even if it was just acting, they should honestly be a ninja turtle for this official.

"By the way, there must be people coming to propose marriage, right?"

The young girl's ears seemed to be red, but it wasn't too obvious in the orange candlelight.

"This was taken away by him before, I helped you get it back last time, why did he send it back and give it a weird name..."

Zhe Yi silently went to the back kitchen to get some jars of pickled radishes and mustard greens and placed them on the table not far from Liu Zian's hand.

It seemed that the scene of "everything falling into place" at the Magistrate's Channel this afternoon was still quite shocking to him.

If he also had meritorious service in water control like Ouyang Rong and was famous in one area, he would also contact people everywhere, move relationships, and strive to be promoted to a better official position, preferably being able to be transferred directly back to the capital to be a clean and noble official, to appreciate the prosperous smoke and flowers of Luodu, which was known as the heart of the empire.

The east room was brighter.

"Anyway, their Liu family also has some shares in the new channel and new ferry. If the new ferry gets lively earlier, it will also benefit him."

Zhe Yi, Ouyang Rong, and Dai Qing, whom he hadn't seen for a long time, were eating dinner around the table. County Assistant Diao slapped his thin chest, which only had ribs left, with a thunderous sound.

County Assistant Diao was stunned at first, "What words? Oh, you mean what you said at the pier yesterday, this official had forgotten..."

"Magistrate, you don't understand this. Governing a place and having merit cannot be kept silent. Even if you've already said it, write more letters to talk about it, emphasizing how important this matter is. Only then can the people above remember your merit. Otherwise, noble people are forgetful, and they'll forget it when they turn around. Wouldn't it be working for nothing?"

Liu Zian felt a bit embarrassed, hurriedly stopped them, and at the dinner table, asked with concern about Zhe Yi's health and recent life.

"The old gentleman said that this object has a name, called 'Craftsman's work', and told me not to forget the name, saying something like..."

"... the old man has nothing, a mere 'craftsman's work' as a gift... He also said that someone might come to ask for this object later, and at that time, I can decide for myself whether to hand over this thing called 'Craftsman's work' in exchange for some other benefits."

"It's not that they aren't good, they are all honest and decent good boys." Ouyang Rong hesitated, looked at Dai Qingxiang, and said: "But my sister said she doesn't want to get married yet."

Dai Qingxiang laughed, suddenly put down the curtain, and said without looking back:

On the way, inside the carriage, County Assistant Diao had a smile on his face, savoring it with relish.

Dai Qingxiang was stunned: "My brother is picking? That, also right, if she doesn't like them, forget it..." His expression was hesitant, and the sudden change before and after seemed a bit double-standard.

Ouyang Rong was a bit awkward, stood up, and went to light a few more oil lamps. "Ashan, come out for a moment."

"Why is that? Are they picking on my brother? My brother is a good girl; being able to marry her back is a blessing, a sign of prosperity for the husband and children." Liu Zian frowned slightly and said.

Not putting anything to heart.

"By the way, my brother's age should be the same as Weilai's, right? In the folk here, it shouldn't be considered young anymore. Madam Liu, Ashan, when are you going to find a good match for her? Do you need me to help arrange it?"

"We can write another letter to Inspector Wang, asking him to request more merit for us. After all, this is under his governance, and it counts as part of his merit. Of course, Magistrate Ashan has the greatest merit, and this official is second in assisting..."

County Assistant Diao nodded and asked seriously:

Ouyang Rong smiled warmly, in a good mood, and left the county office with County Assistant Diao...

Her brother heard this, took an object directly from the bundle, handed it to Liu Zian, and raised her little face: "By the way."

When knocking on the door and walking into the small courtyard where Dai Qingxiang's family lived.

It was only when her mother Liu stretched out a pair of chopsticks and gave her a mouthful of food that the young girl reacted.

"Master, there's something."

Liu Zian's eyes flashed with the figure of Liu Ashan, who had been respectfully accompanying him at the Magistrate's Channel not long ago, hesitated slightly, and nodded heavily:

Liu Zian turned his head and asked curiously: "Didn't you report it before?"

"No wonder this official saw Ouyang Rong handling the rental of official ships the day before yesterday; it turns out it was for this matter."

But at this time, her brother returned with two bowls of hot rice, one in each hand, and nimbly and skillfully handed them to Liu Zian and Ashan.

"What are Madam Liu and Master talking about?" Her brother blew on her hot fingers and asked curiously in a low voice.

Dai Qingxiang walked into the public hall, dismissed everyone, took out the letter to the Junior Sister that hadn't been finished, and while the sun hadn't completely set, sat at the desk and wrote.

"The old gentleman said it's a gift to repay me for helping him buy wine, and told me to keep it well."

"By the way, Liu Ashan wants to invite you, Magistrate Ashan, to grace us with your presence on the 17th and go on stage to give a speech, so that everyone can admire the benevolent face of the local parents' official."

"Since Liu Ashan suggested holding a celebration ceremony for the channel completion on the 17th of this month, inviting some merchants and powerful people to come, to make the Magistrate's Channel famous in the water transport region of Jiangzhou, and also to let the new channel start trading earlier, what do you think, Ashan?"

"It's my sister who doesn't like it." Ouyang Rong suddenly said in a muffled voice.

"Then the young girl is homesick. You, as Madam Liu, have to take the lead. Marry a sister-in-law for her earlier. Seeing you two happy, I'll know to be anxious."

"Ashan is going back to his hometown to worship his ancestors?"

Dai Qingxiang nodded and also sighed lightly.

County Assistant Diao added: "This is a matter of merit in the present and benefit for generations to come. Shall we write a letter and report it to the Jiangzhou government and the imperial court?"

Liu Zian nodded heavily.

After a pause, he turned his head again:

By evening, the two returned to Luming Street happily, surrounded by a group of clerks.

"It's fine, it's fine. Worshiping ancestors during the Ghost Festival is a matter of human ethics. The Jiangzhou government above won't reject the leave. Ashan, just pack your things and return to your hometown with peace of mind. The affairs of the county office are on this official's shoulders! Your administrative arrangements, Ashan, will remain as they are."

Liu Zian looked at her brother's small back as she went to the back kitchen, turned to Zhe Yi and Ashan, and asked with a smile: County Assistant Diao asked curiously, then reacted and said in a daze:

Outside, light was secretly hidden.

"To tell the truth to the Master, it's not that there were no pure and good families with solid backgrounds who hinted at proposing marriage later, it's just that none of them worked out."

"Liu Ashan's proposal, is it..."

His elder brother even forgot to pick up his vegetables, just foolishly shoveling rice into his mouth.

"Magistrate Diao, please go up to the stage and speak on my behalf; I will be returning to my hometown the day after tomorrow, I cannot wait until the seventeenth."