Chapter 114

Looking at the food box in Jia Xu's hands, the two little ones immediately cheered with joy.

In the room, Jia Xu sat beside the desk, watching his two sons and his wife sitting gathered together.

A virtuous wife, sensible sons.

Jia Xu could not help but reveal a knowing smile.

But when his gaze turned to the dim swaying lamp in the house, and saw the worn robes on his wife and children, the smile on Jia Xu's face gradually faded.

Being an official... does not necessarily mean having money.

Let alone someone from a humble background like him.

The Jia family once produced a two-thousand-shi Governor in Liangzhou.

But that was also many years ago.

By his generation, this branch of the Jia family had long fallen into decline.

The initial opportunity for a Filial and Incorrupt recommendation only came to him because there were truly too few prominent clans in Liangzhou.

He had thought that once he became an official, life would get a little easier.

However, after arriving in Luoyangcheng, he realized it was not like that at all.

It turned out that being an official still required spending money.

Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of cash that had to be paid upon first taking office.

He also had to pay respects to his superiors, purchase property, and furnish his residence.

Luoyangcheng, at the foot of the Son of Heaven, had prices and housing costs that Liangzhou could not compare with.

The money he carried to Luoyangcheng was spent in less than ten days.

If he stayed in Luoyangcheng any longer, he feared he would have to sleep on the streets.

Moreover, if the hundreds of thousands of cash required for taking office were not paid, there would never be a vacancy for an official post.

Where would he get hundreds of thousands of cash?

Thus, he could only claim illness and return home.

Luoyangcheng was hard.

Life in Liangzhou was also far from easy.

The court was corrupt, the borderlands were plagued by war, and Liangzhou suffered from constant warfare with the Qiang tribes year after year.

To protect his family, he could only throw himself into the service of a local powerful lord.

Fortunately, he still had the title of a humble clan scholar, so he joined Dong Zhuo.

But with an unremarkable reputation, how could he be heavily utilized?

He was assigned under Niu Fu as a Lang official, responsible for daily clerical duties.

Yet his meager salary was barely enough to feed his family.

He had dragged his wife and children into suffering with him.

"Husband, you should eat some too. This mutton is very fragrant."

Jia Xu, deep in thought, raised his head and smiled as he shook it: "You all eat. I have already eaten."

The woman used her chopsticks to divide the mutton in her bowl equally between her two sons.

Watching his wife's actions.

Jia Xu suddenly felt a heart-wrenching sensation.

Perhaps...

Duan Yu was right.

If one cannot protect one's family, how can one serve the country?

A chest full of stratagems, yet not half a shi of rice in the house.

Jia Xu lowered his head, his mind full of the words Duan Yu had just spoken at the inn.

He admitted that Duan Yu was not wrong.

But at the same time, he was also very puzzled.

Why did Duan Yu think so highly of him?

The two clearly did not know each other before.

"Choose a wise lord, become a worthy minister, leave one's name in history..."

"Duan Yu, I hope you won't disappoint me," Jia Xu said to himself.

At the residence of Chen Ye, the County Magistrate of Jinyang County.

At this moment, bright candles lit up the spacious main hall, illuminating it radiantly.

Desks were arranged in the main hall in an orderly manner of precedence.

The desks were filled with delicacies, wild game, poultry, and fish.

Chen Ye, dressed in his official robe, sat in the host's seat, holding a wine goblet, and was toasting Wang Gai, who sat below.

"Young Master Wang, please drink this cup," Chen Ye said with a smile.

Wang Gai smiled slightly, raised his wine cup, and said, "County Magistrate Chen is too polite. This cup should be me toasting you."

"You really helped me greatly this time."

"Without County Magistrate Chen's help, I might have lost face in front of Guo Li and the others this time."

Chen Ye smiled and shook his head, saying, "Young Master Wang jests. My father is an old friend of your esteemed teacher, and our two families have been on good terms for generations. Such a small matter is nothing."

"A mere village patrol inspector is not worth Young Master Wang going to such trouble."

"If I had known it was only such a minor matter for Young Master Wang, a single word from a servant would have sufficed."

Chen Ye said in a very polite tone: "Now that your father is in Luoyangcheng, I wonder how his health is. After the autumn harvest this year, I may also have to return to the capital. It has already been three years here in Jinyang, and I do not know where my next posting will be."

Wang Gai smiled, understanding in his heart.

Scholarly clan connections, officialdom favors.

You help me, I help you.

Everyone is happy.

Since Chen Ye helped him this time, he naturally ought to give something in return.

Mere strings of cash certainly could not satisfy Chen Ye.

After all, Chen Ye was not exactly short of money.

"County Magistrate Chen is returning to the capital?" Wang Gai said, feigning surprise: "What a coincidence, I too have not seen my father for a long time. We might as well travel to the capital together, and I will introduce County Magistrate Chen to my father."

"My father is currently in the Minister of Education's secretariat, and may be able to help County Magistrate Chen maneuver a bit."

"Ah." Chen Ye hurriedly raised his cup and said: "How could I presume, how could I presume."

The two looked at each other and smiled.

Early the next morning.

After breakfast, Duan Yu took Tieshitou, Wang Hunu, and twenty young men from the village to check out of the inn, then headed to the county office in the city.

Inside the county office.

Chief of Thieves Liu He was already waiting at the door.

Seeing Duan Yu arrive with his men, he immediately stepped out from the front of the county mansion to welcome them.

"Haha, Duan Youjiao, your timing is perfect."

"Look at these subordinates of yours, Duan Youjiao; this campaign against the bandits will surely be a great victory."

Duan Yu looked at Liu He, the corners of his mouth curving up slightly.