Chapter 182: Chapter 177: Good Mood
County Magistrate Chai and Chang Ning have cooperated for many years. Ever since he became County Magistrate, he invited Chang Ning to be an aide, and they’ve always gotten along well, only recently have a few problems arisen.
But County Magistrate Chai always thought they were minor issues. Weren’t they still together every day?
He never expected Chang Ning would resign.
Chang Ning didn’t hide, frankly telling County Magistrate Chai that he had found a better job, which was the reason for his resignation, and that he would miss the County Lord in the future.
County Magistrate Chai then asked, "Where will you be working, sir?"
Chang Ning replied, "Xiping County."
He said, "It’s not very far, and I’ll often come back to visit the County Lord."
County Magistrate Chai was stunned, "Xiping County? You’re, you’re going to join Third Sister Zhao?"
Chang Ning acknowledged.
County Magistrate Chai was so shocked he sat down heavily in the chair, wanting to cry. He wore a distressed expression, tugged at the corners of his mouth, but couldn’t help his eyes from watering. Finally, he couldn’t hold back and cried, slapping his leg and sobbing, "Sir didn’t lie, Third Sister Zhao truly harbors ill intentions. She actually poached you away!"
What could this be other than ill intentions?
This is truly the greatest ill intention.
County Magistrate Chai couldn’t stop crying, but in the end, he still let Chang Ning leave, drank a round of wine with him, and expressed that once successful, he shouldn’t forget him.
Chang Ning chuckled bitterly, "The County Lord is joking again. How can my future compare to the County Lord’s?"
County Magistrate Chai agreed, then raised his glass and said, "Come, I’ll drink to see you off."
Chang Ning couldn’t bear it, remained silent for a long while before saying, "County Lord, I have a few friends, if you wish to hire aides, I can recommend one or two."
County Magistrate Chai waved dismissively and said, "No need for now, I already have someone in mind."
Chang Ning was surprised, "So soon? Who is it?"
County Magistrate Chai sneered to himself, he didn’t necessarily need Chang Ning, he had already decided to poach Ji Yuan!
Upon hearing County Magistrate Chai’s plans, Chang Ning was stunned, but seeing County Magistrate Chai full of confidence, he opened his mouth and couldn’t utter the words in his heart.
He was quite conflicted. On one hand, County Magistrate Chai was his old employer, seeing him about to fall into such a large pit, he couldn’t bear it;
On the other hand, Zhao Hanzhang was his new employer, and this matter benefits her, to remind would violate professional ethics.
Chang Ning was extremely troubled, but finally mentioned, "County Lord, if you want to hire other aides, Zining has other recommendations, you may see if they are suitable."
County Magistrate Chai nodded perfunctorily.
After securing Chang Ning, Zhao Hanzhang happily packed her things and took her young mother back to Xiping.
Mrs. Wang mainly wanted to see her children, but she didn’t particularly like returning to Xiping.
Zhao Hanzhang noticed her dislike, or rather dislike for Zhao’s Fortress, so she said, "Mother, we will return to pay respects to the elders; you must not stay in the fortress, you have to come to the county government to find Second Son and me."
Upon hearing that she wouldn’t stay in the fortress, Mrs. Wang cheered up, "Good, let’s also see Mr. Fu, is he living comfortably in Xiping?"
She said, "He’s alone here, you must be good to him, don’t let him suffer."
Zhao Hanzhang immediately nodded, "I know, I definitely won’t let him suffer."
The group returned to Xiping, Zhao Hanzhang passed by her home without entering, instructing Qiu Wu to escort Mrs. Wang to the fortress to pay respects to the elders; meanwhile, she went to the county city first.
"Returning in triumph, I should have come back with the soldiers, but since I didn’t, it’s only natural to return to the county government first to check the situation. Mother, you go pay respects to Fifth Uncle first, I’ll come to get you later."
Mrs. Wang reluctantly agreed, "Then you must come to get me."
Zhao Hanzhang promised, and first ran back to the county city to meet Fu Tinghan.
Fu Tinghan and Zhao Ming were in the back courtyard of the county government playing chess and drinking wine, when Fu An ran in, excitedly announcing from afar, "Master, Third Lady is back!"
Fu Tinghan immediately stood up from the mat, jostling the chessboard, the promising game situation suddenly became disordered.
Zhao Ming looked up at him, casually dropped the chess piece in his hand, and said generously, "Go ahead."
Fu Tinghan’s face turned slightly red, feeling somewhat embarrassed, but he still bowed to Zhao Ming before dragging on his wooden clogs and heading outside.
Zhao Ming slowly gathered the chess pieces on the chessboard. Changqing, who was serving nearby, couldn’t help but sigh, "Just a little short and Mr. Fu would have won again."
Zhao Ming: "...I see your face is flushed, fears blood rushing; you should eat less now, you shouldn’t have dinner tonight."
Changqing: ...
After Zhao Ming put away the chess pieces, he slowly got up, "Come, let’s go see what my niece, who returned two days late, did outside."
Zhao Hanzhang learned that Fu Tinghan wasn’t in the front courtyard of the county government but in the back, so she immediately headed to the small gate to enter the rear courtyard.
The two collided there at the small gate.
Seeing Fu Tinghan, Zhao Hanzhang couldn’t help but show a big smile, feeling joyful, "I was just about to find you. Everything is fine at the county government these days, right?"
Fu Tinghan couldn’t help but smile too, feeling cheerful, "Nothing’s wrong, all went smoothly. How about you, they said you personally battled on the battlefield, are you alright?"
Zhao Hanzhang shook her head, "I’m fine, they’re much worse than Shi Le."
The two looked at each other, their smiles radiant.
Ting He, by Zhao Hanzhang’s side, quietly exchanged glances with Fu An on the opposite side, thinking whether to retreat, when a cough resounded.
The four turned their heads simultaneously, seeing Zhao Ming standing not far away, hands clasped, watching them.
He slowly asked, "Have you seen enough? Do you want to find someplace to sit down and talk leisurely?"
Zhao Hanzhang raised a bright face, saluted him, "Hanzhang pays respects to Uncle."
Zhao Ming nodded, leading ahead through the small gate, "Let’s talk in the county government’s main hall."
Reaching the main hall, they sat separately, Zhao Ming and Fu Tinghan side by side, Zhao Hanzhang taking the main seat.
Sitting down, Zhao Ming realized something was amiss. By rights, as an elder and the second-in-command in name at Xiping County, he should have taken the main seat in the absence of a leader.
But, looking at Zhao Hanzhang sitting naturally, he accepted the arrangement.
Zhao Ming asked, "Zhao Ju returned with unclear words, and Second Son knows nothing upon inquiry, so what’s the situation in Yu Yang?"
Zhao Hanzhang then described in detail what they saw and heard during the rescue operation, mainly focusing on others, and briefly mentioned her own matters.
All revolving around one core idea, her management of Xiping County’s affairs had been officially acknowledged by He Ci Shi, witnessed by Yu State’s various counties and prefectures, allowing her to handle affairs openly without borrowing Zhao Ming’s name and seal.
Zhao Hanzhang decided to carve her own private seal.
Zhao Ming’s attention, however, was on He Ci Shi’s injury and his confrontation with Governor Zhang, "So, is He Ci Shi trying to win you over?"
Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Yes."
"And then you allowed yourself to be won over by him?"
Zhao Hanzhang nodded, "Exactly."
Zhao Ming: "Do you realize that outside, you not only represent yourself but also the Zhao Family?"
"I know," Zhao Hanzhang asked, "Does the Zhao Family intend to reject He Ci Shi’s overtures?"
While that wasn’t the case, it’s also not wise to take sides directly.
Zhao Hanzhang straightforwardly said, "Whoever becomes the Inspector, I support them. Uncle, the Yu State is unstable, no matter who becomes the Inspector, our Zhao Family is always the side being courted."
Thinking it through, Zhao Ming found it true, so he didn’t dwell on it anymore, thought a bit, and then stood up, saying, "Since you’re back, I’ll return to the fortress."