What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 52 Two Foxes Engage in a Battle of Wits (Begging for Monthly Tickets)

The burly servants led the way, jogging back to the yamen.

Su Mo was surprised to see Dong Yangrong waiting for him at the entrance of the county government office from afar.

The servant only said that someone from the inner office had delivered a message, but he didn't say it was the county magistrate's clerk!
Dong Yangrong smiled at Su Mo and said, "Luckily, we made it in time!"

"If it's even a little later, I'm afraid I'll have to go to Zhushan Township to look for you!"

Then he added, "Master has something to discuss with Brother Su. Let's hurry over and not keep Master waiting."

Su Mo nodded and followed Dong Yangrong quickly toward the Second Hall.

As they approached the second hall, he stopped and asked in a low voice, "Mr. Dong, may I ask why Your Excellency has summoned me?"

"Is it related to the Cao family?"

Dong Yangrong looked around before replying in a low voice, "Exactly!"

Su Mo pressed further, "Does Mr. Dong know the origins of the Cao family?"

Dong Yangrong hesitated for a moment, then shook his head: "Brother Su, you should talk to Master Dong yourself."

Just as Su Mo was about to step into the second hall, he called out to Su Mo.

With a solemn expression, he said, "The Cao family is no ordinary family; it would be best not to offend them!"

Su Mo nodded: "Thank you for your guidance, sir! I will keep it in mind!"

He wasn't really a hothead.

If the Cao family does not pursue Chen Qianyu's matter.

Su Mo would certainly not make such a formidable enemy for no reason.

And then there's the Five Peaks Gang.

If they can abide by their own rules in the future, it wouldn't hurt to let them stay in Dongshi and share some of the profits.

Dong Yangrong led Su Mo to the side hall of the second hall and said something inside.

Su Mo then heard Xue Shan's voice from inside: "Let him in!"

Dong Yangrong nodded to Su Mo, but stayed outside and did not go in with Su Mo.

Su Mo walked into the side hall.

At a glance, one could see the magistrate, a man of great official authority and imposing presence, sitting behind his desk.

There was tea brewed on the table, steaming out.

The huge side hall didn't even have a single servant!
Xue Shan looked Su Mo up and down for a moment, then said calmly, "Sit down!"

Su Mo quickly said, "Thank you for offering me a seat, Your Excellency!"

"Your subordinate may remain standing!"

Xue Shan, who had been looking serious, suddenly laughed: "Truly a little rascal taught by that old clerk!"

"Please sit down!"

"I have many questions to ask you."

Su Mo then sat down on the stool with one side of her bottom.

Xue Shan poured tea for Su Mo and then gently pushed the teacup toward Su Mo, saying, "Here!"

"Try this tea from my hometown!"

Su Mo hurriedly stood up: "How dare this humble servant ask the county magistrate for tea!"

Xue Shan waved his hand: "This is not a courtroom setting. You are my elder, so there is no need for you to be so formal!"

He paused, then added, "I heard from Mr. Dong that he's giving you the rock tea that I gave him?"

"Have you had any? How did it taste?"

Su Mo naturally understood the implication in Xue Shan's words.

Everyone knows each other's situation, so let's stop pretending.

I'm no longer pretentious.

However, he still said respectfully, "I have never tasted such fine tea before, and I couldn't wait to try it yesterday."

"The tea from the county magistrate's hometown is of excellent quality."

Xue Shan smiled and said, "Actually, it's not that good tea. I just got used to drinking it when I was in Wu County!"

Then, he suddenly changed the subject: "Are you a local from Changping?"

"Chen Qian is his only relative?"

Su Mo nodded: "This humble servant grew up in Changping since childhood."

"I only have my third maternal uncle in the county." "However, my eldest and second maternal uncles are still alive, but they moved away some years ago."

Xue Shan nodded, then asked a lot of irrelevant questions, going around in circles without getting to the point.

Su Mo was young and somewhat impatient.

He knew that Xue Shan was waiting for him to bring up the Cao family issue so that he could take the initiative.

But if we keep going in circles like this, who knows when it will end?

Su Mo was not stupid; his knowledge far surpassed that of the ancients. He simply lacked experience.

These days I've been constantly being lectured and beaten by my uncle, receiving his constant admonitions and instructions.

The progress has been remarkably rapid.

His eyes darted around slightly, and he suddenly said, "Your Excellency, there is something I wish to say, but I am not sure if I should."

Xue Shan sneered inwardly.

This kid seems honest and kind, but he's actually cunning and treacherous.

Unfortunately, he was young and lacked composure.

He slowly picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and then smiled: "Please speak freely!"

Su Mo hesitated for a moment: "That's how it is."

“Yesterday, when I passed by the back office, I saw a young man climb over the wall and claim to be the son of the county magistrate.”

"I didn't believe it, fearing that some villain might impersonate the magistrate's relative and tarnish his reputation, so I coaxed him to stay and secretly observed him, but..."

Su Mo paused, then gritted her teeth and said, "But I discovered that the young man seems to be... really the young master of the county magistrate's mansion."

Xue Shan exclaimed "Holy crap!" He almost spat out the tea he had just drunk!
your sister!
Is this threatening me with my daughter's reputation?
What a cunning and shameless scoundrel!
They were in no way inferior to me!

His face suddenly darkened, and he slammed his teacup down on the table: "I think you've made a mistake!"

“I have a good son who is studying at the Yong’an Prefectural School under the guidance of the professors.”

"If I were to return to Changping County, how could I not know?"

Su Mo quickly stood up and said, "Then I must have misread it!"

"Um……"

"I have another matter to report."

Xue Shan snorted, not even gesturing for Su Mo to sit down, but his expression softened somewhat: "Speak!"

Su Mo stopped wasting words and said directly, "This humble servant was strolling around the East Market with the daughter of an elder."

"I never imagined that thugs would commit violence in the street and vandalize honest businesses."

"As the daughter of an elder, she couldn't stand such injustices. Moreover, she had practiced martial arts for several years. On impulse, she took action and taught those villains a lesson."

Su Mo, with a righteous expression, said indignantly, "I only later learned that those villains were members of a Jianghu gang."

“There were even people claiming to be servants of the Cao family who spoke up for the villains and fueled their arrogance, forcing the yamen runners to take my elder’s daughter back to the yamen.”

Su Mo narrowed his eyes and stared directly at Xue Shan: "This humble servant dares to ask Your Excellency, are you aware of the Cao family's background, which is so arrogant, domineering, and lawless?"

As soon as these words came out.

Xue Shan's expression immediately turned serious.

After a long silence, he slowly said, "Please sit down!"

"I do know something about the origins of the Cao family."

He paused, then continued, "If the Cao family really supports that Jianghu gang, your elder's daughter is likely to be in real trouble this time!"

Su Mo felt a chill run down her spine.

But I never expected that this old fox would speak so bluntly.

He asked in a deep voice, "What do you mean by that, Your Excellency?"

"You are the magistrate of Changping County, always upright and honest. Are you afraid of the Cao family?"

Xue Shan waved his hand dismissively and said irritably, "It's just the two of us here, why flatter me!"

"Besides, a mere seventh-rank official like the county magistrate is being flattered by a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard; he probably won't be able to sleep well at night!"

He couldn't be bothered to waste words with Su Mo.

He immediately said, "Master Cao, I was once an important official in the capital, but I was dismissed before the new year and have just returned to Changping County..."

As he spoke, Xue Shan took a deep breath, his expression growing increasingly solemn, and his voice lowered slightly: "Do you know what position he held and what rank he was before he was dismissed?"

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(End of this chapter)