Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Although the restaurant was spacious and bright, it didn't have any fancy decor. The waiters brought in dishes one after another, and apart from a brief introduction to the ingredients, there was nothing special about them.

"The last dish is freshly stewed lamb." The waiter gently placed the steaming clay pot on the table. "Sir, all the dishes are here. We also offer you a jar of wine. Please enjoy it. If you need anything, please feel free to ask for it."

Zhang Jingwei looked around and said with a smile, "This restaurant... is very welcoming!"

The waiter wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Our boss said that since you are a new customer, you must be served well."

"Then please thank your boss for me." Zhang Jingwei nodded.

The waiter looked at Zhang Jingwei's clothes and asked tentatively, "Judging from your attire, you must be a scholar, right?"

"Well, I have only studied for a few years." Zhang Jingwei answered modestly.

The waiter immediately perked up: "Our new county magistrate is a Juren (School Master) and I heard that he values ​​scholars very much. Several of our county's students are now managers in his business. You'd better seize the opportunity, the salary is very generous."

Zhang Jingwei feigned surprise. "Really? If I get a chance, I'll definitely give it a try." He scooped up a bowl of mutton soup and took a sip. "What day is it today? Why is it so lively? It's almost curfew, and there's still a hustle and bustle outside."

The waiter's expression suddenly became complicated: "Today is not a special day, it's just that our chief clerk... Well, forget it."

Zhang Jingwei put down his bowl and chopsticks, frowning and saying, "Don't worry, why let it go? What I hate most is people who only say half of what they want to say."

The waiter looked around and lowered his voice: "Since you are a stranger, I'm telling you this, please don't spread it around."

"I'm almost dying of anxiety. Tell me quickly." Zhang Jingwei urged.

The waiter sighed, "Although the Master Clerk has been acting as the county magistrate for the past six months, and the land has been divided and the wasteland has been reclaimed, it's just...it's just...ah, I don't know how to put it."

Zhang Jingwei pretended to be angry: "I tell you, if I die here today, it will be because of you, you murderer."

The waiter waved his hand quickly: "Do you think the streets are particularly busy today?"

"Yeah, it's a little weirdly lively." Zhang Jingwei nodded.

"That's fake!" the waiter lowered his voice. "They've driven people from the surrounding villages into the city to create a scene of great activity. Their sole purpose is to please the new county magistrate."

Zhang Jingwei's face turned ugly and he stammered: "Ah, this... this..."

The waiter continued to complain, "Every time he comes back from the state capital, he finds a way to make things worse for us. One day, the street outside is dirty, the next day, our sign is blocking the road. Last month, he fined a lot of businesses because of some deeds. Some small businesses are in trouble. Our monthly income is not enough to cover the fines."

"Business license..." Zhang Jingwei seemed to be thinking about something.

"Right!" the waiter said indignantly, "I really don't know which bastard came up with this idea. It's really killing people."

Zhang Jingwei coughed lightly: "Ahem, let's talk about the chief clerk."

The waiter's expression softened again. "You say this chief clerk is a good official, right? He really hasn't considered us ordinary people when he's doing things. If you say he's not a good official... he has indeed done a lot of good things!"

"Then he should be a good official!" Zhang Jingwei said with a smile.

"At least he's not a scoundrel," the waiter lowered his voice. "Like the previous county magistrate, he was a scoundrel. He was tyrannical and bullied men and women. He even hanged himself in his gold room, which was filled with over twenty boxes of gold. How could a human being do such a thing?"

Zhang Jingwei nodded in agreement: "During the smuggling case, he hanged himself, otherwise we would have dug out a lot of maggots."

"That's right!" the waiter said excitedly, "This is a major case that has shocked the entire Celestial Empire. Our new county magistrate is Zhang Xiaolian, the man who cracked the smuggling case!"

Zhang Jingwei pretended to be surprised: "You actually know Zhang Xiaolian."

The waiter was full of admiration: "Zhang Xiaolian, he is a household name. He broke up smuggling, beheaded Han Ye, launched the military march, and took in refugees. I am so lucky to be the descendant of such a hero..."

Zhang Jingwei laughed and said, "Haha, your good days are coming."

"Of course not..." The waiter was about to continue when he heard someone outside shout "Waiter". He hurriedly stood up and said, "I was so engrossed in chatting with you that I forgot I was still working. Enjoy your meal." With that, he hurried away.

Zhang Jingwei looked at the waiter's departing back and raised his glass thoughtfully. Huangfu Ling whispered, "Hero, what are you thinking about?"

Mu Tou was wolfing down the mutton and muttered incoherently, "Master, if you don't eat more, it will turn into oil."

Qian Ming carefully put down his chopsticks and asked in a low voice, "Master, is there something about this chief clerk that makes you dissatisfied?"

Zhang Jingwei sighed softly and looked out the window: "It's just that I was too satisfied, and now it's the people who are dissatisfied."

Huangfu Ling frowned in confusion. "There's nothing wrong with Xiao Zhubu following his superiors' instructions, right? And as his superior, you should be happy to see what he's done for you!"

"Formalism and one-size-fits-all approaches are clearly lazy governance!" Zhang Jingwei put down his wine glass heavily, and a few drops of wine splashed out of the glass.

Huangfu Ling still tried to defend himself: "But it is a fact that the people are living a good life."

Zhang Jingwei pointed at the villagers wandering aimlessly on the street and said with a wry smile, "They've gotten better... but also more tired!" Suddenly, his eyes fixed on the street corner. "Huh? It's Jiu'er and Sun Yaolang!"

"Where? Where?" Mu Tou, who was originally concentrating on eating, suddenly looked up, rushed to the window, and almost knocked over the table.

Jiu'er and Sun Yaolang's sudden departure without saying goodbye left Zhang Jingwei baffled. Fortunately, Wang Ergou's informant tracked them down in Gaoyang.

Huangfu Ling stood up in surprise and waved out the window: "Sister Jiuer!"

Jiuer on the street seemed to sense something and looked around.

Huangfu Ling leaned out half of his body and waved his hands vigorously: "Here... up there!"

Jiuer looked up and was immediately overjoyed: "Ling'er!" She hurriedly pulled the woman beside her and ran quickly towards Yuehua Tower.

Zhang Jingwei finally smiled sincerely as he watched this scene. Mu Tou couldn't wait to rush downstairs to greet her, even forgetting his precious axe on the seat. Seeing this, Qian Ming couldn't help but laugh and said, "This Mu Tou, he didn't even care about his life when he saw Miss Jiuer."

Zhang Jingwei shook his head and said to Huangfu Ling, "It looks like tonight's dinner is going to be lively."

Huangfu Ling's eyes flashed with cunningness: "Do you want to add a few more dishes? Mu Tou, you definitely want to have another meal!"

As he was speaking, a loud and honest voice came from downstairs: "Miss Jiu'er! Sun Yaolang! Please come this way!"

Zhang Jingwei stood up, straightened his robe, and the gloom on his face disappeared: "Let's go and welcome him together."