You are unlucky and I am tough

Chapter 228: The County Magistrate Wants to See You

Wanting to see the blueprints meant they agreed. Both parties were straightforward people, and they agreed to buy land together in a few days. Xie Zhiyou was familiar with the city, so he asked someone to find out which areas of land were for sale, and then they would select together when the time came.

What Cheng Shuang and the others meant was that after selecting the land and starting to build the building, Taibai Tower could be temporarily closed, and then the news of the reconstruction of Taibai Tower could be released to build up momentum first, whetting people's appetite and attracting more attention when it opens.

Xie Zhiyou was also a decisive person. He nodded in agreement. Since they had decided to cooperate, they should make a decisive move and work together to get things done.

When the two returned to the village, it was already late. The whole village was shrouded in the golden afterglow of the setting sun, peaceful and beautiful.

The villagers were still immersed in the joy of having four scholars in the village, and they went to those families to congratulate them, and some people even brought gifts.

Cheng Lizheng and Zhao Xiuwen's parents both made white flour pancakes at home, using the best white flour mixed with glutinous rice flour and sugar. The palm-sized pancakes were fried in oil until golden brown on both sides, and they were sweet and soft when bitten.

After it is made, it is given to the villagers to eat, so that everyone in the village can share in the joy and the village is full of harmony.

Mr. Cheng, the old scholar, was in high spirits because of the good news. He also asked someone to go to the county to do some shopping. He bought two large boxes of cakes, dried meats and candies, and put them under the locust tree at the entrance of the village and asked a servant to watch over them so that people could take some.

A group of children from the village were crowded there and unwilling to leave. They were making a lot of noise and running around with cakes in their hands. After eating, they continued to beg.

When Mr. Cheng saw that the other three families had expressed their gratitude and everyone in the village was watching, he also made some black-faced steamed buns and gave them to the people who came to congratulate him as a token of his appreciation.

Cheng Shuang and Wei Qinglang got off the carriage and were about to enter the house when Cheng Xinan ran over.

"Brother Wei, you are finally back."

Wei Qinglang asked doubtfully, "Xin'an, what's wrong? Does your grandfather want to see me for something?"

"No, Grandpa, it's the County Magistrate who wants to see you, so Grandpa asked me to stay here and let you know as soon as you come back."

"Why does the county magistrate want to see me?" Wei Qinglang frowned. He had never dealt with the county magistrate of Huanhua County before.

"It's like this, today the county magistrate came to the village..."

Cheng Xinan narrated what had happened. It turned out that after the county magistrate had rewarded several students, he was strolling in the village and saw the water pressurized well.

After personally witnessing its magic, he was amazed and said that if it could be promoted, many safety hazards of open-air wells could be avoided. He immediately asked who invented it.

Naturally, Cheng Lizheng told him everything he knew, and also mentioned that Wei Qinglang had invented the rice huller and fan wheel last year. Only then did County Magistrate Shen realize that there was such a talented person living under his jurisdiction, and he insisted on meeting him.

But since the person was out, County Magistrate Shen was invited to the home of Scholar Cheng and has been waiting there until now.

After Cheng Xinan finished speaking, he turned around and ran to report the news. Wei Qinglang and Cheng Shuang looked at each other.

Cheng Shuang said, "You go ahead. I'm a little tired so I won't go. The county magistrate probably wants the blueprints for the water pump. Give them to him. Promoting it would be a good thing and would also be considered a good deed."

Wei Qinglang nodded, turned and walked towards the big house opposite.

Cheng Shuang entered the house and saw Aunt Peng and Peng Xiangsui looking at the fermented black beans drying on the rack in the yard.

A few days ago, Cheng Guqiu and his men collected a lot of soybeans from other villages. Cheng Shuang wanted to make some fermented black beans. After steaming and fermenting them for a few days, today was the first day of drying them.

"My wife is back." Aunt Peng greeted her.

Peng Xiangsui immediately wiped her hands and went back to the main room to bring out some tea.

Cheng Shuang went over to look at the fermented black beans in the bamboo basket, pinched them to test their hardness, and then said, "Put them back and let them dry in the sun for another day tomorrow."

Aunt Peng nodded and carried the bamboo plaques one by one into the empty room.

Cheng Shuang guessed that the larger room that was larger than the original house was because Governor Zhu taught the village children in the yard before he met her, so he built him an extra room. Now it has become a warehouse at home.

No one else was at home. They must have gone out with Cheng Guqiu to harvest soybeans and rice bran and had not returned yet. Seeing that Wei Nanxing's room door was open, Cheng Shuang walked in directly.

He Zhou's legs were still unable to move, so he was leaning against the head of the bed reading a book.

Cheng Shuang went in and saw that he was alone, so she asked, "Brother He, where is Nanxing?"

He Zhou looked up and said, "He went to the mountains. He said he was going to practice archery and see if he could bring back any prey."

Having already helped treat injuries for such a long time, Cheng Shuang didn't need to be so particular. She walked straight to the bedside and asked, "How do you feel today?"

He Zhou closed the book and said, "My calves have been a little hot all day, but it's not painful or uncomfortable."

"That's the medicine I applied to you this morning. It's taking effect." Cheng Shuang said, "If you apply it for ten days straight, you'll be able to walk on crutches."

"That's great." He Zhou was very happy to hear this. "Thanks to Madam Wei's miraculous healing skills, otherwise I would have died long ago."

"Didn't we agree not to say these polite words?"

Cheng Shuang changed the subject, "Brother He, you have a half-brother named He Ming, right?"

"Yeah." When the He family was mentioned, He Zhou's eyes flashed with coldness, "Why did you suddenly mention him?"

Cheng Shuang said, "I saw this name when I looked at the list. He passed the college entrance examination."

"Then they probably won't have time to look for me next." He Zhou snorted disdainfully.

The He family was an imperial merchant family, specializing in supplying royal porcelain and jade. Although they were extremely wealthy, half of their annual earnings were spent on currying favor with court officials.

Therefore, the He family had always dreamed of having a scholar who could enter the imperial court and become the family's support. With He Ming's success, their focus would surely be on arranging things for him, finding ways to use their connections to pave the way for him.

Cheng Shuang didn't understand all this. She saw that the medicine on He Zhou's legs was absorbed well, so she left.

While she was washing her hands, there was a knock on the gate. Aunt Peng wiped her hands and went to open the door.

It was Yang who came in, carrying a basket and smiling.

"Cheng Shuang, my family made some white flour cakes. They have been delivered to every household in the village. This is for your family."

"Thank you, Auntie." Cheng Shuang said, "It looks delicious. It can be eaten as dinner."

"By the way, Mingli High School, I haven't congratulated you yet."

Yang beamed, "The whole family is so happy. From now on, we don't have to pay taxes. The court will also give us a subsidy of nearly one or two taels of silver every month. I heard that we can also receive ten kilograms of lamp oil every year."

"A big celebration like this requires a banquet. Mingli's grandfather has discussed it with the other families who made the list, and they're planning to hold it together in a few days. You must come then."

"Of course." Cheng Shuang nodded.

There are four scholars in one village, including Zhao Xiuwen, the top scorer. I guess there will be many people coming to the banquet uninvited, so it will be fun.

As it began to darken, Cheng Guqiu returned with the children, pulling a load of soybeans and rice bran on a donkey cart. They moved all of them to the yard first. Tomorrow, several workers in charge of raising crayfish in the pond would come and move them away.

Not long after, Wei Nanxing also came back, carrying a bow and arrow on his back and holding two bloody pheasants in his hands.

The family hadn't eaten wild game for a long time, so Cheng Shuang decided to make soup with two pheasants.

While she was watching Wu Junniang processing the pheasant in the yard, Wei Qinglang finally came back.

"Why did you take so long?" Cheng Shuang asked.

Wei Qinglang was carrying a lot of things in his hands, all of which were cakes and preserved fruits given by the old scholar. He placed them on the table and said, "That County Magistrate Shen was a bit overly enthusiastic. After I gave him the blueprint, he excitedly insisted on talking to me and even wanted me to work in the county government. I was really scared of him. I finally managed to deal with him."

Cheng Shuang smiled. "One of your drawings is one of his political achievements. Of course he wants to capture you as a soldier."

Wei Qinglang said, "Anyway, I will never work for the government. It's impossible in this lifetime."