Chapter 587: Things are different, people are different, everything is over, tears flow before words
Sun Shan knew honest officials and corrupt officials, but there were more officials who followed the rules.
According to Hanlu, the new county magistrate, Lord Tang, should be a corrupt official.
He started to be greedy just over a year after arriving here, without any hesitation. It seems that Huangyang County's good days are probably coming to an end.
Sun Shan couldn't say anything.
First of all, he was not an official, but just a juren, and had no power.
Secondly, it is normal to secretly collect benefits from merchants or to collect more agricultural taxes in disguise.
The previous Lord Wei was a minority and a weirdo.
The people of Huangyang County had lived an "abnormal" life for more than ten or twenty years, and suddenly a "normal" county magistrate came, and they became full of resentment.
The new county magistrate, Lord Tang, actually accounts for the majority of Daqian’s officials, and the people can do nothing about it.
In a sense, it conforms to secular rules, and everyone has become accustomed to it.
Sun Shan asked, "Doesn't Master Xiatou have a relative in the government? It's useless."
Since Mr. Zeng can open an escort agency, he must have some connections in both the white and black worlds.
Sun Shan remembered that Zeng Jiajun's aunt married a constable in the yamen, so their family had connections in the government.
Hanlu nodded, then shook her head and said, "Gugong Xiatou is a police chief in the government office. Because he is useful, our Zeng Family Escort Agency can continue to operate. Before, the county magistrate's brother-in-law asked for protection money, and my father-in-law paid it at first, but the amount kept increasing, and he offended the county magistrate's brother-in-law when he didn't want to pay. It was only after my father-in-law Xiatou acted as a lobbyist that the matter was resolved. The amount paid was a little less than before. But it has to be paid every month, and the escort agency is having a hard time."
He sighed and continued, "Shanzi, you know the situation in Huangyang County. It is a poor and remote place. Now we have to pay a sum of money every month, and the escort agency can only barely maintain business."
Then he continued, "We had no choice but to fire our cousin Dagen. He came late and the work he did was not the most in-demand. We had no choice but to let him go home."
Hanlu whispered, "My aunt even quarreled with me about this matter, but it was not until my mother asked my cousin Dagen to work in our orchard that the dispute was resolved."
Sun Shan was stunned and asked in confusion: "Is Dagen in our house? How come I have never seen him before?"
Aunt Su and her family did see them working in the Sun family orchard, and they were doing a good job.
Aunt Su is a little fatter than before.
Hanlu explained, "Da Gen's cousin's wife gave birth to a girl. I went back to see her. She should be back in two days."
Su Dagen is younger than Sun Shan, got married earlier than Sun Shan, and became a father earlier than Sun Shan. No wonder Su and Sun Boming talk about their grandson all day long.
Looking at the people around him, Sun Shan was the one left behind.
Of course, Gui Ge'er was also left behind.
Where there is a master, there is always a servant.
Sun Shan and Han Lu walked out of the study and found it funny to see Xiao Guangzai and the little crybaby hanging their heads, looking like they were about to cry but didn't.
Look at Xiatou again. Unlike them, he is sitting with Xiaoguangnv, eating candy and smiling happily.
Guyu and Lixia also found it funny. The two boys were fearless except for their uncle, a Juren.
This time when I went back to my grandparents' house, I was quite obedient and didn't dare to move my hands or feet.
Second cousin He Shuyu also found it funny. If they had brought Xiaozai here, the three little guys would have destroyed the house. He was extremely glad that Xiaozai was not allowed to come along.
In the afternoon, Sun Shan took Gui Ge'er and some Jinling specialties to visit Zheng Tongsheng.
Zheng Tongsheng and Zheng Hongwen were very happy about his arrival.
Today, Zheng's School is taught by Zheng Tongsheng and Zheng Hongwen.
Zheng Hongwen is still at the level of a Tongsheng and has made no progress at all in these years.
Zheng Tongsheng was also discouraged, and could only sigh that their Zheng family was not cut out for study and could not be forced.
Sun Shan smiled and said, "Brother Hongwen, if you are free, you can ask me for advice. I will be in Sunjia Village these days."
The opportunity has been given, and it depends on Zheng Hongwen whether he can seize it or not.
Zheng Tongsheng and Zheng Hongwen were overjoyed and quickly expressed their gratitude.
Zheng Tongsheng introduced the Zheng's School to Sun Shan: "There are many more students in the school, but most of them are still from your Sunjia Village. Haha, my Zheng's School should be called Sun's School."
Sun Shan heard from the village chief and clan elders that if any family in Sunjia Village had a few spare money, they would be sent to Zheng's School to learn to read and write, and the clan would provide corresponding food subsidies.
As for how well you study, it depends on the boys' efforts.
The village chief and clan elders certainly hope that everyone in Sunjia Village is a talented person, gets first place in the exam, gets promoted and becomes rich.
Sun Shan said gratefully, "Thank you, teacher and brother Hongwen, for your hard work. If there are good seedlings, we must focus on cultivating them. It would be best if there are more scholars."
Zheng Tongsheng shook his head and said, "There are indeed some smart boys, but they are unstable. I don't think I'll ever find a good boy like you again. You were very hardworking and very determined. I'll never meet another boy like you."
Sun Shan thought to himself that he was not a child and the boys in the school could not compare with him.
He said with a smile: "Teacher, the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead, and each generation is stronger than the previous one. Sooner or later, we will meet a better boy."
Sun Shan also chatted with Zheng Tongsheng and Zheng Hongwen about some matters in Nanjing.
As for the fact that he had food poisoning, was forced to stop halfway, and missed the imperial examination, not only the people in Sunjia Village knew about it, but also Zhengjia Village, and even the entire Huangyang County knew about it.
Public opinion spreads so quickly that Sun Shan has to be careful with his words in the future and not speak carelessly.
Sun Shan returned home only after having dinner at Zheng's house.
Zheng Tongsheng's wife hurriedly said that the gift from Sun Shan was too expensive, especially the piece of silk, and they dared not accept it.
They are just country folk, how can they afford to wear silk?
Sun Shan said quickly, "Master's wife, I brought this back from Nanjing after a long journey. It took me one or two months to get here. I brought it back especially for you. If you don't accept it, I will be very sad. My efforts will be wasted."
After hearing what Sun Shan said, Zheng Tongsheng's wife felt that if she still refused, it would be her fault and she would have let down Sun Shan's filial piety.
Zheng Tongsheng stroked his gray beard and said happily, "I will accept it. Your filial piety is so rare that I cannot let you down."
When Sun Shan returned home, he recalled Zheng Tongsheng and Zheng Hongwen's comments on the new county magistrate.
They all felt that the people of Huangyang County would never return to the days when Lord Wei was in power.
Life will be harder than before.
Sun Shan couldn't help but sigh.
After lunch the next day, I asked Gui Ge'er to deliver a visiting card to Landlord Yang.
Gui Ge'er hurried back and said, "Brother Shan, Landlord Yang said he is waiting for you at any time."
Sun Shan nodded, took Gui Ge'er and brought some Jinling specialties to Yangjia Village.
As soon as I arrived at the door of Yang's house, I saw Manager Yang.
Sun Shan paused and walked over with unsteady steps.
Manager Yang seemed extremely excited, and said in a trembling voice: "Mr. Sun, you are back."
Sun Shan looked at Manager Yang intently. He remembered that on the first day after the court session ended, Manager Yang took Yang Qingbei home.
Things are people and nothing is done, and tears shed first.