flstandardbreds Chapter 288 Mrs. Chen’s Suffering
Chapter 288 Mrs. Chen’s Suffering
Jin Changsheng's fearlessness made County Magistrate Chen feel very aggrieved, but he would not endure it today. With Young Master Yang as his backer, it would be really cowardly for him to still be afraid of Jin Changsheng.
"President Jin, what you said is wrong. I am an official appointed by the imperial court. You are just a businessman. Who has anything to do with you?
You eavesdropped on the court secrets and disrespected your superiors. I am lenient in just fining you. Who gave you the courage to smile at me?"
Jin Changsheng narrowed his eyes and a cold light flashed. Did Chen take the wrong medicine? How dare he talk to me like that?
There must be something wrong when something is abnormal. Jin Changsheng is not really stupid. His eyes fell on Shen Nanzhi, who was dressed in noble manner.
To be personally received by County Magistrate Chen, he must be no ordinary person. Jin Changsheng did not get angry, but asked with a smile: "This young man looks unfamiliar, who is he?"
Shen Nanzhi crossed his legs, leaned back in his chair, and said casually, "You don't deserve to know."
"you……"
Jin Changsheng was really angry. For many years, no one dared to speak to him like this. "Young man, I see that you are young and full of energy. I don't want to argue with you. In Qinghe County, my words are the most effective. Don't think that County Magistrate Chen can support you."
Shen Nanzhi said, "No, I'm the one who backs him up. This is the first time I've seen such an arrogant merchant. If you kowtow to us and apologize and pay the fine, I won't bother with you. Kneel down."
"You, Magistrate Chen, what do you say?"
County Magistrate Chen was unsure. After all, the prefect's family was no match for the marquis's family. It would not be good to offend Jin Changsheng too much, right?
But Shen Nanzhi is fearless. After all, he wants to take revenge on the Yang family. What does it have to do with her, Shen Nanzhi?
Although it is a bit unkind to do so, Shen Nanzhi has to judge people by their conscience. Yang Lingzhao, that bastard, was tempted by Lin Xueqing's beauty and turned against herself. He is not a good person.
Shen Nanzhi had no psychological burden in framing others.
"President Jin, what is your attitude? Are you threatening the county magistrate?"
Shen Nanzhi closed the folding fan and hit his knees. Jin Changsheng fell to his knees with a thud. Shen Nanzhi's folding fan pressed the back of his neck. His head hit the ground and he couldn't lift it up.
Frustrated and angry, with a body full of flesh, he panted heavily like a big fat pig. Shen Nanzhi wiped his fan in disgust, "You should know who is the master of this county. It's a relief for you to kneel down.
If you are not convinced, feel free to come to the prefect Yang's house to find me. My name will never change, and my surname is Yang Lingzhao!
County Magistrate Chen, let's talk somewhere else. This teahouse is full of filth and dirt. Let's close it down later."
"Okay, Master Yang is right. I am sorry for not welcoming you well."
Jin Changsheng waited until they left before he climbed up with the help of his servants. His face was pale, and it was unclear whether he was angry or scared. "Yang family? Why would the son of the prefect come to such a small county town?"
The servant said, "It's being said outside that Master Yang is here to inspect the disaster. I heard that Master Yang is in charge of Zhao County, and now the people are living well."
"Humph, he's just the son of a prefect. I'm not afraid of him. When I get back, I'll write a letter to the capital and I'll definitely not let this grandson off!
"Ouch, sir, my kneecap is not broken, is it? Call a doctor, go quickly!"
"Okay, sir, slow down. I'll find a sedan chair to carry you back."
The servants are all flattering and clever, otherwise they would not be able to serve him.
Jin Changsheng's kneecap was really cracked. Although it didn't break, it hurt when he walked. After all, his knees couldn't bear the weight of being forced to kneel down with that much flesh on his body.
Shen Nanzhi didn't know this, so he went to County Magistrate Chen's house, which was the inner residence of the county government, which was relatively safe.
It was just that the Chen family was very cold, so they were reluctant to light a charcoal fire. They were entertaining guests, so the servants hurriedly lit a charcoal basin, but it was still an ordinary charcoal fire, and the house was filled with smoke.
"I'm sorry for the poor hospitality."
"No problem. I know that you, Lord Chen, are not a corrupt official. You would rather live in poverty than help the victims. I admire you."
County Magistrate Chen straightened his back. He had no qualms about doing this. He had never embezzled money. Although he could not be called the people's judge, he was able to live up to his conscience.
Shen Nanzhi was in good physical condition and resistant to cold. He was also wearing thick clothes, so he didn't shiver as much as County Magistrate Chen. He said, "The sooner the better. I will deliver the grain to the city tomorrow. You spread the news today and teach these profiteers a lesson this time."
"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Mr. Yang."
Shen Nanzhi couldn't stay there any longer. The room was too cold. He had to shiver to stay warm. It was a relief for a county magistrate like him to be able to survive.
Just as she was about to leave, a gentle woman came in, looking anxious: "Master, the child has a fever and is shivering from the cold. If there is no charcoal to keep warm, the child will not get better. I don't have money to buy charcoal, what should I do?"
County Magistrate Chen was embarrassed. "I have guests here. Go back first and use more hot water bottles for the child. Boil it for a while and hold on."
Mrs. Chen burst into tears: "What's the use of a hot water bottle? Don't you need firewood to boil water? I have sold all my dowry, and you still use the money to help the victims, but who will help us mother and son?
Forget it, Master, you go and do your work. I and the child will depend on each other for survival."
Shen Nanzhi saw that there was a dead look in Mrs. Chen's eyes. She was probably in despair. An official like County Magistrate Chen was a good official to the people, but he was very cruel to his family. They could not enjoy the wealth and glory brought by his being an official, but instead had to live a hard life with him.
Shen Nanzhi couldn't just sit there and do nothing, otherwise if something happened to the young master of the Chen family, Mrs. Chen would be desperate and do something stupid, and the family would be broken up.
"Master Chen, we are not outsiders. The child's illness is a serious matter and cannot be delayed. You go back and take care of the child. I will have someone send charcoal and food."
"I can't do that. How can I let you, Young Master Yang, spend money on me? I'm sorry to embarrass you. I'm sorry to embarrass you."
Shen Nanzhi stopped talking to him and said to Madam Chen, "Madam, open the back door in a quarter of an hour. I will bring something over. Don't be polite to me. It's important to keep the child safe."
County Magistrate Chen said, "I really can't do that. This is corruption and bribery, which goes against my way of being an official. As my wife and children, they should share the joys and sorrows with me. Young Master Yang, you must not allow this."
Mrs. Chen's eyes brightened up and then dimmed again. It was like this every time. She shouldn't have any expectations.
He wanted to be an honest official. He was incorruptible, but he forced himself and his children to suffer the same hardships, and their lives were worse than those of ordinary people. No one would believe him if he told others about it. He and his children had not eaten meat for several meals a year.
In order to save the people, she even squandered all her dowry, leaving no way for them and their child to survive.
They really used the lives of mother and son to fulfill his reputation.
Shen Nanzhi's face darkened. "Master Chen, what you said is wrong. Am I particularly interested in you? Am I bribing you? Am I letting you embezzle money?
You help the people because you feel sorry for them, because they have no food or clothing and are struggling to survive. But I think Madam Chen and her children are the same as those people in distress. Does it bother you if I help them?"
County Magistrate Chen was speechless. Madam Chen was moved to tears and said, "Thank you very much, sir. It doesn't matter if I suffer, but it is too pitiful for the child to meet parents like us. For the sake of the child, I shamelessly ask for your help."
"Mrs. Chen, you are too polite. You are the greatest. County Magistrate Chen's reputation as an honest official is half due to you. He doesn't know how to cherish it. He will regret it sooner or later.
I'll go first, Madam, go back and take care of the children."
Shen Nanzhi didn't even look at the weathered and troubled face of County Magistrate Chen. It's true that no one is perfect. This man is both pitiful and hateful.
She found an empty house and entered the space, changed into women's clothes, then filled a cart with food, charcoal, cotton cloth, wine, snacks, etc., and reappeared in the house.
Seeing that there was no one outside, he dragged them to the back door of the county magistrate's house. Just after a quarter of an hour, the back door opened and two servants were waiting there. Their clothes were patched, which showed how cruel County Magistrate Chen was to his own family.
Some people are like this. They are generous and enthusiastic to outsiders and praise everyone as a good person, but their bad temper is directed at their family members. The closer the people are, the more unscrupulously they hurt them. I really don't understand what's going on in their minds.
"Why is it a girl?"
"I am the young master's maid. Since you are here for the inner house, it is definitely more appropriate for me to come. Where should I put the things?"
"We are here to help. There are so many of them. Let's put them in the warehouse."
"No, it's a little heavy, you can't pull it."
She was very strong, and the things on this cart must have weighed thousands of pounds, leaving deep marks on the ground.
The old woman didn't believe it, so she went to the door of the warehouse and tried to back away, but she didn't move at all. Her face changed, thinking that this girl was very strong.
"Leave me alone, you decide where to put it."
Shen Nanzhi held a sack weighing hundreds of pounds in each hand, which stunned the old woman. She quickly arranged a place for them. In fact, there was not even a mouse in the warehouse, so they just put them there randomly.
"This is top-quality smokeless charcoal. Send it to Madam first. Here is rice, preserved eggs, and pork belly. Make some lean meat porridge for the child to nourish his body."
"Okay, young lady, you are really thoughtful. Let's go now. You and Mrs. Wu can go see the Madam."
Shen Nanzhi took some snacks and drinks and went to Mrs. Chen's room. She could vaguely hear her crying, which made people feel very upset.
"Young Master Yang's maid is here, bringing a lot of things. Our young master will definitely get better. Madam, please stop crying."
Madam Chen stood up to greet her. Shen Nanzhi had already come in and knelt down to greet her. "Hello, Madam Chen. Here are some snacks to sweeten the child's mouth. Here is a strong drink. The child has a high fever. Rub his back and armpits to reduce the temperature. How is the child? Do you want to call a doctor?"
The child on the bed was about eight or nine years old. He had a pair of dark and bright eyes, but his face was only the size of a palm, and his chin was thin and pointed. He looked at Shen Nanzhi curiously.
Mrs. Chen quickly helped her up: "Thank you, young master. I have already invited a doctor and prepared some medicine. But the child has no appetite and keeps vomiting after taking the medicine. If this continues, I don't know what to do."