Wu County Magistrate did not expect that there was such a connection between the two, and was immediately surprised.

He took a look at the seemingly ordinary jar of wine in the New Year gift sent by Gu Mingda, and sighed: "In this case, this jar of wine is a top-notch product, isn't it?"

There were many wine lovers present, and they all looked at the jar of wine with fiery eyes.

The lid of the wine jar was opened, and everyone could only smell a fascinating aroma of wine. Looking at the clear wine liquid, they felt as if they were drowning in it.

"Good wine!" Wu County Magistrate praised.

Just after tasting it, he felt that the past few decades had been lived in vain. No jar of wine had ever fascinated him so much, and he finally understood why the legend of yellow rice wine was still circulating in Guang'an County after more than ten years. He couldn't help but regret it, and secretly thought that he shouldn't have brought this wine to the table.

If he had known that this wine was so fascinating, he should have secretly kept it and tasted it slowly when he had time.

But now that things have come to this, no matter how precious the wine is, County Magistrate Wu can only bear the pain and share it with everyone.

Gu Mingda said softly: "I am a dull student. Thanks to your guidance, I have made some progress. My father has always hoped that I can achieve academic success. If he can wake up, I am afraid he will want to offer you a glass of wine."

County Magistrate Wu had just tasted the good wine. Hearing this, his whole body softened visibly. He looked at Gu Mingda with a little love in his eyes and said in a gentle voice: "Zhongde, you don't have to be so modest. In fact, you have done a good job in writing. If nothing unexpected happens, you should be able to get a Juren title next year."

Gu Mingda's expression was slightly excited, as if he was greatly encouraged.

Most of the people at the table were scholars, and they were always very touched by this topic.

"To be honest, my family has always hoped that I can achieve academic success, but unfortunately, I am dull and can't make any progress after passing the Tongsheng exam." A clerk couldn't help but sigh.

Before Gu Mingda could say what he wanted to say, the topic inexplicably turned to the examination for Tongsheng again, as if with divine help.

Perhaps it was because the yellow rice wine that had been buried in the soil for more than ten years was too strong. After a few cups, another clerk started talking nonsense: "At least you passed the examination for Tongsheng. I studied for so many years, but I didn't even pass the examination for Tongsheng, even in the years when it was easiest to pass."

Although the clerks are called "officials", they are actually "clerks". There is a huge difference between these two words. Ordinary clerks seem to have some power, but in fact they are just soldiers who can read and write in the yamen.

"The years when it is easiest to pass? Which year are you talking about?" Someone couldn't help asking.

Some clerks in the yamen are born smart, and their words and deeds are flawless, while others are casual and have flaws all over their bodies.

Now, the person who took the opportunity to complain was obviously a person who spoke without restraint: "Which years could it be? Of course, it was the years when Lord Gou presided over the Tongsheng exam. At that time, anyone could pass the exam. It's a pity that such people showed their true colors in the academy exam."

The speaker was unintentional, but the listener was interested.

After County Magistrate Wu and Master Chen looked at each other, Master Chen seemed to have received some instructions and said casually: "The Tongsheng exam is so important, who dares to play tricks on such a thing, Brother Wang, are you drunk?"

The drunkard couldn't stand hearing such words, and immediately said: "I'm not drunk. It was an undisclosed secret in those years. Whoever had money could become a Tongsheng. It's a pity that my family didn't have money, otherwise I would have passed the exam."

Before Gu Mingda could reply, the drunken clerk suddenly pointed at him: "You, you too!"

Everyone present was stunned, and their eyes changed when they looked at Gu Mingda.

"Brother Wang, I passed the Tongsheng exam in the tenth year of Fengqi." Gu Mingda explained.

The drunkard said, "I'm not talking about you, but your brother-in-law! The one with the surname Zhang, who is particularly annoying! If I hadn't seen you, I wouldn't have remembered him!"

Gu Mingda felt very strange at this time, as if he was participating in a play that had been rehearsed long ago. He didn't need to worry about the plot at all. He just needed to appear on time and everything would be arranged.

He had already made preparations to reveal Zhang Guangzong's cheating at the banquet. He thought that even if he would be labeled as "informing on relatives and friends", he would suppress Zhang Guangzong.

But he didn't expect that God had his own plans. Someone took the initiative to come forward and perfectly picked Gu Mingda out of this matter.

"That Zhang, who was drunk and boasted outside, said that if the college examination was also presided over by Lord Gou, he would have become a scholar long ago! He wanted to be a scholar by relying on a few stinky money he got from who knows where, bah!" the drunkard said loudly.

Magistrate Wu looked at the drunkard as if he was looking at a treasure. If he had not received a secret order from his superiors, he would not have racked his brains to find a handle on the previous magistrate at the end of the year.

Although Guang'an County is located in a remote area, the court's party struggles still affected it.

Magistrate Wu was just a small role in the eyes of those in the capital, but his predecessor, Magistrate Gou, was promoted step by step after leaving Guang'an County. Now there are rumors that Lord Gou will take up an important position soon after the New Year.

In the officialdom, important positions are like a piece of fat meat, and everyone is trying their best to take a bite.

If someone helps Lord Gou to take the position, naturally someone will try their best to pull him down.

The court attaches great importance to education, and the crime of cheating in the imperial examination is much more serious than corruption.

It is precisely because the crime is too serious that there are many stakeholders on the same rope, and many locals will keep silent even if they know about it.

If it weren't for drinking too much, it is estimated that no one would bring this matter to the table.

As the county magistrate's confidant, Master Chen had such a big handle on the former county magistrate Gou. They were all outsiders and didn't care whether it would involve the locals of Guang'an County.

"Zhongde, are you familiar with your brother-in-law?" Master Chen tried to dig something out of Gu Mingda's mouth first.

Gu Mingda frowned slightly and said, "Mr. Chen, to be honest, my wife and he are not from the same mother. After my mother-in-law passed away, my father-in-law remarried and gave birth to Zhang Guangzong. When my wife was young, her family lacked food and clothing, and she had many grudges with her stepmother, so there was a gap between the siblings."

Master Chen heard the implication of Gu Mingda's words, which was to draw a clear line with Zhang Guangzong.

"Zhongde, don't worry, whether your brother-in-law cheated or not, this matter will not implicate you." Master Chen first gave Gu Mingda a reassurance.

Gu Mingda pretended to be relieved and said, "Mr. Chen, I actually don't think my brother-in-law is the kind of person who would do such a thing. Although he strives for fame and fortune, he is always timid."

When Master Chen heard this, his eyes lit up: being timid is good. As long as you are scared, you will spit out everything.

Gu Mingda is well aware of the principle that the more you say, the more mistakes you will make. He will not take the initiative to say bad things about Zhang Guangzong, but will only say some facts that are not in his favor: "It's pitiful to say that he has been in a difficult situation recently. He went to the capital city, and his wife ran away with someone. He stayed in the town for a few days, was beaten up, and extorted a sum of money."

The excitement on Master Chen's face was about to overflow. He was timid and had a bad life. Such a fragile person would easily get his testimony. Not to mention what he had done, even if he had not done it, he would probably admit it.

At this time in Qingshui Village, in the Zhang family's house, Zhang Guangzong was lying on the bed, his eyes were empty, and I don't know what he was thinking.

Cai Pozi walked in from outside and said to her son: "Guangzong, do you still have money? Jinbao wants to eat meat, and this child hasn't eaten meat for a long time..."

The first year that the Zhang family adopted Niu Niu was the happiest year in Zhang Guangzong's life.

Not only did his wife, who had been infertile for many years, become pregnant, but he also picked up a ginseng in the mountains.

He used the money from selling ginseng to build a house, which was actually a rumor he deliberately spread to the outside world.

How could the koi enter the house and only get a ginseng?

There is an abandoned temple in Daqing Mountain. He dug up a jar of gold and silver under the roots of a tree outside the temple.

But no matter how much money you have, there will be a time to spend it all. In the past few years, he has not been productive, and he has been only concerned with eating and drinking all day long. He has been blackmailed one after another, and he has only spent money and not earned anything. Finally, he has reached the point of being penniless.

"He wants to eat meat, and I want to eat too!" Zhang Guangzong said viciously.

Cai Pozi felt sorry for her grandson and wanted to persuade him again.

Zhang Guangzong became impatient and said, "Why do you feel sorry for him? It's hard to say whether he is my biological son or not."

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