Qin Official

Among the three village officials, Hei Fu was well aware of Chen Ping's potential and talent, and Zhang Fu also had a greatly improved impression of him. Only the fat Zhang Bo was ignorant and still very impatient.

April was already relatively hot, and the entrance to the rural school was blocked tightly by a group of villagers, making it even more airtight. Zhang Bo was sweating profusely due to the heat. He wanted to end this farce quickly, so he pointed at Chen Ping and said, "Chen Ping, Stop chatting and state your confession quickly!"

Chen Ping responded: "Ping's confession is consistent with that of his brother and sister-in-law. The so-called stealing sister-in-law is really nonsense. Ping can't even bear to say it! Here, I can only tell you that although Chen Ping is uneducated and has no skills, although his family is He is poor and humble, but men and women do not sit together, have different beds, have different turbans, and do not teach in person. Uncles and sisters do not understand the etiquette and do not teach and receive etiquette... Chen Ping prides himself on being a well-educated person who knows etiquette, and he has never violated it in these years!"

He turned around and declared loudly to everyone: "Chen Ping has always respected his brother as his father and his sister-in-law as his mother. How could he do something so unconscionable? I hope my second and third sons will not reply to those rumors. If there is any more Those who talk nonsense are Chen Ping’s enemies!”

The villagers who flocked here to hear the lawsuit, especially those who gossiped, were a little speechless, and even looked a little ashamed.

At the same time, Zhang Fu, the third elder, was quite surprised when he heard this: "Chen Ping, I heard that you went to a neighboring county to learn the techniques of Huang Lao. Did you never think that you also know the etiquette of Confucian scholars?"

Chen Ping knew that this deliberately added sentence would arouse the attention of Zhang Fu, who was fond of Confucianism, and immediately said: "So that the three elders will know that whether it is Huang Lao or Confucianism, its essence is the eternal etiquette of the law of heaven. It is just an expression." There's a slight difference. If you can't uphold the most basic ethics, then you've lost your qualifications as a human being, so how can you still practice learning?"

"Good, great good!"

Confucianism in Wei State and Mr. Huang are relatively harmonious. They are not as intolerant as Confucianism and Legalism, nor are they as stubborn as Confucianism and Mohism. Although the Zhang family does not regard Mr. Huang as a true scholar, they do not shout at dissidents. kill.

So Zhang Fu looked at Chen Ping and became more and more fond of him: "Confucius said, the master's art of seducing people is to observe their words and their deeds. Previously, people in the countryside often slandered you, saying that you have a handsome body for nothing, but there is nothing inside. And Those who are idle and do not care about family production are the scum of the village. I believed it to be true before, but when I saw it today, I realized that it was all slander."

Seeing such a beautiful talent in his hometown, Zhang Zheng's mood suddenly improved and he praised:

"Chen Ping, you not only have an appearance, but you also have an inside!"

Chen Ping was overjoyed when he heard this and immediately bowed down to express his thanks.

This compliment came from the mouth of the three elders, and it carried a lot of weight. It seemed to reverse Chen Ping's bad reputation in the countryside over the past few years.

"not good."

Heifu saw that if things continued like this, the entire lawsuit would turn into a special event for criticism directed by Chen Ping, so he quickly stood up and expressed his opinions.

"The words of the three elders are very good."

Hei Fu raised his hand and said: "When I first met Chen Ping, I noticed how good he was. Could such a well-spoken person really be a beast? As expected, this was a misunderstanding caused by rumors."

He said something, and Zhong Ming translated it for him. In the end, Heifu even slapped the sword on the case and threatened:

"I don't know how the local customs govern those who spread rumors and slanders, but in the laws of Qin, there is the crime of slander! Anyone who slanders the king, the government, and the government will be punished. Those who slander and slander others' reputations will be sued. If the county and township can verify the truth, they must also pursue the slanderers and sentence them to the crime of poisonous speech!”

Those who speak poisonous words have poisonous tongues.

In the Qin State, trivial matters such as quarrels between neighbors were usually mediated by the local officials and the three elders. As long as you did not start a fight or fight privately, it would not constitute a criminal prosecution. But if you create hatred out of resentment, slander and harm the reputation of others, or even describe others as criminals who have broken the law, even if you are just talking and have not made a false accusation, you will not be sentenced to "false accusation", but you still have a "poisonous word" "Sin" is specially used to punish these long-tongued people.

"This crime will result in a fine in the minor case and imprisonment in hard labor in the serious case! Please remember, gossip is pleasant for a while, but when Qin Fa arrives, you have to think about what you say in your heart. Is it true? Is it false? Will it be allowed to happen? Are others being stigmatized in vain? Stop talking nonsense!"

After saying this, everyone inside and outside the rural school fell silent.

They all heard about the strictness of Qin's laws, but they didn't expect that even the gossip in the countryside had to be taken care of, and they suddenly felt afraid. Especially those rural women who like to chew their tongues touch their lips and feel a little scared.

Heifu just wants to inoculate them. Chen Liu and Waihuang have begun to tighten control and implement Qin laws. After the fall of Wei, it is expected that the control of Hufu Township will be tightened.

However, he still has no ability to find the person who originally spread the rumor. The matter has spread throughout half of the countryside, and hundreds of people are talking about it. Want to follow the clues to find the root cause? It's too difficult. Heifu just wants to get Chen Ping's favor, and he doesn't want to go to war and disturb the local public order.

All Heifu could do was to clarify the matter and remove the blame from Chen Ping's head.

Finally, on behalf of the three officials, he concluded: "Since Uncle Chen and Chen Ping have made the matter clear, the so-called Chen Ping stealing his wife is a fiction. The case is now over. From now on, no one is allowed to make any nonsense or damage Chen Ping." Fame!”

…

After Zhang Bo couldn't wait to announce the end of the show, Chen Ping asked his reconciled brother and sister-in-law to leave first.

He stayed, and after answering a few questions from Zhang Fu, he raised his head and saw Hei Fu approaching, so he said goodbye to Zhang Fu, walked over in small steps, put his hands together, and saluted Hei Fu heavily!

"What happened today, if you hadn't enforced the law impartially, I'm afraid the villain's grievances would never be cleared up."

This attitude is very clear. Chen Ping wants to express: "I know that Youyou is helping me!"

Chen Ping is a smart man. Ever since the Qin army was stationed here, he has been secretly observing the game between Qin officials and the Zhang brothers. His family was poor and he was not qualified to attend the banquet, but he heard about what happened that day and couldn't help but praise the two people.

One is Zhang Fu. Chen Ping believes that Zhang Fu is a person who knows current affairs and knows when to give in. Facing the tough Qin officials, it is wise for Zhang to bow his head temporarily. It is important to keep the family under the sword of the Qin people.

The second one is the Qin official named "Hei Fu". You must know that not all outsiders can defeat local snakes. When Heifu received the invitation, he did not bow down because of the Zhang family's power. At the banquet, he was neither humble nor arrogant. He gradually reversed his disadvantage and told the Zhang brothers with a sword dance: The sky has changed.

Only then had Hei Fu taken control of everything in the village for more than half a month.

But Chen Ping never expected that when he was stigmatized as a "sister-stealer" and was thinking hard about how to get out of trouble, it would be this Qin official who would lend a helping hand.

Although in the end, he relied on his own intelligence to reverse the public opinion, but without the trial of Hei Fu Zhang Luo, Chen Ping would never have had a chance to save himself.

No matter how good your talents are, they still need a stage to show off. Chen Ping cannot build a stage by himself.

Therefore, Chen Ping was indeed grateful to Hei Fu.

But it was just gratitude, even mixed with a bit of caution.

Because he still hasn't figured out why this Qin official named Hei Fu wanted to give him a hand for no reason?

But at this time, there was no time to think about it. Chen Ping could only lower his head and said: "Chen Ping will definitely remember the kindness of traveling!"

Heifu looked at Chen Ping who was filled with gratitude, but he didn't know how sincere his words were, so he smiled and said, "You just told your brother and sister-in-law that you will support yourself from now on. I wonder what you plan to do?"

"I……"

After Zhong Ming relayed it, Chen Ping hesitated a little. Today, his energy was focused on getting his brother and sister-in-law back together and changing the township party's impression of him. He had not thought about the future yet.

He smiled bitterly and said: "Although I am a Huang Lao, I am also familiar with some funeral etiquette. Maybe I can help people when there are funerals and get some rewards."

But Heifu shook his head and said: "You are knowledgeable and talented, why do you do this? Besides, funerals don't happen every day."

"How about this? Recently, there have been many official documents coming from the general office of Daliang King and Yangwu County. They need to be translated from Qin characters into Wei characters and posted in the city to inform the villagers. But in my camp, there happens to be a shortage of someone who can write Wei characters. people……"

Chen Ping felt bad after listening to Zhong Ming's story. However, before he could refuse, Heifu patted his shoulder and said in a commanding tone: "The matter is settled. From tomorrow on, you will come to the camp." Do the paperwork and help with translations, and I’ll pay you three Wei stones and corn every month!”

…

"Three stones of food per month! This is a good thing!"

When Chen Ping returned home and told the story, Uncle Chen was very happy. Their land was only 30 acres, and it was an area of ​​200 square feet. The annual grain production was only 60 shi. Excluding the rent and taxes paid, it was barely enough for a family of three. Come down, all year round, it is difficult to buy new clothes.

But Chen Ping can earn three stones a month from this job! It is equivalent to a month's rations for the two brothers. Moreover, you only need to go to the Qin Army camp to write and don't have to do heavy work. Although I don't know how long it will last, it is indeed a good job.

Mrs. Chen, who had already followed Uncle Chen home coquettishly, rarely showed a good face to Chen Ping: "If you can get this job, you can support yourself! I have been looking forward to this day for so many years! Although those The people of Qin have fierce looks on their faces and their words are difficult to understand, but it is better than eating nothing at home all day long."

Uncle Chen slammed the table and his eyes widened: "You shrew! What are you talking about?"

Mrs. Chen pinched her waist and confronted him tit for tat: "Did I say something wrong?"

Seeing that the enemies were about to quarrel again, Chen Ping quickly persuaded the two of them and said with a smile: "Brother and sister-in-law, don't argue. This is indeed a good job. Since Qin Li has said it, I can't refuse. Just go, brother." Sister-in-law, just wait for me to come back with food."

However, under the smile on his face, Chen Ping was slightly worried.

Although the characters of the Qin State and the characters of the Wei State came from the same source, they were both bronze inscriptions and seal scripts of the Zhou Dynasty, but they have been used in parallel for hundreds of years, and there have been many differences. Therefore, if the announcement in Qin characters is to be known to the villagers, it must be translated into Wei characters, otherwise literate people will get stuck after reading even a little.

These days are no different than those of later generations. Paragraphs and sentences are concise. If one word is wrong, the meaning of the entire sentence may be completely wrong.

Furthermore, going to Qin camp to do paperwork would be of great benefit to Chen Ping.

The nearest benefit is the three shi of grain reward that Hei Fu promised.

The long-term advantage is that Chen Ping has learned the Qin language. From now on, when the Qin people formally establish rule in his hometown, he will have a greater advantage than others and have more opportunities to be selected to become a master...

This is something that Chen Ping has studied diligently for many years.

But the question comes again, why is the Qin official so kind to Chen Ping if he is not related to him? It helps him clear his name and gives him a job and a bright future.

Chen Ping's performance at the township school was perfect today, so he hid his true side very well...

In fact, in addition to knowing his brother and sister-in-law very well, he is also a person who does not hesitate to use the utmost malice to figure out other people's intentions!

The clouds of heaven and earth all return to their roots.

He learned from Huang Lao and believed that everything in this world has a cause and effect relationship. There will be no love without reason, and there will be no hatred without reason.

So while his brother and sister-in-law were arguing and going to cook, Chen Ping put away his smile. He walked to the water tank, looked at the reflection of his handsome face, thought for a moment, and suddenly looked horrified.

"I'm afraid the officials of Qin are not as good as Longyang like the previous King of Wei!"