The Bookish Scholar of the Red Mansion

There are countless rainy days in Jiangnan in March. The further south you go, the more serious the situation becomes. After passing Suzhou Prefecture, the rain beat down on the road ahead in the river breeze. On days like this, both traveling and returning are troublesome.

After entering Songjiang City from Guyang Gate, Liu Xianglian stopped the car at the gate of the county government office. The servants who caught up took umbrellas and introduced the master and his wife into the house.

After finally returning home, the spirits of the returning guests were lifted, and their expressions unconsciously relaxed. After Chen Heng and Daiyu separated, they were dragged away by Xinda and Xiao Ping who were left behind. Things about Zhen Mansion spread quickly. After Chen Heng sat down in the hall, Xiao Ping directly inquired about the details of Zhen Mansion.

Sir, Master Zhen - is he really dead? Xiao Ping had a look of disbelief on his face. I probably didn't expect that a court official would die in such a simple and careless manner.

Yes. Chen Heng nodded. He was not too happy or sad about Zhen Zijing's death. It is true that this person deserves to die, but the method of death is really cruel. A seventh-grade county magistrate was run over like a bug. For these court officials, the impact was not small.

Xiao Ping was very sad. He thought about Mao Daqing's behavior for a long time, and just silently muttered the words, If I had known this, why did I bother in the first place? Contrary to his reaction, Xinda's face was filled with happiness. He suddenly felt that Liu Xianglian was more handsome than before, and he felt that having this person following his second brother was really a good thing.

Why do you keep looking at me? Liu Xianglian muttered, unable to stand Xinda's passionate gaze. The latter raised his eyebrows and smiled softly, took the initiative to make a cup of tea and handed it to the other party's hand. Brother Liu has been working hard all the way. Let's warm up with a cup of tea first.

Such intimate words really made Liu Xianglian feel a little uncomfortable. He was holding the teacup, awkwardly in place. I don't know how to react to Xinda's kindness.

Chen Heng was too lazy to pay attention to their nonsense. He just looked at Xiao Ping and asked, Is everything going well in the county government these days?

Everything is fine. Zhou Captou caught some ruffians and thieves. The county government has rented the spring plowing tools arranged by the adults to the people for free. It was only the originally planned five hundred cattle, but there were many people in the countryside asking for them. There was a sudden panic in the state capital. Can’t buy more…”

Xiao Ping reported the recent official affairs bit by bit. Chen Heng could not help but nod and at the same time gave instructions: Spring plowing is the first priority, and the plowing cattle will give priority to the Ding households participating in the corvee.

The men went out to help Songjiang Prefecture build a port, but it was not easy to let the old, weak, women and children plant rice and cultivate the land by themselves. Chen Heng thought for a while and made a final decision: If you can't buy it in the state capital, let's go to Gusu and Yuhang to have a look. It doesn't matter if the price is more expensive, we can handle it through our own county account. Leave this matter to... Pan You'an.

These two places are the most important Shangzhou Shangfu in Dayong, with a large number of people and a vast territory. It is even worse than Songjiang Prefecture. When it comes to natural resources, there will naturally be more.

Okay. Xiao Ping noted this in his mind. Songjiang Mansion has to pay 1.3 million shi in taxes every year. For such a large amount of money, each of the seven counties and one office will receive an amount. Among them, Huating, as the chief county, has to bear 400,000 stones alone.

This is still the basis, if the quotas in other counties are not enough. Songjiang Prefecture, which is centrally regulating the situation, will also ask Huating County to shoulder some of the shortfalls. There is no other way, and this family will rely on Huating County to support it.

The official document below warns the heads of townships and village leaders not to change rice into mulberry. 6̳̳ Chen Heng thought about the details. He knew that there were many ordinary people in the country who were eyeing the huge profits from port shipping and wanted to pass More profitable mulberry silk to make a profit.

This is a spontaneous economic behavior among the people. As the government, as long as the people pay taxes in full, there is no need to interfere too much. But Chen Heng walked around Jinling and always felt that there was going to be turmoil in the world. Last winter, the county government granary sent out a lot of grain, and Chen Heng always felt uneasy unless it was refilled.

We can't let the people suffer. We only limit the food grown locally, and we can purchase it at three levels higher than the market price. Chen Heng knew that the price of grain hurts the people, and he knew that not giving enough profits would force the people to take risks.

Yes, sir. This is the reason why Xiao Ping is willing to cooperate with Chen Heng. This gentleman is not an ambitious magistrate who does not know the sufferings of the people.

After handling the matters at hand of Director Xiao, Xinda immediately followed up. What he holds in hand is how to deal with the gangsters caught this month. Chen Heng took a look and nodded in agreement. Naturally, there is no need for the magistrate to personally try these petty theft matters.

Just leave it to someone you trust and guard the last step yourself. Chen Heng has 100% trust in Xinda.

Sir, these are IOUs collected from pawnshops and banks across the city. The ones on the left are old bad debts, most of which are from people who are unwilling to repay the money. The ones on the right are new debts from last year, and they are basically people who can't make ends meet in the local area. Go borrow money and leave an IOU.

You ask Yan Xiaoer to visit the family on the right in private, if the situation is really difficult. Chen Heng turned to look at Xiao Ping, How much unowned farmland do we have?

Sir, we have distributed the land twice before and after. Now there are still 153 acres left. Xiao Ping's keenness about data made Chen Heng very happy, and he immediately said, Let the people who are suffering at home help us temporarily. Plow this land. The grain and grass we get will be enough for seven of our three people. We must first find a way to make them pay back their accounts and tide over the difficulties.

Xiao Ping heard this and immediately asked: Sir, what should we do if the people have been cultivating the land for a long time and are unwilling to return it later?

Farming is not just about transplanting rice seedlings, but also involves the long process of cultivating and protecting the land. If it is just a lease, the people must have selfish motives and be unwilling to plant it carefully.

Chen Heng thought for a moment and replied: Set up rewards and punishments. If the harvest is good every year, it will be directly rewarded to the people after five years. Please draw up a contract document about this matter. Tell the people not to panic, I accept this matter. Even if I leave, the subsequent county magistrate will have to recognize me.

yes.

Seeing Xiao Ping taking over the matter, Chen Heng said to Xinda: Go and tell the owners of banks and pawnshops that our government is willing to help them get these bad debts they have. But this money...

Thirty-seven points? Xinda had an idea.

Chen Heng immediately laughed and scolded: How could they agree? This is not robbery. Ask them if they are willing to give it 50-50, and I will donate it to the county to build bridges and roads.

Okay, I'll go find them in the afternoon to discuss this matter. Xinda nodded immediately.

After finishing the official business for a while, Chen Heng took several others to eat together. During the break, they talked about the jade-carved white lotus that Mao Daqing gave to the Zhen family. Chen Heng couldn't help but have a lot of thoughts about this thing.

Fortunately, among them were Liu Xianglian, who loved wandering around the world, and Xiao Ping, a native of Songjiang. The last two people answered loudly: It should be related to the boss.

Speaking of this person, Chen Heng was really interested. When he was dealing with the Zhao family's affairs before, he had heard angry people mention the title of the big boss. Seeing that Xiao Ping seemed to know something, he immediately became loud.

No one knows what this person's surname is. At first, it was only the water workers at Jiangtou who spread the word. Later, several water workers took over the big family and oppressed them. The big boss sent people to come forward and punished him severely, and then he gradually became famous. .”

The rivers and lakes are rough, and if you want to become famous, you just need to do some justice and justice. Chen Hengshai laughed and asked again, Have you really never seen this big boss?

Xiao Ping shook his head. He only knew that there was such a person, and he had indeed done some bandit things. But no one can tell what this person looks like or what his name is.

Chen Heng couldn't help but frown, knowing that no news had been leaked for so many years. It can be seen that this person's connections and tight organization may not be easy to get along with.

It's been a troubled time. Chen Heng sighed. A border war will break out in May at the latest. Now Dayong still has an uncertain factor in his hands. It really makes people lament that the current situation is difficult.

Sir, can the trip to Sichuan and Shasha be moved to tomorrow? Xinda thought of Chen Heng's stormy return and wanted to give his brother a day's rest. Unexpectedly, Chen Heng shook his head and said directly: We can't delay it any longer. I really can't rest assured if I don't go to see the shipyard in person.

Okay, then I'll arrange the carriage. Hearing this, Xinda hurriedly grabbed the rice. This time when he went to Chuansha, Chen Heng intended to walk the straight roads that had been repaired in Nanpu and Haishan counties to experience the results for himself.

After booking the itinerary in this way, before departure, a small official came into the house with a carpenter. Report to Chen Heng: The house in the south of the city has been renovated.

Chen Heng was overjoyed when he heard this and immediately pulled Daiyu out of the house. He led the county government officials and drove to the destination. A group of people came to a small courtyard in the mist and rain.

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This place is not far from Zhengmeng Academy, only two streets apart. It is only a few miles away from Huating County Government. Everyone got out of the car, held umbrellas, and passed through the somewhat crude gate. After walking around the screen wall for a few dozen steps, I heard the sound of reading loudly.

Daiyu, wearing a green skirt, stood under an umbrella with Chen Heng. She heard that the sounds of reading were those of girls. She looked at Chen Heng strangely and asked, Is the person inside the child that my husband rescued from Ruan's alley?

That's right. Chen Heng smiled and nodded. This was a gift he left to the people of Huating and to Daiyu. Leading Daiyu a few steps forward, in the drizzle, through the slightly opened wooden window, one could see the girl sitting inside. Directly in front of these children was an old man who was over 60 years old.

This is an old gentleman sent by Zhengmeng Academy, and his knowledge may not be sufficient. But he is mature and prudent, not pedantic and bookish. I heard that special classes would be given to girls, so the most enthusiastic people came.

I saw a group of children, learning to talk with the old master. Daiyu was also happy when she saw it. Although she guessed that Chen Heng was going to the brothel to do business, she didn't expect that her husband-in-law still had this plan.

Before Daiyu spoke, Chen Heng continued: In the future, this place will be turned into a school specifically to teach female disciples. It's just that this school still lacks a mountain leader with both talent and learning. After thinking about it, I still feel that only Yu'er can take on this important responsibility.

Master?! It would be false to say that she wasn't surprised. Daiyu was in a state of confusion when she first heard this. She really didn't expect that her husband-in-law would have this plan.

They are all poor children. It is a good thing to be able to show them a way out. Even if it is a school, we cannot just rely on the county government for continuous relief. This is not a long-term solution... When it comes to business, Chen Heng He couldn't control his businesslike style, and couldn't even take into account the joy in his wife's eyes, and still talked about his expectations for the academy.

I hope that by the time our family leaves this place, it will have recruited female students among the Songjiang people and changed the image of women going out less and studying less. Just this sentence shows that Chen Heng has great expectations for it. Everything will happen. The beginning is difficult, Yu'er, you are here to serve as the mountain director. Not only do you have to teach and educate people, but you also need to find a way for this school and these students to survive in the future.

Chen Heng did not deliberately say much about the hardships that followed. He knew that with the lady's intelligence, she would be able to think clearly and understand. It is precisely because of his understanding of Daiyu that Chen Heng does not want this talented woman to become Li Yi'an, who only left a name for her poems in Qing history.

Since it is a talent bestowed by God, Chen Heng hopes that Daiyu can shine with her own brilliance and not just be Mrs. Chen in other people's mouth.

I'm sorry, sir. Daiyu blushed slightly and nodded. Xianggong knows her, and she also knows Xianggong. It can be said that they have a clear understanding of each other, and they meet again on the Magpie Bridge.

Seeing his wife's complacent look, Chen Heng thought for a while and couldn't help but worry: Teaching and educating people is important, but don't forget your own body.

A few days ago, Chen Heng went to the ancestral home of the Lin family and discovered unexpectedly that few members of the Lin family lived long. Daiyu's body has been taking good care of herself these years. But thinking of the portraits hanging high in the Lin family ancestral hall, he naturally couldn't let go of his worries.

Daiyu smiled cutely under the umbrella, her eyes were slightly bent, she stared at Chen Heng and said with a smile, Don't you think it's a little late for your husband to say this?

Chen Heng laughed and said no more. He really didn't want to watch Daiyu, who was full of talent, wasting away in a long time.

Such a vast Dayong, such a magnificent era. It will neither affect men's efforts to serve their country, nor will it obscure women's brilliance.

Yu'er, give this academy a name.

Daiyu thought for a moment, looked at the newly born girl in the room, and said, Even if it is located in Songjiang Mansion, let's call it Yunjian Academy.

Chen Heng nodded and praised softly. Behind them, Xiao Ping led everyone to echo.

Yunjian Academy. What a good name!

Xiao Ping knew the origins of these girls. It would be a great thing if he could change his fate of being stuck in the mud through reading.

The rest of the group also had nice words to say. But in their hearts, they felt that Chief Xiao knew how to flatter the county magistrate. The expenses of this academy will be charged to the county government in the future. The matter of inducing women to study is indispensable for criticism.

Such a thankless job means that Mr. Chen only wants to make his wife happy, so he works mindlessly.

Chief Lin, from now on, these children will be entrusted to you. Like some kind of ceremony, Chen Heng handed the umbrella handle in Daiyu's hand. He was about to leave for Chuansha, and the county government's carriage had already stopped at the gate of the academy.

Seeing that her sweetheart was about to travel far away again, Daiyu looked at him journeyingly. Smoothing Chen Heng's collar with his hand, he said softly: I'm waiting for you to come home.

Chen Heng laughed, turned around and walked through the rain curtain, walking under Xiao Ping's umbrella. This time the latter will take the county government officials to Chuansha Hall to verify the accounts, accompanied by Lao Du, whom he has not seen for many days.

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The people in Nanpu and Haihai did a great job in repairing the rural roads. Along the way, everyone on the carriage felt very relaxed. Du Yunjing, the mouthpiece, kept pulling Chen Heng to inquire about Yunjian Academy.

Zhi Xing, you are actually doing a good job in this matter. Better than your Maritime Affairs Department. Tens of millions of times better.

Seeing Lao Du's full of praise, Chen Heng couldn't help but laugh and asked him the reason for such comments.

Everything is difficult at the beginning, and we have Yunjian Academy in front of us. In ten or a hundred years, maybe all the girls in the world will be grateful to your family. Lao Du shook his head and said, How can a saint educate people? There are differences between men and women. If you ask me, if a woman reads more books, she might be less worried about having a family that is short of family.

Hahaha. Chen Heng laughed and clapped his hands, joking, But Madam-in-law makes fun of you all day long?

Lao Du shrugged and said noncommittally: When you went to Jinling, the greeting card you sent to my house... tsk tsk. Du Yunjing smacked his lips. He probably didn't expect that after being demoted, he would suddenly become a popular person. cake.

There are so many people who want to come to visit us, so we have to meet several of them. Your sister-in-law's temper is just once or twice. If it happens too many times, she will naturally take it out on me. Du Yunjing held his forehead with a headache. No matter how prosperous the director of Songjiang Maritime Administration is, Can you still be the Minister of Rites?

When you come back from Chuansha, help me tell my brothers and sisters to find a teaching position in the academy for your sister-in-law.

When Chen Heng heard this, he immediately applauded and said, My wife is willing to come, that's great! He then reminded, Brother Du, aren't you afraid of criticism from officials?

No matter what those who study hard do. Du Yunjing leaned on the carriage and laughed at himself, Who is a real scholar who doesn't privately let his daughter study wisely? But they have family education and family tradition, how can the common people compare? Come on. If someone really wants to quarrel, just go about your business with peace of mind and leave it to me to quarrel with them.

Chen Heng smiled lightly and thanked Du Yunjing for his kindness.

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A day and a half later, under the expectant eyes of Jia Yucun. Chen Heng and others finally arrived at Chuansha Hall while local officials and squires were waiting.

This time I came here was different from the last time I walked in Jinyi. Not only Chen Heng and others were wearing official robes, but the people in Chuansha Hall also invited music troupes and lion dances.

Master Chen, Master Du. Jia Yucun saluted the two former students.

Neither Chen Heng nor Du Yunjing dared to be rude to him. After chatting for a while at the city gate, Jia Yucun and Du Yunjing followed Chen Heng towards the port.

Brothers, your monthly ticket is doubled, remember to vote! ! ! ! !