Chapter 16 Surprised to meet the magistrate, ghost bell night ringing
Chapter 16: Surprised encounter with the county magistrate, ghost bell ringing at night
Not only Shen Tang, but also the clerk was stunned by this person's question. If it was just a name, there is a possibility that he called it wrong. However, adding the three words Shenjiacun, it means that the person in front of him He actually knew Shen Tang.
Just when Shen Tang was puzzled, he heard this man continue to say: "Are you the Shen Tang who has ants wearing beads?"
Shen Tang suddenly realized it! When the shopkeeper of Baijinlou was chatting with him, he asked Shen Tang his name. But for some reason, it came to this person's eyes.
"Meet the adults!"
A man in gray robes with a bit of stern eyes walked out of the room, cupped his hands towards the man in blue robes, and then looked at Shen Tang. This man should be the chief clerk mentioned by the clerk. .
But the words of the chief clerk made Shen Tang's heart move. There was only one person in this county government office who could be called an lord by the chief clerk.
"This person came to inquire because he was confused about the money in the account." Without waiting for others to speak, the chief clerk said again.
They all said "official" in two words, and it changed from arrest to confusion in the blink of an eye, which made Shen Tang feel a little funny. Moreover, Shen Tang felt a little relieved. It was obvious that there was indeed some inside story about this tax matter. , and the county magistrate did not participate in it.
"Oh!" The magistrate nodded and suddenly said: "In that case, it just so happens that this county wants to ask him a few questions. As for the taxation matter, this county will explain it in detail."
After saying that, without waiting for the chief clerk and the clerk to speak, Shen Tang turned around and stepped out step by step. Shen Tang's mind moved and he followed suit.
What made Shen Tang a little strange was that neither the chief clerk nor the clerk showed any resistance at all.
Not long after, they passed through the two-story flower hall and entered a guest room one after another.
The magistrate sat down and poured a cup of tea to drink by himself, ignoring Shen Tang who was standing in the hall. It wasn't until the cup of tea was drained that the magistrate said: "You are not confused about taxes, are you? How much loss of silver have they added? ?”
One sentence made Shen Tang feel slightly shocked. This county magistrate was so powerful that he could roughly guess the matter through just a few words.
"The account money is two hundred cents per person!" Since this person had already guessed it, Shen Tang didn't say much.
"boom!"
But the tea cup in the county magistrate's hand slammed heavily on the table, and the anger on his face also disappeared in a flash.
"It's getting more and more excessive!" the county magistrate said coldly.
This county magistrate is obviously very deep in the city. After one sentence, all emotions are gone.
Pouring another cup of tea, he looked at Shen Tang and said, "So, tell me, why are they not afraid that the county will know about this?"
Hearing this, Shen Tang smiled slightly and said, "My lord has already said, 'Don't be afraid'."
The county magistrate was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh, "That's right, you're not afraid! Hahaha..."
The laughter fell, but the county magistrate sighed slightly and said quietly: "This county has been in charge of the Shanyin Great Seal for a year. Originally, this county also wanted to make a difference. However, the officials are as slippery as oil. The chief bookkeeper, The county magistrate and the county captain are all constrained! The enthusiasm of this county has been wasted..."
After saying this, the county magistrate smiled bitterly and shook his head. At this moment, he remembered that the people in front of him were not his contemporaries, but just a wild man from the village. To put it bluntly, it was because he had been under too much pressure recently.
Even just now, he was thinking about the situation in the county. He was distracted for a moment and just bumped into Shen Tang.
"Looking at your words, you are quite quick-witted." The county magistrate praised him. He was a little surprised that a man from the mountains could say the word "not afraid".
"In that case, how about this county gives you a test. If you can answer this question, this county will not only exempt you from the village tax, but also reward you with sixty taels of silver?" After saying that, he started to laugh. .Didn’t this sixty-tael plot come from the Baijin Tower?
If it were normal, Shen Tang would not bother to pay attention to even the county magistrate. However, now he still wants to find an opportunity to ask the county magistrate something. Therefore, naturally he will not refuse.
"Sir, please tell me. However, I can't vouch for whether the answer is in line with your wishes." Shen Tang responded calmly, cupping his hands.
The county magistrate raised his eyebrows slightly. This Shen Tang's behavior and speech were really different from those of the villagers. Judging from his slender figure, heavy eyebrows and calmness, if he had changed his clothes, it would not be an exaggeration to say that he was a scholar.
"Listen!"
The county magistrate’s question is also simple, but there is a Taoist temple on Xingkong Mountain in the south of Shanyin County. In this Taoist temple, there is a big bell! But for some reason, since half a month ago, this big bell has been empty at night. Ziming. Even now, there have been some incidents of grievances and ghosts.
The Taoist priest in Guanzhong is quite famous, and the rumors about the resentful ghosts are really unfavorable to him as the county magistrate. Therefore, the county magistrate has been frowning recently. Today I met Shen Tang and saw that he is somewhat clever. He just said it involuntarily.
It doesn't even matter whether you have an answer or not. Telling it will at least make you feel a little more at ease.
Shen Tang walked a few steps with his hands behind his hands, and suddenly asked: "Sir, I wonder if there are any construction projects near Xingkong Mountain?"
"ah?"
Originally, the county magistrate did not think that Shen Tang could give an answer. After all, he had asked many people about this matter, and even wrote to him several powerful people in the same year, but he was still puzzled.
At this moment, Shen Tang asked, could it be that this little guy had something in mind?
"Yes, the official road to the south of Shanyin County passes through Xingkong Mountain. Heavy rains half a month ago washed away a hillside, and the county is ordering people to repair the road..."
"ah!"
At this point, the county magistrate exclaimed, thinking that the time for road construction and the ghost clock appeared almost at the same time, and he was surprised and said: "Could it be that the bell's ringing at night is related to this?"
Shen Tang did not explain, but cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Your Excellency, you can order someone to cut a few gaps in the edge of the big bell. The night ringing will disappear."
"Really?" The county magistrate stood up in surprise.
Shen Tang remained silent, but the confidence on his face was extremely strong.
"Okay, this county has ordered people to go immediately. It's getting late now, so you can rest in the county government office for one night so that you can verify it early tomorrow morning."
He called a minor official and led Shen Tang to rest, while the county magistrate left in a hurry. It seemed that the ghost clock also caused a lot of trouble to the magistrate.
Let’s not talk about Shen Tang taking a rest at the county government office, but in Shenjia Village, on the kang in a side room of the third aunt’s house, Liu Xiangling huddled herself into a ball, with endless fear and vague confusion in her twinkling eyes. Confused.
Ever since Shen Tang followed the little official, Liu Xiangling was sent home by Shen Ming. However, even with her third aunt accompanying her to enlighten her, she still couldn't make her worry less.
After half a day of anxiety, even for dinner, I barely managed to take two mouthfuls, and then it was hard to swallow.