Chapter 104

Early morning.

It was not yet dawn, but the County Magistrate had already risen from bed.

His wife glared at him with sleepy eyes.

In the past, whenever he woke up, his wife would carefully help him dress in his official robes, speaking softly and gently.

Now, she would only glare at him.

Like a mother tiger, the once gentle Xie Yuhua was nowhere to be found.

"You're not even the County Magistrate anymore, what are you getting up so early for?"

"That bastard from the Jiang Family has taken my position. He really thinks the position of County Magistrate can be obtained simply by currying favor with the rebels and having some guards protect him."

His wife tossed his clothes at him and asked, "What else can we do? I've heard that Second son of Jiang family is extraordinarily handsome, and many of the young ladies in the county are infatuated with him, clamoring to become his concubine."

"Pah! What good is just a pretty face? I worked for ten years of bitter study to earn my position as County Magistrate. He's just a bookworm who knows how to mix herbs, and he's been bullied for half his life by an old woman from the inner courtyard." The County Magistrate grumbled as he dressed himself, feeling that without his official robes, he lacked authority.

"Second son of Jiang family is pure and filial at heart. How could he have known that Old Lady Jiang would be so cruel? Husband, is Second son of Jiang family really that good-looking? Later I'll send some snacks over to you."

"Don't even think about it! Forbidden!" The County Magistrate donned his hat and stormed out, muttering under his breath, "Pretty boy, pretty boy, curse your whole family..."

Private advisor Wang respectfully replied, "Thank you for your concern, Sir. The preparations are made. My good-for-nothing son has even been admitted to the County School. My old mother was worried about her grandson, but now that he can attend the County School, she has no more complaints."

The County Magistrate thought to himself, '...'

Earlier, Private advisor Wang had asked him for help getting his son into the County School. In the County Magistrate's eyes, Wang was just a minor official, and his son was unlikely to pass the examinations, so he didn't take it seriously.

Yet this Second son of Jiang family had actually helped him out.

The first thing Jiang Changtian did after taking charge of Ying County was to overhaul the County School.

The County Magistrate had thought he was missing the point, just trying to gain a reputation.

But now it seemed there was more to it than met the eye. Didn't all those who had contributed two-thirds of their family wealth to the rebels have sons attending the County School?

"My good-for-nothing son wasn't happy about going to school. But your son is sensible. These days, one must be sensible. I've heard that Brother Yehang went to Huai County, and the County Magistrate there was very unreasonable. He had his hands bruised from beating him over thirty times. He even confiscated all the concubines from the County Magistrate's inner courtyard. Unlike Brother Huang Zhi, who knows what's what."

The County Magistrate wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve. So early in the morning, and he was already drenched in sweat.

"Master Jiang, you flatter me too much. Just treat me like one of your dogs, Little Huang can do anything."

"Little Huang."

"Woof."

...