CHAPTER 107: CHAPTER 107: BEAT THEM FOR ME!

Gaoyang County is right next to Qingtian County, with a stretch of forest between them. Behind the forest there are villages, and in front is an estate, which is the Qin Mansion.

The village is called Canye Village, where most of the villagers grow mulberry leaves for silkworms and then weave them into fabric. These fabrics are purchased by the Qin Mansion to be made into embroidery.

Previously, when the Qin family declined, this village also declined with them. Now that the Qin family has reopened, the villagers have also resumed their old activities.

Today, Long Yue was supposed to go check out the raw silk from that village, but she couldn’t because today is her husband’s first day as the new magistrate, and she must go to support him.

"I heard Gaoyang County is different from Qingtian County. There, a powerful noble family dominates, and the Chief Clerk is an elder from that family. He’s quite amicable, not particularly sharp-tongued, but the government office has virtually become the family’s backyard. Every new magistrate who takes office has been scared away..."

In the carriage, Li Qingmu claimed to be cold and nestled in his young wife’s embrace. Outside, Elder Qin was reporting the situation without blinking an eye.

This is the correct way for a couple to interact, and Elder Qin felt quite gratified.

"Scared away, huh... That Chief Clerk is quite tricky!"

Li Qingmu squinted, feeling like he might fall apart nestled in his soft comfort. He let out a faint grunt and slowly rose under a certain woman’s disdainful gaze.

"To deal with someone tricky, you have to be even trickier!" He stretched lazily, his eyes turning sharp. "Let’s go! I want to see what tricks that family elder has up his sleeve!"

...

At Gaoyang County’s government office, it was already afternoon. The gentle spring warmth made one feel a bit drowsy, and even after a nap, people were still yawning incessantly.

However, the people in this office seemed quite spirited.

"A crab has eight claws, two sharp ends, so big, brothers all well, neck retracts, eyes squint..."

"Ah, you lost, you lost, come, have a drink!"

When Long Yue and Li Qingmu arrived, what they saw was a chaotic office and several government officials playing drinking games.

Judging by their appearance, it shouldn’t be enough to scare away successive magistrates. There must be some hidden agenda involved.

"Oh, you’re quite lively!"

Long Yue’s light laughter interrupted their merrymaking. Someone immediately waved his hand displeased, swearing, "Go, go, go, the office is closed today, hurry up and scram!"

The person said this and instinctively turned back, almost biting his tongue in the process.

"Oh, such a pretty young lady, here to entertain us brothers? Hahaha!"

This person was asking for it. Li Qingmu initially thought of just giving them a minor reprimand, but this provocation towards his young wife immediately turned his expression cold.

"Where is the Chief Clerk here?"

Li Qingmu walked over unhurriedly, not at all afraid of these little government officials.

"Elder Liang is sleeping... ah, no, Elder Liang is unwell and resting. If you have a grievance, come back tomorrow!"

A clerk, dozing off at the side, instinctively responded to Li Qingmu’s question but quickly corrected himself, then glared angrily at Li Qingmu: "Scoundrel, can’t you see that the office isn’t handling cases today? Get lost from wherever you came from!"

"The recess period is over, so how come cases aren’t being handled? This is dereliction of duty!"

The recess is the mandatory holiday for officials. Every year the court grants officials several days off, especially during the Spring Festival, lasting over a month.

But even if it’s that long, it’s almost the end of March; shouldn’t the holiday be over by now?

As a result, these people still didn’t plan to handle cases and were instead playing drinking games in the office—this is blatant dereliction of duty!

"Scoundrel, what maggot crawled out of your dung pit... uh..."

"Bang!"

The clerk was about to curse but was knocked flat by Long Yue’s swift clubbing, his eyes rolling as a large welt swelled on his forehead, and he collapsed to the ground with a thud.

The nearby clerks were all dumbfounded, probably not expecting someone to be so fierce, striking after just a few words, leaving them all stunned.

Taking advantage of the quiet, Li Qingmu opened the documents and said calmly, "The new magistrate of Gaoyang County, Li Qingmu!"

His voice was cold, and his gaze was equally cold as he stared at the clerks.

To dare call me "a maggot that crawled out of a dung pit"? These people need a lesson!

Luckily, I cooperated well with my wife, otherwise, I might have retorted even further.

The clerks were first intimidated by Long Yue’s fierceness, and upon hearing Li Qingmu’s self-introduction, they instinctively exchanged glances.

"Ahem!"

A clear and hoarse cough came from inside, finally giving the clerks and government officials someone to rely on, as they quickly looked towards the direction of the main hall.

A haggard middle-aged man came out, his eyes as sharp as a hawk as he glanced at Li Qingmu and his wife, speaking coolly, "The office is closed today, no visitors!"

Visitors?

Is he treating the government office like an inn?

Li Qingmu sneered, "I’m here to take office!"

The middle-aged man chuckled, glanced at his aide, and pointed at Li Qingmu: "Who is this guy? What office is he taking?"

"Reporting to Master Chief Clerk, he said he’s the new magistrate, coming to assume his post!"

"Oh..." The Chief Clerk looked suddenly enlightened, spread his hands, "Magistrate... Is he a magistrate? How could I not know? Doesn’t look like one!"

"Heh, yeah, doesn’t look like it, looks like a fraud, trying to scam money and grain here, how can we let him succeed?"

"Right, we can’t, absolutely not!"

Two clerks and several government officials quickly chimed in, and some even picked up sticks and banged the ground, creating an uproar.

The middle-aged man, feeling the momentum building, crossed his arms and sneered, "Boy, get lost from wherever you came from, don’t throw your weight around here in Gaoyang County, or else you’ll get what’s coming to you!"

Li Qingmu rubbed his nose, knowing this place would be filled with troublemakers, and finally understood how past magistrates ran away—they were clearly driven off.

Ironclad noble family, ephemeral officials; the position of Chief Clerk in Gaoyang County has always belonged to this "Liang" family, and gradually, the entire county office became filled with their people.

The magistrates sent here were always externally assigned and, upon realizing they couldn’t command them, had no choice but to leave.

In light of this situation, others might find it tricky and cumbersome, but Li Qingmu and his wife did not think so—these people needed a thrashing, that’s all!

So, with Long Yue following behind, Li Qingmu walked step by step towards the seat in the main hall.

Chief Clerk Liang wanted to see what they would do and watched with narrowed eyes, hands clasped behind as he saw them proceed without stopping.

This main hall probably hadn’t been in session for a long time; a thick layer of dust had accumulated on it. He lightly brushed it off with his sleeve, and then...

"Bang!"

He struck the gavel, pointing at the group below, and shouted angrily, "Where did this bunch of rogues come from? Someone, beat them for this officer!"