Chapter 589 - 589: Handover

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

After everything was moved into the house, a few escorts came out and cupped their fists at Li Qing. “Lord Li, we brothers will take our leave.”

Li Qing smiled politely. “Brother Song, why are you in such a hurry? You can stay here for the night and set off tomorrow morning.”

“That’s right! We haven’t even eaten. We’ll rest here for the night after eating, ” Liang Cheng said with a smile.

Escort Song cupped his fists and smiled. “Let’s disturb you for another night.”

Li Qing nodded and said to Ah Lei, “Ah Lei, go to the street and order two tables of banquets in. After dinner, everyone can rest well.”

“Yes, Master.” Ah Lei bowed and left.

Lin Su stood beside Li Qing and said in a low voice, “Master, from what County Magistrate Wang said, not long after Lord Liu arrived in office, he was bedridden. We didn’t hear anyone from the Ministry of Official Personnel Affairs mention this in the capital. Since he was bedridden, who has been in charge of the affairs of the county office during his tenure? Why didn’t he report that he was seriously ill?”

Li Qing thought for a moment. “I’m curious. Was Lord Liu originally so weak and sick? Or is he sick because of Le County? Also, after exchanging the seal, we’ll check the accounts and official business before doing the handover.”

Lin Su nodded and said, “We don’t have anywhere to gather information, so we can only take it one step at a time.”

Li Qing said, “Tomorrow morning, I’ll get Brother Ding and the others to investigate.”

Liang Cheng and the others helped arrange the large pieces of furniture. Fan Mingfang, Old Madam Yun, and the others were busy cleaning up the house and arranging it neatly.

Old Madam Lin and Old Madam Yang washed up in the kitchen. When they saw that there was still a bundle of firewood in front of the stove, they began to boil water to wash up.

Ah Lei entered with a few waiters from the restaurant.

Li Qing pointed at the main hall and the flower hall and said, “Set up the food in the main hall and a table in the flower hall. Everyone, eat and wash up first.”

The shop assistant set up the food and bowed to leave to get the unfinished food.

Wang Zhi had already called the four old women who were helping in the kitchen at the back office to the second door.

When the old women saw the waiters coming out of the restaurant, a long-faced old woman pulled the round-faced old woman in front of her and whispered with glowing eyes, “This is the waiter from Xiangman Restaurant. They ordered a table of dishes and wine at Xiangman Restaurant. The cheapest one costs two taels of silver.”

The round -faced woman nodded. “It seems that the new county magistrate is not poor.”

The others kept nodding. When they reached the entrance of the back office, Ah Kun stopped them. “Who are you?

The round -faced woman glanced inside and shouted, “We’re servants hired by the government office to help cook. Why aren’t you allowing us in?”

Ah Kun glanced at her and shouted, “Speak properly. Why are you shouting? Just wait. I’ll report to Master.”

After Fan Mingfang heard the report, she said to Li Qing, “Ah Qing, the old women hired by the government office are all connected to those constables and scribes. Not only are they not easy to manage, but they also spread the news of the inner courtyard. These people’s wages are all paid by the county office. I want them to go back and their wages will be distributed as usual.

What do you think?”

Li Qing nodded. “You’ll be in charge of the matters in the back hall. You can do whatever you want.”

Fan Mingfang nodded and said to Ah Lei, “Go and tell them what I said.”

After agreeing, Ah Lei went to the second door and saw a few old women standing at the door and sticking their heads into the inner courtyard. Ah Lei told them what Fan Mingfang had said.

Seeing two old women reveal happy expressions, two of their expressions changed. The round-faced old woman looked at Ah Lei. “Little brother, it’s not good for us to get paid if we don’t work!”

Ah Lei glanced at her. “My master already said that there’s nothing bad about it.”

The old women muttered and left. After a while, Wang Zhi told County Magistrate Wang about Li Qing chasing the old women away. “Uncle, what do you think we should do?”

County Magistrate Wang touched his chin and thought for a moment before saying, “Let them go back first. We’ll talk about it in a few days.”

Just as Li Qing and the others finished eating, an old man who claimed to be County Magistrate Liu ‘s advisor came to meet Li Qing.

Li Qing got someone to bring him in. The old man bowed to Li Qing and said, “Lord Li, I’m Liu Chun. I’m Lord Liu’s advisor. My master isn’t feeling well and wants to return to his hometown to get treated as soon as possible. I want to ask Lord Li to take over as soon as possible.”

Li Qing took a step forward and helped him up. “Advisor Liu, there’s no need to be so polite. I’ll take over as soon as possible.”

When Advisor Liu heard Li Qing’s words, he bowed again and said, “Thank you, Lord Li. My master will wait for you in the front office tomorrow morning.”

Li Qing smiled and said, “Sure, sure.”

The next morning, Li Qing saw Lord Liu in the front hall of the county office.

He was stanamg tall ana ms race was pale. It was ODVIOUS tnat ne nau Deen SICK for a long time.

After the two of them exchanged pleasantries, County Magistrate Wang and County Lieutenant Zhang brought the constables, scribes, and bailiffs to meet Li Qing.

County Magistrate Liu pointed at County Magistrate Wang and the old man behind him and said weakly to Li Qing, “Lord Li, my illness fluctuates between good and bad. County Magistrate Wang and my advisor are in charge of the official matters. They know the accounts and official matters best. They’ll take over the handover. After the handover, I can return to my hometown to see a doctor.”

Li Qing cupped his hands and smiled. “Sure, sure. I’ll definitely take stock as soon as possible and hand it over.”

County Magistrate Liu did not expect Li Qing to take stock after changing the seal. He was stunned for a moment and could only nod. “Okay.”

County Magistrate Wang lowered his head and his expression changed. He did not expect Li Qing to disregard County Magistrate Liu’s health in favor of checking the accounts.

Li Qing brought Lin Su and Ah Lei to the government office to tally the accounts. Liang Cheng, Ding Yi, and the others went out and walked toward the street separately.

Le County had four main streets that led straight to the entrances below the four-door city. There were also more than a dozen streets and alleys in the city. These streets and alleys intersected horizontally and vertically, making it very convenient for people in the city to travel in all directions.

Liang Cheng and Ding Yi walked around the street and found the Four Seas Bank on East Street. There was also a Huiheng pawnshop next door. The two of them stood at the door and looked around. They realized that there were quite a number of people coming to pawn things.

Liang Cheng said to Ding Yi, “Did you notice that although the streets of Le

County are clean and tidy, there are not many vendors on the street market? Even the market has fewer vendors than other places.”

Ding frowned. “I guess I’ll have to ask the locals.”

Liang Cheng looked at Ding Yi and smiled. “I’ll have to rely on you to do it. It would be strange if I donn’t scare them away.”

Ding Yi glanced at him and nodded with a smile. “Alright, let’s split up.

Continue shopping. I’ll find someone to ask for information.”

Li Qing brought Ah Lei to take stock of the taxes and savings of the government office since County Magistrate Liu took office. Lin Su checked the quantity of food stored in the county office’s granary.

County Magistrate Wang and Advisor Liu brought the clerks to move the bills out of the warehouse. After that, Advisor Liu returned to the inn at the back of the county office.

County Magistrate Wang stood at the side and helped eagerly. He saw Li Qing and Ah Lei calculating the abacus with one hand and recording the accounts with the other. Their posture was even faster than the people working on accumulated accounts.

When County Magistrate Wang saw that it was noon, he came out of the government office and hurriedly took a car towards North Street..