No name, no status, no position, but Zhang Huaiyu still stayed in Shiqiao Village without saying a word, silently doing something for Gu Qing.

A girl less than twenty years old endures a boring life day after day, doing everything for another person alone in a strange mountain village. What does she do for?

Even Zhang Huaiyu rarely asked himself this question.

Some feelings in the world are like wine sealed in a jar. Only time can make it mellow. All the vigorous love at first sight is so shallow in comparison. Only those who are willing to sacrifice their lives at the expense of youth can make this period of life dazzling.

radiant.

After supervising the teenagers to practice all afternoon, Zhang Huaiyu returned to the deserted room in the evening, lit a charcoal fire alone, sat by the brazier, held his chin in his hands, and began to be in a daze.

There were soft footsteps outside the house, and Xiu'er walked in carrying a food box. When Zhang Huaiyu saw her, a gentle smile appeared on his lips.

She likes Xiu'er very much, a girl who doesn't talk much, but is hardworking and sensible, and can cook well. Even though she is now the fiancée of the county magistrate, she still maintains her frugal nature and has never served the magistrate in front of the villagers.

Madam's airs, she is still the timid little girl with low self-esteem, but she no longer worries about her livelihood.

After entering the room, Xiu'er smiled timidly at Zhang Huaiyu, then opened the food box, took out the hot food, and carefully set the dishes and chopsticks for Zhang Huaiyu.

"Xiu'er, have you eaten?" Zhang Huaiyu asked with a smile.

Xiuer pursed her lips and smiled, nodding.

Zhang Huaiyu smiled and said: "Then I won't be polite, you can do it yourself."

As Zhang Huaiyu picked up the bowl and ate, Xiu'er looked at her with eyes full of envy.

She envied Zhang Huaiyu's honest character, and also envied Zhang Huaiyu's courage to love and hate. She couldn't do such a thing by staying in a strange mountain village for a man with no name or status.

Her fiancé Song Gensheng was poor at expressing feelings. From the time they got engaged to the present, Song Gensheng has been working in the county government on errands and rarely returns to Shiqiao Village. Xiuer rarely takes the initiative to go to the county government to see him. Both of them are obviously under the age of twenty.

Although they are young, they live a life that is even duller than that of an old married couple.

After eating three bowls of rice, Zhang Huaiyu stroked his belly with satisfaction and suddenly raised the corner of his mouth. If Gu Qing were here, he would definitely laugh at her appetite again, and the hurtful sentences coming out of his mouth would be more poisonous than arsenic.

After eating, Xiu'er magically took out a bottle of wine from the bottom of the food box. Zhang Huaiyu took it happily, and then said with some disappointment: "Why so little?"

Xiu'er smiled: "Brother Gu specifically told Feng Aweng when he left, asking the villagers to give you less alcohol. He also said that if you look like an alcoholic at a young age, you will definitely become dementia after the age of fifty. He said that he didn't want to

When I came back, I saw a middle-aged woman sitting on the patio, giggling and drooling..."

Zhang Huaiyu was furious, and then wanted to laugh. After hesitating whether to be angry or laughing, he finally laughed.

"Bah! Even if he is stupid, I won't be stupid." Zhang Huaiyu spat.

Taking the wine pot, Zhang Huaiyu took a shallow sip at the spout. There was very little wine, so she drank it with great appreciation.

Xiu'er stared at her face and suddenly said: "Sister Huaiyu, you clearly have Brother Gu in your heart, why didn't you ever tell him?"

Zhang Huaiyu's pretty face gradually turned red, as if she was drunk.

"Have you talked to Song Gensheng?" Zhang Huaiyu asked without answering.

Xiu'er shook her head and smiled shyly: "He and I are already engaged, so it doesn't matter whether we talk about it or not."

"An engagement is an engagement, and expressing love are two different things."

Xiu'er sighed quietly: "I never said, and he never said, he is too busy, especially after becoming the county magistrate, he is so busy that he doesn't even have enough time to sleep. How can I bear to take these little things?"

Don’t bother him with love affairs.”

Zhang Huaiyu nonchalantly fiddled with the wine flask in his hand and said calmly: "How would that nerd Song Gensheng do as a county magistrate? Can such a dull and dull person be a good county magistrate?"

Xiu'er hurriedly defended: "He is a good county magistrate. Although he is dull, he is very diligent and not greedy for money. After taking office, he was busy in charge of the county's autumn harvest, and also worried about opening up wasteland and planting mulberries.

, repairing embankments, etc., it’s very hard work.”

Zhang Huaiyu looked at her funny and said: "Why are you anxious? I didn't say anything bad about him. He is a nerd to begin with. Moreover, hard work and whether it is effective are two different things. Wrong methods and wrong means often lead to half the result with half the effort and end up with the same result.

Infamy, please go back and remind him that being an official should not be too rigid, be flexible when things happen, and know how to adapt and compromise. Balancing the power of the landlords and gentry in the county is a hugely difficult task, but don't do it in front of those people.

It’s a crime.”

Xiu'er lowered her head and muttered: "Anyway...he has done a good job as an official."

Zhang Huaiyu laughed: "Okay, okay, he has done a good job as an official. He is a flawless county magistrate, okay? You haven't married yet, so you have a lot of confidence in protecting your husband."

Xiu'er's face turned red and she lowered her head and said nothing.

After silently putting away the dishes, Xiuer picked up the food box and was about to leave when she suddenly stopped talking.

Zhang Huaiyu said with a smile: "What's wrong? You can come and pick up the jug tomorrow."

Xiu'er shook her head, hesitated for a while, and said calmly: "There is something I don't know whether I should say..."

"If you have something to say, just say it quickly."

Xiu'er said softly: "Yesterday I went to the county government office to give him winter clothes. I overheard the county government officials chatting and saying that Gensheng had offended someone."

Zhang Huaiyu said casually: "He is the county magistrate, and his administration will inevitably offend others. There is nothing strange about it."

"I heard that he offended the gentry in the county, and there is a bigger figure behind the gentry. This matter is a bit troublesome." Xiu'er said with a sad face.

Zhang Huaiyu put down the flask and his expression became solemn: "Which tycoon in the county? Who is the big shot behind you?"

Xiu'er shook her head: "I don't know, I just heard that it has a big background."

"What did Song Gensheng do to offend others?"

Xiu'er said nonchalantly: "I heard it was related to the land in the county... Later I asked him, but he smiled and said it was okay and didn't want to tell me anything. As a woman, it was not convenient for me to ask about men's affairs, so I had to come back.

Already."

Zhang Huaiyu's expression became more solemn, he frowned and murmured: "What about the land? Which tycoon in the county has a big shot behind him?"

Xiu'er said anxiously: "Maybe... it's to scare people? The wealthy gentry is just a landlord. Even if he offends the landlord, he doesn't dare to fight with the officials."

Zhang Huaiyu shook his head: "The county magistrate is not necessarily a big official, and the gentry is not necessarily just a gentry. Since the beginning of the Kaiyuan Dynasty, many powerful princes sent their slaves to occupy farmland in various parts of the Tang Dynasty, because they were afraid of the imperial censor.

According to the investigation, the farmland occupied by the powerful is often registered in the name of an unrelated gentry, and is managed by the gentry on his behalf. The money and grain earned every year are secretly returned to the powerful. I hope Song Gensheng is not the one who offended this kind of tycoon, otherwise he will be in big trouble."

Xiu'er looked nervous: "Is it a big trouble?"

"Land and property are the foundation for the establishment of the powerful, and they are passed on to future generations. They are more important than money. If Song Gensheng touches other people's land, do you think it will be a big trouble?"

Xiu'er suddenly became anxious and said in panic: "What should we do?"

Zhang Huaiyu rubbed his forehead and sighed: "This nerd is so reckless. Fortunately, Gu Qing is smarter than him, otherwise I would not be able to beat him three times a day..."

Xiu'er tugged on her sleeve anxiously: "Sister Huaiyu, please help him..."

Zhang Huaiyu said helplessly: "If it weren't for the fact that he is Gu Qing's brother...that's all, I would go to the county government overnight and ask him clearly in person."

There was still wine left in the pot. Zhang Huaiyu picked up the wine pot and drank it all in one gulp. He raised his sleeve and wiped his mouth carelessly, and said coolly: "I'm leaving."

After speaking, Zhang Huaiyu strode towards the door.

…………

It was already two hours later when Zhang Huaiyu arrived at the Qingcheng County Government Office. It was already midnight and both inside and outside the County Government Office were quiet. Under the yellow lantern at the door, two officers were dozing off with their backs against the pillars.

Zhang Huaiyu did not alert them. This kind of guard was useless to her. She was too lazy to go through the process of asking for a meeting and reporting. Zhang Huaiyu flew into the county government wall and after searching around, she found the room where Song Gensheng was working.

There was an oil lamp burning in the room, and Song Gensheng, wearing a thick fur coat, was writing something at his desk.

There was no charcoal fire on the table, and Song Gen was shivering from the cold. After writing a few lines, he put down the pen, rubbed his hands together to feel the heat, and then continued to write.

Zhang Huaiyu opened the door silently, walked into the room, and looked at him expressionlessly from a distance.

I don’t know how long it took, but Song Gensheng seemed to realize something. He raised his head and looked at the corner where the oil lamp could not illuminate, and saw a figure standing quietly. Song Gensheng was frightened and said in surprise: "Who?"

Zhang Huaiyu took two steps, moving from darkness to light, still staring at him expressionlessly: "It's me."

Song Gensheng breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "I can't even make a sound, I'm scared to death. Why are you here in the middle of the night?"

Zhang Huaiyu said coldly: "Come to find you."

Song Gensheng was stunned for a moment, then stared at her alertly: "Gu Qingcai left less than a year ago, and you actually had a private meeting with a man in the middle of the night. You... I already have a fiancée!"

After a pause, Song Gensheng added: "What you do is immoral!"

Zhang Huaiyu smiled. For the sake of Gu Qing, she rushed all the way from Shiqiao Village to the county government office in the middle of the night for a person who could only be considered an acquaintance at best. She reluctantly held back her anger and was worried that she could not find him.

When it came to an excuse to vent, Song Gensheng's words gave her the perfect reason.

So the next moment, Song Gensheng found himself flying upside down, his body suddenly rose into the air, and then fell heavily to the ground. After falling, he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen.

This was not the end yet. Then Song Gensheng found that his back, abdomen and thighs were being trampled wildly, with countless feet mercilessly stepped on, until Song Gensheng couldn't help but scream.

When Song Gensheng sat up groaning in pain, Zhang Huaiyu sat across the table as if nothing had happened, admiring his slender and white hands by the light of the oil lamp.

"A person with some ability may be qualified to be a bitch, but you, without Gu Qing's ability, had better keep your mouth shut, otherwise you will pay a heavy price."

Song Gensheng sat dejectedly, without any authority of the county magistrate. He knew that in front of Zhang Huaiyu, the county magistrate was nothing.

"You came here in the middle of the night just to beat me up?" Song Gensheng said listlessly.

After beating the person, Zhang Huaiyu felt refreshed and in a much better mood. He still lowered his head and admired his hands, and said calmly: "I just beat you by the way. I'm here to ask you, who have you offended recently?

"

Song Gensheng hesitated for a moment and said, "A wealthy gentleman named Cai."

"Why offend him?"

"They occupied more than 300 hectares of farmland in this county, forcing thousands of farmers to become landless refugees and go into exile. They lost all conscience and had to ask questions."

Zhang Huaiyu sighed secretly and said, "Before you took office as county magistrate, did anyone sue this person named Cai?"

"Yes, nothing can be done about it."

“Have you ever wondered why previous county magistrates left the matter unfinished?”

"I know that there is a big shot behind him, and even the land he occupies in his name is not necessarily his land."

"Why do you want to ask him?"

"The justice of heaven cannot allow me to sit idly by and ignore it."

Zhang Huaiyu suddenly fell silent for a long time, then said with a wry smile: "I really don't know if Gu Qing is helping you or hurting you by asking you to be the county magistrate..."

Song Gensheng smiled and said: "As an official, I only want to benefit one party, and I have a clear conscience."

Zhang Huaiyu stared at his face and said, "Do you know what advice I would give you?"

"you say."

"Immediately release the wealthy gentleman named Cai, send him home respectfully, and apologize. From now on, you will ignore Cai's behavior. This will ensure that your life is not in danger and your official position is not lost."

Song Gensheng still smiled and said: "I'm sorry, but I obey."

Zhang Huaiyu frowned: "Then you should immediately submit your resignation to the Jiannan Jiedushi Mansion and stay in Shiqiao Village from now on, and you can save your life."

"I am not a romantic, but I will not resign until this matter comes to an end."

Zhang Huaiyu's face turned cold: "Are you forcing me to beat you again?"

This time Song Gensheng looked directly at her without fear: "I will never compromise on this matter, Zhang Huaiyu, if Gu Qing is here, he will not force me to do anything I don't want to do."

Zhang Huaiyu was stunned, with an uncertain expression. He sighed for a long time: "At least... you should let that person named Cai out, otherwise it will be very troublesome. Although I don't know who is behind him, I know it must be someone you can't mess with."

The one who got up."

Song Gensheng laughed, took a stack of letters from the table, threw them in front of her, and said: "Do you know how many Shangguan colleagues have written to me in the past few days, asking me to let the man named Cai go? Including the governor of Shuzhou.

Pei Di, including the former county magistrate Wei Du, and even Biejia from Jiannan Road Jiedushi Mansion... But the man named Cai is still squatting in our county jail."

"Zhang Huaiyu, I am not a stupid person, but I have to seek political advice in my position. These days, I have read the county records of Qingcheng County in the past thirty years. The newly cultivated farmland in this county has nearly doubled compared to the beginning of the Kaiyuan Dynasty.

What is strange is that the number of farmers in this county who cultivate land is nearly twice as low as in the early Kaiyuan period. It is obvious that there are more and more newly reclaimed farmlands, but more and more farmers are losing their land. All the land has been taken over by the local gentry.

The landowners occupied it, and they used the power of encroachment to buy and snatch the land from each household. Farmers who did not want to sell their land used various means to force them to leave their homeland and became refugees and fled to other places. They even committed suicide in order to occupy the land.

Many things that destroyed families and killed people..."

"I am the county magistrate, the head official of a county. If I turn a blind eye to the lives and deaths of those farmers who are forced to live in exile, what is the point of being an official? Zhang Huaiyu, tell me, what will you do if you are the county magistrate?

Do?"

Zhang Huaiyu was speechless and silent.

Song Gensheng added: "Or let me put it another way, if Gu Qing were the county magistrate of Qingcheng, what would he do? Will he compromise with the wealthy gentry like all the previous county magistrates? If Gu Qing is so ruthless, how can he be worthy of being my brother, Song Gensheng?

Siblings?”

Mentioning Gu Qing, Zhang Huaiyu finally reacted. She took a long breath, exhaled slowly, then stood up and said: "Personally, I don't approve of your stupid scholarly attitude, and I believe Gu Qing doesn't approve either. But you

Although I don't agree with your reasons and difficulties, I will still try my best to save your life. From tomorrow on, the young people from Shiqiao Village who practice every day will be stationed in the county government office. Your officers are unreliable. In times of crisis, you still have to rely on the local people.

my fellow countrymen.”

"Your father, Xiu'er, mother and daughter will also be taken to stay at the county government office tomorrow to avoid retaliation from the other side. Also, I will write a book to tell Gu Qing about your situation and see if he can help you find a solution in Chang'an...

…”

Song Gensheng hesitated and said: "Gu Qing is thousands of miles away and can't help with the matter in Qingcheng County, so why tell him?"

Zhang Huaiyu said coldly: "Song Gensheng, the situation is more critical than you think. Don't think that the gentry is just a gentry. You must not be able to offend the big shots behind these gentry. And you must immediately ask who is standing behind Cai."

Who is it? Also, choose a person who is good at riding a horse to deliver Gu Qing’s letter. It will be eight hundred miles in a hurry. You can switch horses but not people. I will reward him with a lot of money and make sure it is delivered to Gu Qing as quickly as possible."

Seeing Song Gensheng hanging his head and speechless, Zhang Huaiyu suddenly smiled: "Song Gensheng, I have always looked down on nerds, but you may be a little different. Gu Qing once told me that you are another one of him who was once clean and innocent.

Although I don't quite understand what he said, I am willing to risk my life to protect the once innocent person, which is you."

"Do what you want and leave the rest to me."

…………

At the foot of Zhongnan Mountain, Turin Taoist Temple.

Gu Qing has lived in the Taoist temple for three days. The scenery of the Taoist temple is really unforgettable. Gu Qing has forgotten all the troubles and worries in Chang'an City without knowing it. He drinks and chats with Wang Wei and Chao Heng every day. Wang Wei is very fond of poetry and prose.

He was so addicted that he would always drag Gu Qing to talk about creation every time. However, only he knew how much ink Gu Qing had in his belly, so he had to dig deep and come up with some established theories from his previous life to deal with it.

There are many books about rhythm and poetry in previous lives, such as the most famous children's book "Rhythm Enlightenment", which is catchy when read. Gu Qing can even remember most of them, such as "Clouds to Rain, Snow to Wind, Night Lights"

"To the Clear Sky" and so on, although the contents they remembered were incomplete, the parts they could recite shocked Wang Wei and Chao Heng. There were tens of thousands of people who composed poems in the Tang Dynasty, but there were very few people who studied the theory of poetic rhyme.

Wang Wei is a serious person and attaches great importance to the theory of poetry composition. Gu Qing's rhythmic enlightenment immediately made Wang Wei take it seriously. He dragged Gu Qing intensified and stayed in the room all day to study the theory of poetry and rhyme. Even Princess Yuzhen's banquet

They all blocked it back.

Gu Qing was extremely regretful and felt that he had done another stupid thing.
Chapter completed!