Chapter 364 Pleading guilty
The heads of the Yan family and the Ma family were very angry. These two families are relatives, so the relationship is naturally closer.
"This man with the surname Wen stretches out his hands long enough." Patriarch Yan said.
"Not only is it long enough, but it's also fast enough. The quarry was attacked a few years ago." The head of the Ma family put down the teacup.
Patriarch Yan sneered, "A villain behaves like a villain. He shows his kindness to us, but sneaks into Chencang secretly. It's not a good thing. With such a master coming to Shanyun County, who knows whether it's a blessing or a curse?"
He interpreted Wen Jiuxiao's banquet to the four families of Zhang Yan, Ma and Song as a gesture of goodwill to them. But Patriarch Ma didn't refute it, so it can be seen that he also thinks so.
"What's the meaning of the surname Wen?" How many of them should be given a blow? "I'm afraid he knows that our family has a hand in it, what should we do?" Patriarch Yan was a little impatient.
Since receiving the news, Ma Jiazhu has been thinking of countermeasures, to be soft? He must not be reconciled. Can't be subdued... "What's the rush? Even if he wants to attack us, what's the evidence? Is there any evidence?"
He glanced at Patriarch Yan, with his old eyes drooping, "Besides, it's not just our two families, there are also the Zhang family and the Song family. One is from a scholarly family, the other is someone from the yamen, and our two families are just small roles. Just wait! We are not the ones who want to liquidate."
"High! It's still Brother Ma who sees clearly, but I'm impatient." Patriarch Yan showed a smile on his face, and gave a thumbs up to his in-laws.
"What's the matter? It's Chinese New Year, don't talk about these annoying things, come, drink tea, drink tea." The two looked at each other and laughed.
As for the Zhang family, I don’t know how they discussed it. Anyway, the head of the Zhang family took his son to pay New Year’s greetings to the county magistrate in the early morning of the first day of the new year.
New Year's greetings are just an excuse, and pleading guilty is the truth. The father and son could not spare their face, and knelt on the ground with a plop.
Wen Jiuxiao seemed to be taken aback, "What is this, you two? Get up quickly."
The father and son of the Zhang family knelt and did not move. The head of the Zhang family said guiltily: "The grassroots are guilty, and my lord's eyes are like a torch. In the matter of the quarry, the Zhang family shouldn't use their power for personal gain. The grassroots are ashamed. I have come to plead guilty to my lord."
Zhang Xunjian and Zhang Changsheng followed closely and said: "This subordinate also knows the crime. As a member of the yamen, he knew it was wrong, but he did not dissuade my father. This subordinate is really ashamed to see the adults. No matter how hard he is beaten or punished, his subordinates have no complaints." .”
Wen Jiuxiao chuckled, the father and son of this family are really smart people! Not only smart, but also very courageous, it seems that he is sure that he will not do anything to them.
This chuckle fell into the ears of Master Zhang's family, and they felt very uneasy. They were not sure that the magistrate would not do anything to them, and the decision to make this trip was a big gamble. Now that they decided to go to the county magistrate's boat, Zhang's father and son agreed that they should not be half-hearted, and had to show sincerity. The children of the aristocratic families from the capital have nothing else but a lot of eyes. Is it true that he has taken refuge in him? Can't he see it?
The matter of the quarry is not a big deal. To put it bluntly, the Zhang family intervened in the quarry to profit from it. This was before Mr. Wen took office. And since the Zhang family has made a choice, there can be no stains on Mr. Wen.
So, the father and son made up their minds and made a bet.
"I am very relieved to know that I have returned from the lost way. Get up, both of you." Wen Jiuxiao's voice was faint.
The father and son of the Zhang family looked at each other secretly, hesitated, and dared not stand up, "Don't dare to lie to your lord, the Zhang family made a total of 5,000 taels of profit from the quarry in the past 23 years, and the grass-roots handed it all in. , it is the grassroots who voluntarily honor the adults."
Ten thousand taels of silver! so rich! Shanyun County is not all poor. Look at this family, isn't it quite rich? If the Zhang family is like this, then the Yan family, Ma family, and Song family should be not bad, right?
Wen Jiuxiao raised his eyebrows, "Master Zhang, is this going to bribe me? It has been eleven years since I entered the court at the age of 15, and I have never accepted bribes. I shouldn't have taken money once. Didn't even reach out."
Zhuo Zhengyang, who acted as the background board, "Yes, our lord is an upright and honest official. Does anyone in the capital know that there is a stern and selfless Mr. Shaoqing who judges cases like a **** in Dali Temple?"
Seeing this, Zhang Changsheng hurriedly said, "Forgive me, my lord. It's because my father can't speak and said something wrong. It's not a bribe to my lord, it's a redemption. This money should have been handed over to the yamen, but it was intercepted by the Zhang family. Now I will return it. Repayment, many, many are... interest..." Sweat dripped from his forehead.
"Yes, yes, I will return it all. The grassroots atone for their crimes. The grassroots are clumsy and said something wrong. Please forgive me."
The father and son lay on the ground, not daring to vent their anger.
Wen Jiuxiao was expressionless, looking at the two kneeling below, his eyes didn't change. After a long time, he let out a long sigh, "You guys are embarrassing me! I really don't accept bribes."
"Yes, yes, my lord is a gentleman, it's all the grassroots' fault." Patriarch Zhang was about to cry as he held the bank note.
"But..." Wen Jiuxiao changed the subject and stopped on purpose.
Patriarch Zhang hurriedly said: "My lord, please tell me, please show the grass people a clear way."
Wen Jiuxiao chuckled again, this Zhang family master is quite up to the mark, he is almost scared, so let him be a good person from now on. He winked at Zhuo Zhengyang, Zhuo Zhengyang understood, and said: "Yesterday our young master went to the town below to comfort the people on behalf of the adults, and came back to complain that the road is too difficult to walk, full of potholes, and the narrow place is too narrow for a carriage to pass. .”
Patriarch Zhang repeatedly echoed, "Yes, yes, the young master can relieve father's worries at a young age, and his filial piety is touching."
Wen Jiuxiao's mouth twitched, how could that brat be filial to him? It's just for his mother to see.
"Okay, you two can go back." Wen Jiuxiao said to push people away.
"The grassroots resign!"
"The subordinate resigns!"
Both father and son didn't dare to raise their heads and backed out, and they didn't breathe a sigh of relief until they got out of the county office. This move is right, and this level is temporarily passed.
"Let's go." Zhang Changsheng wanted to say something, but was dragged into the carriage by his father, "We'll talk about it when we go home."
Back to Zhang’s house, Zhang Changsheng couldn’t bear it anymore, “Father, what does the magistrate mean? Why can’t my son understand Master Zhuo’s words?”
Patriarch Zhang is cautious, "I'm thinking about it, what your lord means is for us to build roads."
"Building roads?"
"Yes, to build a road, the width must be at least wide enough to pass a carriage." Thinking about Zhuo Zhengyang's words, the head of the Zhang family saw that his son was still a little confused, so he couldn't help pointing him out: "Changsheng, listen to the words, listen to the gongs and drums, you You have to learn to listen to what adults say."
Zhang Changsheng nodded, "Father, I understand. Where shall we build roads? We can't build all the roads in Shanyun County, can we?"
The head of the Zhang family pondered for a while, and said: "Go and find out which town the young master went to yesterday, and which road he took. First, repair the road that the young master walked. The rest... spend the ten thousand taels of silver, and you can repair it." How much is how much."
He said in front of the county magistrate that he wanted to atone for his sins, and he also took out 10,000 taels of silver. If he only built the road from the county town to that town, what would the county magistrate think of him?
Do it right!
Ask for a monthly pass, there are two more.
(end of this chapter)