Have you ever seen Jingnan County at one o'clock in the morning
Zhu Pingan saw it. In the dead of night, Zhu Pingan stayed up late in the study room to work overtime, just like last night. The information about Jingnan was piled up on the table. He wrote on the paper with a brush and a plan to solve Jingnan's dilemma. There were three chairs put together in the corner of the study room, and a thin quilt was placed on the chairs.
County Magistrate Zhang, Chief Clerk Yao, Dianshi Li and other officials including the clerks of the six departments of the county government also met him. However, unlike Zhu Ping'an who worked overtime late into the night, they were well-fed and drank and partied all night long. The food and wine on the table had been changed three times, and the ground was covered with empty wine jars.
Finally, the night watchman outside beat the third watch drum, and County Magistrate Zhang and his entourage walked out of Hefeng Tower, reeking strongly of alcohol.
"Don't worry, Master Zhang. We will follow your lead and make sure that little magistrate leaves in disgrace."
Although the clerks in the six departments of the county government were all drunk, they still did not forget to show their loyalty to County Magistrate Zhang.
"Be careful with your words, be careful with your words. We are taking our time to do a good job in order to better 'help' the county magistrate do his job." Yao Zhubu burped, waved to everyone, and corrected their speech errors with a smile.
"Hahaha... That's right, Lord Yao is absolutely right. We take our time to produce fine results."
Everyone looked at each other and burst into laughter at the same time, and the laughter scared away the crows.
"You scholars are full of tricks, and you go through so much trouble to think of all these roundabout ways. Jingnan is the Jingnan of our Jingnan people. He is a little turtledove from outside who hasn't even grown all his feathers yet, and he wants to occupy the nest?! Believe it or not, I can kill ten brats like him with this slap."
Li Dianshi reeked of alcohol all over, like a walking wine jar. Unable to bear the heat of the alcohol, he reached out and tore open his clothes, revealing a tuft of thick black hair on his chest that fluttered in the night wind. He waved his two bear-paw-like palms and spoke to everyone in a domineering manner, as if the Overlord of Chu had descended to the world.
"You've drunk too much horse urine and are talking nonsense on the street. If someone hears you, you'll be gossiped about and it will only cause you a lot of trouble in the future!" County Magistrate Zhang glared at Li Dianshi and taught him a lesson without mercy.
"Brother-in-law, I was wrong. I'll listen to you. Shut up. I'll shut up, okay."
After being scolded by County Magistrate Zhang, the burly Li Dianshi shrank his neck, called out "brother-in-law", touched the back of his head with his hand, smiled angrily, admitted his mistake, and stopped talking nonsense.
Yes, that's right, Zhang Xiancheng and Li Dianshi are brother-in-law and brother-in-law. Li Dianshi's sister Zhang Li is quite beautiful and is a famous flower in Jingnan. Li Dianshi was originally just a small yamen runner in Jingnan County Yamen. Once, Li Dianshi's sister came to the yamen to find Li Dianshi for trivial matters. She was beautiful, dressed and walked in a slightly coquettish manner. She also intentionally or unintentionally dangled in front of Zhang Xiancheng, and immediately caught Zhang Xiancheng's eye. The man was in love and the concubine was interested. The two of them soon hooked up together and did some love things secretly whenever they had time. Later, when Zhang Xiancheng was having an affair with Zhang Li at Zhang Li's house, he was discovered by Zhang Li's husband Zhang Da. Zhang Xiancheng simply went all out. Not only did he teach Zhang Da a lesson by relying on his power, but he also forced Zhang Da to divorce Zhang Li. Afterwards, County Magistrate Zhang took Li Dianshi's sister as his concubine. It was because of this relationship with County Magistrate Zhang and County Magistrate Zhang's operation that Li Dianshi was promoted step by step from a small yamen runner to the Dianshi of Jingnan County Yamen.
It can be said that everything Li Dianshi had was given by Zhang Xiancheng, so Li Dianshi was obedient to Zhang Xiancheng and obeyed him in everything.
After teaching Li Dianshi a lesson, County Magistrate Zhang turned around and looked at everyone. "I appreciate your kindness. I won't say much else. In short, if you become rich and powerful in the future, don't forget me."
"If you become rich and powerful, don't forget me!"
After hearing the promise made by County Magistrate Zhang, the clerks in the six departments of the Jingnan County Government were all delighted and spoke out in agreement.
The words that Chen She said on the ridge in the past echoed throughout the night of Jingnan County tonight.
It was also late at night during the curfew. A team of yamen runners on duty heard the noise and rushed over with sticks in hand, ready to teach the offenders a lesson. However, when they rushed over, they saw that they were all their superiors. The aggressive yamen runners immediately smiled and not only took the initiative to help Zhang Xiancheng and his party open the curfew fence, but also enthusiastically sent people to escort the drunk Zhang Xiancheng and his party back to their respective residences.
Early the next morning, Zhu Ping'an arrived at the yamen, followed closely by Liu Mu and others.
After waiting for a while, it was almost time to sign in, but no officials came to the yamen to sign in.
After a while, about ten minutes after the sign-in time, County Magistrate Zhang and Chief Clerk Yao finally arrived hand in hand.
"Good morning, Your Excellency. I stayed up late at home working last night and accidentally overslept this morning. What a sin."
County Magistrate Zhang walked in, clasped his hands, and explained with an apologetic smile.
"Me too. Alas, compared to the county lord, we are really old. Our bodies can't stand staying up all night."
Yao Zhubu also shook his head and explained with a wry smile.
"Haha, County Magistrate Zhang and Chief Clerk Yao have worked so hard that they have to work overtime at night. The people of Jingnan are blessed to have hard-working and responsible officials like you." Zhu Ping'an squinted his eyes and smiled naively.
"Your Excellency is too kind. We are employed by the emperor and should be loyal to him." County Magistrate Zhang and the other man replied modestly with a smile.
After County Magistrate Zhang and Chief Clerk Yao signed in and went to their respective offices, Liu Mu walked over to Zhu Ping'an and gently reminded him, "Sir, they are lying. They definitely didn't stay up late to work last night. They must have been drinking all night. The smell of alcohol on them hasn't dissipated yet."
"I know. I also know that they drank together. They all smelled of the same alcohol."
Zhu Ping'an looked up at Liu Mu, revealing eight teeth.
"Then why don't you expose them, sir?" Liu Mu asked puzzledly.
"They try their best to perform for me, so I have to cooperate." Zhu Ping'an curled the corners of his lips slightly.
After a long while, the six clerks and other officials and clerks of the yamen slowly arrived, and they were all late.
The reasons for being late are different, such as working overtime all night, having family matters, etc.
But the smell of alcohol on his body is the same.
It seems that they were drinking together last night. Zhu Ping'an moved his nose, narrowed his eyes, and understood.
"Master, they are really going too far! They clearly did it on purpose!"
After the clerk in the sixth room signed in and left, Liu Dadao could not help but stand up for Zhu Ping'an.
"I know."
Zhu Pingan nodded.
"Sir, then why..." Liu Dadao was indignant.
"Be patient, now is not the time."
Zhu Ping'an slightly curled the corners of his lips, patted Liu Dadao on the shoulder, and showed a meaningful smile.
Liu Dadao looked confused.
Liu Mu seemed to understand something.
"Let's go to the prison in the morning and then go to the village below in the afternoon." Zhu Ping'an said to the two.