Chapter 076: The Newly Arrived Chief Clerk
Hualang's face looked very unsightly, he was very puzzled, where did he offend Mr. Gong Sun, why did he suddenly get so angry, and why didn't he have the legendary good temper?
Hua Lang walked over to Wen Meng and others with a somewhat dejected look on his face. Wen Meng saw this and teased, "How was it? Did you get shut out?"
After hearing Wen Meng's words, Hua Lang just smiled faintly: "He is jealous that I am more handsome than him. Look at those ignorant common people, he has no threat to them, and he treats them with great warmth."
"Alright, they're just jealous of your good looks, it's clearly a problem with how you speak."
Hualang thought hard, he had only said one sentence, where was the problem?
They couldn't think of anything else and finally left.
The sky darkened, and tonight's moonlight was exceptionally good. Gazing at the round moon made one want to recite a poem "Shui Diao Ge Tou", but this was just a thought. At this time, the people around Huasheng were all from the jianghu, where no one understood poetry. If he were to recite in front of them, they would think he was showing off.
Poetry should be recited in front of those who understand it, reciting to those who don't is like playing the lute to a cow, you won't feel accomplished and others won't feel happy either.
After admiring the moon for a while, everyone returned to their rooms to rest.
But Hualang returned to his room, still very depressed. The legendary Gong Sun Ce was not proficient in medicine and learned from five cars, did he say anything wrong? Why would he have such a reaction?
Hualang thought he had to get to the bottom of this matter, otherwise wouldn't he be suffering from Gong Sun Ce's little white face in vain?
The next day, when Huā Láng woke up, he suddenly felt that it had been a long time since he went to the county government office to visit Bāo Yuè. Today's weather was not bad, so he decided to go and chat with Bāo Hēi Zi instead. After all, Bāo Hēi Zi was much more interesting than Gōng Sūn Cè.
While inquiring about Gong Sun Ce's affairs, Hua Lang decided to put it aside for the time being. According to historical development, Bao Zheng and Gong Sun Ce would eventually meet anyway, so there was no hurry to understand at that moment.
After having breakfast, everyone walked towards the county government office in a very leisurely manner. Looking at their relaxed appearance, it seemed as if they had never worried about not having money before.
Because the county government's people all recognized Hua Lang and others, so when they saw Hua Lang, they didn't go to report, but immediately led them into the county government.
They were led into the county government office, but not into the reception hall. Instead, they entered Bao Zheng's study, which made Hua Lang and others very curious. A yamen runner explained: "A new chief clerk has just arrived at the provincial capital, and Master Bao is questioning him in the reception hall, so please ask Master Hua to wait temporarily in the study."
A new chief accountant arrived, and Hua Lang nodded in understanding. Since he could be a chief accountant, for example, by passing the imperial examination as a jinshi and being appointed by the court, he should have some literary talent.
Hualang and others in the study did not wait for long, Bao Zheng hurried over in a hurry. After Bao Zheng arrived, he first apologized and said: "I made Hua brothers and everyone wait for a long time, it was really because there were things at the county government office today, which delayed me."
Hualang hastily stood up and said: "Brother Bao is being polite, official duties come first, we just came to chat with Brother Bao."
Bao Zheng invited people to drink tea, and then said while drinking tea: "Hua brother hasn't come for several days. This county government is very busy, and cases can be encountered almost every day. Unfortunately, there is only one person in this county government, and I want to find a clever person to help me, but there isn't."
Hualang listened and smiled: "Isn't the court just assigned a chief clerk to Brother Bao? From now on, some small things can be handed over to the chief clerk."
Bao Zheng took a sip of tea and sighed: "Alas, it's difficult! Wanting to transfer this chief clerk is not easy."
Everyone was shocked, Bao Zheng being the county magistrate, couldn't he even order a chief clerk?
"Why is this?"
Bao Zheng put down his tea cup and said, "That new chief clerk is one of the newly appointed scholars from the recent imperial examination. I just tested him a bit, and his writing skills are average, but he's clueless about many things."
Hua Lang looked puzzled and said, "Since he doesn't live up to his name, Brother Bao, why don't you just dismiss him? Even if he was appointed by the imperial court, as a county magistrate, you also have this right, don't you?"
Bao Zheng shook his head: "It won't do, this new chief clerk is called Wang Song, his father is the governor of Qingzhou, Wang De Yong, a famous general of the Song Dynasty. I have no reason to dismiss his son from the position of chief clerk, it doesn't make sense."
Bao Zheng finished speaking, and Hualang fully understood that Bao Zheng was not afraid of Wang De's high position and heavy power, but rather because this Wang Song had not committed a crime, he had not made any mistakes, how could he be dismissed from his official position?
Although it was so, Hua Lang had one thing that he couldn't figure out. Wang De used to be a famous general of the Song Dynasty, and at the age of 17, he followed Li Jiqian's army to attack Western Xia. Later, he even made great military achievements. Why would such a martial general let his son study literature and become a chief clerk? Was the reason the same as his own, because of the Song Dynasty's policy of emphasizing literature over martial arts?
Just now Bao Zheng said Wang Song's writing is ordinary, then how did he pass the imperial examination?
Although these words were inexplicable, Hua Lang did not ask them out. After all, even if he asked them out, Bao Zheng would not be able to answer.
They chatted for a while longer before Hua Lang and the others bid farewell and left the study.
As they walked out of the county government office, they saw a tall and sturdy man, like a small overlord, walking out from one side, just facing Hualang. The man had a follower behind him, also with a sturdy build, and at first glance, it was clear that the two were practitioners, but who were they and how could they be so reckless inside the county government office?
Just then, the two groups of people arrived at the center of the hall. Hua Lang and his companions walked a bit faster, squeezing those two burly men to the back. This was nothing unusual, as on roads and in government offices, whoever walks faster goes ahead.
As soon as Ke Hualang and the others walked ahead, the tall and sturdy follower behind them suddenly became enraged and scolded: "What kind of people are you? You don't even know how to pay respects to our Wang Zhubu, and yet you dare to walk in front of us?"
That sentence from the classmate exposed their identities, and Hua Lang smiled faintly in his heart. It turned out to be the new chief clerk Wang Song. After seeing Wang Song, Hua Lang felt that Bao Zheng was right - someone like him having literary talent would be strange; he looked like a military general, what's with the literature?
Hualang hadn't even spoken yet, but Yin Wucheng couldn't help but look away in disgust. Hualang had always been proud and aloof, only admiring Yin Wucheng, who had never been scolded like this before. Just as he was about to teach Wang Song and his followers a lesson, Hualang suddenly turned around with a smile on his face and said: "So it's Magistrate Wang, I didn't know it was you, please forgive me." As he spoke, he stepped aside to let Wang Song and the others pass.
Wang Song saw the good attitude of Hua Lang, and his heart suddenly became very happy. He said with a somewhat arrogant tone: "Alright, alright, from now on when you see me, remember to give way."
