The Hidden Immortal Chapter 43: Promotion

In the courtyard, the crows that usually liked to squat on the eaves were nowhere to be seen.

The voles and weasels in a corner of the vegetable patch had also long hidden themselves tightly.

Tang Shijun glanced around slightly, his gaze sweeping past the Spirit Pearl Grass by the door.

The plaque was carried in. Because the lintel was too small and it was hard to put it up, it had to be temporarily leaned to the side.

"You earn quite a lot of silver every year, why are you still so frugal?" Tang Shijun asked.

Those wealthy households in Zhangnan County, as long as they had a little silver in their hands, would build tall and large new houses.

Unlike Chu Xun, although the house was newly built a few years ago, there were only a scant two or three rooms, which couldn't be considered grand.

Chu Xun smiled and replied, "Having a few rooms to shelter from the wind and rain is enough. In comparison, I prefer to use the silver to buy at to eat and wine to drink. At least it goes into my own stomach, so it's not a loss."

Tang Shijun was noncommittal. He ca from an aristocratic family and was used to seeing grand scenes.

Naturally, he wouldn't agree too much with such an argunt.

It was just that in a rural place, acting like this wasn't wrong either.

After thinking for a mont, Tang Shijun said, "It just so happens I brought you a painting of 'Plowing in the Green Mountains'. You are a Secondary Guest after all, decorating a little won't look shabby."

An official imdiately stepped forward and presented Tang Shijun's personal painting.

Neat fields, a man in a green shirt bowing to plow, with a green pine standing beside him.

The middle ground was a winding mountain stream, circling a few thatched cottages.

The background was a touch of light ink distant mountains, the peaks hidden in thin mist, as if wreathed in green clouds.

With peach wood as the scroll axis, backed with mulberry paper.

One foot five inches vertically, one foot horizontally.

Although Chu Xun didn't understand painting, he still felt it looked good.

It was just that there was too much blank space, and he always felt sothing was missing, so he asked, "Could Your Excellency write a few more words on it?"

Tang Shijun didn't refuse. Since he was already here, he might as well give enough face.

After soone brought a brush and ink, he thought for a mont and wielded the brush to complete it.

"Green mountains surround the fields, plowing with integrity; heart towards the green clouds, not forgetting the hills and valleys. Presented to Secondary Guest Chu, handwritten by Mr. Huaitang."

Then he took out a small vermilion seal from his pocket, engraved with "Heart towards the green clouds," which was Tang Shijun's private seal.

Presenting calligraphy and painting without writing his formal na, but using his elegant na, was also considered cautious.

Many people who obtained calligraphy and paintings from officials would use them as a tiger's skin to intimidate others and act tyrannically.

Although Tang Shijun didn't think Chu Xun was such a person, the na Mr. Huaitang was also one he cherished.

After stamping the seal, Tang Shijun smiled and said, "I don't stamp this private seal on all calligraphy and paintings. Consider it an enviable inherited treasure of your family."

If such words were placed on soone else, it would make people feel they were too conceited.

But placed on him, it felt perfectly natural.

Magistrate Tang's arrogance was never concealed.

Subsequently, Tang Shijun brought over a docunt stamped with the official governnt seal.

Rewarding two acres of fertile land, a set of curved-shaft plow, three catties of table salt, and two bolts of official cloth.

It wasn't considered too expensive, the emphasis was on being practical.

In addition, the tax grain was reduced by another twenty percent on the original basis.

Chu Xun and one male mber of his family were exempted from corvée labor for life, and when seeing officials below the county level, they could bow with hands clasped and not kneel.

If eting the County Magistrate for matters of village schools or agriculture, they could wear casual clothes and enter the hall directly.

Furthermore, the County Magistrate could recomnd one person from the Chu family, even if they ca from a lowly register, to participate in the imperial examinations.

This special honor made Chu Xun's reputation soar.

Previously, only Pingshui Town and a very small surrounding area knew of him, but now the entire Zhangnan County knew.

There was a Secondary Guest Chu who had obtained the County Magistrate's personal calligraphy and painting, even stamped with a private seal.

For a ti, there was an endless stream of people coming to visit and admire the calligraphy and painting.

The continuous greetings of "Master Chu, wishing you good health" shook the crows on the eaves so much that they covered their heads with their wings.

Zhang Anxiu, with her dark skin, beca the object of envy for the won.

There were even many who considered their appearance and figure to be many tis better than hers, secretly criticizing in their hearts, how could a dark girl have such good luck to marry a figure like Master Chu!

So bold ones hired matchmakers to go to Chu Xun's house to propose marriage.

If they couldn't be the main wife, being a concubine was also acceptable.

Everyone knew that Chu Xun and Zhang Anxiu had been married for many years without children.

With such family property now, how could there be no one to inherit it?

As long as they could give birth to a son, it wasn't impossible for a concubine to turn over and beco the main wife in the coming year.

Regarding this, Zhang Anxiu remained silent.

Although she didn't like it, she understood the significance of passing down the family line.

Her own belly wasn't living up to expectations, who could she bla?

But Chu Xun was completely unceremonious and drove out all the matchmakers who ca to propose marriage.

When he got really annoyed, he had the crows squat at the courtyard gate.

Pecking one for every one that ca.

This flock of crows was massive in size and unusually fierce, making people shrink back in fear.

After several matchmakers in a row were pecked until their heads were broken and bleeding, no one dared to co to the door anymore.

Thus, three years passed.

The twenty-ninth year of the Kingdom of Jing, Chu Xun was thirty-three years old.

Because of Tang Shijun's effective governance, Zhangnan County not only had no refugees causing chaos, but instead absorbed them as local households.

Especially Pingshui Town, which greatly replenished a wave of population.

In eight years, Pingshui Town went from the previous state of panic to the current state of living and working in peace and contentnt.

Coupled with successive years of bumper harvests in agricultural production, Tang Shijun had gone through three evaluations with remarkable achievents, which even the Ministry of Personnel couldn't ignore.

The so-called three evaluations originated from the records of the ancient Kingdom of Yun, "Evaluate achievents every three years, and after three evaluations, promote or demote based on clarity or obscurity."

Evaluate achievents once every three years, evaluate again at six years, and complete the evaluation at nine years.

If qualified, the Ministry of Personnel would give you a promotion.

In the sixth year, Tang Shijun should have been promoted, but the Ministry of Personnel refused to relent, delaying it for another three years.

Whether this was due to discord between the aristocratic family behind Tang Shijun and the Ministry of Personnel, ordinary people were unclear.

But no matter what, this year it seed the Emperor casually asked a question, and only then did the Ministry of Personnel give way.

Originally, his family had made arrangents everywhere to have Tang Shijun go to the Ministry of Revenue as a Principal.

That was a regular sixth-rank capital official. In the future, to be promoted to Vice Minister or Minister, one had to take this path.

But Tang Shijun didn't go, and instead went to Fenggu City to be a Prefectural Vice Magistrate.

This was a subordinate sixth-rank official title. Whether in official rank or reputation, it was inferior to a Principal of the Six Ministries.

But it was in charge of salt, grain, river defense, coastal defense, river works, water conservancy, pacifying the people and barbarians, and other affairs, which was considered holding real power.

The current Emperor valued the people's livelihood the most, and also preferred officials related to it.

Tang Shijun had ambitions and was very arrogant, naturally unwilling to take those "empty positions" in the Six Ministries.

He wanted to walk up step by step, until he beca a high-ranking provincial official, or even the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet!

The forr Prefect Liang Mingzheng had already left office a few years ago.

But because he embezzled tens of thousands of taels of silver, he was secretly reported to the Son of Heaven and sentenced to the extermination of his entire clan.

His father was the Emperor's personal guard and had died taking a blade for the Emperor during warti. Although he didn't have a very high noble title after the founding of the country, only being posthumously titled Count of Loyalty and Bravery, it was still considered vast imperial grace.

Perhaps rembering old sentints, the Emperor issued a decree, "The Count of Loyalty and Bravery died for Us, allow the Liang family to keep one person's life."

Hearing that Liang Mingzheng's grandson Liang Qifeng was smart and clever, able to compose a poem in seven steps at the age of eleven or twelve.

If one person's life was to be kept, it naturally should be him.

This wisp of incense might still be able to stage a coback in the future.

When many elders in Pingshui Town heard of this matter, they looked at each other in dismay.

Back then, the Lin family wanted to marry Lin Qiaoxi to Liang Mingzheng's foolish son. Lin Qiaoxi desperately refused and insisted on marrying the foolish and honest Zhang Sanchun.

In those years, how many people openly and secretly laughed at Lin Qiaoxi for not knowing her blessings while living in them.

No matter how foolish the Prefect's son was, you would still be the Prefect's daughter-in-law.

A massive blessing fell from the sky, yet she discarded it like worn-out shoes.

If you want to talk about foolishness, the Lin family's daughter was much more foolish than Zhang the Fool.

However, ten years passed, and the Lin family had nine generations exterminated because of Lin Xianzong's matter.

The Liang family had their entire clan exterminated because of Liang Mingzheng's embezzlent, leaving only one person.

On the contrary, Zhang Sanchun, who was once looked down upon, now opened a roasted goods shop in the town, and business was booming.

His son was smart and clever, and his daughter, born just a few years ago, was also lively and adorable, given the milk na, Xi'er.

The couple lived better and better, already an enviable family.

Furthermore, there was Chu Xun, this good brother-in-law, who was highly regarded by two County Magistrates and stood out among the many Honored Guests.

This rise and fall left people dumbfounded.

During the season of drizzle.

Tang Shijun was about to go to Fenggu City to take up his post. Before leaving, he specially called Chu Xun to the stone bridge over the Songliu River.

Standing by the stone stele at the bridgehead, Tang Shijun looked at the Songliu Water God Temple on the opposite bank, "Chu Xun, do you think there really is a Water God in this river? I heard he controls turtles and snakes and has boundless magical power. The favorable weather these years is all due to his protection."

Chu Xun replied, "It's hard to say, after all, no one has seen it with their own eyes. But even if there really is a Songliu Water God, the growing prosperity of this county may not necessarily be his credit. Your Excellency's contribution is the greatest."

This wasn't flattery. During Tang Shijun's eight years here, Zhangnan County had climbed step by step, which was obvious to all.

Facing Chu Xun's praise, Tang Shijun smiled, "Having these words from you can be considered reducing a bit of regret."

"This ti I am promoted to Vice Magistrate. Although I am not in Zhangnan County, I will still pay close attention."

"Among the many so-called talents in this county, only you can enter my eyes."

"It's a pity you don't have an official rank and cannot serve as an official in the sa court. But even if you are just a rural Secondary Guest, you still need to guard against arrogance and rashness."

"When I go to your house again next year, I want to see if that calligraphy and painting is even more brightly colored."

Calligraphy and paintings only grow old with the years; how could they beco more brightly colored the longer they are kept?

But Chu Xun knew that Tang Shijun wasn't talking about the painting, but the person, and even more so this land and water.

Having been a County Magistrate for eight years, he naturally had deep feelings and was reluctant to part.

Yet for the ambitions in his heart, he had to move upwards.

Chu Xun bowed and saluted, "I will strictly rember Your Excellency's teachings and will definitely diligently cultivate myself. I also hope Your Excellency can rise rapidly in the world and realize your grand ambitions!"

Tang Shijun smiled and reached out to pat Chu Xun's shoulder.

He didn't say any more words, but his hand seed to weigh a thousand catties.

He valued Chu Xun, but because Chu Xun had no official rank, he couldn't entrust the affairs of this place to him.

This pat seed light, yet heavy.

There was private friendship, and also overt regret.

To be so highly regarded by soone so arrogant that he was unwilling to take a higher official position was rare.

Extrely rare.

[End of Chapter]