Porridge and side dishes [farming]

Chapter 75

Li Ji shuddered.When I was a child, I seemed to have heard similar stories. The family couldn't afford to support the family, and the boy was left behind to carry on the family, and the girl directly tried to kill her.Haven't heard of it in recent years.

The high incidence period of this kind of thing is when the harvest in the field is not good, or even when there is a famine, some people's wives and daughters are even reduced to rations.

200 years ago, there was a county in which a "monument of strong women" was conferred, and the story has been passed down to the present, that is, a woman saw that her husband and in-laws were about to starve to death, so she hanged herself and left her last words to let them eat and live .

After the famine passed, the family survived, and the news spread, and the government was greatly moved to give a monument to the martyr girl and reward silver, so that the descendants of the woman would suffer from it.The ancestors gave birth to strong girls, and the girls in the whole clan were all scrambled for.

I don't know how many people educate their daughters in this way. Of course, more of them are the husband's family teaching the daughter-in-law to learn from the chaste women.

In fact, during the famine era, many children and women were reduced to food rations. Did any of them really volunteer?Not really, people are dead, of course what the living people say is what.

For those baby girls who are still in their infancy, they don't even have the right to choose to live.

But now that the weather is going well, I haven’t heard of similar things for many years, because people who don’t want to see girls will sell them to rich families as maids when they are four or five years old. It has nothing to do with life and death after the deed, but it is much more cost-effective than killing one at birth.

"And then?" Li Ji asked hurriedly.

The magistrate's eyes were deep, recalling the past that he didn't want to think about:

"After the mother recovered for a few days, she went to the county government to beat drums and complain. I heard the woman's complaint, and the family clearly violated the law. Killing the baby girl should be beheaded according to the law. I didn't wait The verdict was pronounced, a total of [-] relatives from that family blocked the gate of the yamen to intercede, saying that it was an intercession, but a threat. If they shouted at the gate to kill their own child or a newborn child, it would not be counted as murder. Unjustly guilty, and never before has there been a conviction for this."

"There must be!" Li Ji's eyes were bright, "It's just that we haven't heard of it."

"Maybe." The county magistrate sighed, "At that time, I was young and energetic, and under pressure, I sentenced the mother-in-law to ten years in prison.

"It's light." Li Ji said.

Of course, Li Ji knew that this kind of incident happened frequently, because no one had ever paid the price for it. Even if it happened in the village, Li Ji could only talk about it if he felt dissatisfied, and could not solve the incident at all.

"I also think it's light, but if I want to say the death penalty, I won't be approved if I report it." The general criminal law magistrate can decide on his own, and such a major matter as the death penalty has to be reported to the Ministry of Criminal Justice for approval.If the people don't agree with this kind of thing, how can the higher authorities agree?

"Then what happened afterwards?" Li Ji asked.

"Later? Later, the yamen servants in the government office felt that my sentence was severe. The county magistrate and others under him were all persuading me to change the sentence, otherwise it would easily cause public anger over time. I never felt that I was wrong until Two months later, I realized that I was totally wrong." The magistrate's voice was heavy.

"What happened?" Just by looking at the county magistrate's expression, Li Ji could feel the county magistrate's emotions at that time.

"I locked up my mother-in-law and beat the husband. The mother who had just given birth and suffered the pain of losing her daughter went back to her mother-in-law's house and was directly beaten out. She went to her mother's house, and her mother's family felt that she dared to sue her mother-in-law, which affected her. Their family's good reputation, no one would dare to marry his daughter in the future, and drove her away.

She was forced to beg along the street before she was confinement, and when people saw her, they pointed her out as a woman who dared to sue her mother-in-law, and many people pointed her at her to educate the female relatives in the family, and dared to be disrespectful to her mother-in-law, that's what happened . "The magistrate closed his eyes, and the more he spoke, the more he gritted his teeth.

"Why don't you care about her?" That person came to the government office to file a complaint. Although it has nothing to do with the government office, it is the beasts and not humans, but the government, as a parent officer, rescued a woman who was not yet confinement Still easy.

"It's not that I don't care, but I don't know about it at all. She lives in a remote place, and I only found out about it a month after her death. Because of my sentence, she, a mother who lost her daughter, became a sinner. My daughter asked for justice, but because she violated the so-called filial piety, she became a rat crossing the street."

Li Ji's heart trembled when he heard that, what a poor woman, she watched her newborn daughter being burned alive, in order to get justice, she gave birth for several days without even confinement to sue the murderer, but ended up disloyal, disfilial and depressed And the end result.

Everyone only remembered that the daughter-in-law did not keep her duty and dared to sue her mother-in-law, but no one remembered her poor child who had just come into the world and had not yet had time to breathe.

Li Ji thought, maybe this happened in the village, and the result was the same.In the case of Er Chanzi, the reason why Er Chanzi's mother and son were scolded and sympathized with the daughter-in-law was entirely because the daughter-in-law was a humble and weak person from the beginning to the end.At that time, if the daughter-in-law was a little bit tough, and even scolded the second shovel, the whole situation would be reversed.

Harsh treatment of a daughter-in-law will make the daughter-in-law unfilial and confront her mother-in-law, and being beaten and having a miscarriage on the third day of the Lunar New Year will turn into a mistake that has harmed other people's heirs but does not know how to repent and blames the mother-in-law's family.

That's the reality.It doesn't have to be a daughter-in-law, even if the biological children sue their parents, that would be a great crime.Li Ji didn't know the law, but he had heard too many rumors about such things.

Perhaps Li Ji's parents had a weak relationship, and he had a very good impression of the role of father in his memory.His father was kind to him, and the father he served had passed away, and he was a filial son passed down in the village.But to be honest, in Li Ji's eyes, the former is the prerequisite for a loving father and a filial son.

"You did the right thing." Who was wrong then?Is it the law?Is it the court?Or everyone?

"It's my fault. If I had thought about this woman and that unborn child, I would not have ended up like this. If I had sentenced to a fine and supervised the husband's family to compensate the woman People, maybe it will be the opposite result. If I suppress the family instead of disposing of it, the family will not feel that the family is ruined, so they will be so unfeeling to the woman."

The magistrate of the county said so much, and finally made a conclusion: "If you are not an official, you may never know this. It is said that the county magistrate is the parent official of the people. Since you are a parent, educating the people is not just about those rules. It is the original intention of being an official to let the people of the whole county live and work in peace and contentment. It is not because of ignoring the law, but the reality is changing, and those provisions may not apply to all things."

Hearing these words, Li Ji felt frustrated for no reason. The magistrate of the county, who is clearly the lord of the county, felt helpless because of various incidents.

Knowing that he is guilty and cannot be sentenced according to the law, he is obviously right, but it is really his own fault.

"It happened the year before last. In your village, there was a mother's family who brought their daughter to sue and divorce. In fact, if I had my way of thinking, I would never let the husband's family who treated people harshly go, but I can't. If the mother-in-law who did it is really After a long time, the voice of sympathy from the daughter-in-law will gradually decrease, and even complain that she has harmed her husband's family, following in the footsteps of the woman ten years ago. Therefore, separation is the best way. "

"You did nothing wrong." Li Ji said, "Actually, separation is the best way. Er Chanzi's family was not forced into a desperate situation. At one point, Xiao thought that he could marry another big girl, but he didn't know that he had already been regarded by the village. As a shame, their life now may not be more comfortable than in prison."

Since the last time Er Chanzi Niang failed to smear Li Ji, the villagers' dislike for their family has intensified.In the past, when people greeted each other, they would respond twice because of their face. Now they simply treat the two of them as air. After a long time, the two of them seem to have adapted to this isolation, and they have become more honest recently.But when no one cares, no one pays attention, and even has to be talked about behind the scenes, how can it be so easy?

The magistrate nodded: "I want this kind of result. No matter how heavy my sentence is, it is impossible to give the woman the best justice. Even if he is allowed to separate and sentence the mother and child, it will still affect the woman's life." reputation. So I simply did nothing and put the woman in the position of being hurt and weak. The more people sympathize with her, the heavier the punishment for the mother and child will be."

As a parent official, it is impossible to maintain absolute fairness, so it is necessary to maintain this wonderful "fairness" from a special perspective.It is the way of being an official in the face of the people. It is not only worthy of the people of the whole county, but also has a clear conscience.

From a certain point of view, Li Ji and the county magistrate are of the same kind.

Li Jijiang thought about it and laughed.He took a sip of beef, took a sip of wine, with a clever and sly face: "In this way, I am the same. In your eyes, I am not malicious, and Li Qiaoer is indeed pitiful, and Li Shuisheng is also suffering the consequences. Instead If things go so far that I go to jail to return Li Shuisheng's innocence and harm that girl, it's better to make the mistake and hide my existence, solve the case and get the money back."

"Go on." After being told, the magistrate became more interested.

"All of this is going according to my original idea. Li Shuisheng is still a villain who suffers from his own evil, not a poor person who is calculated by his own villains. Then he used to force Li Qiaoer to learn those messy things for his own selfishness, and it was spread Come on, he is still a sinner. Of course, this crime is not in the true sense. At most, others will say a few words. After all, he has the right to decide where his daughter will go. But after this lesson, he will no longer be bent on climbing high branches, but will be honest. I mostly think about it for Li Qiaoer."

The magistrate nodded: "There is another meaning, you didn't think of it."

"What?" Li Ji didn't know why.

"That means I really appreciate you." The magistrate said with a smile on his eyebrows. "Over the years, you are one of the few people who can chat with me."

Li Ji's eyes dodged, for fear that the county magistrate would say something similar to asking him to stay behind: "My lord, let's just pass what you said. There are so many people in this world, and I can just say a few words that you like to hear. In fact, there are not many people in the world. It’s not that I’m the only one who can say such things, it’s just that fate didn’t happen and you didn’t meet him.”

"In this way, this official is also destined for you." The county magistrate paused after speaking, and then laughed loudly, "Look, if I scare you, can I force you to stay? You are smart, if you stay by my side , will indeed be a great help, but if you don't have such ambitions, I will naturally not force you."

Li Ji heaved a sigh of relief, filled his glass with wine, and toasted: "In the past, I often heard people praise you as the reincarnation, but I didn't believe it. Now that I see you, I know what a parent should look like. Just for this, Caomin toasts to your lord."

The two glasses touched each other, and they drank it all in one gulp.

"I had a good chat with you. Since you don't want to be tied down to become an official here, then you won't be free to come and talk to me in the future if you have nothing to do." Not being able to see her often, the magistrate took the next best thing.

Li Ji thought about it seriously, and said: "Are you short of leather? If I have decent leather at home, I can send it to you."

In the past two years, the magistrate of the county has indeed spent a lot of money to buy leather.

The magistrate knew what Li Ji meant, nodded and said, "Lack, the more the better, the better quality leather I need more. The price is easy to say, I bought it with a lot of money."

On the one hand, the county magistrate needs to use it because he is afraid of the cold, and on the other hand, the county magistrate also needs to give gifts to the finished products made by the leather goods store.

There is no way to do this. If the relationship between the higher authorities is not cleared, it will not be easy for the money and rations distributed by the imperial court to the people in the future.

As an official, there are too many helplessness.

So it was decided, Li Ji dispelled the last worry.The two talked more harmoniously.After talking so much, Li Ji became less restrained towards the county magistrate, but the two found some joy in their conversation in the tavern that day.

The two talked for a while, and just after drinking half a jug of wine, they heard commotion outside.

The magistrate of the county stood up and frowned, looking outside, and soon a yamen servant came in: "My lord, there is a man outside clamoring to come in, saying that he is... looking for Mr. Li."

In normal times, they would definitely be beaten out with sticks, but Li Ji and the county magistrate seem to have a good relationship, so people who come to Li Ji are not easy to touch.

Upon hearing this, Li Ji immediately realized who it was.

"Er Gouzi! It's Er Gouzi!" Li Ji hurriedly stood up and bowed to the magistrate, "My lord, this is probably Cao Min's naive nephew. You know the background of Cao Min's nephew. Ordinary people are different, I'm afraid they don't know that doing this is offending adults!"

The magistrate nodded, expressing his understanding: "People who grew up in the mountains inevitably have different temperaments. Forget it, this time, he will not be held accountable for trespassing on the yamen. You should teach him well when you go back. Trespassing on the yamen is a felony. Repeat."

"Yes!" Li Ji heaved a sigh of relief.

Only then did the magistrate ordered: "Invite someone over here. Since he is the nephew of the little brother, it's okay to have a drink or two with him."

Li Ji looked outside, and vaguely saw a figure walking this way.Afraid that Er Gouzi was too anxious, Li Ji couldn't wait to open the door and go out. There were dim candles in the two street lamps in the courtyard.

Li Ji stepped forward to greet him: "Er Gouzi."

"Little...fourth uncle." Er Gouzi hurried over and hugged Li Ji in his arms.

Li Ji's face directly hit the jade pendant on Er Gouzi's chest.It was cold at night, the jade pendant was blown by the wind for a while, and it felt a little comfortable when it touched my face.

This is the only relic left to Er Gouzi by Er Gouzi's mother-in-law Li Yan. It is a rough jade pendant. Now Li Ji can buy him ten yuan or 20 yuan better than this jade pendant, but Li Ji knows that this The value of a jade pendant cannot be measured by silver.

"Okay, okay, didn't I tell you that I'm fine? You came all the way here." Li Ji patted Er Gouzi on the shoulder and told him to let go.

Standing at the door, the county magistrate always felt a little strange seeing the uncle and nephew hugging each other.But after thinking about it, Er Gouzi is different from normal people, and the way of expressing feelings should be different, so it can be understood.

"You came all the way from the village? It's cold at night, why don't you come in and have a glass of wine to warm you up." The county magistrate could only see the general appearance of Er Gouzi clearly by the dim light of the fire, but he couldn't see carefully.But for some reason, because of the inexplicable affection, the words she spoke were much softer.

Only then did Li Ji remember the county magistrate, why did he leave the magistrate aside?

"I don't want to thank you, it's an honor for you to drink with adults." Li Ji said.

Er Gouzi said thank you first, looked at the county magistrate, and said directly: "I don't like him."

Li Ji's face turned pale immediately, he finally relaxed, Er Gouzi's words offended the magistrate again!As long as the county magistrate is narrow-minded, it is enough to lock Er Gouzi up and beat him up!

"What are you talking about! It's your honor that your lord looks up to you, how dare you say such stupid words!" Li Ji shouted angrily.

After being drank by Li Ji, Er Gouzi's aura suddenly lost a lot, and he said aggrievedly: "He didn't let you sleep, and brought you here to drink so late. You didn't drink with me, I don't like it he."

Li Ji really can't laugh or cry, just because of such a simple reason, he hates the dignified magistrate?

The reason for this is simple, and the idea is also simple, which made the county magistrate who was half darkened smile happily.

"Your nephew is indeed different." The magistrate said sincerely.

Li Jiqian smiled and turned back to the magistrate and bowed to the county magistrate: "My lord, I am laughing at you. The second dog rarely sees outsiders, and his personality is like a child. He is not happy to be licked by the first dog at home. In fact, there is no malice at all." .”

"Look. It's really late today, why don't you go to bed first, and I'll send you back tomorrow morning," said the magistrate.

Li Ji looked at Er Gouzi, Er Gouzi shook his head slightly.Li Ji had no choice but to say with a scalp: "It's not suitable to bother your lord with such a small fact. Caomin just wants to buy some rice with Er Gouzi and go back. I will find an inn to wash up and stay here tonight. I will buy it in the morning." Just ask the owner of the grain and oil store to deliver the goods, and we will go back directly."

The county magistrate didn't feel any dissatisfaction in his heart at this time, he just felt that it was inconvenient for the two of them at night, but after thinking about it, the two young men would not encounter any difficulties.

"Then I won't stay any longer. Li Ji, listen to everything I say, but don't pass it on. Everything I say is useful at any time, so be more careful next time." The grandfather's words are a warning, but they are also for the good of Li Ji.

Of course Li Ji knew.He bowed to the county magistrate and left.

Er Gouzi and the magistrate looked at each other, Er Gouzi had no expression on his face, and followed Li Ji's steps, turned and left.

The county magistrate couldn't tell what it was like, but the moment Er Gouzi turned around, the magistrate's heart was empty for no reason, because he couldn't explain anything clearly, he just felt uncomfortable.

"Master." The yamen servant saw that something was wrong with the magistrate, so he came over to ask.

"If my child is still there, he should be this old."

"Master, you are the master of Qingtian in our county. Your child will be blessed by the gods to be safe and sound."

"I hope so." The magistrate sighed.

Li Ji and Er Gouzi left the county office, Li Ji was still a little confused.Standing at the gate of the county government office, seeing the Drum for Worshiping Wrongs set up next to it, I couldn't imagine what it must have been like when Li Shuisheng and the others beat the drums to cry out for grievances.

The magistrate of You County personally helped, and the truth of this matter will always be kept under dust.Li Ji took out another five taels of silver and handed it to the county magistrate, who then handed it over to Li Shuisheng, saying that the liar had caught him, and Li Shuisheng would return the silver to Li Ji.

As for the previous five taels of silver, Li Ji had no intention of getting it back from the very beginning.

Of course, in a broad sense, I don’t intend to. Li Shuisheng’s family will be poor for a period of time in the future, and Li Ji just needs people to work because he is short of money, so he just needs to hire Li Shuisheng’s family to work there.Originally, Li Ji wanted to pay the long-term workers 3 renminbi a month. Such a high salary was originally intended to be a hand to the villagers. If Li Shuisheng was hired, it would be [-] renminbi.

Don't look at the loss of a whole penny, the remaining two pennies are also worthy of Li Shuisheng's contribution.

So the five liang of silver is not completely wasted, there is always a chance to get it back.

Li Ji is also a calculating master, so he can't really suffer.

But speaking of such a good plan, this time Li Ji fell on this good plan.Li Ji is too confident. He thinks that if he can hide Li Shuisheng, he will be able to hide the truth, but he doesn't know that there are people outside the sky. Biggest failure.

After experiencing this, Li Jichang learned a lesson.

First, he will not touch the bottom line of the law in the future, even with good intentions.Second, he will no longer be so confident and unscrupulous in the future. Only when he is afraid can he be truly foolproof.

Tonight, he was scared enough by the county magistrate, and he also made friends with the county magistrate.Let's not talk about walking sideways in the county in the future, at least I don't have to be afraid of being bullied by anyone.No matter how big a person is, he is the magistrate of the county. If Li Ji can talk to the magistrate of the county, he is someone who cannot be offended.

In the beginning, Li Ji only sold a piece of leather to the county magistrate, forcing the abacus fur shopkeeper to give up the profit.Talking to the county magistrate and asking the tavern to give him a pot of such precious tea is enough to show that there is such a relationship, what a terrifying convenience.

That's why so many people squeezed their heads out to become officials. The higher the position, the more convenience it brings.

The author has something to say: Why don't I think that the text in my writing is righteous, evil is evil, good and evil are rewarded in reincarnation.However, from the perspective of ancient times, it is too unrealistic, so as a parent official, you can't do everything according to the interest rate of the current dynasty. More, you still have to look at your own wisdom.

Grateful to live in modern times.

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