Meng Qingshan's words were half true, half false, but he wasn't entirely trying to deceive her.
Seeing this, Li Qingzhu felt her heart stir. She stepped forward involuntarily and gently touched the wound that had been bloody just yesterday.
But the moment she touched it, she snatched her hand back as if she'd been shocked.
Then she lowered her head shyly, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz. "If that's really true, then that would be wonderful!"
Seeing her reaction, Meng Qingshan stopped teasing his adorable cousin. Once he was fully dressed, he strode toward the main hall.
As soon as he entered, his gaze fell on a young man.
The man had his back to Meng Qingshan and was gazing intently up at a calligraphy scroll on the wall.
Beside him, the Secretary and several constables stood silently.
Meng Qingshan cupped his hands in greeting and was about to speak when the Secretary cut in first. "My lord, the Young Hero who slew the tiger has arrived!"
At that, the county magistrate turned around at once.
Meng Qingshan took a closer look. The man had sharp eyes and wore official robes, giving him an air of solemn authority.
The county magistrate stepped forward and warmly took Meng Qingshan's hands. "Ever since I heard of the Young Hero's brave feat in slaying the tiger yesterday, I've been wondering what you looked like. I thought you'd be a burly, powerfully built man with the stature of a tiger.
"I never expected you to be such a dashing, handsome young man. May I ask where the fierce tiger is now?"
As it happened, since they'd carried the tiger's carcass back that day, they hadn't had a chance to deal with it. It was still stored in a cool corner of the side courtyard.
At this, Meng Qingshan immediately brought out the tiger's body and set it down in the main hall. "Please have a look, my lord!"
The county magistrate paced slowly around the tiger's enormous carcass. After circling it several times, he praised him loudly. "Well done! Truly, a hero emerges among the young! Attendants, bring wine and reward money!"
Before he'd finished speaking, constables stepped forward from either side.
Meng Qingshan saw one constable on the left holding a pot of fine wine, while another on the right presented a stack of silver ingots.
The county magistrate personally filled three cups of wine. Meng Qingshan wasn't one to reject a sincere gesture, so he drank them one by one.
By then, everything was clear to him.
It was obvious that the county magistrate wanted to recruit him.
Thinking that the county magistrate was a capable man who knew how to flatter, Meng Qingshan returned the courtesy. "It is all thanks to your lordship's protection that I was fortunate enough to slay this tiger. I hardly deserve such a generous reward."
"Ah..." The county magistrate sighed. "I've heard some of what happened to your escort agency recently. As the official responsible for Jade Mountain City, I'm deeply pained by your predicament.
"So, to prevent such things from happening again and to protect the people of the city, I intend to form a force to suppress the bandits and attack Black Wind Stronghold. I'd like to appoint you as a constable in this county. What do you think?"
Meng Qingshan replied, "I'm grateful for your high regard, my lord. This concerns the lives of tens of thousands of people in Jade Mountain City, so I would gladly do my part. However, I have an important matter to attend to at present. Could you grant me a little more time?"
"Oh? In that case, it's settled. I'll await your good news at the County Office!"
The county magistrate didn't ask how much time Meng Qingshan needed. After sharing a cup of wine with him, he hurried away.
Seeing this, Li Qingzhu said anxiously, "Cousin, that county magistrate doesn't look like a good person. Are you really going to agree to become a constable in Jade Mountain City?"
Meng Qingshan smiled faintly. Since last night, he'd felt that his relationship with this young woman had grown closer.
At the Changfeng Escort Agency, in the main hall.
Meng Qingshan picked up one of the silver ingots the county magistrate had awarded him and weighed it in his hand.
Each ingot weighed a full ten taels. He thought ten ingots could buy his life in a fight.
That county magistrate's schemes were certainly clattering away like a well-oiled abacus.
Meng Qingshan asked, "Why do you say the county magistrate isn't a good person?"
Li Qingzhu replied, "Cousin, I don't think he came to see the tiger. It seemed more like he came to see you.
"Besides, although he kept talking about the people's welfare, there wasn't a trace of genuine concern in his voice. His self-important official manner was truly nauseating."
Meng Qingshan nodded in agreement. "You're right, Cousin. But I haven't forgotten my uncle's murder, and I never will. That's why I'm only pretending to go along with him for now.
"If we can use his power to wipe out Black Wind Stronghold, then whether for public or private reasons, it'll be a great benefit to the people."
"You're saying the newly appointed county magistrate visited the Changfeng Escort Agency today? And brought a reward?"
"Reporting to Chief Escort Zhao, word of it spread through the city first thing this morning. They say the county magistrate wanted to meet the young hero who slew the tiger!"
"What's he playing at?"
Zhao Zhicheng's expression shifted. He gently rubbed his chin and muttered, "I sent someone to contact Chen Sandao of Black Wind Stronghold the day before yesterday. Could that bandit have taken the money and gone off to enjoy himself without doing the job?"
But as soon as the thought surfaced, he dismissed it.
He and Chen Sandao of Black Wind Stronghold went way back. They'd worked together on matters like this more than ten times.
Chen Sandao had a weakness for women and gambling, but he'd never let his own desires get in the way of business.
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