After dressing as a widow

"It's well written." Lin Zhen waited for the last bit of ink on the paper to dry, folded it in half and put it away, "When the dust settles on this matter, I will invite Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Yan to my place for a reunion."

While speaking, he took out a piece of two taels of silver from his purse: "This is the cost of pen and ink, take it, Yan boy."

Zhong Yan didn't think about asking for his money, so he stretched out his hand and pushed it away: "Uncle Lin, it's just a piece of paper—"

"I still have to hand over the petition to the execution room, let's go first." Putting the money into Zhong Yan's hand, Lin Zhen walked out of Zhong's courtyard with a few strides.

Zhong Yan will go to Fucheng to take the government examination next year, and the town is far away from Fucheng, so he has to start the road two or three months in advance, so as to avoid any accidents on the way and delay the examination.

Lin Zhen could barely estimate how much money Zhong Yan and Mrs. Chen had on hand, and all of it to Zhong Yan would not be enough for him to go to Fucheng, so how could he take advantage of Zhong Yan.

The county government office is in the east of the city, not far from Mr. Xu's house. Lin Zhen took the form and cupped his hands at the yamen servant guarding the gate of the county office: "Hi sir, may I ask how to deliver the form to the execution room."

It is said that the seven-rank official in front of the prime minister's gate, here, the servants in the government office are already above the common people. They are dressed in red and black robes, with a wide knife on their waist. Lin Zhen said: "The yamen is very busy. If some trivial neighborhood matters are resolved by yourself, the court will summon you as soon as the petition is submitted. It's too late to regret it."

Lin Zhendao: "If I can negotiate with the other party, I won't ask someone to write a statement. I would like to ask the official to help me to submit this form."

Seeing that Lin Zhen insisted on doing this, the yamen servant said: "Then come with me."

"Thank you, Guanye," Lin Zhen knew the way in the yamen well, and gave him two taels of silver as he followed the yamen servant, "Bring the money to the official for a couple of sips of wine."

The yamen servant touched the silver in his hand, and his face looked much better: "Since you are so sincere, then I can say a few words to you at the steward of the execution room later, if I can't do too much, I will send your certificate to you." It’s okay to put it in the front.”

"I didn't lie to you just now. There are indeed many things in our yamen, and the pile of petitions is higher than mine. The county master sent a message to ask him not to bring the miscellaneous petitions from the neighbors to him."

"You will have to wait at least three to five months for your submission."

The area of ​​the county government office is not small. After entering, it is directly facing the court, and there are long corridors on both sides connecting the affiliated institutions on both sides and the residence of the county master in the back.

The yamen servant led Lin Zhen into the left wing with familiarity, and the majestic man bent his back a little, cupped his fists and said to the middle-aged man sitting behind the table: "Master, the younger one will bring someone to submit the form. "

The middle-aged man in charge of the torture room had two beards, was plain-looking and a little short in stature, when he heard someone coming to hand in the complaint, he stopped the pen in his hand, raised his head impatiently and said, "What is the complaint and who is it? "

Lin Zhen replied: "My lord, Caomin is from Liyu Village. His surname is Lin and his name is Zhen. He came to the town to open a restaurant three months ago. On the seventh day of May, the young master Qian from the Qian family in the town suddenly came to Caomin's shop. , Trapped grass people in rumors and rumors, today Young Master Qian's wife came to the grass people's restaurant again, not only smashed the grass people's shop, but also threatened the grass people not to come to the town again, otherwise it will be bad for the grass people."

"Caomin can't, so I have to write this paper and hope that the adults will give Caomin justice."

Master Cheng, who was in charge of the punishment room, looked at Lin Zhen after he finished speaking, "Are you the shopkeeper of Zhenyouwei Snacks?"

"Yes."

"Bring me your certificate and let me see." The gossip about Lin Zhen was known even to five-year-old children in the town, and Cheng Shen naturally heard it too.

When I saw it today, I kind of understood why those words spread so widely and so quickly.

The shopkeeper of this really delicious snack restaurant is indeed extremely beautiful, and he is also a man's favorite charming, yet pure and beautiful appearance, so it is normal for Young Master Sun to be infatuated with him.

Cheng Shen took the form that Lin Zhen handed over in his hand, and the first thing he saw was the neat and square style of the pavilion, which made people feel happy for the good handwriting.

Looking at the content of the report again, he told the story in concise and straight-forward words, even Cheng Shen felt that Lin Zhen was too unlucky and suffered an unreasonable disaster.

Cheng Shen was just a scholar in his early years. After failing many times in the government examination, he found contacts and went to the county government to be in charge of the punishment room. Book?"

Naturally, Lin Zhen would not hide it, and said, "It was written by Cao Min looking for Zhong Yanzhong from Zhazi Street."

"Zhong Yan..." The town is not big, and Cheng Shen is no stranger to the name Zhong Yan. The 12-year-old scholar will go to the government examination next year. Be courteous.

According to the imperial examination regulations of the Dayu Dynasty, one can be appointed as an official by juren or above, and the worst thing is to serve as a seven-rank county magistrate in a small remote place.

Just like Cheng Shen's boss, the county magistrate here.

And if Zhong Yan had a good fortune, he would be able to pass the Jinshi examination one step further, and even a carp leaping over the dragon's gate, he could stay in the six departments in Beijing as a sixth-rank and fifth-rank official.

It's hard to say whether Zhong Yan can be admitted as a Jinshi, but there shouldn't be a big problem in raising people. Cheng Shen was very impressed with Zhong Yan, and when he learned that he helped write this petition, he couldn't help but be concerned about it: "Appeal The certificate will be placed here, and in three to five days, the yamen servant will summon it."

Lin Zhen saw that the steward in charge of the punishment room didn't push his papers down, but flipped a few papers on top and put them in, which actually made him jump into the queue.

After a little thought, he understood why the steward in charge of the punishment room was like this, he secretly thanked Zhong Yan in his heart, saluted and walked out of the county office after the yamen guard.

The yamen servant said: "I didn't expect you to have connections by yourself, but you don't need me."

Lin Zhen smiled and said: "If the official hadn't brought me in, I wouldn't have met Mr. Cheng so smoothly. I know what's ahead and what's behind."

The yamen servant took two taels of silver and wanted to show off his ability, but he didn't show it. He was a little depressed, but after Lin Zhen said this, he felt that it was true. If he hadn't led Lin Zhen in, Lin Zhen would not have met Cheng Shen has become an adult, and he can't even enter the gate of the county government.

Therefore, the frown was loosened, and his face looked better, and he said to Lin Zhen: "You heard what I said just now when I became an adult, and I will summon you in three or five days. Don't run away these few days. If we go to spread the word If it didn’t arrive, you’ll be punished.”

"Yes, thank you for reminding me." After submitting the form, Lin Zhen had nothing to do, he came out of the county office and went straight back to the shop, looking at the mess all over the floor and pausing for a while.

This is the first shop he opened here. For this shop, he has been setting up a stall for more than a year. Malatang, cold noodles, sour plum soup, milk tea, and a lot of preparations have been made before the sale of each item.

According to his original plan, when he earns four or five thousand taels of silver and Gu Shuanzi is older, he will go to Fucheng and Kyoto for a stroll.

Who would have thought that it would become like this.

Lin Zhen stepped on the debris all over the floor, picked up the cloth curtain connecting the shop and the backyard, and just as he stepped forward, a figure trotted over from the backyard, and stopped in front of him dangerously.

He looked at Gu Shuanzi, who was frowning and looked more hostile, and patted his head: "Have you eaten yet?"

"I didn't eat, I'll wait for you."

"Don't wait next time, you still have to eat on time." Lin Zhen walked into the kitchen in the backyard with him.

Lin Xiaoyao, who was sitting on the stool in a daze, saw him come back, stood up and ran to him, "Brother..."

"Let's eat first, let's talk while eating." Lin Zhen saw several dishes covered with a bowl on the stove, picked up the bowl, and found that it was fried soft tofu with dogwood, fried cabbage moss, pork belly, and a large dish full of vegetables. A bowl of meatball bean and rice soup.

These dishes are all cooked by Lin Zhen on a daily basis, and Lin Xiaoyao also followed suit. Although the cooking is a bit lackluster, it is far different from that in Liyu Village.

Lin Zhen held a bowl in one hand and called Gu Shuanzi and Lin Shitou and Lin Zhuzi: "Shuanzi is setting up the table in the yard, Shitou is holding the bowls and chopsticks, and Zhuanzi is serving the rice."

Lin Shitou and Lin Zhuzi were still children, and they were also frightened by what happened today. They were a little dumbfounded standing in the kitchen. They woke up like a dream when they heard Lin Zhen's words, and served the meal with bowls and chopsticks according to his words.

Soon, the food was set on the table, and Lin Zhen scooped the rice into his own bowl and said, "The petition has been handed over to the county government, and you will be summoned in three to five days, Xiaoyao, wait for this matter." You take the stone and the pillars back to Liyu Village to live for a while, and wait for me when you return to the town."

Lin Xiaoyao pinched the chopsticks: "Is there something wrong, brother, how can you handle it alone with the embolism, I will follow you."

"It's not a big deal. What Qian Jingyuan said and did that day has been heard and seen by many people. A few more witnesses can prove that I was not involved with him, and the things that Cai Jinzhu smashed are still shining in the store. Lay it out, she can't let it go even if she wants to."

"But even if I win, the business of Xiaoshizhai may not come back in a few months. You don't have to delay here. Why don't you go back and help the family."

"The stones and pillars have been out for a few months. The eldest brother and the second brother must be worried about it. It can be regarded as a vacation to rest." In spring, the work in the field is trivial and numerous. Dried fungus, fungus, and bamboo shoots Carpenter Ma sent it by the way when he was delivering the bamboo tube. Brother Lin and Brother Lin were so busy that they really couldn't spare a hand.

Not to mention Mrs. Lin and Mrs. Lin, who rarely come to town, have never seen Lin Shitou and Lin Zhuzi since they came to town.

Lin Xiaoyao was still very worried. When she thought of Lin Zhen going to the county government to confront Cai Jinzhu and Qian Jingyuan face to face, she was afraid, but he knew his third brother's temper, and what he said must have been carefully thought out, so he did it himself It's the best: "...Okay, I'll take the stone pillar back when things are over."

"Eat quickly, the food will be cold if you talk again." Lin Zhen saw one or two of them listless, with the same tone of voice as usual, telling them to eat whatever they wanted.