After Jing Heguang stayed at home for half a month, the job appointment for this year Jinshi to work came down.
The appointment of the new Jinshi comes together with the triennial official assessment.
Officials with outstanding political performance in the assessment will be transferred to better places to serve as officials.
The county magistrate in the county seat was quite outstanding because of the scholars under his command and the academic atmosphere in the city. This time, he got a promotion and was transferred to the county seat in Jiangnan to continue to be the county magistrate!
Knowing that the current county magistrate was to be sent away, the people in the city were still a little reluctant to part with him.
Although this official did not create any prosperity, at least he was not greedy, nor was he obsessed with women, gers, and beauty, which ruined people’s lives.
Generally speaking, the people are quite satisfied with this official.
“The county magistrate is leaving, it’s still a bit sad to see him go. I wonder what the next magistrate is like? Let’s hope it’s a good one and don’t torment us common people all day long!”
“Even if they’re bad, what can we do? Just get through it. Lord Qian, whom my father met when he was still alive, truly made one desperate! He thinks about making money every day, which makes it difficult for ordinary people like us to survive! Look now, that is all over.”
“What are you talking about? If one encounters a bad thing in the front and survives later, it’s because the one after that one is not bad. If they were all bad, we’d all be screwed!”
“But what’s the use of worrying? We can’t choose the officials ourselves. If I could, I would choose Jing Bangyan! I can rest assured since he is one of us!”
As everyone talks, they remember that Jing Heguang also went to the prefecture to receive the official appointment.
Some people are curious: “Master Jing is the second place of the exam. Do you know where he will become an official?”
“I know!” said a scholar. “The top three will enter Hanlin Academy, so the second place will be a seventh-rank official! The county magistrate is only eighth rank.”
“Besides, Hanlin Academy is the place where the prime minister is trained.”
“Prime Minister?! Is it possible that Jing Bangyan, who is second on the list, can also be a prime minister!!!”
“Then won’t Xing’ger from the pork shop become the prime minister’s husband?!”
Figures like the prime minister control clouds and rain with their hands, which makes ordinary people afraid just thinking about it.
The scholar admired the local Jing Heguang very much. He puffed up his chest and said confidently: “The zhuangyuan this time is already in his thirties, and Jing Bangyan is only in his early twenties. He is more talented, so he has a good chance!”
“That will have to wait for many years. Right now I’m still worried about whether the next magistrate will be a good one…”
Hearing the word ‘magistrate’, the one who talked about choosing Jing Heguang completely gave up. Of course, he never thought that in their small place, the county magistrate who came was one of the top three scholars and also the 2nd rank(4th place and up) of candidates who passed the imperial examination.
***
While everyone was discussing, Jing Heguang and Zhang Xingyu were receiving the official appointment documents at the perfecture.
Jing Heguang smiled when he saw where the official position was.
During the palace examination, he said that he wanted to go back and become an official, since it was difficult to leave his hometown, so the emperor agreed to allow him.
Jing Heguang thought at that time that the scope of his hometown should be the prefecture seat.
Unexpectedly, the emperor actually arranged for him a position close to home – the county where his home is located!
In other words, Jing Heguang will succeed the former county magistrate and become the new county magistrate.
However, the county magistrate before was an eighth-rank official, so Jing Heguang may held an eighth-rank position, but his official position was a seventh-rank official with a higher salary.
As soon as Jing Heguang mentioned the appointment, Zhang Xingyu went crazy with joy and hugged Jing Heguang tightly!
Zhang Xingyu certainly likes being so close to home, which makes him feel at ease thinking about it.
After a while, Zhang Xingyu hugged Jing Heguang’s lean waist and looked up at him with hot eyes: “You are so good!”
“How good am I?” Jing Heguang also hugged Zhang Xingyu and said amusingly, “This is an appointment from the emperor.”
Seeing that Jing Heguang didn’t take it seriously, Zhang Xingyu said seriously: “But you brought this up! You said you wanted to go back and not stay in the capital.”
Jing Heguang said: “The capital is big and it’s not easy to live…”
“But you are rich!”
Zhang Xingyu was not easy to fool at all, so he said seriously: “You are so smart, you must have thought of how to deal with those two brothers. When they return your family property, you will have money. Once you are rich, though the capital is big, it will be easy to stay!”
Jing Heguang knew that Zhang Xingyu was not stupid, but he didn’t expect that he could think of going so far.
However, Jing Heguang never thought about whether he had money or not.
—Because he never thought about staying in the capital.
Jing Heguang touched Zhang Xingyu’s head and said helplessly: “As smart as I am, I didn’t think that much. At that time, the emperor promised me a small request. As soon as I heard it, this came into my mind!”
There are so many high-ranking officials in the capital, there are more opportunities just thinking about it. However, Jing Heguang only wants to go back, isn’t it because his family is there?
Jing Heguang was able to stay in the capital. Zhang Xingyu felt that he gave up the distance for him.
Zhang Xingyu was so moved as he thought about it that he lowered his head and hid in Jing Heguang’s chest.
Zhang Xingyu’s voice was muffled: “I knew you wouldn’t think so much. You seem very smart, but sometimes you are also so stupid. I want to make it clear because I’m afraid that you after…if you stay in the county town, you may not be happy there.”
Just as Zhang Xingyu was thinking, a hand gently held his chin and dug out his hidden face.
Jing Heguang saw that his eyes were slightly red. He smiled and wiped away the wet marks from the corners of his eyes with the tip of his thumb.
Jing Heguang said confidently: “I said…Xingxing, you look down on me, Jing Heguang.”
Zhang Xingyu shook his head quickly: “I don’t mean-” That’s what he meant.
Jing Heguang stretched out his hand to cover his mouth, his smile not diminishing: “I’m not saying that I won’t regret it. I want to say that you have to believe in my ability!”
“If I want to go to the capital, I will definitely be able to in the future. I will take you there instead of complaining that I have chosen the wrong path now.”
Jing Heguang pinched his nose gently: “Of course, I won’t regret it. You also call me stupid, but you are the little fool! You think so much about useless things that it makes you want to cry, aren’t you embarrassed?”
Zhang Xingyu turned from crying into laughing, his nose and eye circles were slightly red, but the corners of his mouth were upturned, looking pitiful and cute.
Jing Heguang looked at his appearance and suddenly thought: Since Zhang Xingyu is so smart, why is he so slow in learning characters and sometimes even misunderstands them?
Is it…Zhang Xingyu did it on purpose? He definitely is!
Maybe Zhang Xingyu also wanted to kiss him, but he was just thin-skinned!
Jing Heguang felt like he knew the truth.
He coughed lightly and whispered: “I’m a little sleepy, how about we take a nap?”
Zhang Xingyu looked at him, he didn’t know what this guy was thinking.
Zhang Xingyu took half a step back and said, “It’s daytime.”
What’s more, they are still living in Li’s house, in someone else’s house!
Jing Heguang said: “Didn’t we buy two new sheets yesterday?”
It’s not easy to ask for bed sheets to be changed when staying at someone else’s house. Jing Heguang coaxed Zhang Xingyu to go shopping yesterday and bought two bed sheets by the way.
Of course, what he said at the time was – “This pattern is beautiful, I don’t think I’ve seen it at home.”
But a man’s mouth never told the truth.
Zhang Xingyu:…
He felt yesterday that what Jing Heguang said was very reasonable! He also sincerely thinks that the flowers and pigment are beautiful.
He was wrong! How is Jing Heguang stupid, he is the stupid one!
Jing Heguang didn’t know that his position in Zhang Xingyu’s heart had been overturned.
All he knows is that he has good taste and the sheets are really nice!
***
After staying in the prefecture for a few days, Jing Heguang had to take office quickly, so he packed up and went home.
After running all the way, the carriage approached the county seat.
When Jing Heguang arrived in the county seat, the first thing he had to do was go to the county government office to take over the office and deal with some urgent matters.
Otherwise, if a county magistrate does not pay attention to government affairs, his first impression will be bad.
Therefore, Jing Heguang changed into official uniform on the carriage.
The background color of the county magistrate’s official uniform is pine green, and the embroidered patterns on the chest are complicated, but the background color is restrained and very noble.
As soon as Jing Heguang put on his official uniform, Zhang Xingyu was stunned!
Jing Heguang usually looks good, but he looks different when he puts on an official uniform.
After putting on the official uniform, Jing Heguang looked very noble, with a sense of cold solemnity, but it also made one feel moved!
Zhang Xingyu: I really want to take it off…
Zhang Xingyu swallowed secretly and asked: “Heguang, you are going to the county office first, then you will come home at night, right?”
Jing Heguang was working on his belt. Hearing this, he raised his head and said with a smile: “Where will I go if I don’t go home? Of course I’m going back.”
“Why do you ask?” Jing Heguang felt a little strange.
“No, it’s nothing. Just asking.” Zhang Xingyu’s eyes were wandering.
Jing Heguang looked at him and said, “Please help me fix my belt.”
Zhang Xingyu said ‘hmm’ and lowered his head to help Jing Heguang with his belt.
The belt worn with the official uniform is very wide and shows off the waist very well. Zhang Xingyu had thought of something else before, so now he was a little distracted looking at his waist under the belt.
Jing Heguang looked at his little wandering eyes, they had been husband and wife for so long, how could he not understand.
It seems that he should wear this outfit more often in the future!
Jing Heguang smiled and lowered his head, whispering in Zhang Xingyu’s ear: “My Xingxing, see you in the evening.”
***
By the time he finished speaking, he had already arrived at the gate of the county town.
A man wearing the uniform of a county magistrate got off the carriage and immediately attracted the attention of the yamen officials and people at the gate of the county town.
The new county magistrate is here!
He must be a good person, right?
Will he be a good senior official?
Everyone held their breath and stared at the people getting off the carriage.
After Jing Heguang got out of the carriage, he turned around and planned to say a few words to Zhang Xingyu, so he turned his head as soon as he got out of the carriage.
The people on the roadside were very worried: Why did he turn around as soon as he got here? They didn’t even see his face clearly!
Several yamen officials guarding the gate straightened their clothes and trotted forward.
“Hello, sir, are you the new county magistrate?”
Hearing this, Jing Heguang turned his head and replied, “Yes.”
Several yamen officials were close, so they all fell into a daze when they looked at the familiar face.
Those ordinary passers-by who couldn’t help but get closer:…Why do they think the new magistrate looks so familiar!
Someone said: “He looks like Jing Bangyan?”
Yamen officials: That’s bullshit!
What similarity, they are clearly the same person!! Didn’t it say that Jing Bangyan is going to Hanlin Academy to be the prime minister? They all believed it, otherwise they wouldn’t have stared blankly at Jing Heguang now.
Jing Heguang thought: Maybe he came suddenly and scared them?
Jing Heguang tried his best to show a kind smile: “Why are you all stunned? If you have looked enough, then it is time to take me to the county yamen.”
Several yamen officials quickly came to their senses and took Jing Heguang to the county yamen.
The city gate is not far from the county seat, just two streets across.
Jing Heguang walked over in official uniform, making passers-by look dumbfounded.
However, after being dumbfounded, everyone was only filled with ecstasy!
They know nothing about other officials but if Jing Bangyan, who grew up in their own county, becomes the magistrate, they will definitely feel at ease!
After Jing Heguang got married, he is still the same to Xing’ger after passing the imperial examination, becoming a Jinshi, and suddenly getting rich. That kind of character makes everyone feel at ease!
At the same time, the news quickly spread one by one, completely spreading throughout the county.
“Jing Bangyan is back as an official! Jing Bangyan is the new county magistrate!”
“Didn’t Jing Bangyan go to the capital? You idiot, what are you talking nonsense about?”
“I’m happy so I won’t quarrel with you. You go to the county. Take a look at the yamen. If you run there, you might even see Magistrate Jing at the gate of the county yamen!”
“I won’t say anything else, but that official uniform is really nice! He’s so handsome, I want a few pieces of clothes in that color!!”
“But…the previous magistrate often wears the same clothes and they are also the same color.”
…
Jing Heguang went to the county yamen, while Zhang Xingyu went back to the shop in a carriage.
Aunt Zhang heard the news this time and came over early to wait for him.
Seeing Zhang Xingyu, Aunt Zhang knew that Jing Heguang must be back! Otherwise Zhang Xingyu would not show up at the door of his house.
Zhang Xingyu said happily: “Aunt, long time no see.”
Aunt Zhang looked at him with a smile and joked: “It can’t be helped, you are the husband of the county magistrate now! How noble!”
Zhang Xingyu was amused, and suddenly realized —The county magistrate used to be a very important figure to him, but now he himself has become the county magistrate’s husband!
And all this is because of Jing Heguang.
Jing Heguang is really amazing!
Jing Heguang was right, he had to believe him. He must also believe that their future will be very good.
T/N: 2 extras then this world over…
