It took the county town half a month to digest the fact that Jing Heguang became the county magistrate before calming down.
The common people finally got used to seeing the county magistrate when they went to the pork shop to sell pork, and got used to watching the county magistrate walk home every evening.
The previous county magistrate liked to ride in a sedan chair, but Jing Heguang felt that walking around was better for their health since they live close by.
That afternoon, half an hour before getting off work, Jing Heguang began to smile and write down the preliminary construction plan of the academy.
The four directions of school, agriculture, industry and commerce were written down above, because Jing Heguang did not want everyone to take the imperial examination, which would not work.
The clerk who was passing by saw Jing Heguang looking very happy and asked: “Lord Jing, is something good going on?”
Jing Heguang raised his eyebrows: “No. Why are you asking this?”
“Your excellency, you are smiling so happily. This little one thought it was because the capital is going to pay the silver since the day is coming!”
Jing Heguang said: “The salary will have to wait. I’m happy because I will be done soon and I can go home right away.”
After that, Jing Heguang can go home and see Zhang Xingyu! Thinking of this, Jing Heguang felt happy and full of expectations.
The chief clerk shook his head when he heard this, thinking: The county magistrate is really an infatuated person. It’s been almost a year since they got married but they still feel like newlyweds. Thinking about the one at home always makes him happy!
Half an hour later, Jing Heguang packed up his things, nodded at the gate of the county government office, and was ready to go home.
After leaving the county government office, he saw two familiar people.
“Brother Zhao, brother Liu? Why are you two here?”
Jing Heguang was a little surprised. They were still standing at the gate of the county government office, not coming in.
Zhao Mingtang and Liu Dao looked at each other.
Zhao Mingtang said: “I haven’t seen you for a long time, Heguang. I made an appointment with Liu Dao to come over and see you.”
Liu Dao said: “Wang Sixing is back. I didn’t want to see him, so I dragged Mingtang to come to you to relax. We didn’t look for you earlier because we’re embarrassed to find you. I didn’t expect Wang Sixing to do such a thing!”
Among the original four people, Wang Sixing had the best relationship with Jing Heguang. However, it was Wang Sixing who betrayed his friend!
When Wang Sixing went to the capital in advance, Zhao Mingtang spoke out for Wang Sixing, saying that he went ahead to adapt to the place. Thinking about it now, his face felt painful.
Seeing Zhao Mingtang and Liu Dao red face when Wang Sixing was mentioned, Jing Heguang believed them.
Jing Heguang smiled and said: “He is him, and you are you. Since you are here, come and sit at my house.”
Jing Heguang smiled and led the two of them home.
Zhao Mingtang and Liu Dao relaxed a little. The trio started talking like before.
Regarding Wang Sixing, Jing Heguang asked the old curator to write a handwritten letter explaining the matter clearly and handed it over to the head of the academy, completely ending Wang Sixing’s path to becoming a scholar.
Jing Heguang is not a saint, he will also be angry. What’s more, he still has a family to protect.
Back at home.
When Zhang Xingyu saw Zhao Mingtang and Liu Dao coming, he eagerly added more dishes.
While cooking, vinegar could not be found. Zhang Xingyu shouted to the yard: “Heguang, where is the vinegar? I can’t find it!”
“Vinegar? I put it on top of the big cabinet.”
Jing Heguang replied, then thinking about the high cabinet, he said to the two of them: “I put the vinegar away when I was cooking last time. I’ll go get the vinegar for Xing’ger. You guys take a seat.”
Before Jing Heguang left, he heard Liu Dao ask in surprise: “Aren’t male not allowed to enter the kitchen?”
Zhao Mingtang was also a little stunned and blinked on the side. Zhao Mingtang was sure that he also heard the word ‘cooking’.
Jing Heguang smiled and said: “Yes. However, other places also don’t have these rules, so it’s not necessary.”
Liu Dao thought about what happened to him, blushed and asked: “But won’t others laugh at you? You don’t care?”
Liu Dao’s family is not far away and their customs are similar.
When Liu Dao was a child, one time when Liu Dao saw that his parents had not returned home, he made a bowl of food for his little sister at home, but he was laughed at by those ‘little men’. Since then, Liu Dao has not entered the kitchen again.
Jing Heguang smiled. He turned around and looked at the kitchen and said, “I’ll go get the vinegar for him first. You guys wait a moment.”
Jing Heguang went to help, and then came out to give Liu Dao the answer.
“I’m afraid of being laughed at too, but there’s nothing shameful about it.”
“However, I’m the county magistrate now. I’m not afraid of being laughed at, I’m the biggest in the county!” Jing Heguang said, feeling a little amused, so he smiled and rolled his eyes, “Now even if others say something about me, it won’t affect anything. What am I afraid of?”
“Besides, entering the kitchen is not a shameful thing!”
“Heguang believes that anyone can work in the kitchen at home. Like those girls and ger, if the work they do is light and they have free time, then it’s only reasonable for them to cook.”
“However, I don’t think we should impose rules on whoever should do it. After all, no one gets paid, right? Why do others have to do it for you?”
Jing Heguang didn’t say anything like – ‘I am a scholar, I should have advanced ideas.’
He knew that the right moment and identity mattered. Other times, just being yourself is enough.
Liu Dao and Zhao Mingtang were filled with admiration.
What they admired was that after becoming an official, Jing Heguang remained the same as before and never forgot his original intention! They also admire Jing Heguang’s sobriety, his respect and understanding of people.
If it were them, if they really became officials, would they still be willing to work in the kitchen? Are they going to think that being laughed at is nothing?
Are they more afraid of other people’s criticism for the sake of face?!
After Liu Dao was laughed at, he never entered the kitchen even in private.
At that moment, Liu Dao thought in silence for a long time, then he picked up the teacup and offered a cup of tea to Jing Heguang: “Heguang, this tea is for you! If I’m bothering you more in the future, please don’t dislike it.”
Zhao Mingtang also said: “You can’t leave me behind!”
The three of them raised their teacups, clinked them together, and drank as if they were drinking(wine/alcohol).
Zhang Xingyu came out with the dishes and saw the three of them clinking glasses with each other proudly.
Zhang Xingyu said with a smile: “The food isn’t served yet, right? Are you already drinking now?”
Jing Heguang turned around with a smile on his face: “Drinking tea!”
After dinner, Zhao Mingtang and Liu Dao ran to the inn, unable to hold back.
However, Jing Heguang was satisfied. He coaxed Zhang Xingyu to drink a few drinks and had a fun night with the obedient Zhang Xingyu.
The next morning.
Zhang Xingyu woke up and glared at him in shame.
Jing Heguang smiled and grabbed his hand, kissed him, and said: “Husband, your drinking ability is too bad, I have to train you well!”
Zhang Xingyu blushed: “Rogue!” But there’s no sign of reluctance on his face.
He didn’t remember much about what happened last night. However, Zhang Xingyu is very clear about his drinking capacity.
***
After meeting Zhao and Liu, it reminded Jing Heguang of something.
During the next break, Jing Heguang gave Zhang Xingyu a bowl of homemade noodles in front of others.
It was morning at that time. Zhang Xingyu was busy and said to Jing Heguang without thinking: “Put it aside for now. I’ll eat it later!”
After saying this, Zhang Xingyu handed the cut meat to an uncle.
Then he saw…that the uncle only had eyes for that bowl of noodles.
Zhang Xingyu: ???
I can’t sell you that! My husband made it!
He then heard the uncle ask: “Xing’ger, why did you let the county magistrate into the kitchen?!”
Zhang Xingyu suddenly remembered: …It seems like men aren’t allowed to enter the kitchen here?
But when he is busy, Jing Heguang will cook, and he is used to it!
Zhang Xingyu looked at Jing Heguang helplessly, asking for help with his eyes.
Jing Heguang walked closer and stood side by side with Zhang Xingyu, saying: “Xing’ger is doing business, he’s very busy. I’m just making noodles. It’s very simple.”
The county magistrate said that he was just making noodles, what else can others say, who dares to say anything!
Even though Jing Heguang is so amiable, he can be fierce when trying cases! Thus, no one dares to offend this county magistrate.
The uncle nodded blankly, took the meat he bought and left.
With Jing Heguang by his side, Zhang Xingyu felt confident.
He forced an unnatural smile and asked the next guy who was buying meat: “Mu’ger, which piece do you want? The meat is very fresh today!”
Mu’ger pointed to a place, looked at Jing Heguang, then looked at Zhang Xingyu, walking away with meat in hand.
Zhang Xingyu gritted his teeth, greeted all the guests, and then sat on the side with the noodles and started to eat.
***
After returning home, Mu’ger was scolded by his mother: “Why did you buy the meat from this place? The meat from this place is tough, your dad has bad teeth!”
Mu’ger said honestly: “I was stunned, how would I know which meat is good or not? It’s already great that I can bring the meat back!”
“What did you see? You’re not looking at the county magistrate, are you? Don’t dream about it!”
“No.” Mu’s ger said, “Of course I know that the county magistrate only has Xing’ger in his eyes. I saw the county magistrate making noodles for Xing’ger. He even brought them over and told Xing’ger to eat them.”
“Xing’ger was busy working at that time so he told him to put it aside. That tone…it’s strange that the county magistrate didn’t treat him badly!”
Mu’ger felt that Xing’ger is a bit too spoiled.
His mother’s eyes widened when she heard this: “What did you say? Say it again? Magistrate Jing went to the kitchen?”
Mu’ger nodded: “That’s right. There are many people who saw it.”
After Mu’ger said this, he thought that his mother would be as shocked as him for a while.
Unexpectedly, his mother laughed: “Then let your dad cook tonight! I cook every day, I’ve long been tired of eating my own food!”
“Before we got married, your dad would secretly cook for me. He was afraid of being laughed at later so he never did it anymore. Now that the county magistrate is not afraid, let me see what he can say to refute me!”
Mu’ger thought of the word that Xing’ger taught him in the ger academy — mighty.
Does his mom look ‘mighty’ now?
Anyway, he thinks so.
***
Pork shop.
After all the meat was sold, Zhang Xingyu closed the door and dragged Jing Heguang into the house.
Zhang Xingyu looked at Jing Heguang, a little flustered: “how could you forget? What should I do now? If they talk about you…your prestige will be gone!”
Jing Heguang thought to himself: He didn’t forget, it’s intentional.
However, if he told the truth, he was afraid that Zhang Xingyu wouldn’t let him on the bed tonight.
Jing Heguang said: “How could I always remember this? I cook every now and then, so I forgot!”
The tone was as innocent as possible.
Perfect! Jing Heguang secretly gave himself a thumbs up.
Zhang Xingyu frowned and let out a long sigh.
It’s really not Jing Heguang’s fault, it’s his fault that he didn’t pay attention at the beginning and wanted to make Jing Heguang more diligent.
Jing Heguang hugged him and comforted him: “Maybe everyone will get used to it later? I think over the years, everyone has opinions on this custom. As the county magistrate, I just give the people a good start!”
What could Zhang Xing do? He followed Jing Heguang and said, “Yes, the work of some uncles and aunts is not light. In fact, it is quite hard. There are also some…they really don’t have any talent in cooking, but they still have to do it then was dislike for it.”
“Mm, it’s nothing. Don’t take it to heart. Are you full? If not, there’s still more in the pot.” Jing Heguang said, changing the subject. He was afraid of revealing by talking too much.
Moreover, the noodle bowl used by Jing Heguang was not big, and Zhang Xingyu had done hard work in the morning, so he must not have eaten enough.
However, he changed the topic too quickly. When Zhang Xingyu was eating his second bowl of noodles, he realized something was wrong.
Zhang Xingyu asked him: “Heguang, why aren’t you worried at all?!”
Jing Heguang: …
He wasn’t worried in the first place!
He can’t act worried! This matter is not a big deal in his mind.
Jing Heguang had no choice but to confess honestly: “Isn’t this…I thought I told you before that I wanted to change this custom.”
That was before they got married. Zhang Xingyu thought about it for a while before he remembered!
When he remembered it, tears filled his eyes in an instant.
Zhang Xingyu sniffed and said, “I thought you were bragging to make me happy.”
But he didn’t expect that Jing Heguang would take it seriously even when he didn’t even remember it.
Jing Heguang felt very distressed: “Don’t cry, I just want you to be happy.” He said anxiously, “You are my sweetheart, I like to see you happy! Can you please stop crying? Xingxing? Baby?”
Zhang Xingyu smiled with tears on his face.
“If I am any happier, I will fly into the sky like a kite!”
Jing Heguang smiled when he saw him like that, so he said shamelessly: “Then you must take me with you.”
