"The father of the Dai Guoxiang was originally surnamed Zhang. He was once a retainer of the Yingyin Marquis and was given the surname Guan. The new county magistrate is also surnamed Zhang and needs to be nominated. You can ask the village elders to find out if he is a relative of his."
Near noon, the young boy and girl sat opposite each other in front of the stove. The copper rack on the stove was removed and replaced with a newly made grill. The mutton and beef were cut into finger-length pieces and placed on the grill. In less than a moment, they curled up due to the heat, and the fat slid into the fire, making crackling sounds.
As the flames jump, the aroma of barbecue fills the room. The edges are browned and sprinkled with salt. It is a rare delicacy that does not require any other sauce.
Influenced by Evan Zhao, the girl also changed from two meals a day to three meals a day, and even the servants in the house benefited from it.
Even though it was just a meal, it was extremely precious. All the servants of the Wei family were willing to die for the girl. Therefore, the girl had the confidence to say that she had a loyal servant who could easily make those with ulterior motives disappear.
"Just do as you say, and I'll explain the details to the elders." The girl picked up a few strips of mutton with long chopsticks, placed them on a wooden plate, and waited until they cooled down a little before eating.
Evan Zhao didn't have so many concerns, he blew on it directly and put the meat into his mouth. The fresh meat juice washed over his taste buds, and although there was no cumin or chili, he still felt so satisfied that he wanted to sigh.
As expected, delicious food can cheer people up and make them feel relaxed physically and mentally. I was upset about the new Shaling County Magistrate before, but after eating a few pieces of barbecue, my annoyance immediately subsided a lot.
"I was just talking about this shelf, I didn't expect you to actually make it." Evan Zhao said.
"Everything you said is good. Now that I've heard it, I have to make it." The girl picked up the wooden chopsticks and put the slightly cool barbecue into her mouth.
The two had known each other since childhood, and there were no outsiders present, so there was no need to follow too many rules, and naturally there was no such thing as eating without saying anything. When the beef was grilled, the girl was the first to grab it.
Evan Zhao shook his head and continued to turn the roast lamb.
Being praised like this was indeed something to be proud of. However, he also secretly reminded himself that he should be cautious in what he said and did in the future. It was fine to be with his own people, but if he let slip in front of outsiders, it might cause trouble. Especially when a new county magistrate was parachuted into Shaling County, and he obviously couldn't get along with the other party.
Victor Zhao had once been a retainer of the Wei prefect. As the son of Victor Zhao, Zhao was naturally also marked as the Wei prefect.
If the new county magistrate does not follow personal feelings and only concentrates on doing his job well, then naturally everyone will benefit. But judging from the girl's words, this possibility is really not high.
"Sister said before that someone was looking into the farm?"
Seeing Evan Zhao put down his chopsticks and frowning, Elena Wei raised his eyebrows and chuckled: "Why, are you scared?"
"I'm not afraid, I just think it's troublesome." Evan Zhao muttered.
He just wanted to raise cattle and sheep and live a good life in the border county, but troubles kept coming one after another. The Huns were still eyeing him covetously in the north, and with such a big Buddha hanging over his head, he really wanted to find a witch to see if he was unlucky.
Elena Wei said slowly, "Putting aside the personal grudge between the Wei envoy and the Dai prime minister, your farm is conspicuous enough. It's hard to guarantee that it won't be targeted by others."
"Not worth it." Evan Zhao shook his head.
"Not worth it?" The girl put down her chopsticks and counted them one by one. "It was indeed the case in the past few years, but the cattle and sheep sold this year are enough to attract attention."
Evan Zhao's expression paused slightly.
"The imperial court is promoting the method of ox-drawn plowing, and the border counties are also encouraging farming and animal husbandry. I don't know about other counties that have such a large number of oxen for farming, but in the land of Yunzhong, looking at Shaling, Yuanyang, Taolin and other counties, you are really the only one. In addition, the method of piercing the nose of the cow, it is impossible to make a fortune in silence as you said."
"This method already existed in the previous dynasty. I just saw it from bamboo slips." Evan Zhao said.
During his time as a mascot in the prefectural government, he read a lot of ancient books.
The First Emperor burned books and buried scholars, but he did not burn books on agriculture, animal husbandry, and medicine. There was an agricultural book left over from the Warring States Period in the residence of the Wei prefect. Although the content was rather messy and recorded in seal script, it was difficult to read, Evan Zhao still gritted his teeth and persisted, copying the enlightenment books of the pre-Qin period, and even holding bamboo slips to ask the one who treated him as a child, and finally he managed to finish it.
In this way, he knew that as early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, people used cattle to plow the fields and pierced holes in the noses of cattle to tame them.
Unfortunately, by the time our dynasty was founded, many of these methods had been lost.
The real farmers were illiterate and would not see these bamboo slips. And those who owned the classics would not necessarily read such miscellaneous books unless they were particularly interested in farming and animal husbandry.
The reason why he did not report it to the governor of Wei was that he wanted to wait until the oxen were released, and then conduct a test at home. After the results were obtained, he would promote it in the county. Just relying on a scroll of bamboo slips was too unconvincing.
Before the first step was taken, the farm was targeted.
"Trouble." Evan Zhao murmured.
"Indeed, it's troublesome." The girl said with a serious expression, "I have a share of your farm, and I hope to save money from it to help my child rebuild the family. So, you must be careful not to let others take it away."
Hearing the girl mention this, Evan Zhao couldn't help but twitch his lips, and felt that the atmosphere could no longer be serious.
"Sister, you haven't found a husband yet."
"Always plan ahead."
"...All right."
Evan Zhao knew very well that the girl's worries were not without reason. Apart from other things, the method of raising and domesticating bullocks on a large scale was enough to make people jealous.
The reason why he was able to successfully establish the livestock farm was inseparable from the land connections inherited from Victor Zhao.
But there are pros and cons to everything.
The label of the prefectural governor's office would certainly attract the attention of the hostile forces of the Wei governor. Just like the newly appointed Shaling County Magistrate Nathan Zhang, he might even take action against Guan Fu in order to repay Guan Fu's kindness.
"As you said, if we can report the method of taming bullocks to Chang'an, it will be a great achievement."
Hearing Evan Zhao's words, the girl's expression darkened slightly.
"Nothing can be done?"
"There is a way. Send my old servant to Envoy Wei..."
At this point, Evan Zhao suddenly paused, remembering what Liam Wei said to him when he met her a few days ago.
Is it a coincidence?
Or is it a deliberate reminder?
The young girl knew the origins of the new county magistrate. As the son of Wei Taishou, who had already stepped halfway into the political circle, how could she not know? It was impossible to imagine it with one's toes.
"Maybe I'll owe you another favor."
"Favors? What favors?"
"Nothing." Evan Zhao shook his head.
Things have not been confirmed yet, so it is not easy to draw conclusions. Just like their speculation about Magistrate Zhang, no matter who the other party is or which camp he stands in, everything can only remain at the level of speculation before the real action is taken.
"We still need to be on guard." said the girl.
"I understand that. But there's no need to be too nervous. After all, Shaling County is governed by Yunzhong County. Even if Magistrate Zhang wants to take action, he can't do it without scruples."
No matter how arrogant he is, Wei Shang is still his immediate superior.
Guan Fu did have considerable power, but he could not overstep his bounds and interfere in the border counties as a prime minister of a vassal state. If he really did so, he would definitely be courting death, and the governor of Wei would probably wake up laughing in his dreams.
"At least you have a clear idea in mind." The girl breathed a sigh of relief and found that the charcoal fire was not as strong as before. She immediately asked the maid to move the grill and brought new charcoal and hot soup.
"Don't worry." Evan Zhao said with a smile.
"If you say so, I believe it. But if the farm is really lost, I will ask you for the ten thousand dollars!"
"Yes, don't worry, sister!"
Seeing Evan Zhao bowing his hands in a serious manner, the girl was amused again and asked, "You said the other day that you want to grow bean sprouts and make a stone mill. Have you made any plans?"
"I am preparing it. Once there is a result, I will send it to my sister first."
"I'm not in a hurry here. If you get something good, send it to Envoy Wei's residence first." The girl reminded.
"I understand and I will never forget." Evan Zhao stared at the leaping flames, two orange-red lights reflected in his eyes.
"By the way, the Third Young Master is back, right?" the girl changed the subject.
"How did sister know?" Evan Zhao was surprised.
"The other day, the cavalry entered Yunzhong City, and my servant happened to see him when he went to buy salt." The girl said, "I remember that the Third Master treated you very well, and he taught you how to write. When you go to the city, you might as well pay him a visit in person. It's better not to become strangers when you've known each other since you were young."
Evan Zhao didn't say anything, but just looked at the girl with a strange expression.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" the girl asked curiously.
"You give me this kind of advice, it doesn't sound like a sister, it sounds more like a mother."
The girl's eyes widened, and she picked up the tongs and was about to throw them over.
Evan Zhao quickly raised his sleeves to cover his head, pretending to be scared and said, "Sister, you can't throw it away, it will disfigure you!"
The maid outside heard the noise and looked carefully inside the door. She found her girl smiling and looking energetic. She closed the door again, returned to her original position, and tightened her jacket.
After a moment, a white chicken suddenly flew down from the wall, apparently coming from the front yard. The maid quickly stood up, grabbed the chicken's wings, and held it upside down in her hand. Her movements were quick and skillful, and it was obvious that she had done this countless times.
After weighing the egret chicken, the maid decided to make chicken soup for the girl for dinner today.
Evan Zhao's worries were not wrong. When he and Elena Wei were talking about the new magistrate of Shaling County, the person in the topic was also studying himself.
The official temple of Shaling County was built during the reign of Emperor Gaozu and was damaged by wars several times. Although it was renovated, it is still somewhat dilapidated.
The earthen walls outside the official temple are mottled in color, especially the part near the gate. One section was built using the Qin Dynasty's rammed earth method, while the other section was built with piled earth. They were obviously made in different periods.
Walking into the gate of the official temple, there is a dirt road just like the houses, and the tiles on the roof are also very simple.
Only when you enter the main hall can you feel the solemn atmosphere of an official temple. Then in the second hall, you can see the county clerks carrying bamboo slips, raising a cloud of dust from time to time.
Behind the second hall is the county magistrate's residence.
There was no light in the room, so it was a little dark.
A low table was placed in the room, on which were piled dozens of bamboo slips and several wooden tablets, with a knife and a pen placed on one side and an ink block placed casually aside.
Nathan Zhang sat behind a low table, not wearing a crown, with only his hair tied up in a cloth. He unfolded a bamboo scroll with both hands, reading the contents, his brows furrowed more and more.
After a while, Nathan Zhang put down the bamboo slips and called the old servant who was guarding outside the door.
"A mere child holds a good law in his hands, but he is greedy and does not want to benefit the people. I should take it!"
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