Chapter 217 Traveling Thousands of Miles
"Stop being so polite." Meng Changqing helped the person up, "Have you eaten?"
"I haven't eaten yet. I was rude before I went to the official position, so I came to see you immediately after freshening up."
Meng Changqing took two steps forward and said, "I didn't eat either. We happened to have dinner together in the front hall."
Meng Changqing had actually already eaten, but since the other party was polite, she had to show her sincerity and let Xiaodai prepare the meal while she led Qi Renli to the front hall to have refreshments first.
"Liangzhou is no better than Beijing, let alone Brother Qi's hometown. The food is monotonous and the climate is dry. I was very unaccustomed to it when I first came here." Meng Changqing said, "Brother Qi, if you feel uncomfortable here, you must tell me. Within my ability, I will definitely relieve your worries.”
Qi Renli put down the tea cup and said, "Thank you, Master Meng." His throat was still a little dry and hoarse, and when he was about to say something more, his entourage's voice came from the door, "Master, I have brought your clothes."< br>
Qi Renli felt puzzled. What clothes? But before he could ask, Meng Changqing, who was on the throne, said: "Bring it in and wait for your young master to change into it in the inner room."
Meng Changqing stood up and said to the crowd: "Official uniforms are not as warm as cotton-padded fur jackets. Since we have officially met, it is better to put on your own clothes, which will be more comfortable."
"Thank you, Master Meng, for your understanding."
While Qi Renli was changing clothes, dinner was served. Although it was not as exquisite and delicious as the capital, it was as varied as possible.
When Qi Renli changed his clothes and came out, Meng Changqing told him about his residence again.
"You will live in the Yamen for now. I have sent people to build your future residence.
You can rest assured that the money for the house will come from the yamen, but now that the weather is cold, the construction period will inevitably be extended. During this period, if you have any ideas about the house, you can tell it to the foreman. ”
Qi Renli looked touched, "It's really a blessing for me to meet you." He said sincerely to the table full of food, "In the past, I only heard people say how difficult it is to be in the officialdom. After I got on the list, , I couldn't squeeze into the officialdom even though I had sharpened my head. Until I met you and had a heart-to-heart talk with you in the teahouse, I just felt that my vision and mind were narrow before.
It is all thanks to you that Qi can wear official uniform and call himself a lower official. Now that I am here, you have taken such good care of me, and Qi has nothing to repay. ”
"You don't need to say this, it's important to eat." Meng Changqing served him some food, thinking that if he was so grateful now, he might not be able to thank him in the future.
After Qi Renli had eaten something and his movements of picking up the food were no longer so fast, Meng Changqing tried to chat with him, "What happened on the road earlier? Why are you acting like that?"
Qi Renli took a sip of soup before replying: "You don't know, I have been waiting for news from you since we parted ways in the teahouse, but there was no news from the official department, so I inquired about your efforts to save people." Injured.
I originally planned to pay a visit, but before I could go out with the gift that day, I received a letter from someone else, asking me to go to the Ministry of Personnel, saying that my appointment letter had come down. The official who sent the letter was in a hurry, so I had to take it with me. I took my things and went to the Ministry of Officials first.
I know in my heart that only with your recommendation can I receive the appointment from the imperial court.
After I left the official department, I went to your house, but I heard from the housekeeper in your house that your injury was critical. I left the city gate early and went to Liangzhou to seek treatment from a good doctor.
When the housekeeper learned that I was the county magistrate recommended by you and that I was going to Beishan County, he said that there were things you left behind at home, and he asked the escort agency to escort me.
I thought to myself that I had never been to Liangzhou, and I often heard people say that it was not peaceful here, so I shamelessly asked your housekeeper to let me go with the escort agency. "Meng Changqing listened attentively throughout the whole process, and even added vegetables and soup to him from time to time.
"After leaving the capital, it was a peaceful journey, but when we arrived at the junction of Hongzhou and Liangzhou, we encountered thieves. It was night.
It's all my fault. I often sleep outside in order to speed up my trip, so I'm targeted by thieves.
They robbed at night. Fortunately, the escorts of Xingwei Escort Bureau were all highly skilled in martial arts, so they were able to repel the thieves and protect the people and goods.
I thought that after that fight, the thieves must have known that they were too weak to attack. Unexpectedly, we had already entered Liangzhou. When we were approaching Yangmen County, the gang came up again. Their number was even greater than before. There are more, and the attacks are more severe than before. And seeing everyone's intention to protect me, they attacked me emphatically. ”
At this point, Qi Renli sighed deeply, "If it hadn't been for the repeated rescues by the head of Xie, I'm afraid I would have met the King of Hell."
"What happened to that group of thieves?" Meng Changqing asked.
"It's a coincidence that when the two of us were fighting fiercely, officials from Liangzhou Prefecture happened to pass by. When those people saw this, they ran away immediately. The bodyguard wanted to guard the goods but did not pursue them, so they were allowed to escape. .”
"It's good that everyone is safe." Meng Changqing patted his shoulder, "It's not as safe as the capital, but you are also affected by my goods. I'm really sorry."
"No, no, no, I'll take advantage of it, if..."
Meng Changqing skipped the topic and asked him if he had eaten enough.
Qi Renli nodded and said: "Thank you for the hospitality, sir. I am already full."
Meng Changqing had the dining table cleared and replaced with hot tea, "Brother Qi and I only had a quick meeting last month, but I bothered you to travel thousands of miles to Beishan County. If we say our friendship is superficial rather than profound, then I am really wrong."
"Xiaoguan feels that everything cannot be generalized." Qi Renli said, "Although you and I have known each other for a short time, I can tell what a person is thinking from what he said. I admire you as a person and marvel at your ideas. This is similar to It doesn’t matter how long you’ve known each other.”
This is so relevant, Meng Changqing thought in his heart, but smiled decently on his face.
"Since Brother Qi said this, I should also tell you the truth."
"Please tell me."
"It's not easy for you to be the magistrate of Beishan County." Meng Changqing's first sentence was the key point, which made Qi Renli feel excited.
"You should have seen along the way what the situation is like in Beishan County. There are only so many people in it. No matter how hard I work, the amount of money I can make with just these people is really limited."
"Since Xianguan has come to Beishan County, I am prepared in my heart. I will fully support you to develop and expand Beishan County."