Chapter 292 No one should think about it
But even Meng Changqing didn't expect that among this group of people, there was a very calm one, the one called Mrs. Xiao Qing.
"Your Excellency, you have something to say to us." She squeezed through the crowd and walked to the front, asking Meng Changqing sincerely, "How can we thank the prefect?"
"Sister-in-law Xiaoqing, what are you saying, have you forgotten the hardships you endured back then?"
Sister-in-law Qing said: "I haven't forgotten it, but what this adult said makes sense, and we must listen to it."
"You are a sensible person." Meng Changqing said, "Since you want to thank others, you must naturally give them what they need. The magistrate is not short of gold and silver, at least not of your filial piety, so there is only one thing you can give. , reputation.”
"You want us to say good things about the government?" Xu Qingshan asked.
"It's not just good words, you have to give him something tangible." Meng Changqing said: "Find a piece of wood, find someone who can carve, and make a plaque for him."
"Plaque?" Someone asked: "That will cost a lot of money. We don't even have enough money to buy food."
As soon as Meng Changqing saw Qi Renli open his mouth, he knew what he wanted to say, and quickly raised his hand to stop him, and then said: "It doesn't cost you much money to make this thing. It doesn't matter what kind of wood it is, and it doesn't matter what kind of words it is carved into. Let Mr. Qi I’ll write a few words for you and just engrave them.
As long as you beat gongs and drums and send it to the prefect's Yamen, and bring your reputation to it, it will be fine. ”
Several old men looked at each other, undecided for a moment.
Qi Renli asked: "What words should I write?"
Meng Changqing thought for a while. "Just write that the mirror hangs high."
Qi Renli said excitedly: "He deserves it!"
Meng Changqing scratched his hair, "You also know that he doesn't deserve it. Since he doesn't deserve it, then these four words are like four slaps on his face."
Qi Renli slapped the table, "What you said makes sense! Qi Rui, prepare pen and paper, I will write now."
Qi Rui polished the ink, Qi Renli straightened his back, rolled up his sleeves, and wrote the words with a few swipes, as if the slap had been delivered to Wen Ruxu's face.
Xu Qingshan held the fresh words and looked at Meng Changqing eagerly.
Meng Changqing said: "Let the whole city know that the prefect helped you solve the Hong family. With this level, the prefect will become your support. If you have something to do in the future, whether he is willing or not, he will have to help you on the surface." .
After hearing this, one of the old men said, "I'm going to find wood right now!"
"Why are you here?" The old man went out and saw many villagers gathered outside the yard. These people have been here for a while, but they were afraid of the imperial guards at the door and did not dare to go in. They finally waited until someone came out and asked quickly: "Uncle, are you all okay? The Hong family's house was ransacked. Will you be okay in the future?" br>
The old man waved his hands proudly, "It's okay, and it will be okay in the future!"
Someone in the crowd asked: "If the Hong family is gone, who will we sell our cocoons to and who will we buy our silkworm seeds from?"
"You are stupid!" Someone else replied to him, "Whoever you sell to is not selling, won't you keep the silkworm seeds for yourself? We can live a good life without the Hong family!"
Listening to the sounds outside, Meng Changqing said to Qi Renli: "I have something to do at Hong's house. Please deal with the follow-up matters. I will call you when I leave here."
Qi Renli was confused, "What's the follow-up?"
"Tell the other villagers what happened in the past two days. They must remember the contribution of you and these victims."
Yang Zheng saw that Meng Changqing's complexion had not been good, so he asked other government officials to protect Qi Renli, and he and Bafang followed Meng Changqing to Hong's house.
He followed behind and saw Meng Changqing walking in a hurry in front of him, but slowed down when he reached the gate of Hong's house.
Seeing Meng Changqing walking behind the pillar and talking to the person tied to the pillar, he took a closer look and saw that the person tied up was the housekeeper of the Hong Mansion with a terrifying posture.
"Do you know who harmed your family like this?" Meng Changqing asked the housekeeper in a low voice.
"Isn't it you, an official from another state?"
Meng Changqing scolded: "Keep your voice down! I have never been here before, and I have no grievances with your Hong family in the past and recent times. What can I do to you? I only asked the magistrate to let my people go, but I didn't let him My men are here to ransack the house!
It is said that your master offended the prefect in the government office, but can't you figure out the key to it?
It's obvious that the prefect is covetous of your Hong family's vast wealth, and that's why you are in this difficulty.
Nowadays, it is really uncertain whether your husband will be able to get out of the state prison, and the family's belongings cannot be saved, but don't feel sorry for him.
When people outside get the letter and know that your master has been detained by the officials, these things will fall into the hands of others sooner or later.
By then, your life will be miserable.
Especially you. I heard that you were the steward of the Hong Mansion. You had an extraordinary status in the past, and your food, clothing, housing and transportation were beyond the reach of ordinary people. Meng Changqing shook his head when he said this, "You won't have such a good life in the future. If you have better luck, you will be a housekeeper in another mansion. You will have bad luck. If someone who has offended the Hong family finds you, what if?" , the magistrate remembers that you are such a famous person, and thinks that you have account books that threaten him, and your life is not guaranteed.
It's a pity that you have so much talent. If the Hong family master can come out, you can return to glory.
But seeing everyone in jail, who is still willing to fight for Mr. Hong?
That is not a simple matter..."
Meng Changqing turned around to leave, but the housekeeper behind her fell into the trap and stopped her.