Chapter 453 - 447_1
"What mistake or oversight? It was just an excuse conjured by the Magistrate to dismiss me at will. You know my temperament. The things this Magistrate has done recently are simply... ah, I’ve never seen such an absurd official, engaging in eating, drinking, and debauchery without restraint. Clearly, he is a spoiled young master, and even after becoming the local parent official, he hasn’t changed his ways. I can’t stand it at all, let alone aiding and abetting his tyranny. I cannot bring myself to do such immoral deeds. Looking at it that way, perhaps it is good that I am no longer an arrest officer," Zhao Xinglin said, but despite his words, he couldn’t help feeling depressed. After all, he relied on the salary from the government office to support his family. Now, having been dismissed, there was no income for his household. Living in the city was different from the countryside; expenses were high, and everything required money. Without any income, their savings would not last long.
"It’s good you see it that way. The new Magistrate is indeed not a good official. With his reckless behavior, who knows how the Court will react. Not following him is a good thing for you. If the Magistrate were to be punished, blame from above would inevitably affect those around him. Now, although you’ve lost your position, it’s still better than losing your head or ending up in prison later," Zhao Erhu was a shrewd man. With his experiences, he saw things more deeply and clearly.
"Erhu, hearing you say that puts my mind at ease. Nothing is more important than my own life. I hope the Emperor is wise and discerning enough to see through the people’s suffering and bring Ceng Lu, such a corrupt official, to justice. Look at how quickly the citizens of Xin’an City have been plagued by misfortune since he arrived," Zhao Xinglin grew excited as he spoke. Beyond his personal grievances, he simply couldn’t tolerate Ceng Lu’s actions.
"Now that you no longer have your position at the government office, Brother Xinglin, what are your plans for the future? Sister-in-law finally gave you a son, and there is a whole family relying on you. You must find some proper work. Moping around the house is not a solution. Haven’t you gone out in the past month to see if there’s any suitable work?" Zhao Erhu secretly had some ideas, which could be a suitable opportunity for him, but he didn’t know what Zhao Xinglin was thinking and casually inquired.
"Erhu, you speak as though I don’t understand. I’ve been out looking for work and asked around for help, but Wei Lao Ye keeps sabotaging me in the background, and I haven’t found anything appropriate. Having been an arrest officer before, it’s not easy to find something. To tell you the truth, I’ve already made up my mind. I plan to take my family back to the village since we still have some land there and can fall back on farming," he confided.
"Since you haven’t found anything suitable yet, how about coming to work with me? I’m short-handed and in need of someone skilled in Martial Arts with experience like you. I didn’t mention it when you were still with the government office, but now It’s actually a good time," Zhao Erhu planned to head south and needed reliable people by his side. Zhao Xinglin wasn’t just skilled in Martial Arts but also upright in character, the perfect choice without any hidden agendas.
"That would be wonderful, helping you out is the best thing I could do. But from what I know, your family’s businesses aren’t easy to run either. Both Ceng Lu and Wei Lao Ye have set their sights on you, shutting down your family’s restaurant and grocery stores. What work could there be for me now? You’re not saying all this just to help me out, are you? That’s really not necessary," Zhao Xinglin, being privy to Zhao Erhu’s family matters from his time in the government office, asked skeptically.