Ye Zhinan's eyes kept darting between the two men, and she couldn't help but wonder in her heart.
Qin Yihuai was barely a ninth - rank official, yet he could make the county magistrate afraid. Could it be that he had some hold over the magistrate?
At this thought, it seemed to make sense to her.
The man in front of her retracted the coldness around him. He looked up at the county magistrate, his voice cold and clear.
"As for how to handle the greenhouse project, I'd like to hear a definite answer from you, Your Honor."
For some reason, Ye Zhinan detected a hint of threat in his words.
She thought it was inappropriate and reached out to tug at his robe, hoping he would be more polite.
Unexpectedly, Qin Yihuai seemed not to notice and continued speaking on his own.
"If Your Honor refuses, I'll have to find other ways. By then, I'm afraid even my family fortune won't be enough."
He slapped the table beside him forcefully, clearly warning the county magistrate.
She thought the county magistrate would lose his temper, but instead, he put on an obsequious smile.
He motioned for the clerk to bring the money.
"All for the livelihood of the common people. Naturally, I support it."
The county magistrate handed over the wooden box. Ye Zhinan saw how heavy it looked and was overjoyed.
Now the greenhouse project was finally settled.
When they were about to leave, the county magistrate's restless eyes kept wandering over her.
Qin Yihuai put the box in her hands, a dangerous smile on his face. He strode up to the county magistrate.
No one knew what he whispered in the magistrate's ear. They only saw the magistrate open his mouth in surprise and then quickly lower his head.
He didn't dare to look at her again.
On the way back, Ye Zhinan felt as if she were in a dream.
Looking at the heavy silver in her hand, she suddenly thought they were more like robbers.
"What's your relationship with the county magistrate?"
She tilted her head and voiced her doubts.
After all, she was the daughter of an official family in the capital. She had seen many grand occasions.
But she had never seen a subordinate being so tough in front of his superior.
At first, Qin Yihuai wanted to pretend not to hear. But when he met her clear, deer - like eyes, he couldn't bear to deceive her.
"Maybe I have some dirt on him."
Ye Zhinan nodded blankly, but she didn't believe it in her heart.
This was what she had thought at first. If she could convince herself, she wouldn't have asked.
Those were just precious ornaments and embezzled silver. If the magistrate wanted Qin Yihuai to keep his mouth shut, it would be as easy as crushing an ant.
What she wanted to know was the real reason why the magistrate didn't dare to touch Qin Yihuai.
"Is there nothing else?"
"Nothing."
Ye Zhinan raised her eyebrows and didn't say anything more.
When they reached the village entrance, they simply divided the silver.
Qin Yihuai gave her three taels of silver and told her to buy silk thread and tung oil in the market.
The rest would be kept by him.
"You're not going to embezzle the money, are you?"
Ye Zhinan watched as the silver she had carried all the way suddenly became only three taels. Naturally, she felt a bit pained.
Although the county magistrate gave the money because of him, she had also worked hard.
Qin Yihuai's face turned ashen. He reached out and flicked her forehead hard.
Ye Zhinan instantly grimaced in pain. She glared at him, her face full of dissatisfaction.
"I still have to buy some more food for emergencies. There are so many places to spend money. You don't have to worry,"
Seeing that she still looked suspicious, Qin Yihuai carefully explained all his plans to her.
From the procurement methods to how to deceive the Ministry of Revenue, he told Ye Zhinan everything in detail.
Ye Zhinan nodded in satisfaction. She patted the dust off her body and turned to leave.
"Wait a minute."
She turned around and met Qin Yihuai's eyes. Her heart skipped a beat.
"What's up?"
"I think your idea about suppressing the bandits makes sense. I'll try to get it done later, but it won't be accomplished in a short time."
Ye Zhinan's eyes brightened. She had already taken a few steps but suddenly darted back to his side.
She tugged at his sleeve, her eyes full of joy.
"Really?"
Qin Yihuai nodded non - committally, but then he poured cold water on her.
"Actually, there are many obstacles. We not only have to get the approval of the county magistrate but also discuss it with the prefect. Don't let the cat out of the bag yet. We don't know if it will succeed or not."
Ye Zhinan thought that as long as he could overcome his inner barriers, bravely step into the officialdom, and think about the common people, she would be satisfied.
Sure enough, she hadn't misjudged him.
"Then I'll go back and wait for your good news."
She smiled, her eyes curving like crescents. She skipped away and disappeared at the fork in the road.
The corner of Qin Yihuai's mouth also curled up slightly. He felt inexplicably happy.
After Ye Zhinan got home, she was eager to share this with Ye Shenyan. But then she remembered what he had said and forced herself to hold it back.
As she neared home, her steps gradually slowed down. She composed herself before walking in.
"Where have you been?"
Han Xiangmei was standing in front of the door with a stick in her hand. When she saw Ye Zhinan's figure, she almost rushed up to beat her.
Ye Zhinan wondered in her heart that her mother was no longer as dignified and generous as before.
Now she had been worn down by life and was like a martial artist.
"I think you already know what I've been up to. Whether you want to beat me or punish me, I'll accept it."
She knelt down with a thud and waited for her punishment.
Han Xiangmei was so angry that she was trembling all over. She threw the stick on the ground heavily and turned around to scold Ye Shenyan.
"This is the good daughter you've raised. Look at what she's become. She managed to come back in one piece today, but God knows what kind of trouble she'll cause tomorrow."
She was extremely disappointed. Someone had told her that Ye Zhinan had been summoned by the county magistrate.
Everyone said that the county magistrate was a greedy and lecherous man. The poor economic situation in the county was mostly due to his embezzlement.
Moreover, he especially liked young girls. As long as he took a fancy to a girl in the county, either she died silently or was taken as a concubine.
In short, none of them came back unscathed.
"Your mother was really scared. She said those harsh words in a fit of anger. If you're summoned by someone in the future, you must send someone to inform us at home."
Ye Zhinan pursed her lips and said nothing.
She knew she had done wrong. Relying on Qin Yihuai's company, she thought nothing would go wrong.
So she forgot to tell her parents and made them worry for nothing.
Han Xiangmei threw herself into Ye Shenyan's arms and cried. As if thinking of something, she turned to look at Ye Zhinan.
"Did that bastard do anything to you?"
Ye Zhinan shook her head. She recalled the details in the yamen. After thinking for a while, she picked out the important parts to say.
"Inspector Qin accompanied me. Thanks to his care, the county magistrate didn't do anything to me."
Han Xiangmei's hanging heart finally fell back into her stomach. Seeing that Ye Zhinan showed no other abnormalities, her expression softened a bit.
Ye Shenyan led Han Xiangmei into the house, constantly comforting her. He turned to give Ye Zhinan a look.
This little trick always brought a strange understanding between father and daughter. Ye Zhinan slipped away quickly.