Walking the Path of a Workaholic in Cliché Novels (QT) Chapter 88

“Xizhou is a directly-governed prefecture, so the governor is of the fourth rank, and his treatment is the same as that of a prefect.” From county magistrate to mayor, he was promoted three levels in a row.

But this was not the most important thing. The most important thing was that Dingsha County was a place under the jurisdiction of the Xizhou prefecture chief. He would continue to manage the affairs and trade of Dingsha County in the future.

“I was promoted three times in a row. Even though I have made enough contributions, Empress Qi still put a lot of effort into this.” An Yinong was curious about what people in the capital were saying about him at this moment. Perhaps in a few days he would find out after receiving letters from his teachers and classmates in Beijing.

Within a few days, an official order came from above to establish a trade market in Xizhou, and the new prefect was fully responsible for this matter.

The people of Dingsha County were overjoyed: “His Excellency has been promoted to the governor of Xizhou. He will still be in charge of us in the future.”

Several other counties belonging to Xizhou were also calling out: “The magistrate of Dingsha County will be our magistrate in the future, and we will be able to live a good life like Dingsha County in the future.”

Even the passing merchants were laughing: “If the county magistrate changes to a prefectural magistrate, will there be more goods to sell in the future?”

Others were thinking about the issue of mutual trade. Anyone with a brain knew that mutual trade could bring huge profits, including cattle, sheep and precious gems from the grassland people, spices and blankets from the Western Regions, finally salt, tea and silk from the local areas. Whoever controlled the agency rights could become the next wealthy imperial merchant.

However, the Empress actually let the new governor take charge of such a major matter. So as long as they pleased this governor, wouldn’t it be…

“I don’t know what the newly appointed prefect likes, gold, silver, treasures, or beautiful women and mansions?” No matter what he wanted, merchants traveling around the world could satisfy his requirements.

“It is said that he is not interested in these things.” A businessman who had inquired about the past of Dingsha County Magistrate said with a sad face, “He doesn’t even have a woman in his room, no servants around him, and he doesn’t accept bribes.”

“Nonsense, how could someone not be interested in these? If he’s not interested, it only means the things aren’t good enough, and the beauties aren’t beautiful enough.”

“That makes sense.” An Yinong looked at the information collected by the ghosts and was sitting in his rocking chair with great joy. “My standards are high, and I don’t like ordinary things. Right, sir?”

Gu Zhengzhong, who was pondering the chess manual, helplessly pulled his hair back. An Yinong himself did not like to keep long hair, but he liked to mess up other people’s well-groomed hair.

“Sir, your hair is so fine, black and smooth.” An Yinong moved closer. Every part of his lover’s body was exquisite, and his hair was fumigated with fragrance. When he moved closer, the scent floated towards him, making him wonder: If he sleeps with a strand of black hair as my pillow for a night, will he also be infused with the fragrance?

Gu Zhengzhong grabbed a mischievous hand and held it in his palm: “Did you receive a few letters today? Whose letters are they from?”

“There are letters from the capital and Pingjiang Prefecture. The letters from the capital are from my teachers and classmates, congratulating me on my promotion, and some who hope to have frequent contact in the future sent gifts. The letters from Pingjiang Prefecture are from the head of Sanjin Village and members of the Tian family.”

The head of Sanjin Village was talking about a village nearby that was fighting with them for a hilltop, and remembered the Tian family were talking about the granddaughter of the old head who passed the exam to become a ninth-rank medical officer.

An Yinong had already written a letter, saying that he would not interfere in village affairs, and would listen to the local county magistrate. If the county magistrate did something wrong, he could report it on their behalf. Secondly, he would take out silver for the little girl, hoping that the Tian family would get better and better in the future.

“It’s been so many years.” The little girl who squatted at the door and ate grass roots had become an official, and he himself was in his twenties. People of this age had several children, but he hadn’t even taken down a person. Shameful.

Gu Zhengzhong, who was playing chess, put down the game piece in his hand. He spread out a hand, and a long wooden box appeared. It was unknown what the wooden box was made of, but the surface was shining like the Milky Way.

“I haven’t congratulated Yinong on his promotion yet.”

An Yinong looked at Gu Zhengzhong, who was holding the chess pieces and pretending to play a game, but actually hadn’t moved for a long time. He brought the wooden box over and glanced at Gu Zhengzhong, then at the box: He thought he could take the opportunity to ask for some discordant rewards, but he miscalculated.

As he thought, he carefully opened the wooden box and a scroll appeared inside. The scroll slowly opened on the desk, revealing an extremely delicate map. The light green sections were farmlands and grasslands, the dark green areas were forests, and there were also swamps, rivers, lakes, and underground mineral deposits…

It even had precise dimensions marked like a modern map, with the name of each place, local specialties, etc. written in different colored pens. But this map was so big that only a part of it could be placed on the desk. An Yinong couldn’t imagine how much time and energy he had spent on such a map.

An Yinong never said that he wanted such a map. It’s not that he really didn’t want it, but it would require too much manpower and resources. He carefully rolled the picture up, fearing that it might be damaged in the slightest.

Gu Zhengzhong reached out to collect the chess pieces, and a hand fell on his. He raised his head and saw An Yinong’s face, which was wrapped in scattered black hair. The candlelight made his eyes shiny and moist.

“Do you remember our three-year agreement?”

When they met in Dingsha County three years ago, they made an agreement. During these three years, he would do his best to develop Dingsha County, improve the environment, and people’s livelihood. After three years, no matter good or bad, they would officially be together.

“I never forget.”

“In three years, thousands of acres of wasteland have been reclaimed, thousands of acres of trees have been planted, and everyone has a house and a field…Sir, I am here to claim my reward.”

As if bewitched, Gu Zhengzhong, who was sitting, raised his head. The shadows of the two people were getting closer and closer in the candlelight. As the golden light grew thicker, the relationship between the two became closer, but they knew that this time was different.

“I haven’t been sick for a long time. So, is it okay?” An Yinong put a thumb over Gu Zhengzhong’s lips, pressed him on the table, and tugged off his belt with a slight pull. The jade-decorated belt fell to the ground with a crisp sound.

An Yinong, who was usually half a head shorter, looked very imposing when he sat or stood. He reached out for the small wine pot that had been prepared on the table, poured a little dark red wine, and tempted his usually shameless husband with a seductive tone: “This was brewed by the two of us three years ago. Sir, don’t you want to try it?”

As he said this, he took a sip and lowered his head to invite others to drink with him. The sweet wine was melted by body temperature, and a red drop slid down like flower dew and sank into black locks.

Outside the window, the crow only saw his master, who was pressed on the table and kissed, raising his fingers. The lights went out, the windows closed, and the crystal chess pieces were scattered on the ground. Jade pendants, purses, jade crowns and other items also fell to the ground one by one, making tinkling sounds, and one wouldn’t know if they were broken.

The crow couldn’t help but look over, and saw only a dark window. Then came the gentle laughter of “Madam”, which was so seductive that it made one’s bones numb.

“Fly farther away.” The usually calm and composed master’s voice sounded anxious.

The moonlight dimly shone into the room through the window paper. An Yinong untied his belt, his fingertips loosened, and his coat fell to the ground. He looked at the beauty on the bed, who was sitting with his legs crossed, with snow-white skin and black hair, a smile on his face, and a pair of sharp phoenix eyes that now had a drunken luster.

He suddenly remembered that Mr. Gu almost became an emperor hundreds of years ago.

An Yinong stretched out his hand and hooked a strand of long hair, curling it around his fingers, but he leaned forward: “Sir, your hair is as cool as a stream at night…”

Red danced in Gu Zhengzhong’s eyes. Reason was like a thin layer of ice, underneath was surging desire and predatory instinct ready to move.

“No.” An Yinong put his finger on his lips, “I’ll do it.” Happy prey always think they are the one tasting the delicious food.

“Yinong.” Gu Zhengzhong’s eyes turned completely red. He hooked his sweetheart’s slender waist with one hand, flipped his body, and changed their positions.

His slender fingers hooked the red rope around his ankle and climbed up… An Yinong couldn’t help but let out a soft cry, and felt something was wrong. Shouldn’t he, who was rich in theoretical knowledge, be the one taking the initiative?

The room was dark, with only a few rays of moonlight leaking through the cracks in the window. The moonlight shone on the chessboard, which was empty of chess pieces, and on the wine jug that had been overturned at some point.

The wine jug was overturned, and the wine flowed on the table, so a sweet aroma mixed with the scent of lavender. This was the wine they had picked and made with their own hands. The crystal clear grapes were crushed one by one in the sunlight, and the juice flowed through their fingertips, as sticky as honeydew.

The grape juice flowed on the warmed fingers and was licked one by one.

“So sweet.” Gu Zhengzhong, who didn’t like sweets, felt the taste was just right.

The moonlight was still cool, and An Yinong shuddered. The feeling of being out of control was terrifying. He wanted to hide himself, but he also wanted to reach out and push away. However, the usually shy and submissive person seemed to have become a ferocious beast, and his small struggle was like oil dripping on the fire.

“Sir…” His skin was lightly pink, tears welled up in his eyes, and his voice was soft. He hoped that the beast would show mercy, but the beast’s breathing became heavier.

“I’m sorry…” Gu Zhengzhong kissed his misty eyes. The sense of reality made him addicted and also made him tear apart all moral constraints.

There was a possessive desire in Gu Zhengzhong’s red eyes that was no longer concealed. Yes, he was an evil creature. Countless days and nights of restraint and suppression had exhausted all his strength.

“You can no longer have a wife and children, and you can no longer live a normal human life… I will give myself to you as compensation.”

An Yinong felt like he was having a dream. He dreamed of the deep seabed, where thick chains were dragging in the water. In the heavy fog, he could occasionally see a glimpse of a huge creature. The huge creature seemed to be looking at him, but he felt no fear.

“Who are you?”

“I am…An Yinong.”

The darkness stretched out a huge claw: “I have you.”

He woke up, but he was still like a man sailing in the waves. Gu Zhengzhong’s eyes were as red as pigeon blood, with a shadow of madness. He kissed him: “Are you awake?”

An Yinong covered his lips with his backhand, his toes curled up, and his eyes were dyed with rosy clouds: “Sir.”

“Yinong, call me Brother Yu.”

“…Brother Yu.”

A lovely, real Yinong was not his dream. Gu Zhengzhong hugged him tightly, and his heart, which had been empty after traveling through several worlds, was also filled: I found you, and this time, no one can take you away.

An Yinong fell ill and was sick for three days. The people in Dingsha County were very worried about him, and the gate of the county government was filled with gifts. In fact, he felt okay, although he was a little… well, surprised at the beginning, but because he was pleased, he let it go later.

And now there was someone who took care of him in every possible way. Instead of feeling the pain of being sick, he took the opportunity to gain a lot of benefits. He didn’t know if it was his illusion, but this time, Gu Zhengzhong looked at him more closely, with such caution and vigilance, as if he would disappear in the next second.

“You were seriously ill for three days, which must have scared him.” The system guessed.

An Yinong thought about it and there was no other reason: “That was an accident.”

“Did you cry?” He pinched Gu Zhengzhong’s cheek when he coaxed the other to take medicine, “When you said sorry.”

Gu Zhengzhong turned his face away in embarrassment.

“Cry again, okay?” With such a handsome face, tears must be as moving as the morning dew falling. “Cry again, and I will forgive you.”

The crow on the windowsill looked sideways, thinking, how could its master agree to such an absurd request?

However, what it never expected was that its owner did not say anything, but just glanced at the crow, and the meaning of that glance was very clear.

“……” I understand. I’m leaving.

The crow flew away. It didn’t want to ask, nor did it want to say anything. After all, it was a single crow and didn’t understand this kind of happiness.