Library

During the Jiayou period of the Northern Song Dynasty, a bizarre official incident gave birth to an unprecedented "seventh grade county magistrate". Qiantang County Magistrate Zhou Wenyuan died suddenly. In order to save face and privileges, the housekeeper conspired with his master Shen Zhou to find Zhang Erlin, a young man from the city who looked exactly like the county magistrate, and Li Daitao Jiang. Zhang Erlin is over 30 years old and has accomplished nothing. He spends his days relying on "gnawing old age". Although he is kind-hearted, he is ignorant of worldly affairs. In this way, a fake county magistrate who was forced to "catch up" took office. What awaits him is an officialdom full of crises: obscure official documents and laws, social interactions with colleagues who hide their knives in laughter, unexpected inspections from superiors... Zhang Erlin, who is illiterate, made a series of jokes. . . . . . However, it is this "bastard county magistrate" who repeatedly solves strange cases with his simple wisdom and innocent heart from the bottom. When interrogating chicken cases, solving blackmails, outsmarting local squires, and deftly handling housework, he often uses seemingly childish "commoner logic" to hit the nail on the head and get to the heart of the problem. His judgments are more popular than citing scriptures. In the process, he met Liu, a well-educated bookstore widow, and gained sincere feelings. He also deeply touched the shrewd master Shen Zhou who was determined to maintain the situation. But illusions never last. The blackmail from the bullies in the same village and the suspicion from the county magistrate's old friends are like swords hanging from the ceiling. When the identity crisis breaks out, will Zhang Erlin choose to continue pretending in court, or face it calmly? What shocking decision will this "confused county magistrate" in the eyes of everyone make? An ancient officialdom story about authenticity and benevolent government, full of laughter and warmth, begins here.