Chapter 274 Orange Tree

Liu Gong, Shaanxi Province, is the county magistrate in Xinghua County. On this day, a Taoist priest came to visit and presented a potted orange tree, which was as thin as a finger. Liu Gong disliked that the sapling was too small and did not want to accept it. Mr. Liu has a little daughter, who is only six or seven years old, which coincides with his birthday. The Taoist priest said, "Since adults don't like this orange tree, it's better to give it as a birthday gift."

As soon as Miss Liu saw the orange tree, she was overjoyed and looked after it day and night. Later, Liu Gong's term of office was about to expire, and the orange trees grew day by day. His fists were thick and thin, and they bore fruit for the first time. Liu Gong left office and returned to his hometown. He left the orange tree in the government office and did not intend to take it away. Seeing this, Miss Liu mourned and cried. Liu Gong comforted her and said, "I just left temporarily and will come back in the future." Miss Liu is still young, and she has no doubt when she hears the words, and she no longer cries.

In order to prevent the orange tree from being stolen by thieves, Miss Liu specially ordered her men to break the flower pot and transplant the orange tree into the courtyard. A few years later, Miss Liu grew up and married Zhuang. During the year of Bingxu, Zhuang was admitted as a scholar and went to Xinghua County to take office. Miss Liu walked with him and thought, "I haven't been to Xinghua for more than ten years, and I don't know if the orange tree is still there?"

Then he came to Xinghua County and went to the county government to check. The orange trees grew luxuriantly, and the ten people hugged together. There are thousands of fruits. After insuring with the government official, they all said, "Since Duke Liu left, the orange trees have grown wildly day by day, but they have never been fruited. This is the first time." When Miss Liu heard this, she was surprised.

Zhuang has been in office for three years, and the orange tree bears fruit year after year. In the fourth year, the orange tree suddenly became haggard and was no longer the demeanor of the past. Miss Liu sighed, "I think my husband's career is bleak. The position of county magistrate will not last long." In the autumn of this year, Zhuang Mouguo was dismissed from his official position.