Women Wearing Men: The Growth Path of the Bastards of the Aristocratic Family

Hearing Zhao Jinbao say that he could not work in the government, Gu Yunji looked surprised and looked at him doubtfully: "Why do you say that? But who did you offend that made you dare not return to the country?"

"That's not true, it's just..."

Zhao Jinbao hesitated, as if he had some concerns. While hesitating, he glanced at Gu Yunji with fear, and finally gritted his teeth and simply confessed:
"To tell you the truth, Mr. Gu, I did not go to sea with my elders when I was young, but my relatives committed crimes and had to flee overseas for fear of being implicated. Now my household registration in my hometown has been cancelled, and I have no relatives or friends. I am afraid that the government will My criminal record is still there, how can I go back?"

Gu Yunji did not expect such a thing to happen, and narrowed his eyes slightly: "...committed a crime? What specific crime was committed? Who is your relative? When did that happen?"

Gu Yunji had been an official for many years, and he had developed a somewhat calm and self-assertive temperament. At this moment, his face sank slightly, and he looked very different from the friendly look he had just now.Zhao Jinbao was already feeling guilty, but now his face turned red with shame, and he muttered:
"... He is a distant cousin of mine. He didn't learn well when he was young and actually started selling salt. Once the incident happened and the government came to find him, he escaped in advance, but we relatives were implicated! "

"At that time, the officials couldn't catch anyone and couldn't explain to their superiors, so they asked us to collect 100 taels of silver as 'stolen money', and the matter was settled. But we are all honest farmers, how could we get so much money? ?”

"My father was also confused... When he was desperate, he came up with the bad idea of ​​taking his family to seek refuge with relatives in Nanyang, so he ran away. As for when, I'm afraid it was... during Huizong's reign..."

The more Zhao Jinbao spoke, the lower his voice became, and his head was lowered, like a child who had done something wrong.

So that's the case, no wonder he shrank when he first met Gu Yunji to talk to him, presumably because he was afraid of being held accountable by the government.

When Gu Yunji heard the words, he felt relieved and smiled again on his face: "So that's it. I still thought it was some kind of crime. It doesn't matter at all. You took the matter too seriously."

After listening to Zhao Jinbao's story, Gu Yunji made a rough guess about the cause and effect.

It's just that there is a criminal among the relatives, but the local officials do nothing and run rampant in the countryside. If they can't catch the criminal, they transfer the responsibility and pressure to the common people.The prisoner escaped. As relatives of the prisoner, Zhao Jinbao's family was naturally the first to bear the brunt.

As for the so-called 100 taels of silver used as "stolen money", most of them were just random rumors made by the officials.Gu Yunji has been a local official for many years, and he knows very well the faces of the lower-level officials. Some people are more like gangsters than official officials, and they behave like bullies.

It's a pity that Zhao Jinbao's family is timid. They really couldn't help but be frightened. They really thought that they had been implicated by relatives who sold illegal salt and had committed a serious crime. They had no choice but to flee overseas.

In fact, not to mention the estranged relatives, it is impossible for Zhao Jinbao's family to be implicated.The key point is that the current local rule of law is lax, and the sale of illegal salt is repeatedly banned. If the circumstances are minor, the prisoner may be done with hard labor for a few years, and most of them will not receive more serious punishments.

Not to mention that it happened during Huizong's reign. After so many years, the past has disappeared. Maybe many of the officials who threatened Zhao Jinbao have died, so how can he be held accountable.After thinking about this, Gu Yunji couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

Some trivial matters that seem inconspicuous to the upper class may be as heavy as a million pounds if they fall on ordinary people. Because of a few threats from official officials, Zhao Jinbao's family was so frightened that they left their hometown and went into exile overseas. Now they are struggling to make a living under the hands of Westerners. , making a living is very difficult.

Zhao Jinbao had been homeless for so many years and paid a huge price. If Gu Yunji told him the truth now and said that he was actually innocent, the other party would probably collapse.

So, Gu Yunji made up a white lie to conceal the truth of the matter. He only said that the court laws had changed in the past two years and exempted him from the crime of selling illegal salt. Zhao Jinbao was now a free man and did not need to fear that the government would hold him accountable.

As expected, Zhao Jinbao was so excited that he burst into tears when he heard this. He could hardly speak clearly: "Sir, are you telling the truth? I...I am not guilty? Can I go back to my hometown?"

Gu Yunji smiled and nodded: "Yes, you are not guilty. You can go home at any time. And I can assure you on behalf of the government that with your skills in making artillery, as long as you are willing to come, we will definitely give you generous treatment." I won’t treat you badly.”

"I'm not sure about other places, let's just say in Shaoxing Prefecture, the treatment for ordinary gunsmiths is food and accommodation, and a daily salary of fifty cents. If you are highly skilled and even have the ability to innovate, the reward will be even higher. , it is not impossible to get a bonus of dozens of taels of silver at a time."

Zhao Jinbao's eyes widened when he heard this, with a look of disbelief on his face: "Even if food and accommodation are included, the salary is actually fifty cents, and there is even a bonus?! God, I'm afraid this is not a life only for the gods, Mr. Gu. Did you really not coax me?"

Gu Yunji laughed out loud: "What am I trying to coax you to do? What I said is absolutely true. If even one word is false, you can come to me and ask for an explanation. The description of the fairy nest is a bit exaggerated, but everyone loves home. Compared with suffering and suffering outside, isn't my hometown my own fairy nest?"

These words can be said to be deep in Zhao Jinbao's heart. Who would want to leave his hometown unless it was absolutely necessary?
When he followed his parents and elders to seek refuge with relatives in Nanyang, he suffered a lot along the way, and his parents died one after another within a few years.He was left alone to struggle overseas. After several twists and turns, he relied on the skill of making artillery that he learned by chance, and finally managed to beg for food under the hands of the Francois. There were many bitter tears in the process, and only he You know it yourself.

Now that he received Gu Yunji's affirmative answer and let him know that he could not only return to his hometown, but also work in the government and have a stable livelihood, how could Zhao Jinbao not be tempted?He wished he had wings, so he immediately got off the Western ship and flew back to his hometown without even having to carry any luggage.

Gu Yunji looked at Zhao Jinbao with a smile, and extended an olive branch at the right time: "How about quitting your job in the Folangji caravan and returning to work in China? You know, the government is quite lacking in experienced guns like you nowadays. Carpenter."

After listening to Gu Yunji's words, Zhao Jinbao's eyes lit up instantly, but he didn't know what he suddenly thought of, and his mood fell again. He smiled bitterly: "Of course I want to, but look at me now, can I leave?"

"Besides me, there are several Chinese gunsmiths in the caravan. We have been involved in the entire process of making Folangji's artillery. Knowing so many of their technical secrets, do you think Folangji can let us go? ?”