Idle courtiers

Chapter 55
Following the servant of the Salt Transport Governor's Office, he walked two streets in the city and arrived at the ground.

But he saw a small courtyard in front of him. It looked like a three-entry mansion. It was simple and old. It was old, and it was no different from other upper-middle-class houses in the city.

Zhou Nan asked: "Didn't you go to the restaurant?"

The man smiled and replied: "What's the point of going to a restaurant to eat wine? Master Shi said that the wine in the restaurant is not delicious, and they are all ordinary dishes. How can it be compared to my own? Today, I invite you to drink." Master Zhou is here for the family dinner."

"It's not good to go to Governor Shi's house..." Zhou Nan hesitated.It turned out that this was Shi Qianshi's home in Andong County.

Yandao has no relationship with the local government, and Shi Qianshi used to be low-key, a person who has no sense of existence.Therefore, few people really knew about his home in the county.

The ancients made a clear distinction between the inside and the outside. Whenever people on the scene had social activities, they mostly settled in the restaurants outside.If you take it home and let outsiders see your family members,
Everyone is a little embarrassed.Family banquets are usually only attended by close relatives like brothers and cousins. I am afraid that the relationship between myself and Governor Shi has not yet reached that point.

At this time, Shi Qianshi happened to send a guest out of the room, and when he saw Zhou Nan, he pretended to be angry: "How inappropriate, brother Zhou will be the closest person to us in the future, so naturally we have to hold a banquet at home." .Why, the pawns don't like me, a lowly official?"

Zhou Nan hurriedly said: "The governor's words are right. You said you are not popular, but you are an official anyway. I, Zhou Nan, am just a small official. The relationship between officials and officials is like a moat. Since the governor invites you, Zhou Nan It’s better to obey than to be respectful.”

Seeing Zhou Nan's apology, Shi Qianshi turned his anger into joy, took his hand, and said with a smile: "Brother Zhou, I can call you that! In fact, there is really nothing to eat in the restaurant outside, why don't you eat it?" Go to your own. There are rare things in the saltworks, and that is a good thing! Therefore, we never treat guests outside, and we really look down on them."

Entering Shi's house, it really is a three-entry house, which is different from the dilapidated appearance on the outside, but there are holes in the inside.

I saw that the three courtyards were all cleaned up, and the doors and windows of the houses inside were carved with patterns such as bats, plum blossoms, deer, and cranes. They were extremely exquisite, obviously handwritten by famous craftsmen.Taking a peek at the furnishings in the house, they are all mahogany furniture such as red sandalwood and chicken wing wood, so rich and noble.

The Shi family also has a large back garden with warm pavilions, rockery, flowers and trees, and a pond.

The breeze came slowly, blowing the rustling leaves of a Zhennan tree, which was so cool that it made people feel refreshed all over.

On the first floor of the attic, a table of food and wine had already been set up, and two servant girls stood beside them.

When Zhou Nan sat down, the two women picked up their fans and fanned him vigorously, serving him comfortably.

Facts have proved that Shi Qianshi was not boasting just now. Compared with Shi's food and wine, the outside is pig food.

I saw that this table is full of rare delicacies, such as Taihu whitebait, Yangtze saury, fermented river crab... These things are not so easy to get even in modern times.The chef's craftsmanship is also extremely good. In ancient times, it made a table of wine and meat surprisingly fresh.In addition, knife skills and plate placement are extremely particular.Although it is not as good as the jade flute in "The Legend of the Condor Heroes", whoever listens to Luomei, it is also very popular.

In addition, the pot of 14-year-old daughter red is also mellow and sweet.

Zhou Nan raised the wine glass in his hand and looked at it again, but he was shocked.Seeing the bottom line, it is suddenly "Jiajing imperial system" but it is official kiln porcelain.Not to mention that this thing is a priceless treasure in modern society, even in the Ming Dynasty, the price is ridiculously high, and it is not easy to get.

Seeing Zhou Nan's horrified expression, Shi Qianshi smiled and said, "Don't be afraid, the pawns. Although the porcelain on this table is all official kilns, it is not against the regulations. You see, this cup and all the bowls have been repaired."

Zhou Nan saw that it was indeed so.Either a hole was drilled in the bottom of this table of porcelain, which was later patched with silver beans.Either it is broken into several pieces, and then nailed with copper nails.Otherwise, the crime of privately using royal artifacts is not a small one. ,

Shi Qianshi explained that these porcelains came from Jingdezhen official kilns, and because they were burned out, they were supposed to be smashed and thrown away.Through his relationship with the salt road, he got back many good-looking ones, repaired them and kept them at home.Zhou Nan is a rare distinguished guest today, so he took it out to entertain him.

Zhou Nan didn't know much about porcelain either, so he just praised casually a few times, and finally asked how much these things are worth?

Shi Qianshi replied that a wine glass alone was worth twelve taels, which made Zhou Nan speechless.This table of porcelain costs at least a few hundred taels. This Governor Shi is really rich!
After drinking for three rounds, Shi Qianshi mentioned the resettlement of refugees again, and expressed his gratitude to Zhou Nan.He said: "Today I invite Zhou Dianli to my house for a drink. Apart from thanking you, there is one more thing I would like to ask for your help."

He kept persuading Zhou Nan to drink, and the altar of daughter's red at home was too full-bodied, so he was a little drunk.He said with a smile: "Old Shi, you have a lot of power and a lot of money. Normally, only others beg you. When will it be your turn to beg for help/"

Shi Qianshi: "Brother Zhou, why do you have a lot of power and money? I'm just an eighth-rank official. What am I? However, I'm not bragging. We have accumulated a lot of wealth after working here for these years. Wei Ren is getting older now, always thinking about returning the fallen leaves to their roots, and transferred to Changlu Salt Field. This man is rich and honored but does not return to his hometown, just like walking in brocade clothes at night, how can he be willing? I heard that you have a close relationship with Wang Ruoxu of the Ministry of Officials, Can you give me a word with him?"

Zhou Nan said: "What is the status of the king, I am a mustard-like person, how can I talk to you."

Shi Qianshi: "Brother, don't lie to me. You have been with Mr. Wang from the beginning to the end when he came to our county, and your poems have caught his attention. If you weren't a scholar, you might have become his old man now I am now a student. It’s settled like this. In a month’s time, you can ask the county magistrate for a month’s leave, and come with me to the capital. You only need to introduce me. Don’t worry, no matter whether the matter is completed or not, I will naturally have a chance at that time. A heart."

If there are benefits, you should take them!It's a pity that it takes one month to go to the capital from here, which is too much delay.

Zhou Nan shook her head: "Governor Shi, I'm sorry!"

Shi Qianshi's eyes were already red from drinking, and he said, "300 taels."

"what……"

"You only need to go to the capital once, and I will give you the benefit of 300 taels of silver. In addition, I will cover all the food and lodging along the way."

This, this is too blatant, is it a pure money and power transaction, buying and selling officials, shameless?
We are the ancients, so we have to say something polite, such as "there is a way to make money", "a gentleman speaks righteousness, and a villain speaks profit".

Talk about money, simple and crude, no technical content... But, I like it.

300 taels, this is 300 taels!I only have five or six taels a month, and after deducting expenses, I only have one or two taels left.It would take ten years without food or drink to save enough, which is simply an irresistible temptation.Besides, with this money, wouldn't the Mei family's debts be settled?
Zhou Nan was already very willing in his heart, but he was an elegant official capable of poetry and writing, and his personal image was still important.

You have to hold back for a while before you give up resistance, don't you?

So, he stroked the tuft of beard that had just sprouted on his chin, and smiled without saying a word.

"Straight mother thief, you people who have studied are not happy!" Shi Qianshi shouted: "It seems that you are not willing to increase the price, come here!"

Just a slap.

Zhou Nan was overjoyed: I want to increase the price, I don’t know how many hundreds more, I like it more!

Hearing the sound of applause, a servant girl came in with a fat girl in gorgeous clothes.

I saw that the girl had a dark face, a big nose, and a short and stocky figure. She looked somewhat similar to Zeng Zhiwei.

No, she is Zeng Zhiwei, the Ming Dynasty version of women's clothing.

After entering the attic, the fat girl looked straight at Zhou Nan.

"This girl is my brother's posthumous child. I raised her since she was a child. She is just like my own daughter. Unfortunately, because she was born ugly, I never talked about her." When Shi Qianshi said this, he probably thought that his niece was not pleasing to the eye, and scolded her. Said: "Indeed, Zhiniang is so ugly that I have no eyes to see. I often dream of her when I have nightmares, and then I am frightened awake."

Hearing her uncle scolding, the girl was not happy, she opened her mouth, and said in a rough voice: "So what if I'm ugly, uncle, you say that about me, but it makes people angry. Aren't I just fat? Isn't it because you see the sky?" If you want to blame me, I can only blame you. Besides, I will never stop talking to you about such unpleasant words. Also, if you say that no one wants me, it is also your fault. Anyway, you It's an official, if you use force to find a good husband and son-in-law for me, and give me a large dowry, I'm afraid no one will agree?"

"You still blame me, you you you..." Shi Qianshi roared angrily.

Seeing the two uncles and nephews arguing, Zhou Nan suddenly felt a little uneasy.

Shi Qianshi lost his temper, pointed at Zhou Nan and said, "Niece, just to let you know that this person is an official of the Andong County government office. He was a decent young talent who was a scholar before. How about you marrying him?"

"Ah!" Zhou Nan was shocked, and the cup in his hand fell to the ground.

The girl suddenly blushed, she rubbed the corner of her clothes coyly: "My niece's life's affairs are all up to my uncle."

　New week, please recommend tickets, please collect, thank you!
　　


(End of this chapter)