Idle courtiers

Chapter 74 Preparations
"You don't need to know about a little thing, and you are not allowed to ask." Mei Kang snorted.How important is cheating in the examination room.If the news leaked out, his son's reputation as a scholar would be ruined.With Mei Puna's scumbag, she missed Zhou Nan's opportunity, and there is no hope of fame in this life.

The fewer people who know about it, the better.

"Yes, Daddy."

Yuanwai Mei suddenly felt a move in his heart: "Chi'er, don't you like to read books? Others say you are a talented woman."

In feudal society, talented women did not have a good reputation, especially for a young lady from a wealthy family.The so-called ignorance of a woman is virtue. A daughter of a good family can read and write, especially after reading dirty books such as "The Romance of the West Chamber".
Mei Chi blushed, "Daddy, my daughter knows she's wrong."

"No, no." Mei Kang waved his hand: "Daddy asked you something, you have to answer honestly, have you ever read "Four Books"?"

Mei Chi didn't understand why her father asked such a question, she was taken aback, and said, "I read it."

"That's good, that's good, will you write stereotyped essays?"

Mei Chi was even more surprised: "But I can't." She is just a little girl, and also a female literary youth. She likes reading Tang poetry and Song Ci best, and she takes some novels and novels for entertainment.Boring readings like the Four Books and Five Classics, which are blindly preaching, are really not interesting.Besides, stereotyped essays have a strict format and writing method, and they need to be taught by a special teacher, and they have to intensively read hundreds of model essays and try to figure them out every day before they can get into the door.

When Mei Kang heard her daughter say no, she couldn't help but sigh: "Hey, so you can't either!"

Miss Mei Er: "Daddy, what's the matter with you, why did you think of asking your daughter to write Shiwen? If you really want this kind of article, there are many experts among the scholars in our county, and you can get it with dozens of articles. An excellent piece of writing."

"This matter... hey, I really can't let others know about it. I can only write it down in my own family. Since you can't do it, forget it and don't ask about it."

Seeing the worried look on the old man's face, Second Miss Mei said: "Father, don't worry, if you think of someone who is a daughter who knows how to compose at home, my sister-in-law will not be able to compose."

"Your sister-in-law knows how to do it, how is it doing?" Member Mei asked anxiously, regaining her spirit.

Mei Chi: "I know it. When my elder brother was here, my sister-in-law would correct it several times every time I wrote an essay. I heard that her composition skills were all learned in the Jiaofang Division. Back then, my elder brother had She lamented that if my sister-in-law was a man, with her memory and writing style, she might have already passed the exam."

"Take a test, let's go, let's go see your sister-in-law." Member Mei stood up with a huff, and rushed to Sister Su's attic in the backyard.

Since the last time Sister Su suffered from heatstroke, vomiting and diarrhea, and was beaten up by her mother-in-law, she has been living in the yard and never went out.Because of that illness, she lost a lot of weight, exuding the charm of a mature woman.But those eyes lost their previous agility, appearing hollow and indifferent.

Seeing Mei Yuanwai's father and daughter, Yingying said, "My daughter-in-law has seen the father-in-law and the second girl. I don't know what orders the father-in-law came to my room today."

From the disappearance to the present, Sister Su has been abused by her mother-in-law twice, and Mei Yuanwai deeply hates this corrupt daughter-in-law and doesn't bother to see him.This was the first time he met Miss Su in a while, so it was a bit embarrassing.

He coughed and asked: "Sister Su, I heard that you can write stereotyped articles. Isn't your uncle going to take the imperial examination? Write an article for him to learn from."

Sister Su: "What topic?"

Mei Yuanwai: "The title of "The Reality of Wisdom" is a bit strange, listen to me..."

"No need, I know, from "Mencius" the reality of benevolence is to treat relatives; the reality of righteousness is to obey elders; the reality of wisdom is to know the two and not go away."

Member Mei said happily, "Yes, yes, that's what Pu'er was said earlier by a thief with the same surname Zhou, and you really know how to do it. Hurry up, write an article."

As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he realized that he had said the wrong thing.

Sure enough, upon hearing the word "Little Thief Surnamed Zhou", Sister Su Gujing Wubo's eyes suddenly flashed with light: "Zhou Nan has been here?"

Mei Chi was suddenly annoyed: "Shameless, shameless, do you still have the face to speak of him?"

The corners of Sister Su's lips curled up slightly, and she actually smiled: "I seem to understand, this composition topic should be a question for this year's county exam, right? Let me guess, maybe Zhou Nan gave it to you? Hehe, cheating in the imperial examination , Father-in-law is very resourceful and bold."

"Ah, Daddy, is this true?" Second Miss Mei was shocked and turned to look at her father.

Member Mei didn't speak, but kept his face blue.

Sister Su said: "The topic is very simple, just pick up the pen. However, I don't know how to write. Please come back, father-in-law and second girl!"

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After leaving Mei's house, it was already dark, and after returning home, Zhou Nan sat in the house reading novels as usual after dinner.He still reads "Journey to the West". Journey to the West and Three Kingdoms are among the few Ming Dynasty novels that catch his eyes and can be read repeatedly.

Although the eyes fell on the book, the mind drifted to other places.

The reason why he didn't stay at Mei's house but ran home in a hurry was because when he was at Mei's house, he suddenly remembered something, and this matter had to be settled before Shi Zhixian was transferred to Yunnan.

That is the question of one's own identity.

Speaking of this, others may wonder, Zhou Nan is now a pawn appointed by the Ministry of Officials, is there any flaw in his identity?

Yes, there is a real problem here.

When Weng Chun and Sister Su took the IOU to Zhoujiazhuang to collect the debt, Zhou Nan had the idea of ​​refusing to admit it.But the two said that the handwriting can be faked, but the fingerprints on it can be checked.

Those fingerprints were left by Zhou Xiucai in the past. If there are people who want to talk about the authenticity of Zhou Nan's identity in the future, they will find out the past files.Compared with handprints... the consequences are serious.

When Zhou Nan thought of this, he felt terrified: No, the previous files must be revised as soon as possible. While Shizhi County is still in Andong, I still have some power at hand.Otherwise, when he leaves, a new county magistrate will be replaced, and things will change, and I don't know what the situation will be.

This year's boy test, if there is no accident, Mei Pu's fame as a scholar will not escape, and the 300 taels owed by the Mei family will naturally be written off.Now it is not about money, but for self-protection.

It's just that the matter of modifying the file is a bit big, and it will inevitably arouse people's doubts. Is it necessary?

Just thinking about it, Yunniang put her arms around his waist, and gently pressed her face against Zhou Nan's vest.

Feeling her warm body temperature, Zhou Nan was emotional, turned around and hugged his wife to the bed, naturally tender.

Naturally, this time he had as much fun as usual, and when it was over, Yunniang hid her face in his arms.Shamefully complaining: "My husband, I think that after my concubine married you back then, every time...you... always had a serious face...and didn't speak, with a tiger face, which made my concubine very scared. Now... now ..."

"What's the matter now?" Zhou Nan deliberately teased her.

Yunniang: "Now you keep talking nonsense, calling me a concubine, calling me a concubine so shy..." As she said that, she blushed all over, and she got under the quilt to dare not see anyone.

Zhou Nan had something on his mind, and suddenly his heart trembled.The one who is most familiar with Zhou Xiucai before is of course Yunniang, the person next to her. As I live with her for a long time, she will definitely be aware of the suspicious points... No, the matter of modifying the file must be started immediately, and it cannot be done any longer. procrastination.

On the second day, Zhou Nan arrived at the yamen, first hired an engraver to print the papers, and then walked to the torture room, asking the master in the prison room to help pull out all the files of Zhou Xiucai's murder case.

The torture room is specialized in criminal cases of public security, and is either a fast-track official or dealing with local thugs and desperadoes all day long.When interrogating prisoners, violent means have to be used.

This is the so-called yamen, the so-called dark old society in the mouth of the people.

The master of the punishment room is surnamed Huang, and he has been in the family for generations.I have read books for more than ten years, and I used to be a frail scholar.I have been working in the punishment room all my life, I have experienced a lot of things, I am full of foul language, I can drink alcohol without getting drunk, and I am full of alcohol, sex, wealth, and four poisons.

Such a person has no principles at all. Zhou Nan is a popular person in the county.Moreover, the two of them have drank a few times and done a few things with equal interests, and they have a good personal relationship.

He smiled and asked, "Master Zhou, your case was closed ten years ago, why do you want to dig it out now?"

Zhou Nan sighed intentionally: "If it wasn't for that case, I can't tell if I have won it now, so what's the use of messing around in this yamen. It's really a mistake that has caused eternal hatred, and looking back, it has been a hundred years. Now it's really annoying to think about the past. I worked hard and couldn't sleep at night. And I drank a lot of wine that day, and I can't remember many things clearly. I want to look at the file again, which is a wake-up call for myself."

Mr. Huang also sighed: "Mr. Zhou, when it comes to reading, I'm actually quite talented. When I was in the school, Mr. sighed, if it wasn't for me being a son of the Gongmen and not being able to take the imperial examination, it is still possible to be a scholar. This is fate! And you, who have secured your fame and reputation, have ruined your future because of this sloppy case. Isn't this fate? You have to read the file, and you are right. However, there is one thing you have to promise me."

Zhou Nan: "Brother Huang, tell me."

Master Huang: "The old files from previous years have been unsealed. When reading, according to the rules, there must be someone from the punishment room next to you. When you read it later, I have to accompany you."

Zhou Nan: "Brother Huang, you and I are old friends too. It's a rare opportunity to sit and have tea and chat together. It's really nice to be intimate with you."

Soon, Master Huang took the murder case file from the document library and handed it to Zhou Nan.

Zhou Nan opened the file, flipped through it, and chatted with Mr. Huang at the same time.

Regardless of ancient or modern times, the wages and benefits of the unit, as well as complaints to the boss are eternal topics.

As far as the yamen is concerned, for pawns at the level of Zhou Nan and Master Huang, the monthly salary of the imperial court is deducted from the top, only more than 100 catties of rice and two or three taels of silver, and the county magistrate pays two or three taels of money for himself. Five taels of silver.

This is considered a high salary in Andong County. The problem is that the pawns have to support one plus seven or eight people.Moreover, they spend a lot of money walking on the scene, and they basically have to live a hard life for a few days at the end of the month.

Master Huang sighed: "Brother Zhou, you are now a clerk of the ceremonial house, and you have earned a lot of money in the county examination this month. But I am miserable. Recently, the county has been peaceful and there is no extra money. It is hard. Besides, the punishment room is full of human blood money, but I dare not take it. Once I take it, I may accompany myself in it someday. Speaking of which, the torture room is the most prestigious among the six rooms, but it is the poorest. My family has been a master of punishment for generations, this is why women are afraid of marrying the wrong man, and men are afraid of entering the wrong profession."

Zhou Nan smiled and comforted: "Don't complain, just talk about my house, so I can earn some hard money during the exam every year, and I have to drink northwest wind for the other eleven months. In fact, I am also very poor. It's tight, it's better to stay in the delivery room!"

Master Huang: "Brother Zhou, you are still lying. I heard that you have bought official salt for the salt road for a few days, and the money is rushing to your home. Is there any reason for calling you poor like this?"

Zhou Nan: "I'm going to transport salt. That's because I don't know Governor Shi. The governor's salt smuggling is on the river, and he often talks with the punishment room. Why don't Mr. Huang go to him to talk about the matter, and get a boat or two to go there. If Master Huang has this idea, Zhou can introduce it."

Master Huang was overjoyed: "It's a good relationship, and I ask brother Zhou to help me a lot."

"Sure, there is a saying, iron-clad yamen, flowing water officials. We brothers will stay in this yamen for the rest of our lives. When we see each other, we will be closer than real brothers. Alas, these fingerprints are blurred. I'll make another one." As he spoke, Zhou Nan's thumb stuck to the ink pad and put it on top of the file.

Master Huang pretended not to notice, just picked up the teacup and drank the water slowly.

　The third update, please collect, please recommend tickets for support, all kinds of requests, thank you!

　　


(End of this chapter)