Under the blue sky, among the lake pavilions in the desolate back garden.

"Quick...... Please come in! When Lin Haoran saw the name on the worship, an inexplicable ecstasy swelled up in his heart, and he almost blurted out the truth.

Lin Jinyuan knew that his hometown valued the friendship of fellow villagers, and Qiongzhou Mansion and Gaozhou Mansion both belonged to western Guangdong, so he did not send the other party away directly, but came to ask for routine instructions.

It's just that seeing such a big reaction from his master, he glanced at Lin Haoran in astonishment. Even if the Ministry of Industry Shangshu Lei Li suddenly visited that day, he didn't have such a gaffe, why was he so nervous about a county like an ant?

Lin Haoran quickly realized that he had lost his temper, so he adjusted his excited mood, and turned to Lin Jinyuan, who was full of astonishment, and said, "Go quickly, bring people here!" ”

"Yes!" Lin Jinyuan saw that Lin Haoran was back to normal, and hurriedly gave up his hand and turned around to bring the magistrate outside here.

As if thinking of something, Lin Haoran suddenly stopped him: "Wait, you can lead people to the living room!" ”

Lin Jinyuan gave another gift, and then he was completely relieved, and he did as he was told.

He felt that arranging to meet the magistrate in the living room was a reasonable act, after all, the dignified Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Rites had already given a lot of face to meet that insignificant little official, where did he need to lead people to the back house to meet him, this inner house is a small magistrate can come in casually?

It's just that what he doesn't know is that Lin Haoran is not thinking about the dignity of these officialdoms, but thinking that his house is too eye-catching, and he is afraid that the Qing official will mistakenly think that he is actually a big corrupt official.

This house has undergone a transformation, although there is no extravagance, but in terms of land occupation and layout, it is the best choice in the capital, and even his father-in-law came over for the first time to have the intention of taking it for himself.

The living room, which belongs to the list of outer houses, is usually the façade of a house.

Even if you make the living room more luxurious, others will only think that you are a hospitable, but they will not associate it with greed, and even the living room of many poor officials is the most dazzling place.

When Lin Haoran appeared in the living room, there was a young man in his early fifties, with a medium-thin body and dark skin like a Hainanese, but his eyes were very sharp.

"Xiaguan Xingguo Zhi County Hai Rui has seen Lord Ministry!" Hai Rui was puzzled why Lin Haoran would personally meet him as a petty official, and when he saw Lin Haoran appear, he immediately stood up and saluted respectfully.

Lin Haoran looked at this famous person in later generations, but he didn't seem to be much different from ordinary lower-level officials in his words and deeds, and it didn't match the golden Hai Rui in his imagination, so he raised his hand quietly and said: "Hai Zhi......, no, aren't you transferred to the head of the Yunnan Division?" ”

But it was not that he deliberately inquired about Hai Rui's position change, but that his protégé Wang Honghai and Hai Rui were fellow villagers.

Hai Rui, a native of Qiongzhou, Guangdong, Jiajing 33 years after failing in two examinations, directly entered the office as a lifter. In March of the same year, Hai Rui was assigned to Nanping County, Yanping Prefecture, Fujian Province to serve as a teacher.

A Nanping County Sect without a strong background and a well-established background, its ceiling has been basically limited to the local magistrate.

Hai Rui is not an ordinary person after all, with his incorruptible and upright tough style, he first got the name of "Hai Bi Frame" in Nanping County, and then won the reputation of "Hai Qingtian" in Chun'an Zhi County.

Now selected by the Ministry of Officials, Hai Qingtian, who also performed extremely well in Xingguo County, has been recognized by the Ministry of Officials, and has been directly promoted from the small local Qipinzhi County to the head of the Yunnan Division of the Household Department in the capital.

Among the officials of the Ming Dynasty, Hai Rui undoubtedly created a small miracle, using his practical and honest style to directly stab the ceiling of the officials.

Lin Jinyuan came in with a teacup, and when he heard that the magistrate had been promoted to the head of the Yunnan Department of the Ministry of Households, he took a second look. However, he had already been accustomed to seeing the six Langzhong and the feudal officials, but he only glanced at it.

"The lower official has just arrived in Beijing, and the official must open the office tomorrow, and the lower official will come to report before he can officially serve as the head of the household department, and now he can only be regarded as the county governor of Xingguo!" Hai Rui didn't expect Lin Haoran to know so much about his situation, so he explained seriously.

Lin Haoran suddenly realized, and really wanted to count according to Hai Rui, so he raised his hand and said gently: "I see, please take a seat!" ”

"Thank you, sir!" Hai Rui responded politely, watched Lin Haoran sit down, and then sat back on the original seat.

Lin Jinyuan respectfully handed Lin Haoran tea, and when he stood still, he found that Hai Rui's tea cup had not moved.

"Haizhi County has been an official in Beijing since then, but I don't know where to settle my family?" Lin Haoran took a sip of tea, a little close to the relationship between the two, and asked about family affairs with concern.

A touch of embarrassment flashed on Hai Rui's face, and he responded: "Mother and wife and children did not go to Beijing this time, but returned to their hometown in Qiongzhou together!" ”

"Why don't you go to Beijing together?" Lin Haoran pinched the teacup and splashed the hot tea, and asked with surprise.

He knew that Hai Rui's father died early, and he was brought up by Hai Rui's mother, and Hai Rui was also extremely filial. But I don't know why he is now promoted to Beijing to enjoy a better life, and why Hai Rui can't bear to let his mother and wife return to Qiongzhou and come to the capital alone.

Hai Rui faced Lin Haoran's inquiry, hesitated slightly, and then explained seriously: "Auntie said that it is cold in the north, and she is not used to the weather in the capital!" ”

"That's true, this official has been in this capital for so many years, and he also thinks that the weather in Guangdong is more suitable for winter!" Lin Haoran nodded thoughtfully.

Hai Rui nodded slightly, but his eyes fell on the delicate teacup next to him, but he still didn't move it.

Lin Jinyuan, who was standing next to him, seemed to be a little interested in Hai Rui, and glanced at Hai Rui deeply.

"You are now going to the Yamen of the Household Department to serve as the head of the Yunnan Division, this is not an easy job!" Lin Haoran took a sip of tea, and was very clear about the depth of the water in the household yamen, which reminded Hai Rui kindly.

When Hai Rui heard about official affairs, he immediately responded with a straight face: "The lower officials think that as long as they act openly and dedicate themselves to doing things for the people, there will be no difficulties!" ”

"This official has also served as a prefect in a local area, and there are still some differences between doing things in this place and doing things in the six departments. The local government can start on specific affairs, but you are more pragmatic in the Yunnan Department of the Ministry of Households, after all, you are in charge of Yunnan's financial affairs thousands of miles away! Lin Haoran didn't question Hai Rui's determination to do things, but just wanted to remind him that there was a difference between the two, and said bitterly.

Hai Rui already had his way of being an official, even if it was a dignified Zuo Shilang of the Ministry of Rites, it was impossible to make it shake in the slightest, so he responded: "Thank you for the reminder, but I believe that the lower official can handle it properly!" ”

Lin Haoran looked at Hai Rui full of confidence, but he was also not easy to talk about, so he didn't say more. They talked about some things again, mentioning his relationship with Sun Zhengang of the household in the same year, and then Hai Rui said goodbye and left with interest.

Lin Haoran watched Hai Rui leave, took a sip of tea with a teacup, but muttered: "This Hai Qingtian doesn't seem to be as difficult as the rumors!" ”

Lin Jinyuan came up to renew the tea, and when he heard this, he glanced at his master strangely, obviously a little different from usual.

Not to mention the temperament of this Haizhi County, based on Lin Haoran's current identity and status, which one of the little Zhixian dares to offend, but I don't know why my lord cares so much about this Haizhi County.

Lin Haoran found that Lin Jinyuan was looking at him, and said suspiciously: "But there is something on my face?" ”

"Nope!" Lin Jinyuan continued the tea, shook his head again and again to deny it, and deliberately diverted the topic and said: "Master, you don't seem to know why he didn't bring his family to Beijing from Haizhi County just now?" ”

"Didn't he just say that? It's cold in the north, and his wife is not used to it! Lin Haoran glanced at Lin Jinyuan and responded as a matter of course.

When Lin Jinyuan found that his shrewd master was also confused, he explained seriously: "Master, I remember that your protégé Wang Honghai mentioned that this person is very incorruptible, if he is really a Qing official, relying only on the fortune of the seven-rank official, he will definitely not be able to support a family in the capital!" ”

"You mean that he didn't have the money to settle the family, so Haimu and his wife and children were forced to return to Qiongzhou?" Lin Haoran looked surprised.

Lin Jinyuan nodded lightly and said: "If you are a county magistrate, you will live in a county office, and you can get more subsidies from the government officials, and you can barely support your family." It's just that when I go to the capital to serve as the head of the household, not to mention that the cost of eating and drinking will be greater, this place of residence is a lot of money. On this point, a few of you who served as the head of the Sixth Department in the same year may have a deep understanding, and I heard that they also borrowed silver taels from you in the early days! ”

It is not easy to live in the capital.

Not to mention that when Hai Rui was appointed as the magistrate of the county, his life was miserable, but now he has become the head of the household department, but he needs to add an expense to renting a house.

If he only relies on his meager seven-grade official salary, let alone raising a family, I am afraid that he can only barely support himself.

It is definitely not easy to be a clean official in Daming, and now many Beijing officials look incorruptible, but if they don't take Bing Jing and Tan Jing, they can't bear it.

As for the local officials, if they only think about doing nothing, it's okay, but if they climb up now, not to mention other personnel exchanges, at least this Bing Jing and Tan Jing can't be missing.

It is precisely because of this that it is difficult to be a clean official in the Ming Dynasty, especially in this Ming Dynasty where the atmosphere of comparison is getting heavier and heavier, but an honest and honest official like Hai Rui cannot be found with a lantern.

However, on the contrary, Hai Rui was originally promoted to the top of the ranks, but he couldn't bring his wife, wife and children to Beijing together, because his money really couldn't support this expense.

"Your analysis is correct, he Hai Rui can't afford to support a family in the capital, and I always think that our income as officials is very high!" Lin Haoran took a sip of tea, looking quite touching.

Lin Jinyuan squinted his eyes and smiled: "Adults have a lot of income, and if you calculate the small ones, this Spring Festival alone, there are already tens of thousands of taels of Bing Jingyin!" ”

Lin Haoran shook his head bitterly, and said to Lin Jinyuan with a straight face: "Remind me of these things in the future, so as not to show people jokes, Hai Rui was just afraid that he would know that I believed his words!" ”

Although Lin Jinyuan didn't understand why Lin Haoran cared so much about Xiaozhixian's perception, he still nodded solemnly, and at the same time took away Hai Rui's cup of tea, which had never been touched from beginning to end.

After Hai Rui left the Lin Mansion, he walked towards the outer city against the cold wind, ate a piece of baked cake in a very remote inn, and finally got a piece of good news from Yazi: he found a small house that did not delay the Shangya, and the monthly rent was only three yuan.

On the 21st day of the first lunar month, the yamen of the capital were officially opened.

With the day approaching, officials are getting back to their day-to-day work, and this year is noticeably busier than usual.

The Ministry of Officials and the Metropolitan Procuratorate are responsible for the external inspection of local officials, the Ministry of Rites has to arrange the next examinations, and the Ministry of Households, the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Criminal Affairs have also accumulated a large number of affairs.

The military department was also not idle, and the Mongolian cavalry in the north was ready to move, frequently harassing the defense line of the nine sides, provoking the border soldiers of Datong.

When Yang Bo learned the news, he also rushed to the front line. Although he was not an offensive military commander, he was unique in his defenses, making it difficult for the Mongol cavalry to break through the defenses and enter the city.

After getting back on track, time passed day by day.

After a whole year of training, Lin Haoran already knew the affairs of the Ministry of Rites, and handled them in an orderly manner.

The spring ploughing ceremony was pushed to the desk, but this time Jiajing directly dismissed the ceremony. With the death of King Jing and Tao Chengen and others becoming new alchemists, Jiajing became more and more addicted to cultivation.

The ninth day of the next month is the day of the examination, and according to the rules of officialdom, the candidate for the chief examiner of this examination has already been decided.

The second assistant Yuan Wei is a jinshi in the seventeenth year of Jiajing, whether it is Yan Ne, the secretary of the household department, Li Chunfang, the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, or Dong Fen, the left servant of the right department, he is not qualified to compete with Yuan Wei.

Although Yuan Wei's reputation is not very good, especially in the solar eclipse, he was labeled as a "minister", but now no one will take the initiative to mention this stubble.

Of course, this stain cannot be wiped clean all at once after all, and it is still criticized, and there are some objections to Yuan Wei's appointment as the chief examiner of the examination.

On the last day of the first lunar month, the spring snow slowly melts.

Lin Haoran had returned to this monotonous life in the yamen and family of the Ministry of Rites, and Xia Ya was about to take a sedan chair home, when Yuan Wei sent a post inviting him to Yuan's mansion for dinner.

Faced with the invitation of the second assistant of the court, Lin Haoran could not refuse, so Lin Fu prepared a suitable gift, that is, to visit the door with the gift.