Du San's shortcomings were filled quickly, and he was in a hurry.

Han Xiufeng originally planned to set up a banquet for him, but he attached Teng Guerrilla, and as soon as he received the official seal yesterday afternoon, he packed his luggage and moved to the inn where Teng Guerrilla lived. Knowing that he was leaving today, Han Xiufeng and Pan Er got up early in the morning, but they couldn't catch up in a hurry, and the innkeeper said that they would leave in the carriage they hired yesterday as soon as it was dawn.

On the way back, Han Xiufeng looked at the direction of the city gate and muttered, "It's good that you didn't catch up, at least you saved ten or two Cheng Yi." ”

The inkstone that was picked from the Sichuan gang thieves' nest came in handy, and the half catty of cinchona frost that was also picked from the Sichuan gang thieves' nest was "sold" for another five hundred taels, and Han Si was also confused and did the first thing in the Chongqing Guild Hall, and in the future, he could not only live for nothing but even eat for nothing.

In short, now the money is not very tight, Pan Er has also become generous, plus he has been with Du San for so long, more or less friendship, thinking that this farewell is likely to be Yongjue, I feel a little uncomfortable in my heart, and muttered while walking: "Master Du is really right, just leave, why are you in such a hurry." ”

Han Xiufeng could understand why Du San was in such a hurry, and explained: "A civil and military official like him who is in Beijing has to leave within ten days. And it is clearly written on the official certificate that he must take office within 130 days. If you can't arrive on time, you will be fined for three months for more than one month, fined for half a year for more than two months, demoted for more than three months, demoted for more than four months, demoted for more than five months, demoted for more than half a year, and dismissed for more than one year! ”

Only then did Pan Er come to his senses, and after thinking about it, he asked, "Fourth brother, is the imperial court limited to Master Du to Liuzhou Mansion within 130 days or to Sanli Camp?" ”

"Of course, when he goes to Liuzhou, he has to go to the Yamen of Titai to surrender his official certificate, and only the governor of Guangxi can prove whether he arrived within the specified time limit."

"So if he wants to really become a Shangguan, he will have to wait until half a year later."

"Probably more than that."

"Why don't you stop, he not only received the official certificate but also the official seal!"

Han Xiufeng touched the corners of his mouth, and said helplessly: "Arrival and appointment are two different things, think about it, the shortage of Sanli Battalion Qianzong was vacant at least two months ago, after all, Guangxi is so far away, and it takes time for major and small things that happen in Guangxi to report to the military department." It will take him more than four months to take office, and it will be half a year to be a reversal and a positive position, and there can be no thousand generals in the camp in this half year, so the governor of Guangxi will definitely send someone to act as an agent. ”

Pan Er reacted: "Fourth brother, are you saying that he is lacking and someone is occupied?" ”

"This is natural, our Ba County is the same, the county prince leaves, the government will let the Tao master Bo first act, and at the same time go to the reporting station, and then report to the feudal station and the system, and the station will not only report to the Ministry of Officials but also send an alternate magistrate to act. Regardless of whether it is acting or not, when you arrive in Ba County, you will be the county master, and those alternate magistrates will fight for this lack of agency. However, it is impossible for the family to only work for three or five months after receiving money from other people, so the magistrate appointed by the ministry often has to wait for the provincial magistrate to pay off the official certificate, and the alternate magistrate who is acting can only take office after one year. ”

Han Xiufeng paused, and sighed again: "Who let the Qing Dynasty lack a lot of officials, even if Du San is short, he can't wait too long, after all, it's not a fat shortage, and there are not many people fighting." We will be different in the future, and even if we make up for the shortcomings, we will have to wait a year and a half before we can really become officials. ”

Pan Er said with a sad face: "I knew that it was easy to make up for the vacancies of donors, but I didn't expect it to be so difficult!" ”

"So I have some regrets."

"What do you regret?"

Han Xiufeng stopped and said with a wry smile: "If I had known that the inkstone was worth three or four hundred taels, and that half a catty of cinchona cream could be sold for five hundred taels, I would have thought of making up two thousand taels to pay back the silver that my uncle owes to your father." ”

Pan Er didn't expect Han Xiufeng to come up with this idea, and subconsciously asked: "If your uncle borrowed my father's silver, then this lack will not be filled, and this official will not do it?" ”

"If I had known, I really wouldn't have made it up, because I didn't know that I wouldn't be able to fill the gap and become a Shangguan until the Year of the Monkey, and even if I could make up for the lack and become a Shangguan, I don't know if I could earn back the money I spent. After all, the inspection is just a little bit of official money and incorruptible silver, if there are no bad rules for decades, I can't earn it back, not to mention that the imperial court can't let me be an official for so long. After finishing speaking, Han Xiufeng let out another long sigh.

Pan Er could hear Han Xiufeng's words as well as heartfelt words, and hurriedly said: "Fourth brother, seeing that the New Year is coming, you must be homesick and miss your sister-in-law." ”

"Don't you want to miss your relatives every festive season?"

"I want to too, but why did we come all the way to the capital," Pan Er felt the need to persuade Han Xiufeng, who was a little disheartened, and put his arm around Han Xiufeng's shoulders and said with his eyebrows fluttering: "Fourth brother, we abandoned our wives and children, suffered so much, and suffered so much sin, we didn't come to the capital just to make money." Two thousand taels is a lot less, and it's not too much to say, besides, you have such a big ability, where can you not earn two thousand taels! ”

"Not for the silver, for what?" Han Xiufeng couldn't help but ask with a smile.

"Get ahead, glorify your ancestors!" Pan Er patted him on the shoulder and said vigorously: "Fourth brother, think about it, no matter how much silver we make in Ba County, people still look down on us. It's different to be a Shangguan, even if you only do it for one term, you will be a gentry after you go back, who dares to look down on you again, who will dare not let your Han family children go to the test for fame in the future. ”

"That's right, if I don't become an official, our Han family will always be cold, and we will never be able to turn over."

"So we can't give up, no matter how hard it is, we have to grit our teeth and make up for the shortcomings."

The more Han Xiufeng thought about it, the funnier it became, and he couldn't help asking, "Brother Pan, you think about me everywhere, but what about your own self-sufficiency?" I make up for the lack of being a Shangguan Neng Guangzong and Ancestor, you are different from me, now you are a long-term follower or a long-term follower, and you can't get out of the head. ”

"If you become a Shangguan, I will be able to follow the light," Pan Er thought about it and hurriedly said: "Fourth brother, you put a hundred hearts, and the light will be stained, but I am measured, and I will not blackmail outside under your banner, and I will not damage your reputation or ruin your future." I just want to open my mouth with a little light tube, and by the way, I will see the world, have a long insight, and learn how to be an official. ”

Han Xiufeng was happy, stopped and asked, "Brother Pan, do you also want to be an official?" ”

Pan Er looked back behind him, gritted his teeth and said: "Fourth brother, you don't know about my family's affairs, I'm like a stepmother, my father is looking forward to Changxi, Changxi is now on the counter, and Changxi will definitely be in charge in the future, if Changxi becomes a family, what good life do you think I can have?" I, Pan Changsheng, want to turn over and get ahead in this life, only donate an official like you, and wait for me to be an official to see if my father will be the same as he is now, and see if Changxi dares to point fingers at me! ”