It is said that in the forty-seventh year of Wanli, this year, as usual, Shenzong still did not go out of the gate, hiding in his dormitory all day long. There was a mountain of notes waiting to be reviewed on the copy, and because no one cared about it for a long time, even the eunuchs were too lazy to clean it, and it was covered with a thin layer of ash. Among the many folds, there is an inconspicuous excerpt is a resignation letter from Lingbu Taihui of Linzi County, Shandong, which reads:

The minister is a cloth cloth, by the grace of the saint, in charge of the governance of a county, the establishment of religion, the peace of the people and the prison, although conscientious and conscientious can not repay His Majesty's holy grace. Now, the ministers are old and old, deaf and dizzy, and their bodies are deteriorating, and it is difficult to continue.

Speaking of the resignation of the Wanli Dynasty, it is not uncommon, who is this Bu Taihui on the excerpt? This person is a native of Yanggu County, Liaocheng, Shandong, who was a talent when he was young, and later returned with several township tests. Since then, he has no enterprising spirit, and has lived in the countryside and worked as a student for several terms. A few years ago, he went to Linzi County to visit his old friend, and the county magistrate saw that he was quite knowledgeable, and he was also shrewd, so he was hired as a master. Soon, there was a vacancy in the teachings, and Bu Taihui was diligent and capable as a master these days, and he was deeply appreciated by the old county, and the county order promoted him to Linzi as a teacher. This is equivalent to turning from a temporary worker to a regular worker, and suddenly becoming the director of the county education bureau, enjoying the national income of the eight grades. Although the grade is low, he is not counted as a cadre registered by the state. Later, the old county commander died in office, and at that time he was catching up with the whim of Emperor Wanli, holding the imperial pen to review the chapter, he picked and chose among thousands and hundreds of jinshi lifters, and he was dazzled, and he didn't know which one to order. was worried, and at a glance, I saw Bu Taihui, who was the director of education at the time. Emperor Wanli said in his heart: Bu Tai Hui, Bu Tai Hui, no-too-faint. Chattering, Wanli Dile, a little bit of royal pen, it's him! With a holy decree, the emperor's grace was mighty, and Butai Hui was raised flat, jumping directly from the eighth grade to one level, and became the lord of Linzi County. It was not uncommon in the Ming Dynasty to directly mention the county from the county teachings, especially the famous Hai Rui, who had scolded the emperor, was not also mentioned from the teachings? Later, he fell into the green clouds and made steady progress.

The holy decree is that for Bu Taihui, who has not even leaned on the side of the lift, it is tantamount to a carp jumping over the dragon gate. Lao Bu failed several township examinations, and he had already given up his desire to enter the department, and was willing to be a student in the township and spend the rest of his life in peace. Besides, even if you win the move in that year, you may not be able to do it immediately, and you have to talk about seniority, waiting for the above to be lacking, in case there is a stopper, like Lao Bu, a person without any background may not be able to have a real shortage when he is old. What's more, Lao Bu is the food and clothing parent of a county as soon as he comes up, and the county is still a fat county, so he doesn't have to worry about urging the department all day long, which is enough to make his colleagues envious.

It can be seen that Bu Taihui has changed from a migrant worker from a foreign country to a national county-level cadre, and his gratitude to the emperor is beyond words. But why is Butaihui resigning again? Lao Bu resigned when he was forty and five, and he didn't have a few years to be a county official, although the number of life expectancy in ancient times was short, but as long as the ordinary people did not worry about eating and drinking, it was not difficult to live to fifty, not to mention the parents of a county who were pampered and pampered. It seems that what has been said above is just an excuse for being old and deaf and dizzy.

Speaking of Linzi, the county seat, many people may not know. But when it comes to Keju, everyone must be familiar with Linzi is the birthplace of world football. Linzi has a long history and splendid culture, and is one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization. The small town has a profound cultural heritage, and since ancient times, "three people can write, and six people can write." In the literary world, it enjoys the reputation of "Qi Feng Lu Yun". In addition, Linzi is also the former capital of the ancient Qi State, the head of the Spring and Autumn Five Hegemons and one of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States. Its land is flat and extensive, and the products are abundant, and it is called "the granary of Luzhong". Such a good place is tantamount to a land of fishing and rice in the south of the Yangtze River, and it is naturally a fat shortage to serve here.

But at this time, there was a long sigh from the magistrate's house in the backyard of Linzi County: "Alas...... Mr. Qi, it has been six years since the county's resignation was submitted, why has it not been approved so far? ”

It was Bu Taihui from Linzi Zhixian who spoke, and it was Qi Youcai, a master from Shaoxing, who he hired with forty taels of food and silver every year. But I heard Qi Youcai say: "My lord, I don't understand in my late life, my Linzi territory has been smooth all these years, the people are rich in food and clothing, live and work in peace and contentment, and the people are very honest. Adults have been among the best in exams over the years, why are they still worried every day, and they have to resign? ”

"Hmph, it's easy to say that the exam is good, and it's not false that the people are rich, it's just ...... The world is hot and cold. Mr. is not in the official career, I don't know how difficult it is to be an official, especially to do this small order, in order to be a mere eighty-two years, when you meet an official, you are a slave, and when you wait for a guest, you are a prostitute, ugly, indescribable, miserable, it is far better to live freely as a living member. ”

"Adults can't be so decadent, all these years have passed, promotion is just around the corner, why not endure some time?"

"It's not easy to be promoted, and now the saint has ignored the government for many years. You don't see the unprecedented chaos of the government and politics, and the sand is scattered. The governors and officials of Beijing can sing songs every day, but we are the subordinates of the state. Every year, the prefect, the governor, and the Beijing Division have to be dotted layer by layer, Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Winter Solstice, New Year's Festival, Lantern Festival, and birthday...... If you give a few gifts, the slightest omission can lead to disaster. However, Shangguan is like a cloud, passers-by are like rain, books are like mountains, and money valley is like a sea. Day and night, the eyebrows are broken and the waist is broken, how can there be a bit of a scholarly festival? Woe, shame! ”

"The big man must bow down and work all day long, and he can't see it in his later years, so why not divide some reasons and hand it over to the second government (county officer, deputy county magistrate) to do, now the second government is just water conservancy, patrol and arrest, is it too easy?"

"He? Hum! A prodigal son who can only eat, drink, prostitute and gamble, what can he do? If it weren't for the old relationship with the prefect, could An have let him get away with it until now? ”

"Adults just suffer too much in temperament. In fact, it is not difficult for adults to eliminate their cheap skin and bones in the face of Shangguan, to eliminate a smiling face to passers-by, to eliminate a strong spirit in books and books, and to eliminate a ruthless heart in Qian Gu. ”

"That being said, after all, this county is deeply influenced by the old master, and he can't do these things. Mr. Qi, even if you say so, if it were you, I'm afraid you wouldn't be able to do it, right? ”

"Hehe, after all, you really can't do it? Therefore, in this life, I have broken off the idea of enterprising, and I am willing to be a guest of the scene. ”

"Alas, Mr. Qi, the biggest headache for the county at the moment is the matter of Wang Hongbo of the Nanmen Wang family, and the county has not closed its eyes for three days."

Qi Youcai also shook his head and sighed when he heard this, and said, "When the master treats the Wang family, remember the word forbearance. The backer of the Wang family is not something we can offend, but it is strange that the Wang family prides itself on being a scholarly family, and they are knowledgeable and courteous, so why did Wang Hongbo pop up like Wang Hongbo. ”

"Alas, I think that Wang Qingyuan was old and childless, and later he passed a son from the knee of Wang Daoyuan, the brother of the governor of Jiangxi at the time, and the degree of spoiling can be imagined. This son has been pampered and arrogant since he was a child, and he is willful, after all, he is not his own son, and Wang Qingyuan does not dare to be too restrained. Unexpectedly, when he grew up, he became a harm, and the customs of the county made him bad alone. In recent days, this son has done whatever he wants, and countless people have been bullied and injured by him every day, and he has given him the nickname of 'Little Overlord of the South Gate'. If this continues, the county government will become his one-man office. Sir, think quickly about how to get rid of this evil. ”

Qi Youcai muttered: "In addition to this evil, and let the Wang family not blame the master, this matter is indeed a bit tricky, you have to think of a way." ”

As he was talking, the "drum of grievances" suddenly sounded. Bu Taihui looked bitter, pointed to the direction of the lobby and said, "Needless to say, I must have come to sue the 'little overlord'." ”

The two got up and walked towards the lobby. The three classes of officials were already lined up on both sides, each holding a water and fire stick majestic. The hall officials beat the drum three times, and the officials on both sides shouted in unison: "Ascend - hall - "

Bu Taihui and Qi Youcai walked into the hall from the east gate of the lobby one after the other in the sound of might. Bu Taihui easily walked to the large plaque of "Mirror Hanging" and stood still, and glanced under the hall. Then, he sat down slowly with the public case in front of him, and said nothing with a straight face. As usual, if he did not wait to sit down, he would ask: Who beats the drum and screams the grievances? But he didn't ask today, he was annoyed, in recent months, almost all of the drumming complaints have been inseparable from Xiaobawang, and he has nothing to do with Xiaobawang. Bu Taihui looked at the green sign on the desk in a daze (the red head sign is the torture sign, and the green head sign is the arrest sign.) Several times I wanted to reach out and pull out one and slam it to the ground, catching the little overlord who caused trouble for him all day long. Then, throw the red head sign in front of everyone and beat me hard! Heh, relieve. But every time at this moment, Master Qi Youcai would cough lightly on his side, and Bu Taihui's reason would return to his body. Because of this, he regarded Qi Youcai as a good friend of conscience and a helper who could bear heavy responsibilities, and he did not shy away from telling him what was in his heart.

At this time, the complainant was brought into the lobby, a woman dressed in silk and satin, wearing heavy makeup, and a rather beautiful woman. The woman fell on her knees on the plaintiff's stone at the door. Bu Taihui took a look, hey! It is actually the old bustard of the largest local Jiyuan "Xuncuifang" and also a famous fierce woman in the city, You Siniang, it is not unusual for her to come to sue. Because in the local area, Xuncuifang is an entertainment venue integrating casinos and jiyuan, but all entertainment venues, ancient and modern, have one thing in common - that is, there is no lack of local people with heads and faces, black or white. Just looking at the dozen or so big men in the gatehouse of Cuifang, I knew that the landlord was not easy to mess with. Xiaobawang went to find the bad luck of Cuifang, which can be regarded as black gnawing black, dog eating dog. Bu Taihui pondered in her heart, and You Siniang in the hall squeezed her crying voice and spoke: "Lord Qingtian wants to be the master of the slave family." ”

There was a startled sound: "Who is in the hall?" What's the grievance? Bu Taihui deliberately pretended to be confused, pretending not to know You Siniang. If he came up to meet her, wouldn't it mean that he had also been to Xuncuifang? At this point, Bu Taihui is still very wise.

"Master Qiyu, the slave You Siniang, opened a restaurant outside the east gate for the master to play, called 'Xuncuifang'. The slave family has always followed the rules in doing business, paying taxes and silver by the day, and a few days ago he was suddenly disrupted by a naughty scoundrel and burned down the slave's warehouse. Not to mention the heavy financial losses, they almost killed the slaves......"

"That's it!" Bu Taihui understood, who else could do such a bold thing but the little overlord? Before she finished speaking, he confidently interrupted her: "Master, I know who did it, but to tell you the truth, I have no problem with him, Master-quit!" With that, Bu Taihui stood up and turned to walk.

You Siniang hurriedly shouted: "Just a scoundrel, why can't the old man take care of it?" ”

Bu Taihui pointed to a pile of paper, which was an inch thick on the secretary's case, and said angrily: "What are you doing this wrong? It's just a matter of losing some money and things, and if you lose your life, you will come to this county again. ”

You Siniang was a well-known Hedong lion roar in the city, and when she saw that Bu Taihui was about to step out of the east gate, she was in a hurry, showing a pungent face, and shouted: "How can I find it if I lose my life?" - Ah, I see, you can't write two cloth characters in one stroke, and what about the old man Qingtian? Phew! ”

He Dajin, the head of the soap class, shouted: "Bastard! Dare to roar in the court, how can you be allowed to be wild in this court, and you want to go to the torture device? roared in his mouth, but squeezed his eyes at Cui Siniang. Xuncuifang is on Dongmen Street, no more than a mile away from the county office, they are already old acquaintances, and this is to remind You Siniang to pay attention to his identity.

Bu Taihui stopped when he heard this, he was famous for his gentle temperament, and he didn't mind. turned around and said, "You Siniang, what did you just say that you can't write two cloth words with one stroke?" Isn't it Wang Hongbo, the son of the Wang family, who burned your warehouse? ”

You Siniang glanced at the hammer hanging on the west wall, and was also a little afraid, and said humbly: "When did the slave family say that it was the prince?" How could Wang Gongzi burn down the barn of the slave's family? He has a very good relationship with the slave family. ”

"Oh," Bu Taihui heard that it was not a headache, and then sat back down on the public case: "Tell me, who did it?" ”

You Siniang gritted her teeth and said, "Who else could it be?" Naturally, he is the one who is bad, naughty, lacks a father and a young mother, has no one to discipline, can make people so angry that he is heart-brain-lung, and he can't wait to eat it alive, the No. 1 bastard pudding in the world. ”

"Little pudding?" Bu Taihui has never heard of it.

"Well, it's Pudding, the son of Lao Bumao, who runs a tailor's shop under the wall of the North Gate."

"Oh, it's him." Speaking of old Bu Mao, Bu Taihui is also a little impressed.

Yes, speaking of Lao Bumao, who in the county town doesn't know, who doesn't know? The grandfather of Lao Bumao's grandfather was a tailor, and it can be said that he was a tailor family, and the sewing techniques passed down from generation to generation have all summed up the secrets. Someone went to Lao Bumao to make clothes, Lao Bumao only held a pair of iron scissors in his hand, and circled around the person three times, and the neighbors knew that Lao Bumao would say two words: wait. Then wield the big scissors, brush the brush, and the pattern will be cut out. Throw it on the little pudding on the bed, the pudding was seven or eight years old at that time, playing with a needle in his hand, catching the cloth with a hand, swishing, the needle rose and fell like a pen walking dragon snake, like a dragon going out to sea, no stagnation and no astringency, all in one go. The guests can't wait for a stick of incense, they can put on new clothes and leave, this is the Bumao father and son. Anyone who has ever made a garment has been impressed by the skillful skills of father and son.

Bu Tai Huqi said: "Bu Mao has an excellent needlework, and he is also known for his kindness, and he can't even say a word, why do you want to burn your barn?" ”

You Siniang said: "Master, Bu Mao is honest, but which of his sons Pudding is not like his father, he has lacked discipline from his mother since he was a child, and he didn't speak before he was ten years old, so they thought he followed Lao Bu Mao." I didn't think about it, but in just a few years, I don't know who I learned from who was full of oily tones, not to mention poor, and my little head was full of bad water. Neighbor, if anyone provokes him, he first uses that crooked and mean little mouth to count you inside and out, and this is not the end, at night, he will be stabbed in the window paper, broken the crockpot, and killed the poultry. For this reason, the neighbors all have dogs, and secretly the big guys call him 'bad thing'. ”