Officialdom news spreads the fastest. ~~ "Friends play

Sun Yuanqi got off the train in Hankou, and saw the prefect of Hankou waiting on the platform with a few officials who could get on the platform, and bowed when they met: "Congratulations to Lord Sun on his ascension!" ”

"Uh, Gao Sheng?" Sun Yuanqi looked stunned.

Seeing that Sun Yuanqi's stunned expression did not seem to be fake, the magistrate of Hankou explained carelessly: "There is news in Beijing that the adult has been promoted to the school a few days ago. ”

Sun Yuan scratched his head: "Why didn't I know there was such a thing?" ”

Officialdom news spreads quickly, just like economists' predictions, and it is difficult to guarantee credibility, and it would be good to be half accurate. Like the seven-grade sesame official of Hankou Zhixian, there is no reliable source of information, so he can only listen to the wind and rain. Now that the parties are not very clear, I am also beating a drum in my heart: Could it be that this rumor is wrong again?

The Hankou County Priest on the side hurriedly rescued the scene: "Even if the rumors are wrong, it shows that the adults are worthy of the reputation of the four seas." Moreover, adults have been studying for the country, running north and south, and lowering officials have been admired for a long time. This time, I was not afraid of the severe cold, going back and forth to Beijing and Hubei, the wind and dust, the carriage and horses were tired, fortunately, the noble body was unharmed, and the jīng god was also a joy. ”

The magistrate also hurriedly said: "Exactly, exactly!" We were going to arrange a wine feast for the adults to wash the dust. However, the peers are all clouds, and the adults are high-spirited and bright, and they don't like to socialize at the banquet the most. Therefore, the lower official is slightly polite, please smile and accept. After speaking, with a wave of his hand, a servant held two big nanmu boxes.

In Hubei officialdom, Sun Yuanqi is a well-known maverick:

The first rule is that unless the governor, political envoy and other important figures have a banquet, they will not participate in official entertainment. The officials of the Ming and Qing dynasties were essentially sour literati, and once they drank wine, the sour water also came out at the same time, so all kinds of splashing ink, yín poems, and lyrics and singing songs were carried out on the spot.

Compared with those professional players, Sun Yuanqi is not even an amateur, and there is only one consequence of appearing: being abused. Even if you want to be a quiet onlooker on the sidelines, someone will come to you: "Master Sun, how do you think the student's poem is written?" "Bī for you to give your opinion. With Sun Yuanqi's level, where do you know what to save from peace, rise and fall, and have me without me, and you will be ugly when you open your mouth. It's actually nothing to be ugly, and the key identity is too sensitive: how can you educate the students in the province well if you are so unlearned?

Sun Yuanqi, who was deeply affected by this, made a rule as soon as he arrived in Hubei: unless necessary, all public banquets were declined. Hmph, I can't afford to provoke it, can't I hide it?

Second, I don't like sedan chairs and official clothes, but I like carriages and civilian clothes. On weekdays, as long as he doesn't go to the Governor's Palace, Lord Sun will casually pack up clean clothes and let the security guard put on the carriage and go out, not to mention light and fast, and he won't toss others. You can chat with the handlebar when you're bored, you can get down and walk a few steps when it's cold, and you can find a roadside stall when you're hungry. If you sit in a sedan chair in an official uniform, can you be so comfortable?

Third, the "three festivals and two birthdays" do not accept cash, and most of the valuable souvenirs and other gifts are politely declined. If the money really can't be pushed away, it will be sent to the Lianghu Normal School and the Hubei Higher Industrial School as a scholarship for students. It's not that Sun Yuanqi is incorruptible and sage: if you want to get rich, it's not easy? I have participated in several scientific research projects, and I can take a little money more than this gift, so why bother to let the officials break the bank? Their money is also hard-won, a red envelope of four hundred taels of silver, how many ordinary people have to scrape to make it up!

Officials will not be intimidated by cold faces, in their opinion: there are only gifts that do not give the right gifts, and there are no officials who do not accept gifts. Sure enough, after countless attempts by officials of all sizes in Hubei officialdom, it was finally discovered that Sun Yuanqi was dead: he liked to collect all kinds of books from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Although he would state in advance that he would not accept expensive rare books, it is not known whether it was a pretense or indeed that his ability to distinguish between editions and editions was close to zero. This is undoubtedly excellent news for officials who want to take advantage of loopholes.

In this way, all kinds of ancient books were sent to the envoy of learning, and then to the library of Jingshi University. Wang Guowei, the vice-principal who occasionally played a guest role as a librarian, more than once turned out the Song and Yuan engraved books in the stacks of books sent. Yang Du also shook his head more than once and said: "Since we came to Hubei, I haven't noticed other changes, at least there are more than ten more bookstores near Shuilu Street where the School Department is located, and the price of ancient books in Wuchang City has increased by three percent." ”

Seeing that Sun Yuan was a little unswerving, the magistrate of Hankou hurriedly stepped forward to open the box and personally introduced: "My lord, this is the twenty-third year of Kangxi's engraved book "Huguang Tongzhi", a total of 80 volumes. The popular Huguang Tongzhi is a 120-volume book, which was slightly repaired on the basis of this set of books during the Qianlong period. After the new book was compiled, because the information was more comprehensive and the content was more detailed, Kangxi was rare. Speaking of which, this set of books is not very expensive or elegant, but it is quite valuable as the first set of provincial general chronicles compiled by me after the founding of the Qing Dynasty. So the lower official gave it to the adults to show a little gratitude. ”

Sun Yuanqi took one of the volumes, and the title page really read "The twenty-third year of the Emperor's reign in Kangxi, the ministers Xu Guoxiang, Gong Mengren and others respected the compilation", it seems that it is indeed a book in the early Qing Dynasty. It's just that the paper of the whole book is white, the world is open, the words are large and sparse, and the strokes are hard, and anyone who reads it knows that it is not ordinary. He asked with some disbelief: "I'm afraid this set of books is worth a lot of money, right?" ”

The magistrate of Hankou waved his hand again and again: "My lord doesn't know that when this series of books was compiled, it was in the prosperous era of Kang Yongqian, and a lot of them were printed. After the carving, it was promulgated in all prefectures and counties of the province, and almost every household of the gentry and senior citizens had it, and there are still many preserved until now. This kind of Fang Zhi is not valued by the people of the time, the price is not very high, only a few dozen taels of silver, the key collection is so intact, it is quite a treasure. ”

Under the vigorous promotion of the Hankou magistrate, Sun Yuanqi did not refuse, and accepted the gift half-pushed and half-on-the-spot.

Of course, the two large boxes of books could not be carried back by Lord Sun himself, and Hankou County had already arranged a car and boat to send Sun Yuanqi all the way back to Wuchang Water and Land Street. Before entering the alley, I heard the noise of people inside, hurriedly stopped the sedan chair, and ordered someone to come forward to see what was going on.

When the little girl entered the alley, he saw a long queue from the self-study department, which was dragged until it reached the mouth of the alley. The adults in official uniforms and robes chatted in the sheltered corner with sunlight, while the palanquin bearers and porters guarded the things of each family, fighting or squatting, chōu chatting with hookahs, and when they saw the little guy rushing in, they all turned their heads to look at him. Then a good person said, "Yo, your adults also came to give gifts?" Why is it so late? Look at us, it's been half a day! Since it's late, let's line up honestly in the back. ”

The little guy said: "Thank you for the big brother." But why are you still waiting here for so long? ”

"Tell me more!" I don't know if it's cold or irritable, the man stomped his foot vigorously, "I heard that this adult went to Beijing and came back today, everyone came early in the morning to wait, who knows that there is no lù face until now." What can we do? Wait for it honestly! You came late, but you didn't delay in the slightest. By the way, little brother, which house are you from? ”

"Thank you, big brother!" The little guy clenched his fists, then turned around and went back to say goodbye.

"Hey, look at this person, he hasn't said which house he belongs to!" The do-gooder was bored.

After listening to the little guy's report, Sun Yuanqi frowned and said, "After leaving, mén!" ”

The sedan chair turned around and came to the back street, which was also blocked by more than a dozen sedan chairs. Anyway, if you want to enter the Yamén quietly today, it is absolutely impossible. Sun Yuanqi is also very decisive: Since this is the case, let's make it clear that the carriage and horses will go forward!

When he returned to the alley of Shuilu Street, he sent someone to open the way: "Hubei has sent Master Sisun to study!" ”

The alley was like a hornet's nest that had been poked, and suddenly there was a burst of jī flying dogs jumping. The crowd of gift-givers not only came from various prefectures and counties in Hubei and schools, but even Chen Kuilong, the governor of Huguang, also sent a housekeeper to send congratulatory gifts.

Looking at the big and small officials who were congratulating in a circle around him, Sun Yuanqi had no choice but to clasp his hands into fists and make a circle: "I'm tired of all the adults coming, Sun is overwhelmed!" It's just that he hasn't received the holy decree yet, and he is really ashamed to say goodbye. When the imperial court's will officially arrives in Hubei, Sun will definitely set up a banquet to entertain you! ”

To put it mildly, the big and small officials who were blocked at the entrance of the Yamén dispersed one after another, and as for the gifts, they were naturally all left: throw the gift box and gift list to the mén entrance, and go away in a sedan chair, are you embarrassed to say that you don't accept it?

Although corruption was the norm at the end of the Qing Dynasty, it was indeed very sensational to blatantly pile up the proceeds of bribery on the street. Sun Yuanqi hurriedly ordered the security guards to carry the things into the house.

Lao Zhao bent his waist and wanted to come forward to help, but Sun Yuanqi grabbed him: "Lao Zhao, you better rest for a while." ”

After earning a few times without success, Lao Zhao still argued to himself: "Master, don't look at me in my fifties, I still have the strength to do it." The last time I bought rice, I carried 100 pounds from the mouth of the mén to the backyard in one go! ”

Sun Yuan smiled and said, "Haha, Lao Zhao, you can't rob young people of their jobs, right?" They don't work, so why are they embarrassed to ask me for a salary increase in the future? ”

"Yes, Uncle Zhao, leave the work to us! Let us perform well, and if we do a good job, we can find a husband to raise our salary! The security guard who was moving the things said. In the past two or three years in Hubei, Sun Yuanqi and the security guards have a good relationship, and they usually don't care about making harmless jokes.

Lao Zhao feigned anger and said: "Wang Sihu, you little rabbit cub, the master provides you with food and clothing, usually gives you money and expenses, and your parents help you find a job and raise it well in the capital, and you still let the master give you a salary increase?" See if I don't kick to death today! "If you say that, you're going to kick him.

Wang Sihu flashed, easily dodged, and ran into the yard with a box of gifts in his arms: "Old Uncle Zhao, if you can catch me, I will kick you!" ”

Several other security guards smiled and said, "Uncle Zhao, if you invite us to a drink, we will help you hold Wang Sihu down, and you can kick it." What do you think? ”

"Would you like to drink? I'll kick you together! Lao Zhao scolded with a smile.

When the people in the courtyard heard the noise, they all drove out of the house. Lao Zhao's family seemed to be helping in the kitchen, and he was still wearing an apron, and he was very happy to see Sun Yuanqi: "Master, are you back?" ”

"Well, I'm back." Sun Yuan nodded, "You let the kitchen add some food, and then order wine for these young men to drink." Stay for a while, they still have to help Lao Zhao! ”

Several security guards laughed in unison: "Okay, well, since Mr. has ordered it so, Uncle Zhao, when Wang Sihu comes back, we will help you hold him down and beat him with a blue nose and swollen face!" ”

Lao Zhao's family wiped his hands with his apron tossing and turning, and asked a little worriedly: "Master, I heard that you are going back to Beijing to be a big official, I don't know if it's true or not?" ”

At this question, the security guards who moved things subconsciously stopped their work, wanting to hear the most accurate news.

Lao Zhao immediately raised his face and scolded: "Fù Taoist people have long tongues!" Where does the lord go to be an official, he has his own imperial decree, why are you asking so much! He turned back to Sun Yuanqi and smiled: "Master, don't care about him." Mainly in recent days, I have heard people say that you want to be promoted, and we are all not stable in our hearts, she just wants to ask you for a letter. ”

Sun Yuanqi shook his head: "They all said that I was promoted or something, and I haven't gotten any news yet!" ”

Lao Zhao's smile suddenly froze, and the security guards who moved things were also a little sluggish.

Sun Yuanqi saw Yang Du, who was leaning next to Mén and shaking a fan on the ground, so he asked: "Xianzi, when everyone sees me, they say that I am the delivery room to spread the good news - I have been promoted (born)." Did you get any accurate information about where I had ascended? ”

"School,Left shrouded yínyín smiling and fanning the folding fan.

"School, as a wolf? Master, what kind of official is this? How big is it? Where is it? Lao Zhao hurriedly asked.

What does the official Zuo Shilang of the school department do and how big is it, Sun Yuanqi really couldn't explain it clearly to the illiterate Lao Zhao for a while, so he had to say vaguely: "Zuo Shilang is a little smaller than Shangshu and a little bigger than the right shìlang." Anyway, it's in Beijing, and we'll go back together in a few days! ”

"I'm going back to Beijing!" The security guards cheered in unison.

When Lao Zhao's family heard this, he pulled up the corner of his apron and began to wipe his tears, choked up and said, "Master, I'll go and ask the kitchen to add vegetables." ”

"Finally back to the capital!" Lao Zhao smacked his lips and said: "If you want to say, the buns made of Hubei wheat are not as delicious as those made of northern wheat, and I have been hungry for several years!" ”

The security guards said babblingly: "Uncle Zhao, when you return to the school, I invite you to eat steamed buns for three days in a row!" ”

"What is the steamed bun, if you want to say that I like the most, it is the heating stove in the math hall. It's hot in Wuchang in summer, right? It's so cold that it's evil.,Every night as soon as I enter the bed.,I start to think about the school! ”

Sun Yuanqi really realized at this time that this group of Shandong men missed the north. Yes, although Jiangnan is good, it is not a hometown after all!

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