Zhang asked the torture room: "This official now wants you to betray the master Bo, take refuge in this official, and expose his crime of corruption and perversion of the law." ”

"It's the subordinates who accidentally wrote the big characters into dog characters, and the manager has nothing to do."

"I said you don't get it yet. Okay, you are righteous, not to mention that the master Bo instructed you to do it, but this official can fire you with a word, can he protect you? ”

"The hall also gives people a way to live, isn't it. The subordinate was given a thousand taels of silver for this position...... If it is destroyed, won't the silver be wasted? ”

"A thousand taels?" Zhang Wen was surprised, "Who did you give it to?" ”

"Former torture chamber scribe."

At this time, Huang Renzhi next to him said: "The scribe has a lot of oil and water, and according to the rules, the new scribe has to buy a shortage of silver for the predecessor, and the old man didn't expect that the scribe in Shangyu County would buy a vacancy, and it would be as high as 1,000 taels." ”

Zhang Wen turned his head and looked: "If the official dismisses you, I'm afraid that the scribe of the torture room will not have your share in the lack of silver, so who will buy the lack of silver?" ”

"The cousin wants to give his subordinates a way to live, and the whole family of his subordinates relies on his subordinates to take the silver back to buy rice and firewood...... Honorable ......"

"If you are dismissed, who will the next one buy the money for?" Zhang Wen asked again.

Huang Renzhi said unhurriedly: "This situation is generally divided equally between the magistrate and the lord Bo, but at this time, Lord Zhang and the master of the steward Bo can't say together, who will be the scribe of the torture room in the end, it is the adult who makes the decision, and the adult can take it alone." ”

The scribe realized that he had resigned from his position, and the magistrate had made a great profit, so he hurriedly begged for mercy and said: "Tangzun, if you really kill chickens and eggs like this, everyone will not accept it, Tangzun ......"

Zhang Wen smiled and said, "Okay, let's stop here today." ”

After the scribe knelt down anxiously and said goodbye, Zhang Wen asked Huang Renzhi again: "Does Mr. Huang think this trick works?" ”

Huang Renzhi said indifferently: "How can the adult be an official, the old man is inconvenient to interfere, the adult just needs to pay off the silver." ”

Zhang Wen tasted Huang Renzhi's words, and naturally understood the mystery. The scribe will not be restrained, just as he deliberately jumped into a dilemma, and did not tie his hands in order to perform really, and he fought happily with these clowns.

At this time, the bell rang, and Huang Renzhi arched his hand and said, "The bell rings, and the old man takes his leave." ”

After a while, the officials and the scribes of each room went to the signing room to explain the paperwork, and Zhang Wen said that the hall was dismissed.

Zhang Wen sat for a while, and then called someone to call for blessings. Laifu ran over and said, "The owner, the owner, what do you have to tell the little one?" ”

Zhang Wen took a blank piece of paper from the case, put it in an envelope, sealed it, and said: "Where does the scribe of the torture room live, you can ask someone you know to understand, and send this letter over." ”

Laifu took the letter and said, "Let's do it for the little ones." ”

"It's a mess, you saw the board in the lobby today, right?"

Laifu hurriedly put the envelope into his clothes and said, "The little one understands." ”

Zhang asked: After a while, the master Bo will ask the scribe, what did the people from the county send here, and the scribe took a blank piece of paper out, can he believe it? What will they play again, Zhang Wen is a little curious.

Zhang Wen walked out of the signing room, and Gao Sheng and a few other followers followed. The group walked to the door of the inner house, Zhang Wen turned around and said: "A few of you go to change into civilian clothes, get the usual sedan chair and wait for me at the door, the official wants to pay a private visit to see the people's livelihood." ”

"Yes, Honorable."

Zhang Wen also went in and changed into his usual clothes, took the silver, walked out of the inner house, got on the sedan chair, walked out of the county office, turned a street, and asked the sedan chair man to carry the sedan chair back first, he asked Gao Sheng: "Do you know where the scribe of the torture room lives?" ”

"The little ones know."

"Bring the official over."

A group of five people turned around a few alleys, stopped at the gate of a courtyard, and Gao Sheng said, "Tangzun, Feng Gui (the scribe of the torture room) lives here. ”

"Call the door."

Gao Sheng walked up and grabbed the knocker and knocked a few times, the porter opened the corner door and asked, "How many are ......?"

Gao Sheng looked back at Zhang Wen, Zhang Wen took out a card ticket, and said, "Let him see it and ask Feng Gui to come out." ”

The porter got the sign and saw that it was a cinnabar card written by the county yazhi county, stamped with the county seal. Busy said: "A few tolerances, please come in quickly." ”

Zhang asked, "No need, let's just wait here and ask Feng Gui to change into his usual clothes and come out." ”

After a while, the scribe Feng Gui ran out of his fart, knelt down and said: "The subordinates don't know that the hall is coming, there is a loss of welcome, there is a loss of welcome, please come in quickly." ”

"Get up, it's not in the county office, we don't need so many courtesies." Zhang Wen smiled and said, "This official wants to see the people of Shangyu City this evening, so why don't you accompany this official to take a walk and have a light meal?" ”

"This ......"

Zhang Wen glanced inside, "What?" Is the main manager also thin? Let's ask him to come along, and get acquainted with each other so that we can work together. ”

"No, no, this will all be scattered, how can the master be in a small home?" Feng Gui hurriedly said.

"Let's go. Just a few of us, don't call it Tangzun for a while, otherwise what is it called a private interview with a microserver, ah? ”

Feng Gui's face was displeased, looking at him like that, I am afraid that the master Bo Zhen went to his house to ask, Feng Gui has a hundred mouths, and he has to be the master Bo to believe him.

Feng Gui had already scolded Zhang in his heart, and at this time, a strange smile suddenly appeared on his face. Zhang Wen saw his expression for a moment.

In the evening of Shangyu County, it is very lively, with lanterns hanging on the street, bustling, and it is the best time of the day for the shops to do business.

Zhang asked Feng Gui, the scribe of the torture room next to him: "Is there a curfew at night?" ”

Feng Guidao: ""Da Ming Law": After 3 o'clock in the evening and before 3 o'clock in the morning of the next morning, in the county and county seats, if there is no official emergency, illness, childbirth, death or funeral, the offender will be punished with 20 lashes, and the arrest will be punished with 100 canes; Wounding a person, breaking one finger or wounding one or more eyes; The execution of the dead...... However, in our Jiangnan area, there is usually a curfew after the third watch, and the business of this shop is too good. ”

"It's a really good book."

The magistrate has the highest power in Shangyu County, but the people below know that Zhang Wen has offended the people above, and they all think that the current magistrate will be out of class for a long time.

Zhang Wen threw the silver to Gao Sheng: "Then you have fun by yourself." ”

Gao Sheng received the silver, his face was happy, and he said, "Xie Tangzun thinks about the little ones.

Feng Gui led Zhang Wen to a small red mansion that was brightly lit and filled with the sound of warblers and swallows, and he smelled a strong rouge gas from a long distance, and he could guess what place this was without looking at the signboard.

Before Zhang Wen could open his mouth to shirk Feng Gui, two girls with heavy makeup twisted their willow waists and greeted them, "Oh, what a handsome young man." They pulled the fierce-looking Feng Gui without showing their eyes, but their eyes were fixed on Zhang Wen, who had fine skin and tender meat.

Zhang Wen has not been in the land of fireworks, on indulging in pleasure, happy and leisurely, the dignitaries at the feet of the Son of Heaven are not more restrained than the Jiangnan bureaucrats, even if he is shy in Beijing, it is inevitable that he will follow the high-ranking officials in and out of the teahouse and wine shop, listen to their vassal elegance and acupuncture current affairs, and dare not talk easily, can only sit quietly while looking for this cup of tea, a cup of yellow soup can bear the responsibility of maintaining stability and social security. At this moment, Zhang Wen understood that Feng Gui wanted to pull him into the circle and pull him into the life that those high-ranking officials he was not familiar with before, so he didn't want to show his ignorance of officialdom life in front of Feng Gui.

Feng Gui glanced at the woman and said, "Go and go, you don't have any eyesight, just your appearance is worthy of our noble lord?" As he spoke, he pointed at Zhang and asked, "Let you bustards come out!" We're only looking for your top cards here. The two women pretended to mumble, patted Feng Gui's chest, and left obediently.

Zhang Wen followed Feng Gui, who was familiar with the house, through a field of bright lights and a group of men and women covered in silk and satin, to the smoky main hall.

At this time, the woman with bright makeup, who was a little older, greeted her, her eyes were not as frivolous as the two women outside the door just now, she obviously recognized Feng Gui but did not make a sound, and her eyes looked up and down Zhang Wen's body and seemed to see that he was the master.

"Yo, Master Feng, who did you bring this noble person today?"

Zhang Wen was still a little afraid of being recognized as a public official.

"If you know it's a nobleman, don't ask so much."

"Look at what you said, open the door to do business, without asking the guests what they want, how do I know what to serve?"

"Of course it's the most expensive. Oh, I still think I'm doing serious business. Call all your top cards here. ”

The old bustard smiled, and then called out the name of a string of warblers and swallows.

Zhang Wen looked up and found that the names were engraved on delicate wooden plaques, wearing silk threads hanging everywhere, like willow leaves.

"Cold smoke?" Zhang Wen couldn't help but reach out and grab the wooden sign when he saw this unearthly name, "What a beautiful name, can I see her?" ”

"Okay, tell her to come down." Feng Gui said to the old bustard.

The old bustard led Feng Gui to the side, looked embarrassed, and lowered his voice, but Zhang Wen still heard it, "That, Feng Ye, this cold smoke is not as good as others, she is not easy to meet guests." ”

"What words? If the woman in this kiln is not a guest, then you will raise her. Feng Gui was disdainful, his eyes had already searched the attic with the "Cold Smoke" brand at this moment, and pulled Zhang Wen directly up the stairs.

"Feng Ye, Feng Ye." The old bustard stood in front of the road, and the group of warblers and warblers she had just called for had already surrounded Zhang Wen and Feng Gui.

The women dressed in colorful clothes pulled Feng Gui to be coquettish, "Oh, official, the cold smoke is the stinky virtue, the one who ignores everyone, the cold, which is like us, you touch it, it's hot." The woman grabbed Zhang Wen's hand and pressed it to her chest, and when she saw Zhang Wen's face flush all of a sudden, a group of women giggled.

Feng Gui looked at Zhang Wen and saw that the latter was bored with these women, so he had to drive away the group of warblers and Yanyan and knock on the door of the cold smoke.

The old bustard stood in front of him with his arms outstretched.

"Didn't you just recognize this as a nobleman? Forget about this cold smoke in front of me, but still pretend in front of our nobleman? Feng Gui rummaged for the silver, "Hmph, I don't believe that money can't be smashed." ”

Zhang Wen took out a piece of broken silver and stuffed it into Feng Gui's hand, I was really afraid that Feng Gui's loud voice would lead people over: "Mr. Feng, this silver is real, the smoke is false, cold smoke, cold smoke, such an ethereal name If you really use this heavy silver to smash it out, I'm afraid I will be disappointed." If you don't have a chance, why force it. Okay, this night is full of wine and food, and you took me to enjoy the night in the south of the Yangtze River again, and I see that the time is almost over. If you're not satisfied, just continue. Don't break Yaxing for me. ”

"Eh, I don't dare." Feng Gui pushed away the silver.

Zhang Wen caught a glimpse of Feng Gui glaring at the bustard with complaint.

Zhang Wen was about to turn around and go downstairs when he heard the sound of the door latch opening.

"I don't know if I'm disappointed in the doorman?" A soft voice floated in the room, and a crack opened in the door, but no one was seen, "The cold smoke is not smoke, and it is not a cloud, but a little woman in the world, who has been contaminated with the wind and dust, and the son wants to go and stay, so listen to it." ”

How could Zhang Wen hold back and not look back, the fragrance wafting in the house was completely different from the whole house, cold and lonely, thin but it seemed to make people smell the arrogance of Hanmei, Zhang Wen couldn't help but smell more, and seemed to catch a wisp of ink fragrance in it.