Looking at Master Cao's pitiful appearance, Zhou Zhou Ming felt strange in his heart, thinking that Lao Cao was not bad, and when he took care of me before, he could be regarded as doing his best, but he was unlucky, he did not awaken the martial spirit, worked hard all his life, and could only be a clerical job, which means that he could not solve any problems he encountered in life by his own strength, he could only ask others and see other people's faces live.

Thinking of this, Zhou Zhou Ming's previous antipathy towards Master Cao decreased a little, but he began to sympathize with him a little, so that when he spoke, his tone became much softer: "Master Cao, you and I have known each other, and it can be regarded as fate, when I first came to Yamen, I still remember the friendship you took care of me."

No matter what purpose you took care of me at that time, but it was always for my good, and I know how to be grateful for this kindness.

So no matter what trouble you're in right now, just tell me and I'll fix it for you. ”

After hearing this, Master Cao's heart relaxed a little, he lowered his head, looked at his toes, hesitated for a long time, and finally said: "Lord Zhou, I am in our yamen, just a small clerical position, I really dare not make friends with you, I have some relationship with you in the yamen before, and it is all because of the relationship with Master Lin."

The reason why I have the courage to come to you today is really out of helplessness.

When I came to the yamen in the morning, I heard the people in the yamen say, "You led the officials in the yamen yesterday and made a great contribution, and if this merit is recognized by the imperial court, each of you will be promoted to a knighthood and receive a very rich reward." ”

Speaking of this, Master Cao suddenly stopped, not knowing how to say the next words.

Zhou Ming looked at his face, listened silently, thinking about this old guy's thoughts, and sure enough, it was the same as I guessed, he saw that we had made a great achievement, and he had no share, so he was greedy.

Zhou Ming held out a hand to him and gestured, meaning to let him continue without stopping.

Although Master Cao had already prepared to lose face before coming here, he really didn't expect that the sense of oppression that Zhou Ming gave him would be so strong.

Looking at Zhou Ming's bright eyes, Master Cao had a chill down his spine.

In order to avoid this look, he immediately looked away, stared at Zhou Ming's toes, and then said with difficulty: "After learning the news, I regretted it very much in my heart, thinking why didn't I go to drink with you when I left the yamen at that time?"

If I go, won't I have a share of the credit this time? When the time comes, I will be promoted to the knighthood and get the reward from the court, and the wives and children at home will be proud of me when they see it.

Master Zhou, you also know that people like us who work as civil servants in the yamen usually have very few opportunities for promotion, and the money is even more pitiful, because for this reason, the wives and children in the family have suffered a lot with me, and I feel that I really owe them too much. ”

The more Zhou Ming listened, the more impatient he felt, and he secretly muttered in his heart, is it that all scholars talk so verbosely? Lao Cao has been talking for a long time, but he still hasn't talked about the point, isn't he tired?

Zhou Zhou Ming felt that if he didn't guide him, he might let this old guy talk about it when it was dark, and he wouldn't be able to finish his words.

"Okay, Master Cao, I almost understand what you want to express, I have limited time, can you hurry up and get to the point." Zhou Ming urged with some displeasure.

In fact, Master Cao has been talking around the corner, just because he is afraid that if he says the real request, Zhou Ming will ruthlessly reject himself, in that case, he really doesn't know if he can still live.

Seeing that Zhou Zhou Ming was gradually becoming a little impatient, Master Cao knew that he had no other choice, so he could only bite the bullet and say what was in his heart: "Lord Zhou, since you have said so, I can only be cheeky and tell you what is in my heart."

In fact, this time, I wanted to ask Lord Zhou if he could think of a way to put me among the meritorious personnel.

As long as you can help me with this, even if I am bankrupt, I will thank you again. ”

After saying this, Master Cao knelt on the ground apprehensively, kowtowed, and then didn't dare to straighten his waist.

He closed his eyes and listened intently, hoping that Zhou Zhou Ming would give him a satisfactory answer.

"Ridiculous!" Monday Ming said sharply.

Master Cao was so frightened that he couldn't possess his body, and his whole person was paralyzed on the ground, motionless.

He thought about it, Zhou Ming said these two words angrily, it must be his own behavior of bribing him just now, which angered him, if he disregards his face and deals with himself in official business, he will be doomed, after all, this kind of bribery of court officials, it is good not to be exposed, once it is exposed, it will become the target of public criticism, not to mention that he is just a small civilian now, even if it is a leader like Deng Inspector, if it is proved that he has bribed superior officials, he will be immediately dismissed and investigated.

The frightened Master Cao knelt and moved to Zhou Ming, kowtowing and confessing his guilt, while begging for mercy: "Lord Zhou, I know that I am wrong, please look at the past and let the villain go."

As for what the villain said just now, you should have never heard it, and I will never dare to think like this in the future.

I beg you to spare your life. ”

"Huh?" Zhou Zhou Ming looked at Master Cao in surprise, then stood up and said, "Master Cao, what are you doing here?" The meaning of what I just said is that you let me do such a small thing, and you have to thank me with something, which is ridiculous. ”

"Huh?" Master Cao was about to roll around and beg for mercy, but after hearing Zhou Ming's explanation, he immediately froze in place, and then his whole face turned red.

He looked at Zhou Ming's expression of smiling or not, and thought to himself that this Zhou adult is really unfathomable, and at such a critical juncture, he still has the heart to make fun of himself, it seems that he must not be an enemy of him in the future, otherwise he will definitely die an ugly death.

"What do you mean, Lord Zhou?" Master Cao was still not sure if Zhou Ming would help him, so he hurriedly asked.

Zhou Zhou Ming bent down, stretched out his hands, helped him up, and then said with a smile: "Lao Cao, although from my father-in-law's side, we are not the same generation, but since I came to the Yamen, I have seen you take care of me so wholeheartedly, and I have regarded you as my own."

As long as you can distinguish between the enemy and me in your heart in the future, and know who to face at the critical moment, once there is a benefit in the yamen, I will naturally not forget you. ”

After listening to Zhou Ming's words, Master Cao immediately understood that Zhou Zhou Ming would not only help him this time, but he was also hinting to himself, intentionally or unintentionally, that as long as he followed him in the future, he would definitely have his own share.

Master Cao was overjoyed, originally he came this time, just to ask Zhou Ming to do him a favor, but he didn't expect to gain a lot in the end, he not only achieved his wish, but also became Zhou Ming's person in a daze.

"Lord Zhou, please rest assured, I understand what you mean. In the future, as long as you have a place where you can find me, I will do my best and die, and I will never fail to live up to your trust. Master Cao hurriedly expressed his loyalty, for fear that if he took a slow step, Zhou Ming would change his mind.

Zhou Ming showed a satisfied smile, then patted him lightly on the shoulder, and said thoughtfully: "Lao Cao, you are a smart person, a civil servant like you, if you don't have a backer behind you, if you want to show your skills in the yamen and make a career, it is more difficult than ascending to the sky." ”

Master Cao listened and nodded, he felt that what Zhou Zhou Ming said was too right, there were too many capable civil servants like him in the yamen, but in the end, there were few people who were reused by the imperial court, and the reason for this was very simple, one is that there is no Bole to recognize heroes and reuse them, and the other is that the literati are light, and they are not united at all, but they are not united at all, but they are not able to form a joint force.

"I believe you have a better understanding of the cruelty faced by your civilian personnel than I do." Zhou Zhou Ming continued, "On the first day I came to the Yamen, I felt that this situation was unfair, so since we have both talked about this today, I can tell you one thing clearly, in the future, you will no longer have to be a man with your tail between your legs in the Yamen."

If you have any skills and talents, even if you show them and encounter any trouble, I can support you. ”

Master Cao was moved to tears for a while, he knelt on the ground all of a sudden, and kowtowed three times to Zhou Ming: "Lord Zhou, you are really my reborn parents."

One day, if I can really make a career, I will never forget your great kindness. ”

"Lao Cao, why are you so excited?" Zhou Zhou Ming slowly helped him up and comforted, "You don't have to rush to show me your heart, because I will never believe such bold words, let alone be moved by crying and weeping, what I value is real action."

Since you are willing to sit in the same boat with me, then I will tell you some heartfelt words, and in the future, when you display your talents, you will pay more attention to what happens in the yamen for me, especially when I am not there.

And my old father-in-law, if there is any trouble, you must tell me as soon as possible. ”

"Yes, Lord Zhou, don't worry, these things are all wrapped up in me." Master Cao agreed very simply, he knew in his heart that the reason why Zhou Zhou Ming would accept people like himself was definitely not to value his own talent, because he was old, and he had no other ability at all except copying and writing.

Zhou Zhou Ming took him for his own use, just to let him be a secret agent and monitor the behavior of everyone in the yamen at all times.