210. Selling and Buying Officials

Who was watching him? It wasn't Wang Gui, nor was it Liang.

It is not easy to train homing pigeons in this era. Extremely professional training must be carried out starting from the young pigeons, and the training goals are from simple to complex, from near to far, and from day to night.

A force that can possess carrier pigeons needs to be well-organized and have a large amount of manpower, material resources and financial resources, which is definitely not something that Wang Gui and Liang can do.

Is Bai Long monitoring him? Impossible, because this monitoring started a few years ago, when Bai Long didn't even know who he was.

There are only two possibilities. One is his uncle who holds a high position in Jing Dynasty, and the other is his biological mother whose whereabouts are unknown.

As for the person who drove Taotie last night...

Chen Ji stood in the house, watching Xiao Man busying around outside. She had just put the kettle on the stove, and while the water was boiling, she swept the dust and fallen leaves in the yard into one place.

Chen Ji asked in a low voice: "Wuyun, do you think she looks like an official?"

Wuyun meowed, "It doesn't seem like it... Do you believe she's an official, or do you believe I'm a deity?"

"That's right," Chen Ji muttered to himself, "Would a dignified official be willing to serve others... Just give it a try, and you'll know."

The sound of steam gushing from a kettle came from the right side room. Xiaoman put down the broom in her hand, ran back to the side room like a gust of wind, and brought out a basin of warm water: "Young Master, it's time to wash up! I'll tie your hair up properly later. You have to attend the promotion banquet at the Zhang Mansion at noon!"

As he was talking, Xiaoman staggered out of the side room carrying a basin of water. Chen Ji went to meet him and said, "Let me do it. This basin is quite heavy."

Xiaoman quickly said, "No, no!"

Chen Ji ignored what she said and took the basin of water by himself. The two of them were in a stalemate, and seeing that the water was about to spill out, Xiaoman was forced to let go.

Just as Xiaoman let go, Chen Ji also let go.

The basin of water fell between the two of them, but Chen Ji didn't look at the basin, but looked at Xiaoman.

Time seemed to slow down, and the basin of water fell to the ground little by little. Xiaoman's eyes widened little by little. She wanted to reach out to catch the basin of water again, but she was a step too late.

With a clang, the basin fell to the ground, and hot water splashed out from the edge of the basin, soaking Xiaoman's cloth shoes.

"Ah!" Xiaoman screamed and jumped to the side.

Chen Ji quickly said, "Sorry, sorry, it's my fault."

Xiaoman also hurriedly said: "It's not your fault, it's my fault."

Chen Ji: “Hmm?”

Xiaoman said quietly, "It's my fault that I don't have four arms."

Chen Ji: “…”

He wondered in his heart, could it be that the official who controlled Taotie was not Xiaoman?

Xiaoman looked down at her wet shoes and complained aggrievedly, "Don't make things more complicated. Let the servants do what they should do. Why are you rushing to do the work?"

Chen Ji looked at Xiao Man and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, it's just... don't you want to do less work?"

Xiaoman was slightly startled and whispered, "You don't understand. For those of us who were sold to human traffickers at a young age, the first thing we were taught was to be useful. Only when we are useful will a boss buy us and we won't be beaten by human traffickers. Only when we are useful will we be liked by the boss and won't be sold to someone else again."

Chen Ji was silent. "Usefulness" seemed to be the philosophy of survival that Xiaoman had learned since childhood.

He asked, "Do you have any other shoes I can change into?"

Xiaoman said casually: "Of course."

Chen Ji thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll take you to Zhang's house for a good meal today as an apology."

Xiaoman's lips curled up, but she muttered, "I'm not that greedy..."

Chen Ji said, "I heard that they not only have seafood, but also a chef specially invited from Yingxian Tower."

"Really?" Xiaoman's eyes lit up, and then she asked with a hint of worry, "Sir, will Madam not allow you to attend the banquet at the Zhang residence? According to the rules, you are a bastard and shouldn't attend the main banquet."

Chen Ji smiled and said, "Don't worry, I won't."

…

…

In the thirty-first year of Jianing, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, at noon.

Cuiyun Lane was decorated with lights and the ground was covered with red paper flowers left over from firecrackers, making it particularly bright and eye-catching.

Servants from the Chen and Zhang residences stood at the door with baskets in their hands, distributing candied sour plums to the children and lucky money to the men, women, and children passing by.

The "lucky money" consisting of copper coins wrapped in red paper was distributed. People put the copper coins in their pockets and threw away the red paper. The whole street was filled with red paper flying around and the atmosphere was joyful.

At noon, servants from every household arrived carrying gifts.

A servant stood at the main gate of the Zhang residence. When someone arrived with gifts, he picked up the list and read out the names at the door: "Master Wang Changgu of the Huizhou Merchants Association presents six pairs of South China Sea pearls, a pair of red corals, and a jadeite ruyi…"

"Master Qiao Dezhong of the Shanxi Merchants Association presented us with twenty silver winter melons and a golden Maitreya Buddha..."

Waiting in line

When the team that was sending gifts heard their names being called out, their expressions changed.

One of the stewards turned and walked away, muttering quietly as he went, "Zhang Zhu's eating habits are too unsightly. Which official would dare to accept gifts so blatantly?"

The young man beside the steward asked curiously, "Boss, aren't we sending it off?"

The steward said gloomily, "Of course I won't send it off! I need to go back to the storehouse to prepare a new gift! It's said that this Mr. Zhang has a photographic memory. Being laughed at by his peers is a small matter. But if this Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel takes notice of him, I'm afraid he'll be bullied every day in the future!"

"He's from the Ministry of Personnel, and he can't control us..."

"You know shit!"

Right now.

In front of the side door of Zhang's house, a servant led the officials who came to deliver gifts in in a low-key manner: the main door was open to merchants, and the side door was open to officials, so officials naturally could not give gifts in such a high-profile manner.

In the small side courtyard, Zhang Xia was sitting behind a table covered with a red silk cloth. In front of the red table, a young official stepped forward and respectfully handed over a gift list.

He looked at Zhang Xia cautiously, but he didn't expect that a little girl was in charge of the Zhang Mansion's backyard.

Zhang Xia ignored his gaze, picked up the gift list with a brush, looked at it briefly, and then looked up at the young official in front of him: "What official position are you asking for?"

The official hurriedly said humbly, "I heard that the position of County Magistrate of Weishi County, Yuzhou, is vacant, and I would like to fill that position."

Zhang Xia glanced at him and said casually, "Then your gift is not enough."

In the bitterly cold winter, the official's forehead was covered with fine beads of cold sweat. "I will make another one in a few days."

Zhang Xia hummed, picked up the brush and wrote the seven words "Waishi County Magistrate Waiting to be Appointed" on the gift list, then threw the gift list aside: "No need to go in for dinner, go back and prepare the gifts."

The young official nodded repeatedly and backed out of the side door of Zhang's house.

Such blatant selling of official positions and titles is rare in the thousand-year history of the rise and fall of the Ning Dynasty.

However, Zhang Zhuo is now going to be appointed as the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. The officials in the ministry have always respected the left, with the Left Vice Minister in charge of internal affairs and the Right Vice Minister in charge of external affairs. However, he has the power to decide the position of a county magistrate.

Moreover, after Liu Gun committed suicide, the post of Minister of Personnel was temporarily held by Xu Ge Lao, and Zhang Zhuo married Xu Ge Lao's niece, so it is possible that the post of Minister would belong to Zhang Zhuo in the future.

…

…

Compared with the bustling Zhang Mansion, the Chen Mansion is a little deserted.

The gifts brought to the Chen Mansion were quietly carried into the backyard by Liang and put away together with the gift list to be counted after today.

Although the purpose of holding today's banquet was to receive gifts, the Chen family was concerned about their reputation and did not want to be tainted by the strong smell of money.

Liang stood in the main hall. She vaguely heard the sound of gifts being called out from Cuiyun Lane. She lowered her head and looked through the list of gifts from her family, which was obviously much more shabby.

In fact, each of the gifts sent to the Chen Mansion was worth more than an ordinary person could earn in several lifetimes, but people are afraid of comparison. No matter how much they get, as long as it is worse than others, they will feel dissatisfied.

The maidservant Dongzhi stood aside, glanced at Liang's face, and whispered, "The Zhang family is too shameless to accept bribes in broad daylight. Officials from humble backgrounds are indeed shallow-minded."

Liang listened to the gift list outside the mansion and said nonchalantly, "Master Zhang has been accepting money for so many years without any problems. It can be considered his ability."

Dongzhi muttered, "What kind of ability does he have? Isn't it because he has Lord Xu protecting him?"

Liang said in a deep voice, "Don't be rude. Mr. Zhang is now an official in the Ministry of Personnel, so you need to show some respect."

As he was speaking, a servant came quietly to the front of the hall, bowing his body and whispering, "My dear Madam..."

Liang said with a look of surprise, "Stand up straight! When did the servants of our Chen Mansion develop the habit of sneaking around?"

The servant straightened up and said quickly, "Madam, the housekeeper... Wang Gui is at the side door and said he has something important to report."

Liang thought for a moment and said, "Master told him to reflect on his actions at home. Why would he come back when he has nothing better to do? I won't go to see him. I told him to write down whatever he wants and hand it in."

The servant responded and turned away.

Not long after, the servant came back and respectfully handed over a note.

Liang unfolded the note, revealing a small message: "An old friend of mine serves in the Qiansui Army. Yesterday, I learned from him a secret concerning Chen Ji that could cause him to fall out of favor with the Master. Madam, all you need to do today is take Chen Ji to the Zhang Residence for a banquet."

Liang calmly put the notes away and handed them to Dongzhi: "Put these notes away one by one, don't lose them."

At this time, Chen Liqin walked out of the house wearing a crimson purple stand-up collar and a large lapel. He was wearing black boots and a corrugated black gauze hat, and he looked very noble.

Liang praised him, "Master, you usually don't do any work on the riverbank. Now, if you tidy yourself up, you've become a capable official. I'm sure that in a few years, you'll be able to join a department and hold the title of Shangshu."

Chen Liqin smiled and said, "Madam, you must not say such things in front of outsiders.

It only makes others laugh at me, saying that I, Chen Liqin, am obsessed with power. Now, as the Junior Master of the Master's House, I should do my best to assist the Crown Prince."

Liang straightened his collar for him. "In my heart, the master is a man of great stature, yet even those officials cannot compare to him. With you assisting the Crown Prince, when he ascends the throne, you will surely achieve your dreams and realize your ambitions. The Patriarch arranged this assignment for you just to pave the way for you."

Chen Liqin smiled broadly. "That's strange. My family's attempts to arrange a promotion for me were repeatedly thwarted, and the Imperial Household Department also made things difficult for me. Now, I don't know how, but the palace suddenly agreed to let me take this position. Perhaps it's because of my contributions to river management that His Majesty has noticed."

Liang smiled happily: "Now that the master has caught the emperor's eye, it is double joy."

Chen Liqin asked, "What were you talking about just now?"

Liang's eyes turned slightly. "I was just about to send Dongzhi to call Wenzong and Chenji. I planned to take them to the banquet together, so that Chenji would know that the master has him in his heart."

Chen Liqin said with relief, "I was worried that you and Chen Ji would cause a mother-son feud, but now that I see you're back to square one and can even recite Buddhist scriptures together, I'm finally relieved. However, today's occasion isn't suitable for Chen Ji. Our Ning Dynasty's ancient rule is that concubines and illegitimate sons can't be at the table. If he had achieved a degree, it would be fine, but now that he hasn't, bringing him to the banquet might make outsiders think our Chen family doesn't understand etiquette."

Liang took Chen Liqin's arm and hesitated, "Master, are you really not going to take him? What if he thinks I, as a mother, am narrow-minded?"

Chen Liqin patted the back of her hand and said, "It's not a big deal. Chen Ji has known these rules since he was a child. He has been doing this for so many years. He won't think too much about it."

Liang had a plan in mind, then smiled gently, "Master, you're too concerned about the rules. Although Chen Ji has no achievements, this isn't the capital. Without the Liu family, you and Master Zhang will be the rule of Luo City. What's wrong with having a bastard?"

Chen Liqin hesitated.

Liang then tried to console him, "I've seen the invitation from the Zhang residence. Half of the guests attending today's banquet are merchants. Our Chen family has been nobles for generations. Why should we negotiate etiquette with those who are obsessed with money? You talk about etiquette, but they don't. Besides, Chen Ji has just returned. If you ignore him, who knows how he will feel. Now is the time to repair your and his father's friendship. You must not ignore him again."

Chen Liqin breathed a long sigh of relief. "Madam, you are so magnanimous. I am very happy. With a wife like this, what more could I ask for?"

He ordered Guyu, the servant who was accompanying him, "Go, call Wen Zong and Chen Ji."

After a stick of incense, Chen Wenzong and Chen Ji came together, followed by the excited Xiaoman.

Chen Wenzong bowed and said, "Father, Mother, you called Chen Ji and me here, but are we going to a banquet?"

Liang smiled and said, "The time has come. It would be rude if we don't go now."

She looked past the two of them and at Xiaoman behind Chen Ji. "Today we're attending a formal banquet, so you don't need to bring your maid along. Cuiyun Lane will be hosting a buffet to entertain the neighbors. Xiaoman is a greedy girl, so today I'll allow you to enjoy the buffet at Cuiyun Lane with the other first-class maids and servants."

Xiaoman's face suddenly fell: "Oh, it's all up to Madam."

The buffet outside Zhang's house was prepared for the neighbors, as a gimmick to have fun with the people; there was a banquet inside Zhang's house reserved for the servants of distinguished guests. After all, the servants of distinguished guests also had some status, so they didn't need to sit with peddlers.

The dishes inside and outside the mansion are very different. Xiaoman originally thought that she could go in and have a good meal, but now it seems that she can no longer do so.

However, Chen Ji smiled and said, "Madam, don't worry about Xiaoman. She has an invitation from the Zhang Mansion and can go with me."

Xiaoman was slightly startled, and even Liang was a little surprised: "The Zhang family specially sent an invitation to Xiaoman?"

"That's not the case," Chen Ji took out the invitation from his pocket, "It's for my master and my servant, and Xiaoman's name is written on it."

Liang took it and looked at it, then laughed and said, "Normally, invitations only need to include the host's name. Chen Ji is a close friend of the Zhang family, and Miss Zhang Er even added Xiaoman's name specifically for you."

Xiaoman was confused and stood on tiptoe to look at the invitation.

However, the invitation card should have only had Chen Ji's name written on it, but someone had added Xiao Man's name on the side.

This invitation, which is specifically for servants, is unique in the entire Ning Dynasty.

Xiao Man glanced at Chen Ji's profile and suddenly said, "Sir, I'm not going to the banquet. Can you please put this invitation away for me?"

Chen Ji was puzzled: "Why don't you go to the banquet?"

Xiaoman whispered, "Because when we go to the banquet, the Zhang family will take back the invitation..."

Chen Ji said cheerfully, "It's okay. I'll tell them and leave the invitation to you."

Xiaoman's eyes lit up: "Really?"

"real."

Seeing that things had come to this, Chen Liqin waved his hand and said, "Stop chatting and let's go."

(End of this chapter)