Guo Bangyan passed the imperial examination six or seven years ago. After several years of accumulation, his family has accumulated a small fortune.

But when I arrived in Beijing, I realized how difficult it was to live in a big city. The prices were really shocking.

The annual salary of a seventh-rank editor was 45 taels of silver, and 45 hu of rice, which was a level that was neither starving nor enough to support oneself.

The only thing to be thankful for was that after the Ministry of Personnel sent officials, they were allocated housing in the inner city.

This type of housing is welfare-oriented and can be lived in for free during the three years in the Hanlin Academy.

If you leave Beijing or are transferred after three years, you must return the house to the Imperial Household Department.

After the Imperial Household Department has repaired and maintained it, the Ministry of Personnel will re-register it and continue to assign it to other officials who have taken up their posts.

Su Shien, who was serving as an official for the first time, had just learned about this benefit. He looked calm on the surface, but was actually extremely surprised.

Not long ago, Yu Ge'er complained about him, saying that he had studied hard for more than ten years and finally got a job after going through so much hardship, but he didn't even get any benefits.

As expected of Master Han, he is the one who speaks the truth. Free housing is here!

This house is good. The neighbors are all low-ranking officials and scholars who care about their reputation. Someone as thick-skinned as him will definitely not suffer any loss.

Oh~ Isn’t that Guo Bangyan!

"Brother Zimu, it's better to meet by chance than to invite each other. Would you like to travel together?"

Guo Bangyan knew that the houses they were assigned were adjacent to each other, so he did not refuse. After all, they would see each other sooner or later.

Su Shien was sensible and well versed in Tai Chi, and he had a good chat with Guo Bangyan.

The reason why the two of them could have such a pleasant conversation was largely due to the fact that they talked a lot of nonsense. It seemed that they talked a lot, but in fact, not a single word was useful.

However, Su Shien still extracted some useful information from the nonsense.

After the results of the palace examination were announced, Guo Zimu returned to his hometown and brought his whole family to the capital.

They are now crowded in the small courtyard where they had prepared for the exam, waiting to be allocated a house. He will prepare to move tomorrow.

The residences of these low-ranking officials are mostly in the outer areas to the west of the city.

The grandfather of the top scholar was a second-rank official, and the father of the third-rank scholar was a first-class earl.

Their mansion is a large courtyard with three entrances, which is much more comfortable than this place. Even if I were to be allocated a house, I would not really move in.

As the saying goes: East City is rich, West City is expensive, North City is poor, and South City is cheap.

The shop Han Zeyu bought is located in the east of the city, very close to the inner city.

They can live anywhere. After all, a seventh-rank official doesn't have to get up early to attend court.

Han Zeyu heard that he had a new house. Although it was just a courtyard house with one entrance, it was free, so why would he complain?

"Wow, my husband, you are so great. Come and let me kiss you."

Su Shien snorted coldly: "That's not what you said a few days ago. You change your face so quickly."

Han Zeyu smiled playfully and said boldly, "Then I'll let you kiss me once. If you're still not satisfied, you can have a few more."

Su Shien reached out, pinched someone's yellow face, and told him that Guo Bangyan would be moving tomorrow.

Han Zeyu put away the key and decided to go and investigate tomorrow.

After all, we will be neighbors for three years. Although I can't know every detail of them, I can at least find out the temperament and character of that family first.

Han Zeyu must achieve twice the result with half the effort when he takes action, so Su Shien went to the Hanlin Academy to compile history books with peace of mind.

The second and third place winners did the same job as him, and occasionally the three of them would chat for a while.

Su Shien noticed that Guo Zimu was a little distracted, probably worried about moving.

Come to think of it, he is less of a worry. After all, his brother Yu is omnipotent and extremely powerful.

At this time, the all-round warrior Han Zeyu was enthusiastically helping his neighbor lift the water tank.

The oldest male in the Guo family was sixteen years old. He wanted to clean the water jar, but the jar was too heavy and he could not move it at all. He could only stand on a stool with great effort and scoop out the water bit by bit.

Seeing this, the enthusiastic neighbor Han Zeyu immediately stepped forward and offered help.

The Guo family was stunned, watching the two-hundred-pound water tank being knocked over with one hand by a caring neighbor.

The dirty water in the water tank poured out and flowed into the drain in the yard.

While the eldest son of the Guo family was cleaning the water tank, Han Zeyu had already started chatting with Mrs. Guo about family matters.

After a while, seeing that the water tank had been cleaned, Han Zeyu did not need anyone's help. He helped to the end and lifted the water tank up easily.

Even though I have seen it once, I was still shocked when I saw it again. Is this an innate divine power?

After Han Zeyu left, Mrs. Guo began to study the matter of developing a vegetable garden.

There is not much extra space in this small courtyard, so let’s follow Brother Han’s advice and make use of the flower beds!

Han Zeyu came here by himself, watched the fun, chatted, and finished all the work in less than an hour.

With just a few clicks of his fingers, the whole house was cleaned spotlessly, and the soil in the flower beds was turned upside down.

After picking up two copper coins, Han Zeyu was filled with emotion. This tiny piece of land was really a place where heroes had no place to use their talents.

Su Shien returned home and asked Yu Ge'er how his investigation went, whether the neighbors and the neighbors next door were getting along well, and whether the Guo family was befriended.

Han Zeyu shared information with her husband while chewing a melon.

"The family across the street is quite quiet, seemingly unpopular; the family next door has a naughty child and his grandparents who spoil him; the Guo family is basically all honest people, and it's not difficult to get along with them."

Su Shien heard the hidden meaning in the words, so he asked, "What do you mean?"

Han Zeyu said in an enigmatic manner, "The Guo family has one wife, one concubine, four children, and three servants. Their eldest son is sixteen years old and is still a student. Their first wife also gave birth to two daughters. Their youngest son was born to a concubine and is only about five or six years old this year."

Su Shien pondered for a moment and offered his own conclusion: "Judging from the child's age, he took in a concubine only after he was selected by Guo Bangyan. Judging from his family's financial situation, it's very likely that he didn't take in a concubine on his own initiative, but rather someone else gave her to him, or perhaps she climbed up the ladder herself."

Han Zeyu nodded. Those who shouted, "I'm not here to break up this family, but to join this family" are not good people.

Without some scheming and tricks, can you become sisters with the wife of your first wife?

The couple analyzed other people's family affairs in an unkind way, but they only touched upon the subject briefly. It would be bad to delve into it too much.

After all, having three wives and four concubines was very normal in ancient times. Although Han Zeyu couldn't accept it, he wouldn't point fingers at her in person.

He is not the Holy Father. He has to criticize anyone he doesn't like. He should just live his own life.

Su Shien had a general understanding of the Guo family's situation, and would be able to avoid taboos in future conversations.

The Guo family has moved into their new home in a vigorous manner. Han Zeyu is not in a hurry. He first sows the vegetable seeds and buys some new furniture, and then slowly starts moving.

Su Shien had just adapted to the work in the Hanlin Academy and was about to start his daily routine of drinking tea and reading books, but he suddenly received a temporary transfer order.

What's going on? Is he trying to make himself known to the Emperor?