Xu Lanyin asked, "What do you want to do?"
Zhao Wudao said, "I want to be a constable. I have martial arts skills, a sharp mind, and I'm young. If I work hard, I can strive to be promoted to the Judicial and Criminal Investigation Department, preferably the Six Gates of the Ministry of Justice. Once I master the skills of solving cases, I can investigate my family's affairs." After saying this, the joy in his eyes faded and he said dejectedly, "I'm just an ordinary citizen now. I have to rely on my sister to get my household registration. How can I possibly become a constable?"
Most constables are hereditary, and only when there is a real shortage of people are they selected from the public.
Xu Lanyin knew that while the status of a constable in this era wasn't very high, it was still higher than that of the constables in previous histories. It wasn't a matter of demotion, nor was there a saying that future generations wouldn't be able to pass the imperial examinations. Furthermore, if one performed well, they could be promoted. For example, a constable in the county government could be promoted to a county lieutenant, responsible for public security. A constable in a prefecture could be promoted to a sergeant, responsible for both criminal and public security. A constable under the Anchashisi could be promoted to a patrol inspector. Constables in the Six Gates were even more impressive, with the potential to become patrol inspectors or even chief constables, equivalent to a fifth-rank doctor.
Of course, there are very few people who can actually be promoted from constables to officials, and they are rare, but they do exist.
This path was indeed more suitable for Zhao Wu, as he could balance public and private affairs. The key point was that Xu Lanyin should be able to make Zhao Wu a constable.
Xu Lanyin had only told Zhao Wu that she knew the county magistrate's steward, Tang, but hadn't been very specific. She smiled and said, "You want to be a constable, right? I'll find a way to help you."
Zhao Wu looked at Xu Lanyin in surprise, "My sister, can you do this?"
Xu Lanyin smiled and said, "Well, I'm 80% sure."
They went straight to Xu's Bakery and saw a long line at the door from a distance. The shop was doing very well, even surpassing the county's best bakery, Jiaweizhai. However, it was small, with small quantities, and the pastries were basically sold out as soon as they were made. Xu Dashi couldn't handle it alone, so he hired a new waiter to sell pastries.
Xu Dashi had heard Xu Lanzhou talk about Zhao Wu and was very enthusiastic about him.
After they talked for a while, Xu Dashi gave Xu Lanyin a wink.
Xu Lanyin followed him out, and he whispered, "A few days ago, I went to visit Uncle Shi's house and saw someone ordering two hundred sets of Flying Bird Chess at their carpentry shop. They said this kind of chess has spread all over the capital and is quite popular among young ladies and children. They also said it came from the family of the Minister of Justice, Min..."
Xu Lanyin understood that Madam Min didn't let them tell anyone because she wanted to please the Minister of Min's Mansion.
They got what they wanted and were happy, and they felt more confident about what they were going to do today.
She asked, "Brother didn't say that the chess piece was given to Miss Min by us, right?"
Xu Dashi smiled and said, "Brother, you're not stupid. People say it came from the Fujian Shangshu Mansion. How dare I meddle in other people's business?" After saying that, he pointed to his neck with his palm.
Xu Lanyin chuckled softly and said, "Big brother is smart. I'll talk to grandma, my mother, and my brothers about this. I'll just keep it to myself from now on."
She asked Zhao Wu to stay in the shop, and she went to the backyard of the county government office with two bags of snacks and a pair of little duck dolls made by Qin.
When we arrived at the back street of the county government office, we met Nanny Deng and Hong Luo who had been to the Xu family. They were about to get on a carriage parked at the door.
When Madam Deng saw Xu Lanyin, she smiled and said, "What a coincidence! We were just about to go to Miss Xu's house when you came. My wife and the eldest daughter just returned home the day before yesterday, and the eldest daughter has been thinking about Miss Xu the whole time." She lifted the carriage curtain and smiled, "Look, these are the things my wife bought in the capital. Let us deliver them to Miss Xu."
There were two pieces of silk, two pieces of fine cloth, two brocade boxes, and four oil-paper bags in the carriage.
Is this another attempt to shut himself up? Xu Lanyin was extremely puzzled as to how a game of chess could have caused the family of the high-ranking county magistrate to send so many gifts. This didn't fit their personality.
Xu Lanyin expressed her gratitude with a smile, and they all went into the back door together.
Arriving at Minnan's yard, I saw the little girl playing shuttlecock with two other little girls. The little girl had bright eyes, white teeth, and skin as white as snow. She was wearing a light red brocade cotton skirt. The small scar on her chin was gone, and she was as beautiful as a fairy.
Min Nan saw Xu Lanyin's eyes narrowed with a smile, and walked forward and said with a smile, "Sister Xu is here, I missed you so much." Then she pouted and said, "Originally, I wanted to go to your house to play with you, but my mother didn't agree."
This time, she, her mother, and her brother went to the capital to celebrate the birthday of the old lady Min. The flying bird chess they presented was a delight to the old lady Min, the Shangshu's wife, and others. On the birthday, they played it with the young ladies and young masters, and it won the hearts of almost everyone. Afterward, flying bird chess spread throughout the capital, bringing the Min family into the spotlight.
Because the old lady and the wife of the Minister of Min were pleased, they allowed the mother and daughter to stay at the Minister's residence for a while longer. Later, Princess Ping accidentally fell, her left cheek hitting the copper tripod and charcoal stove, burning her face. It's said that even the Emperor and the Empress Dowager were extremely worried and offered numerous remedies. However, the imperial physician said the burn on the old princess's face would leave a large scar, unless she had the old doctor Zhang's Ruyu Shengji Ointment. Accompanied by the Minister's wife, my mother went to offer the ointment for the burn, saying that she had come across some Ruyu Shengji Ointment by chance. After applying the ointment, the old princess's scars indeed faded. The old princess was delighted and sent for her to stay at the Prince's residence for another two weeks... She asked her mother if Xu Lanyin had given her the ointment, but she said it wasn't, and told her not to tell Xu Lanyin about the ointment they had offered. She also forbade her to mention to Xu Lanyin how the young lady was so popular with the bird chess...
Although his mother tried her best to deny it, Min Nan felt that the ointment his mother gave to the old princess must have been the one Xu Lanyin had given him. It turned out to be the magical medicine Ru Yu Regenerating Skin Ointment.
Now, in Min Nan's mind, Xu Lanyin was the one who had helped him a lot. If it weren't for that magic medicine, not only would his face have been disfigured, but he would also have had no chance of becoming a guest of honor at the Prince of Ping's mansion.
Xu Lanyin didn't know how to respond to the little girl, so she could only smile and say, "It's cold now, and it's really not fun to be in the countryside. Wait until spring comes and the flowers bloom, and the mountains behind our village are covered with azaleas. That's when the scenery will be beautiful."
Several people entered the house and Xu Lanyin took out two dolls.
This time the dolls are two tender yellow ducklings, one of them is smiling with its mouth corners raised, and the other one has its mouth corners turned down as if it is angry.
The little girl happily took it, touched it to her face, and said with a smile, "It's so beautiful." She added, "I asked the servants to make a few more piglets based on the ones my sister gave me before, and gave them to several sisters and my little niece in the capital to play with. They all love them..."
Min Nan pulled Xu Lanyin to sit on the Luohan bed and said proudly, "Sister, do you know why I came home so late?"
Xu Lanyin smiled and shook her head. You must be kidding. How could she know?
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