Chapter 81 is too classic, absolutely too classic. ...
Lin Yan came out of the Imperial Study and looked up to see Li Defu waiting under the corridor with a smile on his face. His smile was as kind as that of Maitreya Buddha in a temple.
"Lord Lin," Li Defu greeted him, "your new official robe has been delivered to your residence. Would you like to go back home and change into it before heading to the Ministry of Revenue?"
Lin Yan was stunned for a moment before he remembered that he had been promoted and his official robes were different. He cupped his hands to Li Defu and said, "Thank you for informing me, Eunuch Li."
Li Defu's smile remained unchanged, and he lowered his voice to add, "Minister Zhang has already spoken to the Ministry of Revenue. They all know you're going there today. Don't worry, Minister Zhang is a kind and easy-going person."
Lin Yan thanked him again, knowing perfectly well that Li Defu knew he had been very frustrated working under Wu Haimin, and this was a reminder to him.
Indeed, Xiao Che would never send someone to a messy department to clean up the messes of a bunch of people. Besides, if the Minister of Revenue were really someone like Wu Haimin, Xiao Che would have dismissed him long ago.
Sitting in the carriage on his way home, Lin Yan began to make plans.
The Ministry of Revenue is quite different from the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Sacrifices. It manages real money and grain accounts, and there are probably more seasoned veterans there than in the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Sacrifices, and they are probably a generation older than him.
First impressions are important, so a down-to-earth opening is essential.
Inviting someone to dinner is a timeless and universal method for building closer relationships.
As soon as he got home, before his feet even touched the ground, Lin Yan instructed his servants: "Go to Wuweizhai and order a good banquet. Have them deliver it to the Ministry of Revenue at the end of the 11 PM sharp. Remember, order plenty of hearty dishes and make sure the portions are generous."
After instructing the servants to prepare the meal, Lin Yan went straight to Wen Yun's place.
"Mother, please help me." Lin Yan didn't have much time, and she walked briskly.
Wen Yun was looking at the family's account books, but she put them down when she heard this: "What do you need Mother's help with?"
“My son has been promoted to Vice Minister of Revenue. Today is his first day of reporting for duty, and he wants to bring some gifts for his colleagues. Mother has good taste, so please help me pick out something that is decent, practical, and not too flashy. I’ll take it with me in a bit,” Lin Yan said.
Upon hearing this, Wen Yun pondered for a moment and said, "There are still quite a few fine writing brushes and ink in the storeroom. One set for each person would be both elegant and practical. We would also add some fine tea, packaged in small porcelain jars. What do you think?"
“My son thinks it’s feasible.” Lin Yan nodded. “Let’s do as Mother says.”
After preparing a gift for his new colleague, Lin Yan returned to his room.
The brand-new official robe of the Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue was already neatly hung on the clothes rack.
The robe was a deep crimson, second only to the Minister's purple, and was embroidered with exquisite cloud and goose patches in gold and silver thread, with a gold belt attached to the side.
Lin Yan deftly changed into his new outfit, tied on a gold belt, hung up his silver fish pouch, and looked at himself in the bronze mirror.
The young man in the mirror was tall and straight, wearing a scarlet robe and a jade belt, which made his face look even more handsome. His eyebrows still showed a bit of immaturity, but it was suppressed by the majestic official robe, revealing a calm and composed demeanor.
It's true that clothes make the man and a saddle makes the horse.
At this moment, Wen Yun also had the prepared gifts delivered, two large boxes in total.
Lin Yan checked the time and, not daring to delay any longer, quickly went out, got into the carriage, and headed to the Ministry of Revenue.
When the carriage arrived at the Ministry of Revenue, it was just past noon. Coincidentally, the waiters from Wuweizhai Restaurant who were delivering the meal also arrived at the door carrying several large food boxes, filling the air with a delicious aroma.
Upon seeing this, Lin Yan immediately smiled and said to the leading waiter, "You've come at the right time. Please carry it inside."
He had just led the delivery boy into the room when Zhang Houpu, the Minister of Revenue, came out with several officials to greet him.
Zhang Houpu was a trusted minister of Emperor Xiao Che, whose abilities and prestige were beyond question.
"Oh, Minister Lin, we've been waiting for you!" Minister Zhang laughed heartily, stepping forward and cupping his hands in greeting. "Welcome, welcome! From now on, we'll be colleagues in the same office, sharing His Majesty's burdens together!"
Lin Yan quickly bowed deeply: "This humble official, Lin Yan, greets Your Excellency. I am new here and hope that Your Excellency and my colleagues will provide me with guidance and support in the future." His attitude was extremely humble.
Minister Zhang helped him up: "Vice Minister Lin, you're too kind. You're young and promising, personally selected by His Majesty. You're a valiant general in our Ministry of Revenue. Come, come, it's almost lunchtime. You even brought wine and food? That's too much of an expense. Perfect, let's eat and chat, and let everyone get to know each other."
As he spoke, he called to the officials of the Ministry of Revenue, "Please stop what you are doing for now. Today is the first day of Vice Minister Lin's arrival. We have prepared a feast for everyone. Let's have a good time together!"
The officials in the yamen had already smelled the aroma. As soon as they heard the Minister speak, cheers erupted, and they all gathered around. The yamen runners quickly moved tables and chairs, putting them together to form a long table. Dishes from Wuweizhai were laid out in a continuous stream: chicken, duck, fish, meat, and seasonal fresh vegetables, all steaming hot and tempting to the eye.
Taking the opportunity, Lin Yan had his attendants bring over the gifts Wen Yun had prepared and personally handed them to his colleagues one by one, saying, "These are just small gifts, nothing more. I hope you will all take good care of me as we become officials together in the future."
The guests received the gifts, which were quite heavy. They were fine stationery and tea, both elegant and practical, and reasonably priced, so that they would not feel burdened. They immediately felt much more favorably disposed toward the young new vice minister.
For a time, words of thanks and greetings filled the air, and the atmosphere was as lively as an annual meeting.
As Zhang Houpu watched this scene, he stroked his beard, his smile deepening.
After everyone took their seats, Zhang Houpu naturally sat in the main seat. He specially pulled Lin Yan to sit next to him. After several rounds of tea and dishes, he began to introduce the main colleagues present to Lin Yan.
He first pointed to an official sitting opposite Lin Yan: "Minister Lin, this is Lord Chu, Chu Ye, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Like you, he is a deputy minister."
Lin Yan had noticed this Vice Minister Chu long ago. This man looked a few years older than him, around thirty years old, with a thin face, bright eyes with a hint of sharpness, but the corners of his mouth were naturally slightly upturned, giving him a somewhat amiable appearance even when he wasn't smiling. He was wearing the same scarlet cloud-and-goose-patterned robe as Lin Yan, and had a capable demeanor.
When Chu Ye was introduced, he smiled and raised his glass: "Minister Lin, I've long admired your name. We must work together sincerely in the future." He spoke slowly, but gave people a sense of reliability.
Lin Yan quickly raised his cup in return: "You flatter me, Vice Minister Chu. I have long admired you. I will need to consult you on many matters in the future." The two smiled at each other.
Zhang Houpu added with a smile, "Minister Chu is mainly responsible for a whole host of matters, including the population, land, taxes, and local contributions. Minister Lin, you are mainly responsible for the financial budget and revenue and expenditure plan of our Great Yu. To put it bluntly, you are responsible for planning and allocating various expenditures based on the money and grain collected from all over the country. Military expenses, official salaries, royal expenses, project funding, and so on all have to pass through your hands. The burden on your shoulders is not light!"
Lin Yan listened attentively, his mind racing with calculations.
His position is similar to a combination of CFO and finance minister.
After introducing the two vice ministers, Minister Zhang then introduced several of Lin Yanzhi's subordinates, including the chief physicians, assistant chief physicians, and principal officers.
Just as Lin Yan had expected, these officials were all older than him, the youngest of whom looked to be over thirty. They all had calm expressions and eyes that revealed the shrewdness and caution unique to senior financial personnel.
They all offered tea to Lin Yan, their attitude respectful yet scrutinizing.
After going through the rounds, Lin Yan basically matched the faces with the official titles.
After getting to know everyone, the atmosphere became increasingly harmonious. Several officials who were already married with children and were older inevitably began to inquire about their superior's personal life.
A doctor asked with a smile, "Minister Lin is so young and promising, I wonder if you are married? If you are not yet married, I have a distant niece at home, who is in her prime and has a gentle and kind nature..."
Once he started, the others around him joined in the fun.
"Yes, yes, Minister Lin is a handsome and talented man with a bright future. It's time for him to consider settling down and starting a family."
"My family also has several pretty young ladies..."
"Once you're married and have a virtuous wife, your mind will be at peace, and you'll be able to focus more on serving the court!"
It's so classic, so incredibly classic.
Whether in modern or ancient times, it seems that colleagues are always keen on introducing potential partners to each other.
Thank you everyone, but I really don't need any introductions.
"Thank you all for your kind offer. However, I have just arrived at the Ministry of Revenue and there are many things to be done. I only want to do the job assigned by His Majesty first and have no time to consider personal matters. This matter needs to be considered in the long run, hehe." Lin Yan vaguely brushed off the matter.
Seeing that he said this, the others did not press him further. They simply smiled and made some jokes, such as "Minister Lin is truly diligent and conscientious" and "His Majesty is very fortunate to have such a good minister," before turning the topic back to official business.
Lin Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly ate a few bites of food to calm her nerves.
The welcoming banquet was a great success, with both hosts and guests thoroughly enjoying themselves.
After the meal, Zhang Houpu personally led Lin Yan to the duty room that had been prepared for him. It was spacious and bright, and everything was new.
Chu Ye also came over, and the two chatted briefly about the handover process for future work. They had a very pleasant conversation and indeed felt like they had known each other for a long time and had a tacit understanding.
Lin Yan has worked for many years in his past and present lives. Apart from the Hanlin Academy, where he rarely works, his current colleagues in the Ministry of Revenue seem to be the most reliable.
After seeing Zhang Houpu and Chu Ye off, Lin Yan sat alone in his new duty room, watching the officials coming and going in the Ministry of Revenue courtyard outside the window, and touching the smooth scarlet official robe on his body.
New job, new beginnings!
Inside the Imperial Study, the air was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood. After reviewing the last memorial, Xiao Che placed his vermilion brush on the brush holder, leaned back slightly in his chair, and rubbed his tired brow.
The hall was quiet, with only the ticking of the water clock.
He looked up at Li Defu, who stood respectfully to his side, and asked casually, "Li Defu, what time is it? Lin Yan has been at the Ministry of Revenue for some time now, hasn't he? Is he settled in yet?"
Li Defu immediately stepped forward: "Your Majesty, it is already past 3 PM. Lord Lin arrived at the Ministry of Revenue before noon, and Jin Jiu just sent word back. This servant was just thinking of waiting for Your Majesty to finish his work before reporting to Your Majesty."
"Oh?" Xiao Che raised an eyebrow, picked up the warm tea beside him and took a sip. His tone was calm, but his eyes revealed a hint of inquiry. "How is the situation over there? Those old officials in the Ministry of Revenue didn't give him any trouble, did they?"
He knew Lin Yan was clever, but he was still young. Suddenly being in a high position and facing a group of seasoned veterans, he might encounter some challenges.
Li Defu's smile deepened, tinged with genuine admiration: "Your Majesty, rest assured, Lord Lin is extremely thorough and meticulous in his handling of affairs. Not only did he not encounter any difficulties, but he also got along very well."
He reported in detail: "Before Lord Lin entered the yamen, he specially ordered a table of fine food from Wuweizhai, the best restaurant outside the palace, and delivered it to the yamen at the appointed time. He also prepared fine writing brushes, ink and tea as a greeting gift, which was given to everyone. It was neither too expensive nor ostentatious, but very thoughtful and practical. When Minister Zhang and his officials welcomed him, he took the opportunity to hold a welcome banquet in the yamen. After the meal, everyone in the Ministry of Revenue praised the new vice minister, saying that Lord Lin was young but experienced in handling affairs, sincere in dealing with people, and had no airs at all."
As Xiao Che listened, the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up. He could almost picture Lin Yan mingling with ease and smiling among the group of old ministers. The slight worry in his heart instantly vanished.
Li Defu continued, "During the meal, Minister Zhang personally introduced Lord Lin to Vice Minister Chu Ye, as well as several important subordinates, including the physicians. According to Jin Jiu, Lord Lin and Vice Minister Chu had a very pleasant conversation and seemed to hit it off immediately. After the meal, Minister Zhang personally led Lord Lin to his quarters to settle in. Everything there was brand new and extremely thoughtful."
"Yes, Zhang Houpu is a capable person." Xiao Che nodded in satisfaction.
His choice was certainly correct.
He also had some impression of Chu Ye; he was a capable man. It was a good thing that Lin Yan could get along with him.
As if remembering something, Li Defu added, "Oh, right, there are also several older officials at the banquet who want to act as matchmakers for Lord Lin and inquire about marriage arrangements."
Xiao Che paused for a moment while holding the teacup, and his eyes suddenly swept towards Li Defu.
Li Defu was shrewd enough to immediately reply, "However, Lord Lin declined immediately, saying that he had just arrived at the Ministry of Revenue and there was much to be done. He was only focused on doing his job well for His Majesty and had no time to think about personal matters. He then easily brushed the matter aside."
Xiao Che's expression finally softened.
Unfortunately, he and Lin Yan couldn't make a big fuss about it, otherwise no one would have wanted to haul coal for Lin Yan.
In the end, he had let Lin Yan down.
After a moment's thought, Xiao Che instructed, "Now that he's settled, let him do his job well. Tell Jin Jiu that he doesn't need to report back frequently on trivial matters. Just protect him and don't disturb him when he's working unless it's urgent."
Xiao Che knew that Lin Yan, though seemingly carefree, was actually extremely serious about his duties. Now that he had gone to the Ministry of Revenue, he was bound to make a name for himself.
"Yes, this old servant understands," Li Defu replied, bowing.
Xiao Che waved his hand, and Li Defu quietly withdrew, instructing someone to deliver a message to Jin Jiu.
A new official takes office and faces countless tasks, including dealing with interpersonal relationships, which is both mentally and physically exhausting.
He pondered for a moment, then suddenly called out, "Someone come here."
Li Lian followed the call and entered.
"Go to the imperial kitchen and give the order to stew a pot of rock sugar bird's nest later, and put it in a warm box." Xiao Che thought for a moment, then added, "Prepare a few more dishes and send them to the Lin residence for dinner."
Li Lianshun was stunned for a moment, but he understood immediately and went to carry out the order.
His Majesty truly treats Lord Lin with great care.
Xiao Che felt a little more at ease and refocused his attention on the memorial.
Official business is official business, but he still has to care about his people.
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Author's Note: If Xinmei could, she'd want to announce it to the whole world [doge emoji]
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