Chapter 163 People Useful to the Court and the State
A few days ago, Longcheng County was shrouded in drizzle.
The sun is shining brightly today.
It's rare for the sky to clear up like this.
The Su Mansion on Luming Street seems to have taken its name from the Su family patriarch, Su Xian, as it featured many unique and exquisite Jiangnan-style gardens from the very beginning of its construction.
Some gardens are filled with flowers and trees, pavilions and towers, strange rocks and rockeries.
Some have white walls and green tiles, a few stalks of green bamboo, and painted windows, a dazzling array of sights.
Others feature flowing springs, low walls, latticed windows, exotic flowers and rare herbs, and winding corridors.
Various styles and designs.
All of this reveals the refined taste and sentiments of the garden's owner, a wealthy man who is detached from worldly affairs and enjoys a leisurely life.
When Ouyang Rong first came here, he almost got lost, but luckily a maid from the Su family led the way.
However, because he occasionally came to see his junior sister or Su Dalang, he gradually became familiar with the route after coming a few times.
The same is true today.
In the morning, on the southeast side of the Su residence.
Outside a slightly secluded garden called Juxian Garden, inside a high pavilion for people to rest, several figures were drinking tea and waiting.
The tea was almost cold.
"Sir, where is Su Dalang? Didn't he ask us to go to Yunshui Pavilion for some health and wellness today? We agreed to meet here, but why is he nowhere to be seen? The tea's gone cold."
Yan Liulang, who had rushed over excitedly to wait, complained a little:
"Hey, we finally got a day off to go out and have some fun, but that bastard Dalang keeps standing us up. No way, he has to treat us later!"
Yan Liulang said through gritted teeth.
He wasn't wearing his blue constable uniform today, but rather a black round-necked robe, which looked quite neat and dashing.
This elevated pavilion is located in the center of the pond and is connected to the shore by a wide and narrow waterfront walkway.
The surrounding area was a deep blue pond, in which several golden carp swam.
Meilu Garden was right next door. Ouyang Rong arrived earlier than Yan Liulang and waited longer.
However, at this moment, inside the waterside pavilion, he leaned against the railing with great interest, holding a box of fish bait in his left hand, and gently scattering it into the pond with his fingers.
The golden carp gently swayed its tail.
"They're probably taking a bath or changing clothes."
Ouyang Rong slowly fed the fish, his back to the Juxian Garden where Su Jia Dalang lived not far away, and said softly:
"Just before you arrived, he came out briefly, looking very excited. He said he had just finished his morning classes and was going to see the teacher off, after which he should be able to rest for half a day..."
"Hey, why does this sound like a holiday or school break? But it seems like Brother Su's studies are really demanding, with only half a day off each month."
Ouyang Rong sighed.
Yan Liulang gasped for breath:
"Wow, only half a day? Are people studying this hard these days?"
"Isn't it supposed to be about seeking pleasure, composing poems, and having beautiful women by your side? I used to think that being a scholar was easier than us roughnecks beating gongs in the county government office."
"Still not satisfied after half a day?"
Ouyang Rong's face hardened:
"Only those who are useless to the court and the country will be given long holidays. For a pillar of the nation like Dalang, a star among scholars, taking half a day off is already the highest level of tolerance he can show for himself."
"..." Yan Liulang.
"Prime Minister, what about you?"
"Me? I'm just keeping you company."
Ouyang Rong sighed and shook his head, put down the round bait box in his hand, reached out and took the handkerchief that Liu Ashan handed him, and wiped his hands.
He turned and said in a serious tone:
"You all cooperated brilliantly in dealing with the Liu family's matter the other day. I'm taking you out for some fun to reward you. This is called team building, you know?"
Yan Liulang and Liu Ashan looked at each other, not understanding what "team building" was, but that didn't prevent them from grasping the general idea.
Moreover, the young county magistrate in front of them often uttered strange and unusual words. The two men, who had not read much, assumed that he was a learned scholar with extensive knowledge, and that his words were similar to "zhi hu zhe ye" (a classical Chinese phrase), which were the words of sages from ancient books.
As for why Master Xie, who was well-versed in classical texts, sometimes stared blankly at them... well, it goes without saying, it's because the senior brother's knowledge was more extensive and profound than the junior sister's.
"Also, we're not going to the Yunshui Pavilion for health preservation today. Liu Lang, stop thinking about these things all the time. I'll talk to Da Lang when he comes out later."
Ouyang Rong shrugged:
"Let's go out more and do other things that are good for our health, instead of always thinking about health preservation."
Yan Liulang muttered to himself, "But I think the health-preserving tea ceremony is also quite beneficial to both body and mind..."
“Ashan’s family is about to arrange a marriage for him, so don’t lead him astray.” Ouyang Rong curled his lip. “Besides, he can’t go now even if he wants to.”
Yan Liulang asked curiously, "Ah, why is that?"
“When I came back last time, I had the Municipal Administration Office send an official document to Yunshui Pavilion, ordering it to make rectifications.”
"..." Yan Liulang.
His eyes held a hint of resentment. "My lord, I heard from Brother Ashan that Miss Weilai has recently returned. You're not worried about anything now..."
"It has nothing to do with Wei Lai."
Ouyang Rong shook his head, then nodded and said:
“To open a brothel, you need a business license from the Imperial Music Bureau. They’re operating a perfectly good restaurant for eating and watching plays, which is both illegal and skirting the law. That won’t do.”
Yan Liulang smacked his lips for a moment, then muttered under his breath, "The magistrate is really strict."
Ouyang Rong's expression became more serious:
“Strictness is necessary. I don’t know about other places, but in Longcheng County, it has to be this way. Brothels are not forbidden, but they must be compliant with regulations, and the source of the prostitutes must also be legal.”
He shook his head: "Otherwise, if we let brothels develop unregulatedly, it will be easy for morals to decline, and it wouldn't be surprising if some good people were forced into prostitution. That's not good, it's very bad."
Yan Liulang shut his mouth, his previous nonchalant expression vanished, and he nodded:
"The magistrate's considerations are indeed thorough."
Ouyang Rong shook his head.
Just then.
On the path leading to the pond from Juxian Garden not far away, a tall figure appeared, running hurriedly.
"Lianghan, Liulang, this is terrible!"
With a worried expression, Su Dalang ran along the narrow path into the waterside pavilion, sighing as he addressed the stunned Ouyang Rong and the others:
"It seems I can't go. I was supposed to see Mr. Yuan off, but for some reason, he got interested today and said he would give me a few more lessons to teach me how to write parallel prose."
"Lianghan, Liulang, I have to stay here and keep the old gentleman company. You two go and have fun."
Su Dalang looked like a defeated rooster, sighing and groaning, a stark contrast to his appearance in the morning.
Ouyang Rong couldn't help but glance at him again, "You don't even have half a day off on your once-a-month day off?"
Su Dalang nodded miserably.
Yan Liulang couldn't help but pat him on the shoulder and comfort him:
"It's alright, it's alright. In the words of the magistrate, you are a person who will be of great use to the court and the country. It's a good thing."
Su Dalang was taken aback. "What do you mean by someone who is of great use to the court and the nation?"
Ouyang Rong glared at Yan Liulang.
The latter shrank back, then seemed to remember something, and turned serious, saying:
"By the way, Dalang, why don't you give us the money? Didn't you say you were treating us? We'll help you spend it."
"..."
Su Dalang remained silent for a long time, but still silently reached into his pocket and took out the silver beans.
He said with a serious expression:
“It was indeed my pleasure to treat you. I've kept Lianghan, Liulang, and Brother Ashan waiting. Are you going to Yunshui Pavilion? Well, I'll pay for it then…”
"Just kidding, don't take it seriously, don't listen to Liu Lang's nonsense."
Ouyang Rong quickly pressed Su Dalang's hand down and shook his head.
He pondered for a moment, then frowned slightly and asked:
"Big Brother, is this Mr. Yuan the wise teacher your father found for you that you've often mentioned before?"
Su Dalang's expression became more solemn, and he nodded, saying:
"The old gentleman's surname is Yuan, and his courtesy name is Xiangshan. He used to be a famous official in the court, but later he retired... Mr. Yuan is highly respected and learned. My father told me to follow him and learn from him."
When Ouyang Rong saw Su Dalang's face, although his expression was serious, there still seemed to be some disappointment in his eyes.
He tried saying, "How about I put in a good word for you and see if I can give you half a day off? You must be exhausted."
"Let's forget about it," Su Dalang said hesitantly. "Old Mr. Yuan is a good person, but his temper is a bit strange."
He shook his head, changed the subject, and prepared to take his leave.
"Lianghan, Liulang, you two go ahead, I have to go back. I really can't accompany you to Yunshui Pavilion for health tea this time, sigh."
Ouyang Rong was about to speak.
An aged voice suddenly came from the shore not far from the waterside pavilion;
"What kind of health-preserving tea should we drink? Da Lang, is this the friend you mentioned waiting for?"
Ouyang Rong, Yan Liulang, and Liu Ashan all turned their heads curiously.
An elderly scholar dressed in a purple Confucian robe, surrounded by four pageboys, walked through the narrow path over the pond and entered the high pavilion in the middle of the water.
The old scholar was around seventy years old, with gray hair and beard, many age spots on his face, and a cane in his hand.
The pageboys behind him respectfully carried the books and boxes.
Ouyang Rong even saw someone bring over a teacup.
They certainly have a big ego.
"Teacher, what brings you here?"
Su Dalang immediately went to greet him and respectfully helped the old scholar up.
Yuan Xiangshan nodded and said, "I've come to see the friends you've made."
Su Dalang: "Teacher, Brother Lianghan and Brother Yan are getting ready to go back. Your disciple will go back to class now..."
Yuan Xiangshan shook his head and remained silent.
Leaning on his cane, he led his page to sit directly in the main seat near the center of the lake in the waterside pavilion, raised his eyelids, and looked Ouyang Rong and the others over one by one.
"My health is not very good, so please take a seat. You all, please sit down as well."
After Yuan Xiangshan sat down, he took the tea offered by his page, took a sip, and then slowly said.
Su Dalang cast a helpless glance his way.
Upon seeing this, Ouyang Rong and the others exchanged glances, but instead of sitting down, they remained standing.
Yuan Xiangshan didn't stand on ceremony any longer. After asking Su Dalang about the names of Ouyang Rong and the others, he cleared his throat and said:
"What kind of health tea is this Yunshui Pavilion? Where are you all taking Dalang?"
Yan Liulang coughed, "Nowhere, just planning to go on a spring outing or something, old man..."
"Knock knock—"
Yuan Xiangshan suddenly tapped the ground with his cane, interrupting Yan Liulang's explanation:
"Hmph, don't think I don't know. I'm not some old pedant. I've been your age before, so I know all the intricacies among you young people."
"What do you mean by drinking health tea? Why would someone so young drink health tea? Isn't that just a code? Who knows, he might be going to some brothel to seek pleasure?"
"Don't try to fool this old man."
The people inside the waterside pavilion were immediately speechless.
Yuan Xiangshan lowered his head and leisurely sipped his tea, then nodded and said:
"Ha, was I right? You lot, drinking all kinds of tea will only harm you..."
"..." Ouyang Rong, Su Dalang, and others.
Yuan Xiangshan turned to Su Dalang and frowned, saying:
"When I saw how anxious you were this morning, I guessed you weren't going to behave, and I was right."
"Hey, you shouldn't have taken this holiday. You've become so unruly if you relax even a little. Now you're even drinking health tea. What are you planning to do in the future? What kind of tea do you want to drink?"
Su Dalang opened his mouth: "Teacher, I, your student..."
Yuan Xiangshan tapped his cane lightly to interrupt, and said with his eyelids lowered:
"Your father and mother have high hopes for you, entrusting you to this old man so that you can study hard. Look at yourself, do you live up to the earnest expectations of your family?"
"What do you mean, 'you'? Come here and stand here. We'll talk to you when we get back."
Su Dalang nodded dejectedly, standing obediently behind the stern old scholar who sat upright with a cane, serving his teacher a teacup.
Seeing this, Yan Liulang couldn't help but explain:
"Sir, you've really misunderstood. We're not going for tea this time..."
"So you mean you've been there before?"
"..."
Yuan Xiangshan shook his head in disappointment and glared at Su Dalang, saying:
"Did you go there last time? Tell the truth. Dalang, how can I let you have a holiday without my knowledge? You've been led astray so easily..."
Su Dalang's face flushed red, and he said in a low, urgent voice, "Teacher, I was wrong, please stop, Lianghan and the others are still here..."
His own teacher said these things directly and bluntly in front of his friend.
It's not just a matter of disrespecting him.
Su Dalang's face was burning, and he couldn't help but cast apologetic glances at Ouyang Rong, Yan Liulang, and the others.
Ouyang Rong shook his head slightly.
However, he couldn't help but glance sideways at Su Dalang's teacher, who had a very "fatherly" air about him.
The latter continued to offer endless advice.
The scene he had seen in Su Dalang's study flashed through Ouyang Rong's mind again.
He understood some things now, but when he looked at Su Dalang again, he couldn't help but sigh.
"Young Master, I understand that you have come of age and are an adult, but look at the time and your situation."
Yuan Xiangshan clasped his hands together, leaned on his cane, and pounded the floor as he admonished them. He seemed oblivious to whether his words would embarrass Su Dalang, Ouyang Rong, and the others, or perhaps the old man simply didn't care.
"I'm not saying you should share your parents' burdens, but at least don't let them worry. Now is the time to focus on your studies. Have you finished reading the Erya? What about the Zhouli? Put aside matters of love and romance for now, and also put aside your playfulness. Put all of that aside and focus on your studies first..."
"When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it will first test his mind, strain his muscles and bones, and starve his body... I won't say that you will strain your muscles and bones or starve your body, but how about you test your mind a little?"
"You, you're really going to drive your teacher crazy."
Thump thump thump—!
The sound of the cane tapping the ground echoed in the waterside pavilion. The old scholar glared at him, his tone stern.
"Yes, yes, the student won't dare to do it again, teacher, please calm down, teacher, please calm down..."
Su Dalang hurriedly offered tea, his face serious, and coaxed.
Ouyang Rong glanced at the master and disciple, but remained silent.
It's also not very suitable for making a sound.
However, the person remained silent, but Yuan Xiangshan seemed to sense the person's calm gaze.
The old scholar, whose forehead was full of wrinkles, frowned almost imperceptibly for a moment, then smoothed it out.
He returned the teacup to Su Dalang, then suddenly turned to Ouyang Rong, who had been standing silently with his sleeves tucked in, and said:
"Your name is Ouyang Lianghan, the new magistrate of Longcheng County?"
Everyone held their breath and looked at Ouyang Rong.
Ouyang Rong nodded and politely bowed three times:
"Mr. Yuan, I have admired your name for a long time, but I have lost my respect and disrespect."
(End of this chapter)
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