Chapter 71: The colleagues pushed Song Jin into Lu Junnian's fold
Ji Shubai was determined to get Song Jin's red deed, get her released from citizenship, and put the matter to rest. However, he never expected that Lu Junnian would insist on making things difficult for him.
"Why do you want to stop her from leaving her citizenship?"
"Why did I stop her from leaving her citizenship?"
"You said that if I admit my feelings, you will let her go."
"Oh," Lu Junnian said, as if he had just remembered, "I think I said that."
"Then you should give it to me."
Lu Junnian looked up from behind the desk where a pile of lawsuits were spread out, and said seriously, "You haven't told me your plan yet."
"What are you going to do?"
"Is it to marry a wife, a concubine, or a maid?"
"I didn't do anything but help her get rid of her citizenship. How many times do you want me to tell you that?"
Lu Junnian sighed, "Ah, you are still too young. How about this, if you really want it, I will give you a chance. You are a fifth-rank official, and I am a sixth-rank official. As long as you use your power to pressure me, I will give it to you immediately."
Ji Shubai was anxious: "Brother Lu, we have known each other for many years, how could I possibly use my product grade to suppress you?"
Lu Junnian smiled: "You still have some conscience." After laughing, he became serious again: "Then you should also consider me. What did I say at Bai's house that day? Should I punish her? But now you let her go. What does this mean? Are you letting bygones be bygones? Do I look so easy to bully?"
Ji Shubai frowned after hearing this: "I haven't thought about that."
"I know you haven't thought about it. All you can think about is helping that young lady." Lu Junnian complained, "Let me ask you, have they rented a yard to reopen the store?"
"I heard that's the case."
"Just now they poisoned an official, and now they are opening a shop in another place. Tell me, is this appropriate?"
Lu Junnian felt that it was not appropriate for Song Jin to open a shop right now. He had just poisoned the family that day, and he used this as an excuse to make a scene at the Bai family, and took all the people away as punishment. As a result, not only were all of them stripped of their citizenship and released, but they also opened a shop in a new place. Anyone who saw this would think they were in the same group, right?
He didn't want to do it so ostentatiously, as this would give people something to talk about, and then even if he was right, he would become unreasonable.
"I didn't think it through."
"It's okay. I've thought about it for you."
Just when Ji Shubai was about to ask what he had considered, a clerk came in and said that the prefect wanted to see Lord Ji about something.
Ji Shubai had no choice but to follow him. When he came back, he knew what Lu Junnian meant by "I've considered it carefully".
It is now May and the Dragon Boat Festival flood is just around the corner. In order to understand the current flood disaster prevention situation and prepare response measures, Governor Lin decided to send people to various places to check the flood prevention and flood situation.
This matter should not have fallen on Ji Shubai's head, but the wife of Mr. Zhang, who was originally in charge of water conservancy, was seriously ill and it was not suitable for her to travel far at the moment, so it was assigned to Lu Junnian.
Lu Junnian was overwhelmed with a pile of lawsuits and was too busy to spare time, so he recommended Ji Shubai to the prefect for legitimate reasons.
Ji Shubai was a widow and had nothing to do, so she went to see him every day. When the clerk went to see him, he was already at Lu Junnian's place.
Ji Shubai had no way to defend himself, so he had to accept the assignment and prepare for the inspection.
Now came the problem. They would be gone for at least a month, and he was always afraid something might happen if he left Song Jin here. He also felt from the bottom of his heart that what Lu Junnian said made sense. For now, it would be better for Song Jin and his group not to do business outside, so as not to give people something to talk about.
So, he came up with a brilliant idea: to take Song Jin out.
Song Jin is the backbone of the group. If she is taken away, the group will naturally become quieter.
Thinking of this, Ji Shubai ordered Qingshan to prepare a sedan chair and returned to the old house by himself.
Along the way, Ji Shubai frowned and thought about how to talk to Song Jin. She was so excited, how could he stop her?
In the end, there is only one solution: cheat.
Ji Shubai couldn't help but sneer. Now he had to hide the truth from one side and deceive the other side. He, a fifth-rank official, had to be caught between two people.
Song Jin had just finished eating and drinking with everyone when she saw Qingshan come in and call her, saying that Ji Shubai was back and wanted to see her. She thought that the red contract had been returned, so she went there happily.
However......
"Shall I go on patrol with you?"
"Yes, things are urgent. You can come with me tomorrow."
"But the Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon..."
"Because it's the Dragon Boat Festival, we can't relax."
Song Jin scratched her leg. She didn’t understand what Ji Shubai’s inspection had to do with her.
"Didn't you say that the people of the Ming Dynasty are living in poverty and hardship? Come with me tomorrow to take a look, so that you won't tell me nonsense again."
childish!
Lu Junnian wanted to send Ji Shubai away so that he would not be unable to deal with Song Jin and bother him every day.
Ji Shubai thought that with the tempers of Song Jin and Lu Junnian, if he didn't mediate between them, when he came back, one of them would either lose his job or go to jail. He didn't want to see either of them, so he simply took Song Jin away.
After a while, Lu Junnian's anger subsided and the matter of Shidinglou was forgotten. Song Jin would just come back to continue his business, which was good for everyone.
Only Song Jin's face twisted into a ball: "But I have rented a shop..."
"It's not that I don't allow you to open it, it's just that you should open it later so that Lord Lu will look better."
"......All right."
Helplessly, Song Jin went back that night and told everyone about it. Everyone agreed, especially Lu Junnian. If he really thought so, it would be better to listen to him. After all, the people should not fight against the officials.
So after considering all parties, they decided not to open the shop for the time being, and waited until Lord Lu calmed down and the Bai family let the matter go.
Early the next morning, everyone moved to Guhuai Street as agreed, except Song Jin, who simply packed a yellow silk bag, put on a blue cloth robe and followed Ji Shubai.
She was used to wearing men's clothes, and they were convenient for traveling. In addition, all the new and old clothes she had previously acquired were men's, so she didn't consider women's clothes.
Ji Shubai seemed to be used to seeing her like this and didn't criticize her.
Suzhou has well-developed waterways and most people travel by boat, and this time is no exception.
Song Jin was wearing a cotton Taoist robe and followed Ji Shubai, looking neither like a servant nor an official. There were about a dozen people with him, but Song Jin only recognized Qingshan.
"Sir? Sir?" Song Jin started to mutter to Ji Shubai as he got on the boat: "What am I going to do this time? An attendant? A servant? A waiter?"
Ji Shubai pursed his lips and looked her up and down. It was hard to say with what identity Song Jin was traveling with him.
"If I were to be your personal servant, I would have to take off my clothes for you."
Song Jin added something inexplicably, but before Ji Shubai could speak, Qing Shan beside him laughed first: "My master has never been served by a woman. If Miss Lu comes to serve him this time, it will be the first time."
Song Jin wanted to laugh after hearing this: "Do you want it, sir?"
She was too lazy to pretend about this matter. Firstly, she was thick-skinned and didn't care. Secondly, she saw that Ji Shubai had a good figure and didn't mind observing him from a close distance.
Secondly, she was born as a slave of low status, so she couldn't even establish a chastity arch. In the Ming Dynasty, a slave who could undress for the master was a top-class slave, and she was not even qualified. What was there to pretend to be pure about?
Ji Shubai, on the other hand, blushed at Song Jin's teasing: "Stop talking nonsense, I don't need it."
Seeing that he had succeeded, Song Jin asked, "If that's the case, would you please let me choose for myself?"
After just one night, Song Jin forgot about the interruption of his business. He just thought of himself as going on a long trip. He felt much happier and spoke as lively as before.
"Okay, tell me what you think."
Ji Shubai knew that she had already had this idea, so he asked casually, only to see Song Jin grinning and saying, "I want to be your retainer."
"Guest?" Ji Shubai opened his delicate eyes wide, with a look of disbelief on his face: "You?"
"Why not? I know a little about our Ming Dynasty."
Ji Shubai suddenly wanted to laugh: "Menke? How old are you this year?"
Song Jin thought that he was thirty years old, but then he changed his mind and realized that Mancao was only eighteen this year.
"How can this be calculated based on age? This is not fair."
"Okay, then tell me, what achievements have you made now, or in what areas have you made some accomplishments?" Ji Shubai looked like he had heard a very funny joke, and he actually became serious. He sat up straight and faced Song Jin, but he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.
Song Jin tilted his head, thinking for a while and was about to speak, but Ji Shubai suddenly interrupted him, "Don't mention Qingxutian again."
Song Jin suddenly wilted.
Ji Shubai looked at Song Jin, his smile widened, and suggested, "How about I help you think of one."
"What?"
"You are Lord Lu's retainer, so come with me."
Ji Shubai pushed Song Jin into Lu Junnian's fold, because he knew Song Jin's mouth too well. If he said something strange, wouldn't he have to explain it?
If he was pushed under Lu Junnian, it would have nothing to do with him. Lu Junnian was not present anyway, so there was no need to feel embarrassed.
"Okay." As long as he doesn't have to be a servant.
"And I have to set some rules for you."
Song Jin: “???”
"I have to visit a lot of places this time. In the past, you could say whatever you wanted at my house, but when you are away from home, I hope you..."
"I will keep my mouth shut and never bring any trouble to the adults."
Song Jin made a solemn promise, but Ji Shubai couldn't help but add: "If you have any ideas or dissatisfaction, just tell me in private. Don't get angry with others, and don't use those...those..."
"I understand."
Ji Shubai was almost telling him not to cause trouble, and Song Jin naturally understood.
Song Jin treated this trip as a tour around Suzhou, a Ming Dynasty version. She watched with her eyes open, thinking that she would definitely not point fingers. She had learned this in the 21st century.
Listen more, watch more, and talk less to stay safe.
The inspection team consisted of 15 people, divided into three small boats, and set out from Changzhou County. They first took the small river to inspect the situation in the county, and then went to Wu County and Wujiang County for inspection. As for the other counties, they were handed over to another Tongpan to inspect.
Song Jin was in a good mood now that she had a status. Since she had nothing to do on the boat, she couldn't wait to see the scenery of the Ming Dynasty. She couldn't sit still on the boat and had to run to the bow to see it.
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