Chapter 136 Meeting Xiao Hanlin Again Meeting Xiao Hanlin Again
"Feng Zhang." Meng Ting greeted him as he came out.
Su Fengzhang walked over with a smile, and heard Meng Ting ask in a low voice: "Did Lord Chi give you a hard time?"
After hearing this, Su Fengzhang just smiled and said, "It's not really a problem."
Meng Ting said, "That's not the hardship. He made you wait in the scorching sun for an entire hour, and then didn't even offer you a cup of tea after you got in. That's outrageous."
Su Fengzhang didn't answer him. Instead, he asked, "It's only been a short while, and you already know this?"
Meng Ting laughed and said, "Well, the Hanlin Academy is only about the size of a palm. How can we hide what's going on with Lord Chi from others?"
Su Fengzhang raised his eyebrows slightly. He was now certain that Chi Liangjun really had no way to control the Hanlin Academy. Otherwise, as the highest scholar in the Hanlin Academy, his every move should not have been transmitted so quickly. You know, Meng Ting was also a newcomer who just took up the post today.
Meng Ting continued, "I've already told you that Lord Chi is from that side of the world. He's very unfriendly to scholars from the south. He was just like that when I went in there just now, speaking in a sarcastic tone."
Su Fengzhang laughed and said, "Now it seems that he probably hates me even more."
Meng Ting laughed when he heard this and said, "I must hate you even more. You stole the top spot from Su Que."
"Compared to the two of us, Su Qun is Lord Chi's sweetheart. I'm kind of regretting coming to the Hanlin Academy. Life is tough under his watchful eye. Maybe I should just go out and relax a bit."
"Ah, no wonder the previous top scholar was so busy being sent out. I guess he'll follow suit sooner or later."
It can be heard that Meng Ting is also full of complaints, which is not surprising. Even though he is a casual and unrestrained person, serving as an official in the court does not suit his interests. Now Chi Liangjun obviously does not value the two of them and seems to be quite cold to them.
Su Fengzhang could only pat his shoulder to comfort him: "Let's not talk about anything else. There are enough books in the Hanlin Academy, enough for us to read for three to five years."
Meng Ting thought about it and felt happier: "That's right. By the way, what does Lord Chi ask you to be responsible for?"
"Take over the work that Lord Cao is doing and continue revising the book."
Upon hearing this, Meng Ting's face showed some anger, and he cursed: "That's all he can do. Humph, you are the number one scholar favored by His Majesty, and you are not someone who will be bullied. Later we..."
Su Fengzhang stopped him and said, "That's not necessary. I think editing books is pretty good. It's both leisurely and interesting."
Meng Ting thought he was being sarcastic, but then he looked at Su Fengzhang's serious expression and couldn't help but ask, "Fengzhang, are you crazy? He has bad intentions and plans to hide you in the Hanlin Academy so that no one can see you. Why are you so happy?"
Su Fengzhang said, "I just think it's good to be able to read and edit books."
Meng Ting felt strange in his heart, and thought of what Xu Zifeng had mentioned before. He looked at Su Fengzhang with a thoughtful look, and finally patted his shoulder and said, "Okay, just be happy."
"I heard that you are moving soon. Do you need my help?" Meng Ting asked, changing the subject.
Now that he has entered the court as an official, it is not proper to live in the Scholars' Building all the time, so Su Fengzhang rented a small house in the capital and would move there when he had his leave.
The capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty has a population of one million and land prices are very high. It can be said that every inch of land is worth the same as gold.
The capital city is the place with the largest number of officials. Unless one is from a wealthy family or a family of officials, it is very difficult to buy a house. After all, their salaries are not that much.
In the capital, you either have to be granted the honor of a house, or have a lucrative position and a quick mind to make a fortune. Otherwise, it is very difficult for an official to purchase real estate on his own. This is one of the reasons why Mr. Huang was so confident at the time.
The title of poor Hanlin was not for nothing. The Hanlin Academy was a notoriously poor government office in the capital, with almost no money to make. And everyone knew that the newly crowned number one scholar Su Fengzhang was born in an ordinary family and his family had no unexpected wealth.
What he didn't know was that Su Fengzhang had no intention of buying a house in the capital. Firstly, he didn't think he would stay in the capital for a long time. After all, the mobility of officials in the Great Zhou was extremely high. Even if a top scholar was born and entered the Hanlin Academy, the possibility of staying in the capital for a lifetime was very small, and the chance of being sent to other places was greater.
Another reason is that everyone knows that he was born in an ordinary family, but he started buying real estate just a few days after entering the court. Isn't that causing trouble for himself and leaving others with gossip?
Moreover, Su Fengzhang's ideas are different from those of ancient people. He is not very obsessed with permanent property. This can be seen from the fact that his family has not added many acres of land over the years.
Compared to spending huge amounts of money to buy real estate in Beijing, he prefers to rent.
At this point, we have to mention a benefit that the Great Zhou provided to officials. Candidates could now live in the Scholars' Building when they went to take the imperial examinations, and officials who had no property could also rent the communal houses provided by the court.
It was a mansion near the east of the city, close to the location of dignitaries and the palace. In terms of price alone, every inch of land was worth a lot of money, but Emperor Taizu set aside a large piece of it and rented it only to officials serving in the capital.
Although this is only a small house with one entrance and can only be rented during the period of tenure in the capital, the price is cheap, and after leasing, the court will not take the house back unless you are sent out or convicted.
This was equivalent to a disguised subsidy for the court officials. Su Fengzhang was very satisfied after seeing it and quickly decided on the house. He was also lucky because most of the Jinshi scholars of this session were sent out of the capital, and there were still some left there.
It’s just that the house is a little off, but Su Fengzhang doesn’t care. Instead, he feels it is quiet.
When Meng Ting mentioned this, Su Fengzhang smiled and said, "Arong has almost finished packing. He's just waiting for me to take a day off before we host the moving party. You must come over for a drink then."
When Meng Ting heard this, he laughed and said, "Of course, no one can be missing but me."
After the matter was settled, the two parted ways in front of the hall. Su Fengzhang walked towards the living room at the other end. As soon as he entered, he bowed and said, "Your humble servant greets Lord Xiao."
Xiao Hanlin was sorting books. When he heard his voice, he looked up suddenly, with a look of realization in his eyes.
At the beginning, he listened to Qian Tongzhi's advice and suppressed Su Fengzhang in Qingzhou Prefecture, but he never thought that just one year later, Su Fengzhang would rise to become the number one scholar, and now he has become his colleague.
Looking at Su Fengzhang's face, Xiao Hanlin felt a lot of emotions in his heart.
When he was away from home, people called him Xiao Hanlin, but his official position was only a sixth-rank tutor. The emperor treated him very indifferently and never summoned him on weekdays. It was unknown whether he would be promoted in the future.
But Su Fengzhang was already a sixth-rank official when he first entered the Hanlin Academy, and his achievements might surpass his own in the future.
Thinking of this, Xiao Hanlin said very politely, "So it's you, Lord Su. It seems we have some connection."
Su Fengzhang immediately lowered his head and said, "When I took the provincial examination in Qingzhou, you were the invigilator. I also met you once at the Luming Banquet. However, due to my low status at that time, I never had the opportunity to have a long conversation with you. It's a pity to think about it now."
Xiao Hanlin laughed heartily and said, "We didn't have the opportunity at first, but now we're colleagues. We don't have to worry about not having long conversations."
"That's right. I am very happy to see you again, sir." Su Fengzhang also laughed.
Xiao Hanlin felt a little annoyed, but soon turned into relief. Thinking about the letter sent by Qian Tongzhi, he knew that the incident was just the work of a concubine, and that she had been dealt with and there would be no more trouble. At the same time, he thought that Su Fengzhang must not know about the incident, otherwise he would not be so calm.
Thinking of this, Xiao Hanlin's tone became even gentler: "We are all colleagues in the Hanlin Academy now. If others hear us talking about whether we are students or not, it will only make people laugh."
Su Fengzhang then said, "Master Xiao and I have a half-teacher relationship, so who can make fun of him?"
The more humble he was and the lower his status was, the happier Xiao Hanlin was. He was also one of those unsuccessful people in the Hanlin Academy. If he had not been humble all these years, he would not have been able to stay there safely until now.
However, as an official appointed by the imperial court, Xiao Hanlin could not willingly submit to such a low position, and was quite dissatisfied with Chi Liangjun.
Seeing Su Fengzhang's affection for him now, and his respect for him in both his words and deeds, he was naturally very happy, and said, "Okay, just keep this matter in your heart, there's no need to bring it up all the time."
"I have been in the Hanlin Academy for many years. Although my official position is not high, I have accumulated some connections. If you have any questions in the future, feel free to come to me." These words carried a hint of protection.
"We are all scholars from the south, and I have many connections with Qingzhou. Now we are all in the Hanlin Academy. Naturally, we must work together to rise to the top. Lord Chi has chosen you to edit the book, which shows his thoughtfulness. But you don't have to be sad. Some things are learned slowly. Don't rush. Have you remembered everything?"
"I'll remember that." Su Fengzhang replied with a smile.
Su Fengzhang didn't believe this at all. If Xiao Hanlin was the kind of person who was willing to protect others, Chi Liangjun wouldn't have singled him out.
However, his goal has been achieved. It is enough for him to dispel Xiao Hanlin's suspicion and make friends with this person openly.
Su Fengzhang even smiled and invited Xiao Hanlin to his housewarming party. Xiao Hanlin frowned slightly and said, "I'm afraid it's unfortunate that the Japanese official has other plans, so I have to break the appointment."
Su Fengzhang had no grudges at all and said with a smile, "It's all my fault for speaking too late. I should have asked earlier."
Both of them tacitly ignored the fact that it was Su Fengzhang's first day at work, and were in a harmonious atmosphere.
"What a shame! I've heard there are so many talented people in your class, and I'd really like to see them all. It's such an unfortunate coincidence that I have to miss this opportunity."
Su Fengzhang smiled and said, "It's just a compliment from others. Your Excellency, don't feel sorry. We can do the same thing next time we get together."
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The author has something to say: I wish all the little cuties a happy holiday~~
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