The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

Su Jin waved his hand and told the two yamen servants who had heard the news to disperse, took Song Xiang to sit down and said, "My lord, I didn't come to Xingshi to inquire about the crime, but I just reminded you that your Yangzhou city is not like that. What you said is functioning normally, everyone is honest and upright, and some people may not be as dedicated to the public as you think."

Song Xiang sighed and said: "This government does not have the extravagant hope of letting everyone live a poor life like me, this government just hopes that they can be worthy of the grace of the Holy Lord in public, and keep their conduct upright in private, as long as they don't commit crimes. Well, it is normal for everyone to have their own opinions, but it is unnecessary for you to worry about your subordinates committing criminal offenses."

Su Jindao: "There is a Shen Dezhang in front of me. I don't know how many people don't know about it. How dare the Fu Zun make such an assertion."

Song Xiang said: "This matter about Shen Dezhang has not been verified by the government, and you stopped him when I was going to call him for questioning just now. You can't believe things that the government has not seen with your own eyes."

Su Jin was so angry that blocking him from summoning Shen Dezhang himself became a reason for him to suspect that he had fabricated it.

After thinking about it, I can't ask directly like this. This person has a bad temper, and he has to attack in a roundabout way to gain anything, so he said: "My lord, it's either because I stopped you from summoning Shen Dezhang or because I have a ghost in my heart, but I really don't want to Because of this trivial matter, the Lord Fuzun did not go down the steps. Besides, I have ordered people to monitor the courtyard. If the Lord Fuzun wants to, he can send someone to visit secretly. If you don’t believe me, you should always believe the person you sent; If you don’t get away, everything will be fine.”

Song Xiang said: "This government understands that this government is not blaming you, it's just that this government has confidence in its subordinates."

Su Jin secretly cursed 'Cuo Da', picked up his wine glass and said with a smile: "It's better not to talk about these things, it's hard for Yangzhou to stabilize, we should take a good breath, come on, have a drink."

Song Xiang nodded and said: "That's what I said. Speaking of Yangzhou's affairs, I still depend on the cleverness of the Special Envoy. Although it is a bit out of line, it is stable after all. I respect the Special Envoy for this cup."

Su Jin smiled modestly and drank the wine in his glass.

Song Xiangdao: "However, there is one thing I want to remind you. Did you go to Feng Jingyao's private house to make a fuss today? They sued me, saying that you brought Ma Jun and almost demolished his house, and almost People were killed; Yangzhou City has finally had a stable environment, Mr. Brick and Stone must be more careful in doing things, don't make the sky angry and people complain, that's not good."

Su Jin didn't expect someone to complain to Song Xiang so soon, and he hurriedly said with a smile: "Don't listen to their nonsense, they just pulled down an iron fence door, and their subordinates are well-measured, and no one will die; I will order you in the afternoon." It’s not a big deal if people send some money to compensate.”

Song Xiang said: "Yes, it is enough to pay some money and ask the person to say a few good words. Feng Jingyao is a well-known gentleman in Yangzhou City, and as far as I know, he is good at giving and has a reputation of being a virtuous person; At the beginning of his tenure, the official roads of the Yangzhou government were difficult to navigate. This Master Feng also contributed a lot of money to help the government renovate the official roads outside the East Gate, and spent a lot of money to build a wharf beside the Liuyedu Canal at the East Gate. The government is a little grateful to him, you check the stored grain, you check the stored grain, but don't forget his achievements."

Su Jin was startled. Song Xiang's words were full of protection for Feng Huhu. Does it mean that Song Xiang really colluded with Feng Huhu?

"Why didn't Mr. Fu Zun say it earlier? If I said it earlier, I wouldn't embarrass him today. If I offend such a kind person, wouldn't it be arousing criticism." Su Jin began to test cautiously.

"You can't say that. You are on business, and you have to do it. All the big households in the Yangzhou government need to be checked. You can't just not check Feng Jingyao just because Feng Jingyao invested in building roads and bridges, and repairing the wharf, which is convenient for the people and water transportation. It's hard to know the heart, and the clean ones clean themselves, wouldn't it be better to check and prove the innocence?"

Su Jin was confused, it was really difficult for him to judge whether Song Xiang was speaking the truth or to save face, seeing if his expression seemed insincere, this matter was really a mess.

The two exchanged glasses and drank a few more rounds of wine. After eating some dishes, Su Jin wiped his mouth and said, "That's it for today. I'm going back to my residence to rest. The wine is a bit high."

Song Xiang has a lot to drink, and he hasn't had his fill yet, so he said with a smile, "I still have a few more drinks in my house, so if you don't have much alcohol, please feel free to do so."

Su Jin cupped his hands and left his seat, suddenly turned around and pretended to be casual and said: "I almost forgot, I have something I want to ask the Lord Fu Zun for help."

Song Xiang said: "What's the matter? But it's okay to say, as long as you can help, you will definitely help."

Su Jin said with a smile: "This envoy's hometown is from a merchant in Luzhou, my lord must know."

Song Xiang said: "So what about your background as a merchant? Don't ask where you come from, a hero. This government does not dislike your background."

Su Jin didn't expect Song Xiang to be so open-minded, so he was a little surprised, and said with a smile: "Master Xie Fuzun understands that my family is running a business, and my mother doesn't want her son to live in the city, because she finds it noisy, so I ordered someone to live in the outskirts of Luzhou City. A house has been erected in the village, and now that the house has been erected, a small building inside is short of a plaque. The old shopkeeper Zhang who escorted the family’s food for emergency mentioned this to me yesterday, and asked me to write a plaque for the building. Take the plaque back and mount it; Master Fuzun knows that my words are simply not on the table. If it is hung up in a grand manner, wouldn’t it be ridiculous? So after thinking about it, I know that Song Fuzun’s calligraphy is something that the world strives for. I want to invite the Lord of the House..."

"Do you want me to inscribe a plaque on the building where your old man lives?" Song Xiang smiled.

Su Jin laughed and said: "It's exactly, I'm being rude, I don't know if the lord of the government can give the calligraphy?"

Song Xiang laughed and said, "Building a house for my mother is full of filial piety. How can I not encourage it? The special envoy is not very old, but generally speaking, his etiquette is indeed worthy of admiration, unlike the world today. I often hear stories of sons abandoning their mothers and marrying wives and forgetting their mothers, which are simply against filial piety."

Su Jin rolled her eyes and compared me with these people, idiot!

"So the lord Fu Zun agreed?"

"Of course I have to agree, when will I need it?"

"If it's convenient for Mr. Fu Zun, how about writing the inscription at this time? Isn't it just right that my old shopkeeper will return to Luzhou early tomorrow morning and take the calligraphy away?"

"Alright, come with me to the study, the old man will do it now." Song Xiang nodded.

The two got up and came to Song Xiang's study room. Su Jin rubbed the ink himself. Song Xiang spread out a piece of white paper, gently lifted a large brush with a head the size of an egg, melted it in clear water, and asked with a tilted head. : "What word should I write?"

Su Jin smiled and said, "How about just writing the word 'Fuguilou'?"

Song Xiang was stunned and said, "Fugui Building? This name is too vulgar, and there are many people using it. Although it has a good meaning, it is not suitable for the meaning of the old lady's residence."

Su Jin secretly watched his face, and said calmly: "How often is this name used? Why didn't I see anyone using this name in Yangzhou Mansion?"

Song Xiangdao: "The government vaguely remembers that it seems to have helped someone to inscribe this plaque, and it is also the word Fuguilou."

Su Jin pretended not to have any intention and asked casually: "Who asked Mr. Fu Zun to write it? It's the same name as I thought."

Song Xiang frowned in thought, then suddenly patted the table and said, "Yes, it's been a long time since I've forgotten it, but you reminded me of this mansion when you mentioned it, Mr. Guo, the magistrate of Yangzhou, once said that one of his relatives' expensive houses had been completed. The government helped him inscription, and the inscription is also the word 'Fuguilou'."

Su Jin said quietly: "Sir Guo? Is Mr. Guo Pinchao?"

"It's him, why, do you know him well?"

Su Jin said: "I don't know him well, I just know his name." He said in his heart: If there is no Guo Pinchao on Bai Mudan's note, I know he is a dick.

"I think the residence of Master Lingtang should be titled 'Shouyi Tower'? It means longevity and virtue." Song Xiang said.

"Very good, very good, I still have taste." Su Jin waved his hand, but there was no smile on his face. Until then, Su Jin roughly made a judgment, and Song Xiang seemed to have nothing to do with Feng Huhu.

Although it seemed a bit risky, Su Jin still decided to have a showdown with Song Xiang. Time was running out, and he couldn't wait any longer.