The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

The next morning, Su Jin didn't go to court. After getting up early to exercise and eat, he stayed in the study and waited for the news. Xiao Sui'er and Rou Niang Huan Niang rarely saw Su Jin honestly staying in the study, reading. They asked each other why in low voices, could it be that the sun came out from the west?The son actually took the initiative to review the book.

Xiao Sui'er decided to find out. She came to the study with a pot of tea and a plate of snacks, put the snacks on the tea and made them, but she didn't hear anything. When she looked up, she saw Su Jin staring intently. Reading with a book with a black cover.

Xiao Sui'er was very puzzled, when did the young master become so fascinated by reading, maybe it was some idle book, so she tiptoed up to take a peek with the teacup in her hand, and saw the densely packed pages full of small script Come on, I felt dizzy and almost fainted.

Su Jin raised her head and asked, "What are you doing sneakily?"

Xiao Sui'er blushed and said: "Who is sneaky, the little servant girl brought you refreshments with good intentions, and was reprimanded by the master."

Su Jin smiled and said, "Are you literate? What are you doing with your neck stretched out? Go to the street tomorrow to buy some picture books and come back to show you. You can't understand this book."

Xiao Sui'er rolled Su Jin's eyes and said, "My maidservant and Huanniang are learning to read characters recently. After a while, when I know more characters, I will be able to understand them; my son is a busy person, why are you stuck in bed today?" Are you reading at home? What is written in this book? How come the maidservant doesn’t look like the books you read, why are they still handwritten?”

Su Jin put down the book, stretched out his hand and took a sip from the teacup and said, "This was given to me by my mentor, Mr. Fang Zimo, when I left Yingtianfu Academy. There are many shocking theories in it, which make people think deeply."

Xiao Sui'er said: "My lord, this is just a temporary hug. In fact, my maid, it doesn't matter if I pass the exam or not. I asked Rou Niang and sister Huan Niang, and they all said it doesn't matter."

Su Jin scratched Xiao Sui'er's nose and said: "Stupid, I made a bet with someone. It's not a big deal if I fail the exam this time, but it's a big deal if I lose face. Do you want me to be shameless in front of others?" Is it?"

Xiao Sui'er said: "Your family likes to gamble, it's nothing more than gambling for money, it's also a gamble for face, I heard that Ye had a big bet with people from Liao Kingdom yesterday, when did Ye get into such a bad habit? Let the old lady know, and I won’t scold you to death.”

Su Jin said with a straight face: "It's becoming more and more indifferent, and I'm taking care of my master's business. By the way, has Miss Yan been here for the past two days?"

Xiao Sui'er sighed, "Look, she doesn't even care where Dong's family is going, she went to Yingtian Mansion yesterday morning."

Su Jin was stunned and said, "What is she going to do? Why don't you say something?"

Xiao Sui'er said: "Miss Yan sent someone to come, but the master went to court yesterday morning, the little maid didn't care, I thought you knew; Dong Yan's family is going to Yingtian to help you find the shop in Yinzhuang. I went, and said that there was a large sum of money to be raised in Yingtian, knowing that you were too busy to be separated, so I went by myself."

Su Jin said: "Didn't you tell her that you can postpone it? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Xiao Sui'er said: "Of course Dong Yan's family is unwilling to delay the matter of Master. Master, you should ask someone to go to Yan's House to say that the matchmaker will hire you. Dong Yan's family is not small anymore, so delaying is not an option; the little maid used to treat Yan There are still some differences between the Dong family and the young master, but Dong Yan's family really cares for the young master wholeheartedly, he is also virtuous and smart, and marrying into the family will bring many benefits in the future."

Su Jin laughed and said: "The sun really came out from the west today, and our Sui'er is also worried about the important events in his life, so what's the benefit of talking about it?"

Xiao Sui'er said: "Dong Yan's family is very good at business, if she comes to help you manage our Su Ji's business, you don't have to worry if you are very busy with business in the future, and you don't have to be busy at home and abroad, why? The few of us can't help the young master take care of it, if Dong Yan's family gets married, there will be someone who will help the young master to share the burden."

Su Jin looked at Xiao Sui'er with a smile and said: "Sui'er has grown up, and she has thought about it very well, but she can't be hired yet. There are a lot of things to do right now, and she can't be busy there. After a while, I will go back to Luzhou and ask my mother to order me to hire and marry again."

Xiao Sui'er nodded, looking a bit melancholy, Su Jin picked up the book and said, "I'll read a little while I'm free in the morning, please pay attention, if anyone comes to me, report it quickly."

Xiao Sui'er agreed to go out; Su Jin hid in the study all morning to read the books written by Fang Zimo himself, and no one came to look for Su Jin.

After lunch, Su Jin lay on the soft couch and rested her head in Huanniang's arms; Huanniang's delicate fingers kneaded her forehead and between her eyebrows. Su Jin smelled the fresh and pleasant smell of Huanniang's body. He talked to her casually, and his eyelids gradually drooped.

Suddenly there was a loud yell outside, and someone shouted outside: "It's unreasonable, it's unreasonable, you guys are really deceiving people too much." The voice seemed extremely abrupt in the silence of the afternoon.

Su Jin woke up with a start, got up and asked Huanniang, "What's the matter? Who is making noise outside?"

Huanniang pressed Su Jin's body and said, "Sir, sleep for a while, I'll go and have a look at the servant's house, there must be a quarrel between the people on the street."

Su Jin didn't feel sleepy any more, got fully dressed and got off the couch. Just as he opened the curtain and came to the main room, he heard a bang in the front courtyard, as if the courtyard door had been kicked open, and then he heard Wang Chao, Zhao Hu and others. The sound of shouting and cursing sounded.

"Straight mother thief, is this going to be robbed in broad daylight?"

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Su Jin was startled, and hurried out in three steps and two steps, and then entered the front yard. There were four to fifty people standing densely in the front yard, and the leaders were Liao envoy Xiao Temo and Liu Liufu. Xiao Temo was full of anger, The yellow beard all over his face was about to burst out, as if he had slapped a hedgehog on his face.

A group of Su Zhai's companions were all copying guys in their hands, pointing at Xiao Temo'Liao dog, Liao pig' and swearing endlessly, and they were about to strike when they saw it.

Su Jin quickly stepped forward, frowned and said: "It turns out that the ambassador Xiao is here, what are you doing? Why did you come to my house to cause trouble?"

Xiao Temo yelled angrily: "I'm going to ask Deputy Envoy Su about this. We came to your country of Song to represent the emperor of the Daliao Kingdom, but you made things difficult everywhere. You are talking about a state of etiquette. Grandpa sees it as a bunch of mobs. shameless."

Chao Chao and others jumped up and cursed: "Liaogou, you are the shameless ones, the barbarians actually accused us of Song Dynasty."

Su Jin waved his hands to stop everyone from shouting and scolding, and cupped his hands, he said, "Master Xiao, where did you start with this? We were all fine yesterday? I, Su Jin, asked myself if there was anything wrong with etiquette? "

Xiao Temo snorted angrily and said: "Are you still embarrassed to say? We set up a gamble yesterday. If you lose your luck, you lose. It's no big deal, it's just money; but you shouldn't take advantage of the fire to rob, take advantage of this time to play tricks Yin tricks really damage the image of your court, I want to see your emperor, state the matter and lodge a strong protest."

The second monk Su Jinzhang couldn't figure it out, and hurriedly said: "I really don't know why you are angry, why don't you go into the living room and drink a cup of tea to quench the fire, how about talking slowly? I haven't figured out the ins and outs yet, you always have to tell me Know the ins and outs."

Seeing Su Jin's expression was sincere at the end of Xiao Temo, he said in a slow tone: "We don't drink tea, the more we drink, the hungrier we become."

Su Jin asked in amazement, "What? Haven't you guys had lunch yet?"

Liu Liufu said speculatively: "Don't pretend to be Deputy Envoy Su, this matter is thanks to you."

Su Jin said: "Could it be that the envoy won your silver yesterday, and you have no money today?"

"Still pretending to be confused. We haven't eaten two meals. We are here today to eat at the Fushifu's house. If you don't give us food, we will stay in your house and never leave." Xiao Temo showed his face, he was so hungry and so angry that he said such words without hesitation.

Su Jin scratched his head and said: "To be honest, I don't know what you are talking about until now? Isn't it just for eating? It's easy to handle. Wang Chao went to Linshuiju by the river to rent a two-story building and set up seven or eight tables of banquets. Let's Take all the distinguished guests from the Liao Kingdom to a banquet."

Xiao Temo said: "I'm afraid that this banquet will only be possible if we move to the expensive house for dinner."

Zhang Long got angry and scolded: "Don't be shameless, our house is not a place for you pigs and dogs to eat, there is no need to spoil our yard."

Xiao Temo scolded back: "Slave, no matter how big or small, I am talking to your adults, so you can also intervene. Last night until now, we have not bought any food from the restaurants and food stalls in Bianliang City, or If it is not sold at closing time, it will be extremely expensive. It is extortion to sell us a tael of silver for a big slap cake. I can buy two hundred biscuits for one tael of silver." Su Jin said in surprise: "There are This matter?"

"Don't pretend to be a good person? Someone must have secretly instigated this matter and wanted us to be beggars in Bianliang. I didn't expect that you Song people would be so shameless that you ignored the basic etiquette between the two countries; anyway, after the envoy returned to China Be sure to report the truth to the emperor, we don't need to talk about the negotiation, just go to war."

Only then did Su Jin hear something. It turned out that this group of Liao people was collectively resisted by the people of Bianliang. Su Jin was very angry and funny. Who ordered the people to do it behind the scenes? It's really hurtful. , Although this matter was done to relieve anger, it was not open and aboveboard. No need to ask, Xiao Temo put this matter on his own head.