What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 117 Su Mo is bullying people a bit.
She changed into a brand new light blue robe, put on a hair-binding crown, and inserted a jade hairpin.

A black jade-buckled belt adorned his waist, from which hung a gold-threaded coin pouch borrowed from the Azure Dragon Taoist, and a jade talisman given to him by the Commander.

Paired with a handsome face.

Su Mo picked up the bronze mirror and looked at herself.

He immediately gave a silent thumbs-up!
What a dashing and heroic young man!

These were all carefully prepared for him by Qin Bier, and they were quite valuable.

As the saying goes, clothes make the man, and gold makes the Buddha. Su Mo is a natural clothes hanger, and he does look handsome and extraordinary. He is not just showing off!
Su Mo was full of energy and ready to leave the pigeon-shaped little house.

He was thinking that in two months, he would transfer two thousand taels of silver from Changping to buy a house and renovate it.

Living in the capital is no easy feat.

But Su Mo is definitely not included.

Although this old riverside house, with an area of ​​over a hundred square meters, would be considered a fairly large commercial property in later generations.

However, later houses and dwellings, with their various facilities, can be described as small yet complete.

Modern houses cannot achieve this.

Take this old house for example.

One main room, two guest rooms, plus a small hall and kitchen, and that's it.

What Su Mo found most unbearable was that there was no outhouse!
For the toilet issue, just put a chamber pot in a corner of the room!

We always take showers in a big wooden tub in the bedroom!
If Su Mo were to design it, he would build two or three stories high!

People these days seem to have no idea about upward development; they only pursue large houses and have never considered the issue of vertical space.

Even if the building materials and technology are substandard.

But building two or three floors above it would definitely not be a problem.

If I have enough capital in the future, I can buy some land in Shenjing and enter the real estate business of the Great Wu Dynasty. It will definitely be a super profitable business!
Of course, the prerequisite is having a powerful backer!

Okay, let's find a backer now!
Su Mo pushed open the door and walked out of the courtyard.

Instead of finding a powerful backer, they unexpectedly discovered a beautiful young woman kneeling at the door with her hands bound.

"It's you?"

Su Mo's face darkened. He looked coldly at Jiang Lan of Youyu Hall and snorted, "Didn't I tell you to go back?"

I knelt here early in the morning; countless people must have seen me.

Does he even care about his reputation?
Even now, several women washing clothes by the river are looking this way with strange eyes!
Jiang Lan felt bitter!

Who would want to kneel here and be laughed at, especially if they are a woman!

The problem is, she's afraid to leave.

Behind her are dozens of lives lost.

Would you dare go back if you were targeted by a powerful Imperial Guard?
It would be better to just smear it on the neck!
Jiang Lan didn't dare to utter a sound and could only keep kowtowing!
Jiang Lan kowtowed more than a dozen times, her forehead bruised and bleeding from the bluestone steps.

Su Mo then snorted and said, "Get up."

Jiang Lan stopped what she was doing, still not daring to get up, and said in a trembling voice, "This servant had no intention of offending you, sir! Please spare my life, sir!"

Su Mo's face darkened: "You Youyutang, how dare you!"

"I have only just arrived in the capital, and you villains have already stolen my valuables and spread the word. How can I save face now!"

Jiang Lan's delicate body trembled, and she was about to kowtow again...

Su Mo...

Alright, that should be enough of a warning.

"However, considering that you have admitted your mistakes and are willing to correct them, I am not heartless and will not go so far as to kill you all!"

"From now on, serve me diligently. Once you have satisfied me, this matter will be forgotten!"

As he spoke, Su Mo's voice suddenly turned cold: "If you dare disobey my orders, I'll show you the methods of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Lan immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems his life has been saved?
Then, stunned.

This... this Imperial Guard, judging from his words, wants me to work for him?
Jiang Lan almost thought she was hallucinating!
The Embroidered Uniform Guard system, including strongmen, captains, and even generals of the Han Dynasty, was only equivalent to yamen runners and clerks in government offices.

But the power it wields is by no means small!

Moreover, the young man in front of him calls himself "this official," so he must be at least a seventh-rank officer!
Work under him.

Wouldn't that be a disguised form of "Undercover agents"?
The head of Youyu Hall sounds prestigious, but in reality, he is at the very bottom of the lowlife class, with no status whatsoever. He usually avoids even the lowest-ranking servants and laborers!
Jiang Lan was so shocked that she forgot to kowtow!
It wasn't until Su Mo let out a dissatisfied snort that Jiang Lan shuddered, finally realizing what was happening, and blurted out, "M-Master..."

"You...you want me to work for you?"

Su Mo glanced at Jiang Lan expressionlessly: "Get up and speak!"

His gaze fell on the hemp rope tightly binding his hands.

This Jiang Lan looks like she practices martial arts; the rope might not be able to bind her.

However, he clearly dared not use his internal energy.

Her slender, wheat-colored wrists were already marked with deep bruises from the straps.

With a flick of his sword, the rope snapped instantly.

"I am not familiar with the capital. I am on my way to pay a visit to Lord Ding, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Do you know where his official residence is?"

Jiang Lan was taken aback upon hearing this, but immediately replied, "Reporting to you, my lord!"

“This servant knows the location of Lord Ding’s official residence, which is in Qingyunfang next to Qingque Gate.”

Su Mo: "Aren't you going to lead the way!"

Jiang Lan quickly led the way.

Given her background, if something happened, she would immediately retreat into the alleyways. Knowing the way around was an essential professional skill for her, and she was naturally very familiar with the streets and alleys of the outer city.

Su Mo observed Jiang Lan from behind.

He has a very good appearance, with a slightly roguish air about him.

The fitted dress is somewhat similar to Lord Qianhu's horse-face skirt, but it is simpler.

She looked to be in her mid-twenties, not particularly tall, just over 1.6 meters, and her skin wasn't very fair either.

But his wheat-colored skin was very firm, and there wasn't an ounce of excess fat on his entire body.

In particular, the body-to-leg ratio is quite exaggerated.

She has legs that are almost a meter long!

Her waist, in particular, was so slender that a large hand could easily grasp it. When she walked, it looked as if she might break at any moment, creating a striking contrast with her high, round, and elastic buttocks.

She's quite a stunning beauty.

It truly proves the saying, "You were a beautiful woman, but why did you become a thief!"
Of course, one shouldn't laugh at another who is only slightly better.

Strictly speaking, clerks, lawyers, matchmakers, prostitutes, and yamen runners were all considered low-class professions!
Pay attention to the key point: yamen runners!

……

Shenjing is huge!

The palace city and the imperial city are the inner city, while the outer city is divided into east and west cities.

According to Su Mo's estimate, the area of ​​Dongcheng alone is no less than 100 square kilometers. No wonder it can accommodate two to three million people. In later generations, it would definitely be considered a super city!
No wonder officials, gentry, and wealthy merchants always wanted to travel by sedan chair!

However, the architectural style of both the inner and outer cities of Shenjing is square and upright.

Broadly speaking, the outer city is divided into two symmetrical sections, east and west, with the central Zhuque Avenue serving as the central axis.

Qingyunfang is located next to the Zhuque Gate, which is closest to the inner city. It was also the residence of many court officials, and its name means "to rise rapidly in rank".

Just follow the incredibly wide Suzaku Avenue all the way to the end!
Su Mo followed Jiang Lan for almost half an hour before arriving at Qingyunfang.

Then, looking at the two-courtyard house in front of him, which was not much bigger than the house by the Liushui River, he was a little dumbfounded.

"Is this the official residence of Minister Ding, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue?"

Su Mo frowned and looked at Jiang Lan, asking a question.

Despite the fact that housing prices in Shenjing are known to be extremely high.

But Ding Yu is a high-ranking official of the fifth rank in the imperial court, why would he live here?
Moreover, there isn't even a gatekeeper at the entrance?
Jiang Lan was about to explain.

Suddenly, a loud and furious voice rang out from the courtyard: "As the head of this household, why should I need your permission, you shrew, to take a mere ten taels of silver to help my colleagues!"

"This is truly... truly outrageous!"

Then an even angrier woman's voice rang out: "Five taels of silver?"

"Where would I get five taels of silver!"

"The rice bin is empty!"

"Aren't you an assistant minister in the Ministry of Revenue?"

"If you're so capable, go to the grain store and get me a few bushels of rice on credit!" The Ministry of Revenue official, his voice booming with energy, retorted, "Hmph! You're really infuriating me!"

"Go and go!"

"I refuse to believe that we can't even pay back a few bushels of rice on credit!"

"Dr. Zhang, please wait here for a moment... I'll borrow five taels of silver for you on my way back!"

"No need to trouble you, Lord Ding! I'll think of another way! I'll take my leave..."

An elderly man with a long beard, dressed in worn-out official robes, walked out of the side door as if fleeing with an embarrassed expression.

A thin, short old man chased after him angrily, shouting, "Dr. Zhang... don't go... don't go..."

Su Mo turned to Jiang Lan expressionlessly: "Don't tell me."

"He is none other than Ding Yu, the fifth-rank official, a junior official in the Ministry of Revenue!"

Jiang Lan hesitated for a moment: "This servant does not know either."

"However, this is indeed Lord Ding's residence..."

"This servant would not dare to deceive you, sir."

She only knew that the house belonged to an official in the Ministry of Revenue, but she had never seen the official's face!
The old man shouted loudly, but he didn't actually take more than a few steps.

After the doctor disappeared, a woman in a simple cloth dress and a hairpin emerged from the courtyard; she looked rather shrewish.

I glanced outside.

"he's gone?"

The old man smiled smugly: "Of course I'm leaving!"

"That Dr. Zhang, that old scholar, he's all about saving face, how can he still have the nerve to stay here!"

As he spoke, he turned to walk back into the house.

Su Mo quickly went around the corner of the courtyard and stepped forward: "May I ask, sir, are you Lord Ding, the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue?"

The old man looked at Su Mo warily.

Seeing that Su Mo was dressed in a brand-new blue robe, with a jade-buckled belt and a jade pendant hanging from it, and looked like a young man from a wealthy family, he breathed a sigh of relief and said in a deep voice, "It is indeed I, the official!"

"Who are you, young man? What business do you have with me?"

Su Mo quickly said, "I am Su Mo, entrusted by my elder Wang Xiuzhi to deliver a letter to you, sir."

"in addition……"

"Old Mr. Wang once borrowed ten taels of silver from you, and today he is returning it in full."

As he spoke, Su Mo respectfully handed the old man the letter from his sleeve, along with a ten-tael silver ingot, with both hands.

Ding Yu frowned slightly; "A letter from Brother Xiuzhi?"

He then accepted the letter but did not collect the ten taels of silver.

Instead, the woman's eyes lit up, and she quickly walked over and snatched the silver.

He flipped through the pages with great delight, exclaiming, "Hey! Someone actually borrowed money from you?"

Ding Yu glared at the old woman, then looked meaningfully at Su Mo.

"Come in and talk!"

Su Mo instructed Jiang Lan to wait outside, and then followed Ding Yu into the courtyard.

Although the mansion is not large, the main gate is a vermilion gate, and even the side gates are painted vermilion, indicating the noble status of the mansion's owner.

Ding Yu invited Su Mo into the front yard, but did not let Su Mo enter the house. He instructed his wife to close the side gate and returned to the house alone.

Then, he narrowed his eyes and looked Su Mo up and down for a while: "What is your relationship with Brother Xiu?"

"I have no recollection of lending Brother Xiu ten taels of silver!"

Su Mo said, "Lord Ding is busy with official duties, so he won't take this small matter to heart."

"But my uncle did indeed borrow ten taels of silver from you, sir."

Ding Yu nodded slightly: "Hearing you say that, I vaguely remember that there was such a thing!"

The shrew took all the money; we can't just say it didn't happen.

He hesitated for a moment before opening Wang Xiuzhi's letter.

Upon seeing this, his expression immediately turned strange. He raised his head, squinted, and scrutinized Su Mo for a while: "Are you a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Su Mo quickly replied, "Reporting to Your Excellency, I am Su Mo, a junior officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

Ding Yu gave a slight snort: "What a fine Wang Xiuzhi!"

"It's been a long time since I've received a letter, and the first thing you do is ask me to take care of a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

He paused, then said, "Unfortunately, even if I wanted to help you, I am powerless to do so!"

Just as Su Mo was about to speak, Ding Yu suddenly blurted out, "Originally, I have always kept my distance from the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"However, Brother Xiuzhi said that you, young man, are good at financial matters despite your young age, and could work in the Ministry of Revenue."

"In that case, I shall examine you!"

Su Mo...

Could this be a common ailment among people of ancient times?

When you meet a young person, do you ask them questions to prove your knowledge?
But Ding Yu said the next second, "You asked me a question related to money and goods."

"If I can answer the question, you should leave immediately and never come here again."

"If I cannot answer, you may treat me to a meal and drinks!"

Su Mo was dumbfounded.

You ask the question, and he answers it?

Isn't this a bit like bullying?

I took courses on monetary theory and international trade during my university years.

Seeing Su Mo's astonished expression, Ding Yu couldn't help but snort: "If you can't even bring up the issue of money, then just leave!"

Su Mo could only say, "Since that's the case."

"I happen to have a financial problem that has been troubling me for a long time. Please enlighten me, sir."

“A neighbor of mine bought a chicken for three coins and sold it for four coins. Later, he felt that the sale price was too low, so he bought it back for five coins and sold it for six coins.”

"May I ask, sir, how much did my neighbor gain from selling chickens at the market?"

Ding Yu sneered: "Hmph! You call this a matter of money?"

"There is a surplus of two coins!"

Su Mo quickly smiled and said, "Your Excellency truly deserves to be the Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. I admire you!"

"This humble official will take his leave now!"

Ding Yu said expressionlessly, "Go!"

"Don't come looking for me again!"

Su Mo bowed to Ding Yu again, then turned and left.

Ding Yu was taken aback when he saw Su Mo leave so decisively.

For some reason, something feels off!
Wang Xiuzhi was a second-class Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) in the year of Bingyin, and his ranking was even higher than Wang Xiuzhi's.

If he hadn't been uninterested in officialdom, he would probably be a high-ranking official in the court by now.

Since he dared to say in his letter that this junior officer of the Embroidered Uniform Guard was involved in bribery, how could he ask such a stupid question?

He originally planned to wait for the kid to ask a question, then answer it himself, show off his skills, praise the kid, and then naturally get another meal and drinks.

Who knew this kid would ask such a simple question!

They left even more decisively!
How can I control him? How can I trick him into having a meal and drinks without feeling guilty?
Ding Yu frowned.

Buy chicken for three coins and sell it for four coins; buy chicken for five coins and sell it for six coins!
Two cents in profit is pretty good!
Hey?
wrong!

If he hadn't sold for four coins and bought for five, but instead sold directly for six coins.

Wouldn't that mean we could make three times the money!
The numbers two, three, four, five, and six instantly began to swirl in the mind of this veteran official in the Ministry of Revenue!

It confused him completely.

Profitability – is it two cents or three cents?

This is such a simple question, and I've worked in the Ministry of Revenue for over ten years, yet... I can't seem to figure it out?
Su Mo had already reached the courtyard gate.

Ding Yu finally couldn't hold back any longer!

"Hey! You little brat, don't go yet!"

Let's discuss: how much money did they actually make, or did they lose money?
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(End of this chapter)