Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 120 It’s all a routine

Southern suburbs.

"Where exactly is this Anye Bureau?"

Two old men, draped in thick cloaks, stood in the suburbs, looking around.

"They say it was converted from a post station nearby."

One of the old men looked around and said.

Just then, a servant hurried over and said, "Reporting to the sir, Anye Bureau is just ahead."

Upon hearing this, the two elders immediately followed.

After walking more than three hundred steps, the servant pointed to a dilapidated courtyard by the roadside, "Gentlemen, that is the Anye Bureau."

The two elders were startled and went forward, only to find that there was no plaque on the door frame, just a signboard with the three characters "An Ye Shu" written on it.

Suddenly a gust of cold wind howled in and blew the broken door open.

There was a loud clang.

The two elders looked inside and could vaguely see two or three people sitting in the front hall, warming wine on a stove.

The two elders couldn't help but exchange another glance.

Just then, a minor official ran to the door and exclaimed, "Oh dear! The wind is really strong!"

Seeing three more people standing outside, he asked, "Do you need something?"

"It's nothing, we're just passing by."

"Oh."

The man then closed the door.

Little did they know that these two old men were none other than Zhang Yue and Yuan Qianyao, the two prime ministers of the current dynasty.

Recently, everyone has been talking about the nameless academy's good deeds. They suddenly realized that the Anye Bureau had been established for some time, so why was there no activity at all?

So I thought I'd come and take a look, and what I found was quite a shock!

This place is worse than a teahouse!

Zhang Shuo couldn't help but sigh, "Truly, rotten wood cannot be carved."

He originally intended to use Wang Shouyi to counterbalance Yuwen Rong, but...!

That's it!

The On Yip Department has only a handful of staff and currently has no authority to command other departments. What can they possibly do?

The truth is, they did nothing.

Those three or five officials usually just organize household registers and such.

The ones actually doing the work are the nameless colleges.

After this publicity campaign, almost the entire staff of Wuming Academy was mobilized, with over a hundred students divided into more than twenty teams, each stationed in various parts of Chang'an County.

These outposts were all abandoned sentry posts, military camps, post stations, and so on.

Wang Shouyi arranged some camps for them, which was quite easy.

A biting wind howled, and withered branches and leaves danced in the breeze. Two pedestrians walked along a desolate path, braving the piercing wind.

One of them trembled and said intermittently, "Brother Huang, I... I feel like we're walking right into a trap."

As soon as he opened his mouth, the cold wind howled into his stomach, and even his voice trembled.

Then another person said, "What can we do? The government has issued several orders to strictly investigate hidden households. I'm afraid we can't escape it this time. Now there are some people doing good deeds and want to give us some donations. We can't refuse this benefit."

The first person said, "If they really give us some travel money, that would be great, but I'm afraid it's a trap. If we reveal our identities, we might get caught."

"It doesn't seem like it to me. This is a good deed organized by the academy, not by the government. Those teachers are unlikely to lie."

"Who knows? Do you know that gentleman?"

“How did we meet? Anyway, we agreed beforehand that when we go back, I'll say you're accompanying me. I'll go first to see if it's true. If it's a trap, I'll be the one who gets caught.”

"I'm just worried about Brother Huang. We're going there to confess and turn ourselves in."

"Well, there's nothing we can do about it. Waiting is a dead end anyway, so we might as well try our luck."

The two chatted as they traveled, and soon they came to a fork in the road.

"Is that so?"

The man pointed to a small wooden house not far away. In front of the house, there was a shed with a sign hanging on it. The two men couldn't understand what was written on the sign.

"seems like it."

Brother Huang glanced at it a few times and said, "Let's go take a look."

The two approached the shed with trepidation, when suddenly a fragrant aroma wafted over them. Having walked for half a day, they felt a sudden pang of hunger, and their stomachs rumbled a few times.

The two exchanged an awkward glance.

Brother Huang gave a look, signaling him to go check first. Reaching the door, he asked, "Is anyone home?"

With a creak, the door opened, revealing a very pretty young woman.

Brother Huang breathed a sigh of relief and glanced into the room again, where he saw two boys and a girl sitting inside, all of whom were no more than fourteen or fifteen years old.

"Who is Junior Sister Aokiji?"

"do not know."

It turned out that the four people were Li Jieman, Linghu Baodi, Qingzhi, and Taotao.

Aokiji then asked the unfamiliar middle-aged man in front of him, "Uncle, are you here for help?"

Brother Huang shook his head subconsciously, then nodded, as if he felt something was amiss, "Excuse me, what is this...?"

At this moment, Li Jieman stepped forward and said, "We are students from the Nameless Academy, and we came here specifically to donate to those impoverished hidden households. Is that why you came, sir?"

Brother Huang nodded and said, "Yes, yes."

"Then come in quickly."

Li Jieman quickly stepped aside.

Huang Sange and his companion exchanged glances. Seeing that these were all young men and women, they weren't too afraid. After hesitating for a moment, they went inside.

Tao Tao and Qing Zhi quickly brought two bowls and filled each of them with mutton soup.

"Gentlemen, have some soup to warm yourselves up."

"Thank you, thank you very much."

The two carefully took the bowl, took a sip, and immediately felt warm all over, and were no longer afraid.

Li Jie asked, "Are you two both living in seclusion?"

"No no no!"

One person shook his head.

Huang Sange said, "I am a hidden resident, and he is just keeping me company."

Li Jieman then asked, "So what's your name?"

"My name is Huang Huang."

He simply gave his name, while his companion sat silently to the side.

Li Jieman ignored his companion and asked Huang Huang, "Where is your place of origin?"

"Yes."

Just as he opened his mouth, Huang Huang changed the subject and asked, "I heard that one can choose their place of origin?"

Li Jie nodded and said, "Yes."

Huang Huang then replied, "I am from Yunzhong, but I still want to stay in Chang'an."

Li Jie nodded and said, "Sure. Do you have any land to cultivate now?"

Huang Huang shook his head and said, "I don't own any land myself; I rent land from a large family."

"Oh."

Li Jieman suddenly pulled out a scroll, opened it, glanced at it, and then asked, "Did the imperial court allocate any land to you?"

Huang Huang shook his head and said, "If we were to be allocated land, we wouldn't be hidden households. It's just that we didn't get land and couldn't pay taxes, so we became hidden households."

His companion suddenly interjected, "We don't want to either. No, Brother Huang doesn't want to be a recluse either. If we return to our original place of residence, will the imperial court grant us land?"

Li Jie asked, "I heard they'll give it to me?"

"It is said that?"

The two said in unison.

That's unreliable!

Li Jieman added, "That's right. Right now, it's just registration, but you can continue living your lives until the land is distributed."

Once you have land, you can return to your ancestral home.

Huang Huang said, "Really!" Li Jieman nodded affirmatively.

Linghu Baodi said nonchalantly, "If you don't have land, and we let you go back, won't you have to pay taxes again? If you can't pay, won't you become unregistered residents again? Wouldn't that be a waste of effort?"

"Yes Yes Yes."

Huang Huang nodded repeatedly: "This young man is absolutely right, that's exactly what we're worried about."

Li Jieman added, "But you must not conceal it. The court will investigate the land again. If they find that you have hidden land, it will be a crime."

"no!"

Huang Huang immediately replied, "I have no land to hide."

“That’s fine then,” Li Jieman said easily.

Huang Huang's companion suddenly asked, "Then what can you do to help us, no, to help Brother Huang in any way?"

Li Jie chuckled and said, "We can help you in many ways. First, if you have no work to do, or if your employer finds out you want to return to your original place of residence and doesn't want you anymore, we can arrange some work for you before the land is distributed, at least ensuring you won't have to worry about food and clothing."

Secondly, if your place of origin is in another state or county, we will send you some travel expenses.

Third, once you receive the land, we will also donate a complete set of farm tools to you so that you can start working as soon as you return to your hometown.

Fourth, if you register with us and encounter any trouble or if someone makes things difficult for you, you can come to us, and we can help you appeal.

Linghu Baodi was quite dissatisfied with Li Jieman showing off all by himself, and quickly added, "Fifth, we can also help you arrange your return journey and ensure that you will not encounter any trouble on the way."

As he spoke, he snatched the scroll from Li Jieman's hands, glanced at it, and said, "That's about all."

Huang Huang and his companion were dumbfounded.

Li Jieman asked, "What's wrong? Aren't you satisfied?"

"No, no, no, I'm very satisfied, very satisfied."

Huang Huang nodded repeatedly, "I can't believe it...it's going to be this good."

Linghu Baodi chuckled and said, "Of course, our Wuming Academy is very generous when it comes to doing good deeds. Do we look like such stingy people?"

The person who came with Huang Huang asked, "Will we get these benefits after we register?"

Li Jieman said, "Of course. Without the government's recognition, how would we know if you are hiding your households? We can't let people take advantage of the situation."

"That is, that is."

Huang Huang nodded.

Tao Tao, who was half-squatting with his hands on his knees, said, "But the amount of money we raise for charity is also limited. It's first-come, first-served, until it's all gone."

The man felt uneasy again, "When will it be finished?"

Linghu Baodi said, "How would we know?"

After hesitating for a moment, the man slowly raised his hand. "Actually...actually, I'm also a hidden account holder."

Once outside, Huang Huang said to his companion, "Chen Er, didn't we agree that I would go and try first? Why did you agree to this?"

Chen Er said, "They don't seem to be lying. Besides, the terms are so good. If we don't acknowledge them now, what if we lose them?"

"whatever."

Huang Huang added, "I still have some things to take care of in the county. You should go back first."

"Don't you want me to come with you?"

"No need, it's so cold outside, you should go back first."

"Oh."

After parting ways with Chen Er, Huang Huang headed west. After walking two miles, he arrived at a small tavern.

Inside the tavern, only one person was sitting by a small stove; this person was Wang Facai.

"This humble servant greets Steward Wang."

"How's it going?" Wang Facai asked.

"very smooth."

Huang Huang said, "Chen Er immediately admitted that he was a hidden resident."

Wang Facai laughed and said, "Very good. After the government confirms it, you can go and work at my son's brewery."

"Thank you for your promotion, Steward Wang," Huang Huang quickly said, clasping his hands in thanks.

Household Department.

"Imperial Censor Yuwen, please come in quickly."

Qi Ping, an assistant director of the Ministry of Revenue, invited Yuwen Rong into the house and poured him a cup of hot tea.

"Thank you."

Yuwen Rong took the teacup, took a sip, and then asked, "Is there any movement from the Anye Bureau?"

Qi Ping shook his head and said, "I heard there's been no movement at all; in any case, they haven't come to my Ministry of Revenue."

Yuwen Rong frowned slightly and said, "There's still no movement."

Qi Ping said, "I heard that Wuming Academy sent all its students to do good deeds in the suburbs."

Yuwen Rong said, "I came here for this very reason. Wuming Academy is just an academy after all. Without the support of your Ministry of Revenue, how can they do good deeds? I thought the Anye Bureau had come to you."

“I’ve been here almost all the time lately, and I haven’t seen anyone from the Anye Bureau.” Qi Ping shook his head and added, “The Anye Bureau isn’t planning to let the Nameless Academy handle this matter, is it?”

It seems Wang Shouyi wasn't lying to me; he really intends to entrust everything to the Nameless Academy. Yuwen Rong was momentarily at a loss for whether to be happy or worried.

If they are an opponent, then naturally we should be happy; such an incompetent person is really not worth worrying about.

But if it's a teammate, then they'd be worried to death.

An unnamed academy.

Hongxiu did not go to the suburbs to do good deeds. She is very busy now, mainly with the arrangement of operas.

She still arrived at the college on time, choosing not to stay at home, which shows that she really likes it here.

Boom boom boom!
A knock sounded on the door.

"Who?"

"It's me, teacher."

"Wang Xiaoque?"

Hongxiu frowned slightly, got up and opened the door, and a gust of cold wind immediately blew into the room.

Wang Xi rushed in, exclaiming, "It's so cold!"

Hongxiu asked curiously, "Why didn't you go and do any good deeds?"

Wang Xi said aggrievedly, "Teacher, you must stand up for the students. The students are being ostracized."

Hongxiu asked, "Exclusion?"

Wang Xi nodded and said, "Xiao Man and the others are upset that I'm too close to my junior sisters, so they're ignoring me. Teacher, now only you can take me in."

“I never agreed to take you in.”

Hongxiu rolled her eyes at him and sat back down.

Wang Xi followed up and chuckled, "Teacher, is there anything I can help you with?"

Hongxiu suddenly seemed to remember something, "Oh right, there's something I almost forgot to tell you."

"What's the matter?"

"Didn't you ask me to improve that pinyin last time?"

"Is the teacher ready?"

"I don't know if it will work."

Hongxiu nodded and said, "Wait a moment."

After saying that, she got up and took out a scroll from the cabinet. She saw that Wang Xi was already sitting by the stove. "Who told you to sit down?"

Wang Xi said, "Does the teacher really want his students to stand on the sidelines and freeze?"

Hongxiu smiled helplessly, "You can sit there."

She decided to sit down to the side, since there was only one small stove, and if two people wanted to cook, they would have to sit together.

Wang Xi pursed his lips in frustration and said, "The students wouldn't want their teacher to sit there freezing."

After saying that, he stood up.

Hongxiu quickly said, "You can sit down, the teacher isn't cold."

Wang Xi said, "No, teacher, come with me, I'll take you to a nice place."

"Where?"

"It's over in the front yard."

(End of this chapter)