Ming Dynasty 1566

Chapter 117

In the 41st year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty, Yan Song and Yan Shifan, father and son who had been in charge of the government for 20 years, fell.However, due to various complicated and ambiguous political relations, Jiajing overthrew Yan but not Yan Song. position, the wind of extravagance, greed, ink and search "has not been curbed a little bit".By the 44th year of Jiajing, disasters occurred frequently in many provinces, the treasury was empty, taxes and labor became heavier, and the sky was angry and people complained.Xu Jie, Gao Gong, and Zhang Juzheng instigated the censor to go to Shu again. Although Jiajing punished Yan Shifan and others in May of that year, the world was ashamed of Jiajing.

In July of that year, Hai Rui was transferred to the head of the Beijing household department.

The "Liu Biju" plaque inscribed by Yan Song is still hanging high on the lintel in the middle of the pickle shop with a three-bay front door, shining brightly in the sunlight.

Under the plaque, the door was deserted, a bustling street, bustling with people, people who came and went to the pickle shop, but avoided the road, and countless hurried eyes looked sideways at the plaque.

There is a secret decree, Jiajing will not allow this plaque to be taken down, he depends on how people in the world talk about him!

This morning, the carriage carrying Hai Rui's family arrived.

In front of the shaft of the chariot sits a coachman holding a whip.Because it was summer and the hood of the car was narrow, Hai Rui was also sitting in front of the car, wearing a bamboo hat and a gown made of hemp. Compared with three years ago, his beard was grayer, his eyes were still sharp and sharp, and they were sharp under the hat. Suddenly saw the "Liubiju" plaque.

"Stop the car." Hai Rui suddenly called out.

The coachman pulled the reins, and the carriage stopped in front of a teahouse on the street opposite Liubiju.

Hai Rui jumped out of the carriage and stared fixedly at Liubiju opposite.

"Are you here?" Haimu asked from inside the sedan chair covered by the bamboo curtain.

Hai Rui replied to the car curtain: "Go back to mother, I haven't arrived yet, my son wants to buy some pickles here first, and make porridge for mother and daughter-in-law when we get home."

"Go." Haimu said from inside the car curtain.

"Please buy a pot of herbal tea for my family." Hai Rui took out two copper coins from his body and handed them to the driver.

"Master, where are you always going?" The coachman asked in surprise as he took the copper coins.

"Go to Liubiju." Hai Rui replied and walked towards the gate of Liubiju.

The coachman held two copper coins in his hands and stood there in shock.

Immediately, many passers-by looked at Hai Rui with astonishment.

Hai Rui stopped in front of the gate of Liubiju, and looked up at the plaque.

The passers-by were even more amazed. Although their eyes were on him, their steps were even faster.

In front of a table near the entrance of the teahouse opposite Liubiju, several pairs of hawk-like eyes immediately looked at Hai Rui's back under the plaque.Although these people are wearing casual clothes and long gowns, the person sitting in the middle can be seen at a glance as the eunuch of the court, and the two people sitting sideways have broad shoulders, long legs and cold faces, and they can also be seen as Jin Yiwei. !

The coachman holding the two copper coins had already seen the three people in the teahouse at this moment, how dare he go in to buy tea, his feet seemed to be nailed, and he stood beside the cart, not daring to move.

The most embarrassing thing was that the shopkeepers and shop assistants in the Liubiju store only looked at the guest officer at the door, neither calling him in to buy things, nor driving him away, just staring blankly.

Hai Rui moved his eyes from the plaque, glanced around, and quickly understood the predicament the shop was in. He took off his bamboo hat and put his hands behind his back, and walked slowly into the shop alone. Door.

The eunuch and the two Jinyi guards at the table at the entrance of the teahouse on the opposite side immediately stood up, walked out of the teahouse, and walked towards Liubiju on the opposite side.

Only then did the coachman dare to move, he thrust the horse pole in his hand towards the front of the chariot, put the two copper coins back on the board in front of the chariot, moved slowly away from the chariot, and after walking a few steps, he kicked his feet , a person actually ran away.

Pedestrians in the past do not pass by, turning back to the east from east to west, and turning back to the west from west to east, but they are unwilling to leave, standing far away, waiting to watch a tea and dinner so that they can play in front of people. s story.

Hai Rui entered the store, walked to the counter, and slowly glanced at the jars and vats of containers displayed in the store.

Several guys were still sitting there lazily, and no one got up to greet him.

The boss surnamed Zhao was sitting at the counter where Hai Rui was standing. At this moment, he looked at Hai Rui indifferently: "Guest officer, do you want to buy pickles?"

Hai Rui: "An old man and a sick person want to buy some pickles for porridge. Shopkeeper, what kind of pickles are suitable?"

"Any kind of pickles are suitable." The boss surnamed Zhao replied calmly while still sitting.

Hai Rui keenly sensed that the other guys sitting at the counter were looking at the door behind him, stood up with a bow and bowed, and immediately sat down again.

At the door of Liubiju, the eunuch and two Jinyi guards appeared at the door coldly.The eunuch of the Criminal Division gave a wink to the two Jinyi guards, and the two Jinyi guards stayed by the door. The eunuch walked in quietly and sat down at a square table on the left side of the shop.A clerk hurriedly picked up a porcelain jug and walked towards the side cabinet door with a cup, poured a cup of tea for the eunuch, left the porcelain jug on the table, and quietly retreated to the counter.

Hai Rui didn't show his face, and took out ten copper coins from his body and put them on the counter: "Buy pickles for ten coins."

The boss surnamed Zhao stood up, removed a cover from the inner railing of the container, took out a large lotus leaf from a stack of sun-dried lotus leaves, stuck it in a large plain white porcelain bowl, held it, and uncovered it. Open an altar cover, use a leaky spoon to scoop out a spoonful of pickles and decanted sauce and pour it into the lotus leaf, and uncover another altar cover to scoop out a spoonful of pickles and decanted sauce and pour it into the lotus leaf.If so, scoop up a pickle full of lotus leaves and put it on the counter, then pull out a larger lotus leaf, take out the lotus leaf pickles in the bowl, put it on another big lotus leaf, and quickly wrap it up Alright, I took out three strips of brown leaves that were torn into strips under the counter, and wrapped a Liuhexin knot horizontally, vertically and obliquely on the lotus leaf bag of pickles, tied it up, and handed it to Hai Rui: "Guest officer, Let's go."

Hai Rui still stood there without moving: "I heard that the pickles in your store used to be more expensive than meat, but now ten copper coins can buy so much?"

The boss surnamed Zhao glanced at him: "The guest officer bought it for patients, and the shop is willing to give more. Please take it away."

Hai Rui didn't ask any more questions. He mentioned the pickle wrapped in lotus leaves and turned around. Without going out, he went straight to the square table and sat down on the stool opposite the eunuch: "It's been a long time, shopkeeper. If you have a cup, please give me one."

Anyone behind the counter who dared to move looked at the boss surnamed Zhao.

The boss surnamed Zhao looked at the eunuch Nati Xingsi who was sitting there.

The eunuch of the Criminal Division had been pretending not to look at Hai Rui, but at this moment he saw the eyes of the boss surnamed Zhao, and immediately gave him a wink, motioning him to give him water.

The boss surnamed Zhao sighed silently, picked up a cup from the counter, pushed open the counter door, walked to the square table, and poured a glass of water for Hai Rui: "Guest officer, please drink. Drink it and leave." Then turn around.

"Shopkeeper." Hai Rui stopped the boss named Zhao.

Boss Zhao had no choice but to stop again.

Hai Rui: "I heard something and I want to ask you for advice."

The boss surnamed Zhao had no choice but to turn around slowly, looking at Hai Rui.

Hai Rui enunciated clearly and asked, "I heard that your store was originally called Liuxinju, why did you change it to Liubiju?"

The face of the boss surnamed Zhao changed immediately.

The eunuch who was seated opposite immediately turned his face away from looking away, and stared at Hai Rui with cold eyes.

The two brocade guards at the door also turned around and looked towards the square table.

The other boys looked away hastily, or to the ground.

Hai Rui still kept that indifferent attitude, staring closely at the boss surnamed Zhao, waiting for his answer.

The boss surnamed Zhao immediately turned back to the counter, swept the ten copper coins from the counter and walked back to the square table: "Guest officer, this is your money, return it to you. This pickle shop is no longer for sale, you can go." As he spoke, he put the copper coins in front of Hai Rui's table, and went to get the package of pickles on the square table.

"What kind of rule is this!" Hai Rui pressed the boss's hand and pushed away, "I paid the money, and you delivered the goods, why don't you sell them?"

The boss surnamed Zhao froze there and quickly glanced at the eunuch who was responsible for the punishment, and then at Hai Rui: "Since the guest is shopping, please go away after you buy something. You and I have never met each other, so what trouble are you making for me? "

Hai Rui: "It's the first time I've come to Beijing, and I'm just asking about customs and anecdotes. What do you mean by making trouble?"

The boss surnamed Zhao was anxious: "Guest officer, this is at the foot of the emperor, you are a foreigner, it is best not to cause trouble here."

"Wrong." Hai Rui stood up, "I never cause trouble, and only care about what I should take care of. For example, expensive stores, but no one dares to buy such good things, so I have to take care of them for you."

"Who says no one dares to buy my things?" The boss surnamed Zhao became even more anxious, and quickly glanced at the eunuch Ti Xingsi, "The guest officer will leave if he doesn't buy it, don't delay my business."

"That's my own business, and it has nothing to do with your business." Hai Rui simply showed his intention, "I heard people say that your store was originally called Liuxinju in other provinces, and the business has been very good. Since it was changed to Liubiju, no one dares to buy things. Shopkeeper, why did you change the word 'xin' to 'must'!"

The boss surnamed Zhao and all the waiters behind the counter turned pale. Who dared to answer his words, all turned their eyes to the eunuch who had been looking at Hai Rui gloomily, and the two men who were eager to advance at the door. Jin Yiwei.

Hai Rui didn't care about it, and said slowly: "I've heard some rumors along the way. If you add a stroke to the word 'heart', it's like sticking a knife in the word 'heart'. Naturally, the business will not be good. The shopkeeper What do you think?"

The eunuch of the Criminal Division Nati stood up abruptly.

The two Jin Yiwei also strode in and stood in front of Hai Rui.

Everyone was shocked, the boss surnamed Zhao standing there was stunned, and the guys sitting at the counter were also stunned.

The eunuch of the Criminal Division stared at Hai Rui: "Speak, continue."

Hai Rui didn't seem to see these three people, so he sat down again, and still said to the boss surnamed Zhao: "Actually, the original meaning of changing the word 'xin' into the word 'must' may not be bad. It's just that no one asked why This is to make it clear, so there are rumors everywhere. Shopkeeper, please bring me a pen and paper, and I will make a footnote for the word "must" for you, so as to correct people's hearts and calm the rumors! Your business will naturally improve. "

The boss surnamed Zhao was already frozen there, so he didn't dare to move.

The eunuch of the Criminal Division looked at the boss surnamed Zhao: "Take a pen and paper and let him write."

The boss surnamed Zhao slowly looked at a guy at the counter: "Take, take paper and pen..."

Because of keeping accounts at any time, paper and pens are ready-made, the clerk held the paper, pen, ink and inkstone from the counter, his legs were trembling, and he moved over from the cabinet door looking at Jin Yiwei, put the things on the square table, and hurriedly walked back.

"Let's write." Eunuch Nati looked at Hai Rui.

Hai Rui picked up the pen, explored in the inkstone, and then turned to ask the boss surnamed Zhao: "I heard that the pickles in your store are very particular about the place of origin, the season, and the vegetables. The fourth is to pay attention to the sweet sauce, the fifth is to pay attention to the container, and the sixth is to pay attention to the water spring. Is this the case?"

Although the boss surnamed Zhao was still in fear at the moment, he couldn't help being moved when he heard him explain the six benefits of pickles in his shop so eloquently, but he didn't dare to answer, so he looked at the two people again. A brocade guard.

"Respond to what he said." The eunuch who mentioned the punishment looked at him.

"Yes." The boss surnamed Zhao answered this word, not only answering the eunuch's words, but also answering Hai Rui's question just now.Then he stopped talking.

"Since that's the case, I'll write it for you." Hai Rui said, dipped the ink and began to write on the paper.

The eagle-like eyes of the two brocade guards stared at the words that appeared first on the paper.

The boss surnamed Zhao couldn't help but quietly looked at the words that appeared for the first time on the paper.

The eunuch's eyes lit up, and so did the eyes of the two guards!Although the three of them are not scholars, they are all literate because they often interrogate the imperial prison, and they have read the confessions of those officials who arrested the imperial prison for interrogation.At this time, seeing this person write such good handwriting, which is not often seen in ordinary times, they couldn't help showing some surprised eyes, and the three of them met their eyes: this person has some background!

After finishing the last word, Hai Rui put down his pen, raised his head to look at the boss surnamed Zhao, and looked at the three people from the corner of his eye at the same time: "How is it?"

The eunuch's tone of voice was somewhat measured: "You read it again."

Hai Rui stood up and read aloud: "The place of production must be true, the season must be in harmony, the vegetables must be fresh, the sweet sauce must be mellow, the container must be clean, and the water spring must be fragrant! This is the way to change Liuxinju into Liubiju. Truth! Shopkeeper, make another plaque for the 'Liu Bi' I wrote, and hang it up. If your business is not doing well, you can come to me." After finishing speaking, he picked up the lotus leaf package of pickles on the table, picked up Putting on a bamboo hat, he walked out the door.

The eunuch of the Criminal Division immediately gave a Jin Yi Wei Fei a wink.

"Stand up." A Jin Yiwei immediately put his hand on Hai Rui's shoulder, "Don't leave your name and whereabouts, where can I ask people to find you?"

Hai Rui stood there: "Come and find me at the Ministry of Finance."

"From the household department?" The guard in Jinyi looked at the eunuch of the Criminal Division who was next to him.

The eunuch of the criminal division of Nati: "Who is the official of the household department?"

Hai Rui raised his voice, "Hai Rui, head of the household department." After speaking, he raised his hand and pushed down the palm on his shoulder, and walked towards the door again.

"Wait!" The eunuch of the Criminal Division called to stop him, "Since you are in charge of the household department, then follow us to the household department to verify your identity."

Hai Rui stopped again: "Okay. I'm going to report to the household department. You don't mind the trouble, let me settle down with my family first, and then go together."

The two Jin Yiwei looked at the eunuch of the Criminal Division again.

Eunuch Nati Criminal Division: "Follow."

With Hai Rui in front, the two Jinyi guards followed closely behind, and walked out of the shop.

The boss surnamed Zhao finally regained his composure, and looked at the "six musts" on the square table where the ink was still wet.

The guys behind the counter all stood up, tiptoeing all to look at the "six musts" with wet ink on the square table.

The eunuch of the Criminal Division had his back to them but hadn't left the house yet. At this moment, he turned around suddenly and said to the boss surnamed Zhao, "Take another piece of paper."

"Bring a piece of paper! Take a piece of paper!" The boss surnamed Zhao hurriedly greeted the guy behind the counter.

The guy hurriedly picked up another blank piece of paper and ran out.

The eunuch of the criminal department copied the piece of paper from the clerk and pasted it lightly on the handwriting written by Hai Rui, rolled it up, picked it up, and went out the door again.

The boss surnamed Zhao sat down on the bench beside the square table.

The guys behind the counter all rushed out: "Boss, are you alright?"

The boss surnamed Zhao murmured: "Pack up the bed, let's go our separate ways..."

Here, Hai Rui was carrying the lotus leaf bag of pickles and walked towards the carriage parked by the roadside, but he saw the long horsewhip stuck vertically in front of the carriage, and the driver had disappeared without a trace!
Looking around, there are many people hiding from a distance, all looking towards me.

"The coachman is gone too." Hai Rui walked to the carriage and looked at the two Jinyi guards following him, "How do I get to Qianliang Alley? Please guide me down the road."

The two Jin Yiwei didn't answer his words, they were waiting for the eunuch to mention the punishment.Haimu's voice came from inside the curtain of the car: "Why did you go for so long, and the coachman left too?"

Hai Rui hurriedly replied to the carriage curtain: "Going back to mother, I wasted time buying a few more pickles. The driver suddenly left in a hurry, and invited a few others to take us to our residence."

"Understood." Haimu said something inside the curtain of the car, and said nothing more.

The eunuch of the Criminal Division came over holding the roll of paper, and told the two Jinyi guards: "You follow him, first deliver it to the residence, and then follow him to the household department."

A Jin Yiwei: "Where is the father-in-law?"

Eunuch Nati Xingsi: "I'm going back to the palace right now, and I have to present this heavenly thing to Eunuch Chen." At this point, he looked not far away and drew his voice: "Come on!"

There was a man waiting with a horse on the other side. Hearing the high and sharp sound, he hurriedly led the horse and trotted over.

The eunuch Nati took the reins, got on the horse, clamped his legs, and galloped towards the street outside the Qianmen Gate.

Hai Rui didn't know how to drive a cart either, so he had already walked to the horse's head and grabbed the reins: "Qianliang Alley, you two should lead the way."

It is known that he is an official of the household department, but he dared to do such a stabbing thing when he just entered Beijing. Although the two Jinyi guards must investigate him, they already feel that this person has some background.The two exchanged a look, and they were both polite: "Let's go."

(End of this chapter)