Transmigrated into a minor official in a county government, with children at home waiting for rice t

The old Zhang family residence in Kujing Lane.

Dinner had just been eaten, and the dishes and chopsticks had just been cleared away.

Qingge'er lay on the low table and used a twig to draw characters, creating a crooked "田" character. Ximei'er sat on the edge of the bed, sewing shoe uppers by the gradually dimming daylight.

Zhang Sanlang was adding oil to the lamp when someone knocked on the courtyard gate.

He put the oil bottle down securely, then got up to open the door.

happy Mei looked up and glanced at the needle in her hand without stopping.

A dark-skinned, thin man stood outside the door, wearing a worn gray cloth shirt, with a smile on his face and a black mole on the corner of his mouth with a few hairs on it.

Behind him followed a young man carrying two packets of pastries, wrapped in oil paper and tied together with hemp rope in a cross shape.

"Posting Department. My name is Qian Laohei, and I usually help out with odd jobs in the interrogation room. I apologize for the intrusion." He clasped his hands in a fist and bowed slightly, smiling obsequiously, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Sanlang's shoulder and around the courtyard.

Zhang Sanlang stood at the door and didn't let him in.

"Qian Laohei? I've heard of him. Is there something you need?"

Old Qian turned around and took the pastries from the young man's hands, then presented them with both hands, saying, "There was a misunderstanding at the dock today. My men didn't know the rules and offended Uncle Sun. I've come to apologize. These two packets of fruit are just a small token of my respect. Please accept them on behalf of Uncle Sun, and let's put this matter behind us."

Zhang Sanlang glanced at the two packets of pastries but didn't reach for them. "Your men offended Uncle Sun, not me. If you want to apologize, you should go to the gatekeeper."

The smile on Qian Laohei's face froze for a moment, then brightened again. He placed the two packets of pastries on the stone stool by the door. "What are you saying, Zhang Tiesi? Uncle Sun is your man, so apologizing to you is the same thing."

"There's one more thing." He took a half step forward, pulled three silver coins from his sleeve, and held them in his palm. "Three strings of cash is just a small token, for the clerk to have some tea."

Silver-gray, gleaming coldly in the twilight.

Xi Mei put down her shoe and walked to the door. She glanced at the three silver beans, then looked at her father.

Qingge'er also ran over, leaning against the door frame and peering outside.

Qian Laohei lowered his voice: "Zhang Tiesi has worked hard in the household registration office to clear the accounts. This is just a small token of my appreciation. Having more friends means having more options. We'll run into each other again soon. Zhang Tiesi knows whose intentions this is, so I won't say any more."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanlang immediately understood the other party's intention.

This guy is rushing to give money; it's not about Old Sun's business at all.

It was Kong Yasi who sent him, hoping he would evade responsibility at the household registration office!

Zhang Sanlang looked at the three silver coins in Qian Laohei's palm, pondered for a moment, and then suddenly smiled. "I appreciate the sentiment. Brother Qian, I, Zhang Sanlang, am not an ungrateful person. I know what to do with the household affairs department from now on."

He said the words "you know" in a way that was neither too loud nor too soft, as if he were making a promise or saying something that was none of his business.

Old Qian's eyes twitched, and he pushed the silver coins forward a little further. "Since the postmaster has appreciated your kindness, please accept these silver coins. As the saying goes, 'No fight, no friendship,' so from now on, we're acquaintances, and friends."

Zhang Sanlang waved his hand, "Friends are friends, but there's no need for silver beans."

Old Qian's mole twitched. "The post office is run by government officials, while I am a rough man. If you don't accept this small token of my appreciation, it would make me seem like I don't know how to behave."

"From now on, the dock will not charge Uncle Sun any fees. If the staff needs money, just ask."

He paused, then deliberately added, "We're all beggars trying to make a living in the government. If you offend your friends, your path will narrow. This silver bean is a sincere offer to make friends. If you don't accept it, I won't be able to explain myself when I get back."

Zhang Sanlang glanced at the two packets of pastries on the stone pier, then at the silver beans in Qian Laohei's palm.

"Brother Qian, since you've said that, I'll accept the snacks. I'll rely on you to look after Uncle Sun at the dock in the future."

He picked up the two packets of pastries and handed them to Ximei behind him. Ximei took them, turned around, and went into the house.

Zhang Sanlang turned around and said, "No need for the silver beans. Brother Qian, it's not easy running errands for others. Keep these three silver beans for your tea. If anyone asks, just say that Zhang Sanlang accepted the gift."

Old Qian held the silver beans in his hands, unsure whether to accept them or not.

He stared at Zhang Sanlang for a couple of moments, then suddenly laughed. "Zhang Tiesi, that's a clever thing to say. I've accepted your kind offer, but you told me to keep the silver coins for tea. In the end, you've done me a favor, and I've made a wasted trip."

He tucked the silver coins into his sleeve, sighed half-jokingly, and said, "Alright, since the posting office has said so, I won't insist. You appreciate my kindness, and I'll have something to report back to."

Qian Laohei clasped his hands in a fist salute, then turned and left.

happy Mei'er was still standing at the door, clutching the shoe upper tightly in her hand.

"Father, who is that person?"

"A smuggled tooth in the market."

"What's he doing here?"

"To pass on a message." Zhang Sanlang opened the two packets of pastries.

One packet contained osmanthus cake, and the other contained sesame cake, stacked on oiled paper.

Qingge'er stood on tiptoe, gripping the edge of the table, and swallowed hard.

Zhang Sanlang pushed the pastries towards him, "Eat up. Snacks are no sin."

As Qian Laohei left Kujing Alley, his pace slowed. When he reached the corner of the alley, he stopped, took out the three silver coins from his sleeve, and weighed them in his palm.

"I accept your kind words, but please keep the silver beans for tea." He repeated Zhang Sanlang's words to himself, a smile slowly creeping onto his lips.

Words are alive, but money is real.

Since Zhang Sanlang had made the announcement, when Kong Yashi asked, he said that Zhang had accepted it.

Then these three silver beans belong to Qian Laohei!

He held the silver beans in his palm, squeezed them tightly, and then put them back in his sleeve.

The Kong family's residence in the north of the city was located deep in a narrow alley. The facade was small, with black lacquered doors and no plaque above the door.

Qian Laohei knocked on the door three times, and an old servant opened the door and led him into the study.

Kong Youan sat under the lamp, flipping through a file, without looking up. "Gone?"

"I've gone." Old Qian stood before the desk, bowing. "I brought everything. Snacks and silver beans. As instructed by the clerk, I only said it was to apologize to Uncle Sun, nothing else."

Kong Youan turned a page of the case file. "Did he accept it?"

Qian Laohei leaned forward. "I've accepted it. Zhang Sanlang sent a message to the clerk. He said he's not ungrateful and appreciates the clerk's kindness. He knows what to do with the household affairs department from now on."

Kong Youan closed the case file and leaned back in his chair.

The flame of the lamp flickered, casting an intermittent glow on half of his face.

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "Did you finally get it right? That's a relief."

He picked up his teacup. "You did a decent job this time. You can go back now."

Qian Laohei responded and bowed as he left the study.

As he stepped out of the Kong family's gate, a night breeze blew, and he touched the three hard silver coins in his sleeve before walking briskly home.