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

Gu Yansheng picked up a pen, wrote a few lines on the note, put it down, and pushed it over. "Approved. You can handle both of these matters together."

Tao Cheng took the note, put it in his sleeve, thanked him, and turned to leave the signing room.

Zhou Qianxing followed behind him until the corridor turned a corner and no one was around, then he lowered his voice and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Clerk. Zhou Quan has been in the Household Revenue Department all these years thanks to your cultivation. When I go to the Department of Rites, I will definitely not disgrace the Household Revenue Department."

Tao Cheng waved his hand, "Do a good job with the ceremonial affairs department. Chief Clerk Feng has mentioned it to me three times, and I can't refuse him. Besides, you are indeed more suitable to go to the ceremonial affairs department."

The transfer document was delivered to the clerk's office early the next morning.

The document stated that Zhang Shouli, the clerk of the Clerk's Office, would temporarily act in place of the Revenue Office, effective immediately.

Zhou Qianxing's transfer to the Ministry of Personnel was also approved. He took his documents and walked to the door of the Ministry of Personnel, but did not go in. He just waved to the inside.

Zhang Sanlang put down his pen and walked out.

Zhou Qianxing unfolded the document and showed it to him. It was stamped with the seal of the registrar and the transfer seal of the clerk's office.

"Congratulations, Sanlang. The transfer documents are here, so we can't call you Zhangshi anymore. My transfer to the Ceremonial Department has also been approved. Tonight, let's invite Liao Zhangshi and a few others to the newly opened Duan Family Tavern in the west of the city for a few drinks."

"Since you've been transferred to a new apartment and are temporarily taking over, consider this a way of supporting my own job transfer. I'll host this celebration, and everyone will have a reason to drink."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Sanlang clasped his hands in congratulations: "Congratulations, Brother Zhou! In the past few years, the account books you've reviewed for clearing commercial taxes and land taxes are enough to fill half a room. And you've mastered all the documents and ceremonies in the ceremonial department in just half a month."

"That's why we have to have a good drink tonight. I heard that the new wine shop in the west of the city has some good Autumn Dew White wine. Let's invite Liao Tiesi, Zheng Tiesi, and Wang Tiesi, as well as a few acquaintances from the household office, and pool our money."

"Don't worry, the gifts from the Revenue Department won't be too meager." Zhou Qianxing paused, "By the way, I wonder what kind of congratulatory gift Clerk Feng will give. He's the Clerk of the Personnel Department, and he's probably both happy and reluctant to see you transferred to the Revenue Department."

The wine shop in the west of the city was not big. It was an open hall facing the street, with a bamboo curtain half rolled up and an oil-paper lantern hanging at the door.

The shopkeeper's surname was Duan. He had worked as a handyman in the government office in his early years and knew the temperaments of the officials in each department very well.

Seeing Zhou Qianxing lead a group of people in, he quickly wiped the large square table facing the street again and added benches.

Zhou Qianxing waved to the counter: "Manager Duan, bring up a few of your specialty dishes. Today is a special day, don't try to fool us with salted beans."

Manager Duan quickly wiped the table clean and told his wife to go to the kitchen to urge the preparation of the dishes.

Before long, several dishes of hot and cold dishes were served.

A dish of fermented white fish is a fresh river delicacy that arrived at the dock; a dish of roasted pork skin is crispy and fragrant; a bowl of shredded pork soup with flatbread is steaming hot; and there are also freshly baked flatbreads and several dishes of seasonal side dishes.

A bowl for warming wine was placed on the corner of the table, holding two pots of newly arrived Autumn Dew White wine.

Everyone took their seats.

Zhang Sanlang sat down next to Wang Tiesi, while Zhou Qianxing took the main seat. He picked up the wine pot and poured wine for everyone, then raised his bowl and said with a smile, "Brothers, you've honored me with your presence. I'll drink a bowl first."

"Today's feast is twofold: first, to congratulate Brother Zhang on his transfer to the Household Affairs Department, and second, to bid farewell to the Department itself. From now on, when I go to the Reception Department, the Household Affairs Department's accounts will depend on you few to keep a close eye on them."

"The fact that the autumn taxes were cleared half a month ahead of schedule this year is not only thanks to Brother Zhang's hard work, but also to the efforts of several others who worked day and night. Enough said, it's all in the wine!"

After drinking the first cup, Zhang Sanlang spoke up, "Today is mainly to congratulate Brother Zhou. Although the Lifang and Hufang are of equal rank, the Lifang is more prestigious. In the future, Brother Zhou will be in charge of all social interactions with officials from various schools and gentry from different places. This cup is for Brother Zhou."

Zhou Qianxing picked up the ceramic bowl: "Zhang Tiesi, uh, I should call you Zhang Qianxing now. Your temporary post isn't just for a few days. After the tax season ends next year, once the registrar officially approves it, you'll be a proper Zhang Qianxing in charge of household registration."

"To be honest, I've only been transferred laterally, while Brother Zhang has been promoted. However, I've been troubled by the money and grain matter, so my transfer to the ceremonial department is a cause for celebration. Tonight's drink is both a celebration for me and a celebration for you! Come, let's drink to our hearts' content!"

Liao Tiesi had already picked up his bowl and leaned over: "The gift room is a good place, and the household affairs room isn't bad either. By the way, do you know what kind of congratulatory gift Feng Yasi will send?"

"Officer Feng is an officer in the Clerk's Office. Brother Zhang was transferred from the Clerk's Office to the Household Revenue Office. He was both happy and reluctant to let him go." Officer Zheng chewed on a salted bean. "He was happy because the Clerk's Office had produced a capable person, and everyone looked up to him."

"It's hard to let him go. There are three clerks in the clerk's office, and the only one who can really do things is Brother Zhang. With him gone, Clerk Feng won't have such a useful person at his disposal."

Zheng Tiesi nodded in agreement, "Feng Yasi is always the best at dealing with people. Last time, when Tao Yasi ran into him in the corridor, he took the initiative to bring up the matter of transferring Zhou Qianxing to the Ceremonial Office. Feng Yasi has a holistic view of the entire government office and never just focuses on the small area of ​​the Clerk's Office."

"Without Clerk Feng's approval, could things in the rites department have gone so smoothly? Also, have you heard? Last time, when the attempt to frame the posting officer failed, Yu Shoufen was fined a year's salary by Registrar Gu. Now, all the posting officers in the criminal department are living in fear, afraid of being implicated."

Hu Fangsun returned the toast from Zheng Tiesi with a bowl in hand, then changed the subject, "Kong Youan's troubles are not over yet. His most capable subordinate, Qian Laohei, lost a finger, and Lv San has been sent to the prefectural city to serve his sentence."

"County Commandant Xu is keeping a close eye on the murder case at the docks, saying he'll follow the clues to find the source. Just you wait and see, after the year-end performance reviews, the criminal investigation and military departments might undergo a major reshuffle."

"After all, Clerk Tao isn't from this county, and Clerk Yan, who's in charge of the workshops and warehouses, has always kept to himself. Clerk Feng, on the other hand, manages both the clerk and rites departments. From now on, in this yamen, Clerk Feng's words will carry the most weight."

"Be careful what you say." Zhou Qianxing tapped the edge of the table with his chopsticks. "The matters of the Criminal Affairs Department are handled by Clerk Kong. We just need to do our own jobs. That case is being handled by County Lieutenant Xu, with Registrar Gu overseeing it. It's not our place to discuss it."

Sun Shoufen gave an awkward smile, picked up his bowl, toasted Zhou Qianxing, and then changed the subject.

After a few bowls of wine, the conversation started flowing again.

Liao Tiesi shook his head and sighed, saying that both of his children would be starting their formal education next year, and the tuition alone would cost several hundred coins, not to mention the expense of paper and pens.

Wang Tiesi sat in the corner, counting on his fingers. He said that his youngest son was only three years old and it would be several years before he started school. He could save a few hundred coins and buy his wife a new winter coat.

Zhang Sanlang smiled after they finished calculating. happy Mei'er and Qing Ge'er had just made winter clothes a few days ago, so they didn't need to add any more.

As the moon rose high in the sky, Manager Duan brought out a steaming bowl of mutton soup with flatbread and added another pot of wine.

Everyone contributed fifty coins as a gift, which was then distributed and settled by Sun.

As the party was ending, Liao Tiesi was already slightly drunk, and Zheng Tiesi held onto the door frame to prevent him from falling.

Zhou Qianxing and Wang Tiesi walked behind, while Zhang Sanlang was the last to leave the wine shop. The cool autumn night breeze blew into the alley entrance, and everyone was heading home in the same direction, yet under the same moonlight of the county town.