Jifu
There is a plaque hanging high and a big red door, but it is not as big as expected. Pei Ziyun asked: "Is this the Ji's Mansion? The Ji's Mansion where he served as the Minister of Household Affairs?"
The candied haws hawker laughed and said, "Juren, you are from out of town and don't understand the rules of this capital."
"How do you say this?" Pei Ziyun asked with interest.
"Except for the lord who has a fixed residence and the prime minister who has been granted a title by the emperor, all other officials in the capital have to rent their houses. Why do they rent?"
"Unless you are from Beijing, you won't be a Beijing official for long, right?"
"Not only will I not be a Beijing official for a long time, but I will also be promoted. I have to move every time I get promoted!"
"I know Mr. Ji. He first lived in Chunshu Hutong and rented four houses, then moved to Guozi Lane, then moved to Mianmian Hutong, and now he has moved here. There are twenty-eight houses plus a garden."
"The official position has grown, the population has increased, and the pomp has increased. How can we not move, so it is not economical to buy. If we really don't move, we will never be promoted to an official."
Pei Ziyun listened with great interest and praised: "It's very elegant. Here you go. Don't leave. When I come out, you can lead the way for me. I'll give you a reward!"
As he spoke, he threw away a piece of broken silver. This candied haws hawker was so jealous. It was obviously cut silver. It was slightly white in color, so he knew it was high-grade official silver. One or two weights. He quickly apologized and said, "Okay, sir." Just go in.”
Pei Ziyun just stepped forward and knocked on the door. A servant opened the door and Pei Ziyun handed over the letter.
Before leaving, the Governor had explained that Ji Shilang of the Ministry of Revenue was his cousin. Although they had more than one cousin, because the two were similar in age, they often played together when they were young and had a good relationship. Ji Benhan's identity could help with this matter. Find it.
But originally, Liao Ge should take charge of these matters. At this time, Liao Ge was killed and he had to find it himself.
After a while, the servant came out of the room and led Pei Ziyun through the corridor to a courtyard. Then he stopped and bowed: "The master is waiting in the courtyard."
Pei Ziyun was secretly speechless. This Ji's Mansion didn't look very impressive, and the inside was not bad. After crossing the moon gate and entering the small courtyard, he saw a white-bearded man with a kind face and a slightly tall figure sitting at the stone table under the pergola in the courtyard. The fat middle-aged man, dressed in a brocade robe, is sipping tea while looking at a wild flower on the wall. He must be Ji Benhan.
Pei Ziyun stepped forward and saluted: "Pei Ziyun, please pay homage to Mr. Ji."
This person arranged his residence to have a pastoral atmosphere and built a pergola in the courtyard. The vines on the shelf were half green and not yellow in color, with wilts and drooping heads. The stone table was carved with complicated patterns. After listening to Pei Ziyun's words, Ji Benhan's eyes turned red. He took back the flowers and still held the cup in his hand, as if he just realized someone had entered the courtyard.
Ji Shilang slowly put down the tea cup and looked at Pei Ziyun with a friendly look: "Oh, you are the one who holds my brother's letter, right? Since you are here recommended by my brother, you are one of our own, so there is no need to be polite."
Pei Ziyun said: "Thank you, sir."
After saying that, he took something out of his sleeve and presented it with both hands: "Here is the official document. Please take a look at it."
Ji Shilang stretched out his hand casually, looked at it, and said: "It turns out that it's Songyundao's request for the title. It's not a big thing or a small matter. My brother recommends you because he is interested in you and... Hey, how come there are only You alone, what's the difference?"
Ji Shilang flipped through the official documents and asked in confusion. Of course, there are tolerances in official documents. Although the candidate is half a member of the family, it is not in line with the rules, and it is written on it that there is a deviation.
Pei Ziyun looked slightly gloomy and showed a wry smile: "Sir, I'll tell you the truth, the four of us unexpectedly encountered a group of crazy criminals on the way, and openly attacked the imperial officials. Lord Liao Ge and two soldiers were unfortunately killed. Only the students were lucky enough to escape. Presumably, the state government will submit an official document on the matter soon.
Pei Zi said, sighing secretly, not wanting the secret to be leaked and the trip to the capital to turn into a killing trip.
Ji Shilang looked surprised and put down the cup: "Is this happening?"
Pei Ziyun sighed: "It's absolutely true."
Ji Shilang's face darkened and he slapped the table angrily: "These thieves dare to attack an official."
"Pei Ziyun, Pei Ziyun..." Ji Benhan read it softly several times, and suddenly remembered something, "Are you Pei Ziyun, Pei Jieyuan, who wrote "Jianjin Wine"?"
After hearing this, Pei Ziyun raised his hands and said, "It's just a student."
Upon hearing this, Ji Shilang's expression changed, and he said with a smile: "So you are Pei Ziyun. When I saw you just now, I thought you are the most handsome and extraordinary. You are not as good as the first meeting."
Ji Shilang looked at Pei Ziyun and admired him very much. Pei Ziyun was originally thin, but now he is handsome and graceful. He is indeed an extraordinary person.
The waiter was a little enthusiastic, and Pei Ziyun also bowed: "I am ashamed that I am worthy of your honor."
Ji Shilang raised his hand and patted the official document on the table: "Since you came to me first, I can hand this official document to the Ministry of Rites on your behalf. It will be faster than you handing it up step by step. What do you think?"
Pei Ziyun looked happy: "This is your honor, thank you very much."
Ji Benhan continued: "I have read this official letter, and there is no problem. However, you must understand that even if the governor recommends it, whether you can be canonized as a true king still depends on the emperor's wishes. Well... "
Seeing Shi Lang Ji's expression, Pei Ziyun was startled for a moment, hesitated, and asked, "Can you please give me some advice?"
Ji Shilang smiled, took the cup, took a sip and said: "The eldest princess and the current emperor are brother and sister. Since he only has one sister, and she is the youngest sister, His Majesty always favors him and gives him the title of eldest princess. However, the eldest princess is the most noble. It’s not easy to ask her to open her mouth.”
Ji Shilang emphasized the word "gold" very hard. When it came to this, Pei Ziyun didn't understand. He stepped forward and saluted: "Thank you, sir. The student has learned a lot. I hope you can recommend him in the future."
Ji Shilang smiled: "Of course."
Seeing what Ji Shilang said, Pei Ziyun retreated.
After leaving the door, the candied haws hawker led the way to an inn.
People were coming and going along the way. Cargo traders, footmen, carrying burdens, driving ox carts, and donkeys, walked slowly or in a hurry to a certain door. When they shouted, a boy came out to take the goods.
Soon I found an inn on the street, and the candied haws hawker said, "This is the Shen family's old shop. It's always clean and comfortable."
The price was a bit expensive, but Pei Ziyun didn't care. After entering the room, he asked the vendor selling candied haws in detail before he understood.
Being an official in the capital is not easy. Being an official cannot live among the common people. You have to have at least some ostentation. Therefore, the rent is very expensive. The starting price for a year is 20 taels of silver, and some cost 80 taels, which basically accounts for half of the salary of a Beijing official.
When it comes to corruption, one has to have power. In the three years since the Qing Dynasty, the prefecture had a hundred thousand snowflakes of silver. That was local power. Most officials in the capital did not have this power. They were somewhat filial. However, according to the hawker selling candied haws, some officials reached the fifth rank. In order to maintain his dignity, he had to buy seven large boxes of official uniforms, but the crown beads he wore were fake.
After taking the money and rewarding the man, Pei Ziyun pondered. It seemed that for further work, both the servant and the eldest princess would be giving gifts.
This is very strange. In the beginning, it was not possible to apply for money because it was a question of qualifications. No matter how much money it was, it would not work. But now that the system threshold has been passed, it is now a matter of money.
How can I get a large amount of money? I was a little silent as I took out the nine hundred silver notes I had with me.
Pei Ziyun never felt that money was not enough. He did not gamble, go whoring, or pursue meaningless ostentation. These nine hundred taels of silver could allow him to live in luxury for several years.
But now I need to get a lot of money.
Doing business? No, I only have a few hundred capital, and it is impossible to get thousands or tens of thousands. Even if I have it, if I get it in a short time, I am afraid I will be targeted, and the consequences will be endless.
I just sighed and didn't know what to do. Should I become a gentleman on my own? Pei Ziyun was thinking, and just as he was hesitating, he heard a knock on the door.
"Master, are you here? All the dishes you ordered are ready and served to you." Pei Ziyun heard the waiter's words and went out. The waiter put the dishes one by one, and there was a plate of golden cakes on the table. He asked, "I don't remember ordering this dish."
The waiter smiled and said, "Sir, this is not just the New Year. Our shopkeeper ordered the kitchen to make these golden cakes and give them to every guest in the inn. I also wish all guests a prosperous and prosperous year."
Listening to the guy talking about gold, it was like being electrocuted and having memories. In the memory of the original owner, there were many treasures, which were later acquired by others and spread widely.
Pei Ziyun had an idea and smiled: "That's right, that's right. I'm going to give you these two taels of silver to give you good luck. You'll be more diligent in the future!"
Pei Ziyun said and threw out a tael of silver.
When the boy saw the money, he was delighted and said with a smile: "Thank you for the reward, sir. This year you will definitely pass the Jinshi exam. You will be rich and auspicious, with a lot of money and a good promotion."
"Also, if you have any questions, you can just ask the villain. He will know the details better than asking the candied haws seller."
Hearing what this guy said, Pei Ziyun was also happy: "You can go down, this matter is over."
The guy went out, and Pei Ziyun carefully searched for the memory. Except for the last golden bead, in fact, there were many memories of the original owner who could get money. However, this society is not a financial society. Only when you have an identity can you have money. Without an identity, not only can money not be obtained. Channeling the gods can also induce death.
With Pei Ziyun's identity, his family has a thousand acres and his money is over 10,000 taels. No amount of money can suppress the disaster. For this reason, Pei Ziyun has never thought about this aspect.
At this time, I searched them one by one, feeling regretful.
"Maybe we are so far away that it is too late to travel thousands of miles away."
"Maybe it's close, but it's also very troublesome. The biggest sum is gold sunk by the previous dynasty. It is said that there are 500,000 taels of gold, all of which were cast into gold bars. But this has to be salvaged by boat. It's too late now, and it's also very confusing. People pay attention.”
"Yes, the original owner vaguely remembered that someone went to Beijing to take the exam and rented a house. As a result, he unearthed a hidden gold worth tens of thousands of taels. Later, he leaked the information and started a lawsuit with the owner of the house."
"Even if you lift a person, you have to spit out most of it to the yamen, and only get 20%, and it will be spread by others." Pei Ziyun had an idea in his mind: "Hey, I have to have a new year and a new look, with a lot of money and a promotion step by step."
(End of chapter)