His mentor Xu Jie had to sell his bath tub to pay his fine, so how could Zhu Ping'an not be "humiliated" and "crying with gratitude"
"Once a teacher, always a father. In fact, you are half my younger brother. Why are you being polite to our old man?" Xu Fan patted Zhu Ping'an's shoulder in a familiar manner, acting like an elder brother.
Ahem…
You really never stop talking shockingly...
Zhu Pingan almost stumbled after hearing what Xu Fan said. How come I became your half-brother in the blink of an eye? The slope was too steep and I couldn't keep up...
"Zihou is here. Please sit down and wait for me to finish writing this calligraphy."
When Zhu Ping'an entered the study to visit Xu Jie, Xu Jie was writing. He was wearing a gray-white silk dress and a black square soft hat, a common dress for Confucian scholars. After seeing Zhu Ping'an enter, Xu Jie nodded and asked Zhu Ping'an to sit down, then lowered his head and continued to write.
"Master, you are busy."
Zhu Ping'an bowed and then sat down.
"Dad, your handwriting is really good. It's quite similar to the styles of Wang Xizhi and Yan Zhen." When Xu Fan saw Xu Jie, he was like a mouse seeing a cat. He hurried forward to help grind the ink. After taking one look at the handwriting of Xu Jie, he began to flatter him.
Xu Jie stopped writing and glanced at Xu Fan. Xu Fan smiled apologetically and shrank his neck in disappointment.
It took only three or five minutes for Xu Jie to finish writing. He put the brush on the pen holder and waved his hand to signal Zhu Pingan to come closer.
As Zhu Ping'an approached, he saw that Xu Jie had just written a couplet:
A righteous person brings peace to the world;
A clean mind brings a good sleep.
Xu Jie wrote in regular script, which is neat and fits the couplet. Xu Jie's regular script is very good, and his calligraphy is not inferior to Yan Song. Just as Xu Fan said, Xu Jie's characters have the feeling of Wang Xizhi and Yan Zhenqing, with the bones of Yan Zhenqing's regular script and the spirit of Wang Xizhi's regular script.
"Zihoujue, what do you think of this couplet written by me?" Xu Jie waited for Zhu Ping'an to come closer and asked Zhu Ping'an to comment on the couplet he wrote.
"The couplet is just like the man himself, full of righteousness. The calligraphy is full of lofty spirit, and the bones of Yan and the spirit of Xi." Zhu Ping'an said seriously.
Zhu Ping'an's comments are very consistent with the couplet, and are not just empty praise. The content of Xu Jie's couplet is about integrity and honesty, and the regular script has the style of Wang Xizhi and Yan Zhenqing, or more precisely, the bones of Yan Zhenqing and the spirit of Wang Xizhi, and the whole carries a sense of righteousness.
After Zhu Ping'an finished his comments, Xu Jie smiled and shook his head.
"Dad, look, Zihou also said that." Xu Fan was overjoyed when he heard that. Zhu Ping'an's description of Yan Gu Xi Shen was similar to the flattery he just gave, so he excitedly said to Xu Jie, "My son was not talking nonsense just now."
"If you were half as good as Zihou, I would have less to worry about." Xu Jie glared at Xu Fan with a look of disgust.
"Hehe, my dear teacher, I feel so ashamed to hear you say that." Zhu Ping'an said with embarrassment.
"He should be the one who feels ashamed." Xu Jie smiled slightly.
Xu Fan, on the other hand, looked indifferent. He was probably used to being attacked by Xu Jie.
All right.
Beating is love and scolding is care.
Zhu Ping'an finally understood that even though Xu Jie looked disdainful towards Xu Fan, he must be very satisfied with his eldest son in his heart.
Next, Zhu Ping'an commented on the couplet again, this time with more care. However, Xu Jie still smiled and shook his head.
"I am a foolish student, so please give me some guidance, Master." Zhu Ping'an looked at him for a moment, shook his head, and said frankly with a look of frustration.
"Oh, I found it, peace, the word 'peace' ends the couplet." Xu Fan's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had discovered a new continent, and he pointed to the end of the upper and lower couplets and said loudly.
A righteous person brings peace to the world;
A clean mind brings a good sleep.
Zhu Ping'an then noticed that the first line of the couplet written by Xu Jie ended with a "Ping" and the second line ended with a "An". It was indeed the word "Ping'an", implying his own name. Was this the couplet written by Xu Jie for himself? Zhu Ping'an looked up at Xu Jie.
"You have done a very good job in investigating Taicang. It is unprecedented and brings honor to this old man. This couplet is written for you. I wanted to have someone send it to your house, but now that you are here, it saves the trouble. Just take it back later." Xu Jie nodded with a slight smile and said to Zhu Ping'an with great satisfaction.
"I am ashamed and unworthy of this couplet from the teacher." Zhu Ping'an bowed.
"You have done a great job. Taicang has been plagued by problems for many years and it is time to remove the poison and cure it. Your inspection of the warehouse this time has hit the nail on the head and brought the ailing Ming Dynasty's finances back to health." Xu Jie stroked his beard and praised Zhu Ping'an for his job of inspecting the warehouse.
"I am ashamed. This was just a coincidence. I also caused my teacher to be fined 6,000 taels of silver. I am too ashamed to see my teacher." Zhu Ping'an apologized.
"Money is something outside of one's body. Let alone six thousand taels, even if it's all my fortune, what difference does it make? If I take it, it will benefit the world, and everyone will be honored by this." Xu Jie waved his hand nonchalantly.
"Besides, it is an indisputable fact that the treasury officials and censors accepted bribes and enriched themselves. I also heard about it back then. However, when the routine treasury inspection was carried out, a flood occurred in Jiangnan and the people were in mourning. I was seconded by my mentor, Mr. Xia, to Jiangnan for disaster relief and was unable to participate in the treasury inspection. When I came back from the disaster relief work, the treasury had already been checked. Even so, I am also guilty of negligence and should be fined. It has nothing to do with you." Xu Jie continued.
This was indeed the case. Xu Jie had also served as the inspector of the treasury, but before he took office, a serious flood disaster occurred in Jiangnan. Xu Jie's teacher, Xia Yan, who was then the chief minister, was from Jiangxi, which was affected by the flood. Since his hometown had been hit by a flood, he must take special care of it, so Xia Yan transferred his most trusted student Xu Jie to his hometown to provide disaster relief.
Therefore, Xu Jie, who was supposed to inspect the treasury, was transferred to Jiangnan for disaster relief before he arrived at Taicang to take up his post. When Xu Jie returned from the disaster relief work, the other inspectors had already finished their inspection of the treasury.
So, to be realistic, Xu Jie was really blamed for being fined this time.
"Oh, by the way, Zihou, you were also fined more than 100 taels of silver. Have you collected the money?" Xu Jie looked at Zhu Ping'an with concern and asked. Before Zhu Ping'an could reply, Xu Jie turned to Xu Fan and said, "Fan'er, go to the account and withdraw 100 taels of silver. I will let Zihou take it back later."
"Thank you very much, my teacher. I am very grateful. However, I dare not trouble you to worry about me anymore, as everything is safe and sound." Zhu Ping'an thanked Xu Jie.
"Well, it's good to have it all together." Xu Jie nodded. "You have made great contributions this time, but you were still fined. I know you are wronged, but you should not blame the emperor. This is also for the sake of the overall situation. Once a precedent is set, it will be difficult to recover the fine."
"The students understand." Zhu Ping'an nodded.