The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

That night, Song Xiang hosted a family banquet for Su Jin and others to wash away the dust. Although the affairs in Yangzhou were corrupt, the etiquette in the officialdom was still required. That's it, the only one that can be sold is the big white fish in Baoyang Lake (now called Slender West Lake) in the northern city of Yangzhou. Although it is winter, this fish is also plump and fragrant when cooked.

Su Jin was surprised to meet an acquaintance at the dinner table. This person was Song Quan and Song Shaoqing whom Su Jin met in Luzhou that day through Yan Biyun's introduction. Jin didn't speak for a long time.

Su Jin also wondered why he met him at the family banquet. The two watched for a long time like a cockfight, and Su Jin finally understood: "Could it be that you are the son of the Song family?"

Song Quan also said: "Could it be that you are the grain envoy from the capital?"

The two laughed and clasped hands. Although they didn't have a deep friendship in Luzhou, they met old acquaintances, and there was a sense of intimacy.

Song Xiang was also puzzled, and hurriedly asked, "Do you know each other?"

Song Quan said: "Daddy doesn't know something. In May, I went to Luzhou to meet my good friend Li Zhaoting. I accidentally heard a song with new lyrics written by Mr. Su. I was shocked, so I introduced him to him. I didn't expect to see him for a few months. Mr. Su has suddenly become a special envoy of the imperial court, he is really capable."

Song Xiang reprimanded: "Why are you so slick? What 'became a special envoy', the special envoy is appointed by the emperor himself, even if you know each other, don't make mistakes."

Su Jin hurriedly said: "Your Majesty, there is no need to be like this. Brother Song and I are friends. Besides, my special envoy is a temporary errand, and I am not a great official. If I pay too much attention to it, I will be born."

Song Quan said with a smile: "I'll just say, Mr. Su is not a layman who cares about these things."

Song Xiang choked so hard that he thought to himself: "The boy just can't speak, your father and I care about these things, so I'm a layman?"

Sitting down again, Song Quan poured wine and ate while talking, Song Quan looked at the table full of dishes with nowhere to put chopsticks and said apologetically: "Just in time for this time, the vegetable market on the street is closed, wait for Brother Su. "

Su Jin said: "It's good to be able to eat these. I don't know how many people can't even have a bite of hot rice in this cold night."

Song Xiang felt confused when he heard this, and stopped eating. Song Quan said with a smile: "We don't talk about official business at the dinner table. After this matter is over, I will take you to Baoyang Lake for fun. The scenery is beautiful there. There are many It's a famous place."

Su Jin smiled and said, "Where can jade people teach you how to play flute on a moonlit night at the twenty bridges?" Xiaolou, Pinggang Yanxue, Xianghai Ciyun, and Meiling Chunsheng are all very famous places, but the seasons are different, so I am afraid that only a few places can be admired. "

Su Jin said: "So there are so many good places to go, but I don't have time now, and I will always have a chance to see them all in the future."

Song Quan said: "Yes, I came to Yangzhou to relax and have fun. I don't want to encounter this kind of thing in the first month of my stay. Mr. Su has many ideas, so I have to think of ways this time."

Su Jin said with a smile: "Does it need to be said? This is the purpose of my coming here, let's eat quickly, there are things to do in the evening."

Song Xiang said: "Evening? Why are you in such a hurry? What is there to do tomorrow? The envoy's residence is arranged in the other courtyard of the government office. Why don't you take a rest early and work tomorrow?"

Su Jindao: "Some things can only be done at night, and it's inconvenient during the day. I'm impatient, so you don't have to worry about me, my lord."

Song Xiang thought for a while and said: "This way, the government will not talk too much, but I will ask the head of Weidu to send a small group of soldiers to accompany you there at night. The people are wandering around, and if something happens, I will be unforgivable."

Su Jin laughed and said: "What's the difference between bringing many people with you and Bairi's operation? No need, the two guards I brought, usually a dozen or so people can't get close, so you don't have to worry about safety issues, I have my own measure."

Seeing that Su Jin refused, Song Xiang couldn't hold on anymore, and they drank two more glasses. Su Jin stopped drinking on the grounds of doing business, and left after eating a bowl of rice.

Song Quan followed Su Jin out of the side hall, and said, "Master Su, I'll go with you to see and see, I've been doing nothing for so many days, I'm bored to death."

Su Jindao: "Are you going too? I'm not going to the place where fireworks and willow lanes are singing and reciting."

Song Quan said: "Didn't you underestimate me? I'm not a person who misses fireworks and romance. Besides, I have a good wife at home. Even if you teach me to go, I won't go."

Su Jin said with a smile: "Then there may be many unsightly places, such as seeing blood, such as fighting." Su Jin moved closer to Song Quan's ear and continued: "Or...kill people."

Song Quan shook his body, looked at Su Jin and said, "Kill...kill...kill?"

Su Jin smiled and said, "Exactly, are you still here?"

Song Quan was dumbfounded, he didn't know whether Su Jin was telling the truth or a lie, but Su Jin's teasing eyes angered him, he grabbed his sleeves and followed Su Jin out of the inner hall pretending not to care.

Outside, Dynasty Ma and Han had already had their stomachs full and packed up and waited here. Su Jin said softly, "Is everything all right?"

"It's all good, let's go." Chao Chao clapped his hands.

Su Jin nodded and said, "Let's go."

Wang Chaodang went out of the government office first, Su Jin and Ma Han followed closely behind him, Song Quan was still clutching his folding fan in cold weather, followed behind and shouted in a low voice: "Young Master Su, wait for me, wait for me... "

Su Jin turned back and said, "Are you really going?"

Song Quan gasped and said, "Of course I'm going, it's good to give you a helping hand, besides, I know this city very well, so don't get lost when you're new here."

Su Jin thought for a while and said, "Then come, follow me."

A group of people left the Fuya Square and turned onto the East Street; the winter night was cold and windy, the street was empty, and the grass clippings on the ground were swirled by the north wind.

It was dark on both sides of the street, few lights were on, and someone's child cried twice, whether it was cold or hungry, which added to the silence of the quiet night.

A few people walked quietly along the shadows under the closed pavement. Wang Chao seemed to be very familiar with the path. Turning east and west, walking through the streets and alleys, he came to a house after a while, and said in a low voice. : "Master, this is the house."

Su Jin said: "Do you recognize it clearly?"

"That's right, the first one in the east of Erdao Hutong in Dongcheng, and the one facing the street is this one."

Su Jin said: "See if the lights are on at home?"

Wang Chao looked around and saw a big tree with fallen leaves and branches growing beside the yard. He trotted, stepped on the trunk and took a few steps to climb up the tree, climbed up and down a few feet and gently slid down the tree Said: "The lights are on in the backyard, I guess I haven't slept yet."

Su Jin rolled his eyes and said, "Open the door."

This time it was Ma Han's turn, he stepped on the wall with an easy run-up and landed on the top of the wall, and fell lightly into the courtyard. After a while, there was a soft "Gada" sound at the courtyard door, and a crack opened.

Su Jin stepped in, Song Quan hurriedly grabbed Su Jin's sleeve and said, "Brother Su, you... are you really going to be thieves?"

Su Jin smiled and said, "That's right."

Song Quan hurriedly waved his hands and said: "I can't, you are the special envoy of the imperial court now, how can you do such a sneaky thing, if you have a hand and tell Brother Yu, there will be more or less."

Su Jin said: "Are you going in or not?"

Song Quan said: "I dare not be a thief."

Su Jin smiled lightly, pulled his sleeves and walked in, saying: "Brother Song, you've already boarded the pirate ship, and it's hard to get away with it now."

Song Quan was full of annoyance, there were three people on the other side, and he was alone, and he didn't dare to make too much noise, so he had to follow in.

The four of them walked around the alley beside the main hall, walked towards the back house, passed through a patio and a corridor, and suddenly saw a well-repaired large courtyard. It seemed that the family was quite rich. There are lights from inside to outside, and human voices can be heard faintly.

Su Jin made a gesture, Wang Chao took out some black cloths from his arms, and the three of them covered their heads and faces with only their eyes exposed.

Song Quan looked at the posture of these three people, they seemed to be used to gangsters, and felt even more frightened, and said softly with a trembling voice: "Su...Brother Su, you can't...you can't."

Su Jin handed him a piece of black cloth and said, "Cover your face."

"I do not."

"It's up to you whether you are blinded or not. You will be in big trouble if someone recognizes you later. I won't force you."

Su Jin walked towards the gate of the main house, Wang Chao Ma Han followed closely, Song Quan put the folding fan behind his waist with a weeping face, covered his face tremblingly, followed the three of them dejectedly, and walked towards the door.