The Happy Life of Small Officials in Northern Song Dynasty

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Time was running out, Su Jin didn't even have time to drink a cup of hot tea after dinner, so he hurried out of the Yuelai Inn, got into the carriage and went straight to Shugang Mountain in the north of the city, this time Su Jin brought Zhang Long with him, tomorrow Once the action becomes noisy, the two Wang Chao, Ma Han, and himself are definitely not Feng Jingyao's opponents. With Zhang Long four against one, the chances of winning are great, so Zhang Long needs to follow the situation to familiarize himself with the situation.

Along the way, Ma Han bragged to Zhang Long about the important things he had done with his son-in-law during this time, such as the night walks that broke the father-in-law and his daughter-in-law's affair, what went to Beikou Sanli to smash the scene, and what broke into the brothel to feed the blind third master poison Lah, the boss who heard Zhang Long's eyes glaring, clapped his hands and regretted not falling, complaining repeatedly that the young master didn't take him with him, and missed so many wonderful things.

Su Jin leaned against the wall of the car and listened to Ma Han's nonsense, embellishing everything in a thrilling and exciting way. The more Zhang Long yelled with regret, the more proud Ma Han was.

"Master, don't let me go to the inn this time. I stay here every day, and my brain is rusted. How can it be wonderful to do things with my master." Zhang Long said in Su Jin's ear.

"Cut, you won't go, Dong Yan's house, who will protect Rou Niang and the others? You also have a great responsibility." Ma Han stood talking without backache, but stimulated Zhang Long vigorously.

Su Jin smiled and said: "Yeah, how can Ms. Yan be successful if there is no one there? What if the opponent takes advantage of the loopholes and finds out this level of news, and the dog jumps over the wall and takes them as hostages, what do you think?"

"How can it be? Yandong's family has a few companions who can fight, I have nothing to do with them, and at least three or four of them are not inferior to us."

Ma Han taunted: "Go, go, you are you, if you can't beat him, don't take us with you."

Zhang Long said anxiously: "Really, there are a few who are quite skilled. It is said that Lord Yan selected them from the army. Maybe their martial arts are not as good as ours, but their tactics are indeed decisive."

Su Jin waved his hand and said: "They are them, we have to send someone to protect them, after all, they are all female relatives."

Zhang Long muttered: "Dong Yan's family is really too. Why stay in Yangzhou all the time? Why don't you pack up and go back to Luzhou or the capital? It's almost Chinese New Year, so I won't go back."

Closing his eyes and resting his mind, Wang Chao violently gave him a chestnut and scolded: "Are you a fool? Dong Yan's family is the future young lady. Do you say that about the mistress? I think you eat too much meat. It's oily my head."

Zhang Long hurriedly apologized and said, "My lord, that's what I said, there is no other meaning."

Su Jin couldn't help but smile bitterly. These few pigs always like to make noise when they get together, and sometimes it's really annoying, but they are all simple and loyal. Apart from a big appetite and a lot of talk, there is nothing critical about them.

"Keep up your spirits. I don't know how many things to do these few days. I have to think about some things quietly. Can you calm down for me? After this matter is over, we will go back to Luzhou for the New Year. Ms. Yan also Since we will return to the capital, we don’t need to arrange manpower; by the way, Sui’er and the others are still in the capital, so we need to send someone to inform them to return to Luzhou for the New Year on their own.”

Wang Chao cupped his hands and said: "Master, I will go when the time comes. I will go to the capital on horseback with my brothers in the guards, and we will arrive in five or six days."

Su Jin nodded and said: "We'll talk about it when the time comes, first concentrate on completing the big things in front of you, and don't be distracted at this moment."

The car was going very fast, and within a short while, the driver of the Yan family who was driving the car said in a low voice, "Young Master Su, we've arrived at the foot of the mountain."

Su Jin and others got out of the car and ordered the driver to drive the car to a leeward place to rest and wait. The four of them walked up the mountain along the dark mountain road.

In the daytime, the winter sun is shining brightly, and the trees and weeds on both sides have turned green, which looks pleasing to the eye. At night, the mountain road is dark, and the cold wind blows from the top of the trees, which is bitingly cold. Not to mention, there was also a whistling sound like howling ghosts and wolves, which made everyone who heard it terrified.

Chao Chao slipped on his feet and almost fell, only to feel a black shadow passing by in front of his eyes, sweating all over from fright, and said in a trembling voice: "There are... there are ghosts."

Su Jin was startled, and quickly took a closer look. There was indeed a black shadow in the shape of a human at Wang Chao's finger. Su Jin stepped forward and kicked it, and the black shadow fell down in response. It turned out to be a scarecrow leaning on the mountain wall. It must have been left behind by the pilgrims in some ritual, and they didn't think much about it during the day.

"Damn it, the mountains dotted with Buddhist temples are so gloomy, it's really evil." Wang Chao cursed, wiping his sweat.

Su Jin smiled and said: "I'm just scaring myself, what's so sinister? Don't you think there are ghosts and gods in this world?"

Wang Chao said: "That's not sure, no one dares to make a conclusion on this matter."

Su Jin smiled and said: "Have you seen it? If there are ghosts, why are there evil people like you who kill people without retribution, but still live well? Don't the ghosts of the people who were killed come to settle accounts with him?"

Wang Chao muttered, "Perhaps after drinking the ecstasy soup, I forgot the grievances in the world."

Su Jin laughed and said: "I have forgotten all the grievances, so what is so scary about this ghost? Even if there are lonely ghosts all over the mountain, we are strangers to them, they are strangers to everyone in the world, and There's nothing to be afraid of."

Wang Chao thought about it, yes, a bunch of ghosts who don't know anyone and don't remember anything, even if they exist, what's so scary, isn't this scaring himself?

The four climbed up the mountain panting, passed the archway, and came to the gate of the temple. Su Jin whispered: "Let's go directly to the Zen room to find the abbot. Don't disturb other people."

A few people walked east along the wall, found a slightly shorter wall, climbed over the wall and entered, Su Jin walked through the forests with ease, and climbed over several low walls, and it was already daytime In the area of ​​the meditation room behind the main hall, I heard Sanskrit chanting and the sound of wooden fish. It was obvious that the monks were doing evening classes. No wonder no one was seen along the way.

The four of them cautiously came to Shanxiang's meditation room. It was pitch black inside, and Shanxiang didn't seem to be inside. Su Jin knew that the old monk had to preside over the evening class, and he might not be able to come back for a while, so he waved his hand and said, "Let's go in." Just wait, their evening classes won't be too long, at most it will be over in one shift."

The four of them walked in lightly, each took a futon and sat in the room, Wang Chao Mahan sat at the door, Zhang Long sat by the south window, Su Jin sat on a small table and rubbed a wooden fish with his hands.

Not long after, there were footsteps outside the door. Zhang Long looked out from the window, and saw two young monks holding lanterns to send Master Shanxiang back to his room. ?”

A young novice clapped his hands together and said, "Brother Huineng has checked around, it has been closed."

Shanxiang hummed and said, "Go and ask Master Shanci to take stock of all things tomorrow, so don't miss anything. Also, have the money and things donated by the little benefactor today gone into the warehouse?" ?”

"It's already in storage, Master."

"Tell them that they have to record their entry and exit. This is a yearly expense. If anyone dares to embezzle it privately, I will not obey."

The little novice said: "I know Master, we will convey Master's words later."

Shanxiang hummed, stopped talking, stopped at the door, took a lantern and said, "Go, I don't have to wait here, the clock is striking tomorrow at [-] o'clock, and tomorrow I will be busy all day, you have to rest quickly after finishing your work go."

The two young novice monks folded their palms together and left in a hurry.

Shanxiang pushed the door open and came in, lowered his head and walked slowly to the table and put the lantern on the table, when he looked up, he was startled suddenly, and shouted: "Who?"

Su Jin stood up slowly, picked up the lantern and approached her face with a smile, "It's me, Master Shanxiang, we meet again."

Shanxiang was surprised and said: "How can you be a little benefactor? Why are you here? Didn't you go back to Yangzhou City?"

Su Jin smiled, lit the oil lamp on the table with a torch, blew out the lantern, gestured towards the door, and Chao Mahan stretched out his hand to close the meditation room with a creak.

Only then did Shanxiang realize that there were still two people at the door. Panicked, he looked around and saw a big man standing with his arms folded under the window. He was startled, and hurriedly said: "Amitabha, the little benefactor has gone and returned. , and entered Lao Na’s Zen room privately, why?”

Su Jin clasped his hands and said, "It's really presumptuous to visit rashly without saying hello, so please forgive me, master."

Shanxiang said: "Could it be that the little benefactor donated the property, and now he regrets it? If you want to get it back, you don't have to sneak into my meditation room. Come back tomorrow to get it back, and the old monk will not blame you."

Su Jin laughed and said: "What kind of talk is this? There is no reason to go back after giving alms. Didn't the master slap me in the face?"

Shanxiang sighed, as long as he didn't come here to give alms, he would do anything, he was not a beautiful girl, and he wasn't afraid of being raped by him, but this person came to his meditation room mysteriously, and he didn't know why?

"Master, please sit down. Master must have many questions in his heart. The night is long, let's talk slowly."

Su Jin was familiar with the road, took out bamboo tubes and tea bowls from the lower level of the table, and skillfully brewed two bowls of tea. Master Shanxiang rolled his eyes, but had no choice but to lift up his monk's robe and sit on the futon.