The Rise of the Cold Gate in the Eastern Jin Dynasty

Chapter 88

On the second floor, there is an elegant pavilion facing the street, with a partition window, one can see the people passing by on the street. In the evening, the breeze brought a little coolness, and Xiao Qinzhi and Zhao Changli sat opposite each other.

Xiao Qinzhi took out a gift box of "clear tea" and presented it to the chief official Zhao, saying: "The chief official Zhao has been an official for a long time. It just so happens that there is a new tea produced at home this year, and it was named after Qian Bing Tianshi, so I hope that the official Zhao will not dislike it, and please accept it, so as to show my heart."

"Oh?" Chief Zhao became interested, and quickly asked, "But when brother Yuqing came last time, did you bring the 'clear tea'?"

Xiao Qinzhi said with a smile: "It is 'Qingming Tea', which was produced before Ming Dynasty."

"Haha——it's a blessing. I drank it last time, and I couldn't forget it afterwards. I went to ask the prefect to ask for it. Unexpectedly, the prefect said: You come to ask for it, and he will come to ask for it. It's worth tens of thousands of dollars. There is not much tea left, and I will share this last pot of tea."

Zhao Changli asked again: "Did you bring it to the eunuch when you came here?"

Xiao Qinzhi gratefully said: "I have brought it, I have brought it, and the follower went to fetch it."

"Then you're welcome. Haha——" Zhao Changli took the clear tea, and impatiently summoned the waiter from the restaurant, wanting to drink tea.

High-end restaurants generally have a dedicated tea waiter who is proficient in tea art. He immediately brought professional tea drinking tools, such as wooden mills, tea spoons, tea sweeps, etc. Xiao Qinzhi opened the golden nanmu box, took out the celadon tea set, and A tea wooden box sealed with wax.

"Bring a basin of warm water." Xiao Qin said.

After a while, the tea waiter brought a basin of warm water, Xiao Qinzhi put the celadon tea sets one by one in the warm water, gently washed them, and rubbed the shiny celadon tea sets, simple and delicate.

Then he opened the wax-sealed wooden tea box, and a fresh fragrance wafted out. Zhao Zhangli stretched out his hand to attract some fragrance, and said, "Well, yes, this is the fragrance."

The tea attendant took out some tea with a teaspoon and wanted to put it in a wooden mill. Tea paste is usually made by crushing with a mill and adding ingredients by decoction, but Xiao Qinzhi stopped him and said: "There is no need to grind the tea, just It needs to be filled with hot water."

The tea waiter was well-informed, but he had never seen such a simple way of drinking tea. Holding back the doubts in his heart, he followed Xiao Qinzhi's instructions step by step.

After the tea in the celadon pot was brewed, Xiao Qinzhi was pouring the tea one by one, the tea was glowing green, with a tangy fragrance, a completely different way of drinking tea, which opened the eyes of the tea waiter.

Zhao Changli got up, and said to the tea waiter who often served him: "Forgive you for serving tea for so many years, I'm afraid you have never seen it before. Today, you are lucky, so I will reward you with a cup of tea."

The tea waiter picked up the pottery teacup, and after drinking a cup, he hurriedly asked, "Mr. Zhao, may I ask what kind of tea is this?"

"'Clear tea', the eunuch said that it is worth more than ten thousand yuan. You know, the cup you just drank is already your monthly salary." Chief official Zhao laughed.

The tea waiter suddenly realized, and said pleasantly, "It's this tea. I've heard about it recently, and I'm lucky to see it today. It really deserves its reputation." Looking at Xiao Qinzhi again, he saw that he had a good demeanor, and thought about this young man. Jun Yuemo is the young man of the Xiao family who was recently passed on as "Huang Niao Xun Husband".

He bowed and said: "The villain has met Xiao Langjun, and I have a question. I wonder if I can clear up my doubts?"

Xiao Qinzhi motioned, "What's the matter?"

"Although this tea is good, it is expensive. I and other small people often enjoy tea and yearn for it, but I am daunted by it. I wonder if there is any tea for us small people to eat?"

"'Qingming tea' is best before the Ming Dynasty, the best before the rain, and fried green tea after the rain can be taken into the ordinary family. From next year, the ordinary family can eat it."

"So good!"

There are five large-scale plantations of tea plants, including Diao, Yan, Dai, Yang, and Xiao. It is expected that the output of "Qingming Tea" will definitely increase within three years. Enjoy it at the door, and the ordinary tea after the rain will naturally flow into the market.

And once the frying technology of "Qingming Tea" flows out, it will definitely cause a wave of trends in Jinling County. At that time, it will be extremely easy for ordinary people to obtain it.

Previously, the patriarch came to Jinling to look for Taishou Xie. Zhao Changli, as a confidant who had followed Taishou Xie for decades, naturally knew about it.

From this, Zhao Changli couldn't help thinking that once the Xiao family returned to the gentry, Xiao Qin's talents would definitely be valued in the Beiren group, and the future will be prosperous, and it is just around the corner. It is also very good to form a good relationship in advance of.

"At the Taihu Lake Gathering in March, Qin Zhi was ill and was unable to participate. I felt very regretful at the time, but now it seems that it is a blessing."

Xiao Qin understood it when he heard it, and said: "The mountain is heavy and the river is full of doubts. There is no way out. The willows are dark and the flowers are bright in another village. This disease came in time, but it came at a wonderful time. It's just my luck."

Chief official Zhao drank tea comfortably, and thought to himself: "Xiao Qinzhi is young, his words are well-proportioned, well-proportioned, and imply deep meanings, and the ordinary nobles are far behind. Why don't you give some pointers and make a good relationship. .”

Facing the tea waiter, he said: "Mr. Xiao Lang has come from a long way, and first he will serve some special dishes and a pot of wine."

The tea waiter nodded and stepped back.

Zhao Changli said again: "Qinzhi's coming this time is just right, if it is a few days later, I'm afraid we won't see the eunuch."

Xiao Qinzhi said: "I wanted to study under Dr. Xu in Wujun County. When I passed by Jinling, I thought that the prefect would take care of me and give me a handwritten copybook in March. This is a great kindness, so I came to see you first."

"Dr. Xu Zao Xu is very knowledgeable, and it is a good place to study. However, there are many leaders in Wudi under his sect. You should be careful. You can just talk and communicate, and there is no need to argue."

"My son has listened to the teachings. When I came here, the elders in the family also gave instructions like Zhao Changli. However, the tree wanted to be quiet but the wind kept blowing. I was afraid that some troubles would come to the door. I went to Wuxi in March. The boy was reckless and accidentally offended Fahrenheit. With Mrs. Cheng, going to Wu land this time, I can't help worrying a lot. However, as the saying goes: knowing that there are tigers in the mountains, and walking towards the tiger mountain, it shows the loyalty of my generation. Humiliated the face of my northerner."

Speaking of this, Xiao Qinzhi changed the topic, and continued: "The official Zhao also knows that the boy offended the Cheng family, and he is a little worried. Xie the prefect's promotion. It stands to reason that Cheng Juncheng will take over. If you want Cheng Juncheng, you must be an adult." There are a large number of them, and they disdain the playfulness of the younger generation, but they are afraid that the patriarch's children are young and will take advantage of the situation to bully others, so it is really a troublesome thing."

Zhao Changli said meaningfully: "Qinzhi's words are true. I have worked with Cheng Juncheng for many years. He is high-spirited and upright, so he doesn't care about your juniors' frolicking. Don't take advantage of your power to bully others, it's too much to worry about."

Xiao Qinzhi couldn't help heaving a sigh of relief, although Zhao Changli didn't say it clearly, he had already made it clear in his words that the position of prefect was not taken over by Cheng Juncheng.

Smart people often point to the end, this is called "wisdom", Xiao Qin smiled back, implying gratitude.

The dishes in the restaurant were served one after another. Zhao Changli and Xiao Qinzhi had a pot of light wine, chatting and laughing while eating dinner. Halfway through, a dirty official came to report that the magistrate Dai had arrived at the county office.

The chief official Zhao ordered the officials to lead the county magistrate Dai to the restaurant, and ordered the restaurant to remove the side dishes and wine, and prepare a new table, but Xiao Qin realized in his heart that the magistrate Dai was the fat old man's uncle. , especially the county magistrate of Wujin, coming to Jinling at this time, I am afraid that he is following the footsteps of the chief official Zhao.

Chief official Zhao is the confidant of Prefect Xie. Since Prefect Xie succeeds Xie Shang, the tide rises and all boats rise, and chief official Zhao will be promoted along with Prefect Xie, so the position of chief official in Jinling County will naturally be lost.

While waiting for the magistrate Dai to come, Zhao Changli called and said: "Xiao Xia, the county magistrate next door, is your third uncle. I heard that he has been conscientious and hardworking during his tenure, which is obvious to all. In recent years, the county government originally planned to transfer your third uncle." My uncle returned to Wujin, closer to home, but I have never found a candidate to replace your third uncle, so I have been dragging it until today, and I am ashamed to say that I am going to move to another place soon, and I am powerless, alas—"

What Xiao Qinzhi still doesn't understand is that Chief Official Zhao is reminding Dai County Magistrate that after Dai's promotion, the position of Wujin County Magistrate will naturally be vacant. One step up, one radish and one pit, otherwise it will be occupied by others, and I am afraid that it will take a long time to wait.

Promotion in the officialdom depends more on ability than on interpersonal relationships. Chief official Zhao taught Xiao Qinzhi a vivid lesson.

Xiao Qinzhi made a plan in his heart, bowed and said: "Officer Zhao, the boy just drank too much tea, so it must be convenient."

Zhao Changli said with a smile: "Go, wait downstairs by the way, and lead the magistrate Dai to come up together."

This is an opportunity for Xiao Qinzhi to have a private conversation with Dai County Magistrate in advance, otherwise the three of them face to face, some things can be done in private, but they must never be brought out, Xiao Qinzhi understood, and bowed again to thank
Mangu had already received the gift, and was waiting downstairs. Xiao Qinzhi hurried downstairs, found the store, asked for a pen and paper, quickly wrote a letter and led Mangu outside, telling him: "Mangu , You listen carefully, go back to the ferry and rent another fast boat, rush back to Wujin immediately, hand this letter to Uncle Liu, and then go back to Jinling, wait for me at the ferry."

Man Gu nodded in understanding, put down Xie Taishou's gift, took the letterhead, and rushed to the ferry.

(End of this chapter)