Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 259
I went out to Changping Zhuangzi in the afternoon on the second day of November, and returned to the city at night.The luggage had been packed a long time ago. Cao Yong wanted to leave Beijing on the third day of junior high school, but his sister Cao Jiashi kept him for another day. Chu Sifang set off for Shandong.

On the evening of the second day of junior high school, Cao Yong went to Jueluo Mansion to say goodbye to his sister.Then, amidst Cao Yi's guilt and uneasiness, he entered Seishtu's house and had a heart-to-heart talk with the brother-in-law.

Although Cao Yi really wanted to know what his brother said, how could he ask him directly?I asked in front of Seishtu once, but was diverted from the conversation, after all, I don't know.

It's just that Seshtu didn't sleep well for the next few nights, and when he woke up in the middle of the night, he was still muttering to himself.Although the husband and wife still need to abide by the rules and cannot share the same room, Cao Yi listened to her mother-in-law and placed them outside the bedroom, taking care of her husband along the way.

Hearing that Seshitu had a nightmare in the middle of the night, Cao Yi wondered if his brother said something that frightened him.Although she looked at her husband pitifully, but thinking of how her brother had always pampered her, all she had left in her heart was gratitude.

Whether it's housekeeping or controlling subordinates, Cao Yi has put away his previous gentle temperament, and everything can be considered neat and tidy.Even if there are occasional embarrassments, she will ask her mother-in-law Sitara for advice, and there will always be something special.

Ever since Cao Yi came in, Xi Tara had given all the housework to her.Although there was nothing wrong with Cao Yi's cooking, it always lacked some majesty's prestige, otherwise it wouldn't make the maids think differently.

Now that Cao Yi is so capable, it suits Sitara's wishes.This is how the old man behaved when he was young.As the saying goes, "everything prospers in harmony at home", for the stability of the family, the old lady will inevitably beat her son several times.

Because of not sleeping well at night, Seshtu lost a lot of weight in just a few days.Cao Yi also devoted herself to arranging the kitchen to prepare various nourishing and health-preserving foods, but when she inadvertently looked at the number nine plum blossom picture on the wall, thinking of the cold weather and her brother's long journey on the road, she felt really It's an indescribable taste.

Xi Tara realized that something was wrong with her son, so she couldn't help worrying about her son, wondering if her uncle said something unpleasant, and deliberately asked Cao Yi behind her back: "Tu'er, you don't think about eating these two days. , More dreams and less sleep, but why did my in-laws come to the door that day? Did he do something? Or did he curse?"

Seshtu was drinking the ginseng porridge brought by his mother. He was very surprised when he heard it. He almost spit out the porridge in his mouth. For a few days, my bones were a little tired, so I slept less at night! Mother-in-law, don’t worry, my son’s bones are very good!" Having said this, he paused, touched the wound on his forehead, feeling a little ashamed Said: "This is all because of my son's fault first. Although my brother-in-law is a bit reckless, it is because of his young age. Don't blame Yi'er in your heart because of this, Er Niang!"

He said so in his mouth, but his heart was full of emotions.Thinking of Cao Yong's resoluteness when he said those words that night, he was a little dazed.Thinking about his wife's ups and downs in her childhood, and the entanglement between husband and wife this year, they finally sighed silently.

Seeing his son's worried expression, Mrs. Sitara thought he was worried about her side, so she couldn't help but glared at her son, and scolded with a smile: "You bastard, do you still need your intercession? Now that I'm sensible, I don't want to hurt my wife when I think about it." Night! As long as you are safe and sound, and you can add a few grandchildren to Er Niang as soon as possible, Er Niang will be content!"

*
Not to mention how the capital is, Cao Yong on the way back to Shandong has indescribable regret. "If you don't listen to the old man's words, you will suffer in front of your eyes." This is indeed true.

Before leaving Beijing, the housekeeper Cao Zhong persuaded Cao Yong to take a carriage back to Shandong.At this time, the wheels of the carriage were made of wood and had no shock absorption. It was fine in the city, but it was a pain to travel long distances.Therefore, Cao Yong declined the housekeeper's kindness, and rode back to Shandong with Xiaoman, Wei Hei and others.

Unexpectedly, the next day after leaving Beijing, it caught up with the snow.Although the fluttering snow was not strong, it couldn't stand the wind. The hula la north wind blew up, and it hurt people's faces with snow beads.

Even though Cao Yong wore the big woolen clothes specially prepared by his sister, he still felt cold when he was riding on horseback.He asked about Wei Hei and Xiaoman, but he only said that there was no problem.

That being said, although everyone was wearing thick lint clothes, how could it compare to the warmth on Cao Yong's body?Therefore, when he arrived at Baoding Mansion, Cao Yong stayed for a day, found a good clothing shop, and added things to Wei Hei and the others.Even himself, he wished he could put on the few clothes he brought in his luggage.

Because he was on an errand, he needed to go back to Jinan Mansion first.In this way, Cao Yong finally arrived at Jinan Mansion after six days of walking against the wind and snow.After this time, he looked a little dusty.

After a short rest at the post station, Cao Yong changed his official uniform and went to the chief envoy's yamen to hand over his errands.

In the yamen of the governor's office, Gan Guobi, the chief official, is not there. I heard that he has gone to the governor's yamen.According to the decree issued a few days ago, Li Fajia, the envoy of Shandong, was promoted to the chief envoy of Fujian, and the governor's mansion is arranging to eat and drink to practice.

On the side of the chief secretary's yamen, there is also a Taoist platform waiting here, which is Wu Tingshi of Jidong Road.He was promoted to the Inspectorate of Guangdong Province, and he went to the Chief Secretary to hand in the seal and other things.The two sat in the front hall of the yamen, waiting for the Shangguan to come back to make friends.

Wu Tingshi is more than 50 years old, treats people warmly, and has a little talent.Because Jidong Road is located in Jinan, Cao Yong met him twice when he was in Jinan in spring.I have also heard about the extraordinary resume of this adult.

Wu Tingshi was a young Jinshi. He has been an official for more than 29 years. The first ten years were extremely smooth. Yes, there will be such and such things.With some literati character, he avoided greedy and despicable things, so that every evaluation was "medium", and in the end he was promoted to Daotai after serving four full magistrates.

Now, Wu Tingshi has completed three Daotai again, and finally he can be promoted to a higher level, which is considered a happy event.Although he doesn't talk much, he is still a transparent person.The reason for his promotion may not be related to the quelling of civil unrest in spring.

Perhaps it was because he had stayed at the original rank too many times, and there were boring people in the officialdom, so he was nicknamed "Wu Tingshi" because of the homonym of his name.

After staying in Shandong for nine years, even though other officials couldn't see the cause of the civil unrest, Wu Ting knew the cause and effect, but he knew it well.

For Cao Yong, a young dignitary, he also has some faint admiration.No matter whether it is intentional layout or unintentional contribution to the flames, after all, it solves the problem of burning pots that no one dares to touch, and it will save the people of Shandong from disaster.

Thinking in my heart, Wu Tingshi showed it on the face, although he and Cao Yong also talked about political affairs of the government and the opposition, but his attitude was not unfamiliar and polite.

Although Cao Yong didn't know why this Master Wu was so warm to him, he also respected him as an upright official, and his attitude was quite respectful.

Since the beginning of autumn, some local officials' transfer orders can often be seen in the court newspaper, and Cao Yong has some understanding of some of the promotion practices.

If a Daotai like Cao Yong is promoted, he will almost be the inspector of the third rank.According to the inspector, it is the chief envoy or governor who is promoted from the second rank. The chief envoy and the governor go up, except to be a governor in a local area, or to return to Beijing to serve as a minister or a minister.

It is difficult to say that it is difficult to be promoted, and it is easy to say that it is also easy. One of the prerequisites is that the examination and evaluation must be good. Local officials take an examination once a year, and the Ministry of Officials then evaluates these civil officials every three years and military officials every five years.Whether to be promoted, retained, or dismissed depends mostly on this evaluation.

However, if you want to be promoted and fill up the vacancies, you still need someone in the capital who can make connections with the Ministry of Officials.After all, the court officials are okay, they are familiar in front of the emperor; for these local officials, the emperor sometimes only meets them formally.The promotion of personnel is mostly reported by the official department, and the emperor can only see it when he speaks.

Cao Yong didn't have the idea of ​​wanting to be promoted quickly, after all, he was here at this age, and every time he appeared in front of others in official uniform, he had seen the strange look in everyone's eyes.

Of course, Cao Yong does not reject these official social interactions.After all, it is in the officialdom, if it is twitchy and fake, it will be meaningless.What's more, the place Wu Tingshi went to was none other than Guangdong.

Wei Xin also mentioned in his letter a few days ago that because the business in Guangzhou has been relatively large in the past two years, some people have been jealous, and there have been several minor disputes.Although money was spent in the end and a relationship was found, there is no guarantee that no one will miss it anymore.

Cao's family is in the south of the Yangtze River, so after all, they can't afford it.Wei Xin also asked Cao Yong to find a relationship in the capital to see if he could establish a relationship with the governor's office or the admiral's office in Guangzhou.

Cao Yong was in the capital a few days ago, and he was still thinking about this matter, but because the timing was wrong, it was when the prince was deposed, so how could he walk around at will?Therefore, I thought about it in a few days before planning this matter.

Now, it's just right.But after all, he is considered an old official with several years of experience, not a frizzy idiot. Cao Yong thought about it, smiled and said to Wu Tingshi: "If the adults are sent to other provinces, the boy's ability is meager, so don't talk too much; since it is Guangdong, It just so happens that there are family members over there, if you are new to the post and need to do something about it, please don't be polite!"

Wu Tingshi has admired the Cao family in Jiangning for a long time, and knows that their family is one of the best in Jiangnan.Although Guangdong is not close to Jiangning, it would not be surprising if someone from the Cao family was there.

Although Cao Yong didn't talk much, he was very sincere on his face, Wu Tingshi felt very sad when he thought that he had such a youthful spirit.Although he is not a greedy and vulgar person, he is not a sour nerd either. Naturally, I sincerely thank Cao Yong for his kindness.

Cao Yong straightly said "little things", but he felt a little guilty in his heart. It would be fine if he fooled those villains. This is not a good feeling for honest people.

However, when he thought about it again, he might not know when he could really help this old man.Even if Wei Xin and the others rely on the inspector's office, it's not a big deal. After all, the business there is legal, and there is no "collusion between the government and businessmen". .

The two were politely coming and going, when footsteps could be heard outside, and the chief envoy Gan Guobi came back from the governor's yamen.Both Cao Yong and Wu Tingshi stood up to meet them.

With a smile, Gan Guobi first asked Cao Yong if his errand was going well, and then said some words of congratulations to Wu Tingshi.This was promoted to inspector, but he was only one rank lower than the chief secretary, and he was promoted to a Beijing official when he was not sure.Therefore, Gan Guobi did not have the airs of being a Shangguan at all.

He first sent someone to call the civil servants, and made official acquaintances with Cao Yong and Wu Tingshi, and then he began to gossip.

Just now, at the governor's yamen, Gan Guobi met the governor Jiang Chenxi and the general Li Xiong.After deliberation, it has been decided to hold a practice banquet for Li Fajia tomorrow night at the best "Fugui Building" in Jinan Prefecture.

Cao Yong and Wu Tingshi are two, one is an upstart, and the other is an old man from Jinan Prefecture, so naturally they came at the right time.

Although Cao Yong thought in his heart that he would go back to see his wife and children as soon as possible, but his face was joyful, and then with a trace of embarrassment and regret, he pointed out that his filial piety had not yet expired, and it was really inappropriate to go to the banquet.

Only then did Gan Guobi notice that Cao Yong's top was wearing a red tassel, and remembered that his uncle Cao Quan died of illness in June, isn't he still in the period of filial piety?He couldn't help but feel ashamed of his own disrespect.

Wu Tingshi was at the side, seeing that although Cao Yong was young, he was respectful and respectful, so he couldn't help but nodded.

When he left the chief secretary's yamen, he also kindly said a few more words to Cao Yong, but what he said was highly respected, and he vaguely cited it as "forgetful friendship".

Cao Yong responded on the face, thinking about his age in his heart, but he felt terrible. Fortunately, the ages of the past life and the present life don't need to be added, otherwise he will be in his forties.

Thinking of his seventeen-year-old wife and his two-month-old son, Cao Yong is really looking forward to returning home.

On the same day, Cao Yong did not stop in Jinan Prefecture. After packing up at the post station, he left the city and returned to Yizhou.

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(End of this chapter)