Idle courtiers

Chapter 393 Xu Jie's Way of Employing People

In the glorious Ming Dynasty, with hundreds of millions of people, two capitals and thirteen chief ministers, the government affairs are extremely busy, especially for a person like Xu Jie who is in charge of the country's major affairs.

To be honest, the life of the No. [-] head of the cabinet looks good, but it is actually very tiring.Every day before dawn, I have to get up and go to the imperial city for the morning court. After I go home at Shenshi after a busy day, I have to receive visiting guests at home.

After receiving the visitors, I remembered that today's business is not over yet, and I have to raise my spirits to review the official documents.Usually I can't go to bed until night, and the daily sleep time can't exceed three hours.

A life without personal time at all is simply intolerable to Zhou Nan, and there is nothing to envy.However, when Lao Xu was old, he had less sleep, and the love of political figures for power was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

Because Xu Jie didn't go to bed until midnight every day, he usually had some snacks before going to bed.In this way, the chefs in Xiangfu are usually on standby twelve hours a day.Once the old man wants to eat, you have to set up a table in the shortest possible time.

Xiangye's time is as precious as gold, how can it be wasted on such things as eating.

The flower hall of Xujie Mansion is ventilated from all sides, and when night falls, the night wind blows over the lotus pond over there, making it cool with rustling sounds.

A banquet was placed in the hall, and Xu Jie and his son invited Zhou Nan to the banquet, and there were two maidservants beside him.

"Zimu eat more while he is young, otherwise, at my age, even if he wants to eat, his body will not be able to bear it." Xu Jie put a ball into Zhou Nan's plate, and looked at him with a smile.The expression is as if a grandfather is looking at his beloved grandson.

"Thank you, Enxiang." Zhou Nan quickly addressed him, and he was distressed. To be honest, the food on this table was not very fresh, and it was not his favorite taste.But the father and son couldn't stop asking for food, and they couldn't refuse, so they could only fill their stomachs with all their heart.

Because Xu Ge may supper at any time in the old night, for convenience, most of the cooks deep-fried the ingredients.Feel free to stir-fry in the pot at that time, or steam directly in the steamer.

The taste of such dishes is naturally remarkable, and it is not healthy.

What happened just now was reversed too quickly. He was just about to fight with Xu Fan to see the truth, and in a blink of an eye he became the guest of the Xu family's son-in-law.Love comes too fast, like a tornado.

He was completely confused and wrote the marriage letter almost unconsciously.The ancients paid the most attention to the word "trust". If you go back on what you promised, you will be included in the list of dishonest persons in the future and be rejected by the whole society.Public opinion can kill. In an agricultural society, public opinion and moral constraints are sometimes more terrifying than laws.Isn’t there a saying like this? “The law is nothing more than human feelings.” In the face of morality, sometimes the law has to give way.Today, in order to anger Xu Fan, I yelled at my father-in-law one by one. He has graciously admitted this relationship, and it is impossible for you to go back on your word.

After eating two mouthfuls of food, drinking a cup of hot wine, and sweating, Zhou Nan came to his senses, with a bitter face: "Master Taishan, my hometown in Huai'an is a wife's family, how can I still marry Miss Jiu? If you let her Being a concubine is a shame."

Different from before, he called this "Master Taishan" very awkwardly.Today is also unlucky, and I found a father for myself.Once this relationship is established, if something happens to the Xu family, my son-in-law will have the unshirkable responsibility.Otherwise, it is easy to be accused of unfilial piety.

Hearing Zhou Nan's words, the two people in front of them had a countenance.

Xu Jie: "It can be a flat wife." In fact, he is asking Zhou Nan now.If Mr. Zhou kills him and only accepts Ah Jiu as his concubine, Mr. Xu Ge will not accept it either.Anyway, she is just a granddaughter of a concubine, and she was promised to the Yan family before.

Ah Jiu is already a remarried woman in the eyes of the world, so it's good if someone is willing to ask for it, but it doesn't matter about her status.

However, if Ah Jiu becomes Zhou Nan's concubine.The concubine's status is too low, Zhou Zimu can only be regarded as a successor.

The so-called name is not right, words are not right.According to feudal etiquette, the concubine's father is not the son-in-law's father-in-law.Zhou Nan doesn't need to be responsible to the Xu family either, and he doesn't have to ignore Xu's father and son.

Xu Jie was also sure about the relationship between Zhou Nan and Ah Jiu, so he deliberately didn't mention it.

Seeing Zhou Nan's distressed expression now fell into his arms.

"Ping Wife." Zhou Nan was stunned for a moment, and suddenly saw a bright light, yes, how could I forget this.

The so-called flat wife is a unique social phenomenon in the Ming Dynasty.

With the thriving growth of capitalism in the Ming Dynasty, the market was prosperous and the atmosphere was civilized, and the status of women was greatly improved.

Even many women with low social status may bring a lot of property from their natal families.

If such a wealthy woman married an ordinary farmer, she would be unwilling to do so, but it would be impossible for her to become the wife of a scholar-bureaucrat and achieve a class transition.

Then what should be done?

Thus, the new term flat wife appeared.

After the second wife gets married, her status is the same as that of the eldest wife, and the children she gives birth to are also considered to be descendants of the eldest wife, but they do not live with the eldest wife and maintain social, economic, and personality independence.

Since ancient times, China has practiced the system of monogamy and multiple concubines, which is the cornerstone of social ethics.However, under the impact of the ideological emancipation in the middle and late Ming Dynasty, the rise of the bourgeoisie and the tide of the commodity economy, it was already on the verge of collapse.

Letting Ah Jiu be an equal wife is indeed the best way to solve this problem, and Zhou Nan naturally agrees in her heart.

Seeing his complexion changed drastically, Xu Jie thought that Zhou Nan was unwilling, and shouted: "Zimu, you are also a person who read sage books. The old man asked you, which three wives and four concubines are you referring to?"

Zhou Nan replied: "Three wives refer to one regular wife and two direct wives. Four concubines refer to four partial concubines."

Xu Jie said again: "Zhuangzi's "Zeyang" said that Husband Ling had three wives, and they bathed together. Tai Shigong's "Historical Records" also said that Yao used his two wives, Shun, to observe his interior, and made nine men Let's take a look at it. It can be seen that three wives and four concubines are in line with the ancient etiquette, so Zimu doesn't have to worry about it."

This is already confusing black and white, full of nonsense.However, it was exactly what Zhou Nan wanted, and hurriedly said: "Since it is an ancient etiquette, scholars of my generation must abide by etiquette."

Seeing Zhou Nan agree, the Xu family father and son all smiled.

The supper was also used up in a joyful and peaceful atmosphere, and the three generations sat together to drink tea and chat.

Zhou Nan ate a stomach full of steamed vegetables that had been steamed for a few days. He felt a little uncomfortable and wanted to go home early to rest.Remembering the business, he said: "Master En, Yuezhang, the younger generation is here today because of the case of the master. The teacher's kindness is as important as a mountain, and I ask the old man to be considerate."

Xu Jie: "I'm thinking about Wang Shu's matter. I'm also pleased that you can repay your kindness. I think you're right. You go back first, and the court will come to a conclusion in a few days."

Zhou Nan was anxious in his heart, and he would enter the examination room in a few days.These days he was busy studying his homework again, and this matter involved too much energy for him, so he really couldn't delay any longer.Moreover, things in the world are afraid of long nights and dreams. It takes nine days to enter the examination room, and the ghost knows what will happen during these nine days.

"Enxiang, didn't the master have a decree for the case?" He couldn't wait to ask.

"You, you are just too impatient, you can't hold your breath, and you have to practice in the officialdom. Come on, the old man will draw up the ticket early tomorrow morning, and the supervisor of rituals should be able to approve it on the same day."

This old man acted resolutely, Zhou Nan was overjoyed, and bowed down again: "Thank you so much, my grandson, I'm going to call my benefactor. The old man is going to pick up my master from prison and return to his hometown in Taicang. Mr. Yuezhang, my son-in-law, don't leave now."

For the sake of the master and the teacher, it doesn't matter to call him grandpa.

Hearing Zhou Nan's affectionate call, the Xu family father and son laughed.

Holding a teacup to watch Zhou Nan leave, Xu Fan looked at his back more and more disliked: "My lord, this Zhou Nan is a snob, he likes to calculate everything, and has no morals. Xumen, my son is ashamed to see people."

"Scheme, calculation, these two words are well said! More calculations win, less calculations win, and nothing counts." Xu Jie's eyes were full of appreciation: "Fan'er, my father knows that you are a moral pedant. You are a gentleman who likes to read. But you are also a person who has participated in politics in a province. Why can’t you understand some of the reasons? Once a person reaches a certain position and has limited energy, it is impossible to personally do everything. It needs to be handed over to the people below. It involves the way of employing people.”

"As a father, let me ask you, would you rather have your subordinates be a scholar who is full of benevolence and morality but useless, or a villain who can take half of your affairs with a glance?"

Xu Fan thought for a while: "I would rather use a villain, at least he can do things."

Xu Jie: "The way to employ people is to be virtuous and talented, and to use them resolutely. But in this world, there are very few talented and virtuous people. No one is perfect, and gold is never enough. If you have virtue but no talent, cultivate and use it, but the ability to cultivate people is very rare." Talent is born, how to cultivate it. If you have talent but no virtue, limit its use, just keep an eye on it. If you have no talent and no virtue, you must not use it.”

His father had never mentioned this in front of him before, but when he talked about it today, Xu Fan felt enlightened.Full of admiration, he said: "Father is right, Zhou Nan is also a person with outstanding talents. With father's means, it is no problem to hold him."

Xu Jie laughed again: "You said that Zhou Nan has no virtue, where is the lack of virtue? He's a good drinker and greedy for money, Xiao Jieer! Let me ask you, has he ever bullied men and women?"

"That's not the case."

Xu Jie asked again: "Has he ever bought the owner to seek glory, seek wealth and kill himself?"

"No."

"So, don't copy what others say." Xu Jie: "Zhou Nan is able to run around for his master, even at the expense of offending the old man. His character is good. He can do this to Wang Shizhen now, and he can do the same to this old man in the future. To you Father-in-law, when it comes to knowing people, you are much worse."

Xu Fan was convinced: "Father is right. My son is stupid and made a preconceived mistake. But why didn't my lord father mention the choice of chief assistant to him today?"

"The position of chief assistant is so important, it involves too many aspects, and it can't be done in three to five days. There is no need to rush, he will naturally find a way. Haste makes waste, and there is no rush."

(End of this chapter)