Chapter 58

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Song Miao

The Rear Office.

Han Li, holding the adjustment summons, went to report for duty.

The clerks in the office had received word early on and dared not be negligent; they immediately took him to the Left and Right Military Patrol Academy, preparing to have him meet Right Military Patrol Magistrate Qin Jie.

It was afternoon, extremely busy; Qin Jie's public office had its door only half-closed. Not only were there runners inside reporting matters, but several people were also lined up outside.

That clerk hesitated for a moment, first asking Han Li to wait outside, then himself slipped quietly inside.

A stranger had arrived, and his appearance and bearing were so outstanding; the people lined up ahead were just waiting idly with nothing to do, so they couldn't help but turn back to size him up.

Han Li never feared being looked at, so he cupped his hands in return, treating it as a salute.

The crowd also returned the salute, and some asked about his origins.

Upon learning he was a Taixue student transferred over, every single person's eyes lit up.

Those queuing here were naturally all people who worked in the government office.

The capital's population is enormously over a million; daily, theft and robbery alone are countless, let alone other civil and criminal cases, which are even more innumerable.

Qin Jie, as Right Military Patrol Magistrate, manages public security, arrests, interrogations, and detentions; serving under him can only be described as "working like an ox and horse" — the work is never finished.

But right now, a Taixue student picked up for free has come here.

If he could be assigned to oneself, even if he couldn't help with major tasks, just organizing files, doing internal affairs, and running errands in the yamen would mean one more usable person!

Hearing him say his surname was Han, personal name Zheng Yan, someone laughed and came over to strike up a conversation.

"Little Han, how long are you staying? Why not come to my side? You've come at just the right time — it's exactly when we need to organize official documents; follow along and sort them out, you'll learn quite a lot."

Once someone opened their mouth, those at the side rushed to grab the drudgework, asking eagerly: "Zheng Yan, which Zhai are you from? What is your major study in the Taixue? How is your mathematics?"

Han Li smiled: "This youngster's studies are miscellaneous; compared to other disciplines, mathematics is merely superficially understood."

But the questioner didn't care at all whether his mathematics was good or bad; it was merely an excuse. He immediately added: "Superficial is fine too; the Lu Si is also short of hands. Several prisons need inventory, and the Jian Jiao Ku is currently auditing last year's public funds. You can come help as an assistant."

There were also those with some understanding of the Taixue, who found it very strange, and asked: "Which She of the Taixue are you from? My wife's younger brother also studies at the Taixue, and is about to take the public examination. If he does well this time, he can advance from the Inner She to the Upper She — at such a critical juncture, why aren't you properly reviewing your books, but instead got transferred to the government office?"

Another asked: "You only came to report today? Will you come again in the future?"

Once this question was thrown out, several of the earlier questioners shut their mouths, just waiting for Han Li's answer.

The Capital Prefecture Office is not transferring students for the first time.

They have transferred Taixue students before, and also Guozixue students.

If the transferred Taixue student has an ordinary background, of course he can be freely ordered about; but if one encounters one or two who only come to gild their résumé, after reporting they don't even show their faces day to day — that is extremely annoying.

Han Li had not yet replied when that half-closed door was pulled open from inside, and a man walked out laughing, calling: "Zheng Yan, you've come at just the right time. Taking advantage of Zheng Guanren being here, I'll take you to meet him."

It was actually that Right Military Patrol Magistrate Qin Jie.

As he spoke, seeing the several people lined up outside, he hesitated slightly.

Han Li then said: "Sir, official business is urgent; please attend to it first. My matter is not urgent; we can speak again in a moment."

Qin Jie then did not decline further.

The several people queuing hurriedly went in one by one; those who needed to sign signed, those who had business stated it. Once they finished, Qin Jie hurried out, taking Han Li and walking outside.

The runners who had finished signing and stating business, seeing Qin Jie's attitude like this, how could they not understand clearly.

"Which high-gate scion is this again?"

"Perfectly fine — plenty of places to gild himself with gold; why come to the government office?"

"Walking out of the government office, it sounds like he actually did something. He probably thinks it sounds better than going to the Ministry of Rites, the Zongzheng Si, or the like?"

"He'll definitely just report in and leave. Wasted my joy for nothing."

The one whose wife's brother also studied at the Taixue laughed heartily: "Fight for him! Just now you were all fighting eagerly; now why aren't you fighting? This transferred Taixue student — let him be given to you all."

The rest immediately followed suit, politely deferring to each other.

This one says give to you, that one says I don't want him; they only feared that in the end this connection-backed student would be dumped on their own hands, uselessly occupying a quota, making it hard to request people in the future.

While this crowd of runners worried needlessly, on the other side, Qin Jie led Han Li walking all the way, introducing the situation of the various officials in the Capital Prefecture Office as they went.

The current Capital Prefect rarely shows his face at the office even once in ten days or half a month; he is merely a figurehead. The one responsible for official business is Quan Zhi Kyoto Fu Shi Zheng Boqian.

"Prefect Zheng is a marriage relative of Minister Cao; his daughter married Minister Cao's inner nephew."

Qin Jie gave a pointed reminder.

Han Li acknowledged with a sound, not taking it to heart.

Minister Cao's cadet branches are all over the court; he has no idle time to deal with them one by one.

The first time he wrote an essay scolding someone, he would occasionally encounter those who took the opportunity to make things difficult, say difficult things, trying to make him lose face, in order to curry favor with the powerful.

But since he dared to scold, how could he be someone who lets himself be bullied?

Reading all these years, following his teacher wandering those years of study, and doing things in various places — everyone thought he only knew how to scold?

Seizing opportunities, catching mistakes, killing the chicken to warn the monkey a few times — naturally things quieted down.

Qin Jie was just speaking when, from behind, a runner hurriedly caught up, calling: "Magistrate Qin, there is an official document requiring your signature and approval."

While speaking, he handed over both the document and the brush.

Qin Jie took it, glanced through it, and was about to sign, but his hand suddenly paused. He asked: "It's just checking a clan register; why does it need my signature too?"

That runner hurriedly said: "The Archives Library says we've been requesting too many clan registers recently, and they're urging urgently. They're too busy to cope. From now on we must submit a document one day in advance, approved by you, Sir. After they review it layer by layer and it's settled, only then can we go retrieve it."

Qin Jie frowned and asked: "How many days for approval?"

"Hard to say. If luck is bad, two or three days for approval is also possible."

Qin Jie glanced at Han Li beside him, said nothing, only signed the document quickly and handed it back to the Chai Guan.

Han Li pretended not to hear.

The two soon arrived outside the Gong Ya of Quan Zhi Kyoto Fu Shi Zheng Boqian.

Meeting Zheng Boqian went very smoothly.

This Prefect Zheng had been an official for many years, speaking gently and kindly; he first praised Han Li's learning, then praised his teacher, saying that when he was young he had also received guidance from Fu Laoxiansheng and benefited greatly, and finally asked him to fully exert his talents here, and if he needed anything, just go find Qin Pan; if Qin Pan could not solve it, then come find him.

After a while of courteous parting, Qin Pan had taken only a few steps out of the room when Zheng Boqian called him back again.

Qin Pan hurriedly turned back, not forgetting to tell Han Li: "Wait here for a moment."

Once inside, he heard Zheng Boqian say: "I almost forgot one matter—the Prefect came the other day and urged several times, saying that so many women and children went missing during the Lantern Festival, and even the Hou Ting has heard of it; the Empress Dowager has inquired repeatedly, and he cannot explain it well either. Do you have any progress here?"

Qin Pan said: "This official is already asking the Patrol Soldiers and Xunpu within the capital to search everywhere together, and has mobilized many capable Censors, only hoping for good news as soon as possible."

Zheng Boqian furrowed his brow, sighed, and said: "It is not that I am making things difficult for you; the matter has been delayed for so long that if there is still no result, I will have no way to explain either. The Cold Food Festival is in a few days, and the Prefect will surely enter the palace; you watch the time yourself."

Qin Pan could only agree repeatedly.

Zheng Boqian asked several more matters; when it was nearly enough, he then said: "Qin Pan, newly arrived, naturally wants to do things wholeheartedly, but sometimes one must pay attention to both progress and propriety; among colleagues, one must communicate more, to avoid causing any misunderstanding."

Saying this, he specially added a reminder: "I am only mentioning this in passing; do not think too much about it."

Saying this was as good as not saying it.

Qin Pan had climbed up from the prefecture and county level all the way; hearing these words, he was first stunned, then immediately understood, and tentatively said: "Was it that this official was too hasty in doing things? A few times when checking archives to finalize cases, I urged too tightly; there were not enough people in the Archives Library, perhaps this caused a misunderstanding."

Zheng Boqian did not deny it, only said a few more words, then let him go.

The door was not closed.

The buildings of the capital's Gong Ya were rarely repaired with public funds by those in power—once repaired, within two years they would have to change assignments anyway, equivalent to spending their own term's money to benefit their successor.

Broken doors, wooden windows—how could they block any sound?

Han Li stood outside; even without deliberately listening, he heard every word of the conversation inside.

When he saw Qin Pan come out, he pretended nothing had happened and followed beside the other, falling half a step behind, walking side by side with him.

Qin Pan first said a few words about office matters; seeing no one around, he then said: "Zheng Yan, I will not hide it from you—the personnel in the Capital Prefecture Office are complex, with countless threads; I have few usable people at hand, and wish I could split each of them into two."

He paused, then said: "It is rare that you have come; no need for me to say more. You just look for two days, see where you can insert your hand, and start from there. If there is a place where I need to step forward, just say so."

Han Li nodded and gave a response.

Qin Pan saw that he had no intention of taking initiative, so he said again: "Since I arrived, not to mention outside, even within the Capital Prefecture Office, the procedures in various places are not very convenient. I have too many matters at hand and truly cannot spare the effort to manage them. When you were in Tanzhou before, did you not also help Fu Laoxiansheng? Why not come take a look?"

Han Li did not respond, but simply briefly explained the matter of Sanzao County Alley, then mentioned Xin Feng's instructions, and finally said: "Every matter must have a beginning and an end. I must first follow that case through to the end before talking about anything else."

"A gambling den, though it counts as a major case, is enough with Xin Feng leading people to watch it. What are you doing there? Do you want to go tail them together?"

Qin Pan did not understand, only urging: "The matters inside the office are the important ones. Sanzao County Alley is only one case, but here the procedures are being blocked by someone, and who knows how many cases have been delayed."

Han Li said unhurriedly: "What in the world is accomplished in one step? Naturally, one must finish one matter before doing another."

He added: "I am merely a Taixue Xue Shi, and newly arrived, completely in the dark. Qin Xiong, you truly think too highly of me."

His such evasion naturally was not without reason.

Organizing procedures inevitably requires first understanding the procedures.

If done step by step according to Qin Pan's arrangements, just to thoroughly understand those chaotic rules would take no less than ten days or half a month, and then to sort them out, who knows how much more effort would be needed.

He was seconded here precisely to avoid those paperwork matters, so naturally he would not actively jump into such a pit to toil like an ox and horse.

Only fools do foolish things.

Qin Pan himself was soft-handed; if he wanted to do foolish things, that was fine, but he still wanted to move him with just a few light words, truly taking his labor too cheaply.

Moreover, although he had only been here for less than half a day, seeing the small to know the significant, he could already see that there were many factions in this Prefecture Office. Even if the so-called "procedures" were sorted out, it was uncertain whether anyone would listen to this Qin Guanren's words.

The two walked along, and Qin Pan advised him all the way.

When they reached his Gong Ya, seeing that he could not be persuaded, he could only say: "I have actually already arranged for people to start organizing the Prefecture Office procedures, thinking that in the future handling official duties could save effort and shorten time. But since those doing the work are mostly novices, they work very slowly. It has been half a month with no progress. Zheng Yan, I still need you to lead them."

Saying this, he handed Han Li the official documents that had been organized below on the desk.

Han Li took them, only briefly flipped through a few copies, and said: "No matter how inexperienced they are, they have at least been here for several months. How can I compare to them?"

Qin Pan said: "With your talent, why need to evade?"

"Not evading. I only ask: in urgent circumstances, if a simple procedure is made, this thing requires various departments and offices to cooperate with each other. Will the other offices listen?" Han Li asked.

Qin Pan said: "Make it first, then naturally it can be taken to Zheng Guanren. If there is not even a set of rules, how can one ask them to listen?"

"You made it, so why would they listen? If it is only for convenience and saving time, why go to such trouble? You just tell those offices to simplify their own procedures; would that not be faster?"

Qin Pan sighed and said: "Why do you speak such student words? If I could make them move, why would I need to do it myself?"

In his tone, there was even the helplessness of a summer insect unable to discuss ice.

Han Li looked at him and said: "Saying it courteously, perhaps no one will pay attention. But if one uses thunderous methods, naturally they can be made to move."

Qin Pan sneered and said: "Then I will wait for you to do it for me to see!"

But after all, he could not force a cow's head to drink water, so he could only say: "I will first assign people to go with Xin Feng to watch the Sanzao County Xiang Du Chang case. But I will put my ugly words first: once you have results there, you should come back early and at least lend a hand."

Han Li perfunctorily agreed, and while Qin Pan was arranging things here, he went out of the Hou Ya again and headed to the Qian Ya.

Song Miao was delayed for half a day in the Lou Wu Si. When she finally copied out the archived deed document duplicate, it was already past the time she had agreed with Han Li.

She hurried out and indeed saw the other party standing at the place they had originally agreed upon. She quickly went forward to greet him, and with an apologetic voice said: "Something unexpected came up, delaying much time. Trouble Young Master Han to have waited long."

Han Li said: "Not anxious. Assigning people in the office also takes time."

He then asked: "Is the matter settled?"

Song Miao was just waiting for him to say this.

She shook her head and said: "Not settled. I encountered a strange matter. The official of the Lou Wu Si told me to first go negotiate with the buyer, and also said that if the negotiation fails, they will go to court."

"Fortunately, Young Master Han is here now. I trouble you to ask: if there is such a person who died yesterday, dead very thoroughly, and the office has already issued the verification document, then does the document signed and sealed by this person after death count or not?"

Clearly a sentence with no beginning or end, but Han Li immediately understood and replied: "The date on your house sale deed document is not right?"

Song Miao nodded, first briefly explained the situation, then took out the document duplicate she had copied, pointed them out one by one to Han Li, and finally said: "May I ask Young Master Han, if this lawsuit is really fought, how much chance of winning do I have? Can it be fought?"

She added, "I've heard mention that there's a Law Studies school beside the Taixue, with teachers often going there to give lessons. Does Young Master Han have any acquaintances there? If so, would it be convenient to help introduce me to one or two?"

Han Li turned that official document over and over, examining it repeatedly, and asked many more questions.

Song Miao answered them one by one.

Han Li thought for a moment, then said, "If Stall Owner Song trusts Han, you might as well hand this matter over to me to resolve. Quickly, it'll be three to five days; slowly, seven or eight days, and there'll be a result."

Song Miao listened, stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "If even Young Master Han can't be trusted, whose character and integrity could be trusted?"

She added, "If we can avoid a lawsuit, it's truly thanking heaven and earth — my family's circumstances, Young Master knows them fully. We truly have no money, and also no time for that."

Speaking to this point, she pressed her palms together and gave a light bow in salute, then asked again, "Such great kindness is truly hard to repay. Young Master Han helping with such great effort — how should I repay you properly?"

Hearing this, Han Li didn't say things like "the matter isn't settled yet," "it's still uncertain," or "we'll talk later." He only replied, "As for repayment, I already asked this morning — Stall Owner Song, I'll be lodging at your place these few days and want to share meals. No need to cook separately; just the trouble of adding two more dishes. I wonder if that's convenient?"

Such a good person wanting to share meals, such a good thing — even if inconvenient, one would make it convenient; moreover, it's merely a trifling effort.

Song Miao agreed in one breath.

And that Han Li took the various document copies from her hand, only saying he'd return later and she needn't prepare his dinner tonight. He arranged for one person to follow her, and himself went to the Houshu.

Song Miao left the yamen, tilted her head up for a look — the sky's edge was overcast and gloomy, the sky color deep and dark, and wind gradually rose, as if rain were coming.

Even blown by the cold wind, and seeing that overcast sky, her mood was still very good.

A mere seven or eight days — what can't be waited for?

Even if this Young Master Han ultimately can't resolve it, the original plan can still be used, and not a single bit has been delayed.

But if it truly can be resolved, it's a huge unexpected joy.

Song Miao walked back, glancing toward the roadside as she went.

The benefactor isn't coming back for dinner tonight, but it's still best to make something, to express the sentiment, right?

However, she walked all the way — perhaps because the weather was bad, and it was late afternoon — many stall vendors were hurrying to close up and go home. She didn't see anything good to buy, but when passing the grain shop, she saw they were just taking the wooden signboard inside at the entrance.

Song Miao saw at a glance the hulless barley and proso millet written at the end.