Chapter 76: Miao Chu Chapter Seventy-Six: Profound and Abstruse

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

Xin Censor was fine enough, but the three Chai Guan behind him were originally imposing and menacing, looking like they had come to demand an explanation, clamoring and shouting for that "surnamed Kong" to get lost.

One of them, as he spoke, had red eyes and a flushed face, blue veins bulging on his temples.

Han Li did not rush to explain first, nor did he let Kong Fuyang speak; instead, he first invited Xin Censor and the three Yamen Runners who followed to sit, then had tea served, and said: "Kong Fuyang is indeed somewhat arrogant; I have been scolded by him too. The teachers in the Taixue have admonished him many times before, only his temper is both foul and stubborn, and he changes slowly — several sirs have been wronged; in a moment I will go find this man and question him thoroughly, demand an accounting."

He had long since set aside the matters at hand, took fresh paper and brush, and while speaking, his hand recorded, verifying with them exactly where Kong Fuyang had erred.

Han Li did not proceed by question-and-answer; rather, he spoke himself, asking the people opposite to confirm.

He spoke unhurriedly, first repeating once all that the several men had just said; though not to the extent of not missing a single word, he recorded every point they had previously raised, and even extended and elaborated, helping to sort through why they were angry and why they were so resentfully aggrieved.

The three Yamen Runners, and that Xin Censor, had earlier been ready at every moment to interject and supplement, but as they listened, they early forgot what they had wanted to supplement.

Especially the one who was most angry — the blue veins on his head all subsided; he could only repeatedly slap his thigh, nodding his head more industriously than a rooster pecking rice, the tail of his headwear shaking up and down like a rooster's tail feathers, his mouth uttering those few unremarkable phrases — "Right!" "Right right!" "Exactly!" "Precisely!" — over and over again.

A person's anger has a time limit.

Barring extraordinary natural endowment, it is very difficult to remain in a state of extreme anger for a long time.

Han Li earlier first had them sit, then called for tea, which already interrupted that flare of anger; afterward came a round of repetition with elaboration, making them feel that all their grievances and emotions had been understood, had found resonance, and amid the continuous "Right right" "Precisely," the originally swollen anger, as if a vent had been opened, slowly leaked out.

By the time they heard him say he would go find Kong Fuyang to demand satisfaction, the several men's anger had mostly dissipated.

"You explain clearly to that surnamed Kong; in the future, speaking and doing things cannot be like this!" Xin Censor said, "If he still continues to act recklessly, he will surely offend everyone from top to bottom!"

Han Li agreed in one breath, set down his brush, and only said: "Several sirs, please sit here for a while; I will go and return at once."

He turned his head and went to find Kong Fuyang.

The latter had originally thought he had come to ask why he wasn't resting, and was somewhat embarrassed; upon learning it was because someone had come to file a complaint, he instantly slammed down the brush in his hand and cursed: "I haven't even spoken yet, and they actually have the nerve to counter-accuse first!"

As he spoke, he stood up, shouting: "Who said it? You call the person here; I will confront him face to face!"

Han Li said: "What would you do asking for the name? Do you intend to go to their door and trade insults?"

"With your eloquence, others naturally cannot out-curse you; but even if you win the cursing match, what use is it — you came this time, is it to quarrel with the Guan Cha?"

Kong Fuyang forcibly endured and sat back on the chair; then he lowered his head, saw the writing on the desk paper before him, his anger rose again, pushed that booklet forward, flipped open the first few pages for Han Li to see, and said: "You think I'm idle with nothing to do and went looking for trouble? You just look!"

"I want them to explain the matter clearly, so it can be summarized and filed; only they ramble on and on, half a day without getting to the point — how they caught them, where they caught them; clearly a few sentences could finish it, practically have to recite from Pangu opening heaven and earth."

"Make them use their brains, think the words through in their hearts before coming to speak, so as not to waste time; one or two of them still have to rush me!"

Han Li took it, lowered his head and carefully flipped through.

Above were all oral records; a simple question from the Guan Cha could be spoken for several hundred words, almost entirely without key points.

He flipped a few pages further back, only then raised his head, and asked: "Kong Xiong, I know these past one or two years you traveled to study abroad, had experience going to various Zhou Ya and Xianya, yet I don't know what you did in those various yamen."

"All were tasks like organizing old case volumes and archives; however, they only waste manpower and waste time."

"Then have you dealt with Xuli, Patrol Officer, Yamen Runners?"

"Patrol Officer, Yamen Runners — no; but I've had quite a lot of dealings with Xuli. Clerks look easy to talk to, but actually many are extremely cunning; in the future as an official, one must rouse twelve-tenths of one's spirit to avoid being deceived by them — why do you ask this?"

"Compared to outside prefectures and counties, the caliber of Patrol Officer and Yamen Runners in the Capital is unknown how many times better; today you won't even deign to deal with a few Chai Guan of the Capital Prefecture Office; in the future serving as an official outside, encountering mixed-quality subordinates, could you also just wash your hands of them?"

Kong Fuyang stared blankly for a moment, half a day, stiffened his neck and said: "Why should I deign to deal? I manage the people below me, the people below manage those further below; if everything requires personal effort, that's a clerk, where is it an official!"

Han Li waved the booklet in his hand and asked: "How do you manage? By looking at the case volumes and official documents your subordinates send up to manage?"

"Words are all written by people; among the people doing the work there are those like you, outstanding, who need not a single word of instruction to do things beautifully; there are also those like those Chayi, who cannot even speak clearly; and there are those who harbor treachery in their hearts, arbitrarily alter records, seeking profit — you won't even listen to people speak a few more words; in the future how do you plan to distinguish?"

Kong Fuyang several times wanted to open his mouth, "I"ed twice, but ultimately still closed his mouth.

Han Li asked again: "What do you intend to do?"

"What do you mean what?"

Kong Fuyang turned his head away, putting on an appearance of still not quite convinced, but his voice had already weakened.

"Because your calculation and overall planning ability are extremely strong, far surpassing others, today and tomorrow I want to borrow your strength to help organize manpower, allocate the Prison."

"But after a few days, when matters ease a bit, I originally wanted to let you transfer to follow Xin Feng to try cases."

"Xin Feng has been in the Capital Prefecture Office for decades; his ability is extremely strong; the thieves and criminals he has caught probably exceed the number of people you and I have seen; this case involves an extremely wide scope; you at this time should watch more how he interrogates, how he judges; in the future as an official, there will definitely be times of use……"

"But this is merely my own stubborn insistence; since you are unwilling……"

"Who said I'm unwilling!"

Kong Fuyang was anxious beyond measure, hurriedly turned his head back; because he turned too fast, "crack" a sound, nearly twisted his cervical vertebra.

He hissed, hurriedly used his hand to support his nape, disregarding the pain, urgently said: "I am of course willing! This time no matter how much those people ramble, I absolutely will not interrupt midway again, will not say any disdainful words!"

"You are willing, but others at this moment may not be willing anymore!"

Han Li instantly flipped his face, coldly laughed: "Who do you think you are? A three-legged toad is hard to find, but students who can write characters are everywhere; we are borrowed and transferred to lend a hand; you think because you can write a few characters, calculate a few numbers, are a bit more capable than others, everyone must hold you up?"

"Earlier those few Guan Cha heard the one doing the clerical records for them was a Taixue upper-she student, of great literary reputation; some even specially changed clothes to see you; each and every one wanted to perform, so they tried hard to say more — who knew they would get such disdain from you; when they came to find me, their eyes were red with anger — your willingness has what fart use!"

"Ah? They…… they spoke in a completely jumbled mess, and this was them trying to perform??" Kong Fuyang gaped.

"How do you find the outer-she students' essays?"

Just this one sentence, and Kong Fuyang suddenly realized, for a moment only regretted, "Alas"ed for half a day, and said: "This also…… this also……"

Han Li further said: "You think they cannot speak; could it be you yourself were born knowing how to speak? How do you know others looking at you are not like you looking at them?"

Kong Fuyang froze for a moment, always feeling as if he had been scolded, scolded rather unpleasantly, but could not bring himself to rush to admit it.

"They answer badly; is it all their fault? You yourself have no fault? Boasting great talent, yet cannot even ask questions; where does the face come from? If I were you, from today I wouldn't dare eat meat again — afraid once eaten, it would all grow onto the thick face."

As Han Li spoke, he fished out a thin booklet from his sleeve and tossed it onto Kong Fuyang.

The latter caught the booklet, lowered his head to look; one opening, he saw the paper was an Interrogation Document commonly seen in the yamen.

The content within was extremely detailed; all questions that would be used were organized out, and the most key words and sentences in each answer were circled with a Vermilion Brush.

"You take this, ask and answer one by one, don't let them speak, only let them answer — first ask according to the questions, wait until later, when you have a clear idea in your heart, whether you use it or not doesn't matter."

Smart people don't need much teaching.

Kong Fuyang only turned a few pages, and his heart already had a clear idea, even thought up the scene of himself questioning the Chai Guan again later, for a moment full of ambition, wishing he could immediately grab one to come try it out.

He couldn't help but ask: "Where did this come from? Why wasn't it given to me earlier?"

Han Li couldn't be bothered to answer.

Kong Fuyang, however, got excited, stepped forward two steps, grabbed Han Li's sleeve: "Zhengyan! Zhengyan! My knowledge is shallow, I was wrong! Give me another chance, if I make a mistake and cause trouble again, you just send me back!"

Han Li looked at him coldly, said: "What use is it for you to apologize to me?"

Kong Fuyang woke as if from a dream, hurriedly asked: "Where are Xin Censor and those few? I'll go find them!"

While speaking, not waiting for Han Li, he already ran quickly toward outside.

Han Li also didn't go chase, only organized the few volumes of case files this person put neatly on the desk, flipped through them, added a few strokes, supplemented a few simple official documents, only then took them all in hand and went out the door.

When he returned, Kong Fuyang had long arrived, just apologizing to Xin Feng and the others in a good tone and manner.

Taixue's upper dormitory student, and already with literary fame, in the future certainly will be an official, using knees to think one knows he certainly has boundless prospects.

Xin Feng and the others previously were anger attacking the heart, only then couldn't help but file a complaint, just now were persuaded by Han Li, had long calmed down, at this time seeing that Kong Fuyang sincerely apologized, and honestly admitted fault, naturally each retreated a step, also said they were wrong, only at bottom still somewhat uncomfortable.

Han Li stepped into the room, heard a few sentences, also looked at each person's expression, suddenly inserted a sentence, said: "Brother Kong is a personality of doing things, only his mouth doesn't know how to speak, only knows how to be annoying, making people want to scold him."

While speaking, he took out those few volumes of case files for everyone to see, said: "His mouth stinks, but his hands are diligent, already finished all the case files of those few prisoners questioned this afternoon, even the detention documents are done, everyone in a moment just take them to hand in the assignment, other things not a bit need to be done again."

These words came out, the atmosphere in the room immediately changed for it.

Detention documents or case files, both are troublesome laborious things, especially if not very literate, doing them is simply killing people.

Although scolded, but the one scolding helped do the work!

Thinking like this, it's also not that unforgivable.

Three Yamen Runners, and that Xin Censor immediately showed smiling faces to Kong Fuyang: "Aiya, you, you!"

And Kong Fuyang seeing those extra detention documents, how could he not know it was that Han Li who did it, personally accepted this favor, from this moment on determined to learn to deal with those people in the yamen who truly do work, absolutely cannot be like before, self-righteous.

Once he thought it through, his temper was one that couldn't wait, immediately said: "Today entirely my fault, should host a banquet to treat everyone, only right now everyone has many matters, how about I go out buy some good food and wine to come back, count it as apology!"

But words just fell, yet saw the originally smiling faces, suddenly like frost struck, all froze at once.

"What time is it?"

"End of Shen!"

"Trouble, Censor, didn't you say tonight the public kitchen has Song Xiaoniangzi coming to help cook?"

Xin Feng exclaimed in alarm: "Busy arguing, and busy working, actually busy forgot!"

While speaking also called to Kong Fuyang: "Song Xiaoniangzi's skill is exceptionally good, don't eat what outside food, let's hurry and go, only afraid if we go late, the good dishes will all be snatched away by others!"

While speaking, with a few subordinates hurriedly stood up and left, walking walking, already started running, still not forgetting to turn back and call Han and Kong the two.

Kong Fuyang watched straight shaking head, couldn't help but sigh: "A few mouthfuls of food, is it worth it!"

Speaking, he turned again and asked: "Zhengyan, you just now weren't saying you want me to first help organize manpower, allocate prison cells? I'll give you a hand, two people together, do it faster, by end of You can calculate clearly!"

"Tonight I also won't sleep, whatever else you have, all hand over to me — it's my bad mouth, person also annoying, made Zhengyan you expend extra thought!"

Kong Fuyang full of enthusiasm, rolled up sleeves ready to work, but looked up, yet saw Han Li actually was closing the cabinet door, after closing the door, already big strides walking toward outside.

"Go, what are you spacing out for?"

"Not working anymore?"

Han Li with a serious expression said: "All matters must have tension and relaxation, absolutely cannot be overly tense, otherwise certainly harmful without benefit."

Kong Fuyang somewhat at a loss.

Last night he at least still dozed two hours, but every time he got up, saw this Han Zhengyan still working, morning, noon also never rested, even meals were having people bring them back.

How come now, all of a sudden became "have tension and relaxation" "absolutely cannot be overly tense"?

He truly wanted to thank this Han Li, couldn't help but say: "How about still I go out buy some good food and wine to come back, that noon meal, already ate enough — this Capital Prefecture Office's public kitchen compared to outside prefecture and county public kitchens, also no difference, equally unpalatable!"

Han Li was walking in front, heard these words, couldn't help but turn back to look, asked: "These days, haven't you heard classmates mention the Song Ji in the back Food Alley?"

"What Song Ji?" Kong Fuyang blanked a moment, suddenly reacted, "The one selling glutinous rice, shaomai? Hearing of it, sometimes see others eat, smelling also quite fragrant, only I morning have to get up to recite books, where have that idle time to queue — a few mouthfuls of food, like snatching something! How can it be that magical!"

Han Li "oh"ed a sound, meaningfully looked at Kong Fuyang a glance, but only urged: "Walk faster."

Finished speaking, his feet not half a pause, took the lead big strides walked away.

?? Rhythm too slow too dragging I'll say QAQ, originally wanted this chapter to eat but however written couldn't write to it, tomorrow will eat!!!

? Thanks Book City Fu Ruan Ruan personally sent my Codeword Tool one, my cat called Egg Egg, Ao Te Man Xiao Jie, Wanpi Aixin three personally sent my Small Gift each one=3=

? Thanks Qidian Yellow Scorpion Palace personally sent my Sachet^_^

? Thanks Xiaoxiang Feifei a, Book Friend two personally sent my Peace Talisman each one:)

? (This chapter complete)