Volume 1 Little Yuanba Chapter 13 Ji Shu Bai County Honor
That night, Li Dan indeed called Song Xiaoniu here and made the main course of grilled trout with salt and pepper, three-vegetarian soup, stir-fried double mushrooms with garlic, artemisia annua and pork belly, and a colorful soup.
After eating, Li Zhu cheered repeatedly and asked what the colorful soup was made of.
Li Dan told him that it was made by cutting five kinds of tofu, eggs, fungus, green bamboo shoots (lettuce) and carrots (carrots) into shreds and boiling them.
Li Zhu was filled with admiration and said: "This knife skill is incredible.
Come on, come on, I can see it now, Sanlang. Even if you don’t take the imperial examination, with your sophistication and careful thinking, you will definitely not be the best in the future. At least you won’t starve to death! Haha!”
At that time, most families had breakfast or lunch in the morning when the sun was at the top, and dinner or dinner in the evening when the sun set.
Poor people only have lunch, and in the evening they drink porridge cooked with wild vegetables and roots (no corn) at most. Rich people have different meals, they have morning tea when they get up early, and even supper at night.
Therefore, based on a person's mental state, skin color, and weight, one can completely distinguish the other person's identity and status at a glance.
After lighting the lanterns, Li Yan went to the county government office in a small sedan. He now looked at Yiyuan and had a rich appearance. At a glance, it was clear that he was a big man who didn't worry about Mimai Shengdou.
Li Sanye is a man who enjoys happiness and cherishes his life. Sacrificing his life for righteousness like his grandfather did, or working hard like his father who died young are not what Li Yan expects.
He also hopes that his descendants will surround him and he will be a wealthy man for a long time.
This afternoon Lao Zhou from Sanshengtang came to check Zhu's pulse and confirmed that his daughter-in-law was pregnant. This news made him feel as comfortable as drinking honey water.
But what he has to do now is not a celebratory banquet. He is taking advantage of the fact that his brother, the eldest master of the Li family, has not come home yet, so he can quickly finalize the matter of dividing the family with Fan County Zun.
Just as he was thinking about it, the sedan chair stopped. He guessed that Chang Sui Lin Zifu had taken his business card and was about to stab the county magistrate's house.
Sure enough, after a while, Lin Zifu's voice whispered outside the sedan: "Master, the county invites you to come to the flower hall to talk."
Li Yan said "hmm" and started walking again with the sedan chair. After a while, he stopped, got off the sedan chair and lifted the curtain.
Li Yan walked out of it, straightened his robes, looked up with his hand on his turban, then turned around and followed the Fan family members carrying lanterns into the Aquarius Gate.
Just now, the sedan came in through the back door of the county government office and stopped at the garden path.
To go to the flower hall, you have to go around the garden and the area where the family members live. Li Yan has been here many times and is very familiar with it.
Generally, county magistrates go to the front office to start working at Mao hour (5-7 o'clock) every day, and after leaving the office at You time (17-19 o'clock), they return to the back office to be with their families.
However, Li Yan knew that as long as there was no major incident, the county would disperse the government at the first quarter of Youshi (17:30).
Fan Taizun went back to eat the evening meal, and it happened to be around the current time - the first quarter of Wu Shi (19:00-19:30).
This is the most relaxing time of the day and the best time to talk about secret things.
As soon as he entered the moon gate of the courtyard where the flower hall is located, he saw Magistrate Fan, dressed in homely clothes and a long cloak, greeting him at the foot of the steps with hands behind his back.
"Oh my god, my lord, the county elder, how dare the students do you such a favor? It's a sin, it's a sin!"
Li Yan could serve as a county official or acting magistrate at any time, so he called himself a "student" to Magistrate Fan.
"Xianzhi (Li Yan's word) brother and I are still so polite? Haha, the moonlight is just right tonight, and I need a friend to accompany me. How about you and I enjoying tea and admiring the moon in the flower hall?"
Magistrate Fan narrowed his eyes into thin slits, but he couldn't guess why Li Yan asked to see him at this time.
The two of them had finished their greetings. Li Yan supported Magistrate Fan and walked into the flower hall together to sit facing the window. The clear moonlight filtered in and shone on the white peonies blooming in the room. The petals revealed a mysterious blue color.
Soon a boy made tea, scalded the fine porcelain cups for the two of them, filled them with golden tea, and then left.
Magistrate Fan first asked about Li Zhu's situation, and after hearing that Mrs. Zhu was happy, he hurriedly congratulated him on his double happiness. Then he chatted about the harvest and shop business, lowered his head and sipped tea.
He asked him unhurriedly: "Select me, there are many happy events in your family, and you don't want to make arrangements to celebrate, but you come to see this county with a lantern and a shadow, but what's the important thing?"
"Your Excellency, you are a thousand miles away. This student really has a family matter that I don't know how to deal with. I would like to ask the county magistrate for advice."
"Ah?" Magistrate Fan Zeng didn't expect it to be a "family matter." He was stunned for a moment, raised his hands and frowned: "Brother, they say that it is difficult for an upright official to deal with family matters. You... seem to be asking for help from me. A problem?"
"I don't dare, I don't dare. How could a student do such a thing? Because this matter involves human ethics and legal regulations, the student has been undecided for a long time and feels like he is stuck in his throat, so he came to ask for advice.
Your Excellency, my parents in this county are knowledgeable and familiar with legal matters. I hope you can give me some pointers. The students will surely repay their kindness!" After saying this, Li Yan left the table and bowed deeply.
When County Magistrate Fan heard what he said, he smiled again, reached out to help Li Yan and asked him to return to his seat, and at the same time said: "Well, since I chose you to come here with such humility, I can't just push him away.
Please tell me the whole story, what exactly is it that makes you so uneasy?"
Li Yan was overjoyed and hurriedly recounted the circumstances surrounding his father's death and the reasons for Li Su's control of the family property.
Magistrate Fan already knew what he was talking about, but he didn't show it on his face.
He stroked his beard and thought for a while and said: "According to Brother Xian, your brother took over the housework and raised Wen Zhenggong and his subordinates as adults. One of you will be the magistrate, and the other will also be the governor."
It’s gratifying to have brothers and sisters in your family pay homage to each other, but what’s wrong with that?”
"This...," Li Yanxin said: Are you saying it in vain? Oh, old man, I have to uncover this layer myself!
I had no choice but to reply: "Sir, brothers, friends, and brothers are respectful. This is the teaching of the sage and its original meaning.
But..., the eldest brother has been in control of the family property for many years. Even after my brother and I got married, we did not take the initiative to mention the division of the family property. And because of the eldest brother's kindness in raising us, I couldn't talk about it, so it has been delayed until now.
But now that the children have grown up, procrastinating it any longer is not an option. It is becoming increasingly inconvenient for a large family of men and women to live together, so I started to think about whether we should separate them clearly and let the three families live their own lives."
"Hmm! Understood!" Magistrate Fan nodded: "Is this what your third bedroom means, or do all three families have this idea?"
"Zhuo Jing has discussed with the second roommate, and they have the same intention. However, the eldest brother has not returned from Nanchang, so the eldest roommate has not yet told him."
"In that case, when Yanruo (Li Su's nickname) comes back, why don't the three of you discuss it together? Why come to look for me again?" County Magistrate Fan clapped his hands away, half-smiling.
Li Yan coughed in embarrassment, lowered his eyebrows and replied: "My lord, what you are saying is that we should just explain our own affairs clearly.
However... this matter involves both laws and human relations. Which one should be considered first? The student is really stupid, so I ask for advice."
He talked in roundabout ways for a long time and finally reached the core.
Magistrate Fan chuckled: "The meaning of the choice is that raising the elder brother is a kindness, but living in separate families is legal. It's hard for you to tell which one is more important, but what about this?"
"Exactly, exactly!"
"Then let me ask you, what is Dharma and what is emotion?"
"This... is the manifestation of the laws of heaven. The emperor follows the laws of heaven and implements the laws of the world in order to order the country, the country, and the country.
Emotions, joys, anger, sorrow, fear, love, and evil desires, the seven can be mastered without learning (Book of Rites, Liyun). It is said that "it originates from the world and is in line with the human heart" (Shenzi). The laws of the country follow the laws of nature at the top and human feelings at the bottom."
"Go!" Magistrate Fan nodded: "In that case, national law is higher than human relations. When the two conflict, national law should take precedence. Do you agree with this choice?"
Li Yan thought about it, but didn't know what it had to do with his family, so he agreed: "That's the case!"
"Okay!" County Magistrate Fan stood up and walked under the moonlight, and said slowly with his hands behind his back: "I implement the two-tax method, that is, collect Ding tax per household, collect land tax per acre, and apportion taxes and levies according to different households.
Although your brother controls the family wealth, the second and third houses of your house have never paid taxes in full because of this. You should know this first, and then we can talk about other things."
"What do you mean, Mr. Fan...?" Li Yan suddenly understood. What County Magistrate Fan meant was that if he wanted to separate his family, he would have to reveal the situation of the Li family's concealed household registration and Dingkou for so many years, and pay back the arrears.
tax.
This old cunning guy! He cursed secretly. But he quickly made a calculation in his mind and said with a smile: "Students think that obeying the law is the duty of a good citizen.
If your Excellency can mediate and allow us to properly divide the tax without losing dignity, we will be willing to make up for the accumulated taxes."
The official tax refers to the official service tax (as mentioned before, hiring someone to do the service) and tax stipulated by the imperial court. However, Li Yan was clever and did not mention whether he had to make up for the miscellaneous service tax allocated by the county. This
Even if the two families share the amount, it will still be heartbreaking!
"You are kind and caring for the people, and you are looking for help from all over the world. The students are shattered to pieces, and there is nothing you can do in return!"
As Li Yan spoke, he filled Magistrate Fan's tea cup, then quietly took out a folded silver note from his sleeve and placed it on the bottom of the cup.
The county magistrate, who was stroking his beard and looking at the moon, saw this move with his peripheral vision, raised the corners of his mouth slightly, nodded and said: "This is easy to say, easy to say.
I am from a family of poets and calligraphers, and if Yan Ruo has ever served me, I believe he will be able to correct his mistakes after he realizes them.
If you follow the great path, this small mistake is nothing. How can you be faultless?" After saying this, the two of them smiled at each other.
"However, if the family is divided, how will the property be divided? Does my dear brother have a case?" Magistrate Fan returned to the chair and sat down.
"This...," Li Yan's mind changed and he asked, "Shouldn't each room be divided equally?"
"Hey, that's not good enough!"
Magistrate Fan shook his head and said: "Although your eldest brother controls the family property and has illegal and concealed behaviors, he has a loyal heart and raised your brother to succeed and get married. Now you have scholars and scholars in your family. Shouldn't you be grateful for all of this?"
Is it his kindness?
If we enforce equal division, I'm afraid some people in your clan will think it's unfair, which will make things look bad. Do you think this is the truth?"
"Uh," Li Yan frowned, but he also knew that Magistrate Fan was telling the truth. He was just being more euphemistic and did not say that Li Su might directly conflict with him.
If the second wife has a girl, the eldest brother will throw some tantrums at him, most likely directing his anger on himself.
Li Yan was secretly shocked. He looked at Magistrate Fan carefully and asked, "What is your clever plan, Lord County Magistrate?"
"There is no clever plan." Magistrate Fan waved his hand: "Although you are reasonable, you can't do this. If you do it, others will say that you, the third master, will repay the favor with the enemy.
At this point, you need to go back and discuss it carefully with the second room on how to do it. In short, it should be acceptable to Yan Ruo and the clan has nothing to say.
For example, you promise that after the property is divided, the two of you will find another place to live, and the ancestral home will be handed over to the eldest family for management, etc.
I think Yan Ruo should be able to accept such conditions. Of course, I will mediate and coordinate if necessary."
Of course he is willing to coordinate so that after eating the second and third rooms, he can then take the long room. Anyway, he will not lose money.
After listening to what he said, Li Yan gradually understood what he meant, and he made some ideas in his mind. He thought about making it clear to Mrs. Shu when he went back, and then asked her to persuade his second mistress, Mrs. Gao.
Thinking of this, I remembered that the second house still had to be separated, so I hurriedly mentioned it to County Magistrate Fan.
After listening to this, the county magistrate put his hands on his hands and laughed and said: "As long as you analyze the three families first, her family's affairs will not be difficult.
However, if the second mistress is thinking about the concubine's dowry, I advise her not to think about it.
Firstly, as far as I know, his family is a wealthy businessman from Lujiang, and his property is all in the north of the Yangtze River. My little Yugan County Magistrate has no right to interfere; secondly, although Duke Wen Cheng is not here, she, as a eldest lady, cannot do whatever she wants.
Isn't there your Sanlang in the house? She, as the nominal mother, can make the decision and agree to the division of the property, but the actual implementation is a matter between brothers Sanlang and Wulang.
One of them is a well-known scholar, and the other is over fifteen years old. How can she be allowed to interfere? At most, I can go to the scene to speak and bear witness. "
"It would be great if the adults could come here!" Li Yan thought that he couldn't take advantage of the second room, so he could only help to this extent, so he didn't say more.
I have to go back and let the little Qian family give another gift to Fan Taizun. Why should I jump around between the two widows? Aren't I afraid of attracting gossip?
After escorting Li Yan to the door and watching his back disappear on the other side of the Moon Gate, Magistrate Fan turned around and went in. He hurriedly picked up the tea cup and took out the banknote. He saw that it was a twenty-tael banknote.
Hehe, separate the families? Then you can do it. Magistrate Fan smiled proudly. Then the second wife of the Li family has to divide the family with a concubine. It’s really funny!
Magistrate Fan walked to the dormitory with a swaying step, wondering who should be accompanying him tonight?
No matter who it is, it is estimated that the Li family can bring one or two hundred taels of income to themselves this time. The person next to me tonight must be a lucky one and deserves my love!