Because he had just arrived the day before and was tired from the journey, and Yan Shu had to go to the palace to see the emperor in the evening, the family banquet to welcome Su Jin was postponed to today. The family banquet could have been held at noon, but due to the meal reduction order, noon
No one dared to eat and drink in a big way during this meal, but not eating this meal at noon was really Zhao Zhen's wishful thinking. Most people didn't take it seriously at all. On the surface, they didn't use fireworks, but in fact they ate in their rooms.
There are more of them than before.
Yan Shu did not ask many people to accompany him. Some of his sons were idle at home and worked as minor officials in various ministries. Yan Shu was extremely disappointed with them and did not even let them attend the family banquet.
Yan Shu had his own considerations. In the presence of Su Jin, Yan Shu felt a little pressure. He didn't want Su Jin to see that all of his sons were wimps. That might be detrimental to the relationship between Su Jin and himself.
It's not a good thing. He doesn't want Su Jin to look down on him.
Sitting with him was his most beloved son Yan Jidao. Of course, the two-year-old child had to be taken care of by his mother Zhang, so Zhang, the concubine in the fourth room, was lucky enough to have a place, and the remaining one was Yan Biyun.
Fu Bi and another official in his forties who were specially invited.
After Yan Shu's introduction, Su Jin learned that the unfamiliar official was called Yang Cha, also known as Yinfu, and he was Yan Shu's second son-in-law. He was currently the judge of the third division. Su Jin suspected that Yan Shu was using nepotism through the back door.
Su Jin was a little funny. It seemed that the only people in the Yan family who could do anything well were his two sons-in-law, but those sons were useless. This was probably the reason why Yan Shu liked the youngest Yan Jidao. Yan Shu had
Too many hopes are pinned on him.
When the food and wine arrived, they were extremely rich. Yan Shu liked to feast and was greedy. He was not allowed to eat at noon, which really made him unhappy. Although he had some snacks, compared with eating, snacks are only for embellishment, while the latter are not allowed.
lack.
Yan Shu didn't even have time to speak. He toasted two glasses of wine and ate two more pigeon legs before he put down his chopsticks and started talking, but Su Jin was already in a daze from his round of wine.
Yan Biyun looked at him with some worry. She knew that Su Jin couldn't drink. Besides, drinking several glasses of wine so quickly might be too much for her. She hurriedly asked the maid to make a cup of strong tea for Su Jin to drink.
Yan Shu laughed and said: "Why is Su Jin not as good at drinking as a woman? For people in official circles, if you can't drink, it will block a channel for making good friends. Many things are done over the wine table."
Su Jin said: "I'm not a member of the officialdom, so it doesn't matter if I don't practice. Even if I become an official, do I have to drink?"
Yan Shu chuckled and said: "Su Jin, don't be pretentious. It's only a matter of time before you become an official. Last night I went to the palace to meet the emperor and stated the matter of Yingtian and the matter of you coming to Beijing with me. The emperor said
You are very interested. I will summon you in the next few days. Don't run around here and there in the next few days. If the emperor summons you and cannot find you, it will be a joke."
Su Jin said: "I just walked around in the neighborhood. I went to Xiangguo Temple today to spend a day. Bianliang is so prosperous that I can't believe it. But when people from the countryside come to the city, they are dumbfounded."
Fu Bi smiled and said: "Can the capital of the Song Dynasty, under the emperor's feet, be the same as your Luzhou?"
Yang Cha, who looked a little dull, interrupted in surprise: "Is Little Brother Su from Luzhou?"
Su Jin said: "Luzhou Nancheng."
Yang Cha smiled and said: "So you and I are from the same hometown. I am from Juchao in Luzhou Prefecture. We drink water from the same lake."
Su Jin hurriedly stood up and bowed: "That's so close, a true fellow countryman."
Yan Shu laughed loudly and said, "It's fate that meeting an old friend in a foreign land is one of the joys of life. You two should have a drink."
Su Jin drank the cup in one gulp, and Yang Cha also drank the wine with a smile.
"You eat some food and drink all you want. It's very easy to get drunk on an empty stomach." Yan Biyun saw that Su Jin's handsome little face was starting to turn red and couldn't help but speak.
Fu Bi chuckled and said, "You won't drink too much. Don't worry about it, Biyun. My father-in-law is here, how can you drink too much?"
Yan Biyun said angrily: "It is precisely because of his uncle's presence that he drinks too much."
Yan Shu smiled, turned to Su Jin and said: "The Holy One has summoned you, have you thought of your countermeasures? Don't let the Holy One ask you and you are not prepared. That would be bad."
Su Jin scratched his head and said, "Didn't your Excellency come up with any countermeasures? I don't know anything about this matter, so how can I talk nonsense?"
Yan Shu frowned and said, "Based on the conversations I've had with you in the past few days, I know you must have something in mind, but now you're hiding your secrets. You learned to be so cunning at a young age. It's not good, it's not good."
Su Jin rolled his eyes and said, "You are an old fox, and I am a young fox, and you still accuse me of having a lot of ideas in your head, but you want me to come up with them."
Yang Cha looked at Su Jin and said: "Brother Su, we have heard a little bit about you. Today, we are taking advantage of the family dinner to discuss this matter. My father-in-law called me and my rich brother here, just to think of the four of us.
People discuss the best way together. Firstly, the Holy Spirit must ask for countermeasures. Secondly, there must be a proper plan for the next thing. Raising food is a big deal, and it is not just a matter of words.
It can be done.”
Su Jin looked at the faces of Fu Bi and Yan Shu and knew that Yang Cha was telling the truth. It seemed that this family dinner was said to be a blessing for him, but in fact it was a small meeting held to deal with the upcoming affairs.
This matter is the most urgent matter of the Third Division at the moment. If it is done well, Yan Shu can directly enter the two governments. If it is not handled well, the society will be in turmoil. Yan Shu is directly related to this matter. I am afraid that he will not be able to sit down in the position of the Third Division Envoy.
Already.
Yan Biyun knew that the topic was getting to the point and dismissed the maids softly. Yan Shu's concubine Zhang also hugged Yan Jidao and said goodbye and returned to the room. Only the father-in-law of the Yan family, Su Jin, and Yan Biyun were left in the flower hall.
"Say, let's talk freely now. Everything has to be done for this errand. The emperor's mind has been very clear. If this food crisis can be passed safely, I can become the master. Prime Minister Lu is already old. Listen,
The Emperor's words
The intention is to let Prime Minister Lu return home with honors after the new year. Although I am not too keen on the prime minister, it is better to have it in my own hands than to have Du Yan and Pang Ji's disciples take over the two houses.
, I’m afraid many people’s lives will be sad.”
Yan Shu got straight to the point and expressed his thoughts directly. Being able to speak so frankly showed that he already regarded Su Jin and his two sons-in-law as equals and as confidants in his heart.
Of course Su Jin was happy about Yan Shu's trust, but at the same time he was not willing to do so. It was like joining a small group, as if he was doing something shameful.
Originally, the matter of raising food was a major matter for the court. Su Jin agreed to come to the capital to help. In addition to trying to solve Yan Biyun's identity problem through this matter, he actually did not want to see the situation of starving people and thieves everywhere; but Yan Shu insisted on it.
The naked connection of these to the struggle for power and phase made Su Jin a little unhappy.
Yan Shu continued unnoticed: "Originally, when Lu Xiang was appointed to the official position, I was the most qualified person to succeed him. If it hadn't been for this trouble, it would have been almost certain. But if this matter cannot be solved perfectly, I will be the emperor's successor."
Your status in your mind will plummet. If your status is in the hands of others, it will be a small matter. I am afraid that you will be squeezed out in the future and it will be difficult to advance; Pang Ji, Zhang Dexiang, and Du Yan are all narrow-minded people, and we have all been
If you have offended him, how can he not make trouble everywhere?"
Fu Bi frowned and said: "What my father-in-law said is that we are in trouble. Pang Ji has evil intentions, and Du Yan and Zhang Dexiang are mediocre people. My son-in-law is afraid that they will take charge of the two houses and destroy the Song Dynasty."
If a good situation is ruined, it is not a personal matter."
Su Jin nodded secretly, Fu Bi's words sounded good. If you said you were afraid that they would mess up Chao Gang, that would be a grand reason. If it was purely for status and personal honor, it would be unconvincing.
But it was just some dissatisfaction in his heart. Su Jin also knew that Yan Shu was naturally a better prime minister than Pang Ji or a stranger called Zhang Dexiang. Yan Shu was a friend. Listening to the tone of Yan Shu and Fu Bi, Zhang Dexiang and Zhang Dexiang were
Du Yanzhi and others like Pang Ji are their political enemies. Friends of friends are friends, and enemies of friends should naturally be enemies. If you are dissatisfied, you should lean towards Yan Shu. At least Yan Biyun is a member of the Yan family. The Yan family is unlucky. She
It won't be easy either.
"Do you really want to listen to my opinion on raising food?" Su Jin said.
Yan Shu squinted at Su Jin and said, "Do you think I recommended you to do this on a whim? There are several conditions that must be met before you can do this, and you meet all of them."
Su Jin smiled and said: "I didn't know I had so many advantages."
Yan Shu laughed loudly and said: "It may not be an advantage, it may be a disadvantage, but in this matter, even a disadvantage can be an advantage."