At noon, this West Lake elegant seat is already crowded with guests.
Because today is a good day for opening, the two upper floors are also open during lunch to receive distinguished guests.
Ordinarily, the dignitaries in the city who came with congratulatory gifts should have been seated in the private rooms upstairs by now, and many of them were already drunk.
However, there was one person who arrived late.
Who? It's the prefect, Mr. Lu.
He came today just to show off his authority and find trouble, so he deliberately waited until the opening ceremony of the restaurant was over before coming.
In those days, for a business like a restaurant, after setting off the firecrackers on the opening day, the boss himself had to stand at the door to greet the customers. Sun Yixie naturally understood this rule.
But he wouldn't stand for too long, less than half an hour at most. When all the big shots who came to give gifts were welcomed upstairs, he would follow them to socialize.
As for Lu Wen, he was sure of this...I deliberately came back half an hour later today. When I arrived at the door of your West Lake Residence, it would be wrong if you, Sun Yixie, didn't come out to welcome me immediately. I, Mr. Lu, are disrespectful. I can show your face on the spot and tell you that you are wrong.
This is not over yet. Next, you have to arrange a private room for me, right? I am a parent official in Hangzhou, and my room must be the best. It can’t be worse than those rooms where business people stay, right?
What? You said I came too late and had no room? The best room is already occupied?
That's your problem, why didn't you leave it for me? I came late because of my busy schedule. You have to be sensible. Are you going to let me, the magistrate, sit downstairs with the common people to eat on the benches?
Take a look, Mr. Lu, is he very thoughtful?
How about saying that these two official words make sense for everything? It was obvious that he came late, but Li'er was still there; if Sun Yixie really wanted to force the guests who came earlier to move their places to make room for Yajian'er for his sake, he would offend others.
Anyway, if I want to cause trouble for you, I will find it no matter what. Today Lu Wen came here because he didn't hold it in well and wanted Sun Yixie to know how powerful he is.
"The prefect is here!"
At three quarters of noon, a long shout came into the lobby of the West Lake Apartment.
Mr. Lu didn't bring many people with him today. The accompanying master, the local head catcher, and the two attendants responsible for serving him, there were only five people in the group.
The five of them were still more than ten steps away from the door of the West Lake Dining Room. One of the attendants quickly stepped forward and shouted at the top of his lungs.
After shouting this voice, Lu Wen was already chuckling in his heart - as long as he walked the next ten or so steps and reached the door of the restaurant before Sun Yixie came to him, he could take the opportunity to get angry.
Unexpectedly...
Before the entourage finished shouting, a "pop" sound was heard, and a window on the fourth floor of the restaurant opened in response. Immediately afterwards, a figure flew out and jumped from a height of more than eight meters. Down, it landed right in front of Mr. Lu and his party.
When he landed on the ground, Sun Yixie was already kneeling on one knee. He immediately bowed his hands and said loudly: "Sun Yixie, a common man, pays homage to the magistrate."
In fact, Mr. Lu and the others were traveling in casual clothes today, and they were not doing any official business. There was no need for Sun Yixie to perform such a grand gesture on the street.
As for Brother Sun himself, he didn't originally intend to do this, but...his martial arts was really stretching his hips. He wanted to stand handsomely, but because he couldn't stand firmly, he knelt down on one knee, and in order to cover up That embarrassment was why he took advantage of it.
But Master Lu and the others didn’t know that at that moment, the five of them were all shocked by this scene. Even Hu Qiu, the Hangzhou head catcher who was pretty good at martial arts, couldn’t see anything inconsistent in Sun Yixie’s movements. The unusual thing was that I thought he was just running to kneel down.
It should be mentioned here that Hu Qiuhu, the head catcher, is not the same person as Mr. Na Lu and the master.
In the officialdom of the Zhao Dynasty, the relationship between the master and the master was equivalent to that between the leader and his personal secretary. The salary of the master was not paid by the court, but by the master personally. Therefore, when they took office or were transferred, the master was also Follow along.
But the catcher is different. The catcher is also a civil servant who is paid by the court. He is not hired by the master personally. The master only has the right to appoint. When officials are transferred, it is rare that the catcher goes with him; therefore, As a local catcher, Hu Qiu has known Mr. Lu longer than he has known Sun Yixie.
Let's talk about now...
Speaking of Master Lu, he was frightened and a little confused.
He originally wanted to accuse Sun Yixie of being slighted, but he didn't expect that he would jump down from a four-story building and kneel to him. Now he felt a little embarrassed. If he did this, he would say that he was being slighted. Then this finding of fault is too obvious.
Therefore, Mr. Lu could only curl his lips and responded in a slightly stiff tone: "Uh... nephew... you're welcome, you don't need to pay such a courtesy. Come on, get up..." As he said, he also He personally went forward and helped Sun Yixie up.
"Thank you, sir!" Sun Yixie didn't know that Lu Wen was not dealing with him, so he got up when someone helped him.
Just at this moment, Xue Tui, the shopkeeper who was busy working on the cabinet, heard the noise and came out. He happened to see this scene.
Mr. Xue is knowledgeable and can speak well. He came over politely and saluted, and then said a few flattery words like "Your Majesty the Prefect is here to make our restaurant shine." Then he let people in bring.
Na Lu Wen didn't say anything at first, but when he stepped on the steps to the second floor, he started to make mistakes, and suddenly said: "Nephew Sun Xian, shopkeeper Xue... you are in the private room of 'West Lake Apartment'" Son, is there such a thing as good or bad?"
There is a trap hidden in this question.
If you answer that there are no good or bad private rooms here, and they are all the same, he will say, why do you want me, the magistrate, to be treated the same as other guests? And if you decide between good and bad, then you have to vacate the best room for me, even if there are already people in it, you have to find a way.
When Xue Tui heard Master Lu's question, he murmured in his heart. He was very intelligent and smart, and he knew a lot about scholars or officials, so he almost instinctively smelled a hint of malice. .
Unexpectedly, before he could understand what he said, Sun Yixie had already replied: "Bon, of course." He paused and then began to explain in detail, "I have the entire third floor here. Most of the private rooms on the fourth floor are "standard" and the difference is not very big. However, on the fourth floor, there are five particularly good rooms, called "Pandora's Box" and "Athena's Wonder". ', 'The Wrath of Zeus', 'Twilight of the Gods', and 'The Da Vinci Code'...these five are considered to be the highest-standard private rooms here. I wonder which one would you like to sit in?"
Mr. Lu felt stupid when he heard this, thinking what the hell is this? And just by hearing these weird names, I can’t understand the meaning, nor can I tell which one is better.
"Uh..." Lu Wen thought for a moment, then continued, "Then let me go there...'The Da Vinci Code'?"
He chose this one, firstly, because the names of the other rooms were quite unlucky, dusk, and anger... secondly, because he guessed that the later he said it, the better it might be.
He guessed it right.
"Hey! Your Excellency, you are really discerning. 'The Da Vinci Code' is the best room here." Sun Yixie also gestured with his hands as he spoke, "Let me tell you, it's eighty better than the ordinary private rooms." times."
Lu Wen was also a shrewd person. He immediately smiled and said: "Ah... my dear nephew, do you think which one is the best after I choose it?"
His logic is quite clear: Assuming that Sun Yixie is lying, the real situation is probably that there are only five empty rooms left in the restaurant, so Sun Yixie made up five strange names. , and then let him choose. No matter which one he chooses, Sun Yixie will lie and claim it is the best.
"No." However, Sun Yixie raised his eyebrows and replied, "It's really the best. If you don't believe me, just ask a guy and ask." He paused for half a second, and then said, "It's just... in that room There is already someone there now, if you want that room, sir, I have to discuss it with someone."
Once he heard that someone was there, Lu Wen's doubts were eliminated. It seemed that this boy was telling the truth.
However, Mr. Lu still asked one more question: "Oh? Someone is actually sitting in the best private room. He must be a distinguished guest, right?"
Lu Wen was also curious. Who else in Hangzhou was qualified to be invited by the Sun family's young master to the best private room in the West Lake Dining Room for dinner? In addition, out of caution, he should really ask. The identity of the other party - if that person is someone he can't afford to offend, or if that person has any backers, then Sun Yixie drives the other party away for his own sake, and he, Lu Wen, will also be at risk.
"Hi... What kind of distinguished guest are you?" Unexpectedly, Sun Yixie immediately responded with a look of disgust, "He's just an acquaintance of mine... Let's call him a friend, huh... When he came, he tried to make friends with me, and he pretended to be alone. You just occupy my whole room, and you have to serve the best food and wine, it’s shameless.”
While Sun Yixie was still cursing, Xue Tui had already led everyone to the door of the "Da Vinci Code".
"Master, why don't you...invite me first?" Xue Tui stood at the door, but did not dare to open the door. Instead, he turned around and asked for permission.
"Mr. Xue, why are you being polite to him?" Sun Yixie said, walking past Xue Tui, and opened the door without knocking, "Hey! Mr. Yun, how was your meal?"
"It's pretty good." In the room, at the edge of a round table, Yun Shili was sitting there, pouring himself a drink; looking at the half-empty cup and plate in front of him, he must be enjoying his meal at this time.
Although he was just standing at the door and glancing into the room at this time, Lu Wen couldn't help but secretly praise the room in front of him as indeed "good"; the interior furniture, antique calligraphy and paintings, etc., could be seen with just one glance. It is extraordinary, it can be said that it is luxurious yet elegant, and simple yet highlights the details. Even Mr. Lu's own study room is not as exquisite as this house.
Of course, Lu Wen was more concerned about Sun Yixie's words "Master Yun" than the decoration here.
Since it's called "Sir", it must be an official; Lu Wen knew a lot of people when he was an official in Beijing, but he didn't know that there was such an official named Yun. Furthermore, look at that person's appearance He doesn't dress like a scholar, but like a military attaché.
"Let me discuss something with you." Sun Yixie said as he walked to Yun Shili's table.
Just when he was about to make a request, Yun Shili said first: "You want me to move somewhere and give this room to the prefect?"
"Oh~ you are really clever and clever." Sun Yixi said.
Can this be calculated? Yun Shili is not a Taoist, he is a spy... Obviously he relies on "listening".
Just before Sun Yixie went downstairs, he was chatting with Yun Shili in this room. Suddenly he heard someone shouting "The prefect is here" outside. Sun Yixie turned around and opened the window and jumped out. After that, he and Lu Yun Shili used his ear skills to listen to everything Wen said remotely. How could he not know that?
"Hey, let me tell you, I've eaten half of the food here. Are you not being particular about letting me go?" Yun Shili continued.
"Ha!" Sun Yixie laughed dryly, "Master Yun, you just said that we are friends."
"Yes." Yun Shili said, "I want to make you my friend."
"You asked me to prepare the best room and the best food and drinks for you, friend. I've taken care of everything, and I didn't care about your money, right?" Sun Yixie asked again.
"Yeah." Yun Shili nodded, picked up the wine glass and took another sip.
"My friend, I have something to ask you to help with now. Why don't you move a little bit?" Sun Yixie said.
"Ha..." Yun Shili smiled. He did not reply to Sun Yixie's question. Instead, he turned around, raised his head and said to the people at the door, "Is that Mr. Lu outside the door? Come here."
"Presumptuous!" Before he could finish his words, an attendant beside Mr. Lu shouted angrily, "Who do you think you are? You dare to yell at my master?"
This person has a really loud voice. He was the one who shouted "The prefect is here" before. Now when he shouted, the sound spread throughout the corridor, so many other guests in the private room listened. After arriving, he opened the door and came out to see what happened.
"Hey~ don't yell." Lu Wen, on the other hand, remained calm and waved his hand to stop the attendant.
After all, Mr. Lu is a man who has seen the wind and waves. Although he does not recognize Yun Shili, he can tell from his demeanor that he is not taking it easy.
"I am Lu Wen, the governor of Hangzhou." After a breath, Lu Wen rushed to Yun Shili in the room and said, "But I don't know who you are? Where do you find your job?"
When he said this, he still had a proud look on his face and stood with his hands behind his back. He did not salute or bow, because he judged that even if the other party was an official, he would not be a big official - he basically knew all the high officials. , there really is no one named Yun.
Yun Shili also understood the other person's mentality, so he smiled and replied: "I'm Yun Shili. I can't talk about 'high employment'. I'm just a member of a hundred households in Jinyiwei."
When he said his full name, Lu Wen had already realized who he was, so when he mentioned the word "Jin" in Jin Yiwei, Lord Lu already knelt forward and slid in front of him. .
"Lord Lu Wen, please kowtow to Lord Yun!" Lord Lu kowtowed without saying a word.
In fact, his reasoning just now was correct. "Hundred Households" is really not a big official. Lu Wen might not be so scared if it were another Baihu of Jin Yiwei. However, Yun Shili was different. The official title was not important to him. Importantly, he was one of the four great masters of the imperial court who had been personally conferred by the emperor. He was given a flying fish suit and embroidered spring knife by the emperor. He was "acting cheaply" when he was away from home. The real power and official position of such a person were two different things.
"Ha..." Yun Shili looked at the back of Lu Wen's head and just sneered, "You blame me too... I was afraid of causing trouble to Yi Xie, so I changed into casual clothes and came here. Who knew something like this would happen? Here." He looked at Sun Yixie again, "You are the same, Yixie. Wouldn't it be over if you just said, 'Yun Shili is eating inside'? Look at how scared Mr. Lu is."
"Get lost! Stop using fire!" How could Sun Yixie, an expert in using fire, fail to hear what he said? "When you came, you told me yourself that I should not spread the news that you are here. Go out, now you blame me for not saying anything? Bah! If you had just said a few words less and just changed rooms, could this have happened?"
"Hahahaha..." Yun Shili also laughed. He shook his head and glanced at Lu Wen at his feet with the corner of his eyes. "Master Lu, you have heard it. You still have to blame me for this matter today. You Don’t bear grudges and be harmonious.”
"How dare you, the lower official!" Lu Wen didn't even dare to raise his head, "The lower official has a blind eye and cannot see Taishan. If I have offended Mr. Yun, I hope you will not remember the faults of others..."
"Okay, okay..." Yun Shili didn't want to listen anymore, because it was all nonsense, "Get up."
"Yes." Lu Wen got up, but he still lowered his head and hunched his waist, not daring to look at Yun Shili.
Ladies and gentlemen, please don't think that he is overreacting - everyone in the civil and military circles of the dynasty knows that Yun Shili is the one who is not easy to mess with in "Wind, Cloud, Water and Moon".
Among the other four people: Feng Manlou serves in the army and doesn't interact much with people in the court; Yue Youque is "the best catcher in the world" and is mainly responsible for catching thieves; Shui Hanyi is also a Jinyi guard, but He is more inclined to crack down on organized criminal activities; only this Yun Shili... is a standard spy, and he likes to deal with officials in the DPRK, and he does it for no other reason than to deal with corrupt officials. Enough...
So is Lu Wen a corrupt official?
Let me just say this...it can be.
If you want to find an official who is completely non-corrupt in Dazu, it is very, very difficult, almost impossible. This has something to do with some unreasonable regulations and systems at the time. I won’t go into details. Anyway, you Just remember, at that time, if an official only received a salary and no gray income at all, then it would be good if his family could not starve to death, let alone hire a master.
The people of Dashu are also very tolerant. It's not that they can't tolerate corrupt officials, they can't tolerate corrupt officials who are "politically incompetent and greedy for money."
To put it more bluntly: As long as you let the people live a comfortable life and don't do anything too outrageous and unethical, no one will care how much you are greedy.
In this general environment, in fact, the reason why most corrupt officials are dismissed is not a matter of corruption, but a matter of butt. "Corruption" is just a charge that can be dismissed at will.
Yun Shili is a person who has the right to acquit such a crime.
If he really wants to mess with you, he will just chat with you casually, then pick out a few faulty sentences from your words, copy them into a "little book", and then send you to prison... Then you Is there still a way to survive? Not only will you have no way to survive, your whole family will be destroyed, and all your property will be confiscated.
Can Lu Wen not be afraid of such a person?
And when Mr. Lu realized belatedly that Sun Yixie was actually Yun Shili's friend and that the two of them spoke so "invisibly", combined with the rumors he had heard in the past that "Sun Yixie is related to Jin Yiwei" ... Mr. Lu’s spine went cold.
He wanted to slap himself hard: there was a great opportunity to curry favor with Sun Yixie, but he didn't take advantage of it and almost fell out with him. It was really scary to think about it.
"Master Lu was just transferred to Hangzhou recently, right?" A few seconds later, Yun Shili asked again.
Lu Wen was not surprised at all that he "knew when Lu Wen would be transferred".
But Master Lu still seemed to be walking on thin ice when he replied: "Exactly, I just arrived a few days ago, so I didn't know that Mr. Sun was your friend..."
"It doesn't matter." Yun Shili knew what he wanted to say, so he interrupted without waiting for more explanation, "Master Lu is a knowledgeable person. As long as you can understand what to do in the future... that's fine."
Cold sweat suddenly flowed from Lu Wen's temples, and he quickly cupped his hands and said: "I understand, I understand..."
"That's fine, let's go out." Yun Shili had received a satisfactory answer, so he waved to the other party, said casually, and continued to eat with his head down.
When Lu Wen respectfully exited the room, his master and Captain Hu were still frozen there, while his loud-voiced attendant was slumped on the ground, trembling all over.
"Master Lu, please stay." Sun Yixie quickly followed, but still asked with a smile, "Since Master Yun refuses to move, otherwise I will arrange another room for you." Bar?"
"No... no need." Lu Wen was sweating profusely, and his tone when he spoke to Sun Yixie was completely different from before, becoming very polite, "Xian... er... Mr. Sun, today you It must be very busy for the grand opening, and Lu’s original intention was just to congratulate you, but now that my heartfelt wishes have been sent, I guess... I won’t bother you anymore.”
"Ah?" At this moment, Sun Yixie just pretended to be confused, "That's it...oh...well, I won't send you off..." He paused and suddenly said, " Oh, by the way, your gift... just give it to Mr. Xue directly, I will ask him to write it down for you, so that if there is any happy event for your family in the future, I can see the gift in return."
Lu Wen's face turned green when he heard this. He came here today just to show off his authority. He didn't bring any congratulatory gifts. But he just said "Come here to congratulate". Now I can't say that I came empty-handed. Bar?
Helpless, he could only bite the bullet and reply: "Oh... that... my gift... is like this... my gift... it is a rare treasure! Yes, a rare treasure! There are many people here with mixed eyes. , it’s not convenient to bring it over, so I plan to send someone directly to Mr. Sun’s house later.”
"Really?" Sun Yixie responded generously, looking generous to others, "Okay! Thank you for your trouble."
"Haha... It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter, it should, it should..." Lu Wen forced a smile on his face, but felt like he had eaten shit in his heart.
From that day on, the words "West Lake Elegant Seat" became his psychological shadow, and he never came again until the end of his term.
As for his "congratulatory gift", since he had temporarily suppressed the excuse of "rare and rare treasures", he could only handle it according to this idea after returning.
Little did he know that the gift he gave later would cause a disaster...to Sun Yixie.
