"I'm here to cook today." Li Yue said firmly.
"I'll do it."
"No! I'll do it."
Li Yue grabbed the only spatula in the house with one hand. If he continued to make trouble with her, she might move the entire pot away.
In addition to studying mechanics, she also has the goal of being a good wife.
The first thing to do as a good wife is to learn to cook.
This is the first step in her determination to be a good wife.
When my daughter-in-law is very persistent about something, she will never give up no matter what.
The little bear sat lazily in the sun, yawned, and then continued to sit slumped.
Seeing that she was still clumsily lighting the fire and washing the pot, Zhang Yang whispered, "Let's go fishing together today. This season is a good time for fishing. The fish on the river in Chang'an City are very fat."
Li Yue nodded vigorously.
Zhang Yang patiently guided her to add salt. There were some leftover ribs from last night, so he put them into the pot and cooked them together.
Take out the dough you woke up last night, knead it, spread the burned lard on the dough, sprinkle some chopped green onion, fold it and make four flower rolls, put them in a pot and steam them.
It was during breakfast that another uninvited guest came to the house.
The emperor came to have dinner after the morning court.
By the way, it's okay for my father-in-law to come to my daughter's house for dinner.
Zhang Yang and Li Yue saluted together.
Li Shimin sat down and ate breakfast without any courtesy.
"You are not surprised when you see me coming." Li Shimin murmured while eating the soft flower roll.
"Your Majesty, you came as soon as you came. Can I still drive you away?"
Sure enough, the food here is much better than the one in the palace. A bowl of porridge is better than the ones cooked in the palace. It is moderately salty and the porridge is neither thin nor thick.
Originally there were only three bowls of porridge, but when Li Shimin came, the original porridge was divided into four portions for the two of them plus Little Bear's breakfast.
Li Yue poured some porridge from her own bowl into Zhang Yang's bowl.
Seeing his daughter's behavior, Li Shimin smiled and said, "Do you think it's not to your liking?"
Li Yue shook her head and said, "My husband will not be full."
Looking at his empty bowl again, Li Shimin felt inexplicably disappointed, thinking that I wasn't full either.
Li Shimin slowly stood up and watched Zhang Yang wolfing down his porridge, "How long has it been since you came to court?"
Zhang Yang finished the porridge in the bowl and said, "It's been a month."
Li Shimin snorted coldly, "You said that you are not sick or in pain, so it is inappropriate not to go to court for so long. Furthermore, you said that Li Xiaogong does random things on weekdays. As a junior, you should give him more advice instead of following his temper. Let’s fool around together.”
"I understand."
The little bear didn't have much reaction to Li Shimin, an outsider. He ate the porridge in his bowl, looked down at the empty bowl, and then looked at Li Yue. His eyes seemed to say, "Why is it missing?"
Li Shimin glanced at Li Yue who was putting away the dishes and chopsticks again, "I just came to see you and your wife. If I don't have anything else to do, I will go back to the palace first. If you have free time, come and walk around the palace more often."
Li Yue bowed and saluted, "Father, go slowly."
Li Shimin nodded and left.
After everyone left, Zhang Yang stood at the door of his house, "You said your father is quite concerned about our lives."
Li Yue washed the dishes and wiped her hands, "I heard from my aunt that my father had no appetite for anything he ate in the palace. I came here today to finish the porridge."
"I think your father has a good appetite."
"Well, I think so too." Li Yue nodded heavily.
Looking at his wife, Zhang Yang put his hands on his hands and asked, "Are you full?"
Li Yue narrowed her eyes and smiled, "I'm not full."
"Let's go fishing and have a barbecue."
"OK."
After preparing two fishing rods and calling the two aunts, the couple went out early in the morning.
Chang'an City was very lively in the morning. The couple deliberately bypassed Zhuque Street and walked out of Chang'an City by Qujiang Pond.
When he came to his usual fishing place, Zhang Yang dug out some earthworms and put them on Li Yue's fishing rod.
The summer morning wind is the most comfortable on your body.
Throwing the fishhook into the river, the couple sat under the shade of the tree and waited for the fish to take the bait.
The two aunts left for a trip, and when they came back they caught two chickens and a rabbit.
These two aunts have a great skill. No matter what they want, they will bring it in a short time.
The little bear touched the water from time to time by the river and cautiously retracted his paws.
After tasting the river water and smelling the surrounding air, it lay down next to Li Yue.
Zhang Yang continued to tell his wife the story of the Red Mansion.
There are good and bad plots in the story.
"What a touching story." Li Yue praised in a low voice.
"Well, the story is indeed touching."
The fish finally bit the hook, and Li Yue was delighted to catch a palm-sized grass carp.
The two aunts roasted the prepared chicken and rabbit over the fire, and added a grilled fish.
Zhang Yang put some sauce on it and sprinkled with some pepper.
I wasn’t full to begin with, but now I’m having a good meal with barbecued meats, and I’m also finishing my lunch at the same time.
Just as he was about to start eating, a group of soldiers and horses came towards here.
The leader was none other than Prince Li Chengqian.
Li Chengqian turned over and dismounted, "I thought someone was lighting a fire here, but I didn't expect it was you and your wife."
"Your Highness, haven't you eaten yet?" Zhang Yang asked while bowing.
"What a coincidence, I didn't eat either."
What's going on? You, Li Shimin, and your family all like to come here to eat, don’t you?
The guard on the side moved a stool, and Li Chengqian sat down, "The food in the East Palace has always been the same these days. It really doesn't taste good when you eat it alone, but you can smell it from afar. The food you cook must be delicious."
Looking at Zhang Yang's expression, Li Chengqian asked in confusion, "Why do you look melancholy?"
Zhang Yang cleared his throat, "I just told a very melancholy story, and I felt a little melancholy when I told it."
"I have read the story of the White Snake. It is indeed very interesting. A scholar should serve the country and the people. It is a pity."
Li Yue wiped a stone clean and said, "Husband, please sit down too."
The three of them sat down and ate roast chicken. Li Yue slowly ate a chicken leg and said, "My husband is telling a story called The Red Mansion."
"I'd like to hear it if I have the chance."
Li Yue chuckled and said, "When my husband finishes telling this story, I will write it down and send it to the palace."
Li Chengqian nodded and said, "That's very good."
The three of them ate two grilled fish and two roasted chickens, and the remaining rabbit was divided between the two aunts.
Li Chengqian stood up and wiped the grease from his mouth, "Gu Jian, you haven't gone to court for a long time. Although there is no need to inquire about the work of the Ministry of Rites now, you can't be too negligent. I know you are a talented person."
"Your Highness the Crown Prince has given you too much praise."
"I am waiting for the time when I can show my ambition in the court."
Li Chengqian left with these words and took the people away.
The little bear gnawed on a rabbit leg and the remaining bones. A good bear will soon become a dog.
Zhang Yang said helplessly, "Daughter-in-law."
Li Yue washed her hands with river water, "Yeah."
"I suddenly want to move again."
"Um?"
The palace was still busy with Li Chengqian's crown ceremony, and Li Xiaogong, who was originally free, was called back to the Ministry of Etiquette to handle matters.
Li Chengqian's adult crowning ceremony was originally scheduled for February.
But because they didn’t want to take away the farming season, the crown ceremony for the crown prince was originally scheduled for October in October.
Nowadays, the crowning ceremony for a prince to come of age is no small matter.
The crowning ceremony in October should be prepared as early as June.
Li Xiaogong still has the same old temperament and leaves things to others to handle if he can't do it himself.
Xu Jingzong, Zhang Xiangxiang, and Zhang Daan were busy dealing with foreign ministers.
"Baiyao!" Li Xiaogong called in a low voice.
Li Baiyao, who was sorting out the files, stood up and asked, "What are your orders from the Prince of Hejian County?"
"I admire your talent very much." Li Xiaogong patted him on the shoulder.
"The Prince of Hejian County is so complimentary."
"You have also served as the Minister of Etiquette before, so you must also know how to host the crown prince's coming-of-age ceremony."
"Your Majesty does understand."
After hearing what he said, Li Xiaogong nodded clearly, "Then I'll leave this matter entirely to you."
Li Baiyao asked in astonishment, "Leave all the power to your subordinates?"
Li Xiaogong said with a straight face, "What? Can't we do it?"
Li Baiyao hurriedly saluted again, "I don't have this intention, Lord Hejian. Don't worry, I will definitely handle this matter well."
Li Xiaogong patted him on the shoulder again, "It's been a time of employment in the DPRK recently. Our Ministry of Etiquette doesn't have enough manpower, so we can only wrong you."
"Can the Prince of Hejian County mobilize some manpower for the lower officials?"
Li Xiaogong picked up a tea egg and walked out of the etiquette department while eating it, "I don't know what that kid Zhang Yang has been busy with recently. I'll go check on him."
The entire rites department was empty, and Li Baiyao stood here alone, with no manpower, no orders, and no preparation in advance.
What to do about this matter?
Was this also the case with the previous Ministry of Rites?
Li Baiyao was really helpless when such a thing happened to him alone. Looking at the empty government office, he gritted his teeth and decided to do it by himself.
Imperial Medical Office, some things are intolerable and intolerable.
Lu Zhaolin came to Ganlu Hall with the two memorials. Facing Li Shimin, he handed them two memorials and said, "Your Majesty, two people resigned from the Imperial Medical Office today."
Li Shimin took the memorial and looked at its contents, "These two are already old, so it is natural for them to resign."
"Your Majesty, these two have just turned fifty and should still serve in the Imperial Medical Office for a few more years."
"Only over fifty is still young indeed."
These days, the age of employment for doctors is quite late. A person starts by studying medical science, and then follows some experienced doctors to see patients and learn treatment techniques. Generally speaking, you can achieve success at the age of thirty, and you can take charge of your own business by the age of forty. .
The older the doctor, the more experience he has.
There is one such doctor in the Imperial Medical Office.
Any missing person would be a huge loss to the Imperial Medical Office.
"Your Majesty does not know that in the princess fiefdom at the foot of Lishan Mountain, the Minister of Rites, Zhang Shilang, has invited Dr. Sun to take over. Now he is recruiting famous doctors, and promises benefits that are several times higher than those of the Imperial Medical Office to attract people's hearts. If this kind of behavior is not stopped, , I am afraid that the medical officers from the Imperial Medical Office will all go to Lishan."
Li Shimin asked suspiciously, "How can you see it?"
Lu Zhaolin replied, "Not only is the monthly salary three times higher than that of the Imperial Medical Office, but if you work in Lishan for ten years, as long as you are over fifty, Lishan will be responsible for providing care for people in their old age, which means that even if you are If you don’t have any heirs, Lishan will support you in the future so that you don’t have to worry about food and clothing. This is a pension. Moreover, whenever Lishan villagers and people who work in Lishan fall ill, they only need to pay 30% of the medicine for treatment, and ask questions. There is no charge for consultation.”
"Nowadays, many people are going to Lishan Mountain, not only because Sun Simiao, the miracle doctor, is in charge, but also because they are given such good conditions. If this continues, more people will leave the Imperial Medical Office."
"Pension?" Li Shimin thought about the meaning. It seemed that there was no such condition in the court. "After working for ten years and being over fifty, you can get a pension until the end of your life?"
"That's what it means."
It stands to reason that raising an old man does not require money. All the expenses for old age care must be borne by the fief. Is Zhang Yang trying to be generous?
Li Shimin put down the two memorials and said, "I will ask the Central Secretary to discuss this matter. I hope you will try your best to retain the people in the Imperial Medical Office."
"Here."
Lu Zhao walked out of the Ganlu Hall and let out a long sigh. He used to think that money was just an external possession. Compared with his medical skills, money was nothing.
Now Lu Zhaolin felt so powerless in front of money.
Soon Li Shimin called Fang Xuanling and told Fang Xuanling what Lu Zhaolin had said about the pension.
Fang Xuanling looked surprised and uncertain, "Retirement care?"
Li Shimin nodded and said, "What do you think of the retirement plan?"
Fang Xuanling paced back and forth, thought for a long time and replied: "Your Majesty, this pension plan is indeed unique, but it is difficult to implement in the court."
"tell me the story."
"Well." Fang Xuanling sorted out his thoughts, "Your Majesty, the pension policy of Lishan fiefdom lies in the value of people's work. As long as the profit brought by this value exceeds the money paid for pension, those who implement this policy will It’s the best policy.”
"A few days ago, Shangguan Yi, a bachelor of Hongwen Hall, proposed a method of examination papers, which also came from the Lishan fiefdom. This method can be used in the imperial examination. The Lishan fiefdom uses various medical records to screen talents. The court can also use difficult matters in the court to When you are a scholar, you can ask about political affairs to judge your ability."
"I believe that the people Lishan wants are people with attainments in various fields, and the number of people needed will not be too many."
Pensions are indeed an exciting move.
But how much money does the government need to spend to implement it? Zhang Yang may only need to support the elderly in one village, but how many do I need to support? How many officials are there in each state in the Tang Dynasty? I can't afford to support them. I don't have this. money.
Li Shimin snorted coldly, "He is a good dancer with long sleeves and a good official with a lot of money."
Fang Xuanling bowed and asked, "Your Majesty, I think you can send someone to the Lishan fiefdom to investigate the situation in the name of supervising the official school."
"It's not like you can just hear it and send someone to do it."
"Here."
Li Shimin couldn't hate a royal son-in-law who only cared about construction and had no interest in court disputes.
But this guy had no ambition, yet he had so much ability, which made Li Shimin very anxious.
Such a good young man should devote his attention to the country.
(End of chapter)
