The next day, inside Yujiang City.
Shao Xi and Lao Wu stood in front of this dilapidated courtyard together. They couldn't believe that the magistrate of this county lived in such a place. The tattered wooden doors and the dilapidated courtyard walls look more dilapidated than ordinary people's homes?
After learning about Cui Qi's residence from Zhao Huajun, Shao Xi and Lao Wu came to visit Cui Qi's house on the pretext of seeking bad luck for him. In name, he was looking for trouble, but in fact, he wanted to get some information about the Zhao family from him.
But when they arrived, both of them were dumbfounded. This dignified court official, the Qipin County Magistrate, actually lived in such a shabby place. Didn't the court give him a salary? No matter what, you can’t run out of money to repair your house, right?
After the two called the door, the person who came to open the door made them even more stunned. I thought that there must be one or two servants in the Jun Cheng's family, right? It turned out that the person who opened the door was none other than Magistrate Lu Ju.
Even if Lu Ju's official position is not high, you are still a local judge. Isn't it a bit too much to go to the county magistrate's house to do the job of looking after the door?
Shao Xi and Lao Wu stared at each other for a long time, but they really didn't understand what was going on. Why does Lu Ju also live in Jun Cheng's house? Are you responsible for guarding the gate on weekdays? Why are you two officials so miserable? How did you get around in Yujiang County these years?
As soon as Lu Ju opened the door, he was stunned when he saw the two people in front of him. Cui Qi just offended them yesterday, and he came to visit today? Is it possible that people in high positions are so petty?
Feeling puzzled in his heart, Lu Ju hurriedly gave Shao Xi a gift and asked with a guilty conscience: "I don't know if you two adults are here, but I can't greet you from far away. Please forgive me. I don't know if you two." Your Excellency came here today to see Master Cui? Is there something going on?"
Shao Xi said with a smile on his face: "Why is Mr. Lu here too? It seems that Mr. Lu doesn't welcome us like this! Why don't you just invite us in and sit down?"
Only then did Lu Ju react. He hurriedly stepped aside, bowed and raised his hand in a gesture of invitation, and kept apologizing.
"I am being rude. Please forgive me. Your Majesty, please come inside. I will go and make tea for you two adults."
Shao Xi walked into this dilapidated courtyard with small square steps. The courtyard was actually not small, and the house was not small either. It just looked dilapidated and in disrepair. The tiles on the roof are of different colors, proving that it has been repaired many times. The exterior wall of the house is full of mottled marks, and it seems that it has not been cleaned for many years. There are no flowers and plants in the yard as imagined, although It can be seen that it has been repaired, but there are still a lot of weeds growing there; the doors and windows also look dilapidated, and it seems that they have not been replaced for many years.
Shao Xi really couldn't understand how a court official's family could be so miserable. What did he do with his annual salary of nearly twenty taels a year?
After Lu Ju closed the two broken wooden doors, he hurriedly ran to Shao Xi and explained to Shao Xi: "It makes Master Shao laugh. The situation is indeed not good. It's me and Master Cui who live together at home." I don’t even have a maid or servant, so I’ve neglected the two adults, so please don’t take offense.”
Although Shao Xi was very confused, why did the county magistrate and the magistrate live together? But it was not the time to ask these questions at this time. He just asked Lu Ju casually, "Is Mr. Cui in the house? Why don't you see him coming out to greet you?"
When Lu Ju heard Shao Xi's question, he immediately panicked. Could it be that Lord Shao was making trouble again? It was indeed rude for Mr. Cui not to come out to greet him, but who would have thought that you two would come to our house? Which of the officials in the county would come to the home of such a down-and-out county magistrate as a guest? I never expected that these two gods would come today. Otherwise, how could Master Cui not come out to greet them?
"My lord, please forgive me. It's just that we rarely have guests at home, so when someone calls the door, it's usually the lower officials who come to answer the door. I really didn't expect that these two adults would come to my humble residence today. Mr. Cui is in the study room checking the files on recent government affairs in the county. , I will go and ask Mr. Cui to come out, please sit down in the hall first and wait for a while."
Shao Xi nodded and followed Lu Ju into the main hall without saying anything more.
But as soon as he entered the room, Shao Xi almost cried. Isn't this too tragic? There were only three desks inside and outside the main hall. There was a bookshelf and two wooden boxes in the corner. The rest was empty. Even the mats under the table were burred and had holes in some places, and there wasn't even a soft cushion for sitting on. It was really shabby.
When Lu Ju saw Shao Xi's expression, sweat broke out on his head, and he hurriedly explained: "The house is really a little shabby, which made the adults laugh, so I went to find something to cushion it."
With that said, Lu Ju ran to the wooden box in the corner, opened the wooden box and took out two winter cotton robes and placed them on the mat. He folded them again and again, folding them again and again, making them square and square. It's pretty neat going up there.
But that's not a mat, it's a cotton robe!
Seeing that Shao Xi and Lao Wu had no intention of sitting down, Lu Ju felt panicked again. Is it because the two adults thought the cushion was not soft enough?
He looked a little embarrassed and said, "I'm really sorry for you two adults. We only have these two cotton robes at home. If I can't find anything else to put on, I'd like to ask you two adults to accommodate me."
"Forget it, we can just stand. You should go and invite Mr. Cui out! We are here today because we have something to discuss with Mr. Cui."
When Lu Ju heard that these two people came to see Cui Qi today, he thought it might be because of the banquet yesterday, so he quickly explained for Cui Qi: "Two adults, I know that my rank is low and I have no qualifications to speak, but I still want to explain to the two adults for Master Cui. Yesterday, Master Cui did not mean to contradict the two adults. He just thought that the people of Yujiang County were living in poverty, but the county governor still set up such a luxurious banquet. I really feel that it was a waste and I said some exaggerated words in the heat of the moment. Please don’t blame Mr. Cui.”
Shao Xi secretly thought: "Judge Lu Ju is quite protective of this Cui Qi. It seems that the two of them must have a good relationship, otherwise they would not live in the same place. But how can the two of them add up their annual salary?" Life is like this?"
"Master Lu, there is no need to explain. We are here today not because of yesterday's banquet, but because we have something else to ask Master Cui for advice. Please ask Master Lu to invite Master Cui out as soon as possible!"
Obviously, these two adults came here today not to cause trouble, but to find Mr. Cui. Lu Ju said nothing more, said hello to Shao Xi, and hurried to the study.
Shao Xi stood in the main hall and looked up and around again, and couldn't help but shake his head.
Although the house is not small, it is a bit shabby. Not to mention servants and maids, there is not even a mistress. No matter how noble Cui Qi is, he will not abuse himself like this, right? I really don’t know how he, as a county magistrate, managed to live in such a tight life?
Could it be that this person is addicted to gambling and loses all his monthly salary in gambling? But most gamblers are greedy for money. Judging from yesterday's performance at the banquet and what Lu Ju said today, this person does not seem to be a money-grubbing person! Besides, how could a money-hungry person say what he said yesterday?
"Old Wu, have you ever seen such a poor official?"
Old Wu shook his head, "The owner of the village and I have been in the court for so many years, and we have seen a lot of upright officials, but at least they can ensure that their families live a decent life. Although these officials are all easy-going, they also take care of their families. Well, even if you don’t take bribes or take bribes, your annual salary is still enough to live on. I have never seen my family become like this. It doesn’t matter if there is no mistress in this family, how come there are not even one or two servants? What have you used all your money for?"
While the two were visiting this empty house, Cui Qi and Lu Ju hurried to the hall and saw Shao Xi and Shao Xi standing in the middle of the hall looking to the west. Cui Qi hurriedly stepped forward to greet them.
"My lower official, Cui Qi, has met these two adults. I don't know that I am not far away from you when I come to greet them. In fact, there are very few visitors to my home on weekdays. I never thought that these two adults would come to my humble residence. I hope you will forgive me."
Although Cui Qi said polite words, he could tell that his face was not good-looking. He thought it was because Shao Xi deliberately made things difficult for him at the banquet yesterday, which made him think that Shao Xi, Zhao Huajun and others were just the same, and he felt unhappy. , so his expression was not good at this time.
Speaking of which, this person is quite straightforward. He doesn't hide his thoughts, and he doesn't go out of his way to please others. He will show his dissatisfaction directly on his face. He will not be afraid because the other person's official rank is higher than his own. He is a person with a moderate temperament. people.
Shao Xi didn't take Cui Qi's attitude to heart. He had deliberately provoked him during yesterday's banquet. It was natural for Cui Qi to have some thoughts about him without knowing it. I just want to take this opportunity today to explain clearly so that I can continue with the next plan.
"It seems that Mr. Cui still has some grudges about what happened at yesterday's banquet! I came here today for several things. The first thing is to explain to Mr. Cui what I did yesterday. I don't know. Mr. Cui, can you have time to talk to me and listen to my explanation?"
"Your Majesty, your words are serious. Your Majesty is just a seventh-grade petty official. How dare you hold a grudge against your Majesty? What happened yesterday was also a bit rude to your Majesty. Please don't take it personally. Since your Majesty said that I will come to see you today. We have something to talk about, so you two adults, please take a seat first! I'll ask Lu Ju to make a pot of tea, and let's talk while drinking tea!"
With that said, Cui Qi motioned to Lu Ju to make tea. After Lu Ju walked away, the three of them took their seats. It seemed that Lu Ju would have no place to sit when he came back soon, so he could only stand and listen to their speech.
"The two adults came to Humble House in person today. I also feel that I have something to talk to. I just don't know why the two adults came here this time. But because of the rudeness of Xia Guan yesterday? If It’s really because of this matter that I can admit my mistake.”
Shao Xi waved his hand and said, "Master Cui has really underestimated me. How could I care about such a trivial matter? I am here today to apologize to Master Cui."
"Your Excellency, apologize to your Majesty? Your Majesty, did you hear correctly? What's wrong with you, Your Majesty?"
