Rise From the Humble

Shuntianfu Yamen is located in Xicheng District, about a mile away from Beibingmasi Hutong. Zhu Pingan and the others walked for more than ten minutes to reach the Yamen Gate.

This place is both familiar and unfamiliar to Zhu Pingan. He is familiar because he has been here before when he was traveling in Beijing. It is on the modern Jiaodaokou Donggong Street. He is unfamiliar because at that time, only the lobby of Shuntian government offices was left. They have become the teaching buildings of Dongcheng District Education College.

Of course, this is now a standard Shuntian government office, grand and grand, with a small square in front of the door. The streets adjacent to the government office are dotted with businesses that "eat government offices," such as inns, restaurants, drug stores, and teahouses. The inn is for people who come to the Yamen for business, the restaurant provides meals, the pharmacy provides medicine for bruises, and the teahouse is a place for business meetings. There are people coming and going in front of the shop, and business seems to be very good.

Zhu Ping'an ordered two tables of food and drinks at a restaurant near the Yamen. One table was for Liu Mu and Liu Dadao to catch the wind and wash away the dust, and the other table was for Zhang Captou and others, waiting for them to take the eight barefoot people into the prison. Come and eat after completing the formalities.

"Thank you, sir." Zhang Captou and all the government officials thanked Zhu Ping'an profusely.

"You're welcome. It's been a long morning for you. Let's have a few glasses of wine to show my appreciation." Zhu Ping'an slightly arched his hands, then put the money bag into Liu Mu's hand and warned, "Brother Liu, please entertain Zhang Cat for me later." Kill them and order more meat and wine."

After making arrangements, Zhu Ping'an followed Zhang Captou into the Shuntian Mansion Yamen, and passed through the vestibule to the second door of the Yamen, which was in front of the Yimen. The Yimen is closed, and there are two corner gates on the east and west sides. The Yimen will only be opened on the first day when the prefect takes office and when superior leaders inspect. It is closed at other times. You can only use the corner gates on the east and west sides.

The corner gates on the east and west sides are also very particular, with the east being noble and the west being humble. The east corner gate is called the "human gate" for the magistrate's daily access; the west corner gate is called the "ghost gate" and is the passage for escorting prisoners.

Captain Zhang arranged for other agents to escort the gangsters through the ghost gate in the west and to the prison; while Captain Zhang led Zhu Ping'an through the "human gate" in the east to visit Magistrate Zhou.

Because Magistrate Zhou was still working in the lobby at this time, Zhang Captou led Zhu Ping'an to the lobby.

The lobby of Shuntian Government Office is the most majestic building in the office, but the hardware facilities appear to be in a state of disrepair.

"Since Mr. Zhou took office, he has reserved all the repairs in front of the yamen for disaster relief and poverty alleviation." Zhang Captou explained with some embarrassment.

"Master Zhou is really devoted to the people." Zhu Ping'an nodded and praised.

There are two couplets on both sides of the lobby of Shuntian Mansion that caught Zhu Pingan's attention. The couplets were carved and dyed on black wooden boards with cinnabar and hung on both sides of the lobby. The couplets are "It is not an honor to gain an official position; it is not a disgrace to lose an official position." , Don't say that an official is useless, the place depends on an official; eat the food of the people, wear the clothes of the people, don't think that the people can be bullied, you are also a common people."

"The handwriting on the couplets on both sides of the lobby last year was unclear. These were newly written by adults." Zhang Captou saw that Zhu Pingan was more interested in the couplets and explained at the side.

"Well, very good, very good." Zhu Pingan looked at the couplet and nodded in appreciation.

"Very good? Hahaha, please comment on what is so good about this couplet." While Zhu Pingan was admiring the couplet, a hearty voice came from the lobby.

"I've met my lord."

Zhu Ping'an looked up and saw Zhou Houjie, the prefect, walking out of the lobby with a smile, and couldn't help but bow his hands in salute.

Zhou Houjie smiled and waved his hand, and walked to Zhu Pingan, "No. 1 Scholar, we meet again."

"My lord, please call me Zihou." Zhu Ping'an smiled sheepishly.

"Okay, then let Zihou comment on this couplet. If you are flattering, the lunch promised by me will be gone." Zhou Houjie smiled and nodded jokingly.

"Then Ping'an is showing his shame." Zhu Ping'an bowed his hands, then turned his eyes to the couplet again. After pausing for a few seconds, he pointed at the couplet and commented, "Master Zhou, this couplet shows his closeness to the people and sense of responsibility. The capital's Major cases, important cases, and murder cases are all tried here. Your Excellency is the parent and official of the people and has a heavy responsibility. "Don't say that an official is useless. The local government depends on an official. Don't think that the people can be bullied. You are also a common person." Your Excellency's closeness to the people and sense of responsibility are fully displayed. Among them. This couplet is no less than a bright mirror hanging high in the court. A single couplet tells the people that your Excellency handles cases fairly and honestly."

Being able to see people-friendly and fair is a rare thing. Zhou Houjie nodded slightly, quite satisfied with Zhu Pingan's comments.

Zhu Pingan noticed Zhou Houjie's expression, raised the corners of his lips slightly, pointed at the couplet and said, "Of course, actually, Pingan discovered that there is another mystery in this couplet."

"Oh? Tell me." Zhou Houjie said with a smile.

"My lord, in this couplet, the word 'official' is a little less, and the word 'surname' for common people is a little more. If Ping An is not wrong, my lord means to think more about the people, less authority for the official, and more for the common people. "Zhu Ping'an pointed to the two words official and surname in the couplet, smiled slightly and added, "This is a hidden word in the couplet. The ancients used it to be implicit. The use of hidden words is intended to emphasize that the people are mostly considered. Your Excellency, this couplet is really well-intentioned, and you have been taught safely."

"Zihou has such a good look, it seems that I have to add another dish to be worthy of Zihou's comments." Zhou Houjie couldn't help stroking his beard and smiled when he heard this, with a red light on his face, he looked at Zhu Pingan and teased.

Meeting a close friend in high mountains and flowing water is probably how Zhou Houjie felt at this time. At this moment, when he saw Zhu Ping'an, he was probably like the harpist Boya meeting the woodcutter Zhong Ziqi on the banks of the Weishui River. A thousand pieces of gold are easy to come by, but a close friend is hard to find.

"I don't dare to refuse the gift. It seems that Ping'an will be blessed today." Zhu Ping'an cupped his hands and smiled without refusing.

"Oh...that's it. When I hung it up, I thought the craftsman had made a mistake, so I went to find the craftsman. But the craftsman took out your original couplet and said it was based on what you had written. It was engraved correctly. I looked at the original couplet, and it was indeed exactly the same. I always thought that the adult had written it wrong. Unexpectedly, it turned out that the adult had written it like this on purpose. If it hadn't been for the explanation from Mr. Zhu, I would have been kept in the dark. It's here." At this time, Zhang Captou reacted belatedly, as if he was enlightened, and he suddenly realized that he didn't expect that there were so many details on just two points.

"You, you are such a rotten wood..." Magistrate Zhou looked at Zhang Captou and shook his head and smiled, then waved his hand and said, "Go and tell the kitchen to add another dish. Add the dish that was saved last time." Today, I will give you a good treat. Zhang Captou, don’t leave either. Let’s have lunch together at noon today.”