Sorry, sorry, I actually fell asleep curled up in the chair, and when I opened my eyes, it was already six o'clock...

  －

  "This is too extravagant," Su Xun frowned, facing the table full of delicacies. "How can we interact with each other in the future?"

  "You know I like simplicity, otherwise you wouldn't let the big backyard go unoccupied." Liang shook his head and sighed: "But when it comes to eating, I have no say."

  "What?" Su Xun asked in surprise.

  "Three years ago, my family's Sanlang took in an apprentice who opened a wine shop, taught him some skills, and helped him through a difficult time." Liang said as calmly as possible: "His apprentice has never forgotten this kindness and has been taking care of our family's meals... This time, I guess he heard that we have guests at home, so it's more abundant than usual."

  "Sanlang is still young, yet he can be of such great help to others?" Su Xun exclaimed: "What a wonderful story!"

  "By the way, where is Sanlang?" Mrs. Cheng only saw Wulang and Liulang at home, so she naturally asked.

  "Ugh......" The pride on Liang's face was gone in an instant, and he said gloomily: "I'm going home..."

  "What?" The Su family exclaimed in unison, but they all looked at Su Shi who was indulging in the delicious food.

  Su Erlang easily picked up a piece of eel with his chopsticks, and was just about to take a happy bite when he saw her and couldn't help but lower his head in embarrassment, yet still didn't forget to put the piece of eel into his mouth.

  "How can he have the same problem as my family!" Su Xun felt a deep sympathy, pointing at Su Shi: "This spring, he and a fellow student named Chen Taichu disappeared for over ten days. I and his uncle led more than a dozen clansmen to search all over Meishan, before finally finding them in the depths of Hui Long Temple."

  "What are they doing?" Lian Daqi asked in surprise.

  "The Taoist asked someone to leave home, but they refused, so he stayed there and wouldn't leave."

  "So young yet so disillusioned with the world?"

  "It's not that I've seen through the red dust, but rather that I've thought my way to becoming an immortal... " Su Xun said helplessly: "Do you know why your foolish brother moved his whole family here? It was precisely to suppress this demonic obstacle!"

  "......" Liang was speechless for a long time, and then sighed with a bitter smile: "My family's vulgar person, although he didn't say what he went to do, presumably it wouldn't be to seek immortality."

  "How come you never see me going out? Could it be that I've been delayed by you?" Su Xun suddenly realized.

  "It's nothing, don't look for him," Lian already knew that Sanlang had gone out with Li Jian, so he wasn't worried and said: "I'm just worried that he'll bully others."

  "This..." Su Xun was speechless, looking at Sanlang's very mature young man, how could he be so out of tune.

  "Ugh..." Little Liu, who had never spoken before, suddenly blurted out: "Every family has its own difficult scripture to recite."

  Everyone was stunned, and Liang Suxin smiled wryly: "I don't know if Aunt can recite these two classics even if they are put together."

  "......" Madame Cheng sighed and said: "It seems I was wrong, Uncle's money is not easy to earn at all."

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "Ah-choo......" On the boat returning from Luzhou to Qingyang, a young man let out several sneezes in a row.

  "It's all right, Sanlang?" Wine merchant Li Jian said: "The wind on the river is strong, come into the cabin."

  "Hmm." Chen Ke rubbed his nose, lifted the curtain and went in, plopping himself down beside the small machine. He adjusted to a comfortable position and said, "It seems like someone is reciting my name."

  "That's for sure." On this trip, Li Jianxin was in high spirits and couldn't help but joke: "You've been away from home for seven or eight days, when you get back your butt will definitely be blooming."

  "It's all because of you!" Chen Ke suddenly said with a gloomy face: "Something that you could have handled yourself, but instead had to be dragged and pulled by others, it's really embarrassing for you!"

  "Haha......" Li Jian wiped the sweat from his face and changed the subject, saying: "However, being able to see Director Chen makes this trip worthwhile." 'Director' is a respectful title for a judge.

  "Yes, it seems Lord Chen still remembers the affection from that day." Chen Ke also smiled with relief.

  The Chen gentleman in their mouths was the former Qing God who knew the county, and later because of his outstanding political performance, he was promoted to Luzhou Tongpan. Chen Ke thought that the affairs of the government were helpless for the common people, but there would always be some way for those in the officialdom. Even if Chen Tongpan couldn't help much, being able to offer a few words of advice after drinking water and thinking of its source could change the current predicament of having nowhere to turn.

  The result is still comforting, Chen Tong didn't forget the Qing Shen who made him prosperous, nor did he forget Li Jian's filial piety for many years. Upon learning of his friend's visit, he received Li Jian and Chen Ke in his private residence... In front of Mr. Chen, who knew everything, Chen Ke had nothing to hide.

  After hearing about Huang Jiao's situation, Chen Tong stroked his beard and said: "This official indeed saw Huang Jiao's name on this year's tribute list. At the time, I thought that although it was a considerable burden, it would greatly enhance Huang Jiao's reputation, and inside and out, she shouldn't suffer any losses."

  "How much tribute should we offer on the list?" Chen Ke asked anxiously.

  "There's no need to mention, there are some subtleties here. In the public notice, specific numbers and prices will not be mentioned." Chen Tong judged: "Usually only the transportation officials and local officials in charge know..."

  "Can I ask around discreetly?" Chen Ke asked, "If it's not a bother."

  "I'm still an official in Shu, but the Zizhou Road and Yizhou Road are two different systems." Chen Tongpan shook his head and said, "No matter which dynasty, crossing borders is always a big opportunity." The implication was that he had already overstepped by seeing both Chen Ke.

  "As an official for many years, you must have many acquaintances who are fellow townspeople, classmates, and colleagues?" Chen Ke didn't care about much anymore, how could he let this last lifeline slip away: "I'm sure there are those who won't overstep their bounds."

  "You little scamp..." Chen Tong judged, laughing and crying at the same time: "Indeed, you can't fool around." Nodding his head, he spoke seriously: "Not bad, I do have connections in Yizhou Road, but I don't recommend that you start from there."

  "Are you worried, stirring up trouble?" Chen Ke said in a low voice.

  "Clever!" Chen Tong nodded and said: "You must have heard the saying 'the county magistrate who ruins families, the commander who exterminates clans'. Once they are aware of it, they will have ways to make you die a terrible death."

  "An adult's unspoken implication," Chen Ke said nonchalantly: "Or is it also acknowledging that there's something fishy about this?"

  "This is unreasonable!" Chen Tong judged with a serious tone: "The list of tribute products to the imperial court often changes, and Huang Jiao's inclusion is not surprising. However, in cases of first-time tributes, the initial quantity is usually small, and then gradually increased year by year depending on the situation. There has never been such a large demand all at once, this is going to cost lives!" In fact, he knew some unspoken rules about the tribute products, but was afraid that Chen Ke would go back and spread rumors, so he didn't say anything more.

  "So, what's your point?" But that was enough, Chen Ke didn't dwell on the past, only cared about the consequences.

  "I'll make some effort, let's ask the fellow students in the capital." Chen Tong judged slowly: "As it happens, I have a good friend in the Ministry of Revenue... Although it is the Ministry of Revenue under the Imperial Secretariat, there is no power, but coincidentally, the tribute items from all over the country are managed by them."

  "That's great!" Even Li Jian was excited now. In his opinion, the officials in the capital city would naturally be in charge of the Yizhou Road.

  "This matter, it's not as easy as you think." Chen Ke said with a less optimistic tone: "Sir, what do you need? Just ask."

  "Here we are with the money." Li Jian hastily pulled out a thick stack of cash from his pocket: "Sir, use this to grease some palms."

  Chen Tong glanced at the stack of silver coins and said calmly: "You still have to give me another thing."

  "What is it?"

  "Evidence," Judge Chen sighed: "I can help you even if I don't get paid, but without evidence, all I can do is make some inquiries for you, nothing more."

  Li Jian looked at Chen Ke, and Chen Ke let out a stifled breath: "The reason we're suspicious is because the county won't give us any documents. I'm afraid that until the very last moment, we won't be able to get our hands on a single piece of paper."

  "Then I'll help you ask first." Chen Tong said solemnly, "But Sanlang, I remind you, you are not an official, but a commoner. Since ancient times, it has been the case that commoners do not contend with officials, because the two are too far apart. You must not act rashly. Gather evidence and hand it over to me, and I will pass it on to those imperial historians."

  "Thank you, sir, for your warning." Chen Ke nodded heavily and said: "The humble commoner will remember it in his heart."

  "You should also learn a lesson from this experience." Chen Tongjian looked at the precocious young man deeply: "If you had an official in your family, others wouldn't dare to treat you like this. Remember, in this Song Dynasty, there are only two kinds of people, officials and commoners!" He said with profound meaning: "The families of officials are also officials, and rich commoners are also commoners. As for the path ahead, a clever child like you doesn't need me to say more."

  "Thank you for your advice..." Chen Ke bowed deeply, his heart involuntarily moved. For a young man like himself who was not related to the case, Chen Tongjian originally didn't need to waste words, but he still pointed out his own mistakes... After all, officials in this era still had humanity.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  On the way back, Chen Ke became silent. Chen Tong's words and his recent experiences intertwined, forcing him to re-examine himself - wanting to live a carefree life, was it really just that simple to have wealth? He also needed the ability to keep his wealth safe.

  Before the law, this ability can only come from power. For ordinary people, it is being an official.

  Although he had heard the advertisement song of Zhenzong Emperor before, it was not until now that the voice of "Lixue Pian" truly resonated in his heart:

  "When going out, don't be sad that no one follows you; in books, there are many chariots and horses. A man who wants to fulfill his lifelong ambition should diligently read the Five Classics in front of the window..."

  Thanks for being born in the great Song Dynasty, if I were born in the Han and Northern Dynasties that only looked at family background, or even in the Sui and Tang Dynasties when the imperial examination system was just established, a humble family like mine would never have had a chance to rise, nor would we have ever known peace.

  Division line

  Recovered from illness, normal update today, next update at 12 o'clock.