Civil servants of the Tang Dynasty

After Tang Cheng jokingly said the word "husband", Gao Li also quietly changed his self-proclaimed "I" to "concubine".

In the Tang Dynasty, the division between officials and officials was extremely strict, and the establishment of county-level governments was far less complicated than that of later generations. There were only five "officials" in the Liunei archives of a county and the like, and the highest position was the county magistrate. The overall situation; the second is the county magistrate, who is similar to the later deputy county magistrate, and cooperates with the county magistrate to manage civil affairs.In addition to these two people, the county also has a chief bookkeeper in charge of civil affairs, and a county lieutenant in charge of military affairs. The county lieutenant is in charge of arresting robbers, local security, and supervising taxation and food. The actual work is the public security bureau of later generations The job difference between the Chief and the Minister of Armed Forces.In addition to these four people, another "official" is the Xueguan, that is, the Xuezheng of the county's official school.

Except for these five people who belonged to the rank officials in the Liu, the rest of the county government were collectively referred to as "officials", and they were assigned ranks among the nine ranks outside the Liu.

The county magistrate of Yunxi County has been vacant for nearly two terms. Although the current master book master does not have this title, he is actually doing the post of county magistrate.

Since Gao Li's fourth uncle is a county lieutenant, he is actually the third person in the county at present, so he is the most suitable person to inquire about the new county magistrate.

"You're so good!" Hearing this, Tang Cheng patted Gao Li's face with a smile, "Since the county captain is your fourth uncle, I'd like to ask you to help me this time." He told the reason of the matter together.

This is the first time he has asked Gao Li for help since Tang Cheng applied for admission to the village. Besides, it is not difficult. I was planning to go to the city to see the business of the tung oil shop, I thought I would leave after the snow had melted in two days, since I caught up with this, I will leave for the county early tomorrow morning."

After talking about the business, seeing that it was almost noon, Tang Cheng flirted with Mrs. Gao Li and drank a few cups of warm wine, then he didn't stay any longer, and was escorted out of the yard by Sister Lan.

After sending Tang Cheng away, Sister Lan went back to the side room to pack the wine utensils, and said in a side note: "Ma'am, you really shouldn't have agreed to what happened just now."

"What's the matter with you today, Lancao? Don't forget that this is what Tang Cheng asked to do." Gao Li was in the right mood, and there was a tease in his words, "You girl can't wait to take it out and eat it for him. How can you say such a thing today?"

Lancao was still in the mood to make a joke. Seeing that Madam still didn't understand, she stopped what she was doing and said seriously, "Madam, why did Mr. Yan ask Tang Cheng to accompany him to receive him? Why is Tang Cheng so enthusiastic? If he can catch up this time Now, Tang Chengke is about to leave here, as soon as he leaves...Madam, if you don't try to stop him, that's all, why go to help him instead?".

"Silly girl, I still don't understand what you're thinking?" Gao Li hugged Tang Cheng's pillow and said in a low voice, "But you only thought of one layer, but didn't think of the other layer."

"Another layer?"

"Yes! If a man wants to leave, how can he force him to stay? This is the first time he asks me to do something. If I just push it away, what will he think? Don't look at Tang Cheng's young age, but he is an old man. He is proud and arrogant, and his family is so poor that he doesn't want to take advantage of me in money. Such a person values ​​affection. If he really hurts his heart, it will be difficult to restore it. "

"Furthermore, it is for our sake that I want him to go out early. Silly girl, have you ever thought about it? This village is too small, and Tang Cheng's parents also live here. If you stay in the village all the time, even Tang Cheng was arrested, but we were also arrested. Once his parents know that their son is so close to us... it’s better to go out. The world is big and the earth is big outside, maybe things will change.” So far, Gao Mrs. Li sighed and said, "It's been three years since you came to my village from the mountains, haven't you stayed in this suffocating village enough?".

Not to mention Gao Li's master and servant's thoughts, but Tang Cheng rushed home after leaving Zhuangzi. As soon as he entered his yard, he saw Liu Lizheng in an old sheepskin coat coming out of the house, followed by his parents who were trying to persuade him to stay. .

"He, Uncle Liu, isn't Ah Cheng coming back?" Tang Zhang, who was following the man, took a few steps quickly to take the cloth bag from his son, and said with a smile, "You went there again after you came out of the school?" Gone? It made you suffer, Uncle Liu and others."

"Uncle Liu rarely comes here, why do you have to leave? Let's go into the room and talk." Tang Cheng walked up to the main room with Liu Lizheng, "If I knew Uncle Liu was coming, I wouldn't go to the back mountain to see the snow scene ".

Hearing what Tang Cheng said, Liu Lizheng laughed, "Old Tang, your son is becoming more and more like a scholar in the county school. Looking at the snow scene? Listen, what is white in our eyes is in his eyes It became Jinger, or you can say that scholars are different."

Hearing these words, Tang Shuan took advantage of them, but he said: "How many books has he read? He is not arrogant as a scholar, but Uncle Liu dare not praise him any more."

The mountain village was cold, and poor families could not afford fire dragons, so Tang Shuan followed the mountain custom and dug a square pool on the ground of the main house to make a firepit, and burned tree bumps dug from the mountains in autumn to keep warm. It is true that this heating method is smoky and dusty, but it also has an advantage, that is, such a fire is easy to burn the upper body, and it is warm enough. If you hang a pot on it, even cooking will be difficult. No need to light another fire.

Tang Cheng asked Liu Lizheng to sit by the fire pond sheltered from the wind, and then knocked off the charcoal on the surface of the tree bump with fire chopsticks. With a sound of "huh", there was another open fire in the fire pond, guarding the fire in the pond, Looking at the frozen snow outside, Tang Cheng felt very warm in his heart before he started warming the fire, "What's the matter, it's worth Uncle Liu to come and wait for me in person."

Looking at the sparks jumping out with the open fire in the fire pond, Liu Lizheng quietly moved the little sticks under his butt backwards, lest the sparks splash and damage the old lambskin jacket on his body, "What's the matter? What else can I do? Isn’t it the matter of the new county master’s inspection, the new county magistrate’s inspection, this is a big deal! I got the letter and went to the village school to discuss it with Mr. Yan, but he asked me to come to you to make a deal.” At this point , Liu Lizheng was smacking his lips, and carefully looked at Tang Chengtong's body again, "Although I have known for a long time that you are flexible and capable, I didn't expect you to be able to slap Old Master Yan so well. Hey! This old man But the well-known arrogant person in Zuojin village, it is difficult for us to see his smiling face, you boy, you are so good!".

Although the couple Tang and Zhang were curious about the reason why Liu Lizheng came to the door, since he didn't say anything when they were waiting just now, they couldn't ask directly. Old Master Yan is the most famous and respectable person in ten miles and eight villages. I heard that before he returned to his hometown, he was serving in Jinzhou City. It is good fortune to work for his family. I didn't expect the old master to trust his son so much now, and welcome the new county master to inspect it. Participated in...".

The more he thought about it, the more he thought about it, the eyes of Tang Shuan and his wife looked at each other as if they were covered with burning coals, it was so hot that they could be separated at the touch of a touch, but the sound of the couple's breathing was obviously much thicker, and they were a little flustered When Mrs. Tang and Zhang were smoothing out her loose hair, she raised her hand to wipe away the moisture from the corners of her eyes by taking advantage of the shadow behind the stove.

Who would have thought that his son, who was sick and dying half a year ago, would have such a future now?

Chapter 28 Who doesn’t want to wear good clothes

"Uncle Liu, you have also seen the world. Why did the new county magistrate make you so anxious?" Tang Cheng didn't notice the change in Liu Lizheng's expression after his words. Limited vision and knowledge are naturally limited. In his eyes, a county magistrate is like a heavenly existence.On the contrary, it was Tang Cheng who came through time travel. In later generations, the media consultation was developed. Not to mention the county magistrate, the mayor, even the president of the country can see his shadow every day. The new county magistrate is coming to inspect, although he wants to change He paid enough attention to the factors of his own situation, but he was far from the kind of sincere awe that people should have for the county magistrate himself.As far as the mentality of the superior is concerned, this is really a solid and hard advantage for every traverser.

"The new county magistrate is coming, so let's treat him well. Uncle Liu, you will naturally go. Besides, there is Old Master Yan. His old man is a representative of the local culture, education and elders in the village. As for me, I just follow him. It’s just a leg.” Tang Cheng tapped the tree bumps in the firepit lightly with iron chopsticks, “Uncle Liu, how did you receive the county magistrate before? And what effect do you want to achieve? Say it."

Liu Lizheng dragged the little dick under his butt back a little more, "Actually, there are old routines for receiving officials like this. The loess is laid on the road, and the village is greeted. The other is the preparation of food. Generally speaking, it is these three big things. son", although Liu Lizheng was a little tired of the casual tone of Tang Cheng's words, but Tang Cheng's indifference made his frizzy heart quickly settle down, "Uncle has no other thoughts about accepting the official this time. To be able to stay with the county magistrate for a longer period of time is to burn incense."

It was easy for Tang Cheng to understand Liu Lizheng's thoughts. Originally, there were so many Lizhengs in the whole county. Whether the new county magistrate would go there or not, and whether he would stay there for a long time or stay there for a short time, all these were There is a contrast.Speaking of the time and space separated by 300 years, this is actually no different from receiving inspections by leaders in later generations.

"It's not difficult to say anything else, but Uncle Liu, your request is not difficult."

"Is that true?" Liu Lizheng raised his voice three minutes sharply, "It's the county magistrate's own idea whether to leave or stay. Can you still arrange for him? You're not bluffing me, are you?"

"Uncle Liu is the biggest within a radius of fifty miles, who dares to bully you?" Tang Cheng promised, but did not say the specific method.

Then Liu Lizheng is also a smart person, and he understood Tang Cheng's meaning after a while, "You kid is still playing tricks on me, don't worry, your family won't have to pay for the share of the official share this time, how about it? Don't say it quickly."

"Then I would like to thank Uncle Liu." After Tang Cheng's goal was achieved, he stopped showing off, and said with a low voice, "Uncle Liu, you are an old Lizheng, and you should go to the county government for a long time on weekdays. Are you acquainted?"

"Wow, what's the matter?".

"It's not that simple. Before the county magistrate leaves, Uncle Liu, go to the county early tomorrow to find those acquaintances, and ask them to help you find the servants in charge of chariots and horses in the yamen. Wait for the magistrate When inspecting our place, no matter whether we are riding a car or riding a horse, if there is a small problem at least, the magistrate will stay here? The axle is blocked, and the horse's hoof is dropped. These are common things, and it is the same for the officials. It's okay, as long as you are sincere, Uncle Liu, there is absolutely no reason for the officials to refuse." When he mentioned the word "sincerity", Tang Cheng deliberately emphasized his tone, presumably Liu Lizheng's intelligence can naturally understand the true meaning, anyway He spent the apportioned share money, and didn't have to pay for it himself, so he didn't like it.

Liu Lizheng never expected Tang Cheng to come up with such an idea, "This...".

"Uncle Liu, have you ever heard the saying, 'Your officials are as clean as water, but officials are as slippery as oil', as long as you have 'sincerity', the servants in the yamen will naturally be able to handle it properly. Don't worry. By the way, you go to the county seat and ask about the preferences of the new county magistrate, so that when we accept the official, we can be targeted. As for the specifics, we will work out when you come back, Uncle Liu... ".

When Tang Chengzheng was speaking, he heard the sound of kicking in the yard outside, and then heard a loud voice coming from outside the yard, "Is Mrs. Tang's wife here? Lend me two scoops of old sour soup in your pickle jar." ", the sound was so loud that it was Wang Changnian, the well-known "mother-in-law's mouth" in the village, who opened the door and came in.

The reason why Wang Changnian has such a nickname is because his mouth is too broken, and there is no one on the top, no matter what he knows, it will be known to everyone in the village in less than two sticks of incense.

Wang Changnian walked in yelling with a water ladle in his hand. He didn't see the person clearly at first, but when he realized that it was Liu Lizheng who was sitting by the firepit of Tang's house, his loud voice suddenly got stuck.

Liu Lizheng prides himself on his identity, and he doesn't like to visit the house the least on weekdays. It is a very dignified thing for anyone in the village to welcome him. What happened today?It's not a festival, and I haven't heard that the Tang family has weddings and weddings. How did Liu Lizheng come to this dilapidated house and sit so close to this unworthy boy from the Tang family?Rare, really rare!

"Liu...Liu Lizheng!", within a radius of [-] miles, to these ordinary villagers, Liu Lizheng is a god, and Wang Changnian couldn't help being disrespectful and flattering, but Liu Lizheng, who got up with the opportunity, just nodded solemnly to Wang Changnian, who nodded and bowed. .

"Okay, just do as you said, I will go to the city early tomorrow morning. After all, the county magistrate coming down to inspect is a big deal. You have a good brain. You can think about it in the next two days and try to come up with some new tricks." Liu Li was standing Getting up and preparing to leave, he stopped when he saw the old coarse linen padded jacket Tang Cheng was wearing, "By the way, you also need to buy a good suit of clothes, the three of us are the ones to take over the official, so what if you dress like this?" something?"

Hearing this, Tang Cheng, who was holding the fire with fire chopsticks, raised his head and looked at Liu Lizheng with a smile, "Who doesn't want to wear good clothes?".

Tang Cheng's expression only made Liu Lizheng angry and funny. This kid is simply the best at taking advantage of people, and he didn't dare to give him a ladder at all. After all, it’s for official business.” After finishing speaking, Liu Lizheng glanced at Wang Changnian who was still bent over, and then smiled at Tang Shuan: “Brother Tang, I’m leaving. Ah Cheng The money for buying new shirts will be sent later, my sister-in-law is more concerned, this is an official matter, so don’t dare to be careless.”

It wasn't until Liu Lizheng walked out of the yard far away that Wang Changnian stood up straight again with his bent waist, and he stopped talking. A pair of triangular eyes slid around Tang Cheng and Tang Zhang's couple. What he heard and saw just now This scene made it difficult for him to accept it for a while, and he was filled with curiosity, surprise, envy, and even anger.

Just a bastard like the Tang family who is not at ease in farming can participate in welcoming the county magistrate, and can even wear new clothes that don't cost money. One must know that there is still a share of the apportioned money !What kind of thing is he, Tang Shuan?In terms of face in the village, I am much better than him no matter what, why Liu Li just wanted to call him elder brother, but didn't even smile at him?Liu Lizheng, Liu Sanneng, you really lost your mind, you bastard.

After dismissing Wang Wannian with an uncertain face, Mrs. Tang and Zhang brought pickled vegetable pancakes for lunch to help this year’s wheat harvest. The family’s land rent was also exempted, and the two-month “high salary” earned by her son was used as a subsidy. Finally, the Tang family got out of the vicious cycle of being helpless to sell grain when the price was low and being forced to buy grain when the price was high, and life naturally went smoothly, with spare money in hand and surplus grain in the house. I can only obey my son's order and get rid of the family rule of eating dry when I am busy and eating thin when I am free.Although the two couples often complain that Dumiao's son doesn't look like a rural person at all, and he doesn't live a cautious life if he spends a lot, but the colors on their faces are getting better day by day.

Chapter 29 Who wouldn’t want to wear good clothes

After eating pickled vegetable pancakes with thin rice soup, Tang Cheng chatted with his parents for a while, and then went back to his room to practice calligraphy. Since he started to go to school, life at home has been getting better day by day. He no longer worried about what he was studying at the beginning, but instead he supported him with all his heart.Seeing him enter the room, Mrs. Tang and Zhang, who were washing the dishes outside, acted much more lightly.

After finishing the accounting work at Gao Li's Village that day, Tang Chengcheng returned to his home. These days, he mainly spent the whole afternoon reviewing his homework at home, practicing calligraphy, and studying "The Analects" according to Master Yan's interpretation of the scriptures. It passed so quickly.

For the next day and a half, Tang Cheng didn't go out after returning from Old Master Yan. It wasn't until the afternoon of the third day, when Mrs. Gao and Li were supposed to return from the county town, that he went around the mountain road to the village.

Not long after Mrs. Gao Li came back, seeing Tang Cheng arrived, she immediately welcomed him into the room with a face of joy, "Your new clothes have been brought back. They were made by Mrs. Wang on Laobei Street in the county town. Why don't you wait for them?" She, I'll be back in the morning. Lancaoer, come and help me change."

Liu Lizheng is also quick-tempered. After finishing talking the day before yesterday, he sent someone to send over the money for buying the shirt. The three hundred wen tongbao, which is tough, is worth 90 yuan when converted into the currency of later generations. When it was 90 yuan in the mid-120s.

But Mrs. Tang and Zhang felt worried when they got the money. They felt sorry for her, a woman from a small mountain village. She always sewed her own clothes, so she didn’t know how to buy good clothes for meeting officials. Such clothes had to go to the county town. , she is not afraid of running away for the sake of her son's face, but she really has no idea what to buy.

Tang Cheng saw that she was in trouble, so he left one hundred Wen at home and took the remaining two hundred Wen to go out, saying that he asked the gentleman from the village school who was going to the county to buy it for him, but in fact he went to Gaoli’s Village. I'm going to town the next morning, so I'll take one with me. After all, women have a better eye when it comes to buying clothes. Two hundred cash!These are the most expensive and best clothes Tang Cheng has worn since time travelling.

Tang Cheng opened the bamboo-patterned cloth bag handed over by Mrs. Gao Li, and the first thing he saw was a pair of brand-new Liuhe boots. Because these boots are usually stitched with six pieces of leather, they seem to have six seams, so they are also called "six seams". Boots", just like the pair of pure leather boots in front of me are naturally expensive, and ordinary people can't afford to wear them at all.

Underneath the Liuhe boots was a brand-new underwear and small jacket, pure white as snow with a faint mercerization, although Tang Cheng couldn't tell whether the material was silk, silk or satin, he knew it was a good product just by the feel of it .What is pressed under the inner shirt and small coat is the outer shirt.The style is a Confucian uniform with a regimental collar, but the inside is trimmed with a layer of smooth and smooth fur. As for the color of the outside, it is also Tang Cheng's favorite color of bamboo pattern.

Tang Cheng caressed the fur lining of the Confucian robe, but his eyes fell on Gao Lishi, "Each of these three items is more than two hundred characters, thank you!".

With this well-informed and interesting saying, Mrs. Gao paid off her painstaking efforts, "You are welcome, why don't you try to change it quickly, and if there is any difference, you will have time to change it."

Hearing this, Tang Cheng was not hypocritical, and began to take off his clothes as soon as he got on the bed. In a few moments, only a pair of underpants were left on his body. He showed his solid muscles so simply, which made Gao Li's master and servant a little embarrassed. It's just that although their mouths were spitting lightly, their eyes couldn't help but glance over and watch non-stop.

After Tang Cheng changed the inside and outside, Mrs. Gao Li took out another small package and handed it over, "There is a crown of traveling far away and a turquoise belt around it, but it was spent on Lancao'er's money. I saved it for a whole year. Half a month, this girl is really willing to part with you."

Compared with these two things, Lan Caoer's heart is even more rare. Hearing this, Tang Cheng didn't avoid Mrs. Gao being by his side. He put his arms around Sister Lan who was tidying his shirt, and kissed her , "Thank you, not for your things, but for your heart! Sooner or later, I will pay you back ten hundred times."

"Who wants you to pay it back!" This is the first time the two have made out in front of Gao Lishi. Even the usually generous sister Lan was quite ashamed. When wearing the crown and tie for Tang Cheng, hooked His head never lifted up.

In the Tang Dynasty, any capable man had a wife and a concubine?The education that women receive from childhood is to have women's virtues, and the first rule of women's virtues is "abstinence from jealousy". But the original text written in black and white in "The Classic of Filial Piety for Women".Coupled with the status of master and servant between the two, Mrs. Gao Li was not worried that Lancao would dare to compete with her for favor, so she didn't care about Tang Cheng's actions.

Buddha depends on gold clothing, people rely on clothing.Tang Cheng's body was already slender and good-looking, but this time, wearing a distant travel crown, a bamboo-patterned gown, and Liuhe boots, he packed it up, and when Sister Lan tied his turquoise girdle on his waist, he immediately It's like changing his appearance like a living person, and he has become a refined and handsome son with a bit of wealth and nobility.

Tang Cheng took a look at the newly polished bronze mirror half a person's height, and was very satisfied with the new clothes. When he turned back to the couch, the admiration in the eyes of the two women had not dissipated.

"Okay, I've tried on the clothes, now it's time to get down to business." Seeing Tang Cheng's questioning, Mrs. Gao Li, who had been prepared, took out a piece of paper from her arms, "Magistrate Zhang hasn't been here for long. Fourth uncle knows There are only so many, I am afraid that my memory will not be good and I will forget something, so I ask someone to record it on paper, and you can read it yourself."

"You're still thoughtful, Sister Lan, please squeeze your legs." Tang Cheng lay down with his head on Gao Li's legs and carefully read the records on the paper.At this time, there was a woman on the top who was gently stroking his temples, and sister Erlan on the bottom was rubbing his legs with just the right strength, which was very comfortable.

What Gao Lishi handed over was only two thin pages of paper, but Tang Cheng read it for two incense sticks before putting it down. After reading it, he didn't speak, and began to think while leaning on his fleshy legs under the pillow.

That afternoon, when Tang Cheng left Gaoli's Manor, in addition to the package containing new clothes, he also had a pair of go games and several game records bought by Tu Lao Cai for Arty in his lifetime.

At noon the next day, Liu Lizheng came back from the county seat. Seeing his smiling face, Tang Cheng's bad idea must have been implemented.

As for the preferences of the new county magistrate, what Liu Lizheng said was nothing new. It was basically the same as what was recorded in Mrs. Gao Li's paper. After summarizing the new news, the two began to get busy for the magistrate. It's just that Liu Lizheng can sleep after finishing his work every day, but Tang Cheng has to play Go all night.

Speaking of Go, this is the foundation that Tang Cheng laid down in later generations. When Tang Cheng was in primary school, his Gaozhi parents were not well-known, so they spent more time on him. Thinking about cultivating some special hobbies for the child since he was a child, his parents were not immune, so for a while, Tang Cheng, like countless others of his age, shuttled between different special classes after school, calligraphy, piano, and even ballet. Yes, it was not until Tang Cheng himself chose Go that this crazy shuttle finally came to an end.

This study lasted for six years. Tang Cheng was really interested in it at the beginning, but later on, he hoped that his good grades in Go could attract the attention of his increasingly busy parents. After all, they were the ones who first learned Go. Accompanying him, this is also one of the best memories of childhood in Tang Cheng's memory.

Regardless of whether it was out of interest or to attract the attention of his parents, in short, Tang Cheng studied very hard in those six years. He was naturally intelligent, and once he put his heart into it, he entered the country very quickly, until he even killed the highest-level chess players in the Children's Palace in the provincial capital. He was shocked, and tried several times to lure Tang Cheng, who had just entered the first year of junior high school, to learn chess professionally. Unfortunately, at this time, Tang Cheng had gradually given up his interest in Go after countless disappointments, and his vague anger towards his parents even made him disgusted. Go, which I used to like most, finally gave up after six years of practice.This loss is nearly ten years.

Tang Cheng hasn't even touched a chess piece in the past ten years, so it's really not easy to pick it up again now.

Whenever Tang Cheng wrote the score late into the night based on his vague memory, looking at the swaying lamps, he couldn't help complaining in his heart why the county magistrate Zhang chose to play this way.

Chapter 30 Only listen to the sound of the stairs

Although the hot spot in the small mountain village has shifted to the new county magistrate these days, the county magistrate's inspection matters really echo the old saying - only hear the sound of the stairs, but no one comes down.At first it was said that we would leave in three or five days, and then it was changed to seven or eight days. Looking at the days passing by, there were not many days before, and all the rumors dissipated. Everyone knew that the county magistrate probably had no chance of coming again. up.

This kind of change only made Liu Lizheng feel very frustrated, and the folk husbands who had just been summoned could only be disbanded on the spot, and went back to their respective homes to prepare for the New Year.

The inspection tour of the new county magistrate was suddenly canceled, and Tang Cheng was inevitably disappointed. These days, he regarded this pick-up as an opportunity, a good opportunity for him to jump out of the small mountain village.Originally, based on his current foundation, he could find a leisurely literary job even if he went to the county town by himself, but as he got to know Tang Dynasty society better, he also realized that in the long run, such a thing is actually a no.

On the day when Datang established its own tripod, all people in the society were divided into three grades in the "Laws of the Tang Dynasty", namely officials, beauties and sluts.Officials in the narrow sense refer to internal officials, that is, high-ranking officials who are archived and managed by the Ministry of Officials.Liangren refers to people who have registered households with independent social status, and the main components are landlords and self-cultivating farmers.As for the sluts, they are divided into two categories: official and private. Officials refer to official slaves, official households and industrial households.As for private property, it mainly refers to privately owned slaves, maidservants, triques, and triques' wives, such as orchid grass, which is private property.

It can be seen from the above provisions in the "Laws of the Tang Dynasty" that although the Tang Dynasty was called open, the hierarchical boundaries were actually very strict. Marriage" shall not be exceeded.Among the three types of people, the bitches are the most despised and have the least rights. Whether they are official or private, they are "equal to livestock, but different from others." There is no right to intermarry with the other two categories of people.Once you fall into this class, it will be extremely difficult to get ahead.

The Tang Dynasty was based on agriculture and despised industry and commerce.Among the four categories of people who are not allowed to participate in the imperial examination stipulated in the "Law of the Tang Dynasty", "children of business and industry" are impressively listed.It's nothing for Tang Cheng to be a tenant, but once he goes to the city to find a job in a shop, even if he is still a good man, his future will be "disgraceful" in this specific era. Can make some money, but basically sealed off the future.In this way, it is really worth the candle.

So if he wants to jump out of this small mountain village, he must follow the right path, and the best way to follow the right path is to enter a government-run county school and then try to develop.This is easy to say, but it is as difficult to do as it is to squeeze into key schools in later generations.There are no fewer than dozens of village schools and several private schools in Yunxi County.However, there is only one county school. As an official school established by the imperial court, the number of places in the county school is limited. The main recruits are also the children of gentry families in the county. More than [-]% were distributed to various village schools. Given the situation of Tang Cheng's family, unless there were special circumstances, it would have been impossible to grab this extremely scarce quota.

And if you can't enter the county school, you can't enter the state school or even Taoism. In this way, you have no chance to get the "county tribute" quota to the capital's Ministry of Rites to take the imperial examination. If you are so talented, how can you get promoted if you can't take the imperial examination?

Although the family has no worries about food in the past six months, the house has become more and more dilapidated. Tang Cheng even doubts whether the earthen house can last until next New Year's Eve. Given his current situation, if he is still trapped in this small mountain village It would be impossible to buy a new house without five or seven years; in addition, he came from the prosperity of later generations, and it was really aggrieved to stay in this small place for the past six months. He had no ability to move forward, and now his The basic skills have been mastered, whether it is for the sake of the family or according to his own heart, Tang Chengdu, who has been traveling for more than half a year, is eager to change, eager to leave such a small mountain village, and only when he goes to a bigger place will he have more opportunity, and opportunity means the possibility of change.For the later generations that Tang Cheng once lived in, this is a truth that everyone understands.

Regardless of whether it is in the later generations or now, Tang Cheng is not very old, and things that he expected to be very big have changed like this, and his heart is inevitably frizzy. When he is in a restless mood, it is difficult to sink into reading and practicing calligraphy. Since then, Old Master Yan has changed from his former gentleness and criticized him severely several times, pointing out that his "self-cultivation and nourishment" kung fu has not even entered the door.

Although Tang Cheng himself knew that an impetuous mood was not only useless, but also the number one taboo for scholars, but it was difficult to adjust himself helplessly.Gradually his emotions were known to Gao Lishi, and the woman didn't say much, but took a car and went to the city again that afternoon, and finally brought back a definite new news with a tired face: It is true that the county magistrate will not come down a year ago, but after New Year's Eve and the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, he will start to inspect the whole county on the first day of Lichun after the end of "Six Nine".

For Tang Cheng, who was in a hurry to change his situation, this news was the best medicine for calming the mind. The irritability that had lasted for nearly ten days dissipated, and he resumed his previous regular life, reading, practicing calligraphy, and other things. He also spent a lot of time looking for classics and game records related to Go.

Time passed, and after the 23th day of the twelfth lunar month, the New Year arrived day by day. The village school was officially closed on the [-]rd day of the twelfth lunar month. It would not reopen until after the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.Old Master Yan lives in a neighboring village, so he won't come back every day after the holiday. When he leaves, he leaves the key to the study in the village school with Tang Cheng. Tang Cheng is a quiet place to study. After all, there are hundreds of books in it, which is very convenient to use.

Old Master Yan's arrangement was exactly what Tang Cheng wanted. The excitement of the New Year in the small mountain village did not appeal to him. Besides, he was tired of dealing with a group of villagers who were free to visit, so he decided to finish helping on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month. After Tang Zhang "beat the dust", he went to Master Yan's study every day to review his lessons, and when he was tired, he played chess records to change his mind.Quiet amidst the hustle and bustle, there is a certain comfort.

"Close the door to guard the first night, and burn the fire until the early morning." On New Year's Eve, Tang Cheng accompanied his parents to burn firecrackers in the yard and said to Tang Zhang: "Mother, I want to see the Shehuo." .

The Tang and Zhang surnames have been talking about their son being too quiet for the whole twelfth lunar month. After hearing his request at this time, how could there be any refusal?Not only nodded in agreement, but also said that if there are suitable villagers to accompany them, it doesn’t matter even if they go to the neighboring villages far away to watch the fire. After all, according to the custom, young people should watch the New Year’s Eve instead of sleeping.

After Tang Cheng came out of the house, he didn't go to see Shehuo, but took advantage of the thick night to go to Gaoli's Village.

Catch up with the end of the new year, all the farmers in Gaoli's Zhuangzi have returned to the mountains for the New Year. The big Zhuangzi is almost not popular. Although there are lanterns everywhere, the more so, the more lonely the Zhuangzi is. Entering the courtyard, Mrs. Gao Li and Sister Lan watched over a cage of prosperous charcoal fire in relative silence. The table next to them was full of Chinese New Year dishes and hardly moved their chopsticks. Because it had been left for too long, it was already too cold to have any heat. Is there any Chinese New Year atmosphere in the West Wing Room?

The arrival of Tang Cheng made the master and servant overjoyed. Seeing him coming in, Sister Lan almost cheered and ran forward and hugged his arm tightly, as if she was afraid that he would just leave, her face was full of children. surprise.

It's really strange to say that just because of Tang Cheng's addition, the atmosphere in the room has changed drastically. The loneliness is gone, the desertedness is gone, and the room is suddenly filled with cheerful and warm atmosphere.Gao Li took the initiative to sit on Tang Cheng's lap, wrapped his hands around his neck and murmured, "You are here, this is like a home! It's warm and alive, so good, so good!", After chanting, two drops of joy appeared from the corners of her slightly closed eyes.

Tang Cheng appeased Mrs. Gao Li for a while, then got up and lit up all the lamps on the iron branch acacia tree lamp stand in the house, and then added a few thick pieces of silver charcoal to the already prosperous fire cage. There is a lot of light inside, and the silver charcoal is scattered, and the lively and festive atmosphere of the New Year is getting stronger and stronger.

Chapter 31 Finally see people come down

After finishing all this, Tang Cheng took the two of them to the small stove room under the corridor of the East Wing, and returned the cold dishes to the pot one by one, and then the three of them ate the New Year's dinner lively in the warm room, watching the prosperous charcoal fire. Even if you don't talk about the fragrant and beautiful scene of lips and tongues when persuading you to drink, you must be able to imagine it.

After eating the New Year's dinner, the three of them, who were slightly drunk, came to the yard outside the West Wing. A small firewood pile had already been built here, and there were several bundles of green bamboo cut into three-foot lengths beside it.Light the fire, wait for the flames to burn and put the green bamboo in pieces, and then you can hear a series of firecrackers bursting, and amidst the crisp crackling sound, the originally lonely and deserted Erjin courtyard has a strong New Year flavor. It is smoked and drunk.

After burning the firecrackers, the three of them went back to play Shuanglu on the couch in the house. When they were exhausted from playing, they fell down and fell asleep. When Tang Cheng opened his eyes amidst the crowing of cocks, he saw that the sky was already bright outside the window.Mrs. Gao Li and Mrs. Lan slept soundly with their necks folded on each other, wrapped around him.

The process of waking up was unavoidably another breathless entanglement, but the peach stake hadn’t expired yet, and Sister Lan, as a slave, couldn’t take the lead first, only to suffer from Tang Cheng being teased by the two, and in the end it was a woman’s trick Repeatedly, with a gentle mouth to help him out of the emergency, although it was not really ecstasy, it was not a touching feeling.

In the days that followed, Tang Cheng basically lived in the study room of the village school. The time in the first month passed quickly, and the Shangyuan Festival on the fifteenth day of the first month passed in a blink of an eye. The fourth day after the Shangyuan is the first day of the new year. It was on this day that Tang Cheng got the news from Liu Lizheng that the county magistrate had left the city.

After the beginning of spring, the weather gets warmer day by day, and at the same time, the dense spring rain gradually increases.The day when the new county magistrate arrived at the village, it was such a cloudy and cloudy weather.

The new county magistrate and his entourage were not many in number. The four anti-flag signs sounded the gong to clear the way, followed by six accompanying guards. The main escort was the county school Lin Xuezheng.In the prosperous age, culture and education are emphasized, and the county Xuexue is the general representative of the county's culture and education, and it is also in the question that he accompanied him.

The loess paved the way, and the village came out to welcome them. This was a routine that had been prepared long ago. When the county magistrate was still driving far away, as Liu Lizheng gave an order, the gongs and drums that had been prepared in the crowd for a long time were suddenly noisy. There was a resounding sound, and when the county magistrate got out of the car at the crossing and walked, the people on both sides, led by Liu Lizheng, bowed down and knelt down to welcome them.

As soon as they bowed down, the old master Yan standing on the side of the road and Tang Chenglin behind him were extremely eye-catching.

From years ago to years later, the focus of Tang Cheng's life during this period was to welcome the county magistrate, but until now, he was considered to see the county magistrate himself. This is a middle-aged man in his forties, of medium build, and Slightly fattened, the whole person, regardless of his appearance and demeanor, reveals the refreshingness of the Jiangnan Water Village, which is not annoying to look at.

Standing by the side of the road, Tang Cheng was sizing up the new county magistrate, when he heard a slight cough beside him, he immediately retracted his gaze, bent down to pick up the wine he had prepared earlier from the incense table beside him, and handed it to Old Master Yan.

It is customary for dignitaries to go to the countryside and elders to greet them.Tang Chengxu helped the old master Yan to serve three cups of wine to the county magistrate. After the magistrate thanked him three times and drank, all the mountain people got up. At this point, the ceremony of accepting officials on the surface was over.