Everyone saw that the old man's face turned pale, and they all wondered why the old man was so surprised at such an old age.
"That's right, don't tell me, your skills are really good, and the salted fish you pickle is delicious! They say that a skinny camel is bigger than a horse, now I believe it, the salt you put in the pickled fish is enough for me to eat one
Moon." Cui Niupi said while extending his thumb.
Yang Xuanqi's lips turned purple.
"Eat it, it's not poisonous. I've tried it all and it tastes good. My second brother is right, stewed with pig meat like this, it's really delicious!" Cui Niupi even went up and patted Yangxu's shoulder.
"How can you eat this fish?" Yang Xu finally yelled.
"What's wrong? There's a gold ingot hidden in the fish? Don't mess around. Pei Yuanshao was there when the fish was stewed, but there's nothing in it!" Cui Niubi explained quickly.
Zhou Yuanfu stood up again and stroked the old man's back. The old man was too angry. If Cui Niupi continued to vomit blood today, he would probably become a legend.
Yangxu finally sighed again, "You can't eat this fish!"
"I seem to understand. I guess the old man is saving the fish to eat during the New Year. Look at your efforts. My elder brother has a lot of money. I will pay you ten fish or eight fish!" Cui Niupi said disdainfully.
After hearing this, the old man was so angry that he started to roll his eyes. Zhou Yuanfu hurriedly asked Cui Niubi to go out, so as not to really make the old man angry.
"He is ignorant, don't worry, what is the reason?" Zhou Yuanfu asked anxiously.
The old man calmed down and continued: "Since I took office, both major families and subordinate officials have been vying to express their goodwill. Many people have sent all kinds of expensive gifts, but I have sternly rejected them. They have resorted to various means. I don't know.
Where did I find out that I love fish? A few days ago, Fu Cheng sent me a fish. If I had refused on the spot, it would probably not look good on the Fu Cheng’s face. After all, it was just a fish. But if I accepted it, I would probably
From now on, everyone will follow suit, which is called following their own preferences, and gradually the gifts will become more and more expensive. I understand their tactics.
After thinking about it, I think it is better to make it into pickled fish and hang it in the courtyard, and I will give it back to the Prime Minister when he comes next time. This will not only hurt our friendship, but also prevent them from giving gifts in the future."
"I didn't expect to be stewed by Brother Cui and the others, right?" Zhou Yuanfu said in a dumbfounded voice.
"Yes, if word spreads from now on, it will be you sending fish today, and he sending shrimps tomorrow, which is not bad. Oh, it is really incredible." Yang Xu sighed.
Zhou Yuanfu nodded. The reputation of the Xuanyu Governor was ruined by Cui Niubi, so he advised: "The King of Chu is so thin that the palace people will starve to death. Uncle Yang's concern is not an exaggeration. His hobbies are favored by others."
If you find out, you will definitely be trying to make a living. But having said that, you are already so poor and you can still eat fish. Can you afford the rest of your salary?"
When Yang Xu heard Zhou Yuanfu ask this question, he couldn't help but blush on his face and muttered: "My hometown is in Taishan County, and the fish there are not expensive. I only have this little appetite, and I am really ashamed!"
"You, why don't you learn from Hai Qingtian and say that you like to eat tofu? No matter how much people try to please you and give you a few pieces of tofu, it's okay. You won't dry it into dried tofu and give it back to others," Zhou Yuanfu joked.
road.
The two of them were talking in the room, and someone walked in outside, "Your Majesty, are there any distinguished guests coming to your door today?"
Yang Xu looked up and cried in his heart. It was the Jun Cheng who was here. The house was simple, and every time the Jun Cheng came here, he would skip the notice and just open the door and go in. Then he saw that the Jun Cheng was carrying a big fish in his hand.
, Yang Xu felt like fainting as soon as his vision went dark.
"The rumors are indeed true. Mr. Fu Zun cannot live without fish. I have a rest today. I went to the pier for a walk and bought a fish for Mr. Fu Zun. Please accept it."
The county magistrate felt proud that he had given him the right gift, but Yang Xu was troubled and could not tell.
"This is the fish you sent last time. I haven't eaten it. Originally... I stewed it today because my servants were ignorant." Finally, Yang Xu said with some regret.
The county magistrate, however, misunderstood and said in surprise: "Oh, this man is really ignorant. How can he make salted fish for stew? The fish in our river is no better than the sea fish in your hometown, it is better to eat fresh!"
If you eat it after being salted and dried in the sun, the taste will be much worse. Fortunately, I brought a fresh fish specially today. Please hurry up and let the servants stew it. The taste is guaranteed to be delicious!"
As he said that, he handed over the fresh fish.
Yangxu's eyes were filled with tears at this time, and his hands were trembling again.
Seeing this, Zhou Yuanfu hurriedly stepped forward and took the fish over, "Your Majesty Fu Cheng is interested, but the Sheriff has always been frugal. We already have salted fish today, so we will eat this fish tomorrow. Someone, come and keep this fish in a basin."
Here, it’s really nice and lively.”
Yangxu was so ashamed and angry that he could not see clearly because it was dark in the room.
"Today we have a family banquet, so we won't be keeping Mr. Fu Cheng here." Zhou Yuanfu cupped his hands and said.
Seeing the fish being taken over, Fu Cheng said with a smile on his face: "Since it's Mr. Fu Zun's family banquet, I won't bother you. Please use it slowly. Alas, it's a very good fish, but it's a pity to make it salted fish."
Fu Cheng shook his head and walked away muttering.
Seeing that Fu Cheng had gone far away, Yang Xu also walked out of the house door, went to the place where the salted fish was hung, and looked left and right.
"Father, what are you looking for?" Yang Mi walked over and asked fearfully.
"I'm looking for the rope that hangs the fish!" Yang Xu said quietly.
Cui Niupi ran over happily again and said, "Look, you still look like a governor. Stop looking for me. I'll pay you a thick one." As he said that, he actually took out a hemp rope.
Yangxu took the hemp rope frustrated and didn't bother to bother with Cui Niupi. He tied the hemp rope to the original tree, made a tight buckle, and tried to drill his head into it.
Yang Mi was so frightened that he hurriedly knelt down and pulled Yang Xu's leg and cried: "Father, why is this happening? Don't be confused."
Yang Xu said angrily: "I ruined my reputation on a fish. What's the point of living? It's better to die."
Cui Niupi laughed happily, "Don't worry, old man. Since you also want to make salted fish, I'll find you some salt and put it on you."
Zhou Yuanfu was speechless when he saw the farce. He walked up and said, "The reputation of Nanyang Prefect Yang Xu is worth a fish. Please remember this and tell everyone when you meet him in the future."
Cui Niupi also followed suit.
Yang Xu let go of the rope and walked to Zhou Yuanfu, "Since you brothers came, all the principles I have learned in my entire life have been trampled under your feet. What else do you have to say this time."
Zhou Yuanfu sneered and said: "I really have nothing to say to the prefect who can't distinguish between human kindness and corruption."
"What do you mean by this?"
"That day, when the Lord Commander sent a fish to you and the Governor accepted it, was it a gift of favor or a sharp blade to corrode you? Since the Lord Governor accepted it, it was naturally a gift. Since we all serve as officials in the same court, we give gifts to each other.
Some small gifts can not only enhance friendship but also help work together in the future, why not give them. The prefect is so pretentious, but for the sake of fame?" Zhou Yuanfu deliberately angered the old man.
"What a bastard! Naturally, favors come and go. He gave me fresh fish, and I gave him salted fish. It was considered even, and he would naturally not give it to me again in the future. Whatever is going on now, I have a point.
I’m not sure!” Yang Xu argued with a red face and thick neck.
Zhou Yuanfu said approvingly: "If you just hang the fish here without processing it, and wait for the fish to stink before returning it to others, then you will really be hopeless. Fortunately, you know that favors come and go, so it's just a
Normal people. But salted fish is also a reward, and fresh fish is also a reward. He sent you a five-jin fresh fish today, and you give him a five-jin fresh fish in return tomorrow. Wouldn't that be better?"
Yangxu was speechless for a moment and didn't know what to say.
"Brother Cui, go and inquire about the residence of Lord Fu Cheng, buy two bigger fresh fish and send them back. Just tell him that the Lord Governor appreciates his kindness, and don't send any more fish in the future." Zhou Yuanfu ordered.
"What if the prime minister says he doesn't like fish and doesn't take back the gift?" Cui Niupi asked.
Zhou Yuanfu laughed and said, "Just say don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you, and he will understand."
Cui Niupi took the order and went.
"Is this okay?" Yang Xu asked hesitantly.
"Okay, this won't hurt everyone's face, and it will prevent him from giving away fish in the future. Isn't it killing two birds with one stone?" Zhou Yuanfu said proudly.
Yang Xu was in a daze, "Is it that simple? It's a pity that I had to kill and pickle fish that day, so I had a busy day."
"If Uncle Sheep had met me earlier, he probably wouldn't be so embarrassed. By the way, will you also need green vegetables and tofu to survive in the future? After all, this fish is much more expensive than tofu." Zhou Yuanfu joked again.
Hearing this, Yang Xu nodded seriously, "That's all we can do. From now on, I'll try my luck with vegetables and tofu. Let's see how they do what they want!"
Zhou Yuanfu continued to joke: "If this is the case, there will be one less Xuanyu governor in history, and there will probably be one more Tofu governor, haha."
Yangxu cupped his hands and said, "What about the Grand Administrator of Xuanyu, and what about the Grand Administrator of Tofu? What I insist on Xiangri turns out to be just a false name. Only when I see Yuanfu today will I know how to be an official!"
Seeing that Yang Xu was in a stable mood, Zhou Yuanfu couldn't help but also cupped his hands and said: "My lord, this is serious. This kid is just doing a job. There is a folk proverb: If you don't make decisions for the people when you are an official, it is better to go home and sell millet! If you, the lord, can serve the people wholeheartedly,
He is a role model for Yuan Fu!"
"Well, it's a great relief to see Yuan Fu today. I'll make an exception today. Let's have a drink together."
Yangxu couldn't help but be overjoyed when he heard this.
When Zhou Yuanfu saw that Yang Xu was no longer looking for life and death, he was very happy but also a little inexplicably worried. He was messing around today. If Yang Xu could not be biographed in the "Book of the Later Han" because of this, it would be all his own fault.
Yangxu was in a good mood and picked up the wine glass again and again.
After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Yangxu was already a bit tipsy, "Yuanfu came to Jingzhou to suppress bandits. Have you ever heard of the famous people in Jingzhou?"
When Zhou Yuanfu saw what Yang Xu said, he must have wanted to give some advice to himself, so he raised his hands and said, "Young man is ignorant and ill-informed, please give me some advice from Uncle Yang."
Yang Xu stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Haha, it's not a suggestion, just treat it as something to talk about at our dinner table. When it comes to the famous people in Jingzhou, the people even made up a set of slang."
"I would like to hear the details!" Zhou Yuanfu continued to say respectfully.
"Cai Bucai, my brother-in-law has a golden belt. The Han family has been in the family for a long time, and there are fertile fields everywhere. The Kuai brothers are famous, and Jingzhou is full of yellow."