Lao Zhoutou lined up among a group of people with a note in his hand. Those who came to receive the things were the stewards of various families, and naturally there were also officials and family members who came to receive the things in person.
In the past two years, Lao Zhoutou has come to collect Manbao's salary in person. Now he no longer has to read the notes to his grandchildren. He can tell how much salary and lumi he can receive every month with his eyes closed.
, so every time he brought someone to pick it up alone.
Because he came here more often, he got to know a lot of people here.
Those who receive salaries also have a circle, and their circle is a group of officials' families.
Among this group of people were fathers, uncles and uncles like him, and there were also younger brothers.
The common characteristic of these people is that their family assets are not particularly rich, and their official rank ranges from sixth grade to fourth grade.
Another thing they have in common is that they are not natives of Beijing.
Because they are not locals in the capital, and because the family property is not rich, and the consumption in the capital is too high, their family has fewer servants, and the family members come in person to get their salary.
It was also because of many contacts with them that Old Zhou knew that after becoming officials, many people would bring their brothers and nephews with them to take office. This way they could not only help manage the housework, but also run errands for themselves, and leave some things to their subordinates.
It's uneasy.
At the same time, it also means cultivating family members.
Or how to put it another way, a person can reach heaven with a chicken or a dog.
Lao Zhoutou and a servant pulled a car over. He found the team with a quick glance, so he got up and lined up.
Everyone consciously lined up in two rows. One row was filled with servants from each family, and the other row was official family members like Lao Zhoutou.
As soon as they saw Lao Zhou, someone immediately greeted him warmly, "Lao Zhou is here, come quickly, come quickly."
Lao Zhoutou asked his servants to lead the mule cart and line up, while he stepped forward to huddle with his friends to talk. In fact, they were barely in formation.
"Master Zhou has two gifts, right?"
"More than that, shouldn't it be three copies? Mr. Zhou still has a title."
Old Zhoutou laughed and said: "My family, Manbao, said that the etiquette of the title is listed in this note compiled by Chongwen Hall. It is regarded as two gifts on one note. Only those who have the title but no actual position are listed separately.
Tiaozi.”
After everyone heard this, they suddenly understood and complimented Lao Zhoutou for his knowledge.
Lao Zhoutou smiled proudly. Although it was not as comfortable as in the village, they still talked very nicely. This is why Lao Zhoutou always rushed to receive his salary.
"What's on your note?"
"It's just two pieces of cloth and some Ximixi noodles. It doesn't matter. The main thing is that I heard that the mooncakes given this time are made by the palace. The eldest is one, and my family got two. When the time comes, we will share them among the mooncakes after offering sacrifices to the Moon Goddess.
The kids eat.”
Lao Zhoutou quietly looked at his note and struggled to identify it. He recognized a few numbers, but not the moon cakes. By the way, last night Man Bao said how many moon cakes did their family have?
Lao Zhou started thinking hard and found that his memory was a little fuzzy, which made him a little worried.
The old man on the side saw the note in Lao Zhoutou's hand, glanced at it, and then said with an ouch: "The village master has four mooncakes. Hey, why do you have three notes?"
Lao Zhou came to his senses instantly and said with a smile: "This one belongs to my son-in-law. I took it with him. Come on, show me what's on this piece of paper?"
The old man was a little envious and jealous, but he still took it and read to him, "One piece of fine linen, one piece of coarse cotton, a small bag each of Ximixi noodles, and one moon cake. Hey, your son-in-law doesn't have many things."
Lao Zhoutou said: "He has just become an official. His official position is not high. Look below. He is still the county magistrate. Take a look at what is below."
The old man choked and unfolded it. Sure enough, he saw two lines of small words written below, "Two pieces of fine cotton, two pieces of silk, two bags of Ximixi noodles, four moon cakes..."
Old man: Envy...
Everyone: So envious...
Old Zhou recited it twice in a low voice and remembered it for the time being. Then he quickly showed his daughter's note to the old man, looking at it eagerly.
The old man unfolded it and said, "Even if I recite it, you won't be able to remember it when I get here soon. The people you brought here are illiterate?"
Old Zhoutou said: "I was so happy when I came out this morning that I forgot to call the literate person."
The old man said: "Forget it, I'll walk behind you later and go in with you. I'll take it after you finish taking it."
"Oh, I'm so embarrassed," Lao Zhou smiled so hard that his eyes rolled up and said to him, "Then I won't be polite. Next time I come to collect my salary, I'll treat you to some beans."
Occasionally, when Old Zhou gets greedy, he will ask Xiao Qian to fry some beans for him to take with him. Even fried beans are more delicious than others. All the friends he knows like to eat them.
"How long have we been friends? Why are you so polite?"
Everyone chatted with Old Zhou, "Old Zhou, Master Zhou and your son-in-law are not young, are they? Are they going to get married?"
Lao Zhoutou said happily: "We are just going to get married. We have already decided on the eighth day of October."
"What a wonderful day. Congratulations. We will have a wedding drink at that time."
"Same joy," Lao Zhoutou blurted out as he narrowed his eyes with a smile, "Don't talk about one drink, you can drink as much as you want when the time comes."
Some honestly took the words as polite words, but some people's eyes flickered, and they pulled Lao Zhou's head and said with a smile: "Then we will come to your door to harass you. By the way, we will ask for a post when attending the wedding banquet, right?"
Old Zhou was startled, he really wanted to go.
He didn't mind, but they had to give money as gifts for the banquet. They were not particularly close relatives and friends, so why did they rush to give money as gifts?
But the thought just flashed, and Lao Zhoutou smiled and said: "I will bring it to you next time I receive my salary."
The old man who showed the note to Old Zhou didn't say anything. As the team moved further and further, more people came forward to collect their things and left, and fewer people surrounded them. Then he pulled Old Zhou and whispered.
: "Old Zhou, these guests are very particular, right? Don't you ask about the children at home?"
Lao Zhoutou was also more eloquent than him. After looking around, he lowered his voice and said, "Of course I have to ask. My wife has already said it. We haven't read books and don't know much. We can't make our own decisions about things outside.
You have to ask the children."
"Then you agreed immediately."
Lao Zhoutou said nonchalantly: "What are you afraid of? When I go back and ask my daughter, please do it if you can. If you can't, I won't come to collect my salary next month. Let my Wulang come to collect it. He doesn't know anything."
.”
Old man: ...Shameless.
But he didn't say anything. He only glanced at Lao Zhou with admiration and said, "It's my turn. Let's go. You go in and get it first, and I'll keep an eye on you."
Old Zhoutou became happy and immediately asked his servants to drive the car up, and then took the old man in with him.
The people who hand out the gifts are also the officials who give out the salary. They are precociously familiar with these people. Anyway, almost the same people come to receive the salary in every household every month. They meet once every month, and it is difficult not to recognize them.
Seeing Lao Zhoutou, the officials also raised a smile. This man's daughter and son-in-law are popular people in front of His Majesty, especially now.