When they arrived to eat, the sun was almost setting. It was only March at this time, the sky was still a bit cool, and the sun was setting quickly, but there were still many pedestrians on the street, and there was even a trend of more and more people. You could tell at a glance
They are people who go out to have dinner and visit the night market.
Bai Shan got off the carriage first, then turned around and helped Zhou Man down, and said with a smile: "It seems that the curfew in Qingzhou is late."
Man Bao is still a little happy, this shows that Qingzhou is prosperous, and in this way, Qingzhou Medical Office will have a way to make money after it is established.
The two stood at the door of the store and looked up. Seeing that it was three stories high, they nodded again with satisfaction.
Although the two of them traveled in only one carriage, there were many escorts accompanying them, so they attracted attention even before they got off. When Bai Shan got off the carriage, everyone couldn't help but look over.
Bai Shan and Zhou Man stood in front of the store, and the crowd automatically moved away from them, so that a vacuum appeared around them.
Magistrate Lu had already arrived early, so the guests he invited would naturally come earlier, but those who came earlier than him were other officials from the county government and the governor's office.
Magistrate Lu took Mrs. Lu into the private room and sat down. He didn't even take a sip of tea when he heard that Bai Shan and Zhou Man had arrived. He immediately stood up and said to everyone: "Let's go down to greet Mr. Bai and Mr. Zhou."
Cao Lushi said: "In terms of rank, County Magistrate Bai is still below you, why should you lower your profile like this?"
However, County Magistrate Lu smiled and said: "We are all officials in the same dynasty, why should we care too much about rank? And when it comes to rank, I'm afraid no one here can compare to the couple. Don't forget, although their official positions in Qingzhou are
It’s low, but it still has a title.”
"A title is about merit, but an official position is about ability. Since you are in the officialdom, it is natural to judge by ability. If everyone competes for title, who would dare to appoint someone with a title?"
Magistrate Lu shook his head, "Regardless of his title, Mr. Zhou still holds the official position compiled by Chongwenguan. He is not higher than you and me? What's more, although Mr. Bai was sent to Beihai County as the county magistrate, who doesn't know that he is His Majesty's confidant?
After coming out of Zhongshu Province and having some experience, I will eventually return to the capital."
County Magistrate Lu gave a meaningful advice: "Be kind to others and be kind to yourself, and we may have the intention to seek someone else's family in the future."
He really intends to be good friends with Bai Shan. Bai Shan's future is much brighter than his. If he can become friends with him, they can help each other in the future.
However, he still had to fight for what he should fight for at this time, such as the location of Qingzhou Medical Office.
Magistrate Lu led the officials and their family members downstairs and welcomed Bai Shan and Zhou Man into the restaurant with smiles on their faces.
Upon seeing this, the shopkeeper of the restaurant immediately and cleverly approached them, personally guided them, sent them to the private room to settle down, and personally gave them their names and orders.
There are two large tables in the private room, which are very spacious, three times the size of ordinary private rooms. Originally there was a screen between the two tables, which was prepared for distinguished guests who came with their families.
In this way, the male guests and female guests are both in the same place, but not in the same place.
However, perhaps considering Zhou Man's status, she would definitely not sit at the table with the female family members alone. How could Magistrate Lu talk to her like that?
So at this time, the screen was put away, and each official brought his wife, who was sitting beside him, so that there was no distinction between male and female guests.
This kind of sitting method is only used in this era when a close family is entertaining guests, but it is not considered rude to use it here.
Bai Shan sighed in his heart again about Magistrate Lu's thoughtfulness, and the smile on his face became even bigger.
County Magistrate Lu invited the two of them to take a seat, but Bai Shan and Zhou Man declined. In the end, Zhou Man sat in the honorary seat. There was no other way, who let her still have a fourth-grade official position?
Bai Shan scanned everyone's faces and sat down on Zhou Man's side while suppressing a smile, while Magistrate Lu sat down on the other side.
Although this is a round table, Zhou Man still has the feeling of being surrounded by stars.
She recalled this feeling for a moment, then smiled as the shopkeeper announced the names of the dishes. She deliberately ordered two of the restaurant's signature dishes, and then handed over the responsibility of ordering to others.
While the shopkeeper wrote down the menu they ordered, he watched their county magistrate personally pour a cup of tea for Zhou Man and Bai Shan, and asked with a smile: "Are Mr. Zhou and Mr. Bai still adaptable to the weather in Qingzhou?"
Zhou Man smiled and said, "I've only been here for a day, but I think it's a little more humid than the capital and feels better."
Magistrate Lu laughed loudly and said: "Qingzhou is near the sea and is wetter than the Central Plains. Mr. Zhou and Mr. Bai haven't gone to Beihai yet. When they get to Beihai, they will know that it is wetter there."
Since Magistrate Lu took the initiative to bring up the topic, Bai Shan naturally wanted to follow, so he asked, "Who is in charge of Beihai County now?"
Magistrate Lu immediately said: "This is Fang County Cheng."
He smiled and said: "This Fang County Magistrate was originally the chief registrar. Last year when I was transferred to Yidu County, he was temporarily in charge of Beihai County, so he was promoted to County Magistrate."
Bai Shan smiled and asked, "Is Fang County Cheng from Beihai?"
Magistrate Lu smiled and shook his head, "That's not the case. He is from Ye County, Laizhou."
Bai Shan was surprised, and Man Bao also raised his head in surprise. This is very strange. At present, most of the county chief registrars are from local noble families. Most of them are studying the Ming Dynasty or inspecting and selecting officials.
They will only be transferred to other places when they are county magistrates.
The two of them did not continue the topic in front of everyone. Bai Shan continued to ask about the situation in Beihai County.
Magistrate Lu obviously wanted to make good friends with Bai Shan, so he said everything he could. In the eyes of everyone, the two of them hit it off and talked happily.
The shopkeeper wrote down the dishes they ordered and bowed out. He went to the kitchen to order first, and then went to the backyard on the first floor to find his boss. "He is the magistrate of Beihai County, but the lady who followed him is from Lu County."
The order to call her Master Zhou should be the order from the Qingzhou Medical Department."
Shang Dalang nodded, "Looking at Magistrate Lu's actions today, I thought it was the new governor who had arrived, but the age didn't match. It turned out to be the magistrate of Beihai County and the magistrate of the Medical Department."
"My boss, Master Zhou is sitting here with dignity. The county magistrate is very respectful to her."
Shang Dalang thought for a while and then said: "I have heard that this famous doctor is a popular person in the palace. She not only cured the prince, but also the queen's illness. It is normal for County Magistrate Lu to be polite to her.
"
"Then why did she come to Qingzhou to sign an order?"
The official position assigned to the Medical Department is not high.
Shang Dalang said: "Who knows? You can go back and find out where the Qingzhou Medical Office is built, and just send a congratulatory gift later."
"yes."
At the same time, Cheng Jiulang, who was sitting on the second floor, withdrew his ears and smiled with the person opposite: "I didn't expect that there would be distinguished guests at the restaurant tonight. Are all the officials from the county government here? I don't know the two people who greeted us.
Who is he?"
The man sitting opposite him shook his head and sighed: "Who knows, last year Qingzhou angered His Majesty, and many people were arrested. The new governor has been appointed for more than two months, but he has not been appointed yet. Alas, the governor has not been appointed yet."
I don’t know whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing for the president of the government to be overstepped in his control by Yidu County.”