But with Xu Changqing's status, there must be no problem.
But he actually lived in the outer city where ordinary people settled.
Compared with the inner city, whether it is the environment or other aspects, the outer city is far inferior to the inner city.
Xu Changqing's home is not big, just next to the main street in the inner city not far from the outer city.
Looking up at the house with the Xu Mansion plaque in front of him, the wide open front door, and the sound of women crying inside, Li Chen motioned to Sanbao to accompany him, while the others were waiting outside, and then stepped in.
The small courtyard looks very poor and simple, with almost no decoration. Some of the items that are there are only used by ordinary families, and they are all of a certain age.
There were not many servants in the mansion, and it took a long time for Li Chen to walk in before a hunchbacked butler in his fifties or sixties, who looked extremely old, came over.
The old butler saw that Li Chen had an extraordinary bearing, so even though he was a stranger, he did not dare to neglect him, and asked politely: "Master, is there something wrong?"
Li Chen asked: "This is Mr. Xu's residence?"
The butler's expression darkened, and he nodded and said, "If the young master is asking Mr. Xu Changqing, then that's it. But now my master is in trouble and his house has been ransacked. Young Master, please come back."
Li Chen didn't say anything. Sanbao stood up and said, "My young master and your master are old acquaintances. I came here to have a look when I passed by. I'm not looking for your master to do anything."
The old housekeeper sighed and said with a wry smile: "You two have also seen the decline of my house. If there is anything good to see, please come back."
Li Chen ignored him and asked: "Master Xu is also the left minister of the Ministry of Household Affairs, a fourth-rank official in the imperial court. Why doesn't he live in the inner city? Why is this mansion so old?"
Hearing this, the old housekeeper said: "The inner city? The inner city is where rich people live. My husband, Liangxiu Qingfeng, has never been greedy for anything from the government. Naturally, he has no money to buy a house in the inner city. Even this mansion now, my wife sold her dowry and
After years of saving, I reluctantly purchased it.”
Li Chen nodded, feeling much better about Xu Changqing in his heart.
At this moment, the old housekeeper said again: "In today's world, only corrupt officials can get promoted and make a fortune. A good official like my husband can't even get a bite of better food during the holidays. That's all, but now he is still in prison."
If there is a disaster, one should not be an upright official."
Upon hearing this, Sanbao immediately yelled: "What do you know, my servant? According to you, your master is bent on being an upright official. Is he wrong?"
The old housekeeper said sadly and angrily: "It's true, can't you see? Those corrupt officials are all very fat and rich. They bought properties in other places. Even if the incident happened and they were dismissed from office, they could still become rich. The worst is the worst.
The descendants will always have enough food and clothing for the rest of their lives, but what will my master have left?"
"People from the Ministry of Punishment came to my door and ransacked my house without saying a word. After that, they scolded my house for not having much money and made them go away in vain!"
"Is this the consequence of being an upright official?"
Sanbao was actually silenced by an old housekeeper.
While they were talking, a young man came out. He came out after hearing the voices outside. After seeing the two strangers, Li Chen and Sanbao, he frowned and asked, "Uncle Zhang, who are these two?"
The housekeeper replied: "This young master said that he is an acquaintance of the master and came to take a look when he was passing by."
The young man was quite magnanimous. After bowing and saluting, he said, "Young Master, I'm really sorry. Something bad happened at home and I made you laugh."
