Wang Yunsheng has been an official for many years. He is not an old fox, but he can still be regarded as an old man.

Facing Kou Ji's questioning, he was not afraid. Instead, his face turned bitter and he said dryly: "How did Shangguan start talking about this? I'm an official under your command. If I go to sue you for your treachery, I will

Officials cannot escape punishment.

How could a subordinate do such a thankless thing and offend others?"

Kou Ji glanced at Wang Yunsheng and snorted coldly: "Then I asked you to ask Li Shen about asking for the money for the soup and medicine. Who told it? Why would my grandfather know about it?"

Wang Yunsheng hurriedly said: "Then you have wronged the official. The official did not tell anyone that it was you who asked Li Shen for the money for the soup and medicine."

Before Kou Ji could speak, Wang Yunsheng said again: "My guess is that Kou Xiang thought there was something fishy and deliberately defrauded you. You didn't show any flaws, did you?"

Kou Ji knew that Wang Yunsheng was lying, but he did not expose him. Instead, he snorted and said: "I didn't reveal any flaws, but my grandfather said that after going to court today, the three of me will be confronted in court."

Wang Yunsheng was slightly stunned when he heard this.

He didn't expect that Kou Zhun would cling to such a trivial matter.

He originally wanted to fool Kou Ji and put this bad reputation on Kou Ji.

Now that Kou Zhun insisted on dragging the three of them to confront each other in court, it would be hard for him to fool Kou Ji anymore.

But he also didn't want to get the bad reputation of being a naughty guy.

He pondered for a moment and then said to Kou Ji with a grimace: "Shang Guan, I will do everything according to your wishes..."

Hearing this, Kou Ji narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Then the money for the soup and medicine you asked for should also be paid to me in full?"

"this……"

Wang Yunsheng was a little embarrassed.

He didn't want the bad reputation of being a mischievous person, but he did want the money of one thousand guan.

My family knows my own business.

He was born into a poor man. Ever since he met Li Fang and was promoted to an official career, all his relatives in the countryside came to him, asking for a job in his house to earn a living.

He was very thick-skinned in front of Kou Ji, but very thin-skinned in front of his relatives.

As time went by, the house took in many relatives.

In the past, when he was in another yamen, he could get along with some oil and water, and his life was relatively smooth.

But after he was transferred to the Ministry of Industry and was put on the bench, there wasn't much money to be made.

The high salary of the Song Dynasty was good for maintaining integrity, and his salary was not low either.

But compared to making money, salary is nothing.

Unfortunately, he was not a Jinshi, and he worked in a cold government office. There were many ways to make money, but he was not a part of it.

He wanted to do business to make a profit, but there was no business talent in his family.

What's more important is that the business scene in Bianjing City is very deep.

Even if it is a handful of loess, it belongs to its owner.

As long as you open the door to do business, there is more or less some background behind it.

Just like the Donglai Pawn Shop and Ziqi Gambling Shop that Kou Ji moved to before, the person standing behind it was Wu Xian, the imperial censor.

There is also the shadow of Wu Xian behind the store Zhang Cheng rented before.

Kou Ji moved to Wu Xian, it was like crushing an ant to death.

That's because Kou Ji has a strong background.

But it wouldn't work if it were him.

Wu Xian was born as a serious Jinshi.

If he faced Wu Xian, no matter whether it was his fault or not, all the important ministers in the court who were Jinshi would favor Wu Xian.

His salary can make the family's life comfortable.

But after having two more prodigal sons, his salary seemed insufficient.

His two sons were not very good at studying, but they chose to imitate others and spend their days hanging out with a group of distinguished children.

With his little salary, he was completely defeated.

However, I can't hit or scold him.

Beaten and scolded, his mother and wife all protected the two prodigal sons.

In the past, the farmland his family purchased outside Bianjing City could still contribute some money to him every year.

But a flood outside Bianjing City swallowed up his family's fertile farmland outside the city, and the tenant farmers fled and scattered.

After spring, he had to re-hire tenants and waive rent for a year to appease those tenants who helped him farm.

Bianjing City is no different from other places. If he exploits his tenants too much and gets a reputation for being unkind, he will definitely be impeached.

And the price of food in Bianjing City has been raised to a prohibitive level due to floods.

His salary is not enough to support his family's expenses.

If not, he would not have hurriedly found Kou Ji to implement these two rights after learning that the inner court had assigned the two rights of water and farming to the Ministry of Works.

I wouldn't really risk my skin to make trouble with Li Zhen.

He hurriedly helped the Ministry of Works to seize power, hoping that after the Ministry of Works gained power, he could make some money and subsidize his family.

He could scrape together a thousand dollars to give to Kou Ji, but he was unwilling to take it out.

But after giving Kou Ji money, he will have no money to recruit and settle tenants after next spring.

So when Kou Ji asked him for money, he felt a little panicked.

Kou Ji didn't know about Wang Yunsheng's family affairs. Seeing Wang Yunsheng's embarrassed face, he thought Wang Yunsheng belonged to Pixiu and only ate but didn't eat, so he laughed in a low voice and said: "Don't want to take out the money?"

Wang Yunsheng smiled dryly and said: "Xiaguan is indeed made sick by the people from the Third Division. The money is just enough for Xiaguan to drink medicine."

Wang Yunsheng is cheating.

When Kou Ji heard what he said, he was angry and funny, "Don't tell me what you have or don't have. The idea of ​​asking you to ask Li Shen for money was my idea. Now I have to bear a bad reputation."

.

According to the rules, this money should be taken by me.

You came out to make a scene, which is considered hard work.

Get one or two hundred dollars of hard-earned money."

Seeing Kou Ji's reluctance, Wang Yunsheng simply spread his hands and said helplessly: "The lower official has already spent that money."

Hearing this, Kou Ji narrowed his eyes and said, "The idea I came up with, the bad reputation I carried, and I don't have the money to take it, it's against the rules."

Wang Yunsheng said with a bitter face: "Lower officials also have difficulties."

Kou Ji said coldly: "I am not short of that little money, but I have planned something, so I can't take nothing and still get a bad name for no reason, right?

I will tell you directly.

Either you take the bad name and take all the money.

Either you bring a bad name to me, and the money goes to me."

Wang Yunsheng looked embarrassed.

Kou Ji said quietly: "As an official who is not a Jinshi, what do you want to do with your reputation? You are not young anymore, and your official career will probably stop here. What is the use of your reputation?"

Are you planning to wait until you leave office, return to your home, and wait for someone to ask you to be your husband?

This officer is different. I am one of the secondary exams in the spring of next year.

You have to protect your reputation somewhat."

Wang Yunsheng was shocked when he heard Kou Ji's words.

He stared at Kou Jiqian and said with a smile: "Xiaguan also has to have a reputation! If Xiaguan loses his reputation, it is hard to say whether Xiaguan can keep his official position."

Kou Ji said calmly: "Have you forgotten who your Shangguan is, and who your Shangguan's grandfather is?"

Wang Yunsheng looked at Kou Ji in astonishment.

Kou Ji looked at Wang Yunsheng and said with a smile: "Do you still have to worry about not having an official position if you follow our ancestors?"

Wang Yunsheng's eyes widened, his mouth opened wide, and he said in shock: "Shangguan is willing to regard this official as his confidant?"

Kou Ji said calmly: "If you are useful, why can't I treat you as a confidant?"

Wang Yunsheng was overjoyed.

He said decisively: "I will definitely not let you, Shangguan, get any bad reputation."

He is an official who entered the official career on the recommendation of others. He knows better than anyone the importance of having a backer behind him.

So after Kou Ji extended the olive branch, he agreed decisively without even thinking about it.

Kou Ji smiled knowingly, "You know what I'm going to say when I go to court later, right?"
To be continued...