Chapter 63: All Good Feasts Must Come to an End
Apart from Xu Zhiqian, Zhang Fei didn’t have any particularly close friends. His impression of Wang Ye was also good, especially since the latter was a devoted fanboy. Coupled with his high spirits today, he enjoyed the wine quite well.
Unfortunately, Wang Ye didn’t stay for long. He left early, still using the back door. Xu Zhiqian personally saw him off.
“Your Senior Brother Wang has left?”
“Yeah.”
Xu Zhiqian nodded, looking at Zhang Fei’s flushed face, feeling a bit tired in her heart. She couldn’t help but remind him, “You should drink less to avoid causing trouble.”
“Where’s the trouble in that? I’m not like you, I don’t misbehave after drinking,” Zhang Fei replied irritably.
Xu Zhiqian glared at him angrily, “When have I ever misbehaved after drinking? I haven’t settled accounts with you for what happened just now.”
“Just kidding.”
Zhang Fei realized he misspoke and quickly changed the subject, “Don’t be angry. I have two good news to tell you today, or else I wouldn’t dare to joke like that.”
“What good news?” Xu Zhiqian asked. Zhang Fei took out a contract and handed it over. Xu Zhiqian, still angry, took it and read it, her face brightening, “We did it!”
It was indeed good news for her.
Huge news!
Zhang Fei nodded, “Yes, I am now in charge of the Fan Family Bookstore. That decree restricting pen-in-caps is just a piece of wastepaper to me now.”
Xu Zhiqian was overjoyed, “If they knew, they would be furious and unable to sleep at night. But let’s not make a fuss for now. When the day comes for you to seek justice for your clients and you beat on the grievance drums, it’ll be a shock to them.”
“Great minds think alike. I also specifically instructed Fan Li not to reveal this for now.”
Zhang Fei chuckled and suddenly pulled out another contract, handing it to Xu Zhiqian.
“What’s this?” she asked, taking it and looking surprised, “You want me to join the Fan Family Bookstore with you?”
Zhang Fei nodded with a smile, “Since our cooperation has been so successful, why not continue?”
Xu Zhiqian asked, “Didn’t you find me meddling before?”
“I still do!” Zhang Fei chuckled, seeing Xu Zhiqian’s glare. He hurriedly continued, “But isn’t it our job as pen-in-caps to meddle? If every time we went to court was for our own personal affairs, we’d be sitting in jail all the time. That’s why I hope you can join the bookstore. This way, you can help the poor write complaint documents. I will establish a position in the bookstore specifically for this purpose, to help poor people write complaint documents and fight lawsuits for free.”
Xu Zhiqian was very moved, glanced at Zhang Fei, and asked, “Then what will you do?”
Zhang Fei sighed, “I’ll be making money for you to spend, of course. Without money, how can you afford to help those poor people fight lawsuits for free?”
Rolling her eyes slightly, Xu Zhiqian said, “You just want me to earn good reputation for the bookstore.”
“Cough cough. How… how did you know?”
“Didn’t you do the same in the case of Li Si before?”
“Well, anyway, you liked it too. We both get what we want.”
“Well, I didn’t say I refused!”
Xu Zhiqian looked at the contract, unable to suppress the smile at the corner of her mouth. Yeah, why have I never thought about writing complaint documents myself, helping those people seek justice?
Suddenly, she looked at Zhang Fei again, “Wait a minute! You don’t want to stay in the bookstore forever, do you?”
Zhang Fei was startled, “Why not?”
Xu Zhiqian said, “Did you forget, Uncle Wang said he would recommend you for an official position?”
Zhang Fei frowned and asked, “Do you think I should enter the court as an official?”
Xu Zhiqian blinked and said, “That depends on what you’re pursuing.”
“What am I pursuing?”
Zhang Fei fell into contemplation. When he first arrived in Northern Song Dynasty, he was determined to save Fang Yun. After saving Fang Yun, he hoped to establish himself in Bianjing without relying on others. Later, he pursued the right to litigate, and now he had achieved it all. The more he thought about it, the emptier he felt inside.
After a while, he suddenly looked up at Xu Zhiqian and said, “Give me some suggestions.”
Xu Zhiqian looked at Zhang Fei in surprise.
Zhang Fei continued, “Listening to someone’s suggestions, even if they’re your enemy, is never a bad thing.”
Xu Zhiqian rolled her eyes at him and pondered for a moment. “For you, wealth is not difficult to attain, even without becoming an official. Therefore, I think you should follow Uncle Wang and pursue more ambitious goals.”
She glanced at Zhang Fei and added, “Do you remember that night when you talked about how helping the rich avoid disputes can prevent them from oppressing the common people?”
Zhang Fei nodded slightly.
Xu Zhiqian said, “I don’t agree with that. I want to tell you, if you really want to help more people, the only way is to enter the government as an official.”
Ever since Emperor Zhao Xu had come to the manor the first time and wanted Zhang Fei to become an official, she wanted to tell him this. But she couldn’t reveal Emperor Zhao Xu’s identity. But now that Wang Anshi had also mentioned it, she could say so.
Zhang Fei was surprised. “You think that highly of me?”
Xu Zhiqian rolled her eyes slightly, “If you weren’t capable, why would I bother to keep an eye on you? I’m afraid you’d go astray and waste your talents.”
“You’re overestimating me. To be the first to worry the world’s worries, and last to rejoice in the world’s happiness,” Zhang Fei sighed. “That path is very difficult!”
If he didn’t know what the situation in the Song Dynasty was like, he might still have some fighting spirit. But because he knew the situation, this path seemed like a dead end no matter how he approached it.
“But if you aspire to it, you will find happiness,” Xu Zhiqian said.
“How do you know?”
“My father is like that!”
“How can I compare to the Benefactor?”
Zhang Fei smiled bitterly. He had considered becoming an official. Coming to the Song Dynasty, being an official was undoubtedly the first choice. First, it brought wealth; second, it brought security. But this was different from the aspirations of Wang Anshi and his group.
His mindset hadn’t completely merged with the present era. He still held onto the idea of striving and making money, without the concept of serving the country.
These words were too weighty.
For a moment, he was also at a loss and suddenly asked Xu Zhiqian, “Why don’t you ask me what the second good news is?”
Xu Zhiqian hesitated for a moment, then raised the contract in her hand, “Isn’t this the second good news?”
Zhang Fei chuckled, “Getting meager compensation and helping the poor fight lawsuits for free, is that good news?”
Xu Zhiqian asked again, “So what is the second good news?”
Zhang Fei grinned, “I’ve asked Chen Maoqian to help me find a house. If everything goes well, I’ll move out soon.”
Xu Zhiqian was taken aback, “You… You’re moving out?”
“Yeah!” Zhang Fei nodded. “Didn’t you want me to move out?”
“I…”
Seeing Zhang Fei looking at her with curiosity, Xu Zhiqian blinked and suddenly pouted, “I did want you to move out, but seeing you so happy, I… I’m not happy anymore.”
“I knew it!” Zhang Fei clapped excitedly, laughing heartily. “I’m happy precisely because I knew you wouldn’t be happy about it. Haha!”
“You’re intentionally teasing me.”
“You won’t be mad for long. I’m going back to my room to sleep.”
Zhang Fei dashed off.
“This guy is really annoying. He even wants to annoy me before leaving,” Xu Zhiqian stomped her foot angrily.
Suddenly, she heard singing not far away, “Reflections are real, but the person is fake, here’s nothing worth persisting with; You’re not you, and I was not me, a hundred years ago.”
“It’s that song again, sung so horribly,” Xu Zhiqian muttered to herself, then picked up the contract again, her eyes filled with anticipation.
At the third watch of the night.
The Hanlin Academy!
In the faint candlelight, an old man sat by a flame heater, absorbed in his work without distraction, oblivious to sleep and food.
Suddenly, a chilling night breeze rushed into the room, causing the dim candlelight to flicker violently, and a long shadow cast into the room.
The old man shielded the candle flame with one hand and turned to look. He saw a young man entering the room, and the old man immediately stood up.
“No need for formalities, Teacher.”
The young man was Emperor Zhao Xu.
And the old man was none other than Wang Anshi.
Emperor Zhao Xu suddenly looked at the empty seat opposite Wang Anshi, feeling somewhat surprised. “Isn’t Academician Sima accompanying you tonight?”
Wang Anshi smiled, “We had a disagreement just now, so he went home.”
He felt quite pleased about it.
Emperor Zhao Xu smiled and asked, “What are you looking at, Teacher?”
Wang Anshi hurriedly replied, “I’m examining the account books of the Shophouse and Residence Office.”
Emperor Zhao Xu asked, “Are there any problems?”
Wang Anshi sighed, “There are quite a few. Everyone knows that the Shophouse and Residence Office colludes with private realtors, leasing government-owned houses as private properties and profiting from it.”
Emperor Zhao Xu nodded slightly and asked, “How do you plan to handle it?”
Wang Anshi sighed heavily, “Changes must be made. As for whether to hold them accountable, I have some reservations about that.”
Emperor Zhao Xu was curious, “You’ve always been intolerant of evil. Why are you showing leniency to them today?”
Wang Anshi replied, “Because such practice is tacitly approved by the court.”
Emperor Zhao Xu nodded slightly again and asked, “How do you think it should be changed?”
Wang Anshi said, “I haven’t figured it out yet.”
Emperor Zhao Xu pondered for a moment and said, “I have a suggestion. I wonder if it’s feasible?”
Wang Anshi hurriedly asked, “What is Your Majesty’s idea?”
Emperor Zhao Xu said, “Based on qualifications, rent public houses to hardworking and kind-hearted commoners instead of lazy idlers or the relatives of certain individuals. Qualification should be determined based on the taxes paid and services rendered.”
Wang Anshi’s eyes lit up, “Your Majesty’s suggestion is brilliant!”
Emperor Zhao Xu smiled, “I was also enlightened by someone.”
Wang Anshi asked, “Someone? Do I know them?”
But Emperor Zhao Xu just smiled without answering. Instead, he said, “I wonder if you agree with Academician Sima’s suggestion?”
Wang Anshi was puzzled for a moment and asked, “Is Your Majesty referring to the matter of building houses?”
Emperor Zhao Xu nodded.
After a moment of contemplation, Wang Anshi sighed, “Although I have my own opinions, I don’t deny that Academician Sima’s proposal is also in consideration of the people’s interests and is not unreasonable.”
He had already decided not to argue with Sima Guang about this matter. After all, it didn’t involve his core political agenda.
Emperor Zhao Xu was pleased, “I also plan to allocate some more land to build public houses. This can help the common people and also serve as a warning to the wealthy, showing that the imperial court does not want housing prices to rise.”
“Your Majesty is wise.”