Chapter 729 Late Night Canteen in Taicang
At noon, the earth seemed to have turned into a cauldron of pills under the fan of Emperor Jiajing. The air that filled the sky and the earth was like steaming fireworks, and the whole world was burned. , so hot that people can’t breathe.
The domesticated guard dogs in the Taicang Bank are lying under the shade of the trees, sticking out their bright red tongues, and the horses in the stable have their nostrils particularly wide...
Relatively speaking Despite the heat outside, there is a room in Taicang Bank that is like a paradise, as cool as spring.
There was an old dog outside the room, lying on the crack of the door, curled up comfortably and sleeping soundly.
There was a reason why this old dog was lying outside the crack of the door against the sun. The cool air that leaked out from time to time in the crack of the door was much cooler than under the shade of the trees outside.
From the outside, this room is very unremarkable.
Too inconspicuous.
It is no different from other warehouses in Taicang Bank. It is a very ordinary structure of blue bricks and red tiles. There is no decoration on the outside. It even looks shabbier than other warehouses. There is a hanging hanging above the room. A small and medium-sized door plaque with peeling paint has the unified number of the warehouse with "Jiyou" written on it.
There is a saying that "gold and jade are on the outside, and lint is on the inside." In fact, sometimes, the reverse is also applicable, "white lint is on the outside, and gold and jade are inside."
This room is like that.
Although it looks simple and unpretentious from the outside, the inside of this room is unique and luxurious beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
The room is very spacious, with two warehouses connected together. The room is brightly lit, and in the center is an ingenious indoor spring and water corridor. The water corridor is carved with small bridges and flowing water, and a rockery. The stone stands in the middle of the spring pool. The spring water flows down like a waterfall, winding through six small bridges, passing through an S shape along the water corridor, and then disappearing underground.
There are potted green plants around the water corridor, and more than ten pots of ice cubes are placed, which exudes a slight coolness and makes the whole room cool.
Indoor and outdoor, it seems like there is a different season, the temperature difference is about ten degrees, just like turning on the air conditioner in modern times.
In the middle of the room, there was a banquet that was just taking place. The tables and chairs were all made of huanghuali wood and were carefully crafted. It looked like the work of a master at first glance.
Amber wine, luminous glasses, gold and jade bottles, jade plates...
The food is picturesque, the wine is like a fountain, the table is full of delicacies rarely seen in the world, even the fin abalone can only be placed on the wine table. It's an eye-catching spot and rarely used with chopsticks.
Such a feast is just an ordinary work meal for the eight people here. They are all officials of Taicang Bank and the management of Taicang Bank. This is one of their " "Late Night Canteen", they usually come here to have a "simple" "work meal", just like today. If someone has an impromptu happy event or something, they will add a few more dishes and some wine to the "working meal". For them, it is not good food or wine, that is, swallows, abalone, ginseng wings, etc. The home-cooked food is just the daughter's red that has been produced for decades.
It was noon at this time. It was as hot as a stove outside and cool and comfortable indoors. We were all alone at the banquet, so the atmosphere was naturally relaxed and happy.
Sitting at the head of the banquet was Mr. Zhang, the Minister of Finance and Treasury in Taicang. Mr. Zhang had been the Minister of Finance and Treasury for five years.
Master Zhang is about forty or fifty years old. He has an elegant look and is well-kept. His face is like a crown jewel, gentle and elegant. He holds a gauze and silk Suzhou fan in his hand.
However, no one dared to look down upon the sparkle in Mr. Zhang’s eyes.
The Ming Dynasty implemented the two-capital system. Mr. Zhang, the Minister of Household Affairs in Nanjing, was responsible for collecting taxes and grains from Nanjing Zhili and Huguang, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces (the taxes and grains paid by these provinces accounted for fully half of the Ming Dynasty's tax revenue), and was also responsible for water transportation, salt diversion, surveying and other duties. As the minister of the Nanjing Ministry of Household Affairs, Mr. Zhang had a good relationship with Yan Shifan, so he was naturally appointed as the minister of Taicang Bank Treasury.
The remaining seven people at the banquet are also senior executives of Taicang Bank. The two sitting to the left and right of Zhang Guanku are Taicang Bank Managers, and the remaining five people at the table are all Taicang Bank Treasurers.
The eight people at this table are the senior executives of Taicang Bank.
The Ming Dynasty had a strict management system for the Taicang Bank. There was a minister in charge of the Taicang Bank, which was usually held by an official from the Ministry of Household Affairs. Below the minister in charge of the treasury, there are two doctors and several treasurers, followed by eight treasury clerks, and below the treasury clerks there are a number of treasury officials and fifty treasury soldiers.
Taicang Yinku is the fattest man in the Ming Dynasty, and the positions in Taicang Yinku are naturally fat jobs that make people jealous and drooling.
Not to mention the officials in charge of the treasury, just the treasury soldiers who serve here. Each treasury soldier is a coveted job. The number of treasury soldiers is a constant fifty, and they are replaced every five years. A group of people, every time when the military soldiers were replaced, every military soldier position was stared at eagerly by hundreds of related households.
Every Ku soldier has a strong connection, or is a relative of someone or a close confidant of someone. Even so, to seek this position, you have to use all means and spend a lot of money. Only by spending money to buy joints can you get a hard-won position as a soldier.
This is true for both treasury soldiers and treasury soldiers. You can imagine the relationship between the treasury officials and officials here.
“Tsk, tsk, the stew of bear paws today is better than the stew of pig trotters. Chef Wang really deserves his reputation. He deserves to be a famous top chef in Liaodong.”
Taicang Langzhong Zhao Dingtian picked up a bear paw with chopsticks, shook it into his mouth, opened his mouth and took a bite. The juice from the bear paw splashed in his mouth, and the fragrant taste immediately poured into his internal organs. After savoring it for a moment, he was very satisfied. said with emotion.
"Hahaha, Mr. Zhao, you are only half right. On the one hand, Chef Wang's cooking skills are good. On the other hand, Mr. Zhang doesn't want to think about where this bear's paw recipe comes from. "Jia Xu, another Taicang doctor, joked with a smile.
"Oh, what recipe? Where did it come from?" Zhao Dingtian, the doctor, asked with great interest.
"For those with hair, dig a pit in the ground, put half of it in lime, put your palm in it, add lime on top, and pour cold water on it. After it has grown, stop cooling and pick it up. The hair will be easy to remove and the roots will come out. Wash and soak. Soak the rice in water for one or two days and wrap it in lard. Boil it and remove the oil. Tear it into strips and stew the pork with the world's dragon meat. It's better than the immortal delicacies. It's not to be missed by gluttonous people." The doctor, Jia Xu, took a sip of Longjing tribute tea, knocked on the table, and chanted silently.
"So particular. Lao Jia, you haven't said where the prescription comes from." The doctor Zhao Dingtian clicked his tongue, and then asked where the prescription came from.
"Thanks to Mr. Zhang for not cherishing his broom, you and I have this blessing." Jia Xu, a Taicang doctor, said to Zhang Guanku.
"Thank you, Mr. Zhang."
Hearing this, everyone present expressed their gratitude to Zhang Guanku.
"You guys, if you want to thank me, just thank Jia Langzhong. It was Jia Langzhong who discovered this recipe in one of my books." Zhang Guanku stroked his beard and smiled, shook his head, stretched out his finger and pointed, Jia Secretary said with a smile. .
There was laughter at the banquet, and everyone drank and drank.
"Hey, speaking of which, how is the inspector appointed by the imperial court doing now?" Treasurer Liu at the wine table thought of this and couldn't help but ask.
"Hahaha, Treasurer Liu, what are you worrying about? It's not like the inspectors have never come here in the past years. One term after another, it's still the same as before. Hold a meeting, look through the account books, and check. Check the files, and at the worst, look at the scene, give guidance on the work, and then collect some people and leave." Another treasurer Qian said with a smile without any worry.
"But I heard that this year is different. The Holy Father has set up a cross-inspection system. I am afraid that this time the inspection will be serious." Treasurer Liu said hesitantly.
"So what, don't think about it, how deep the water is here, no matter how many ships come, they will have to float on it." Treasurer Qian next to him said meaningfully.
"Haha, Liu Kushu doesn't know yet. I'm afraid the inspection team appointed by the imperial court has been wiped out." Jia Xu, the doctor, looked at Secretary Liu, a smile slowly bloomed at the corner of his mouth, as if the inspection team was there. It was a joke in his eyes.
“Huh?” Secretary Liu was surprised, and then his eyes lit up.
"The inspector Liu Guangzuo went home to Dingyou. The deputy envoy Qu Tongyang had a stroke last night. The censor Sinan was beaten with a stick. He couldn't get out of bed within a few months. Gao Ruigao If nothing unexpected happens to the doctor, this will be the answer Something has happened. Of course, I don’t need to explain the reason to you. As for Zhu Ping’an, who is still young, there is no need to worry too much.” Jia Xuru, a strategic strategist, smiled meaningfully.
"Hahaha, it's just good to know what's interesting. Don't think about who is above us." Treasurer Qian's mouth curved perfectly.
"Hush, be silent, who is above us? The one above us is of course the Holy One." Taicang doctor Jia Xu raised his hands and said to Xiyuan in a serious tone.
"Of course it's your Majesty, of course it's your Majesty." Treasurer Qian understood the look, laughed dryly, and replied repeatedly.
"Haha, the superiors have had accidents one after another, so Zhu Ping'an must be too scared to leave the house." Another Treasurer Zheng said with a smile.
"No, I still want to see what the No. 1 Scholar looks like. Besides, someone from the inspection team must come."
"Yes, there must be someone from this inspection team. One person.”
"Let's take time to deliver the account books to Mr. Zhu another day, and coax Mr. Zhu to come."
The atmosphere at the wine table became more relaxed, and everyone laughed and joked, without any pressure. , it feels like the inspection team was wiped out while talking and laughing.
At this moment, there was a knock on the door outside.
Dong-dong-dong, dong-dong.
Three long and two short.
Everyone at the wine table heard the knock on the door, and their laughter continued. These three long and two short knocks on the door were the agreed-upon codes, and they belonged to one of them.
“Who is it?” Taicang doctor Zhao Dingtian asked loudly.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Zhao, I am Sun Kushu. The guards outside just now told me that there is a man named Zhu Ping'an outside, who is said to be the inspector of the Taicang Bank and requested to enter the warehouse for inspection."
Sun Kushu’s voice came from outside through the crack in the door.
"What? Zhu Pingan is here?"
"Why is he here?"
Everyone in the room was shocked, and then fell silent instantly. (End of this chapter)