Be a master through ancient times

Xijiang and Nanmin are good neighbors. After stepping out of the border of Xijiang Province, and walking ten miles forward, you can reach a small county under Nan'an Prefecture in Nanmin Province.

Because they are not far away, the customs and habits are similar, and there are only subtle differences in what they say.

Because Chuci came to take office this time, he was new here, and he really wanted to see how the local officials in Nanfu Province handled their affairs, so he could make a decision in his heart, so he didn't go to the inn in the city to stay, but took him with him. Gongwen went to the post house four or five miles away from the county seat.

The old postman held up the official document and squinted his eyes at the sun for a while before returning the official document to Chu Ci, apologizing for him while leading the way.

"The little old man has eyes that don't recognize Mount Tai, so he didn't know that the great master passed by here today, so please forgive me."

"No problem, I just happened to be staying here today." Chu Ci followed the old Yi Cheng with other people, and his decision to protect his eyes became more firm in his heart.As he walked, he looked at the environment here without any trace.

This place is still a few miles away from the county seat, so the area around the post house is not very lively, only a few scattered houses scattered around it.

After entering inside, Chu Ci found that the place seemed to be very old, and some of the furnishings looked dilapidated, as if they hadn't been repaired at all.It stands to reason that, as a residence for officials passing by in a county seat, it is like the facade of a city, how could it be so disrespectful?Could it be that the county's financial constraints are insufficient to support it?

"My lord, please sit down. I'm going to ask someone to clean up the house for you right now. Please wait a moment, my lord." After finishing speaking, the old Yicheng wanted to leave, but he seemed to remember something, went to the kitchen, and came out after a while , holding a brazier in his hand.

"It's cold now, adults can enjoy the fire. There are piles of sweet potatoes in the corner. If you don't mind, you can roast and eat them." The old Yicheng placed the brazier in the middle, poured some charcoal into it, and let it burn. Prosperous.

"Old sir, thank you very much." Chu Ci thanked him, the grateful smile on his face surprised the old Yicheng, thinking that this lord has a good temper.

After Yicheng opened the curtain and went out, everyone immediately gathered around the brazier in the middle.It is now December. Although the temperature in the south is higher than that in the north, this kind of humid cooling is even more difficult.Especially after it rained a few days ago, the wood of the post station was almost rotten, and the humidity lingered in the whole house. They only sat here for a while, and they felt cold in their bones.Now as soon as I roast it by the brazier, my whole body feels warm immediately, and I even feel sleepy.

"Sir..." Fu Mingan called Chu Ci expectantly, and unconsciously looked towards the corner of the wall. The buns they ate for lunch had almost been digested.

Chuci understood, and he asked, "Which one of you can roast sweet potatoes?"

"I will!" Chang Xiao said, when he and his grandfather had nothing to eat, that was what they ate, whether they were full or not, even if they ate too much, they would get heartburn, and there would be sour water in their stomachs.

"Then you go and get some to bake, it's getting late now, everyone eat some of this first." Chu Ci said.

Chang Xiao nodded, then ran to the corner to get a few medium-sized sweet potatoes, then went to the kitchen to find something like an iron net to put on the brazier, and then washed the sweet potatoes and put them on it.

"Why don't you just put it in the brazier to bake?" Chu Ci looked at the dark iron net with a little oily shine on it, and felt a little shocked when he saw it.

"Master, if you just put it down and bake it, it will burn, and it won't taste good then." Chang Xiao explained.

Chu Ci nodded thoughtfully. Didn't he put the sweet potatoes in the iron bucket that he ate before?But think about it, things baked over an open fire are not cooked evenly.

Several people were roasting sweet potatoes around the brazier, when suddenly there were a few footsteps outside the door.A voice of complaint came at the same time: "Old man, did you read it wrong? Now there are still old masters living in post houses, especially our post houses, where even the rats don't even come to the door."

"Don't be silly, you boy. I can see the official document clearly. Why can't it be?" The old postman said in a low voice.

The door curtain was lifted, and the old Yicheng cupped his hands at Chu Ci, and said: "Master Lao has been waiting for a long time, we will clean the room for you, I don't know what you want to eat at night, the little old man let my nephew to buy."

The nephew behind him tugged at the hem of his clothes, signaling him not to come without opening his mouth.Even if he can go to the county to buy it, he still needs to be able to pay for it, right?

Chu Ci saw their actions and said, "Old man, no need, we just eat a few sweet potatoes, so there is no need to make an extra trip."

sweet potato?The old postman didn't understand at first, but after thinking about it, he understood, and said cheerfully: "My lord is from the north, right? I heard that people there call sweet potatoes sweet potatoes."

Chu Ci almost broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, he had been in the capital, otherwise how could he explain that he, a native southerner, speaks a northern dialect?I don't know if this has happened before.Chu Ci recalled it for a while, but found that he couldn't remember it.Sure enough, some things have been engraved in the bones, and it is not so easy to forget.

"Yes, I heard that there are red sweet potatoes in the Yuchuan area. It can be seen that everyone has different names. However, the old man can guess that we are from the north with just a word of sweet potatoes, which is considered to be very knowledgeable. "

Chu Ci complimented him calmly, and the old Yicheng immediately became happy.

"It's not that the little old man is boasting. My knowledge is indeed better than most people in our county. I remember that decades ago, there were many scholars in southern Fujian. At that time, scholars from many places would come to us to study. I have seen a lot of high-ranking officials and nobles, and the post house was really lively at that time. I also learned my characters from an old gentleman at that time, and it was because I knew a few more characters that I was able to become a Shang Yicheng's..."

Once the old man recalls the past, his words are like the flood of the Yellow River, and he can't stop talking.In particular, Chu Ci is a good listener, and can always give him the feedback he wants at the right time, and the old man can't stop.

His nephew was a little depressed, but he didn't interrupt him as usual.Because according to him, the few people in front of him are rich masters, especially the young master.

"Oh, I made my lord laugh. The old man tends to talk too much when he talks." After he finished chatting with Chu Ci, the originally bright sky outside was now dark. Seeing this, the old Yi Cheng said a little shyly.

"What did the old man say? It's a pleasure chatting with a knowledgeable person like you. It's an eye-opener." Chu Ci said with a smile, and he didn't lie. It will reveal a little wisdom in life, no wonder people say that a family with an old man is like a treasure.

The old man was embarrassed by his praise, and when he turned around and saw his nephew who curled his lips slightly behind him, he immediately slapped him on the back and scolded: "You are always lazy, you haven't even let the adults salute you!" What? Don’t clean up the house yet!”

The young man jumped up when he slapped him, and he wanted to reply a few words but was afraid that he would lose face, so he hurried to clean up the house.

At this moment, Chang Xiao's roasted sweet potatoes are also ready, they are soft when pinched, and they smell so fragrant that everyone can't bear it anymore.

Chang Xiao poured all the sweet potatoes on the iron net on a plate to cool, and then took some to roast on the iron net. After all, he, Zhang Hu, has a big appetite.Seeing that the old postman was staring at him when he took it, Chu Ci said, "I don't know the market price of... sweet potatoes here? My brother has a big appetite. I bought these sweet potatoes from the old man, right?"

The old postman immediately waved his hand: "My lord, you can't force it. If you come to the posthouse to stay overnight, we can't make good wine and good food to greet you. If you have to pay for a few sweet potatoes, it's too unreasonable. The little old man wants to say, if you eat too much sweet potato, you will get heartburn, I'm afraid your brother won't feel well at night. I still have some rice in the kitchen, why don't you cook some porridge."

Chu Ci thought about it, nodded and thanked: "Then there will be Mr. Lao."

The old Yicheng waved his hands and said no, while going into the kitchen to wash rice for cooking.

Seeing that he was gone, Fu Mingan hurriedly went to get the sweet potato, but he was unwilling to put it down even if it was scalded.

Chu Ci gave a wry smile in his heart, that guy Xiaoyuan is really good at motivating, he sent him a gentle and shy kid, and after only getting along with him for half a month, he became a lot more lively.

Sensing Chu Ci's gaze, Fu Ming'an immediately put down the sweet potato in his hand, and called out "Sir".In the past, no matter whether he was at home or at his grandfather's house, he was not allowed to be so rude.However, the two younger brothers of the husband's family are free from any restrictions, and the husband treats them very well.

Chu Ci patted his head and said, "It's okay, let's eat. You haven't eaten before, have you?"

Fu Mingan nodded, he had never eaten something like this, he should have eaten other dim sum.

Chu Ci picked up one, peeled off the skin, and handed it to Fu Mingan.After Fu Mingan took it, he obediently thanked him, and then ate the sweet and soft sweet potatoes.

A envious look shot over, but when Chu Ci looked over, it disappeared.Chu Ci was a little helpless. He had mentioned the matter of taking Chang Xiao as his disciple at the beginning, but Chang Xiao shook his head and refused, saying that he only wanted to be his attendant and did not dare to expect to be his disciple.Chu Ci saw that his attitude was very firm, so he couldn't force it.

Chang Xiao lowered his head and fiddled with the sweet potatoes on the iron net, carefully hiding his emotions deeply.

"Chang Xiao."

"Ah?" Chang Xiao heard Chu Ci call him, looked up suspiciously, but saw a half-peeled sweet potato placed in front of him.

"Master... this... this..." Chang Xiao was too excited to speak, and dared not reach out to pick it up.

"Eat it, you have worked hard helping them turn over. This is the master's reward for you, hurry up." Chu Ci smiled, and deliberately frowned when he didn't answer.

Chang Xiao quickly picked it up. He wanted to say something, but saw that Chu Ci peeled another one for Zhang Hu and sent it over.In Chuci's heart, the tall and big Duhu is actually just a teenager in his heart.Now that you have done it, naturally you can't favor one over another.

Seeing this scene, the old Yicheng who was busy in the kitchen couldn't help admiring in his heart, this lord is really approachable, he even peeled sweet potatoes for his servants to eat.How wonderful it would be if all the officials in the world were like this!such a pity……