He didn't know if the sentence was just a coincidence or because she had investigated some information - whatever it was, it hit the nail on the head, and now he wanted to refuse, but couldn't convince himself.
"So you think Zhao Zhen is quite likable?"
He stroked his ink mustache and said slowly.
Xie Wan smiled and nodded: "Of course there are many things worth learning."
Talking to clever people has this advantage: you can infer the end from the beginning of a conversation and don't need to waste your breath.
Jing Yong fell into deep thought, while Xie Wan picked up the tea on the table and took a sip.
The sunlight after the clouds cast on the window, from bright to dark, and from dark to bright again, until that proud sun finally came out from behind the clouds, shining unobstructed over the entire earth. Then Jing Yong raised his head, held the tea in his hand, and said: "Leave your address, before tomorrow, I will send you the appointment letter from the Ministry of Justice."
With this sentence, everything is enough. Handing the decree to her and letting her pass it on to Zhao Zhen, rather than delivering it directly into Zhao Zhen's hands, was a clear attempt by Jing Yong to save face for the two of them!
Xie Wan bowed deeply: "Thank you, Uncle Biao!"
Xie Wan stayed for lunch.
At the dinner table, she responded elegantly, spoke warmly and refinedly, and was quite liked by Mrs. He. The two young masters of the Jin family also attended. Jin Yong looked at her chatting with Mrs. He and Jin Ting about needlework, and then looked at her talking to his two sons about the customs of Qinghe, and returned to the study with a complicated mood.
At the age of nine, she can already reach out to the imperial court, and it's not just her cleverness that comes from nowhere, but also this courage is quite impressive. He, who has been walking in the officialdom for many years, should be able to handle her with ease, but in the end, he still had to catch her move.
However, the Xie family seems to be outstanding from the start. Like Xie Rong, his talk and laughter are all-encompassing, often also hiding his sharp wit.
With Xie Rong in front of her, her outstanding performance seems to be set off and not too abrupt.
But Jing Yong still had worries because of this. What kind of person would such a girl become when she grew up?
Xie Wan stayed until dusk before leaving the mansion.
Back at the inn, Yuxue asked about the situation on the way, and Shentian told her with great enthusiasm how Xie Wan had persuaded Jing Yong with just a few words.
Yu Xue was overjoyed, before going, she had worried about it for 120 days.
Several people slept soundly that night.
The next day in the late afternoon, when the sun was setting in the west, Jing Yong indeed sent someone to deliver an envelope. Inside was a decree from the Ministry of Personnel transferring Zhao Zhen to the Ministry of Revenue.
Xie Wan stroked the several bright red seals on top and calmly put them into her sleeve.
It has been days since I arrived in Beijing, and the examination by the Ministry of Officials has also been completed. However, there is still no news about next year's appointment.
Zhao Zhen walked out of the Ministry of Personnel's outer courtyard and gazed up at the gray sky, letting out a long sigh.
The Shangshu of the Ministry of Personnel actually couldn't grasp his future, he was also at a dead end before thinking of him. The result was not unexpected at all. However, hearing with his own ears that he should wait for further notice, he still felt unusually uncomfortable.
This emotional rollercoaster from hope to despair, then back to hope and finally to desperation is too tormenting. The worst situation now is not continuing to stay in the county magistrate position, but being informed that there are no vacancies and cannot be transferred, he can only stay in the capital or return to his hometown of Chaozhou to wait for further instructions.
He suddenly felt that being able to stay in Qinghe County as a parent official was also not a bad job. At least he wasn't idle, and he hadn't left the official circle either. But now even this layer of hope seemed very luxurious.
"Lord Zhao."
He was filled with indignation. Just as he was about to get on his horse carriage, a clear voice suddenly came from the other end of the street.
He looked up and was instantly stunned!
"Third Sister?"
At the end of the street stood a person wearing a jacket and skirt, with a black velvet cloak draped over their head. It was surprisingly Xie Wan, who should have been staying at the Qinghe Xie Manor!
"Director Zhao, where are you preparing to go?"
At this moment of his daze, Xie Wan had already walked steadily over and stood in front of him.
He was speechless. This is not the direction of his return to the club. Just now, when he returned with a flutter, he had already thought about letting his wife and children go back to their hometown first. The family of four, along with their servants, lived in the capital, where expenses were not cheap. But here, he still didn't know how long he would have to wait.
So he went to rent a car back to Chaozhou.
But in that case, how can he face Xie Wan? He had been a parent official of Qinghe for a while, and at the age of 40, he was still uncertain about his future in the official circle. Xie Wan had once helped him out, and now that he was in such a sorry state and happened to run into her, he really didn't have the face to speak up.
Xie Wan smiled slowly and said: "There are so many officials waiting for their posts in the whole city, does Lord Zhao want to go find familiar colleagues to have a drink?"
Scholars care about their reputation. At this time, exposing their embarrassment will only make them less and less willing to see you in the future. It's enough to just hint at it.
Zhao Zhen took this opportunity and her expression did indeed ease a bit. She curtsied and said, "I was just thinking of that... I wonder why you are here, miss?"
Although this gift seems inappropriate, it is a heartfelt gesture from him.
No matter what, it was she who gave him the opportunity to meet with Jing Yong. Although things didn't work out, now that they've met, this gift is still appreciated. Who knows if there will be another chance to see her again in the future, but being able to express gratitude here is good enough.
Xie Wan smiled and said: "Once I had asked you to help me be a messenger, now I have come to be a messenger again."
As she spoke, she took out the transfer order from her sleeve and handed it over.
Another letter? Zhao Zhen took it with a puzzled expression, unfolded and read it. The look on his face was quite colorful afterwards.
"This, this, how is this possible?!"
His whole body was shaking! In the past 22 years, he had received many orders from his superiors, and this paper was all too familiar to him. Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, Minister of the Ministry of Revenue! Although it was only a sixth-grade official position that was not much higher than a county magistrate, he had entered the Six Ministries that countless people dreamed of! Moreover, it was one of the most lucrative departments in the Six Ministries!
The Ministry of Personnel unexpectedly transferred him to one of the six ministries and formally retained him in the capital as a metropolitan official!
He actually has such good luck! How is this possible?
"May I ask, where did this order come from?"
He couldn't stop questioning the authenticity of the order, and even wondered if what was happening in front of him was just a dream. When he was almost desperate, he suddenly received such good news, and it was hard to suppress the excitement in his heart. His brain also became somewhat dysfunctional! He even thought that maybe this was the little girl playing tricks on him.
Xie Wan smiled and asked back: "What does your honor think?"
He was speechless again. Yes, she was the one who had successfully pushed him to go to Yong's place, how could he be that kind of naive child? The order was in her hands, and naturally, she went to find Yong for help, but he didn't expect that Yong would refuse him bluntly, while this young kid in front of him overturned his fate from Yong's hands!
His entire future was in her hands!
He didn't dare to think about the process, looking at her calm and composed in front of him, suppressing his excitement, he could only bow again: "Great kindness doesn't need thanks. I, I have shown respect."
Xie Wan calmly accepted his courtesy.
Zhao Zhen straightened up and looked at her, who didn't back down or retreat. In an instant, he figured something out and said: "Miss is so supportive of me, I wonder what else can I do for Miss?"
Xie Wan smiled and said, "Of course, Official Zhao should focus on doing his job well and strive for continuous promotion. But if you have the leisure time, could you please keep me informed about Xie Rong's movements in the capital? I would be very delighted."
Zhao Zhen's eyebrows moved, and it turned out that her target was Xie Rong! He suddenly remembered the conflict between Wang Shi's mother and son and her behind, and then thought of himself being played by Wang Shi, perhaps already being remembered by Xie Rong. So he couldn't help but take a closer look at her again.
A person who can see so far ahead is not just for the sake of preventing future troubles.
Xie Wan was sizing him up.
From her calmness, he could almost determine a few points of her intention. But did he have reason not to do so? Xie Wan could either pull him up or kick him down. He and Xie Rong had already reached this point, helping her would bring unseen benefits to himself, and if he didn't help her, Xie Rong wouldn't become closer to him because of it.
He found himself with no other choice.
But somehow, there is no feeling of suffocation at all.
"The maiden's entrustment, I dare not forget in this life." He bowed again, his attitude extremely sincere.
By this time, he had already given Xie Wan three bows. Xie Wan finally smiled and bowed slightly, "In that case, I will wait quietly by the Clear River for your good news, sir. Li Zi Hutong Maoji Silk Store, this address is known to your respected wife, if there's any message, just send it there."
This was the second time Xie Wan said "wait for good news" to him, at that time he only felt ordinary, but now thinking back, her words actually hid a lot of mystery.
His mood had truly become cheerful at this point.
Now, isn't he just getting "good news" because of her? First, the marriage of his eldest son was settled, and he got a satisfactory daughter-in-law. Later, he also solved the heart disease that had been hanging in his mind for many years. In any case, after knowing Xie San Niang, good things came one after another.
After seeing Xie Wan off on the train, he immediately had the horse turn around and head back to the meeting hall.
Madam Zhao nearly fainted with joy when she saw the appointment letter in his hand.
Every time she came to the capital to report for duty, she would worry about it, and didn't know when this career would come to an end. Now that she has been left in charge of the capital, as long as he is diligent and doesn't make mistakes, she will no longer have to worry about losing her official position or being demoted, how could she not be overjoyed?
When she heard that it was Xie Wan who had settled the matter again, and hadn't let them spend a single penny, she couldn't help but immediately kneel down and kowtow three times in the direction of Qinghe, reciting the name of Bodhisattva more than a dozen times before gradually calming down. Because she remembered Xie Wan's kindness, from then on she treated Wang Yuchun with even greater affection, treating her like her own daughter, but that is a story for later.
The next day, Zhao Zhen took the appointment letter to the Ministry of Revenue to report for duty. In the afternoon, he returned and asked Ya Pazi to help him find a house, preparing to move out of the willow pavilion.
Xie Wan had also packed her luggage and was ready to head back home.
Unconsciously, it's already the 23rd of the twelfth lunar month. I've been in the capital for over ten days and don't know how things are at home. Li Zihou Alley only has Luo Yi with his apprentices guarding the shop, and at home there's only Xie Cang holding down the fort - who knows if he can handle Wang Shi and the others? After all, I still have some concerns, and since everything that needed to be taken care of has been done, I naturally can't stay any longer.
Xie Wan returned home like an arrow, and didn't even have time to eat breakfast. She packed some dry rations and had Luo Sheng and the others set off in their carriage.
