Chapter 623 Hidden Words

Shuntianfu Yamen is located in Xicheng District, about one mile away from Beibingmasi Hutong. Zhu Pingan and the others arrived at the Yamen Gate after walking for more than ten minutes.

Zhu Ping'an is familiar with this place but also unfamiliar. He said he was familiar with it because he had been here in the modern Jiaodaokou Donggong Street when he was traveling poorly in Beijing. It has become the teaching building of Dongcheng District Education College.

Of course, now this is the standard Shuntian government office, grand and magnificent, with a small square in front of the door, and industries that "eat the office" such as inns, restaurants, pharmacies, teahouses, etc. are distributed on the street next to the office. The inn is for people who come to the yamen to stay and stay, the restaurant provides meals, the pharmacy supplies medicine for bruises, and the teahouse is a place for business meetings. There are people coming and going in front of the shop, and the business looks good.

Zhu Pingan ordered two tables of food and drink in a restaurant near the yamen, one table was for Liu Mu and Liu Dadao, and the other table was for Zhang Butou and the others. Eat it after finishing the formalities.

"Thank you, my lord." Zhang Butou and all the yamen servants thanked Zhu Ping'an repeatedly.

"You're welcome, you've worked hard all morning, a few glasses of beer, as a way of expressing my heart." Zhu Pingan arched his hands slightly, then stuffed the money bag into Liu Mu's hands, and said, "Brother Liu, please entertain Zhang Zhang for me later." Head over to them, order more wine and meat."

After the arrangements were made, Zhu Pingan followed Zhang Butou into the Yamen of Shuntian Mansion, and passed through the vestibule to the second gate of the Yamen, that is, in front of Yimen. The door of Yi is closed, and there are two corner doors on the east and west sides. The door of Yi will only be opened on the first day of the magistrate's appointment and when the superiors inspect it.

The corner gates on the east and west sides are also particular, the east is expensive and the west is cheap. The corner gate on the east side is called "Renmen Gate", which is used by magistrates to enter and exit at ordinary times;

Zhang Butou arranged for other police officers to **** the gangsters through the ghost gate in the west and take them to the prison; while Zhang Butou led Zhu Pingan through the "Human Gate" in the east to visit the prefect of Zhou.

Because Zhou Zhifu was still working in the lobby at this time, Catcher Zhang led Zhu Pingan to the lobby.

The lobby of the Shuntian government office is the most magnificent building in the office, but the hardware facilities seem to be in disrepair.

"Since Mr. Zhou took office, he has reserved the land for repairing the yamen for disaster relief and poverty alleviation." Catcher Zhang explained with some embarrassment.

"Master Zhou is really dedicated to the people." Zhu Pingan nodded in admiration.

There are two couplets on both sides of the Shuntian government office lobby that attracted Zhu Pingan's attention. The couplets were engraved and dyed with cinnabar on black wooden boards and hung on both sides of the lobby. Don't say that an official is useless, the place is tied to an official; eat the food of the common people, wear the clothes of the common people, don't know that the common people can be bullied, and you are also the common people."

"Last year, the writing on the couplets on both sides of the lobby was illegible. This is newly written by the adults." Seeing that Zhu Ping'an was more interested in the couplets, Catcher Zhang explained from the side.

"Well, very good, very good" Zhu Pingan looked at the couplet and nodded in appreciation.

"Very good? Hehehe, then I have Lao Zhuangyuan Lang's comment, what is so good about this couplet." While Zhu Pingan was admiring the couplet, a hearty voice came from the lobby.

"Meet the adults."

Zhu Ping'an looked up and saw Zhou Houjie, Zhou Zhifu, coming out of the lobby with a smile, and he couldn't help but bowed his hands.

Zhou Houjie smiled and waved his hands, and walked up to Zhu Pingan, "Zhuangyuanlang, we meet again."

"My lord, please call me Zihou." Zhu Ping'an smiled embarrassedly.

"Okay, then let Zihou comment on this couplet. If it is flattery, the lunch promised by the official will be gone." Zhou Houjie smiled and nodded jokingly.

"Then Ping'an will show his shame." Zhu Ping'an bowed his hands, then turned his eyes to the couplet again, paused for a few seconds, pointed to the couplet and commented, "Master Zhou's couplet shows his closeness to the people and his sense of responsibility. Big cases, important cases, and murder cases are all tried here. The adults are the parents and officials of the people, and they have a heavy responsibility. "Don't say that an official is useless, the locality is tied to the official, and the people can't be bullied, and you are also the people." The adults' closeness to the people and sense of responsibility are fully displayed Among them, this couplet is no less than a bright mirror hanging above the court, and a pair of couplets tells the people that your Excellency handles the case fairly and honestly."

It is commendable to be able to see that people are close to the people and fair. Zhou Houjie nodded slightly, quite satisfied with Zhu Ping'an's comment.

Zhu Ping'an noticed Zhou Houjie's expression, slightly hooked the corners of his lips, pointed to the couplet and said, "Of course, in fact, Ping'an discovered that there is another mystery in this couplet."

"Oh? Let's hear it." Zhou Houjie said with a smile.

"In this couplet, my lord, the word 'official' is a little less, and the 'surname' of the common people is a little more. If Ping'an guessed correctly, my lord means to be more considerate of the common people, less official authority and more common people. "Zhu Pingan pointed to the words official and surname in the couplet, and added with a slight smile, "This is the hidden character in the couplet. The use of hidden characters is intended to emphasize that it is mostly for the sake of the common people, and this couplet is really well-intentioned, my lord, and I have been educated safely."

"Zihou has a good look. It seems that I have to add another dish to be worthy of Zihou's comment." Zhou Houjie couldn't help stroking his beard and laughing when he heard that, with a red light on his face, he looked at Zhu Pingan and joked.

Meeting bosom friends in high mountains and flowing waters is probably Zhou Houjie's mood at this time. At this moment, he looked at Zhu Ping'an as if Boya the luthier met the woodcutter Zhong Ziqi on the banks of the Weishui River. A daughter is easy to get, but a bosom friend is hard to find.

"The elders don't dare to resign. It seems that Ping'an will be blessed today." Zhu Ping'an smiled with his hands clasped, without refusing.

"Oh...so that's how it was. When I hung it up, I thought the craftsman had made a mistake, so I went to find the craftsman, but the craftsman took out the original couplet of the lord, saying that it was written by the lord. It was badly engraved. I read the original couplet, and it was exactly the same. I always thought it was a mistake made by your lord. Unexpectedly, it turned out that your lord wrote it like this on purpose. If it wasn't for Master Zhu's explanation, I would have been kept in the dark What?" At this time, Zhang Butou reacted belatedly, like enlightenment, and suddenly realized that there are so many particulars in just these two points.

"You, what a rotten tree..." Zhou Zhifu looked at Zhang catcher and shook his head and smiled, then waved his hands and said, "Go tell the kitchen, add another dish, add the dish saved last time Today, I want to treat you well. Zhang Butou, don't leave, we will have lunch here at noon today."

(end of this chapter)