PNB Chapter 299 Qin Qi'an is so poor that he has to eat dirt
Chapter 299 Qin Qi'an is so poor that he has to eat dirt
Qin Chi wanted to ask for an imperial decree to confer a title on Song Jin on the day he became a bachelor of imperial studies. However, after asking someone about it, he had to postpone the request.
Not all requests for closure are approved.
Holding the fifth rank official position is only the threshold for application. When applying for the title, one must also submit Song Jin's identity documents, marriage certificate and other proofs, which will then be reviewed by relevant personnel from the Ministry of Revenue or the Ministry of Personnel.
Qin Chi didn't dare to gamble whether Song Jin's identity could withstand in-depth investigation. Another reason was that he hadn't made any achievements yet. As the saying goes, a husband's honor makes his wife noble, so officials with achievements are more likely to be granted titles.
The following days.
Qin Chi went to and from the yamen all day long.
Ever since Liu Jianfang came to visit, women often came to talk to Song Jin, chatting about family matters and neighborhood gossip, making it inconvenient for Song Jin to do anything in private.
Fortunately, Song Jin asked his men to hide.
There wasn't much happening during this period, most of them were letters from various places, and family letters from Huizhou.
It's autumn.
The family started buying winter clothes.
Song Jin handed the matter over to Old Li.
Last time, Qin Chi asked Song Jin to buy a maid. However, as more and more people came to visit the Qin family, Song Jin was afraid that outsiders would say that his family had too many servants, so he did not buy anyone for safety reasons.
There are many things at home that she needs to do personally.
For example, people who come to visit often see Song Jin, who is dressed simply, doing things by himself.
Everyone praised Song Jin for his thriftiness.
They turned around and said that the Qin family was poor and couldn't even maintain a decent house. Even though Lord Qin passed the imperial examination and served as an official in the court for several months, he was still poor.
This statement has changed its meaning as it is passed around.
It was said that Qin Zhuangyuan's family was very poor and they could only eat bran and vegetables for three meals.
Later, it got even worse, and some people even started eating dirt.
One day, the news reached Qin Chi's ears.
They were doctors from the other three departments of the Ministry of Works. They came in front of Qin Chi in a team, talking a lot, and they originally wanted to make fun of Qin Chi.
Unexpectedly, Qin Chi was very calm, "I was born in a farming family, and I have been dreaming of living like this. Of course, I can't compare to the rich families of the adults."
Suddenly, the surroundings became quiet.
Qin Chi's current situation is indeed good as he does not make any extra money and relies solely on his salary to support his family.
But colleagues also compete with each other.
For the sake of face, when outsiders come, the best things are always brought out to show off.
On the contrary, Qin Chi was extremely calm.
This makes them seem like clowns just because they come here to sympathize with others, mainly because they have something to hide.
The three doctors left in disgrace.
This matter not only reached the ears of officials, but also Emperor Mingcheng in the palace heard about it, "Are we really going to have to eat coarse food?"
"No, the rumor is that he eats dirt."
A young eunuch at the side answered.
Emperor Mingcheng was delighted when he heard this. "My newly crowned number one scholar starved to death. How can he work for me? Little Jixiang, go to the private vault and get 100 taels of gold and send it to Qin Qi'an's home."
"I'll do it right away." Jixiang responded hurriedly.
So that day.
The Qin family suddenly received a reward from the palace.
The reward was not expensive, only a hundred taels of gold.
When Song Jin first heard about the reward from the palace, he was surprised for a while, thinking that Qin Chi had made a contribution today. After learning more about it, he found out that it was the windfall he had earned as rumored outside.
The eunuchs from the palace were politely sent away.
Song Jin looked at the ten gold ingots on the table, which were padded with red silk, and felt mixed emotions.
"Aqi, have I been pretending to be too good recently, so that everyone who comes to visit my house thinks I'm so poor that I can barely afford to eat?" Song Jin knew the rumors outside.
Because I don’t think it’s a bad thing.
No one paid any attention to it and let the rumor spread.
Qin Qi didn't know what to say for a moment. You know, she had been with Song Jin during this period of time and didn't think there was anything wrong.
"Madam, do you want to ask someone to inform the young master about this?" Qin Qi felt that this matter was extremely strange.
Song Jin waved his hand and said, "Go talk to him."
Qin Qi nodded, bowed and left.
However, just as Qin Qi arrived at the gate, someone else came from the palace, so he immediately turned around and went back to report to Song Jin.
When Song Jin went out, he soon found out that it was a reward sent by the Queen. Of course, this reward could not be from Qin Chi, but was specifically for Song Jin. It consisted of several exquisitely crafted headdresses and two hundred taels of silver.
Next came the imperial concubine and other imperial concubines.
I went there more than ten times.
The rewards given individually could not exceed those given to the superiors according to their positions, but when added together they were still a lot.
Qin Chi hurried home after receiving the news and saw a pile of rewards, including jewelry, gold, silver, porcelain, cloth, etc., placed in the hall, which had not yet been put into the warehouse.
Put together it's quite impressive.
Song Jin sat in the first seat drinking tea, while Qin Qi was counting and recording.
"My dear, has our family received a windfall?"
Qin Chi walked steadily to the chair next to Song Jin and sat down.
Song Jinshang poured him a cup of tea and said, "I'm wondering whether this is a good thing or a bad thing."
"How do you want to solve this, ma'am?"
Qin Chi put down the tea bowl in his hand and said, "If this matter is not handled properly, it may leave hidden dangers in the future."
Now I have told others that life is hard.
Others also believed it, but don’t they know whether they are truly poor or not?
Some bargains are not so easy to get.
If his identity is exposed in the future, will the person who gave the reward today feel fooled? He might even be accused of deceiving the emperor. Don't think this worry is unnecessary. It's possible to call a deer a horse. When the time comes, those who criticize Qin Chi will not say that the rumors outside have nothing to do with him.
At that time, people will only question why he didn't stand up and clarify the rumors at that time?
What are they going to say?
Song Jin pondered for a moment and said, "Taihu Lake suffers from floods every year. I will take out a symbolic portion of each reward and keep it. I will also add two hundred taels and donate all of it in the name of the masters in the palace."
“This is a very good move.”
Qin Chi immediately asked Song Jin to do so.
Then she thought of the reward and the need to go to the palace to express gratitude. Song Jin had to go on this trip. Whether the masters would see her was one thing, but if she didn't go, she would be ignorant of etiquette.
Song Jin thought for a moment and said, "I will go to the palace to express my gratitude the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow I will donate my belongings and buy some clothes. When I see the queen, I will explain that our family is doing well and that the outside world is just spreading rumors."
"My lady is very considerate."
Qin Chi felt very relieved.
A virtuous wife in the family is like a good prime minister in the country.
Once again, he was glad that he had married Song Jin instead of that crazy woman Song Xiu.
Now that they had made the decision, the couple decided to do so.
The next day, Qin Chi went to the Hanlin Academy to report for duty and had a private conversation with Yan Xianqing for a while.
"You want to see His Majesty?" Yan Xianqing was surprised.
Qin Chi said helplessly, "First, I have to thank you for the reward, and second, I have to clarify with His Majesty. Although I am not living a life of luxury, I have enough food and clothing, and the rumors outside are not true."
"Haha, what a misunderstanding."
Yan Xianqing treated this as a joke, "Don't worry, His Majesty must know about this, and he is probably having fun with me."
Qin Chi frowned and looked unconvinced.
This caused Yan Xianqing to burst into laughter again.