I am a temporary worker in Jinyiwei, how did I become a powerful official?

Chapter 89 Gifts are everywhere

Lu Fang picked up the chopsticks, picked up a few small shrimps, and put them into her mouth with her eyes closed.

After he chewed a few bites, his old eyes widened and he made a "hmm." sound from his mouth.

Huang Jin was horrified: "Second Brother, what's wrong with you? If it doesn't taste good, spit it out!"

Lu Fang hurriedly picked up a few more with chopsticks and put them into his mouth to chew carefully. After a while, he took another sip of the noodle soup: "Fresh! Purely fresh! Extremely delicious!"

"I didn't expect that this small shrimp is more delicious than the large shrimps offered by Laizhou Prefecture."

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Uncle, although the small shrimps are small, they are sometimes more delicious than the eight delicacies of land and sea."

Lu Fang asked, "Are you talking about Xiao Qing Xia or yourself?"

Lin Shisan quickly said, "Nephew is talking about small clear shrimps."

Lu Fang ate a mouthful of shrimp and a mouthful of white noodles, and ate three bowls of noodles in a row.

He ate up the entire porcelain bowl of small shrimps.

The eunuch handed over a white towel. Lv Fang wiped her mouth. The eunuch also handed over a small plate with dried tea leaves on it.

Lu Fang picked up a handful of dry tea leaves and put them in his mouth and chewed them.

The eunuch brought another bowl of salt water. Lu Fang rinsed his mouth and spit into the copper basin held by another eunuch.

The procedure for cleaning the mouth after a meal was indeed very particular among the eunuchs.

Lu Fang said, "Nephew, you have to teach my chef how to make this dish."

Lin Shisan nodded: "Yes."

Lu Fang then instructed Huang Jin beside him: "Spread the word this afternoon. Say that I have recognized my nephew. My nephew is Lin Shisan, the new official of Yongshou Palace."

"In addition, our Imperial Household Department will draft another document. From now on, all purchases of pets in Xiyuan must be approved by Lin Shisan."

The eunuchs in the palace were all like gossiping old women in the market. Once Huang Jin made a statement, it would spread from person to person, and within a short time the news would spread throughout the palace.

Even the news would spread into various rumors, such as "Lin Shisan is the biological son of Eunuch Lu who was born outside the palace before he was castrated."

"Eunuch Lu is having an affair with his own sister. Lin Shisan is both his nephew and his own son."

Anyway, no matter how the story spreads, it is certain that Lin Shisan has a powerful backer.

Lu Fang said, "Nephew, tonight, the people who come to your house to give gifts will probably break through the door. Remember my words, accept the gifts, but don't do the work!"

Lin Shisan cupped his hands and said, "Yes, uncle. I will remember this."

It was just as Lu Fang said.

In the evening of that day, there was a huge crowd of people at the entrance of the Lin family’s new residence on Fushou Street.

Nearly a hundred ambassadors, deputy envoys, and registrars from the various imperial chambers of the Western Garden came, almost blocking the main gate.

Everyone gathered in small circles, whispering.

"I wonder if Lin Chuanfeng will buy into our approach."

"Don't worry. There is no cat in the world that doesn't like fish. It's just that there is one more person who gets to share the profits."

"Do you know his background? He was just a lieutenant in the elephant training station. Within three months, he was promoted to lieutenant on the list, then to a small flag, and then to the general flag of the Northern Pacification Division. He was also given a salary-transmitting official position. No wonder he was promoted so quickly. It turns out that he is the nephew of Eunuch Lu."

"I've heard something even more shocking. You must not tell anyone! He married the illegitimate daughter of a certain duke!"

"That's wrong. I heard that his wife was the daughter of Eunuch Lu who was born outside the palace before he was castrated. They are cousins, so they are so close that they are still connected."

"That's right. Just now his maid was holding his son and playing at the door. His son looked stupid and listless. He must be the son of a cousin."

The Lin family's new servant, Chun Ge'er, came out. Everyone fell silent.

Chun Ge'er shouted, "My master said that you should line up according to your official rank. The ambassador goes in first, followed by the deputy ambassador, and then the bookkeeper." In the living room of the main courtyard of the Lin residence, Lin Shisan sat upright with a cup of tea at his side.

The ambassador of the Bird House came in. His surname was Hu. He was holding a bird cage with a thrush in it.

Lin Shisan took a look and said in surprise: "Golden Green Back? The phoenix among thrush birds?"

Ambassador Hu first introduced himself, and then praised: "Lin Chuanfeng is really an expert. This is the treasure of our Hundred Birds Room. There are originally three of them, two males and one female."

"It is said that thrushes come in pairs. There is an extra male. I heard that Lin Chuanfeng likes good birds, so I brought it out for you."

After saying this, Ambassador Hu placed the bird cage on the table.

The thrush chirped a few times, its voice was melodious and beautiful, like the sound of nature.

Lin Shisan stared at it intently: "Well, it is worthy of being called the phoenix among birds. How much silver did you spend when you bought this bird?"

Ambassador Hu replied: "Nine hundred and fifty taels."

Lin Shisan cursed in his heart: It's so shabby. Although it is the best among the thrush, it is only worth four or five hundred taels. At least he can make a profit.

Ambassador Hu saw that Lin Shisan was silent. He quickly took out a silver note from his sleeve and put it on the table: "You have just been promoted to a new position and have reunited with Eunuch Lu. This five hundred taels of silver is to congratulate you."

Lin Shisan said sternly, "This golden-green-backed bird is the royal bird of the palace. If I take it privately, wouldn't that be an act of usurpation? You can take it back."

Ambassador Hu was a little anxious: "Could it be that Lin Chuanfeng doesn't like this bird?"

Lin Shisan explained: "If I accept it, I will be guilty of usurpation and you will be guilty of stealing palace property. Neither of us will end up well."

Ambassador Hu thought to himself: Could this guy be Bao Longtu, who is insensitive to anything?

Ambassador Hu was relieved by Lin Shisan's next move. He took the five hundred taels of silver and put it into his sleeve: "But this congratulatory silver is a token of your kindness, Ambassador Hu. I would be disrespectful to refuse it."

Ambassador Hu said: "Ah, then our Bird House will have to rely on Lin Chuanfeng's help in the future."

Lin Shisan nodded: "Okay, okay."

Ambassador Hu left the living room, passed through an inner door, and went out the main door.

A group of eunuchs surrounded him and asked, "How is it?"

"Why did you bring out the thrush cage? He doesn't accept gifts?"

Ambassador Hu explained: "I just said that there is no cat that doesn't like fish. He accepted the banknotes I gave him more efficiently than anyone else."

"But he didn't take Huamei. He was afraid that Huamei was brought from the palace, and he would be in trouble if he took her."

"Don't give away those nice birds, rabbits, and winter insects you brought. It would be more convenient to just give them silver notes."

After hearing this, all the eunuchs relaxed their brows. It seemed that the source of income was saved, except that Lin Shisan was the one who took advantage of it.

Soon, the ambassador of the Insect Room entered the living room and came in front of Lin Shisan.

The ambassador of the insect room was named Cao. Instead of sending a banknote, he sent a box.

Lin Shisan opened the box, and inside was a pair of jade bracelets.

Ambassador Cao said, "I heard that you and your wife are deeply in love. I went to Cui Xin Tower in North City to order this pair of jade bracelets for your wife."

"Look, this is top-grade Hetian jade, the water is rippling!"

Lin Shisan picked up the jade bracelet and said, "I don't know much about gold and jade jewelry. I wonder how much it cost you?"

Ambassador Cao said, "The word 'wasteful' is too much. If your wife gets tired of it one day, she can take it to a jewelry store and sell it for more than four hundred taels of silver."

Lin Shisan smiled and said, "Then I will be respectful to you and thank Ambassador Cao on behalf of my wife."

After Ambassador Cao left, Lin Shisan shouted outside: "Chun Ge'er, call the next one in."

(End of this chapter)