A Good Landlord in the Tang Dynasty: Starting from the Village Chief

Chapter 44 The illness is serious
Longevity Square,
Wang Dalang's home,

Li Yi brought Ji's rented donkey back with him, carrying many things.

Hubing, Biluo, lamb skewers, malt sugar, Yu family rice dumplings, Xiao family oil hammers, and plum ginger were taken out one by one, causing the children of the Wang family to scream with excitement.

Li Yi distributed them,

"Wuyi, you're spending too much money."

"I went to Huidong Market and bought some food. And more."

Li Yi took out a lot of fruits, including Weizhou white peaches, Tongzhou goose pears, and Huazhou melons, all of which were fresh fruits. He saw Lu Zhu standing in the distance and stretched out his hand to call her over.

"I left you some mutton hu bing and chicken biro. They're still hot, so eat them quickly."

Ever since Li Yi came in, Lu Zhu had been looking at Ji who was following behind him. Although Ji was wearing a reed veil and a thin silk covering her face, it was still obvious that she was very young.

"Alang, who is she?"

"Let me introduce her to you. She is a palace maid bestowed upon me by His Majesty. Her surname is Ji, her name is Lingyi, and her courtesy name is Sujun."

"Su Jun, this is Lu Zhu, a gift from Wang Dalang. She is from Jinzhou, Silla, and her real name is Yu Lai."

"From now on, both of you should follow me and get along well with each other."

Lu Zhu felt bitter. She had just followed Li Lang, but unexpectedly, Li Lang brought back another one.

"Hello, sister," Ji greeted Luzhu first.

"Okay." But Luzhu didn't call her sister.

Village Chief Wang and Wang Dalang took Li Yi to drink tea.

Today they accompanied Li Yi to the gate of the East Palace and came back. Now they also want to know what happened to Li Yi when he went to the East Palace.

"The Crown Prince left the capital and met with Li Gong, the Minister of Rites and the Crown Prince's Secretary, and Wang Gui, the Crown Prince's Sheriff. He drank a pot of tea at the Ministry of Finance and then returned."

He didn't even see the Shangguan Prince's horse grooming.

"You didn't resign?"

Hearing that Li Yi did not resign, the two breathed a sigh of relief and quickly advised Li Yi not to act recklessly.

But Li Yi had actually made up his mind and was determined to resign. Firstly, he knew that Li Jiancheng was not a good ship to board and would eventually sink. Secondly, he admired Li Shimin very much.

He couldn't refuse Li Shimin and accept Li Jiancheng's call.
Another thing is that he went to the Eastern Palace today, met his subordinates in the Sijing Bureau, and chatted with them. This so-called Eastern Palace Zhengzi official is purely a sinecure.

He didn't want to go to the Finance Bureau every day to drink tea and read books.

It would be better for him to stay in the countryside and run his Wuji Primary School first, and spread the Three Character Classic and Shoujinti. After finishing the Three Character Classic, he can also write Disciple Rules, Hundred Family Names, and Zengguang Xianwen.

In short, staying in the countryside can not only allow you to live a leisurely life, but also easily improve your reputation, without having to rush to board Li Jiancheng's broken ship.

It wasn't that he hated Li Jiancheng. On the contrary, after he came to the Tang Dynasty, he had heard about some of Li Jiancheng's deeds. This prince was good in both ability and character.

But Li Yi still admired Li Shimin more.
Although he was a time traveler, he did not feel that he had the ability to change Li Jiancheng's fate, nor did he want to try.

Li Yi always felt that Li Shimin was an emperor who could be compared with the Qin Shi Huang and Han Wudi, and that Li Jiancheng could never do better than Li Shimin as emperor.

Emperor Li Yuan was a good man.
He was just a country boy, with no distinguished family background and no outstanding military achievements. Old Li directly offered him an official position, but since it was an official in the Eastern Palace, he had no choice but to refuse.

But you must remember the kindness of giving silk to your maid.

In the afternoon,

Li Yi planned to visit Sun Fujia. He had learned that Sun Fujia had been promoted to Zhishu Shiyushi, the second-in-command of the Censorate. Later, Emperor Gaozong of Tang Dynasty changed the title of the important position to the Grand Censor to avoid taboos.

He also knew that he was able to be granted the title of Zheng Zi by Li Yuan because Sun Fujia mentioned this rural talent in his ten thousand-word memorial to the emperor.

Li Yi must remember this favor.

Sun Fujia is also his senior brother.

He lived in Daningfang, Chang'an, the third ward north of the East Market, quite close to the Taiji Palace and the Imperial City.

Li Yi took Wang Lizheng and his nephew to visit. For Wang Dalang, Sun Fujia jumped from a seventh-rank Wannian Fa Cao to a fifth-rank Zhishu Shiyushi. Of course, he had to get to know him if he had the chance. There was no reason not to use the ready-made relationship.

The first cross street is north of Chengtian Street,

Li Yi and the other two entered from the south gate of the block. Wang Dalang greeted the guard on duty at the gate and took out a string of money. The guard immediately and enthusiastically pointed out the location for them.

"Sun Zhongcheng is in the southeast corner of the block,"

There are also some houses of princes and nobles in Daningfang with doors and windows facing the street on the walls of the block, but they require a very high rank. Basically, only those of the third rank and above can have doors facing the street, and only those of the fifth rank and above can have windows facing the street.

They soon found Sun's house.

Sun Fujia was at home, having just returned from office. He was very happy to see Li Yi visiting and warmly invited him home.

"This house was newly gifted by the saint. I just moved in and haven't cleaned it up yet. It's a mess everywhere."

Sun Fujia said that he originally lived in Chongxianfang in Xicheng District, not far from Xishi. It was a small house of three acres worth one hundred thousand.

Now the emperor rewarded him with a 20-acre mansion in Daningfang, east of the city. The house covers an area of 6 acres, with a three-entry corridor courtyard in the north and a pond garden in the south.

This is a typical Chang'an aristocratic residence with a garden.

Sun Fujia led Li Yi and the others to the central hall, which was more than 30 square meters in size. Its east and west ends were connected to the middle and west wing rooms to the north through corridors.

Each house in the courtyard is connected by a corridor, which is a typical corridor courtyard in the Tang Dynasty. Multiple corridor courtyards, plus gardens, lotus ponds, etc. form a luxurious mansion.

This house was originally the residence of an official of the Sui Dynasty. The house was fully furnished with everything, and Sun Fujia moved in with just his luggage.

Wang Dalang was a moneylender. After seeing the house, he was filled with envy. "This house covers 20 mu, and it's in Daningfang, east of the city. The land price must be 50,000 coins per mu. The house, furniture, mountains, ponds, wood and stones are not included. Sun Zhongcheng's new house is worth at least 2 million coins, and it will be worth even more in the future."

The land east of Chang'an City is high and beautiful with beautiful scenery and sweet well water. It is a gathering place for nobles and officials, and the land price is very high.

Sun Fujia's original house in the west of the city, with an area of three acres and land, was only worth 100,000 yuan, but the 20-acre house here is worth more than 2 million yuan.

The east is rich and the west is noble, the south is poor and the north is humble.

As for the south of the city, it is divided into Upper South City and Lower South City. Most of Lower South City is ghost town, empty for growing crops, vegetables and fruit trees, and the remaining towns are mostly inhabited by poor farmers. Although Upper South City is close to the Imperial City and the East and West Markets, it is mostly inhabited by craftsmen and vendors.
People are divided into groups,

Even the living quarters are clearly divided.

In the central hall, Li Yi introduced Wang Dalang's uncle and nephew to Sun Fujia, and then told Sun Fujia that he had received a notice yesterday to collect his certificate and had gone to the Eastern Palace today.

"I didn't expect that my senior brother would think so highly of me,"

"You have talent, and I will recruit talents for the country regardless of my relationship with you." Sun Fujia said with a smile.

"But I might be letting down my senior brother's support. After I went to the East Palace's Finance Bureau, I felt that I didn't want to be an official."

"Do you think your position is too low?"

Li Yi shook his head. "There's nothing to do in the Finance Bureau. I don't want to just sit there and waste my days there. Besides, Wuji Primary School has just opened. How can I abandon them at this time? After much thought, I've decided to resign."

Sun Fujia looked at Li Yi. This young man surprised him again.

"You have to think carefully. The Crown Prince is an honest official. Even if he doesn't have much power now, this step is very important. Once you take this step, you can stand higher and see further. You can study hard in the Ministry of Finance for a few years and wait for the opportunity to seek another position."

"I still can't let go of Wuji Primary School, so I'd better resign."

Sun Fujia smiled bitterly, "I originally said that since you came to Chang'an to take up an official post, you could stay with me. We brothers can discuss scriptures and history, drink tea and play chess every day."

"Since you don't want to be the Crown Prince's wife, it's not my job as your senior brother to persuade you."

"The court should reopen the imperial examination soon. Wuyi, you can take part in it then. If you pass the Mingjing or Jinshi exams, the court will definitely place you in a high position."

Sun Fujia was a good man and did not teach Li Yi a lesson as an elder.
After confirming that Li Yi did not want to be an official, he did not say anything more. He called the servants and asked them to go to the East Market to buy sheep, wine, chickens and fish. He asked the cook to prepare good wine and food to entertain Li Yi and let Li Yi stay at his house tonight.

In the evening, everyone drank and chatted.

Sun Fujia, a man from Hebei, was half drunk and spoke a lot of his true feelings.

“Back then, I came to Chang’an with only a box of books and wandered there for three years. Eventually, I passed the imperial examination, was selected and appointed an official, and began my official career.

After so many years, I have finally made a name for myself in Chang'an."

"Senior brother is truly a role model for our generation of poor students,"

From a farmer's son, who relied on his family members to learn books when he was young, to being accepted as a student by a teacher for free because of his intelligence, and then being recommended by the teacher to work as a minor official in the government,

Step by step, he did not stop, did not get tired,
While other clerks in the government office only thought about making money and eating meat, he continued to use his free time to read and write.

He once experienced a three-year period of confusion while working in Beijing, but he persevered.

And now, he finally gained the emperor's appreciation and was promoted to the fifth rank red robe.

In the morning he was Tian Shelang, and in the evening he ascended to the Hall of the Son of Heaven.

Sun Fujia encouraged Li Yi that even if he gave up the title of Crown Prince this time, he should not be discouraged. As long as he persisted, there would definitely be better opportunities in the future.

"There's nothing wrong with going back to the countryside and doing practical things first," Sun Fujia said, patting him on the shoulder.

After learning literary and martial arts, he sold his goods to the emperor.

Sun Fujia was ambitious and had achieved academic success. He had a high-ranking official position, a large house, and even palace maids, fine horses, money and silk rewarded by the emperor.

The next day,

Li Yi wrote a letter to Li Gang, the Prince's Secretary, saying that he was seriously ill and needed to return home to recuperate. He was unable to serve as the Prince's Secretary.

He entrusted Wang Dalang to deliver his official notice, imperial edict and official robes along with the letter to the Eastern Palace's Zhanshi Mansion.

In the afternoon,

Li Gang finally had time to come to the Zhanshi Mansion. He was now the Minister of Rites and also in charge of selection affairs, and had to participate in the selection of officials. At the age of over seventy, he was so busy that he could hardly cope.

As soon as he arrived at the Eastern Palace's Chancellery, a clerk came to report that Li Yi, the Crown Prince's official who had come yesterday, had resigned due to illness and had sent back his certificate of appointment and official robes.

"Resigning due to illness? Where is he?" Li Gang frowned. After meeting Li Yi yesterday, he had a good impression of this young man.

"No one came. They said they had already returned to the countryside."

Li Gang took the letter from Li Yi and looked at the thin handwriting on it, feeling sorry.

Li Yi's letter was not long. He resigned and went home due to illness.

Attached at the end is a poem, the graceful calligraphy makes the poem more artistic.
I was born in the wilds, a fisherman and woodcutter, and have lived a carefree life. I could sing wildly among the grass and marshes, but would I rather be an official in the dust?

Living things should be done in the fields of the south, leaving all worldly affairs to the flowing water. I know that Mei Fu is just doing this for you, and I remember Tao Qian's return.

"The handwriting reflects the person. If the handwriting is proud, the person will be even more proud, full of pride."

Wang Gui was also surprised to hear that Li Yi had resigned. After reading the poem, he shook his head and said, "After all, he is only sixteen years old. He despises the lowly position of Zhengzi, which is only a ninth-rank official. He only wants to live a free and easy life among fishermen and woodcutters."

"Li Yi is a Taoist priest by birth. He used to travel the world with his master and was used to a life of idleness," Li Gang said. "The Ministry of Finance is too idle. How could this young man endure the loneliness? Before he even officially took office, he imitated Tao Yuanming and wrote a poem called "Returning to the Countryside."

Li Gang and Wang Gui felt a little sorry for Li Yi's resignation due to illness, but they didn't react too much. Instead, they liked his calligraphy and poetry even more.

"The calligraphy is excellent, and the poem is even better. I will present this poem to Your Majesty."

The emperor learned about this the next day.

A mere ninth-rank Crown Prince resigned from his post due to illness. If Li Yi had not been granted the title by imperial decree, it would never have reached the ears of the emperor.

After the meeting,
Li Yuan pulled Prime Minister Pei Ji to sit on the couch, and they talked about this matter.

"That Li Yi felt that the position of Crown Prince Zhengzi was too low, so he resigned and returned home."

Pei Ji couldn't help but shake his head. Although the official rank of the Crown Prince was low, it was a noble position. He was able to get this position at the age of sixteen, but he still felt that the position was too low.

"This calligraphy and poem are indeed good, but they are somewhat arrogant due to their talent." Pei Ji said.

"Hahaha, it's normal for a young and talented person to be a little arrogant. Never mind, let him be."

Li Yuan waved his hand and asked Pei Ji to raise his glass and drink with him.

After taking a sip of wine, Li Yuan put down his glass, thought for a moment, and said, "Send someone to give Li Yi a set of imperial medicines: donkey hide gelatin, ginseng, and deer antlers. Let him rest well."

Pei Ji said: "Your Majesty is too kind to this kid."

"Talented young people deserve preferential treatment."

"Come, Pei Jian, let's continue playing the pipa."

(End of this chapter)