The Stories of Mine in the Ming Dynasty of China in 1368

Li Qing wasn't worried about the old guy. Having been a displaced person for over a hundred years, he was an old hand, a real fighter among the displaced. Coupled with his skills, there was no way he'd be in danger.

However, after getting along for ten years, he really wasn't used to the sudden separation.

In this era, there were no mobile phones. It would be extremely difficult for him to find the old man who loved to wander around. All he could do was hope that the old man would come to find him.

After a while, Liu Qiang led a middle - aged man in. "Sir, the original owner of the house is here."

"The humble one pays respects to the official," said the middle - aged man. He was dressed in a dark blue robe, plump and well - fed, looking rather prosperous. His small eyes were habitually squinted, with an occasional flash of shrewdness.

"Get up."

The middle - aged man stood up, dusted his robe, and took out the certificates he had prepared in advance. "Here are the house deed, land deed, and the transfer document. Please have a look, sir."

Li Qing took them and glanced through, and after confirming they were correct, he paid the money readily.

"280 taels. Count it."

The middle - aged man took it with a smile. "No need to count. I can tell the amount just by feeling it. It can't be wrong."

After a pause, he tried to get on friendly terms. "It's only because you, sir, want it. For someone else, I'd definitely ask for 350 taels."

Li Qing nodded, took out banknotes from his bosom, counted out seventy of them. "Just follow the market price. Rewrite a transfer certificate."

"Er... Sir, that's not what I meant..."

"Go and write it!" Li Qing said calmly. "I'm an official, and you're a merchant. There's no personal bond between us."

The middle - aged man wanted to say something more, but Liu Qiang said with an unfriendly expression, "Didn't you hear what the sir said?"

"Ah... Yes, yes, yes. This commoner will go and write it right away."

With that, he took the banknotes and fled in a hurry.

"The son of a bitch wanted to get on good terms with us Jinyiwei. Damn it, he really has a death wish," Liu Qiang cursed.

Although he didn't understand why Li Qing did this, in the officialdom, it was always about standing by the person rather than the matter. No matter what the superior did, blindly taking sides was the way to go.

No superior liked a subordinate who questioned them!

Li Qing did this out of caution. Collusion between officials and merchants was a serious crime. Although the transaction was a consensual one and the other party hadn't asked him to do anything, it still wasn't proper.

If he took this 70 - tael advantage today, the other party might send 700 taels someday. One who eats another's food will have a soft mouth, and one who takes another's things will have a short hand. There was no telling when he might get into trouble.

Old Zhu couldn't tolerate even a speck of sand. This advantage wasn't worth taking.

The middle - aged man soon came back, having rewritten a transfer document. "Sir, here you are."

Li Qing took it, glanced at it, and put it in his bosom. "Take care, no need to see you out."

The middle - aged man arched his hands awkwardly and turned to leave.

Turning his head, Li Qing saw Liu Qiang directing several Jinyiwei to clean the yard and the rooms. He felt a bit embarrassed but didn't stop them.

After a while, five or six Jinyiwei pushed two wooden carts in. There were iron pots, water vats, wooden buckets, rice bags, bedding, brooms... all daily necessities.

"What are you guys doing?"

Li Qing slightly frowned. He knew these people weren't well - off, and all these things would probably cost a month's salary.

Liu Qiang said with a smile, "Sir, you're moving to a new house. Brothers are here to warm your new home!"

Li Qing was stunned for a moment. He suddenly remembered that when he was a child, the elders had mentioned this. So - called "warming the new home" generally meant starting to cook and having a big meal after moving into a new house.

Neighbors, colleagues, and friends would come and bring some rice, flour, and daily necessities. Everyone would eat, drink, and chat, making the new home full of the smell of life instead of being cold and deserted.

Thinking of this, he didn't stand on ceremony.

The wooden barrels were carried into the house and filled with rice to eight - tenths full. A dozen Jinyiwei took out the prepared red envelopes and placed them on top. The water vat was filled with water to nine - tenths full, and a new pot was put on the stove...

Watching these people busily working, a warm feeling welled up in Li Qing's heart.

His fixed impression of the Jinyiwei also changed. They were also flesh - and - blood people with warmth. It was the Jinyiwei organization that was brutal.

After a flurry of activity, it was nearly noon.

Li Qing took out several banknotes and handed them to a Jinyiwei. "Go buy some vegetables. Let's have a good meal at noon."

"Sir, we don't need this much," the Jinyiwei waved his hand. "One guan of banknotes is more than enough. We might not even use it all."

"Okay, then one guan," Li Qing took back the extra banknotes. "Make sure to spend it all."

"Your subordinate obeys."

The Jinyiwei smiled, cupped his hands, and turned to leave.

In the east kitchen, several grown men were lighting the fire and cooking rice. As soon as Li Qing entered, he was persuaded to leave by them. Having nothing to do, he went to the main hall.

After a while, Liu Qiang walked in, coughing, and said with an awkward smile, "I didn't expect cooking to be more tiring than catching people. Xiao Wang and the others are better at it."

Li Qing smiled. "Here, take this. Help me register it at the government office this afternoon."

"Sure thing." Liu Qiang took the transfer document of the residence and grinned. "Sir, there is a curfew in the capital at the third watch of the first watch. People are not allowed to walk on the street after this time, or they will be whipped.

But we Jinyiwei are in charge of monitoring this. It doesn't matter how late we go home."

Li Qing felt a bit embarrassed and changed the subject. "How many of us are there now?"

When it came to business, Liu Qiang became serious. "Currently, there are 132 people in total. 32 people joined recently and are still in the training stage."

After a pause, he added, "Sir, the recruitment requirements for the Jinyiwei are extremely strict. It's impossible to recruit enough people in a short time."

Li Qing nodded slightly and patted Liu Qiang on the shoulder. "I have to treat Her Majesty the Empress. I don't have much energy to take care of the recruitment. You should pay more attention and try to make our positions as thousand - households (you as vice - thousand - household) worthy of the name as soon as possible!"

"Your subordinate obeys."

Liu Qiang was excited and full of enthusiasm.

Influenced by Zhu Yuanzhang, Li Qing also learned to make promises, but he was more honest than Old Zhu. The promises he made were visible and achievable.

Most of an hour later, the brothers started to serve the dishes.

They were all men. It was already commendable that they could cook. They didn't care about the so - called combination of color, aroma, and taste. There were only three dishes, but they were substantial, filling three big basins.

There was a basin of braised pork, a basin of stewed mutton, and a basin of stir - fried chicken. They were steaming hot and emitted a delicious aroma.

Li Qing raised his wine cup and smiled. "Our Jinyiwei unit is still too weak at present. And as the thousand - household, I can't always stay in the yamen. Thank you all for your hard work."

"Thousand - household大人, you're being too polite. This is our duty," everyone quickly raised their cups in return.

Li Qing drained the wine in his cup, picked up a mutton chop with his chopsticks. It was tender and flavorful. "Brothers, don't be polite. Eat and drink your fill."

"Ah... Thank you, sir." A group of people didn't stand on ceremony and started to feast...

They were all strong and robust men with astonishing appetites. There were a total of twelve people, and they ate up a large bucket of rice and three big basins of meat completely.

After they were full, everyone cleaned up and left.

Li Qing returned to the wing room for a short rest, then went to the imperial palace and brought back his personal belongings from the eunuch's duty room.

Then, he went to a tailor shop and had two robes made. By the time he finished all these, it was already getting dark.

Li Qing took a bath, put on a clean robe, and looking at the dim sky, he said to himself, "It's still early. Why not go out for a stroll?"

Dressed in a jet - black robe, Li Qing looked even more rosy - lipped and white - toothed, extremely handsome. His long, jet - black hair was simply tied up and hung down naturally, exuding an elegant air.

If he were to hold a folding fan, even Pan An and Song Yu might pale in comparison.

Li Qing bought a folding fan and strolled along the street, enjoying the world of mortals and relishing his freedom.

As he wandered around, he came to the Zuixian Tower.

Since he was already here, he thought he might as well go in and take a look. It was just out of pure curiosity, nothing else... Li Qing stepped towards the Zuixian Tower.

The Zuixian Tower at night was completely different from the daytime. The tables on the first floor had been cleared away, and there were all sorts of charming women.

"Oh, what a handsome young master~" A plump and somewhat attractive woman came up, grabbed Li Qing and wouldn't let go. Her eyes were full of amorous looks, and she seemed eager to stick herself to him.

Her voice was so sugary that it seemed to drip. "I fell in love with you at first sight, young master. Why don't we go to the guest room in the backyard to chat about life and spend this long night together?"

Li Qing felt the soft touch on his elbow, and his handsome face turned slightly red. After all, it was his first time experiencing this, and he wasn't quite used to it.

Seeing his reaction, the woman immediately judged that he was inexperienced, and became even more attentive, pressing herself closer to him.

The woman in her early twenties had an excellent figure and a passable appearance.

Li Qing felt a stir of his inner energy and secretly thought that he couldn't handle this situation.