Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 373: Chief of the East and West Kitchens
When Yang Yuan and Zhang Mi reported to the "Jishangku" and "Dongxichu", they were welcomed with open arms.

This area is located in the northwest corner of the Privy Council. All the Privy Council's internal affairs related to logistics, money-relief offices, and pension offices are concentrated in this area.

The speed room doesn't keep idle people, this place is specially designed to keep idle people.

Idle people have nothing to do, so naturally when something new and interesting happens, they all rush to watch the fun.

The "Jishangku" is the superior department of the "Dongxi Kitchen". The funds and materials spent by the "Dongxi Kitchen" are all under the responsibility of the "Jishangku".

So Yang Yuan and Zhang Mi went to the appreciation library first.

According to regulations, the "Jishangku" should have two supervisors who were responsible for collecting money according to the acreage to reward the soldiers, and also for taking into account the materials needed by the court and officials, as well as the supplies for the clerks in the provincial courts and government offices. All these were the responsibility of the "Jishangku".

In short, it is equivalent to the logistics department of the entire Song Dynasty court, so there is actually quite a lot of money to be made.

Therefore, for those who know that they will not have long in their official career, it would be a great honor to become the supervisor of the "Appreciation Library". They do not seek promotion, but only wish to stay in this position.

With so much money to make, once a vacancy occurs in the supervisor position of the "Appreciation Library", naturally countless people will be eyeing it.

There happened to be a vacancy for a supervisor in the "Jisangku" right now, but Zhang Mi's arrival did not cause any hostility from those who coveted this position.

Because everyone knows that Zhang Mi, as a close confidant of Privy Councilor Qin Hui, just came here to avoid the limelight because he is in the center of the storm.

When this storm passes, people will leave. The place they are staring at is simply ignored by others.

Similarly, when Yang Yuan arrived, the head chefs and cooks of the East and West kitchens had no hostility towards him at all.

Because of the incident of Jie Yuangong in the Privy Council, these idle people had already found out everything and had discussed it heatedly for several days.

Although Yang Yuan had offended Qin Shumi, as long as Qin Shumi could not stop him from taking the imperial examination, by the time of the spring examination in late February or early March of the following year, he would have passed the examination and become a Jinshi, and would then have completely entered the civil service system.

The water here is too shallow to hold back this powerful dragon.

Since he is just a passer-by, why bother to confront him?
Therefore, everyone had no objection to Yang Yuan being the head chef of the East and West kitchens, and they warmly welcomed him.

What if Chef Yang and Supervisor Zhang start fighting again? What a colorful story that would be in our boring career.

Everyone's expectations were not in vain. As the head chef of the East and West kitchens, Yang Yuan summoned the head chefs and chefs of the two kitchens.

He had just asked the people in the East Kitchen to introduce themselves one by one when Zhang Mi, the newly appointed supervisor of the "Ji Shang Ku", came running over impatiently.

Zhang Mi's cheeks were red and swollen, and the slap marks on his face were still clearly visible, but he was still wearing his scarlet official robe.

Because officials in the Song Dynasty had their own roles in terms of official title, post, and dispatch. The official title was only used to receive salary, that is, to determine the level of an official's treatment.

As for what specific mission he performs, that is determined by "dispatch".

Therefore, although Zhang Mi is now just an inspector of the "Jisangku", it is still an "assignment".

His official rank was still the sixth rank, and officials of the sixth rank wore scarlet robes.

Like him, Yang Yuan still wore the green robe of the seventh rank, but he was now just a cook.

But Yang Yuan really doesn't care about it.

As long as he could stay in Lin'an, he could carefully design and use Xiangji Temple to achieve his goals. He was not afraid even if he was demoted to a commoner.

Even if he failed the imperial examination next spring, he would step out as long as either Zhao Ai or Zhao Yu could become emperor.

Because these two people are now considered his backers.

Zhao Gou only had two adopted sons, and the crown prince would definitely be one of them.

However, if he fails to pass the imperial examination, even if these two adopted princes value him, the ceiling of his future promotion will be very low.

"Yang Dongxi! Hahahaha, this supervisor and Huang Supervisor have made a division of labor. From now on, all expenditures of the 'East and West Kitchen' will be in charge of this supervisor."

Zhang Mi smiled with a malicious look on his face, staring at Yang Yuan intently, and said in a grim tone: "In the future, I will have too many opportunities to deal with you, Yang."

In the Song Dynasty, officials addressed each other as "Mr." those in high positions were called "Mr.", while those who were respectful were called "Jun." Generally, they addressed each other by their surname and official title.

Yang Yuan is now the chief chef of the East and West Kitchens of the Privy Council. Calling him Yang Dongxi... strictly speaking, it is not wrong.

However, this title always sounds like an insult, so people usually call him the chef.

It was obvious that Zhang Mi called him "Yang Dongxi" on purpose.

As soon as Zhang Mi said this, the whole audience was excited!
I'm coming!
The fight between dragons and tigers is exciting!
Yang Yuan was just about to ask the people from the western kitchen to introduce themselves, but when he heard Zhang Mi's words, he couldn't help but smile and walked towards Zhang Mi.

The onlookers stretched their necks like ducks and watched the scene with shining eyes.

When Zhang Mi saw Yang Yuan coming, she subconsciously shrank back.

But he immediately realized that he came here to humiliate Yang Yuan.

If Yang Yuan was provoked and dared to attack him again, then Prime Minister Qin Shu would have reason to demote Yang Yuan to the bottom and remove him from his official position.

As long as he loses his official status, I can immediately report to the Ministry of Rites.

He no longer had the qualifications to take part in the "Bietou test" and had to fight along with the main force of the scientific expedition.

In that case, even if we can't prevent him from passing the imperial examination, we might be able to lower his ranking.

If we could move him from second place to third place, that would be a way to vent my anger, right?
So Zhang Mi immediately puffed out his chest and shouted, "What do you want to do?
There are so many people watching, do you dare to attack me? Come on, hit me, hit me! "

Yang Yuan walked up to Zhang Mi, looked at his face that was beaten into a pig's head, and suddenly smiled.

Zhang Mi felt uneasy at his smile, but she insisted on not taking a step back and just asked in a trembling voice: "You...what do you want?"

Yang Yuan suddenly raised his hand. Zhang Mi was both happy and afraid. She subconsciously closed her eyes and moved her face closer.

"Snapped!"

Yang Yuan slapped Zhang Mi on the butt, and grabbed it hard, laughing, "Hehe":

"You know what, Officer Zhang, you are tall and skinny, but your butt is soft and firm, and it feels very comfortable to hold."

The chefs and cooks from the east and west kitchens were staring wide-eyed, waiting for a good show. They didn't expect Yang Yuan to do such a thing. Everyone was stunned at first, and then burst into laughter.

Zhang Mi was stunned by Yang Yuan's slap. He opened his eyes wide in surprise and stammered, "Yang Yuan, what...what are you going to do?"

Yang Yuan smiled and said, "We are all colleagues, and we are acquainted with each other. Now it's just a joke between colleagues. What else can I do?"

Yang Yuan raised his palm and said with a smile: "Don't mention it, Supervisor Zhang's butt feels really good when I spank him. It feels better than spanking your face."

After all, Zhang Mi was a fellow Jinshi and a serious scholar. He was embarrassed by Yang Yuan's vulgar behavior.

In the Song Dynasty, once a candidate passed the Ministry of Rites test, he or she was already a Jinshi. The Palace Examination was just a ranking of the Jinshi candidates.

The first class refers to the top three in the imperial examination, namely the No. 1, the No. 2 and the No. 3, and they are called Jinshi Jidi.

The second class is the second echelon with varying numbers of people, known as Jinshi graduates.

The top three are those who ranked last in the palace examination, called "Tong Jinshi Yuan".

In fact, in the beginning, there was an elimination system for the palace examination, and those who were eliminated were no longer considered Jinshi.

However, once you pass the Ministry of Rites examination, you are only one step away from becoming a Jinshi.

If one is eliminated from the palace examination at this time, and the elimination rate is not high, it would be too shameful and the blow would be too great.

During the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song Dynasty, there was a man named Zhang Yuan. He took the imperial examinations many times, but was eliminated at the palace examination each time. In anger, he defected to Western Xia and became an important official of that country.

Under his planning, the Song Dynasty suffered a heavy blow.

He proved through his actions that he was more talented than many of the Jinshi who had not been eliminated.

The Song Dynasty court reflected on this and believed that the palace examination elimination system was too inhumane.

Moreover, it seems inaccurate to decide whether a person should be eliminated based solely on the conversation between the emperor and his ministers and their on-the-spot performance.

From then on, the Song Dynasty abolished the palace examination elimination system. Zhang Mi, who was a fellow Jinshi, was a beneficiary of this system reform.

Yang Yuan laughed and said, "Officer Zhang, don't you like grabbing people's butts? I guess you also like being grabbed by others.

Come, let Yang grab it again, your back hill feels really good. "

"You, you, you, get out of the way! You're a lunatic, a shameless person, and a disgrace to society. I have never seen such a shameless person!"

Zhang Mi screamed, covered her butt and dodged, while Yang Yuan chased her with his hands raised.

He chased and he fled, it was a bit like a playboy molesting a decent woman in the street.

Zhang Mi had no choice but to flee towards the gate of the courtyard. When he reached the gate, he put one foot inside and the other outside before he stopped with peace of mind.

He turned around and called out, "Yang Dongxi, I am here to tell you that someone has reported that the East and West kitchens are spending a huge amount of money every month, and the expenses are too high, but the number of officials eating in this office is actually not that high.

Therefore, this supervisor has decided: From now on, the expenses of the East and West kitchens will be reduced by half. As for the allowances, you are the only official in the East and West kitchens, so why would you need so many allowances? Except for your own allowance, all other allowances will be cut!"

After Zhang Mi finished speaking, he flicked his sleeves and left. The thirty-odd people in the east and west kitchens were immediately shocked when they heard this.

The East and West Kitchens were the canteens of the Privy Council, which provided meals to officials above the rank of Imperial Secretary when they were on duty in the Privy Council.

Mainly lunch is provided, but sometimes officials have a treat and a small meal is provided in the evening.

The East Kitchen is a small canteen with two chefs, the chief and deputy chefs, and five cooks. It is specially used to prepare special meals for high-ranking officials such as the Privy Councilor.
The eastern kitchen alone had a monthly budget of 1,000 guan (about 1,000 strings of cash) and 300 guan (about 1,000 strings of cash) for subsidies.

The conditions in the West Kitchen are slightly worse than those in the East Kitchen, but there are more people and the expenses are higher.

The stipend is equivalent to a job allowance.

All officials in the Song Dynasty received additional allowances, and the amount of allowance varied depending on their official positions.

For example, the Grand Secretary of Guanwen Hall received a monthly allowance of 100 strings of cash.

If you were a prefect, you would only have a monthly allowance of thirty strings of cash.

If it was a commander, the amount would be even lower, only 1,500 coins, which was a huge difference.

Except for Yang Yuan who had just been demoted here, the people in the East and West kitchens were at most clerks and were not eligible to receive subsidies.

They had this money in the past because the Privy Council was the highest-level military office after all. They could give everyone benefits by just coming up with a name, and everyone would be harmonious. Isn't that wonderful?

But if one really wants to be picky, it is obviously unreasonable to post a message to the chef. In this matter, Zhang Mi is indeed right.

Zhang Mi had just arrived at the office when he gave Yang Yuan a warning. Although he could not deduct Yang Yuan's salary, he took action against the east and west kitchens.

The chefs and cooks from the East and West kitchens, who were originally just interested spectators, suddenly became excited.

Naturally, they cursed Zhang Mi in their hearts, but they also looked unfriendly towards Yang Yuan.

It was because of the fight between Yang Yuan and Zhang Mi that they were affected.

Yang Yuan knew that Zhang Mi was trying to put pressure on him. Zhang Mi couldn't do anything to him directly, so he made things difficult for the chefs and cooks of the east and west kitchens.

These people are unhappy and will naturally be dissatisfied with Yang Yuan, but... does Yang Yuan care?

He doesn't plan to stay in this position for long. After the Lantern Festival, everything will be different.

There is only one and a half months left until the Lantern Festival. Is one and a half months difficult to endure?
Yang Yuan smiled disapprovingly and said loudly, "The West Kitchen is a large kitchen with many staff. There are three chief and deputy chefs, and twenty-three cooks, right? Then come forward one by one and let me see them."

The head chef of the West Kitchen took a step forward with a gloomy face, bowed to Yang Yuan perfunctorily, and said, "I am He Yuzhu, the chief chef of the West Kitchen. Nice to meet you, Chef Yang."

Yang Yuan looked at him curiously. He was a man who looked anxious.

Yang Yuan was very surprised. The name was not unusual, but he happened to be a cook!
Yang Yuan couldn't help but laugh and asked, "He Yuzhu? Do you know someone named Qin Huairu?"

He Yuzhu was surprised and asked, "Chef Yang, do you know my sister Qin?"

Yang Yuan was even more surprised than him. He was stunned for a moment before he said, "I don't know him. I want to know him!"

……

Xue Bingxin walked quickly to the "East and West Kitchens" and suddenly stopped.

When Xue Bingxin heard that Yang Yuan rushed into the Xuanzhiyuan and beat Zhang Mi for her in front of Privy Councilor Qin Hui, her heart almost melted.

She didn't expect that Yang Yuan could do this for her.

She was in the signing room, listening attentively to what Xiao Luo was saying to everyone.

Xue Bingxin was extremely distressed when she learned that Yang Yuan was demoted and even punished to be the head chef of the "East-West Kitchen".

She wished she could rush to Yang Yuan as soon as possible and comfort him.

However, now that they were about to enter the "East and West Kitchen", Xue Bingxin hesitated and stopped.

What men fear most is being seen when they are frustrated and down, right?

Xue Zhuzhu understands this feeling very well.

This was how she felt when she was squatting in front of the pile of fruit that kept falling down on the dock and burst into tears.

Even if she was crying her heart out, if an acquaintance appeared at this time, she would immediately wipe away her tears and put on a smile.

She... didn't want anyone to see her embarrassing scene.

Yang Yuan is a man, so he should care more about his face than her, right?
Xue Bingxin stood at the gable of the official residence, stunned for a long time, and ultimately did not take a step towards the "East and West Kitchens".

"What are you thinking about?"

Leng Yuchan's voice suddenly sounded beside her, and then Leng Yuchan's figure appeared beside Xue Bingxin.

Xue Bingxin bit her lower lip and stared blankly in the direction of the "East and West Kitchen" without saying a word.

Leng Yuchan sighed and said, "Xue girl, you are so amazing. You are so brave to ask him to give up his future for you."

Xue Bingxin still didn't speak.

Leng Yuchan said leisurely: "However, he was too impulsive. His beating has made everyone in the Privy Council know that Dean Zhang touched your buttocks..."

Xue Bing's cheeks flushed with joy and she explained, "He didn't touch it."

Leng Yuchan's hand suddenly touched her buttocks, and she praised with a smile: "Tsk tsk tsk, you know what, it's really firm and perky, plump and tender."

Xue Bingxin slapped Leng Yuchan's hand with her backhand, pulling away her hand that was about to rub against hers, and glared at her in reproach.

Leng Yuchan smiled and said, "Everyone in the Privy Council now knows that you are Yang Yuan's woman."

This time, Xue Bingxin didn't rush to explain.

Leng Yuchan said: "So, I'm afraid you can't stay in the Privy Council anymore.

I heard that the Qin envoy has ordered Zheng Ducheng to dismiss you from your post and expel you from the Privy Council within a certain period of time."

Leng Yuchan sighed and said, "I, his legitimate woman, haven't been exposed, but you have made it known to everyone.

If you are really kicked out of the Privy Council, what will you do in the future? "

Xue Bingxin squinted at Leng Yuchan and said in a muffled voice, "Give me half of your man?"

Leng Yuchan snorted and said, "Wishful thinking!"

The light in Xue Bingxin's eyes dimmed.

Leng Yuchan said: "I don't even have half yet, so why should I give you half?

After all the divisions, what do I have left? Either we have it all together or nothing! Do you want to do it? "

Xue Bingxin thought about it and said in a long tone: "That's not impossible."

Leng Yuchan was surprised and said: "No way, are you serious?"

"I'm a piece of shit, I'm not serious at all!"

Xue Bingxin rolled her eyes at her unhappily, and then said with a sad face, "Actually, leaving the Privy Council is not a big deal.

Anyway, according to my original plan, I will leave in the second half of next year at the latest, so it doesn’t matter if it’s a year earlier or half a year later.”

Having money means having confidence. As a woman, Xue Bingxin's career path has no upper limit.

Now she has shares in the jewelry store and the spice shop. Even if it is only a mere 1% of the shares, she can earn a month's salary in a day. So she is not worried about her life after leaving the Privy Council.

Xue Bingxin said guiltily: "It's just that I made Yang Chengzhi become a cook, and I really feel bad about it.

If I had known he had such a bad temper, I would not have exaggerated things in front of him, oh!"

"Deputy Imperial Secretary Leng, Deputy Imperial Secretary Xue, and Chief Imperial Secretary Zheng have summoned you."

Just as Xue Bingxin said this, Xiao Luo suddenly appeared like a ghost.

It was such a large Privy Council, but it was thanks to him that he was able to find the two of them in time.

Leng Yuchan knew that Zheng Yuandong was looking for them probably because the "relationship" between Yang Yuan and Xue Bingxin was exposed, and Qin Hui took the opportunity to make trouble. He was really going to drive out another general from the "Jisufang".

Xue Bingxin asked: "Xiao Luo, did Zheng Ducheng tell us what happened?"

Xiao Luo said in embarrassment: "Ah, I just went to see Yang Chengzhi taking up his post at the East and West Kitchens. I haven't had time to inquire about what's going on with Zheng Ducheng yet."

Xue Bingxin hurriedly asked, "Xiao Luo, Yang Chengzhi... Is he okay in the East and West Kitchens?"

Xiao Luo smiled and said, "Okay, it's fine.

Yang Chengzhi made friends with Master He from the western kitchen. He also asked Master He about his sister Qin, who was said to be a widow..."

(End of this chapter)