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

Chapter 88 From today on, you are my Lu Fang's nephew. I will give you a good job.

A eunuch brought a tea tray to the eight-immortal table.

Lu Fang personally poured tea for Lin Shisan: "Tea, please."

Drink tea before talking about business. This is the rule of the eunuchs.

Lin Shisan picked up the teacup, feeling uneasy: The Prime Minister invited me to tea, could it be an assignment that could get me beheaded?
In fact, it is not a job that will lead to death, but a lucrative job.

Lu Fang said, "The court is in a tight financial situation right now. After the beginning of spring this year, all government offices in Beijing, provinces, prefectures, and counties must cut back on spending. The palace must set an example."

"Of course, the emperor's food, clothing and other expenses cannot be reduced. I can only suffer for the eunuchs in the palace."

Lin Shisan couldn't figure out what this had to do with him.

Lu Fang took a sip of tea and continued, "Here in Xiyuan, a large number of pets are purchased for the emperor every year."

"Leopard House, Tiger City, Sheep House, Bird House, Insect House, Rabbit Garden, Goldfish House, etc., guess how much it costs in a year?"

Lin Shisan replied: "I don't know, and I dare not guess."

Lu Fang sighed: "Alas, the annual expenditure is 450,000 taels of silver. 300,000 taels are used for purchases and 150,000 taels are used for feeding."

Lin Shisan was stunned when he heard the number "450,000". Good man, if you want to spend a lot of money on pets, it has to be the royal family.

Lu Fang continued, "I know those eunuchs. Of the 450,000 taels, at least 300,000 were taken by them and put into their own pockets."

"To reduce this huge expense, we need someone who understands pets and can keep an eye on them when they purchase and write off."

"If I assign a junior eunuch or a deputy eunuch to take charge of this matter, the palace has many connections. In the end, the expenses will not be reduced, but the person in charge will only get richer."

"So I have to send someone from outside the palace to do this."

Lin Shisan understood: "Eunuch Lu is thinking about his subordinates."

Lu Fang nodded: "That's right. I asked Lu Bing for someone, and he recommended you."

Lin Shisan finally understood what Lu Bing meant by sending him to a "big use".

Huang Jin interjected, "Those little guys who keep pets in various rooms should find someone to take good care of them. For example, last fall, the Insect Room sent a fireman to Diaoclam Street to buy a cricket."

"The fireman spent 20 taels of silver on the crickets. He reported 30 taels to the chief attendant, who reported 50 taels to the accountant, who reported 70 taels to the deputy envoy. The ambassador of the insect room wrote off the money, and it turned out to be 100 taels!"

Lin Shisan remained silent. Purchasing pets for the imperial palace was an offensive job. He knew it well.

How smart is Lu Fang? He saw what Lin Shisan was thinking at a glance: "This job is indeed offensive, but it is also a lucrative job."

Lin Shisan said quickly: "If the eunuch gives this matter to me, I will be upright and incorruptible."

Lu Fang waved his hand and interrupted Lin Shisan: "No, I want you to have good fortune in the three years, prosperity in the four seasons, and a good harvest in the five crops!"

"If the Imperial Household Department issues a document asking you to take charge of this matter, the ambassadors from the sixteen chambers, one city, and one garden who keep pets will line up to give gifts to your home."

"Don't refuse. I'll give you six words: 'Accept the gift, but don't do the work.'"

"I have spoiled them for too long. They are all rich. Let them bleed a little this time. Bleeding will not earn you forgiveness. They will naturally restrain themselves in the future."

Lin Shisan was stunned: "Eunuch Lu, I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should say it or not."

Lu Fang nodded: "Go ahead."

Lin Shisan said, "If I do as you say, I'm afraid the eunuchs in the palace will hate me to death."

Lu Fang nodded: "That's right. But don't worry, I have a way to make them dare not touch you easily. I am willing to form a clan with you."

The so-called "lian zong" usually means worshipping a foster father or godfather. A real man lives between heaven and earth, how can he live in depression under others for a long time?

Lin Shisan’s first reaction: This old guy is taking advantage of me.

On second thought: If I were to be an adopted son or godson in the current dynasty, it wouldn't seem like I would suffer much.

Lu Fang poured Lin Shisan a cup of tea and said, "I have too many adopted sons, god-grandsons, and god-great-grandsons in the palace. There must be at least eight hundred of them. If I were to be related to you by your father's ancestry, it would not show that you have a special status."

"And I don't want to force you to change your surname." "What I mean is that we should be connected as one. Tell others that you are my nephew. We have been separated for many years and have just recognized each other."

"Those people in the palace who want to take revenge on my nephew should think carefully about their own actions."

It was really high. Lv Fang was the one who was so high.

Lin Shisan could see that Lu Fang was genuinely thinking about him.

If you replace him with an unkind superior who assigns offending tasks to his subordinates, will he not care about their life or death?

He is indeed a famous and wise eunuch.

Lin Shisan was not vague. He jumped up from the chair like an agile toad, pounced forward with his butt sticking out, and bowed his head: "Uncle! I have been looking for you for so many years, but I didn't expect that you are now the Prime Minister."

"Now that I have found you, my mother can finally rest in peace!"

Lu Fang laughed out loud: "You are an interesting guy. You are a natural flatterer."

Huang Jin spoke up for Lin Shisan: "This little monkey boy is good at flattering and doing things."

Huang Jin paused and made another joke: "It would be a pity if he is not castrated and sent to work in the Imperial Household Department."

Lin Shisan shrank his neck in fear.

Huang Jin said with a smile: "Why are you shrinking? You are not the golden turtle of Taiye Lake. Don't be afraid, I am joking with you."

The three chatted for a while, and then it was already noon. It was time to eat.

Lu Fang and Huang Jin ate very simply, just a bowl of white noodles and a few pickled vegetables from Liuxinju.

Huang Jin served noodles to Lu Fang. Lu Fang said, "Give me half a bowl. I have no appetite these days."

Lin Shisan had an idea after hearing this. He said, "Uncle."

Lu Fang was stunned for a moment, then reacted: "You are so sweet. You changed the address so quickly. Yes, I am your uncle."

Lin Shisan said, "Uncle, you serve the emperor all day long, working very hard and exhausted. How can you eat so little?"

"Although my nephew is a lazy man who has nothing to do but he has learned to make an appetizer from your nephew's wife."

"With this appetizer, I guarantee you'll whet your appetite and eat two extra bowls of noodles."

Lu Fang asked, "Oh? What side dish?"

Lin Shisan said, "Uncle, don't ask me yet. Do you eat coriander, onion, and ginger? Do you have any problem with alcohol?"

Lu Fang laughed and said, "You are keeping us in suspense. Eat all of it."

Lin Shisan stood up and said, "Please wait for your eunuch to take me to the kitchen."

Lin Shisan picked up the wooden barrel that had held the shrimps. There was still a handful of shrimps left in the barrel. Lu Fang's personal eunuch led him into the kitchen.

Lin Shisan washed the shrimps with clean water, drained them, and put them in a large porcelain bowl. He also cut up some scallions, green onions, and ginger and threw them in.

Next, he poured a small cup of Fenjiu into the porcelain bowl, and then added soy sauce and vinegar.

After stirring it a few times with chopsticks, a dish of "raw marinated shrimps" is ready.

Of course, even if Lin Shisan was beaten to death, he would never admit that these small shrimps were caught with the slop from his family as bait.

Lin Shisan is indeed a filial nephew who feeds his newly recognized uncle with swill shrimp. His filial piety is so touching that it makes the whole family laugh.

Lin Shisan carried the large porcelain bowl and returned to the Eight Immortals Table: "Uncle, please try the pickled shrimp."

Lu Fang took a closer look and hesitated: "Can this be eaten? It's still jumping around."

Lin Shisan held the tails of a pair of chopsticks between his thumbs and presented them to Lu Fang respectfully: "Uncle, you will know once you try it."

(End of this chapter)