Qiang Jin Jiu (Author : Tang Jiuqing 唐酒卿)

Chapter 78 : Individual Servings

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Pan Lin was in a depressed state of mind as he sat on the couch near the window after he had a change of clothes. Feeling guilty, Fei Shi sat before him and made to speak, only to have the words die on his lips.  

“You don’t have to say a word.” Pan Lin looked out of the window at the old but brilliantly-lit brothel courtyard. “It’s just my bad luck to come across a lowlife like him.”
  
Fei Shi said, “You know he’s a lowlife who has an extremely narrow mind. Then why get angry with someone like him? Chengzhi, it’s not worth it.” 

Pan Lin let out a self-mocking laugh and said, “Has our Pan Clan fallen into such a sorry state? I can give up my moral integrity had it been for the sake of a meal. But I’d rather die than to let him mock me like this.” 

Seeing how sorrowful he looked, Fei Shi knew that the social snubbing these days had really hurt him. Although Fei Shi was a loafer, he was pretty much a person who took it easy. He comforted, “As long as the green hills remain, one need not fear a lack of firewood to burn—Where there’s life, there’s hope. His Majesty has not even issued the edict yet! Chengzhi, didn’t His Lordship say so? His Excellency Pan is a veteran minister of three reigns. He’d still carry some weight in His Majesty’s heart.” 

On the other side, Gu Jin lifted the curtain, and Xiao Chiye bent over to enter. Fei Shi and Pan Lin stood up together to pay their obeisances to him.    

Xiao Chiye raised his hand and said, “Gentlemen, there’s no need to stand on ceremony. Your Excellency Pan, please take a seat.” 

Pan Lin took his seat and said to Xiao Chiye, “Not only have I ruined Your Lordship’s fun tonight, but I’ve also held Your Lordship up from enjoying the wine. I deserve a beating.” 

Xiao Chiye did not really mind. As he sat, Gu Jin served him tea. He took a few sips and said, “I’ve long heard of Your Excellency’s talents, but I have never had the chance to strike up a conversation. It could be said to be fate and luck that brought us here tonight.” 

On hearing this, Fei Shi smiled and threw Pan Lin a signal with his eyes. 

Pan Lin hurriedly bowed. Xiao Chiye motioned for him to take a seat again and said, “I was the one who carried out the task of dredging up the public ditches, so I know very well how it feels. The public ditches on Donglong Street were old to begin with, having been haphazardly dug before His Excellency Pan took up the post of Minister of Works. There are too many points in this matter that don’t make sense. If you ask me, the blame for the rise in water level this time shouldn’t be pinned on His Excellency Pan.” 

A surge of warmth welled up in Pan Lin’s heart. He said, “A few years ago, my father specifically asked someone to draw up a blueprint. But the Zhongbo troops just happened to suffer a defeat back then, and the state treasury lacked money. The Ministry of Revenue refused to allocate the funds, so this matter was passed over. Who would have known… sigh!” 

“To think there’s still such a thing.” Xiao Chiye covered the teacup with the tea lid. “But Wei Huaigu didn’t mention a word about this before the emperor. Aren’t both your families on good terms with one another?” 

Pan Lin said nothing, and Fei Shi hastened to say, “Your Lordship, why is that Wei Huaigu is going all out to curry favors? It’s all for the sake of being a top-league official. He endured for all these years, finally becoming qualified enough and just in time for the inspection this year. He’s waiting for the evaluation to be submitted so that he can be promoted to Deputy Secretary; this is so he can stand up to Secretariat Elder Hai as equals on the imperial court in the future. No one expected the public ditches to end up clogged at this juncture. Of course, he has to think of ways to disassociate himself from it. He’s not the slightest bit willing to shoulder the responsibility for this at all.”