Heroes Meet Villain

The prefect of Jinling is a position of the fourth rank, and the vice magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture is also of the fourth rank. Moreover, he has gone from a principal official to a deputy, so it seems that the actual power has shrunk greatly—but in this era, officials in the capital are highly regarded. Even if the vice magistrate of Shuntian Prefecture can only barely be considered half a capital official, in the eyes of people at the time, it can still be called a 'promotion'.

But even such a beautiful thing that officials all over the world envy, in the eyes of the Jia family's powerful servants, is still seven parts disdain and three parts jealousy. They call a fourth-rank official a pauper, as if without the support of the Rongguo Mansion and this group of relatives and friends, Jia Yucun would be worse than dog shit!

Tsk~

Sun Shaozong finally knew what 'looking down on people' meant, and he also figured that these servants probably hadn't said less about the Sun family in private, so he naturally felt less close to them.

But because of Jia Lian, he couldn't give this Xing'er a bad look.

So he just responded indifferently and walked towards the living room.

Since Jia Lian mentioned him in front of Jia Yucun, he probably also meant to bring the two together—besides, since they were going to be on the road together, it was better to meet sooner rather than later.

Speaking of arriving at the door of the living room, he heard someone inside vividly saying, "The abbot of Jiming Temple didn't like the latrine being dirty, so he went to the back garden in the dark to relieve himself. Who knew that his old eyes were dim and he was stabbed in the butt by a bamboo shoot, which caused him to scream in pain—a young novice monk heard the sound and couldn't help but put his palms together and said: Amitabha, it really is karmic retribution!"

Before the voice fell, Sun Shaozong had already arrived at the door, and saw a middle-aged scholar in the hall with his palms together, his face half surprised and half happy, and also revealing a bit of panic, just like the little novice monk who had just relieved the hatred of the back court, but was afraid that the Buddha would blame him.

This performance with singing, reciting, acting, and fighting naturally caused Jia Lian to slap the table and laugh, saying, "What a karmic retribution, what a karmic retribution!"

Sun Shaozong paused slightly, then crossed the threshold with a smile, and joked, "I don't think it's any retribution, it's clearly that the old monk's pomp was not enough. If he could be like your Second Brother Lian, with three or five lanterns to light the way when he goes to the toilet, how could he have this misfortune?"

Seeing that it was Sun Shaozong who came in to respond, Jia Lian laughed even more happily. He got up and pointed at him with his finger, and scolded with a smile, "I don't like the pleasure of a hot rectum. Second Brother, don't try to put the shit pot on me!"

Saying that, he warmly pulled Sun Shaozong to the table and introduced him to Jia Yucun, "Brother, this is Second Brother Sun. Their family and the Rongguo Mansion have been old friends for generations."

Then he pointed to Jia Yucun and said, "This old brother is also from my Jia family, his name is Jia Yucun. Second Brother, quickly come forward to meet him."

Although Jia Lian called him 'Brother' and 'Old Brother', it was obvious from his words and actions that he didn't take this Jia Yucun very seriously. Compared with the servant's remarks before, Sun Shaozong couldn't help but sigh in his heart: as expected, like master, like servant.

While he was feeling emotional in his heart, his face was smiling like a spring breeze. He cupped his hands at Jia Yucun and introduced himself, "Sun Shaozong has met Prefect Jia."

Jia Yucun had also heard about Sun Shaozong from Jia Lian. If only talking about identity and background, Yucun didn't take the Sun family, a 'pauper', seriously. However, seeing that Sun Shaozong was unusually strong and had an intimidating heroic spirit, he didn't dare to underestimate him.

So he quickly got up and returned a salute, and said with a warm smile, "This is a family banquet, we are all our own people, why be so polite? Come, come, Brother Sun, please take a seat quickly and tell me about the customs and practices of Qian Xiang Country, so that Yucun can broaden his knowledge and have more to talk about."

Sun Shaozong said 'I dare not', and sat with the two of them, raising their glasses and drinking a few cups.

Before long, Sun Shaozong saw that this Jia Yucun was indeed a character, and he took the initiative in the conversation.

Most of the topics on the wine table were initiated by him, sometimes witty, sometimes lewd but not obscene, but he left Jia Lian room to show off everywhere, and put one high hat after another on Jia Lian's head. However, there was not much flattery or humility in his words. His mastery of propriety was really admirable.

Moreover, Jia Yucun's views on officialdom, people's livelihood, and current malpractices were also unique, which showed that he was not only good at socializing, but also had a plan in his mind.

Sun Shaozong recalled the officials he had seen these days, and it seemed that only the Prime Minister of Qian Xiang Country, Ruan Fuzhong, could match him—it was ridiculous that the Jia family's powerful servants regarded such a person as a 'pauper'!

"Brother Sun."

While he was despising the powerful servant in his heart, he heard Jia Yucun half-jokingly and half-seriously persuading, "With your knowledge, it's really a waste of talent to be a brave warrior. If you have the opportunity, you might as well switch to a civil position. I believe you will be able to achieve something in the future!"

It turned out that when Sun Shaozong was evaluating Jia Yucun, Jia Yucun was also weighing Sun Shaozong?

At this time, among the three people at the banquet, Jia Yucun certainly took the initiative, coaxing Jia Lian to dance to his words like a puppet on a string.

However, Sun Shaozong was still able to maintain his own world without being humble or arrogant. When it came to people's livelihood and politics, he was even more eloquent, not like the current young people who were just talking big.

Such an age, such a person, it was really appropriate to describe him with the words 'unlimited future'!

Therefore, Jia Yucun couldn't help but feel three parts jealousy and seven parts love for talent, so he said this.

Sun Shaozong smiled upon hearing this, and was about to explain when Jia Lian beside him was already shaking his head vigorously, "Brother Yucun, that's not right of you. With Second Brother's martial arts skills, wouldn't it be a pity if he didn't use them in the military! Do you think everyone is like you, happy to waste time on paperwork?"

"Haha..."

Jia Yucun lightly tapped his forehead and laughed, "My fault, my fault, I only thought that Shaozong had extraordinary knowledge, but I forgot that he was also a fierce general—forget it, I'll punish myself with a cup as an apology!"

They drank straight until the third watch.

Jia Lian was once again completely drunk. Sun Shaozong and Jia Yucun called for servants to carry him back to his residence like a dead pig, and then they staggered out of the living room.

Along the way, the two walked side by side, supporting each other, slurring words, and who knows what they were saying.

When they arrived at the guest rooms in the northwest of the official residence, because they were not in the same courtyard, they said good night to each other, and each was helped by someone, staggering towards their own residences.

It is said that Sun Shaozong took a dozen steps away with Feng Xin's support, and subconsciously looked back, unexpectedly meeting Jia Yucun's gaze head-on. The four eyes were full of sparkling light, full of exploration, but where was there any sign of drunkenness?

The two couldn't help but be stunned, and then they laughed in unison.

After laughing for a long time, they bowed their hands to each other from a distance, and walked back to their respective guest rooms—this time, there was no trace of staggering in their steps.