The Ministry of Works office was not luxurious; in fact, it had quite a bit of garbage.
Piles here, piles there, and piles over there too.
All construction materials.
They couldn't bear to throw them away.
So it looked rather messy.
Of course, the main entrance was very imposing.
The face of the imperial court couldn't be lost.
Minister Dong's office was very large.
He enthusiastically engaged General Meng in detailed conversation.
Having risen to the position of minister, he considered his judgment to be quite good.
Although he had just misjudged someone.
But that was an accident. Vice Minister Liu was his subordinate, they had been colleagues for many years, and he had watched Liu grow up. Liu wasn't very smart but didn't have major flaws. Who could have imagined he would change so much as an adult?
Apart from that, Minister Dong felt his judgment of people was still accurate.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have gotten the position of minister.
This Meng Qingshe must be a good person.
Straightforward, generous, simple yet wise.
But Old General Meng might not be.
If Meng Qingshe was a flashy black-banded krait - quick to act, agile in response, good at escaping, gentle in nature, scary-looking but actually doesn't bite, only biting when extremely frightened or forced to -
Old General Meng was a "Ba", also called a five-step snake, seven-step snake, hundred-step snake, or sharp-nosed pit viper. The names speak for themselves. It bites people, is very fierce, and can kill with its bite.
Old General Meng was not a benevolent snake.
Being able to satisfy Meng Qingshe meant one was at least a kind person.
Being able to satisfy Old General Meng meant one was a clever person.
Who else could be both kind and clever if not his own in-law?
Minister Dong inquired very carefully.
"My in-law, does he have a son? Yes indeed. Young Feng, honest and loyal, skilled in martial arts. He practices with my son every day at dawn, never stopping for heat or cold, very hardworking. I hear from my son that young Feng is very knowledgeable. If it weren't for... he would certainly pass the imperial exams. Just look at my in-law and you'll see how clever he is."
Minister Dong pulled Old Meng to sit down and poured him tea.
Let's discuss in detail, he said.
He also took out a package of dried meat from his drawer.
He passed a piece to Old Meng.
Old Meng was an honest man who surely wouldn't lie.
It's just that he was too straightforward and wouldn't beat around the bush, so one had to carefully analyze the specifics from his words.
Work was set aside.
Minister Dong chatted with Meng Qingshe for a whole morning.
It left Meng Qingshe feeling a bit dizzy.
How could this old Dong talk so much?
He was just like the old men and women in the park trying to arrange marriages for their children.
They talked about everything under the sun.
After chatting, realizing it was noon, he originally wanted to invite Old Meng for a meal.
But Old Meng insisted on going home to eat.
The food at home was delicious, he boasted again.
Minister Dong decided not to spend the money then.
He let the man go.
He carefully analyzed the content of what Old Meng had said, discarding the miscellaneous parts and keeping the main points:
The Jiang family's circumstances should be quite good. Meng Qingshe's daughter-in-law's dowry was very generous, just not ostentatious. The Jiang family was very low-key. (Wealthy, won't be poor after marriage, low-key, not easily killed off, unlikely to get into trouble.)
The Jiang family matriarch had a very good temperament, because his daughter-in-law was a bit naive and careless - if not truly loving children, she couldn't have taught such a personality. (Mother-in-law has a good temperament, easy to get along with.)
Jiang Feng was accomplished in both civil and military arts, but had a scar on his forehead. His appearance should be very good; Meng Qingshe mentioned several times that he was handsome. (Having been injured isn't necessarily bad. If he were perfect in every way, he would have been someone else's husband long ago. Having a slight flaw might be why he's still available now.)
Jiang Feng had a good personality, protective of his sister, extremely patient with people, very lively, loved to laugh, just a bit simple and guileless. (Looking at Vice Minister Jiang, saying he has no guile needs further investigation. However, with Vice Minister Jiang being so full of schemes, the child doesn't need too much cunning.)
Jiang Feng had no bad habits, spent all his time studying, and had strict family discipline. The Jiang family had no concubines or messy relationships. (This point is very good - proper family values, my daughter won't suffer grievances in the future.)
They chatted for a very long time.
Minister Dong was now extremely anxious.
His daughter's wedding clothes were already embroidered.
It wouldn't do without a groom.
He was also a decisive person and prepared to make contact with Vice Minister Jiang again.
After all, Old Meng's intelligence fluctuated unpredictably, hard to gauge.
Minister Dong went over to the main government office after eating.
The Imperial Secretary usually had to enter the palace, or wait outside if not entering.
When Minister Dong came over, Vice Minister Jiang happened to not have entered the palace.
Vice Minister Jiang had been ostracized at Minister Lu's hint.
He was alone in his office.
There was no work for him to do.
He didn't mind.
Being ostracized wasn't scary.
Did they really expect him to work his fingers to the bone for that little salary? Wasn't it better to rest?
Vice Minister Jiang was very open-minded about it.
These days, seeing the spoils of war that his old in-law kept sending over,
He had even hired an external accountant (bookkeeper) to help tally it.
Of course, outsiders couldn't easily come in.
So Jiang Changtian chose a former colleague who had waited for official appointments with him.
That colleague was so poor he couldn't even afford to rent a room. He visited Jiang Changtian, who sponsored him with a sum of money.
But he generally didn't easily play the role of a benefactor.
Money given out also needed to have equivalent benefits in return; giving for free wouldn't do.
If you give for free once, will you give for free a second time? If you give the second time, will you give a third time?
Whichever time you don't give, you're no longer a good person.
So Jiang Changtian invited that colleague to help with the accounting, and also paid him wages. (When paying, he deducted the money he had given earlier, emphasizing that even if not blood brothers, accounts must be kept clear.)
The colleague was also very grateful.
This job was respectable, working for the Emperor. Although Brother Jiang could have done it himself - Brother Jiang had been leisurely sunbathing all morning - he insisted on letting him do it to solve his urgent need. Not only did he pay, but he also gave him a chance to gain recognition.
This was working for the Emperor and Minister Lu. If done well, in case praise was earned, there would always be opportunities.
So the colleague Chen Jiuju was very grateful and calculated very carefully and diligently, not even stopping to rest for lunch.
He hastily ate a few bites and continued calculating.
There was too much money.
It kept coming endlessly.
Divided into three portions.
Each transaction had to be recorded, the accounts had to be clear.
So when Minister Dong came over, Vice Minister Jiang was seriously reading a book.
The afternoon sun had already slanted.
It entered the room through the window.
Vice Minister Jiang wore a dark blue official robe, his long hair falling over his shoulders, leaning back in his chair reading a book, not sitting very properly, looking a bit lazy.
There was tea and snacks on the table.
The tea set didn't seem to be from the government office, probably his own.
A large teacup, with a special design for straining tea leaves.
He also had a hot water bag in his arms, and a fire bucket under the table.
Other rooms were freezing cold, uncomfortable.
But entering Vice Minister Jiang's room felt comfortable.
Seeing the visitor, Vice Minister Jiang stood up and politely greeted him.
Standing face to face.
Old Dong couldn't help but secretly praise, how handsome!
This in-law truly had outstanding looks!
Even if the son didn't take after his father, with these looks, even halved would still be good-looking enough.
Minister Dong did understand his own daughter somewhat.
His daughter liked beautiful things.
That Liu boy looked passable, but had a heap of other flaws, yet his daughter had tolerated it all.
But compared to this in-law before him, he wasn't fit to tie his shoes.
Minister Dong's face was full of enthusiasm, his voice booming, smiling almost fawningly.
Jiang Changtian was a bit confused.
He remembered this person, someone from the imperial court. He glanced at him, and with the detailed information Brother Yehang had given him, he had memorized it all.
The man before him was Minister Dong of the Ministry of Works, said to be upright and impartial, capable of getting things done, a useful talent.
Vice Minister Jiang greeted him warmly.
Not knowing why Minister Dong had graced him with his presence, he asked if there was any instruction.
A leader of this rank surely wouldn't come to ask for answers.
Jiang Changtian was quite self-aware; everyone was just giving face to Minister Lu, it had nothing to do with him.
Minister Dong sat down happily to chat.
Leaving everything else aside, just seeing Vice Minister Jiang's appearance made one feel pleased.
It was a feast for the eyes.
The rumor that Meng Qingshe's daughter-in-law was as beautiful as Daji seemed to have some truth to it.
With a father this handsome, how could the daughter not be beautiful?
Meng Qingshe really lucked out; his two grandsons must be good-looking too.
Minister Dong didn't beat around the bush.
He sat down in front of Vice Minister Jiang and said, "I heard from General Meng that your eldest son is not yet married. I wonder if he has anyone he fancies? If not, this old man is willing to act as a matchmaker, to make a connection."
Jiang Changtian understood immediately.
Unlike chatting with Meng Qingshe for a whole morning until his mouth was dry, yet Meng Qingshe still hadn't understood why old Dong was so enthusiastic today.
"Not yet. My son has not had anyone in mind. If Minister Dong could arrange an introduction, that would be wonderful. May I ask which family's daughter it is? I'll have my wife pay a visit tomorrow."
Minister Dong was even more pleased with Vice Minister Jiang. Not only was he handsome, but every detail about Vice Minister Jiang's appearance and surroundings showed that he lived well. His hair was clean and tidy, his sleeves were pristine, his collar was crisp. The room was well-appointed, the food and drink were comfortable, his shoes were clean, and there was even a hot water bottle for warming hands. All these details indicated that his household was well-managed, with a capable wife.
Just for this reason alone, his own daughter would surely live well if she married into this family.
Minister Dong slapped the table and said without blushing, "I have a fine daughter at home."
