noffsinger Chapter 260: The Way of Being an Official!
Chapter 260: The Way of Being an Official!
He gently took Xiaoman's hand and said, "Physician Su, please don't say that. Don't make fun of this old man."
In terms of true skill, this old man is far inferior to Imperial Physician Su.
Xiaoman quickly waved her hand and said seriously, "No, no, no, Minister Xu is mistaken."
We are in different fields, and naturally, we each play different roles.
Minister Xu was a strategist in the imperial court, possessing extraordinary abilities in governing.
I merely used my medical skills to try my best to alleviate the suffering of the people.
For ordinary people, it is such a blessing to have a good official like you who shelters them from the wind and rain and upholds justice.
When I was a child, I was ignorant and didn't understand the ways of the world.
But ever since Sujia Village suffered a devastating disaster, I have witnessed too many unbearable things along the way.
Take those landlords and gentry, for example. Relying on their vast wealth, they wantonly oppressed the people.
What's even more infuriating is that some local officials not only fail to stand up for the people, but also collude with those landlords and work together in disgrace.
They colluded with each other, oppressing the villagers and plunging the lives of the common people into misery. The people suffered terribly.
Xu Yiming couldn't help but sigh: "Everyone has their own ambitions, and everyone is different. People in this world have different personalities and character."
Having spent decades navigating the ups and downs of officialdom, I have witnessed countless instances of greedy behavior by local officials.
To be honest, whenever I see people like this, I wish I could punish them severely.
However, Imperial Physician Su, you are new to officialdom and still view many things from the perspective of ordinary people.
It should be understood that every person has two sides; not all corrupt officials are evil, nor are those who appear upright necessarily honest officials.
"Water that is too clear has no fish, and a person who is too discerning has no followers." The affairs of officialdom are intricate and far more complex than they appear on the surface.
Some officials, despite their corrupt practices, may still make contributions to the local area in certain matters.
And some seemingly upright and honest people may be secretly engaging in shady dealings.
Xiaoman became increasingly confused as she listened, never expecting that Minister Xu Yiming would make such a statement.
He couldn't help but ask, "Minister Xu, can we just tolerate the evil deeds of those corrupt officials?"
Xu Yiming laughed heartily upon hearing this.
Then he reached out and gently patted Xiaoman's shoulder.
"You are still young and inexperienced in the ways of the world. Even if I were to explain it to you in detail now, you would probably find it difficult to understand."
The path of an official is complex and multifaceted, far from easy. You'll only truly understand its nuances through your own personal experience.
Although you are currently an official, you will need to continue to hone your skills to understand the ways of officialdom.
only……"
Xiaoman asked with a puzzled look, "But what?"
Xu Yiming shook his head slightly and said with a touch of emotion, "It's just that I'm afraid Imperial Physician Su won't have the chance to stay in the officialdom for long!"
Xiaoman was even more puzzled and asked again, "What does Minister Xu mean by that? I don't understand."
Xu Yiming smiled and reminded him, "Imperial Physician Su refused the official position conferred by the King of Ling to his face that day."
After some haggling, he finally agreed to retain the official position only until the plague was over. Have you forgotten?
Xiaoman was immediately embarrassed upon hearing this.
For the past two weeks, he has devoted himself entirely to preparing the medicines.
Before he knew it, he had already come to regard himself as a real official, and he had long forgotten about this matter.
He touched his head somewhat embarrassedly.
"Oh dear, I had completely forgotten about it if you hadn't mentioned it."
King Ling did indeed promise me that he would revoke my post once the plague was resolved.
Seeing this, Xu Yiming said, "If Imperial Physician Su changes his mind and wants to continue serving as an official, as long as you express your intentions to the King of Ling, the King of Ling will definitely not let you go."
He lowered his voice intentionally and said mysteriously, "In my opinion, even after this plague ends, I'm afraid the Spirit King won't really let you resign!"
Upon hearing this, Xiaoman quickly waved her hand in refusal: "No, no, Minister Xu, you don't know, Sister Xiaoyue will definitely not allow me to continue being an official."
Xu Yiming's curiosity was piqued upon hearing this: "I heard you mention this matter in the court that day."
Although none of you explicitly stated it at the time, what exactly was the reason?
Xiaoman helplessly spread her hands: "I don't know either. Sister Xiaoyue only said that Sister Xiaoya doesn't allow us to become officials, and she didn't tell us anything else."
Xu Yiming was slightly taken aback, then shook his head with a wry smile.
"Uh... never mind, never mind! Let's talk about this later."
Actually, this is just my personal speculation.
Whether or not King Ling will revoke Physician Su's official position will ultimately be decided by King Ling.
Xiaoman nodded: "Minister Xu is right. Even if King Ling doesn't take it back, I will definitely resign from this position!"
Seeing that Xiaoman was adamant, Xu Yiming stopped mentioning the matter.
Instead, they cleverly steered the conversation back to the plague.
Xiaoman immediately understood and told Xu Yiming the details of how she had treated the four seedlings sent from Anxing County over the past few days.
"That's why I only had time to go home this morning. I just got back and ran into Minister Xu who came to bestow gifts!"
Xu Yiming's eyes lit up as he pressed on, "So, Imperial Physician Su has already successfully formulated a medicine to control the plague?"
Xiaoman replied, "Now that it's ready, I reckon Elder Xu should be reporting to King Ling in the palace right now!"
Upon hearing this, Xu Yiming was so excited that he immediately stood up.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Imperial Physician Su. Without further ado, I shall proceed to the palace!"
After saying that, he turned to leave.
Suddenly, Xiaoman reached out and grabbed him, saying with a smile, "Minister Xu, please wait, don't be in such a hurry."
But Xu Yiming was naturally anxious. He replied, "How can this not be urgent? If we delay any longer, the palace will probably be deserted!"
But Xiaoman still held him back, not letting him leave.
"I just heard that Minister Xu is fond of this Phoenix Tea. I have some left here that I can give to you so that you can take it back and have a taste."
Xu Yiming hesitated, "Didn't you say you didn't have much tea left?"
Xiaoman waved her hand sincerely, "Although the quantity is limited, I can still afford to give one pack to Minister Xu."
Xu Yiming, eager to return to the palace, no longer declined, saying, "In that case, it would be impolite of me to refuse."
Xiaoman nodded and said, "Minister Xu, please wait a moment, I'll be right back!"
After speaking, he quickly walked out of the hall.
Before long, Xiaoman hurriedly returned, carrying a bag of tea leaves.
He walked into the hall and said, "I've kept Minister Xu waiting!"
He then handed the tea bag in his hand to Xu Yiming.
Xu Yiming accepted it without ceremony, smiling and saying, "I appreciate Physician Su's kind gesture."