It is a good time for spring in Beijing.

In the big house at the end of Huaishu Hutong, after a spring breeze, the entire back garden became full of vitality, and there were a few colorful butterflies dancing among the flowers.

Wu Shan, who was wearing ordinary clothes from Yipin, was sitting in a small pavilion in the pond. His eyes fell on the lotus leaves in the pond, and he sighed leisurely when he saw the stamens emerging from the water mouth.

However, in the current imperial court, those who flatter others are rewarded, those who work hard are not praised, and it is always the treacherous villains who succeed.

For example, his fellow countryman Yan Maoqing, because of his attachment to the strict party, rose from the small minister of Dali Temple to the censor of the Zuo deputy capital in a few years. Now he is the prime minister of the salt administration in four places, holding the power of the salt administration.

It's just that when these people arrived, they still held such important power over the salt administration, but they didn't know how they were going to harm the people. He felt resentful that the people employed in the current court were serious.

"Second brother!"

The housekeeper led a middle-aged man who looked somewhat similar to Wu Shan. The man greeted him loudly and excitedly from a distance.

When Wu Shan saw the middle-aged man, his usually tense face immediately showed a rare smile, but he quickly stood up and greeted him.

The Wu family is considered a well-known family in Jiangxi. People from generation to generation have entered official careers, but some also choose to go into business. Among the Wu brothers, Wu Shan chose to enter the officialdom, while his fifth brother Wu Huashou is in charge of business and travels around the world all year round.

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"Fifth brother, sit down!" Wu Shan looked very happy and led the person to the stone table and raised his hand.

Wu Huashou, who was in his fifties, looked very similar to Wu Shan, but his skin was dark and he was dressed like a member of the military. He was not in a hurry to sit down, but took out a letter from his arms and handed it over and said: "Mother, to you

I am very concerned about you. Knowing that I will come to Beijing this time, I specially asked me to bring you the letter!"

"I have been away from home for twenty-four years. I cannot be filial to my mother, but still need my mother to care about me all the time. I am really ashamed to be a son!" Wu Shan's face showed a bit of sadness, and he took the letter from home and seemed to blame himself.

road.

Wu Huashou sat down in front of the stone table and consoled him seriously: "Second brother, you don't have to blame yourself. Your mother has always been proud of you for your achievements!"

Wu Shan was no longer the unworldly Minister of Rites. He opened the family letter carefully and nervously. There was nothing important in it, but every greeting was so profound.

Jiangxi is far away from the capital. Wu Shan entered the imperial court as an official in the 14th year of Jiajing. He only returned to his hometown to visit relatives, and then he has been living in the capital as an official for more than 20 years.

But it is not just Wu Shan who is like this. Many officials in the Ming Dynasty are like this. Once they enter the official career, it is difficult to go home. Even Yan Song, the chief minister, wants to go back to his hometown in Jiangxi now, which is like going to heaven.

Fortunately, the Wu family is a wealthy family in Jiangxi, and Wu Huashou often comes to the capital, but there is news from time to time.

"Fifth brother, I haven't been at home for a long time, but you and your eldest brother have been asked to take care of many things at home. It's really hard on you two!" After reading the letter from home, Wu Shan looked up at Wu Huashou and said sincerely.

Wu Huashou waved his hand disapprovingly and said loudly and boldly: "Second brother, please rest assured! Everything is in order at home, so there is no need to worry about family affairs. Feel free to serve the court with peace of mind and make the Wu family shine!"

The butler knew the brotherhood well and had already hurriedly brought a new pot of tea.

"Fourth brother, where do you want to go when you come to Beijing this time?" Wu Shan asked with concern while pouring tea for his brother himself.

Wu Huashou raised his head and looked at Wu Shan, and said honestly: "I am going north this time to get rid of some shops. I plan to shift our business to... Guangdong starting from this year!"

As a qualified businessman, it is natural to run towards places with business opportunities. For example, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and the two capitals have always been precious places, where they can earn the most money. However, as the maritime ban in Jiangsu and Zhejiang became stricter, Guangdong became the most open in the Ming Dynasty.

provinces, a large number of commodities from each province are flocking to Guangdong.

In the past few years, Wu Huashou had already seen the great business opportunities in Guangdong, but due to the rampant banditry in Guangdong and the lack of anyone in the officialdom of Guangdong to take care of him, he never made the trip.

It was not until the end of last year that he asked his confidants to deliver a batch of porcelain, but he made a profit far beyond his imagination. That batch alone was worth more than half a year of his travels.

Likewise, after learning that Lin Haoran had become the new prefect of Guangzhou, he immediately proposed to shift his business focus to Guangdong, where business opportunities are endless, during the Spring Festival reunion.

Wu Shan met his gaze and naturally understood that he was expecting something this time, so he said seriously: "If Ruoyu is now the prefect of Guangzhou, I will compile a letter later. Please take it with you. I will let him

I will take care of you within the scope allowed by the law! But the officialdom has always been dangerous, so you must be cautious at all times and never do anything harmful to nature!"

"Second brother, don't worry! Although I'm not good at studying, our Wu family has a strict family tradition and we definitely don't dare to do anything illegal!" Wu Huashou saw that his goal was achieved and he seriously promised.

But at this moment, a beautiful mother and daughter appeared. The girl bowed politely and said, "My niece Qiu Yu has met my fifth uncle!"

After these two years, Wu Qiuyu has grown into a graceful girl. She has a delicate face, beautiful eyes like autumn water, and exudes the aura of a girl.

When giving gifts, her behavior was dignified and impeccable. Since she was born in a family of officials, and her father was also the Minister of Rites, every move she made strictly followed the etiquette.

Although Wu Qiuyu's face is still full of youthfulness, it seems to have lost the shyness of the past. She already exudes a noble demeanor, and she is working hard in the direction of a mistress.

When Wu Huashou saw Wu Qiuyu saluting him, his face showed rare stunned expression. It took him a long time to react, and he looked at Wu Shan and his wife in surprise: "Qiu Yu has grown so big!"

"Haha... Uncle Wu, that's because you haven't come much in recent years!" Mother Wu said with a smile beside her.

Wu Huashou saluted Wu's mother and said with compliments: "Huashou has met the second sister-in-law! It was the second sister-in-law who was so beautiful, and that's why Qiu Yu had the appearance of a moon-shy flower, but he knew that Qiu Yu and Lin Haoran

When will the marriage be consummated?"

Wu Qiuyu was originally very calm and acted like a lady according to the instructions, but after hearing these words, her pretty face turned red and her heart could not help but beat faster.

"I asked you to urge Lin Haoran a long time ago!" Wu's mother immediately lowered her face and scolded Wu Shan.

"When you become an official, you have no choice but to wait for another year!" Wu Shan frowned slightly and said helplessly.

Now the daughter is fifteen years old, and Lin Haoran is nineteen years old, which is undoubtedly a suitable age for marriage. However, although the engagement has been made, it is not easy to hold a wedding.

Firstly, the two places are far apart, and Lin Haoran did not take the initiative; secondly, Lin Haoran is now the imperial court's chief seal officer, and it is not suitable to ask for leave to get married.

"It's my fault, brother made a mistake!" Seeing the unpleasant atmosphere, Wu Huashou was busy blaming himself, and thinking of leaving this embarrassing topic aside, he said: "Second brother, do you want me to take Qiu Yu back to her hometown? She hasn't been there for many years.

It’s back!”

"It's a long way, so I can't worry about taking it back to you!" Mother Wu glanced at him and immediately expressed her stance.

Wu Huashou wanted to slap his bad mouth, but found that he suddenly couldn't speak, and he really said the wrong thing.

Why!

Wu Qiuyu sighed softly in her heart, but looked towards the west. The rooftop was still as quiet as ever. Hu Niu could go to Beijing to find her brother at the age of six, but she was still treated like a three-year-old child.
Chapter completed!