All kinds of thoughts just flashed through Zhao Junchen's mind. Naturally, the others would not understand Zhao Junchen's true thoughts. At this time, they only saw Zhao Junchen's expression with "tears in his eyes" and "choked voice".
Everyone couldn't help but be surprised by his appearance, and they didn't know who the humble old man in front of them was, who could actually make Zhao Junchen lose his composure in public.
On the other side, when Old Master Xu saw Zhao Junchen like this, his initially reserved expression gradually became excited. He quickly held Zhao Junchen's arm, his eyes were also red, and he said in a trembling voice: "Junchen... do you want to
There are too many. I have lived a good life in the past few years. You send me a large sum of money every once in a while. I have no worries about food and clothing. How can you be ashamed of me? Just seeing
I am very happy that you are becoming more and more successful. Now that you are an important minister of the imperial court, it is very satisfying for me that you still care about me as your enlightenment teacher and do not forget your old relationship... I heard that you have reconciled with the Zhao family.
I am also happy for you. Today is a great day for you to recognize your ancestors and return to your clan. In front of so many distinguished guests, you should be happy and generous, and don’t lose your composure because of me and make others laugh..."
Compared with Zhao Junchen's artificial performance, Mr. Xu's expressions are all from the bottom of his heart. On his slightly older face, the mixed expressions of relief, sadness, joy, excitement, etc. are no matter what.
It can't be faked either.
Seeing Old Master Xu like this, Zhao Junchen felt a flash of guilt in his heart, feeling that he had taken advantage of Old Master Xu's selfless dedication and sincere feelings for him.
He failed many times, and his wife died early. There has been no renewal of the marriage in these years. Apart from Xu Qingyan, he has no relatives in the world. He has adopted, saved and taught Zhao Junchen - these are the things Zhao Junchen had for Old Master Xu in the past.
All impressions. Not only crude, but crude.
However, in recent days, through insinuations, Zhao Junchen has learned a lot about Old Master Xu from Xu Qingyan. He knows that this Old Master Xu is different from Xu Qingyan. He is a kind-hearted person, but a little pedantic.
Although the old failed scholar has failed in his life, he has never done anything bad.
When Old Master Xu adopted Zhao Junchen, who was about to starve to death on the streets, it was only out of kindness in his heart. He had absolutely no intention of speculation or exploitation. During the years when he raised and taught Zhao Junchen, he treated Zhao Junchen like his own son.
Generally speaking, he is by no means worse than Xu Qingyan.
Even because Xu Qingyan didn't like studying and Zhao Junchen was more ambitious, Mr. Xu placed all his expectations on Zhao Junchen. When Zhao Junchen went to Beijing to take the exam, Mr. Xu was worried about Zhao Junchen.
Junchen went on the road alone, and even asked his biological son Xu Qingyan to serve as Zhao Junchen's eldest attendant and book boy. He served Zhao Junchen's daily life, which shows the importance of his kindness.
It can be said that Old Master Xu’s dedication and affection for Zhao Junchen are absolutely selfless and sincere. His life-saving grace, nurturing love, and teaching meaning cannot be overstated.
It's a pity that although Old Master Xu has a kind-hearted personality, he is really a bit pedantic. On weekdays, he always takes the trouble to instill some Confucian "universal values" into Zhao Junchen and Xu Qingyan, nagging and verbose.
Slang. It was like a demonic voice piercing his ears. If Zhao Junchen and Xu Qingyan violated his bottom line, Mr. Xu would change his usual kindness and become quite harsh, making Zhao Junchen and Xu Qingyan avoid him.
It is precisely because of this that after Zhao Junchen became the top scholar in high school, although his official career was smooth sailing and he was on the rise, he only sent a sum of money to Old Master Xu every once in a while to buy a house and land for Old Master Xu, ensuring that Old Master Xu had no worries about food and clothing.
, but never wanted to bring Old Master Xu to live in the capital, just because he was afraid that Old Master Xu would restrict his own hands and feet.
Until now, Zhao Junchen had already occupied the magpie's nest, and Xu Qingyan also began to miss his old father. Taking advantage of the opportunity to accompany him on the southern tour, the two finally changed their minds and planned to bring Old Master Xu to the capital to live permanently.
Therefore, as soon as he arrived in Yangzhou, Xu Qingyan went to the countryside to pick up Old Master Xu, and it was only then that he arrived at the Zhao family's ancestral home.
Thinking back to Old Master Xu's various situations, Zhao Junchen certainly felt a little guilty in his heart.
But in the next moment, Zhao Junchen suppressed all these guilty emotions deep in his heart, still looking guilty and excited, and continued to act: "In the past few years, Junchen has often missed the teacher, and now he sees the teacher's body
Still healthy, I feel a little comforted. Today Junchen sent Qingyan to take you, teacher, to the Zhao family. Firstly, Junchen wants to get back together with the Zhao family and wants you to be a witness. Secondly, Junchen wants to take advantage of this opportunity.
This opportunity will bring you, Teacher, to live in the capital so that you can enjoy your old age in peace."
After hearing Zhao Junchen's words, a trace of hesitation flashed across Old Master Xu's face, as if he could not leave his hometown, but the next moment he nodded and said: "Since you have this heart, Junchen, then I will let you arrange everything.
"
Obviously, for Mr. Xu, Zhao Junchen and Xu Qingyan are far more important than their "homeland".
Seeing that Old Master Xu agreed, Zhao Junchen looked cheerful and said yes repeatedly.
However, although the conversation between Zhao Junchen and Old Master Xu was warm and harmonious, and the eyes of Xu Qingyan, who had always been heartless, became red, the others became more and more confused because they did not understand the past between Zhao Junchen and Old Master Xu.
I don't know who Old Master Xu is, and I don't know why Zhao Junchen is so "excited".
However, Zhao Junchen's status was valuable, and although most of the guests were curious, they did not dare to ask at this time.
Fortunately, Zuo Lanshan and Su Changzhen were both second-rank officials in the imperial court and had a closer relationship with Zhao Junchen, but they were qualified to inquire about information from Zhao Junchen.
So, while Zhao Junchen and Old Master Xu took a break from talking, Zuo Lanshan took a step forward and asked: "Master Zhao, can you introduce me to the old man in front of me...?"
After hearing Zuo Lanshan's inquiry, Zhao Junchen looked as if he had just realized his gaffe. Then he introduced Zuo Lanshan and Su Changzhen cautiously: "This is Old Master Xu.
Not only was he my enlightenment teacher, but he also gave me life-saving grace and nurturing love. It would be no exaggeration to say that he was as kind as a mountain. Therefore, taking advantage of this opportunity to accompany me on my southern tour, I planned to pick him up.
Living in the capital, in addition to repaying his kindness to the old man, I also do my best to show my filial piety."
Then, Zhao Junchen introduced to Old Master Xu: "Teacher, these two are my colleagues in the court. They have a good relationship with me on weekdays. One is Zuo Lanshan, Minister of the Ministry of Industry, and the other is Nanzhili
Governor Su Changzhen."
After hearing Zhao Junchen's introduction, both Zuo Lanshan and Su Changzhen, as well as Old Master Xu, were all surprised.
Zuo Lanshan and Su Changzhen never expected that the so-called "distinguished guest" in Zhao Junchen's mouth turned out to be just his mentor when he was young and his savior when he was down and out. Gratitude is important, but does it warrant such a big fight? Not only
He led everyone out to greet him, and even deliberately postponed the celebration time for him. For politicians who put their interests first, such an act was somewhat indifferent.
However, precisely because of this, the image of Zhao Junchen who values love and kindness has also been established in the hearts of Su and Zuo. While they were disapproving in their hearts, Zuo Lanshan and Su Changzhen also quietly changed their impressions of Zhao Junchen.
There have been some changes. Inexplicably, a lot of goodwill has even increased.
This is the case with people in the world. On the one hand, after going through various hardships, they have become more tactful and selfish, and regard qualities such as selflessness, affection, justice, etc. as "childish". But on the other hand, for these "
There will still be some yearning for the "childish" quality deep in my heart. If the allies or potential allies around them can be more "childish", they will also feel at ease inexplicably.
At least. At this moment, as an important friend of Zhao Junchen, Zuo Lanshan felt a lot more at ease. Before this, Zuo Lanshan had witnessed Zhao Junchen's scheming and strategies many times. Although he admired him, he also felt that
I can't help but feel worried secretly, worried that Zhao Junchen will sacrifice himself as an abandoned son in the future, but now after seeing how Zhao Junchen "values kindness", the worries in my heart instantly dissipated a lot, and I just feel that I only need to serve Zhao Junchen with my heart.
Junchen handles things according to Zhao Junchen's character of caring about old things and never abandoning himself easily.
The same is true for Su Changzhen. Before that, although he had wholeheartedly wanted to marry and form an alliance with Zhao Junchen, he was just forced to do so. Deep in his heart, he still believed that a corrupt official like Zhao Junchen was not worthy.
For his own daughter, he was quite worried that his daughter would be treated coldly after marrying Zhao Junchen. But after Zhao Junchen's performance, Su Changzhen's thoughts quietly changed, and his thoughts on marrying and forming an alliance with Zhao Junchen also changed.
It's becoming more urgent.
At the same time, Zuo Lanshan and Su Changzhen also secretly made a decision in their hearts. From now on, they would "exchange feelings" with Old Master Xu more often, in order to draw closer to themselves and Zhao Junchen!
On the other side, after hearing Zhao Junchen's introduction, Old Master Xu was more than surprised, he was simply horrified. Unexpectedly, the seemingly inconspicuous two people behind Zhao Junchen turned out to be a minister and a governor, both of whom were in the imperial court.
The core ministers, even the fifth-grade prefect need to kowtow to the big shot after seeing him.
Old Master Xu has a pedantic personality and is a good person. Although he knows in his heart that Zhao Junchen's status is not inferior to that of Zuo and Su, after learning about Zuo and Su's identities, he still couldn't help but feel weak in his knees and subconsciously
Be polite and say hello.
However, before Old Master Xu saluted, the two of them, left and right, had already taken the lead. They held Old Master Xu's arms, one on the left and the other on the right, and greeted him with friendly expressions, as if they were meeting their elders.
Old Master Xu never expected that Zuo Lanshan and Su Changzhen would treat him so politely. He was used to being ordinary people, and he couldn't accept it for a while. He just felt like he was in a dream, under the cordial care of Zuo Lanshan and Su Changzhen.
Next, all that was left was a nod of agreement.
Not talking about Zuo, the emotional exchange between the two of them and Mr. Xu, with Zhao Junchen’s introduction, the other guests attending the ceremony also understood the true identity of Mr. Xu.
Like Zuo and Su, when they saw that Zhao Junchen was so "nostalgic for the past," everyone disagreed, but their impressions of Zhao Junchen also quietly changed!
After all, although Zhao Junchen is infamous, it is only because of his reputation as a corrupt official. However, although Zhao Junchen's corruption and bribery are closely related, for ordinary people and low-level officials, after all, they are too far apart and have little to do with him.
There is no way to generate any strong resonance.
However, although Zhao Junchen's image of emphasizing affection and righteousness has nothing to do with "great righteousness", it is just a kind of "private morality". However, for ordinary people and low-level officials, this "private morality" allows them to find benefits.
The opportunity - as long as he can give Zhao Junchen a certain amount of help, then Zhao Junchen will not be stingy in repaying the favor - such an opportunity has naturally changed many people's views on Zhao Junchen.
For the world, selfishness is always unavoidable. Although "righteousness" such as "just and selfless" and "serving the country and the people" will be praised by the world, "repaying kindness" and "valuing love and justice" and so on
"Private morality" makes people feel more affectionate.
Without him, the so-called "great righteousness" is only good for the imperial court, but the so-called "private morality" may benefit oneself!
The reason why Zhao Junchen is performing such a play now is because he has grasped the psychology of the world.
I believe that as today's events gradually spread, the impression of Zhao Junchen in the minds of the government and the public will change a lot.
At the same time, several men with luxurious clothes and good looks were standing among the guests watching the ceremony, watching Zhao Junchen's performance throughout.
These people are Dai Fengfu, the boss of Maosheng Trading Company, Bai Mingyu, the boss of Darong Shipping Company, and Lin Yunpu, the president of the Salt Merchant Association. Not only are these three people rich and powerful, but they also have certain influence in the officialdom.
Influence, any collective actions taken by Yangzhou merchants are usually led by these three people. They are the leaders of Yangzhou salt merchants.
In fact, Zhao Junchen's performance was very successful and also deceived their eyes.
Therefore, after knowing the identity of Old Master Xu, these people's impressions of Zhao Junchen also quietly changed.
"I didn't expect that Zhao Junchen, a corrupt official known throughout the court, would actually know how to repay kindness... It actually made my impression of him better."
Among the few, Bai Mingyu, the youngest, said slowly.
As soon as Bai Mingyu finished speaking, Dai Fengfu also nodded and said: "That's good. We have a way to start contacting Zhao Junchen in the future. We can establish a personal relationship with him first and give him more benefits so that he will always remember us.
After receiving the benefits, he will naturally give us enough rewards... Speaking of which, what we salt merchants are most afraid of encountering are those dog officials who reach out to ask for money and then turn their backs and refuse to recognize anyone, like Zhao Junchen.
Corrupt officials who miss old times are a rare thing and can be invested in for the long term."
Regarding Bai Mingyu and Dai Fengfu's comments, Lin Yunpu was noncommittal and just said: "Although Zhao Deqing lost his position as the head of the Zhao family, he did not completely lose power. He has already helped us set up a good line. After today's celebration, we