Ma Zhou invited people to be his guests. He invited seven people, and in fact two of them were invited. Ma Zhou's face was tarnished, and the other two people also chatted with each other.
Of course, Zhang Junzheng said everyone had their own reasons.
Xu Zhenqing was cuckolded and became a Taoist priest after killing people. This reason is relatively strong and no one can refute it.
Yu Zongdao went out on a snowy day. He and his horse fell and were half dead. One of his legs was broken and he was recovering from his injuries. The others either had headaches or brain fever.
Anyway, according to Zhang Junzheng, almost none of the staff in the Chang Mansion had to be fully qualified, and the Chang Mansion looked like a disaster star, full of gloom and gloom.
In fact, once you hear it, you will know that most of them are just excuses.
Ma Zhou felt a little embarrassed, but after all, he didn't expect all the people he invited to come, so he couldn't say he was very frustrated.
There are actually only four people he wants to invite, and it doesn't matter whether the others come or not.
Zhou Bobao and Zhang Junzheng were among them, as well as Xu Zhenqing and Yu Zongdao.
Xu Zhenqing won't go into details. Yu Zongdao was from Henan and came from a humble background. He first joined the rebel army and later joined Chang He. He prepared food and grass under Chang He. Because he was very effective in doing things, he gradually gained Chang He's trust.
Later, he violated military law and was retained by Chang He to work in Chang'an Mansion.
This man was very smart, not an aide, and he could handle all the big and small things in the Chang family. Ma Zhou thought that if he brought this man to the academy, he wouldn't have to worry about trivial matters.
I just didn't expect that this person had a bad luck and broke his leg, but he was a little stronger than Xu Zhenqing.
Speaking of which, Chang He treated him well. It was very unethical for him to dig into Chang's house like this, but there was nothing he could do about it. He knew these people in Chang'an.
Now it has become the sacrificial wine of Chang'an Maritime Academy. No matter whether the emperor is joking or not, he has to go all out, so there are always a few of his own people to help him.
But now it seems that winning people's hearts is not something that can be solved with just one meal.
……………………
Ma Zhou tried hard to control his expression and not show his disappointment, but the other two people were a little embarrassed. Zhou Bobao felt that he shouldn't come today, it was like watching someone's joke.
Zhang Junzheng was a kinder person and had to come. Ma Zhou had no background and was usually taciturn. He was lively only when Chang He was around. He looked quite aloof, so hanging around in Chang's house was very unsatisfactory.
But this man is talented, otherwise Chang He would not keep him as counselor in his house.
Today, he suddenly invited everyone to come together. It seems that he has something to show for himself. Others can actually think of this, so they don't want to come here to see his proud face.
Zhang Junzheng believed that he acted fairly in Changfu and did not offend Ma Zhou. In addition, Ma Zhou officially sent the invitation to him, and the others were invited on behalf of him. Obviously, he respected him very much and did not say anything else.
, if he doesn’t come, he will offend people and die.
This is the beauty of human relationships. If those people don't come, not only will they not give Ma Zhou face, but they will also put Zhang Junzheng in an embarrassing situation. In the words of later generations, the people in the Chang family are not very smart in their emotional intelligence.
……………………
Ma Zhou smiled and finally sighed: "I have been in Chang'an for several years. I always thought that I could get an official position and that one day I would be able to return to my hometown with honors like others. But I didn't want to achieve anything. So far, I have only made friends.
You two, it’s really embarrassing to talk about it.”
Zhang Junzheng and Zhang Junzheng were upgraded to friends at once, and they finally felt a little more comfortable. Since they were friends, they had to fulfill their obligations as friends, so they tried to persuade each other one after another.
But no matter what, the banquet turned into a gathering of friends, and it was inevitable to be a little deserted, but the good thing was that you didn't have to be so restrained when talking.
Ma Zhou calmed down and concentrated on entertaining his two "old friends".
"Since it's just me and the three of us getting together, how about we change places and have a get-together?"
The other two people were stunned, and Zhou Bobao had a bitter look on his face. He thought to himself, "You don't want to entertain people seriously because there are so few people here?" You can save some money by switching to a teahouse or a wine shop? Thinking of the weather outside, Zhou Bobao couldn't help but tremble.
For a moment, I regretted coming here today to accept the appointment.
Zhang Junzheng also had the same idea, and he said something stingy in his heart, and had the urge to just walk away.
Old acquaintances are like new ones, and it was not easy for Ma Zhou either.
Ma Zhou looked at their faces and couldn't help but smile. He said to himself that today he wanted to talk to people nicely and not get carried away, but now he didn't have to bother so much.
If they don't show off, these two might just eat up and leave...
So he called out to the store owner and said: "Is the yard at the back still vacant? If no one has made a reservation, then give me a room and send all the food and drinks there."
When the store owner heard this, he was overjoyed and immediately became more respectful, "There are six courtyards in the back, but it only costs more..."
Ma Zhou didn't let him finish, so he imitated Du Fuwei and waved his hand grandly, "I want the biggest and best one. All the ladies in the building are free, right? I want the best ones to come and accompany me."
, and I brought those two, opened another house for them to entertain them, and told them not to drink too much."
It was a very similar situation to later, having money makes things easier.
Of course, this is Baihualou. In some brothels in Caiyufang, money alone is not enough. Even if the best places are empty, they must be reserved for real distinguished guests, and no one else can get involved.
Liu Junzheng and Zhou Bobao looked at each other, with almost the same thought in their minds. It seemed that this man was really prosperous. The master didn't know who made him so wealthy.
Liu Junzheng was once a member of the officialdom. Unlike Zhou Bobao, who was already drooling, he was more tactful and advised, "It's not bad here. Why spend so much money for the three of us to get together?"
Ma Zhou cupped his hands and said, "Because it's just the three of us here, why don't we go out and enjoy ourselves when it's freezing cold?"
After a few more polite words, the three of them became a lot more affectionate as they talked. They are all scholars, and they don't talk about having fun, but in fact they all yearn for it. There are not many opportunities on weekdays, so it would be best if someone invites you.
According to the rules of the world, when you go to a brothel and enter the courtyard, you have the qualifications to enter the brothel. The expenses for banquets, singing and dancing are included in it. With this set of procedures, the price has firmly blocked the common people.
outside.
Of course, if you want to do something else, the price will have to be calculated separately. Even an ordinary wealthy person will have to suffer from this trip for a long time.
Therefore, there are many other places in Caiyufang that serve the public, but as long as it can be called a brothel, it is definitely a high-consumption place that ordinary people are not allowed to enter.
……………………
When they came to the courtyard at the back and sat down again, Zhang Junzheng and Zhou Bobao felt cheerful. Their smiles began to increase unknowingly, and the hosts and guests talked more freely, making it more like gathering with friends.
The food and wine had been placed, and the three of them toasted each other with a few glasses of wine and served some dishes. Ma Zhou signaled, and the store immediately served songs and dances. The three of them talked and laughed without mentioning anything else.
After a while, Zhou Bobao felt a little drunk and couldn't help but ask: "Where is the elder brother walking now? Can you tell us?"
Zhang Junzheng also pricked up his ears.
Ma Zhou laughed and said, "To tell you the truth, after I left the house, I became very poor and had no one to turn to, so I had no choice but to live in a temple. My life was extremely miserable.
Later, when I met a noble man on the road, I had the audacity to beg him to stay by his side. It has been more than half a year, right? At first, I wanted to meet you, but I was afraid of bringing down my old friends. It was only now that I feel more secure, so I invited you.
The two of you came over to catch up on old times."
At this time, Zhang Junzheng pinched his nose and said in support, "I wonder who you are? How can you hurt others?"
In order not to scare the two of them away, Ma Zhou tried to be as tactful as possible. At this moment, he felt that the heat was on, but he took a roundabout way and answered an unexpected question: "You two must know about Chang'an Academy, but do you also know that the imperial court wants to build another academy?"
come out?"
Zhou Bobao simply shook his head. He was young, and at this time, he was a little distracted by the swaying figures in the field, and he was not paying attention.
Zhang Junzheng's concentration was much stronger than his. Although the horse walking around made him a little annoyed, he still thought about it and shook his head and said: "I haven't heard of it. Where did Brother Xian hear the rumors? There is a relationship with Brother Xian.
Why not?"
Ma Zhou nodded and said: "It's not a rumor. My younger brother has been promised to serve as a memorial to the academy. He will be able to take office after it is completed next year."
Huh? Zhou Bobao exclaimed. When he heard the news, Zhou Bobao almost spit the wine he just drank into his mouth onto the table.
His reaction was a little big, because he would never have imagined that Ma Zhou would become the sacrificial wine of an academy.
The Imperial College and Chang'an Academy are there. The positions of the wine-offering officials in those two places are almost the same as those of high-ranking officials in the imperial court. The imperial office is in the fourth rank, and the Chang'an Academy is in the fourth-grade. In terms of rank, it is the same as the sixth-rank minister in the imperial court.
Same level.
Ma Zhou, a person with no roots and no foundation, had never been an official, and had not seen him for only a year. Suddenly he became the academy's sacrificial wine. This was no longer a matter of jumping to a high level, it was simply a loach in the river.
Dragon scales sprouted, and the chickens in the fields seemed to be on fire.
Zhang Junzheng also widened his eyes, but he was not as surprised as Zhou Bobao. He was surprised and immediately had a lot of doubts in his heart.
Let alone the Imperial Son, could a place like Chang'an Academy allow Ma Zhou to serve as a sacrificial wine? It's impossible. It's not like they haven't seen each other for a year. In order to show off in front of you and others, you're here to bully others, right?
"Is this true?"
Ma Zhou was indeed a little proud when he looked at them, but when he thought of the name Chang'an Maritime Academy, he was discouraged again. He restrained his expression, tried his best to act as humbly as he held his hands in front of his hands and said, "I am lucky enough to get this approval from you."
, If you two don’t believe it, construction will start there next spring, so you can come with me to have a look.”
The Supreme Lord also approved... The other two people were shocked again. They looked at Ma Zhou like a god, and were speechless for a moment...