Chapter 409: Joy descends from the sky (seeking a monthly ticket)
Leap mid-August.
It had been more than half a month since Zhu Hao left Anlu, and Zhu Niang spent the whole time missing her son.
Because she missed her son, Mother Zhu was absent-minded when doing the accounting. She even needed Aunt Li to remind her before she realized that she had made a mistake in the accounting figures.
"Madam, if you are tired, go and have a rest first... It seems that you have not been in good spirits these past two days, but you didn't sleep at night because of the cool autumn, okay?"
Aunt Li looked at her sister with concern. Although the two were once considered rivals, they are now relatives who depend on each other.
Zhu Niang sighed: "Xiao Hao didn't feel anything bad when he was at home. Even if he didn't return home for more than ten days, he didn't miss him too much. He felt that as long as he was around, nothing would happen.
"But now he suddenly went to the capital... Do you think he can get used to being on the road? He slept in the open air... When he came back from Wuchang Mansion, he didn't even sit down, and just left like this..."
Zhu Niang's chatter made Aunt Li feel that women start to talk more as they get older.
"Master Hao is fine. Isn't Mr. Tang by his side? Mr. Tang has a wide network of contacts and has many friends in the capital." Aunt Li expressed relief.
Zhu Niang let out a long sigh again, suddenly thinking of something, she was about to say it, but she remained silent.
…
…
The rice paper shop doesn't have many customers, and even the business at the collapsed house on the ferry doesn't look good. Without Zhu Hao as the backbone, even shopkeeper Ma is a little overwhelmed.
In the afternoon, Madam Zhu was about to close the shop early when there was a noise at the door.
Aunt Li walked over and took a look, but she saw many people gathered to watch. Then a group of officials passed by, beating gongs and drums, making it very lively.
"What's the matter?"
People were asking what happened.
But I heard the leading official shouting: "Master Sun High School in the north of the city ranked 36th in the Huguang Yimao Year Provincial Examination, Master Sun High School!"
When the people heard this, their spirits were lifted.
Everyone is asking, which Mr. Sun is he?
Immediately, people from the Sun Mansion came to greet them. They actually brought out firecrackers and other things in bullock carts. They set off firecrackers along the road and decorated the street trees with red and green colors. The atmosphere became more and more lively.
Aunt Li turned back to look at Zhu Niang who was settling accounts at the counter: "Mr. Sun, could it be the Sun family that has business dealings with our family?"
Zhu Niang shook her head: "Don't pay attention to other people's affairs..."
He said he ignored it, but when he heard that someone else had passed the exam, he still felt a little disappointed. Firecrackers were blasting outside and gongs and drums were noisy. Not only were the people from the government coming to announce the good news, but people from the Sun Mansion were also adding fuel to the fire.
"It's like making a fuss for fear that people won't know."
Zhu Niang walked to the door and took a look outside, with some sourness in her words.
The people of the Sun Mansion scattered copper coins along the way, as if they wanted to have fun with the neighbors, and the happy event was wanted to be known to everyone. In this way, the crowd of onlookers, especially the lively children, all followed the procession to announce the good news.
Zhu Niang looked at the crowd going away and sighed. Aunt Li on the side comforted her: "Master Hao is young and will have many opportunities in the future."
As they said that, the two sisters were about to pick up the partition and close the door.
Unexpectedly, Qian Chuanzi, who came out to watch the fun, had sharp eyes and saw her at a glance: "Oh, isn't this Zhu Niang? Didn't your son also take the provincial examination? What, did he win?"
Zhu Niang didn't want to pay attention to Qian Chuanzi's venomous words, and a neighbor asked: "How old is the young master of the Zhu family? It's not easy to pass the exam... Qian Chuanzi, when has your child ever been so promising?"
"Bah! If you can't pass the exam, just say you can't pass the exam. Why are you pretending to be here?"
Not to mention how relieved Qian Chuanzi was.
He is very happy when he sees others being unlucky.
Unexpectedly, at this moment, someone in the team that was going to announce the good news turned around and ran towards Zhu Niang's shop. It turned out to be a servant of the Sun Mansion. As he approached, he said loudly:
"Is this the third lady? My old lady said that after welcoming the announcement procession, she will come over to thank you in person... Thanks to your young master's guidance, my young master was able to pass the exam."
Zhu Niang was a little confused when she heard this.
Is it really Sun Ru, the young master of the Sun family?
That silly-looking, bookish scholar?
Isn't that his son's disciple? Didn't he just take the exam for high school student membership? Why did he pass the exam and become a master?
The people onlookers couldn't help but roared when they heard this.
A neighbor's aunt couldn't help but be curious and came out and asked, "Mother Zhu, is the student your young master accepted passed the exam?"
The people from the Sun Mansion replied: "Yes, my young master is Mr. Zhu's direct disciple... Thanks to Mr. Zhu's cultivation, my young master can succeed in the college examination and the provincial examination... Later, the old lady will come with a heavy gift to thank you.
, when my young master comes back, he will come over and kowtow to thank you."
Zhu Niang suddenly became the target of public criticism, but she did not feel any honor in her heart. Instead, she felt that God was very unfair, and quickly waved her hand: "No, no, no... Quanzi... he is not in Anlu for the time being, and is going on a study tour."
Qian Chuanzi jumped up again when he heard this: "You know you didn't perform well in the exam, so you went out to avoid the limelight, right?"
"Qian Chuanzi, why are you everywhere? Even if you take a student, you can become a master. Even your family's eighteen generations would not have this chance!"
"Hahaha……"
Qian Chuanzi originally planned to have some fun and tease Zhu Niang, but suddenly he found himself the target of public criticism.
He realized that the widow was raising a son, and the son still had a future, so the public opinion was naturally one-sided, so he cursed and said: "I am telling the truth. You bunch of women with long hair and short knowledge will not care about you!"
…
…
Madam Zhu was about to close the door, but unexpectedly, the Sun family said they wanted to come over to thank her. At that moment, she didn't know whether to close the door or just wait.
It would be a bit rude to turn away the guests. Besides, she has met the old lady of the Sun family, and she speaks kindly. Especially when discussing business recently, she really treats her son as a gentleman. Perhaps in the eyes of the Sun family, Zhu Hao treats Sun Runeng
Isn't it a great blessing for the students who passed the exam to be nurtured?
But other people's young masters can pass the examination, so this kind of talent and learning can be taught by their own sons?
"Madam, it's better to go in first and wait... The Sun family has come to thank us. Doesn't our family also have dignity?" Aunt Li quickly gave Zhu Niang a hand, which meant that she should stop staying outside and go back to the house. Out of sight, out of mind.
.
At this moment, another group of people came from a distance, not from the city gate, but from Prince Xing's Mansion.
The person who took the lead, Zhu Niang, recognized at a glance that it was Zhang Zuo, the Cheng Fengzheng Secretary of the Prince's Palace who had come to contact him many times before.
The people brought by Zhang Zuo held up a long pole with firecrackers wrapped in red clothes hanging on the pole. They also brought a large number of guards from the Royal Palace's Yiwei Department, and marched all the way to the door of Zhu Niang's house.
"Mr. Zhang... Zhang, what are you...?"
Madam Zhu was confused again.
What kind of tricks is the palace doing?
A foreman of the guard next to him came close to Zhang Zuo and said something in his ear. Zhang Zuo smiled and said: "Our family came here specially on the order of the princess... Huh? No one has arrived yet, right? Then wait first.
Wait, someone will come...form up the array..."
After finishing speaking, the guards from the Royal Palace's Yiwei Department lined up in two rows at the entrance of Zhu Niang's shop, with twenty or thirty people lined up in a majestic manner.
Some people have already hung up the firecrackers, as if they are waiting for someone to come and set them off as soon as they arrive.
Zhu Niang asked strangely: "Mr. Zhang, what on earth is going on?"
Zhang Zuo smiled and said: "Madam, don't worry, just wait. It's pointless to say it now... The palace is also well-informed and knows it in advance... Oops, is that over there?"
Zhang Zuo asked, pointing to the team coming from a distance.
Someone nearby reminded: "Eunuch Zhang, it doesn't seem to be in the direction of the city gate. It seems like someone is welcoming a bride, right?"
Only then did Zhang Zuo realize that these people were coming from the same direction as him, and he immediately waved his hand, meaning that people would stop these people first... We were preparing to celebrate a good thing here, how could someone so ignorant run away just in time?
Come here, is there something to celebrate?
"Mr. Zhang, that is Quanzi's disciple's mother, the old lady of the Sun family... She came to thank Quanzi for her kindness in cultivating him."
Zhu Niang stood on her tiptoes and took a look. The person coming from the opposite side was the old lady of the Sun family who personally led the team that came to thank them.
It's not a wedding reception at all, but it's even more lively than a wedding reception. There are loads of big and small boxes of things, and those who don't know it think they're sending out a betrothal. Everyone is dressed in red and green, which is full of festive energy.
Zhang Zuo was suddenly surprised: "The Sun family is the family where Master Zhu took over the disciples? Why, Master Zhu's disciples also passed the examination?"
Zhu Niang wanted to explain, but she couldn't remember what the person who came to announce the good news said before. Someone on the street said: "It's the 36th provincial examination..."
"Ouch, we are all happy, we are all happy... Hurry... Go and welcome people over."
When Zhang Zuo heard that it was a good thing, he didn't send anyone to block the way and directly welcomed the people over.
The old lady of the Sun family approached, and Zhu Niang made the introduction. When the old lady of the Sun family heard that it was the eunuch in charge of the palace who came in person, she hurriedly saluted: "Ms. Sun, I have met Mr. Zhang."
"Old Madam, you're too polite. I didn't have a chance to visit before, but now that your son has been promoted, he will visit the palace more often. After all, he is not an outsider... Master Zhu's students are also people close to the palace..."
When Zhang Zuo heard that Zhu Hao's student had passed the exam, why didn't he recruit him for his own use in the future?
While they were talking, another group of people came, this time it was people from the state government.
He actually came from the direction of Prince Xing's Mansion.
Unexpectedly, at the same time, another group of people playing gongs and drums also appeared. Coming from the city gate, the two groups of people walked towards each other. However, the group did not approach Zhu's shop immediately. They paused for a moment, as if waiting.
Let’s start the ceremony first.
"Jiang Tongzhi? It's been a long time."
Zhang Zuo first went to see the representative sent by the state government. He was not the new magistrate himself, but Jiang Jingtang, a fellow magistrate of the state who had accompanied the new magistrate to the place where he was appointed.
After taking office, Jiang Jingtang went to Prince Xing's Mansion to attend the funeral on behalf of the state government, so he got to know Zhang Zuo and hurriedly bowed to salute.
Zhu Niang is even more confused here. The Sun family came to thank Zhu Hao for his kindness, which is reasonable and reasonable, but what are the palace and the state government doing?
Aunt Li was somewhat enlightened, and carefully tugged on Zhu Niang's clothes and said, "Madam, do you think it could be that... Master Hao has also passed the exam?"
"No...it can't be right?" After saying this, Zhu Niang's eyes were fixed on the group of people coming from the city gate in the distance. It was very similar to the group that passed by the gate before to announce the good news to the Sun family, but now
Being from the royal palace and coming from the state government, there seems to be only one explanation that makes sense.
That means Zhu Hao also won the lottery!
The palace learned the news in advance and sent Zhang Zuo to congratulate him. Only then did he say that it would be meaningless to tell him in advance.
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
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