Ye An attached great importance to the Wang family's invitation. After all, Wang, as the husband-in-law, had asked his younger brother to invite him in person, and also used his colleague and friend Fan Ziyuan to play the emotional card. This was very formal.
Ye An has no way to refuse and does not want to refuse. There are many things in Ganliang Land that require help from the court. As for Liu E's help alone, it is far from enough. If the "price" given by Ye An is not high enough, she will
He doesn't even want Ye An to go to the northwest.
Wang Zeng was a smart man, and Wang Hao was an even smarter man. Ye An even felt that Wang Hao was far smarter than his brother, who was the father-in-law of the dynasty. After a simple conversation, he was able to analyze the pros and cons, and invited himself to Wang's house for discussion.
, this keen observation is not simple.
Formal visits between scholar-bureaucrats followed a certain etiquette. Ye An took Qin Mumu to the Wang family's house in an ox cart with his family's emblem.
The servants who were ready at this time immediately removed the threshold of the main entrance and laid slope slabs on the steps, so that the bullock carts could directly enter the front yard.
Ye An's identity was not high enough for Wang Zeng to come out to greet him in person, but he was able to drive his own car into the Wang family's house.
There are not many servants in the Wang family, and at first glance they are old servants who have been with the Wang family for many years. These people are polite and not servile. They are servants but more like old book boys.
Even the speech and courtesy are all in order, there is no overstep or lack of care, and no one can find any fault.
Ye An crossed his hands and saluted the old servant who was saluting him. He knew this old Yao. After several court visits, he could see him waiting for Wang Zeng in the waiting court. All the servants who could enter the waiting court were of extraordinary status.
.
I heard from the chamberlain in the palace that this old Yao even had the title of Juren, and Juren was the collective name given to those who took the imperial examination in the local state capital, which proved that he had been recommended to be qualified to participate in the provincial examination hosted by the Ministry of Rites.
Such people are already considered outstanding talents in the local area. If they study well and are lucky, they have a chance to become a Jinshi.
If you pass the imperial examination, you will be awarded an official status and become a member of the scholar-bureaucrat class. It is a great event to honor your ancestors. However, Lao Yao is willing to give up this opportunity and serve Wang Zeng wholeheartedly. This shows how good Wang Zeng is at winning people's hearts.
.
Of course, this kind of old butler should not be underestimated. In front of Wang Zeng, he has been a book boy for many years and the manager of the family. But once outside, Lao Yao is equivalent to the spokesperson of the Wang family. His status is so noble that he is even a member of the Wang family.
I didn't dare to be presumptuous in front of him. This was the authority of Wang Zeng, the prime minister of the dynasty.
"Marquis Ye is here. I'm hosting a banquet in the flower hall. I'll give it to you to go to the northwest and practice it!"
Lao Yao's gentle smile was like that of an honest elder, cordial yet dignified. He complimented Qin Mumu and said, "This is the Lord of Yangcheng County! He is indeed graceful and charming! Good morning, Madam."
I just want to meet this fairy-like girl like you!"
"Thank you for the compliment, Uncle Yao. My little girl is not worthy of being called a fairy." This compliment made Qin Mumu feel embarrassed. After returning the gift with a slight blessing, she followed the maid to the backyard, where the female family members usually lived.
Ye An followed Lao Yao to the flower hall. Wang Zeng had already sat down here. Seeing Ye An come in with a tea cup, he took a sip before standing up and said: "Changsheng is here. I wanted to find you yesterday, but your business was too busy."
Soon, I let Zi Rong go."
Wang Hao stood up and said with a smile: "Pu Hui Company is really busy. If we didn't have some big players in it, I'm afraid we wouldn't even be able to get in!"
"Xiangong Wang, Bachelor Wang, you are so polite. I have been busy cleaning up recently and have not taken the time to come over and talk to the two elders. It is really a sin!"
Ye An didn't even dare, so he immediately apologized to the two of them as a junior. There was no way he could understand his identity, and he had a natural closeness and "inferiority" to the Wang family.
Wang Yuan was his literary and Taoist teacher, and Wang Yuan was worshiped by the Wang family, so to a certain extent, he was born inseparable from the Wang family. However, because he rarely moved around in the past, the people in the court did not deliberately take it seriously.
The Wang family is connected with themselves.
But only the Wang family and himself knew that the relationship between the two parties was very complicated, otherwise Wang Hao would have returned the thousand guan himself, and there would be no need to give away precious stocks as a gift.
Without Wang Zeng's greeting, the servants served fragrant tea, and also brought date cakes, osmanthus cakes and other cakes. But before Ye An could eat and drink, Wang Zeng smiled and waved his hand: "My dear nephew, don't eat those, keep some."
Eat the delicious food I prepared for you!"
To be honest, Ye An doesn't care about the food of the Wang family. Are you kidding me that no matter how delicious your food is, it can be as delicious as the food made by Shiweitian? Even Liu E often invites the master chef of Shiweitian to cook it in the palace.
Food!
But before Ye An could refuse, Wang Zeng smiled and said: "I know your family has good food, but I have three elite chefs from Southern Food, Northern Food, and Sichuan Food here. Their skills are as good as your iron pot."
The cooking food is heavenly!”
Ye An immediately had a great appetite. Although the food of the Song Dynasty lacked the subtlety of stir-fry, the food processing and cooking were excellent.
He quickly crossed his hands and said: "Since the prince said so, Ye An should be respectful and obey his orders!"
"That's right! You two powerful ministers in the court should talk more, and I'll go see how Chef Wu is preparing the meal..." Wang Hao got up and walked out of the flower hall.
Ye An knew that such a poor excuse was telling him that the following conversation would be quite private, and not even Wang Hao would be around to listen, thus ensuring absolute safety.
After sitting down for a while, Wang Zeng looked at Ye An with a smile and said: "Chang Sheng has always acted steadily in the court, why did you suddenly do what Meng Lang did? With your talent, you shouldn't do such a thing. Is there another way to do it?"
Have something to hide?"
As worthy of being the father-in-law of the court, he was a weathered veteran who could quickly discover the key points. Ye An had to admit that his behavior in admonishing Liu E in the court was very abnormal, and abnormality meant that there was something hidden.
This is where Wang Zeng grasped the most directly.
But Ye An had no choice but to pretend to be stupid at this time and smiled awkwardly: "There is no hidden secret. What the prince knows is that Changsheng is a bachelor of the official family. The official family is very kind to me, so I am an official."
Ye An, the pro-in-charge of the family, can also express his ambition..."
After saying this, Ye An clearly saw Wang Zeng curling his lips in disdain, and then looked at himself and said: "Why hide it in front of me? With your preparations in Tokyo, you must have already decided to go to Ganliang, right?"
Even if others can see it, you can’t even see it?!”
As expected, he could not hide himself in front of Wang Zeng. Ye An helplessly spread his hands and said: "Since the prince has seen Ye An's plan, why bother asking?"
Wang Zeng said angrily: "I just saw that you have long wanted to go to Ganliang, but I don't know why you want to do this!"
Ye An looked at Wang Zeng and said, "I wonder if the prince thinks Ganliang is important to the country?"
"The ancient road to the northwest is choked by Party members!"
Ye An nodded and took a sip of tea and said: "This place seems to be indispensable to the country, but it is very important. It is not only for the country to guard against party items, but also for the country and the North to connect the Silk Road!"
"Your Puhui business has made so much money in Tokyo, how come you are still thinking about money?!" Wang Zeng looked at Ye An with a look of disdain. He really didn't understand why Ye An, as a scholar-bureaucrat, wanted to
Will be so interested in money.
But Ye An laughed loudly: "Money?! Does the prince think that immortality is for money? Oh...it is indeed for money, but this money is the coffin book of the party members..."
"Huh?!" Wang Zeng frowned slightly and looked at Ye An: "If you have something to say, you can just say it. Why do you need to show off here?"
Ye An said with a smile: "Let's talk at the dinner table! Changsheng is hungry..."
Wang Zeng was stunned for a moment. He had never thought that Ye An would be walking around like this in front of him, but then he laughed loudly and said, "Okay, okay! Let's talk about it after dinner!"