The eldest wife of the Ouyang family, Mrs. Wu, is returning to her parents’ home today.
Now Wu Chong has been promoted to the position of transit envoy to the west of Beijing and is in Luoyang, not in Bianjing.
Wu Anshi and Wu Anchi both got Yinguan. Without Wu Chong's restraint, Wu Anshi was often away from home, but Wu Anchi took care of the Wu family's relations in Beijing.
Mr. Wu had a chat with her mother, Mrs. Li, and her eldest sister-in-law, Mrs. Fan, and then came to the seventeenth mother's boudoir.
Seventeen Niang was leaning on the railing reading a book. When she saw Mrs. Wu, she smiled and said, "Sister, finally came to see me?"
Wu smiled and pulled Shi Qiniang to sit down and said, "You're still reading!"
“Yes, I have seen my mother and sister-in-law come here? Why didn’t you ask me to go?”
Wu said: "The reason why I don't ask you to go is because I have a few words of personal experience that I want to tell you."
“But what about my brother-in-law? It’s okay to take the exam again in the next subject.”
Wu sighed: "It can't be that easy. In the future, it's up to you whether I will be in Beijing or not."
“Why do you really want to go to Yingzhou?”
"My father-in-law has discussed this. He is becoming more and more powerful now, but there are really many people in the court who are wary of him. Now he only has the official family members here, but in the future, instead of being a thorn in the side of the capital, it is better to return to Yingzhou.
go."
"No matter what, my father will take care of me. Even if my father-in-law goes back, my brother-in-law can stay in the capital. Is he really not going to take the exam?"
Wu didn’t say anything after hearing this, and Seventeen Niang said: “Sister, it’s good to go to Yingzhou, and Linbian is not too far away.”
Wu Shi smiled and said: "Okay, how are your life-long affairs discussed at home? I heard that my brother has been advocating for Liu Ji, who is now studying in Taixue, but dad doesn't allow it."
Seventeen Niang said: "It's my turn to make the decision on this matter, I just didn't ask."
Wu sighed: "Yeah, it's not our turn to make the decision. We have been taught since childhood that yang is noble and yin is low, and yang is high and yin is low. Men have no wells inside and outside, no common bathing, no common toilets, and no common sleeping mats.
“If a woman does not peek at the middle door for no reason, but if she goes out of the middle door for a reason, she must cover her face and use a candle when walking at night. If there is no candle, she will stop. A man should not talk about what is inside, and a woman should not talk about what is outside. She must not be a jealous and aggressive wife."
“But after being taught so much, we just listen to our parents at home and our husbands when we get married. We are not allowed to make the decision on anything, including marriage. Do you know why your second sister-in-law is not liked by your mother?”
“Why?”
Wu said: "It's because she is well-informed and able to show off herself."
The Seventeenth Mother glanced at the book in her hand and thought to herself, the second sister-in-law Wang's poems are really good. She wrote a poem to her father Wang Anshi, "The west wind does not penetrate the small window screen, the autumn mood should pity me and recall my home. Looking across the country and thousands of mountains."
It’s a pity that I still see the yellow flowers with tears.
This poem was highly praised in Bianjing as soon as it was published. Wang Anshi often sent letters to sing with his daughter.
However, this poem made my mother-in-law, Mrs. Li, unhappy, "I still look at the yellow flowers with tears." When you say this, doesn't it seem that your life in my Wu family is not good, and the letter has been spread all over the capital.
Hence Li's comment: "Knowing the book and being reasonable will make it easier for you to show yourself".
"The second sister-in-law's father and brother are both famous scholars in the world. It is reasonable that the second sister-in-law is more noble and has a higher vision. It is said that the second brother is not living up to expectations and unwilling to make progress. It cannot be entirely blamed on the second sister-in-law." Seventeenth mother defended Wang.
A few words.
Wu said: "You can't say that. My eldest sister-in-law also comes from a scholarly family, but she has always been cautious in front of her mother. She even stopped writing poems. Your second sister-in-law! I'm afraid you are the only one who can interact with her at home.
Well spoken."
Seventeen Niang said: "I usually only talk about poems and articles with my second sister-in-law."
Mrs. Wu said: "My mother doesn't like my second sister-in-law, so you must not get too close to her."
“I understand. If I were born from my mother’s womb, there would be no such suspicion.”
Mrs. Wu said anxiously: "Your life-long affairs are in the hands of your mother. You need to be very careful at this time. You must know that your marriage will be almost decided by this time next year."
"Don't imitate me. When my father and father-in-law were in good terms, we decided to get married. When I first got married, I was filled with joy and thought I was the right man. But after I got married, I found out that your brother-in-law likes to play with gold and stones, collect ancient books, and study some laws all day long.
As the story goes, he is talented, but he is not enthusiastic at all when it comes to taking the exam. He usually just puts on a show to fool my father-in-law."
"When my father-in-law retires from office in the future, he will not be able to settle down in Bianjing and will have to go back to Yingzhou. Even if the officials are merciful, he will not be determined to pursue an official career if he is shady. In choosing a husband, only talent and ambition are indispensable.
"After seeing so many people under my father-in-law's sect over the years, Zeng Zigu deserves the most praise."
Seventeen Niang asked: "Zeng Zigu? Yes, his articles are very good, especially policy theory."
Wu glanced at Shiqi Niang and said, "Seventeen..."
Seventeen Niang smiled and said: "Sister, I know, you don't have to use your own affairs to warn me. I already have a sense of proportion in my heart!"
“Proportion?”
Seventeen Niang said: "I admire the two mistresses in Beijing most. One is Xie, the wife of Mei Gong (Mei Yaochen). Whenever her husband talks to guests, she eavesdrops behind the screen, waiting for the guests.
After leaving, Mr. Xie and Mr. Mei once again appraised people and distinguished between the good and the foolish. Mr. Mei not only did not criticize him, but praised his wife for her clear nature and understanding of reason."
“There is another one who is my sister’s mother-in-law. The minister once wanted to talk to Duke Ouyang and talked to her, but she said, how dare a woman interfere with this court matter, and the Duke has never talked about state affairs with his wife.”
Wu asked: "What's the difference between a person who talks about things and a person who doesn't talk about things?"
“Speak if you can; don’t speak if you can’t.”
Bianjing cold snow.
It’s almost the end of the year.
At this time, the officials will issue an imperial edict to give fuel to the military squads.
As for the Tai students, they have no salary.
In fact, since Hu Yuan left, the imperial government's subsidies to Taixue have been much less than before.
Li Gou is now in charge of Gou Taixue, although he has also talked with several doctors and directly used money to supplement the meals of the students.
However, Li Gou did not have Hu Yuan's appeal, and his salary was not as good as that of Hu Yuan. He was not on good terms with Wu Zhong, who was the judge of the Imperial College, so that the poor students in Taixue became more and more miserable.
This year Taixue has no way to pay for firewood, so we have to find ways to supplement the expenses.
Taixue Jinshi has ten fasts, and every fast has Guangzhai money. After a Taixue student is released as an official, he must send a sum of money to his Zhai.
At this time, each person will use his light money to subsidize and buy some fuel to support his daily life.
As for fasting houses that don’t have enough fasting money, there are also ways to generate income, such as setting fasting rules, and anyone who violates the fasting rules will pay a sum of money.
Firewood is one expense, and another item is winter vegetables.
Meat is scarce at this time, so vegetables are particularly important. There is a saying that vegetables are inferior to grains.
There won’t be any vegetables in Bianjing after winter, and the Taixue restaurant has no money to buy them for Taixue, so if you want to eat winter vegetables, you have to find a way to eat them yourself.
At each fast, you need to buy some spicy ginger and spicy radish and store them in the sauce jar of the fasting house.
The chief of the restaurant, whose name was changed from Liu Ji to Liu Hui, and many old men were busy with next spring and had no time, so the task of buying firewood and winter vegetables fell on Liu Zuo.
Liu Zuo's family was engaged in business, and he was very smart and capable. He also failed the imperial examination, so all the purchasing and financing fell on him.
But purchasing is a waste of time.
In the last life, Zhang Yue was only focused on his studies, and was too lazy to bother with these things. He just pushed it aside. Now things have changed a bit.
When it comes to purchasing, at least two people must go together, and no one person can take the initiative. Liu Jiyan was more and more plain, so he and Liu Zuo were asked to go buy charcoal and winter vegetables.
Zhang Yue agreed. Now he is not very enthusiastic, nor is he unable to save face. He is just doing something within his power in the studio. Anyway, Zhang Yue has a lot of time to study every day, so he does not have to worry about delaying his homework.
Zhang Yue went shopping with Liu Zuo, and often took Xiang Qi with him.
Xiang Qi is of course not enthusiastic, he is just Liu Zuo's follower.
Usually Liu Zuo took Zhang Yue and Xiang Qi to the streets to eat bowls of water, water and rice. When they were extravagant, they would even eat bowls of tripe soup, but these would never use the money purchased in the studio.
However, the owner of the charcoal shop would also give the three of them some cooked pancakes, but Liu Zuo did not refuse and shared the meal with Zhang Yue and Xiang Qi.
The matter of purchasing is inconspicuous, but the access to it is not small.
For example, Liu Zuo's family was doing business in Bianjing, and they could be said to be well-off. They would not appreciate the small favors from these shops.
However, when it came to buying winter vegetables, Liu Zuo had to go far away from home every time, so he took Zhang Yue around a few streets to buy in the west city of Bianjing.
In Liu Zuo’s words, this place is close to the royal West Garden.
Some people from the palace often bring winter vegetables here to buy, so that we can eat the good food that Shangguan's family eats.
When Xiang Qi kept saying that there were so many good winter vegetables here, Zhang Yue also ‘believed’ them.
When talking about Liu Zuo, we have to talk about Xiang Qi. He came to Taixue three years earlier than Zhang Yue. His family was very poor, so he got a lot of benefits from his friendship with Liu Zuo.
What impressed Zhang Yue the most was that one day when they were eating at a street stall, the stall owner seemed to be neglecting him. Zhang Yue and Liu Zuo didn't say anything, but Xiang Qi scolded the stall owner with a ferocious face. And Xiang Qi was worthy of it.
As a scholar, every sentence is not repeated.
Zhang Yue did not expect that Xiang Qi, who was always so talkative in the studio, would have such a cruel side. Seeing this scene, Zhang Yue missed Senior Brother Guo even more.
However, Xiang Qi passed the exam and will go to the Spring Festival next year, but Liu Zuo failed. It is hard to say what will happen to the two in the future.
Zhang Yue also asked Liu Zuo where he got the jasmine tea. Liu Zuo said that someone else had given it to him.
Liu Zuo did not say directly who sent it.
After the onset of winter, the weather in Bianjing becomes colder day by day.
For Zhang Yue, a southerner, such weather is really unbearable.
Zhang Yue and Liu Zuo went to Xiang Qi to buy firewood.
Liu Zuo stood in front of the firewood shop and sighed to Zhang Yue: "The twelfth lunar month is coming soon, and the New Year will be coming soon. Maybe I will no longer be in Taixue by then."
“Why?”
Liu Zuodao said: "I haven't made a name for myself. I didn't pass the test this year, so my family arranged for me to get married. From now on, I will help my father and brother take care of the family business. Anyway, I have been studying for five hundred days at the Imperial Academy.
You must live in the fasting room every day, and just come to eat on time from now on."
“Besides, if I saw that my fellow disciples had passed away in Chunwei, but I still stayed in Taixue, I would feel uncomfortable.”
Zhang Yue thought of Xiang Qi for some reason and wanted to tell Liu Zuo something, but when the words came to his mouth, he finally said: "Chief of the house, I think it is better for you to go back to the house and become the chief of the meal, but we should get married first."
Liu Zuo smiled and said: "Of course, let the chief of the restaurant talk about it later."
Zhang Yue said: "I wonder whose girl is so lucky?"
Liu Zuo said vaguely: "His family is now in office."
“What a wonderful marriage. Congratulations to the head of the house.”
Liu Zuo sighed: "Sanlang, don't look at the fact that my family is well off. In fact, those of us who are engaged in business are all frightened. We are afraid that one day we will be in danger. Now I have given up the intention of taking the imperial examination for an official. But Sanlang, you are young, well versed in classics and can write.
Sooner or later, you will have a great career. Then don’t forget that I am the one.”
Zhang Yue was a little surprised, he should tell Xiang Qi this.
At this time, Xiang Qi came over and said with a smile: "I see there are still a lot of charcoal fires in the store. Let's ask someone to hire a car. A car of charcoal will be delivered directly to the studio, which saves us two extra trips. It's weird today.
cold."
Zhang Yue saw that Xiang Qi was wearing a thin robe with some fraying at the sleeves, while Liu Zuoyi was wearing a fine fur coat.
He suddenly felt that school uniforms and jerseys had many benefits.
Liu Zuo smiled and said, "That's fine."
Xiang Qidao: "What did Sanlang and the head of the house say just now?"
Liu Zuo said with a smile: "After the spring of next year, there will be more than a hundred people leaving the Imperial College. At that time, some people will be recruited from the Guangwen Hall. By then, the chief of the studio will give orders and the students will be in charge. There will be a lot of vacancies in the student register.
, I recommend Sanlang to be an academic officer."
Xiang Qi smiled relievedly and said, "That's natural. I don't know if Sanlang has such a plan."
Zhaizhang, these matters may seem a bit unpleasant, but they are also an opportunity for experience.
As for Shengzheng and Shenglu, they are the best among Taixue students. There is one person in the entire Taixue, who enjoys rank and salary. If they are awarded by the imperial court, they can be called Mingguanzheng and Mingguanlu.
Zhang Yue shook his head and said: "Li Zhijiao also made it clear before that if my poems and poems are still at the lowest level in this public examination, I will be dismissed. I don't want to be an academic official."
Xiang Qi said with a smile: "Don't worry, Sanlang. I heard from the chief of the restaurant that he has already told Mr. Yang, the calligrapher, that if your poems are of the lowest quality again, Mr. Yang will come forward to intercede with Li Zhi."
He won't say anything right now, but he still wants you to study poetry by yourself, lest you become slack after learning about it."
Zhang Yue smiled and said, "Thank you for telling me, brother Xiang. I feel a little relieved."
“What’s this?” Xiang Qi smiled and patted Zhang Yue’s shoulder.
Liu Zuo said to Zhang Yue: "Sanlang, last time you asked me where I could get the tea. Now I know that there is a Shuyuezhai in Beijing that sells it."
Zhang Yue asked Liu Zuo about the route and decided to wait for the synodic day to see it.
It is the day of the new year again.
Zhang Yue got up early, first went to Shuzhu Zhai, and in the afternoon he went to Chen Xiang's place to study poetry. Even though it was freezing cold, Daxiangguo Temple was still a scene of huge crowds of people.
Zhang Yue came to the fasting room of Zishengmen.
But I saw businessmen and clerks packing their things in the studio.
Zhang Yue came here to find the businessman and asked: "How does the old shopkeeper pack things?"
When the businessman saw Zhang Yue arriving, he smiled and said, "It's Sanlang who's here. To be honest, I'm going back to my hometown. This shop in the capital has to be sold."
Zhang Yue was surprised when he heard this: "Old shopkeeper, why are you in such a hurry?"
The businessman said: "The tree is thousands of feet tall, and the fallen leaves return to their roots. This is something that can't be done. My wife is old and in poor health, so she always thinks about her family, where she was born, and where she is buried. I think the same way, anyway.
I also bought a farm and a farm in my hometown, and I would have to go back sooner or later. So I made the decision to sell the shop, pack up and go back to my hometown."
Zhang Yue said: "That's right. This time the old shopkeeper can be considered a return home."
The businessman said with a smile: "It's not like I can return home with a rich coat. This shop is only open five days a month. If I hadn't been a little old man and I had other livelihoods, I wouldn't have bought land or a house at home."
Hearing this, Zhang Yue followed the conversation and asked, "I also want to tell you, old shopkeeper, that you are just making a living here. How much do you plan to sell this shop for?"
The businessman said: "I rented this shop from Daxiangguo Temple. It only costs three guan a month. This is because the monks of Xiangguo Temple are merciful and don't want to make any money from us."
"It's just that these furnishings, tables and chairs are quite expensive. I spent my own money to renovate them the year before last. It cost me twenty dollars after depreciation. Besides, the shop here is very popular. No matter what, I'll pay for it."
It’s not too much to add an extra ten guan.”
Zhang Yue thought that these ten coins were equivalent to the transfer fee of the shop.
Zhang Yue took a casual look and thought that these fixed furnishings in the shop were not expensive even for thirty guan, not to mention the transfer fee. Although the Wanxing Trading in Daxiangguo Temple is only open for five days a month,
But the rent for three dollars is really cheap enough.
The businessman apologized: "Sanlang asked you to come here today for free. I will get the engraved seal you consigned in the store to you right away."
Zhang Yue said: "Old shopkeeper, you're welcome. I'm not in a hurry at this moment. I'm asking if the thirty pieces of money can be more appropriate..."
Hearing this, the businessman looked at Zhang Yue in surprise: "What, Sanlang, do you really want to buy this shop?"
Zhang Yue nodded and looked at the shop and thought, it’s not easy to live in Bianjing, but we have finally found our footing.
Zhang Yue also has far-reaching plans. The collection studio can continue to sell its own seals. Then he can just ask a trustworthy person to look after the shop.
The other thing is books and the like, you can also sell these on weekdays.
In the end, the merchant refused to give up the money, but gave Zhang Yue many more utensils that he could not take away.
Zhang Yue took three guans of money as a deposit. Then the two of them went to the minister monk of Daxiangguo Temple to sign a transaction document. The merchant's face changed from doubt to certainty now.
Before pressing the fingerprint, the businessman asked: "Sanlang Jun, don't think about it more, ask the elders in the family?"
Zhang Yue smiled, shook his head and said, "I can make the decision alone."
Hearing this, the businessman nodded and said: "To be honest, this shop is my life's work. If I sell it to others and turn it into other businesses, I would be somewhat reluctant to part with it. But if I leave it to Saburo, I feel more at ease."
Zhang Yue said: "Don't worry, old shopkeeper, I will definitely take care of the shop for you."
The merchant pretended to blame him: "My shop is now your shop."
Hearing this Zhang Yue and the merchant both laughed.
Looking at the heavy snow in the sky, when Zhang Yue walked out of the collection house, he felt as if he had made a major decision in his life in a hurry.
After all, more than thirty dollars is more than half of my current net worth. It seems that I will have to eat porridge for a while in the future.
At that moment, did your heart hurt?
After renting the shop, Zhang Yue strolled down the street and remembered that he was still in Pucheng at this time last year. In the blink of an eye, he had been away from home for a year.