After chatting for a while at the banquet, the people in the restaurant in his hometown made a lot of money. Zhang Shi sold the shop before leaving home. As for the trouble of selling the house, he had to give it to a distant place with twenty guan of money.
relative.
Yang asked from the side: "It must have been sold for a lot of money."
Zhang Shi sighed and said, "Where can I sell it for how much?"
Zhang Yue said: "Brother, if your family's shop isn't making a lot of money every day, how could you spend all this money?"
Zhang Shi said: "You don't know how expensive firewood, rice, oil and salt are when you don't live in the family. There are so many expenses at home, not to mention how much money does Xi'er spend on studying?"
Zhang Yue couldn't help but ask: "Isn't Xi'er studying ethnic studies?"
Zhang Shi said: "Although clan studies don't require money, they only require pens, inks, paper and inkstones, clothes for the four seasons, and my husband's filial piety during the holidays. In the past two years, my husband said that Xi'er has made great progress in learning, so I invited teachers from outside to teach me.
How much money is spent on studying and traveling."
Zhang Yue looked at Mr. Yu's hesitant look and asked Zhang Qiu in his heart: "Bo Yi, how are you, Mr. Biao Min?"
Zhang Qiu said: "Both gentlemen are in good health, but Mr. Boyi is sick and has been teaching less recently. Mr. Biao Min was tired of lawsuits before, so he takes charge of ethnic studies for Mr. Boyi."
Zhang Yue nodded and said, "That's good."
Zhang Shi added: "Mr. Boyi is the third brother and Mr. Xi'er. When I got sick this time, I asked someone to buy a lot of summer wax medicine and send it to me. They are all the best medicinal materials."
Zhang Yue couldn't help but feel happy when he heard this: "Thank you so much, brother, for taking care of my husband for me."
Zhang Shi laughed and said, "What does this mean?"
During this period, Zhang Shi went out to change clothes.
Everyone was silent for a while.
Zhang Yue looked at Mrs. Yu's look and asked, "Sister-in-law, please tell me the truth."
Mrs. Yu looked around and said, "We are all one family, and I'm not afraid of your jokes..."
After saying this, Mr. Yu shed tears and Ms. Yang said, "If you have any difficulty, just say it."
Mrs. Yu said to Zhangqiu: "You go to your aunt's house for a walk first."
"Okay, mother." Zhang Qiu stood up.
Ms. Zhang stood up and said with a smile, "I'll take Xi'er around the house."
Immediately Mrs. Zhang took Zhangqiu and the servants and maids to go shopping around the house.
Zhang Yue asked: "How much money is left after selling off the family's money and going to Beijing?"
Mrs. Yang wiped away her tears and said: "My family's restaurant made a lot of money before. My family's life is getting better day by day. I can support Xi'er's education expenses with more money."
"But after Third Uncle came to Beijing, your brother refused to let me take care of the money on the pretext that the shop needed money to turn around. He took care of all the family's financial expenses. In the end, the shop was taken into the hands of others before he went to Beijing."
"In the end, we sold it and went to Beijing, and the expenses were enough. Even now, I haven't paid back a penny of the money I borrowed from my family."
Zhang Yue was speechless upon hearing this.
The family shop and his capital of 200 yuan were also defeated by his brother. It was really a mouthful of old blood that he wanted to spit out.
Hearing this, Mrs. Yang said angrily: "I have to tell him properly... Where can there be such a master, my wife and children will not be able to support themselves."
Mrs. Yu said quickly: "Don't talk about it, uncle. Anyway, the family is now in this situation. We are going to Beijing this time to reunite with Uncle Dun and Third Uncle. Secondly, it is difficult for the family to support us."
Zhang Yue asked: "Did my brother go gambling again? How did the family spend so much money?"
Yu shook his head and said: "Third uncle, your brother didn't gamble this time, it's all because of his temperament. After the family shop made some money, relatives and friends came to eat and drink for free, and they could still afford it. But you
My brother is also responsive to relatives and friends who come to borrow money."
"There weren't many at first, but then people came to our door every day. Your brother often said that he borrowed this person, so why don't you borrow him? The palms and backs of your hands are full of flesh and you shouldn't offend people. He also said that our family owed someone something when we were in trouble.
There are many favors that cannot be repaid without repayment. Those who don't repay the loan will still act in front of the door, and the fence and door have been kicked in several times. Although they don't borrow much, they can't bear the tens or hundreds of dollars every day.
I loaned it out regularly. Later, when the winter came, my family’s business slowed down and I couldn’t make enough money. Your brother came to find someone to pay back the money. It would be great if one of the three of them could pay back the money.”
"Some people said, so many diners in your shop bring you money every day, why should you owe me this? Your brother said that they are all acquaintances for many years and it is not easy to fall out like that, so he just let it go. In the end, he took
Even if you rent a shop and take people into custody, you still can't help but have people come to your door to borrow money. Your brother can't lose face."
Zhang Yue never expected that his family would be bankrupted by someone else's loan.
He lamented: "The poor are playing with ten steel hooks on the cross streets, but they can't hook their relatives. The rich are dancing in the mountains and forests with swords, guns and sticks, but they can't chase away the unjust guests and friends."
Yang scolded: "You are poor in the busy city and rich in the mountains. Don't help your brother. The family is in this situation now. All the faults are attributed to him. I have a low face and no square inch in my heart."
After a pause, Yang continued: "Since you have come to Bianjing and you are not familiar with the place, I want to prevent your husband from spending money randomly and looking for something to do. You can live a good life in two or three years."
Already."
Yu said: "My aunt is right."
At this moment, Zhang Shifang came back from changing clothes and saw that everyone at the table turned their heads and no one said anything.
Zhang Shi said: "Why don't you say anything?"
"I'm full." Yang replied.
The elder brother and his family settled down, but Zhang Yue still lived in Taixue.
Zhang Yue went with them, but found that the place Yang arranged for them was very good, close to the busy city and quiet in the middle of it.
The only drawback is that it is too far away from Taixue.
The next day Zhang Yue invited them to the place arranged for him by the Wu Mansion.
This is much closer to Taixue.
Zhang Shi read it over and over again and was very satisfied. Moreover, these servants knew that they would probably have to work for Zhang Yue in the future, so they were very active.
Zhang Yue could tell that Zhang Shi liked this place more.
Zhang Yue asked Zhang Shi where he wanted to live.
Zhang Shi said: "Although the Wu family will be in-laws in the future, they are not married yet. There is no reason to live in a house with a foreign surname instead of living in a place with my own surname."
Zhang Yue said: "But I live too far away from Taixue, so I can't go back to visit often."
Zhang Shi smiled and said: "If you don't go to visit me, I will come to visit you. Yes, I heard that you still have a shop in Bianjing, and I can help you take care of it."
Zhang Yue said with a vigilant look on his face: "Brother, if you lost a shop, you didn't want to lose my shop as well."
Zhang Shi smiled and said: "No, no, I have been doing business outside for so many years, and I am better than you in terms of management and social sophistication..."
Zhang Yue said: "Brother, you should go to Bianjing to rest more. As for what you will do in the future, you will make your own decisions."
Zhang Shi said: "Yes, I heard on the way here that noble people in Beijing often make excuses. Your uncle and aunt's family has this business, what if I take over?"
Zhang Yue laughed in his heart.
In the Song Dynasty, officials were strictly prohibited from lending money, so officials asked their relatives to lend money.
At that time, people were in urgent need of money in many places, such as farming, weddings and funerals, paying taxes due to illness, etc.
As a result, interest rates are extremely high and lending is profitable, causing powerful people to compete to get involved.
The Yang family has such a view. The family's property is taken care of by official servants. However, the Yang family has her own money, and there is also some money collected from her subordinates that she does not need for the time being.
The Yang family lent the money without telling Zhang Yu, so Zhang Shi was someone he could trust.
But just when Mr. Yang was thinking this, he suddenly fell ill and became quite seriously ill.
Zhang Shi and Zhang Yue both went to visit, but were at a loss what to do.
At this time, Wu Chong returned to Beijing.
Wu Chong stepped out of the Chongzheng Hall. Wu Chong was a Jinshi at the age of seventeen. After more than twenty years of officialdom, he was already an official at the age of less than forty.
When important officials like the Beijing-West Transport Envoy go to Beijing to pay their respects, the officials will receive them as soon as possible without having to wait for closing time.
Wu Chong met with the officials many times, and he was very skilled in playing the imperial prelude. The officials first asked him about the health of Wen Yanbo, who was staying in Xijing, and then asked about the people in the west of Beijing. Wu Chong's performance was not inappropriate at all.
The officials gave him a few words of praise.
Now Wu Chong walked out of Chongzheng Hall, his face calm, but his thoughts were ups and downs in his heart.
Although he had been an official for many years, Wu Chong still had some emotional fluctuations in his heart under the praise of the officials. At this moment, he could only express his gratitude for his kindness.
Now that he was walking out of the Chongzheng Hall, Wu Chong thought about going to the real power in Huaidong, and he couldn't help but look forward to it. No one knew whether he would take a further step in his official career.
After leaving Donghua Gate, Wu Chong saw servants and servants waiting here.
After getting on the carriage, Wu Chong listened to everyone talk about the big and small things at home during his departure from Beijing.
After leaving Liangmen and seeing his mansion in the distance, Wu Chong had a smile on his face.
From the street entrance to at least the section in front of the Wu Mansion, there are curtains on both sides of the road to prevent dust and prying eyes from passers-by.
His wife, Mrs. Li, and her whole family were waiting on the steps at the door of the mansion.
Wu Chong got off the carriage. Li, Wu Anshi, and eldest daughter-in-law Fan greeted each other one by one. Wu Chong said a few words lightly.
Finally, there was the youngest daughter Qi Niang. Wu Chong looked at her and asked, "Are you still reading poetry and books these days?"
Seventeenth Mother leaned forward and said, "Yes."
Wu Chong thought for a while and said: "You should also read more about women's precepts. Women should be fine no matter what they do at home. When they get married in the future, they should be humble and self-sufficient. This is the way to support your husband and teach your children."
"My daughter remembers it."
Wu Chong nodded and then walked into the mansion.
At the Wu family dinner in the evening, Wu Chong talked to his family about his farewell.
The transfer mission to Huaidong was assigned. Wu Chong just returned to Beijing, but he was about to take up his post in Huaidong. He would only be in Beijing for a few days.
But how to arrange these days is also difficult.
All kinds of favors should be classified according to their closeness and distance.
Mrs. Li said to Wu Chong: "Zhang Sanlang's brother arrived in Beijing more than ten days ago. I decided to ask him to come to the house when the master returns to Beijing."
Wu Chong said: "Exactly, an eldest brother is like a father, so in the end it is up to him to say something."
Li laughed and said, "Although Sanlang is ranked third in this chapter, are the officials still afraid that he will run away?"
Wu Chong said: "Although the Zhang family is humble, the matter of marriage, although complicated, is the most unavoidable. The etiquette must be fulfilled one by one. Only in this way can we show our respect for them."
Mrs. Li smiled and said, "I think the master regards Zhang Sanlang as a quick son-in-law who can ride a dragon, but don't forget that he is not a Jinshi yet."
Wu Chong said: "If you are not a Jinshi, you should be more respectful and do everything well. You don't have to do this when you become successful."