Mr. Yu put the food aside and said uneasily, "Please tell me clearly first."
Zhang Shi smiled and said: "Madam, to tell you the truth, we have made friends with noble people."
"Noble? Which noble? Who did you see today? Don't say anything else!" Yu asked.
Zhang Shi said: "Don't be upset, madam, I met Peng County Lieutenant today. Do you think this is a great opportunity?"
Yu said: "Peng County Lieutenant does it for the sake of Xu Du's head?"
Zhang Shi said with a face full of joy: "Peng Xianwei didn't tell me in detail, but what kind of person he is. His ancestors served in Taizu's Anqian. Now he lives in this county. He speaks to me politely today." , no pretense at all.”
"Is Xu Dutou so affectionate? You didn't ask carefully?" Yu finally felt a little confused in her heart.
Zhang Shi said with a smile: "All I thought about was whether the case could be overturned, so I didn't ask. But regardless of whether he was recommended by Xu Dutou or not, he recommended me to the second hall to meet with your order. He reminded me all the way. How to properly talk to someone like you? I'm sweating all over, so I don't have time to think about anything else."
Yu shook her head. Although she didn't know why Peng Xianwei felt this way, she always felt that there was no free pie in the sky, and it was always inappropriate for Zhang Shi to accept other people's benefits without asking, making people feel that there was something else. picture.
Yu asked: "Master Shi, are you willing to give us justice?"
"What do you think this is?" Zhang Shi smiled and took out several silver ingots from the cloth pocket hidden close to his body.
"Didn't you say it was raw silk? Didn't you get the money back?" Mrs. Yu was surprised and happy holding the silver ingot in her hand.
"The Wu silk merchant was also taken away, and now all the money has been recovered. Today, you are very happy and gave us more than 80 strings on the spot."
"More than eighty? Is there half left?"
Zhang Shi smiled and said: "Your Majesty said that the other half of the money and raw silk will be used as evidence in the case. They have to be presented to the state. If you go back and forth, you will not be able to get them back."
"Today, your Majesty was very polite to me and mentioned my second brother. He said that my second brother had come to visit me with a famous tattoo and begged your Majesty to honor him. Your Majesty praised my second brother for not only his articles, but also for his good calligraphy. , looks like Wang Youjun! In words, he still thinks highly of his second brother."
Yu said: "When Zhao Yasi bullied our family, he didn't tell us about it, but now Ling Jun started to think about it."
"The money has gone into the Yamen, but it's really hard to get out. It's said that it went to the state, but in fact we asked someone to intercede. Why didn't you ask for it in front of your Majesty?"
Zhang Shi said: "I couldn't say a few words when I met your lord, how could I think about these things."
Yu shook his head slightly. There was always a stone in his heart that was hard to let go. There was something wrong in the middle, but he was more happy than worried after seeing so much money.
"Although I didn't get back two hundred coins, these more than eighty coins can be considered lost and recovered." As Yu spoke, she took the silver from Zhang Shi's hand calmly, and then complained: "Since I took the money, Go straight home and walk to the road to buy wine and meat. What if someone steals the money?"
Zhang Shi laughed twice: "What Madam said, you should keep the money yourself, and I will raise the money to return it to Zhao Yasi tomorrow. In this way, our house does not need to be foreclosed or even pawned."
Mrs. Yu was overjoyed at first, but after thinking about it for a moment she still said: "Although this house does not need to be sold, I can give it to you first!"
"Why?"
"What do you think? Xi'er still needs to continue studying for enlightenment and find a good teacher. How can he do it without ten or eight guans in a year, not to mention the cost of pen, ink and paper."
"It makes sense. If I hadn't been reminded by my wife, I would have forgotten about this. This time, the family suffered the loss of not having a scholar. Not only Xi'er, but also the third brother also needs to find a famous teacher to continue reading." Zhang Shi said. .
Hearing what Zhang Shi said, Yu hesitated and finally said: "Shilang, you might as well ask uncle what he means. He doesn't seem to be interested in reading."
Zhang Shi suddenly remembered that his younger brother didn't seem to be interested in studying: "But what can third brother do if he doesn't study at his age?"
Mrs. Yu said, "You took charge of our family's shop when you were thirteen years old, and now my uncle is also thirteen during the Chinese New Year."
"But if uncle wants to wait two or three years before looking for a job, he can teach Xi'er how to read at home, or wait until his family's situation improves and he wants to go to school again."
Zhang Yue thought to himself that what his sister-in-law said was untrue. How could she be willing to teach Zhang Qiu how to read by herself?
"This..." Zhang Shizhen said with some hesitation, "In the past, when the family had a hundred acres of land and a shop, the third brother was still unwilling to study hard. Now... what does the third brother plan?"
Zhang Yue replied: "I have studied elementary school for these years. Although I have not put in any hard work, I can still read and write. But these days I always want to read some saints' teachings and understand some of the principles that saints teach us about how to be a human being."
Zhang Shi said happily after hearing this: "Third uncle has indeed made a lot of progress recently."
Yu showed an expression of "Is that so?" and said: "Shilang, this Confucian classics is different from enlightenment. The ordinary village school teacher cannot be qualified, and you must find a master. My brother is a master of the Confucian classics, and he invited several teachers back then. Even after spending hundreds of dollars, I still can’t find a way, and in the end I still have to go into business.”
Zhang Yue understood that for example, "Thousand-Character Classic" could be taught by village scholars, but Ming Jing was different. He had to understand the meaning of the scripture. For example, Zhang Yue could memorize the entire "Mencius", but he didn't understand what it meant from beginning to end, so he had to ask a teacher to teach him how to study the classics clearly.
If you want to prepare for the exam, you must read the special commentaries, which are the official standard answers.
Zhang Shi said disapprovingly: "Third brother, after studying for a few years, it doesn't matter even if you don't have the skills. In the future, I will ask Xu Dutou to find a job as a clerk in the Yamen. It is considered decent for someone who has not been exposed to the wind and sun, and is not like those Jinshi Officials with good backgrounds can speak volumes.”
"What should Xi'er do? In the future, he should stop studying classics and history and start writing articles? Can the family still afford two scholars now?" Yu interrupted.
Zhang Shi coughed twice. How could his own son not feel pain? What's more, Zhangqiu did have a talent for reading, and his tutor praised him several times.
Zhang Shi said: "Of course Xi'er wants to study! Let's live a tight life in the future. I will never treat you two badly."
"I have nothing to say if you want Third Brother to study, but where will the money come from? You need to explain clearly!"
Zhang Yue said quickly: "Brother and sister-in-law, let's talk about this later. Don't worry about it for now."
Zhang Shi disagreed and gritted his teeth: "In the end, it's still money. If I can't borrow more from my uncle Zhou, I'll pay some interest at the worst."
Zhang Shi was dumbfounded after hearing this. The eldest brother was addicted to what he was eating. Yesterday, I said I would no longer rely on Lao Taishan... Yes, this time I borrowed money from my wife's brother.
Yu seemed to have become accustomed to it, and seemed to have become numb.
Yu said: "Finding a teacher for my uncle can be postponed for a while, but Lingjun and Pengxian Lieutenant need to thank you first. Lingjun will be transferred sooner or later, but Pengxian Lieutenant is different."
Zhang Shi said: "Madam, you are right. If Captain Peng hadn't taken close care of you this time and contributed a lot secretly, we are not ungrateful people. I plan to prepare 30 coins to thank others. Isn't this too much? Wife?"
After hearing this, Mrs. Yu shook her head and said: "From now on, our family will have to rely on others to take care of us everywhere in Pucheng. Although thirty guan is a lot, we cannot save this money. At least we are not afraid of Zhao Yasi making things difficult for us again."
Zhang Yue thought to himself that Yu really came from a wealthy businessman family and was quite knowledgeable.
Thinking of this, Zhang Yue said: "Brother, sister-in-law, Captain Peng doesn't need to give it."
"How does this work?"
Zhang Yue said: "Peng County Lieutenant's nephew is my classmate and friend. This time I met Qiao San..."
Zhang Yue told what happened in detail.
"Third brother, you are so tight-lipped. You hold it in your stomach and don't say anything at all," Zhang Shixun said to Shi excitedly again: "I just say that third brother has a lot of potential, please make progress!"
Mrs. Yu looked surprised at first, and then said with relief: "I didn't expect that uncle could still talk to Captain Peng? Previously, I was worried that Captain Peng had other intentions. It's not good for us to receive favors for nothing. It turns out that it was my uncle who had the connections, so now I can finally feel relieved.”
After saying this, Mrs. Yu finally showed a smile: "Uncle, this time my sister-in-law is really impressed by you."
Zhang Yue said humbly: "How can Pengxian Lieutenant like me? What he likes is my second brother."
Yu said sternly: "Uncle is humble. My sister-in-law doesn't want to get a bad reputation. If you really want to study and gain fame, I won't object to it, but does uncle care about himself in his heart?"
Zhang Yue said respectfully: "My sister-in-law taught me that I wasted my time in the past. Not only did I not study hard, I also wasted my father and brother's money to save face among my classmates..."
Zhang Shi waved his hand and said, "Brothers from the same family say this."
Zhang Yue took out the "Mencius" from his arms and said: "The day our house was evacuated by Zhao Yasi, I kept this "Seven Chapters of Mencius". I heard that my brother said that this book was left by my father. These few days I read this book hard every day and asked my brother and sister-in-law to take a test."
Yu took "Mencius" from Zhang Yue's hand and asked: "In the past few days, you have been sleeping until you get up every day. How can you really memorize it?"
Zhang Yue's face turned slightly red and he said, "I don't dare to slack off because of my extravagance."
Yu hesitated for a moment, turned the book to a certain volume and handed it to Zhang Shi.
Zhang Shi held it in his hands and said, "This is "Li Lou". Third brother, you can memorize it wherever you go."
Zhang Yue said: "It's my brother. I'll try to memorize one or two. Mencius said: "The wisdom of Li Lou is the skill of Gongshuzi. Without rules, he cannot become a member of the party; the wisdom of Shi Kuang cannot be corrected by the six laws; Yao and Shun can't correct the five tones. Without benevolent governance, the world cannot be governed peacefully..."
Memorize Zhang Yue's article from beginning to end without stopping. Zhang Shi Yu looked at Zhang Yue in surprise. Is this the Zhang Yue of the past? Is it really Zhang Yue from the past?
Zhang Shi said in a trembling voice: "How did the third brother memorize such a thick book?"
Zhang Yue said: "Maybe our father is blessing us in heaven."
Zhang Shi's eyes were slightly red and he said: "Dad likes the most that his children can study. If he knows, I don't know how happy he will be."
When Mrs. Yu saw her husband acting like this, she said, "It's good that Third Brother has this intention, but I hope he can start and finish his studies in the future."
"Thank you, sister-in-law." Zhang Yue stood up and bowed.
Zhang Shi smiled quickly and said: "Third brother, let me just say that your sister-in-law is reasonable!"
Yu said angrily: "Don't try to praise me in a different way. Did the yamen know this in advance?"
Zhang Shi thought for a moment and said, "But I still need to thank Lieutenant Peng. I will ask him for help after getting the other half of the money, otherwise the yamen will not know how long it will take. Tomorrow we will prepare some water gifts to go to Peng's Mansion, and we will also prepare some tea fruits. , I would like to thank the security chief and my neighbor for their help these days. Madam, you should always promise me this."
Mrs. Yu pursed her lips and said with a smile: "It sounds like I have nothing to lose. I will cook and prepare the food, and uncle will eat more today."
After saying this, Mrs. Yu put the tender chicken in a bowl, heated the wine in the pot, and cooked a pot of vegetables.
Yu poured two bowls of wine and said, "Uncle, would you like to drink one too?"
"Thank you sister-in-law."
Yu poured another bowl.
Zhang Shi drank half a glass of wine and suddenly said: "I wonder where my second brother is at the moment? Are you eating well? Are your clothes warm?"
Zhang Yue secretly sighed that his eldest brother still misses his second brother.
Mrs. Yu shook her head, filled a bowl of rice and said, "Eat to your heart's content first, then drink."
"That's fine." Zhang Shi put down the wine and picked up the bowl.
Zhang Yue also put down his wine cup, and now the family was eating heavily. Although there is meat in the meal, it is still the standard southern dish of "rice, rice, soup and fish" as Sima Gong said.
According to historical records, after the Jin army failed to attack the Song Dynasty, it withdrew north and "abandoned the mountains of millet." However, the Song army "mostly came from Fujian, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang and could not eat millet, so there were many dead every day."
I also like to eat rice. If I don't have a bowl of fragrant rice for a whole day, I always feel like something is missing and a little incomplete.
Zhang Yue watched Zhang Qiu put his face into the bowl and ate it extremely sweetly.
Zhang Yue tore a chicken leg and put it into Zhang Qiu's bowl. Zhang Qiu raised his head and looked at himself with eyes full of little stars: "Uncle Third, can Xi'er be eaten?"
"Um."
Zhang Qiu glanced at Mrs. Yu, then picked up the chicken leg and took a bite, feeling full of happiness.
Zhang Yue also ate happily, and finally scooped up the fish soup and soaked it in the rice. He finished the meal with a clatter of chopsticks, and then walked to the bowl to wash the dishes with loofah pulp.
In the past, when there were servants at home, he would just throw away the bowl, but now he can no longer live the life of a young master...
I heard Zhang Shi vaguely say to his wife behind me: "It's me who can't live up to my wife... I failed to live up to my father's trust and failed to take good care of the family and take care of my second brother. It's a well-off family, but now I can barely afford food and clothing." , I’m really useless.”
"Shiro, why are you talking about this? Everything will be fine for your family and your life will be fine in the future."
"I'm afraid that my wife will suffer in the future..."
Yu said softly: "As long as you have me and Xi'er in your heart, no matter how hard it is, it will be fine."
The words gradually became softer, Yu put away the dishes and chopsticks, and Zhang Shi played with Zhang Qiu.
Zhang Yue also finished washing his dishes and went to the door to look out.
At this moment, the sound of dusk drums sounded in the Huanghua Temple on the mountain, and it was time for the monks to hold evening classes. Under the dusk, Shuinan New Street, which was usually noisy, also became quiet.
Lamps were lit in the neighbors, old men were sitting at the table drinking and eating, housewives were still busy in the kitchen, children were laughing and playing, and the aroma of the food floated far away along the night wind.
This worldly fireworks, clutches and various flavors are all included in the firewood, rice, oil and salt of every household.
