In the past, when the Zhang family was approaching the holidays, people would often come to the house, either asking for borrowing money to tide over the new year, or tenants asking for credit, but this year they stopped. Except for the visits between neighbors, which were still frequent, the rest was much quieter than before.
I thought no one was moving around, but Peng Jingyi arrived that day.
After not seeing each other for more than half a year, Peng Jingyi has become much darker and leaner than before. He is no longer as fat as he used to be while idle in private school.
Today he was wearing a new robe, with a sword on his waist, which looked very impressive. Behind him was a soldier who carried a load of soup and wine and went to Zhang Yue's home.
Zhang Shi was surprised when he saw it and said: "I can't do it, it's too expensive."
Peng Jingyi smiled and said: "How do I have a relationship with Sanlang? What does it mean to give these to me?"
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "It seems that I got a lot of benefits from going to Renshou Village."
Peng Jingyi said hurriedly: "Sanlang, don't talk nonsense. There is no benefit. That bird has no shit. After walking around the place where strong men hang out, several pairs of boots have been worn out, and the body has become tired and thin. It has also been spent." A lot is true.”
Zhang Yue suspected that what the other party said was untrue. This person was one of those people who made a fortune silently. Since he said this, Zhang Yue must have gained a lot of benefits.
He was rude to Peng Jingyi's petty remarks and said, "Brother and sister-in-law, just accept it."
Zhang Shi said with a smile: "Okay, I won't shirk it. You are only a year or two older than Saburo, but not only are you much stronger, you are also smarter and more capable than you."
Zhang Yue understood that it was his brother's words that were typical of an adult, but he still looked unconvinced as before.
Peng Jingyi was very proud when he heard this, but he said: "What are you talking about? Sanlang is from literature, I am from martial arts, and we will fight side by side in the future!"
This statement made everyone laugh.
Zhang Shi said: "Okay, you two are just friends, and you need to support each other more. You stay here for dinner tonight, and I will... cook you some good food."
Zhang Shi originally said to go to the restaurant to buy some good food, but he immediately changed his mind when Mrs. Yu glared at him.
Zhang Yue was glad that his eldest brother was still making progress.
Peng Jingyi didn't know such an inside story. Hearing that he had something to eat, he smiled cheerfully and said, "Okay, please, brother!"
Having said this, Peng Jingyi sent General Han Xian away, then pulled Zhang Yue aside and whispered: "I heard that you were accepted as a disciple by Mr. Boyi?"
Zhang Yue smiled and said, "Why have you heard all this?"
Peng Jingyi said: "The county is such a big place, so nothing can be hidden from my eyes and ears. What's more, they were all famous people in the county at that time. After they told me that there was a man named Zhang Yue, I knew it was him." you."
"You are quite capable, and you don't even know how to deal with such a big matter. Do you know who Mr. Boyi is? He is a person that no one in the government can leave today. How did you become his disciple? Tell me quickly. , didn’t you say you couldn’t enter the Zhang family clan school?”
Zhang Yue briefly talked to Peng Jingyi about how he got appreciation from the servant letter by coincidence.
Zhang Yue said: "I am just learning seal script from him, and it is not considered to be a member of the family. It is still undecided whether I can join the clan to learn seal script. Tell me, what do you need my help with?"
Although he and Peng Jingyi have a good relationship, there must be another plan for this son to suddenly send such a heavy gift.
Peng Jingyi smiled and said: "Ah, I thought you were Mr. Boyi's student, but it turns out that you are studying seal script and have not yet been recognized by the family... Actually, it's not that I want to ask you to do something, but that my second uncle has always been Xiangqiu Boyi’s words..."
Zhang Yue said in surprise: "Your second uncle also wants Mr. Boyi's name?"
Peng Jingyi smiled and said: "Although I may not necessarily understand copybooks... but they are still hanging on the wall, and the visitors' faces will be radiant when they see them."
Zhang Yue thought to himself, I see, this is just like when I went to someone's office in my previous life and saw photos of him posing with many leaders and celebrities as soon as he entered the door. It seems that the ancients understood this very early.
Zhang Yue smiled slightly and said, "Why don't your second uncle ask for it in person?"
Peng Jingyi sighed: "Mr. Boyi's writings never give away or receive money. Usually he only gives them to a few close friends. It's not good for my second uncle to say this rashly. If it doesn't work, he will lose his face."
Zhang Yue thought for a while and said: "I'm not completely sure about this matter. If your second uncle doesn't urgently ask for words, he will have to wait for me for a while!"
Peng Jingyi said: "As long as Sanlang agrees."
Zhang Yue smiled and said: "Your second uncle's affairs are my affairs, and I will definitely try my best to help."
Peng Jingyi smiled and said: "Sanlang is really loyal."
Zhang Yuehu said: "Yes, my eldest brother has been leaving early and coming home late recently. He has some unexplained spare money in his hands. You have a good eye in the city. Please help me find out where my eldest brother has been going in and out recently."
Zhang Yue was reminiscing in his dream last night and found that his brother's expression when he went out with money was often untrue. After reading it several times, he suddenly became suspicious.
"Check your brother's whereabouts?"
Zhang Yue nodded and said: "Exactly, I think the eldest brother either has some shady background or is in a gambling stall."
Zhang Yue thought to himself that it would be terrible if the eldest brother really went to the gambling stall.
Peng Jingyi nodded and said, "What you said makes sense. I'll take care of this matter."
At that moment, Zhang Shi asked the two of them to eat. Although they didn't go to the restaurant to buy food, they still had good wine and good food.
Zhang Shi said: "Sanlang never drinks with me. Today, Mr. Peng Dalang is here and is having a few drinks with me!"
Peng Jingyi, who was also a drunkard, smiled and said, "That's the best."
Peng Jingyi and Zhang Shi were very drunk that day, but Zhang Yue was not worried. He didn't need to give any more instructions. Peng Jingyi was someone who would take his friends' matters to heart.
On New Year's Day, peach charms are hung to worship ancestors, and firecrackers are used to drive away exorcism.
A big family has its own customs, and a small family has its own celebrations.
With these few days free, Zhang Shi took his family to go to Gongguan Temple to see the bustle and bustle of the county town.
As for Zhang Yue, he did not neglect his homework. He read the Book of Songs diligently every day and practiced calligraphy in his dreams. He also helped hang peach charms at home and clean the inside and outside. When Zhang Yue does something, he always does it as he pleases. When he does something, he must do it neatly. He cleans everything upstairs and downstairs.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, Zhangqiu looked full of expectations.
Zhang Shi and Yu Shi were all amused when they saw it. Immediately Zhang Shi picked up a bunch of copper coins and hung them around Zhang Qiu's neck and said, "Xi'er eats a hundred and two."
Eat a hundred and two is a Fujianese saying, that is, eat until you are one hundred and twenty years old.
Zhang Qiu was very happy when he saw the copper coin, although he didn't know that the money was collected by Yu the next day and was only kept for one day.
"Third brother, there's yours too."
"Mine?" Zhang Yue was slightly surprised. He almost forgot that he was still a thirteen-year-old 'kid'.
"Our family's rule is that before we get married, we must give annual money." Zhang Shi said.
"Thank you, brother!" Zhang Yue accepted it happily.
Zhang Yue counted thirteen. Yes, he would be thirteen after the new year.
It will be the second year of Jiayou in the Song Dynasty soon. I don’t know how many years it is when converted into the Gregorian calendar.
Zhang Shi added: "Third brother has grown a year older. It seems that it is time for me to arrange a marriage for you."
Zhang Yue suddenly sweated when he heard this. How old is he?
Firecrackers went off outside, but Zhang Shi said happily: "You have become a disciple of Mr. Boyi, which is different. You can help our family save face. Since Grandpa Zeng's generation was separated, although he has taken some I have a lot of money, but I don’t want to be an official."
Zhang Yue knew that his great ancestor was Zhang Renche, who served as the governor of the Southern Tang Dynasty and the minister of the Ministry of Inspection and Industry.
The great-grandfather was one of the seven sons. He received some family wealth, but he did not have a shadow official, so he did not show it. Later, he served as a minor official in Zhejiang. However, due to the collapse of the Southern Tang Dynasty, his family had to move back to his hometown of Pucheng from Zhejiang.
My great-grandfather also gave birth to three sons and three daughters. My grandfather was born as a commoner, so he worked and studied in his hometown.
His grandfather gave birth to a son and a daughter, and Zhang Yue's aunt married far away.
Zhang's father failed many times and spent a lot of money, but fortunately, his family was still relatively rich at this time and could afford supplies.
Now in the generation of Zhang Shi and Zhang Yue, although they still bear the surname Zhang, they have lost even the hundred acres of farmland, houses and shops passed down from their ancestors.
In the past, the family placed their hopes on the second brother, but now that he had escaped from marriage, Zhang Shi always felt that it was his elder brother who failed to teach his younger brother well and failed to revitalize the family, so he inevitably felt a little guilty.
Now that I heard that Zhang Yue became a disciple of Zhang Youzhi, I felt a little hopeful.
Zhang Shi said suddenly: "Your second brother doesn't know where he is?"
"Brother, don't you blame the second brother?"
Zhang Shize said: "How can you not blame me? How can my family blame me? Third brother, please remember, what is brotherhood is when the bones are broken and the tendons are connected."
Zhang Shi said: "You may not understand yet, but if something happens to you and your second brother one day, I would rather give up my life than to protect you. I can even give up my life, so what do these money and acres mean?" What? Once you figure this out, I won’t blame your second brother."
Zhang Yue nodded and thought to himself, how is the second brother now? But he didn't dare to talk nonsense at the moment, otherwise a lot of things would happen in the family. Maybe the second brother wanted to get a Jinshi in this subject, and then come back and ask the eldest brother and sister-in-law to forgive him.
Two days later, Zhang Yue was studying in the house when he saw a stone hitting his window sill.
He leaned over and looked outside, only to see Peng Jingyi winking at him on the street downstairs.
Zhang Yue hurriedly went downstairs when he saw him. Peng Jingyi pulled Zhang Yue to the side of the street corner and whispered: "I found out about your eldest brother for you. As expected, your eldest brother has been gambling for money in recent months."
Zhang Yue's heart suddenly sank after hearing this.
"Thank you for asking me, I'm telling you, there is someone behind this to set a trap for your elder brother!" Peng Jingyi said.
"What?" Zhang Yue was furious when he heard this. His eldest brother is such a kind person, but someone wants to harm him.
There was a hint of chill in Zhang Yue's eyes, and he said solemnly: "Did Zhao Yasi arrange this?"
If he said that he had some feelings for Zhao Yasi before, but since his sister-in-law said that there seemed to be something hidden about the matter, Zhang Yue became suspicious.
Peng Jingyi said: "I don't know if Zhao Yasi intervened. But Sanlang, you should not fight with Zhao Yasi, otherwise..."
Zhang Yue said: "I have my own sense of discretion on this matter. Please tell me carefully first."
Peng Jingyi said: "The cause of this incident is a friend of your brother..."
Zhang Yue couldn't help but grit his teeth after listening to what Peng Jingyi said. First find someone close to you to gain trust, first induce a small profit, and finally lose a big fortune.
Peng Jingyi said: "Fortunately, your eldest brother took action now and the trap is not deep. It's still too late to save him. It will be bad if it is too late..."
Zhang Yue nodded and said, "I understand."
