Wu Mansion.
Mrs. Wu, the eldest daughter of the Ouyang family, returns to her parents' home today.
Now Wu Chong has been promoted to the position of transit envoy to the west of Beijing. He is in Luoyang, not in Bianjing.
Wu Anshi and Wu Anzhi both won 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.
Mrs. Wu talked with her mother, Mrs. Li, and her eldest sister-in-law, Mrs. Fan, and then came to the seventeenth mother's boudoir.
Seventeenth Mother was leaning against the fence reading a book. When she saw Mrs. Wu, she smiled and said, "Sister, finally come to see me?"
Wu smiled and pulled Seventeen Niang 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 didn't ask you to go is because I have a few personal words that I want to tell you."
"But what's the matter with my brother-in-law? It's okay to take the exam again in the next subject."
Wu sighed: "It can't be that easy. Whether I will be in Beijing or not is a matter of debate."
"Why do you really want to go to Yingzhou?"
"My father-in-law has discussed this. He is getting more and more official now, but there are really many people in the court who are wary of him. Now he only has the official's holy family, 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, dad 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 smiled and said, "Okay, how are you discussing your life-long affairs 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."
The Seventeenth Mother said, "I'm not asking whether it's my turn to make the decision on this matter."
Wu sighed: "Yeah, it's not our turn to make the decision. We were taught that yang is noble but yin is low, and yang is high and yin is low. Men don't have wells inside and outside, no common bathing, no common toilets, and no common sleeping mats.
"If a woman doesn't peek at the middle door for no reason, but if she goes out of the middle door for a reason, she will cover her face. She will use a candle when walking at night. If there is no candle, she will stop. Men should not talk about what is inside, and women should not talk about what is outside. You 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 well-informed, and she can show off herself."
The seventeenth mother glanced at the book in her hand and thought to herself, the poems written by the second sister-in-law Wang 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 at the mountains and rivers with thousands of regrets, I still see the yellow flowers with tears.
This poem was highly praised in Bianjing as soon as it was published. Wang Anshi also often sent letters to sing peace with his daughter.
But this poem made her mother-in-law, Mrs. Li, displeased, saying, "Still crying with tears at the yellow flowers." If you say that, doesn't it seem like you are not living well in my Wu family? Moreover, the letter has spread throughout the capital.
Therefore, Mr. Li said, "Knowing the book and being reasonable will make it easy 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 seems that the second brother is not living up to expectations and refuses to make progress. It is not entirely the second sister-in-law's fault." Seventeenth mother defended Wang. A few words.
Mrs. 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 doesn't even write poems. Your second sister-in-law! I'm afraid you are the only one who can interact with her at home. Well spoken."
Seventeenth Mother said: "I usually only talk about poetry and articles with my second sister-in-law."
Wu said: "Mother doesn't like the second sister-in-law, so you must not get too close to her."
"I understand. If I came out of my mother's womb, there would be no such suspicion."
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 also full of 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, and 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 no choice but to follow him back to Yingzhou. Even if the officials are merciful, he may not be willing to pursue an official career if he is overshadowed by them. When 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 his policy discussions."
Wu glanced at Shiqi Niang and said: "Seventeen..."
Seventeenth Mother 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 from behind the screen. Waiting for the guests After leaving, Mr. Xie and Mr. Mei once again appraised the characters and distinguished between the good and the foolish. Not only did Mr. Mei not criticize him, he praised his wife for her clear nature and understanding of reason."
"The other one is my sister's mother-in-law. The minister once wanted to talk to Ouyang Gong, and he talked to her, but she said, how dare a woman intervene in this court matter, and the Gong has never talked about state affairs with his wife."
Wu asked: "What's the difference between a verbose thing and a silent thing?"
"Speak if you can; don't speak if you can't."
Bianjing is cold and snowy.
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 Imperial College have been much less than before.
Li Gou is now in charge of Gou Taixue. Although he also has a few doctors, he directly uses money to supplement the food of the Taixue students.
However, Li Gou did not have the appeal of Hu Yuan, and his salary was not as good as that of Hu Yuan. He was not on good terms with Wu Zhongfu, who was the judge of the Imperial Academy, which made life for the poor students in the Taixue even more difficult.
There is no way to pay for firewood in Taixue this year, so everyone has to find a way to supplement the money.
There are ten fasts for Jinshi in Taixue, and there is Guangzhai money for each fast. After the imperial students are released as officials, they have to send a sum of money to Zhaili.
At this time, each Zhai would use his Guangzhai money to subsidize the purchase of some fuel to support his daily life.
As for fasting houses that don’t have much money to spend on fasting, 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.
When winter comes in Bianjing, there are no vegetables, and the Taixue restaurant has no money to buy them for Taixue. Therefore, if you want to eat winter vegetables, you have to find a way to eat them yourself.
For each vegetarian, you need to buy some spicy ginger and spicy radish and store them in the sauce jar of the studio.
The chief of the restaurant, whose name was changed from Liu Ji to Liu Hui, and many old men are now busy with next spring and have no time, so the purchase of firewood and winter vegetables falls on Liu Zuo.
Liu Zuo's family was engaged in business, and he himself was very shrewd and capable, and he failed the imperial examination, so all the purchasing and financing fell on him.
However, purchasing is time-consuming.
In the previous life, Zhang Yue was only focused on his studies, and was too lazy to bother with these things. Now there are some changes.
When purchasing, at least two people must go together, and no one person can make the decision. Liu Jiyan was more and more simple, so he asked him to go buy charcoal and winter vegetables with Liu Zuo.
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 followed Liu Zuo out for shopping, and often took Xiang Qi with him.
Of course Xiang Qi is not enthusiastic, he is just Liu Zuo's follower.
Usually Liu Zuo takes Zhang Yue and Xiang Qi to the streets to eat bowls of drinks, water and rice. When they are extravagant, they will even eat bowls of tripe soup, but these will never use the purchase money 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 food with Zhang Yue and Xiang Qi.
The matter of purchasing is inconspicuous, but the secrets involved are not small.
For example, Liu Zuo's family was doing business in Bianjing, and they were from a well-off family. 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.
According to Liu Zuo, this place is close to the royal West Garden.
Some palace people often bring winter vegetables here to buy, so that we can eat the good food of the Shangguan family.
Jian Xiangqi kept saying that there were so many good winter vegetables here, and 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 being friends with Liu Zuo.
What impressed Zhang Yue most was that one day when they were eating at a street stall, the stall owner seemed to be neglecting them. Zhang Yue and Liu Zuo didn't say anything, but they scolded the stall owner with seven faces. Moreover, Xiang Qi is worthy of being a scholar, and every sentence is not repeated.
Zhang Yue did not expect that Xiang Qi, who was always 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 examination 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, and Liu Zuo said that someone else had given it to him.
Liu Zuo did not say directly who sent it.
After winter comes, 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 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 didn't get the chance to study. I didn't pass the test this year, so my family arranged for me to get married. From now on, I have to help my father and brother take care of the family business. Anyway, I have been studying in Taixue for five hundred days. You must live in the fasting room every day, and just eat and drink on time from now on."
"Besides, if I see someone from my classmate Chunwei passing the exam, but I still stay in Taixue, I will 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 you might as well 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 family's girl is so lucky?"
Liu Zuo said vaguely: "His family is now in office."
"What a wonderful marriage. Congratulations to the principal."
Liu Zuo sighed: "Sanlang, don't look at the fact that my family is well off. In fact, we who are 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 have told 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 will save 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 regular, and there will be a lot of vacancies in the student register. , I recommend Sanlang to be an academic officer."
Xiang Qi smiled with relief and said, "That's natural. I wonder if Saburo has such a plan."
Zhai Chief, these things may seem a bit unpleasant, but they are also an opportunity for experience.
As for the student registration and student registration, he is the leader among the students of Taixue. There is one person for each of the students of Taixue, who enjoys rank and salary. If it is awarded by the imperial court, it 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 bottom of this public examination, I will be fired. I don't want to be an academic official."
Xiang Qi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Sanlang. I heard from the chief of the restaurant that he has 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, fearing that you will slack off 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 on the 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 Shuyue Zhai in Beijing that sells it."
Zhang Yue asked Liu Zuo about the route and decided to wait until the lunar month to see it.
Today is the day of the synodic period again.
Zhang Yue got up early, first went to Shuji Zhai, and in the afternoon he went to Chen Xiang's place to study poetry. Even though it is freezing cold, Daxiangguo Temple is still a scene of huge crowds of people.
Zhang Yue came to the Zishengmen's room.
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 his 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 home, 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'm returning to my hometown with a good job. This shop is only open five days a month. If I hadn't been a little old man and I had some other livelihoods, I wouldn't have had to buy land or a house at home."
Hearing this, Zhang Yue followed the conversation and asked, "I'd like to tell you, old shopkeeper, that you only make a living here. That's right. 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 per month. This is because the monks of Xiangguo Temple are compassionate and do not make 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, so the depreciation should be taken into account. What's more, the shops here are very popular. 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 if they cost thirty guan, not to mention the transfer fee. Although the Daxiangguo Temple Wanxing Business is only open five days a month, the rent for these three dollars is really cheap enough.
The merchant apologized: "Sanlang asked you to come here for free today. I will get the engraved seal you consigned in the store to you right now."
Zhang Yue said: "Old shopkeeper, you're welcome. I'm not in a hurry at this moment. I'm asking if the thirty dollars 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 now we can be considered a foothold.
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.
In addition, there are books and the like, which can also be sold on weekdays.
In the end, the merchant refused to give up the money, but gave Zhang Yue many more utensils that he couldn't take away.
Zhang Yue took three pieces of money as a deposit. Then the two of them went to the ministerial monk of Daxiangguo Temple to sign a transaction document. The businessman's face changed from suspicion before to certainty now.
Before pressing the fingerprint, the businessman asked: "Sanlang Jun, without further consideration, ask the elders in the family?"
Zhang Yue smiled, shook his head and said, "I can make the decision alone."
The businessman nodded when he heard this and said: "To be honest, this shop is my life's work. If I sell it to others and use it for other businesses, I would be somewhat reluctant to leave it. But if I leave it to Saburo, I feel more relieved."
Zhang Yue said: "Don't worry, old shopkeeper, I will definitely take care of the shop for you."
The businessman pretended to blame: "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 worth. It seems that I will have to eat porridge for a while in the future.
For 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.
