Bianjing, Zhangfu.
Yang peeled off the rosary beads in her hands, her eyes filled with solemnity.
Zhang Yu, who was sitting aside, listened to the old governor and the village heads from various places who came to Beijing from Suzhou reporting on the progress of each farm, with a flash of joy.
After a while, these people finished their report, kowtowed to the two of them, and were taken to eat by the old man.
Soon all the old governors returned to the hall.
Zhang Yu asked, "Everything has been arranged."
The old man said: "Everything is ready, everything is according to the instructions of the master and the mistress."
Zhang Yu nodded.
The old man said: "Suzhou is really a land of plenty. I heard that there is unrest everywhere in the imperial court these days, either natural disasters or civil unrest. But only in our village in Suzhou, the harvest is not only good, but also increased a little."
"It's true that wealth comes to you without asking for help."
Zhang Yu said with a straight face: "It's just a temporary thing. Who knows if these village heads have done anything. I heard that some villages in Suzhou have increased by 30% this year. We must keep a close eye on their account books." We need to select a few powerful people and verify them page by page for me."
"Yes, Master Lang, I must be watching carefully."
After saying that, the old man resigned and left.
After the other party left, Zhang Yu showed a happy look: "I remembered that my wife persuaded us to sell all the properties in Pucheng and move them to Suzhou. Over the years, I have been an official in Suzhou and have continued to add to my wealth, and I have the wealth I have now. .After all, it’s the lady who knows better.”
"I've calculated that this year's harvest in Zhuangzi has been converted into money, and there are as many as two or three thousand guan in a year."
Yang said: "Since you have so much money, you buy some good gifts and go to the Judge's Court to walk around and take care of things. You have been waiting at home for several years and you haven't arranged a good errand yet."
Zhang Yu said: "Madam, money must be used to make money. Dad was six years late before I won the Jinshi. The family relied on me. Later, I was chosen to be an official in Suzhou because Duke Xi was the prime minister of the dynasty. On the surface."
"Now that Mr. Xi is gone, it is said in the officialdom that one can live alone. If you ask shamelessly, people may not sell you face. Those in high positions do not lack your money. Instead of this, it is better to Use the money to buy more farms."
Yang said: "You just said one sentence right. People in high positions do not only see money in their eyes. For example, Mr. Wen who just left the center, and Mr. Fu now, and Mr. Han who is not a gentleman. Compared with For that money, people value more those who can do things for the court."
Zhang Yu said: "Madam, don't say anything. I also know how to take care of what needs to be taken care of, but it's not on me."
"This time Seventh Brother went to Shaanzhou to serve as an official, and I gave generous gifts to everyone from the transfer envoy to the following. Do you want to take a look at the gift list?"
Hearing this, Mrs. Yang showed a little smile and said: "That's right. I don't ask him to have a prosperous official career in the future, but I want him to be safe and open up branches for our Zhang family. In this way, I can be considered worthy of my sister. ."
Having said this, Yang held his chest and coughed a few times, looking a little pale.
Zhang Yu laughed and said, "That's not necessarily the case."
"how?"
Zhang Yu said with a smile: "Madam, you don't know, but a fortune teller once told me that Seventh Brother has the talent of a prime minister. If he doesn't become an official, he will be able to make my family proud."
"Back then, Duke Xi returned to his hometown to pay homage to his ancestors, and his nephew from the clan went to pay homage. Out of all the people, he only favored Brother Seventh, and told us that because of his character, he will be respected in the future."
"Xun Gong is the prime minister of the dynasty, and there is no difference in people. Now the seventh brother has answered this sentence. Not only has he won the first prize, but he has also been ranked fifth. Those of his colleagues are still struggling in the sea of election, and he has won the capital official. Even for the library position, there are probably several husbands vying to recommend him."
When Yang heard this, she was both happy and worried: "I'm not saying Brother Qi is bad, but he is a little too willful..."
Zhang Yu said: "This is a woman's opinion. Throughout the ages, there are great men and women, and there is no one who is not unique. The officials do not value him, and they will not rank him fifth. Recently, Wu Dacao He also shows his kindness to our family frequently."
"Which Wu Dacao?"
Zhang Yu said proudly: "Wu Dacao is the current transfer envoy to Xijing."
Yang chuckled and said, "Wu Dacao's kindness to our family may not necessarily be good to us."
Zhang Yu said with a smile: "I know it's because my wife is here to help me. Your Yang family and Wu family are related by marriage. It's really hard for you to come to ask for help for my career."
"Our Yang family is married to your Zhang family, but we have a close relationship with the Wu family. Last time, I didn't take the initiative to come to the house, but someone else invited us."
"Oh, why is that?"
Yang said: "Did you know that the last time Wu Dacao returned to Beijing, he asked Brother Yue to meet him at his house?"
"Brother Yue? Is he the one who is in Imperial College now?" Zhang Yu said, "Why can't Wu Dacao promote him now?"
Yang glanced at Zhang Yu and said, "I heard... there is a concubine in Wu Dacao waiting to be married."
Zhang Yu said: "This is absolutely impossible..."
Zhang Yu saw Yang's unkind expression and immediately changed his tone and said, "Aren't I worried? How can such good things happen in the world? Is there any other reason? Think about it, no one in your eldest sister's family has been an official for more than three generations. Brother Yue is an imperial student, Wu Dacao...how could Wu Dacao have such an idea?"
"Three of his four daughters previously married into the prime minister's family. How could he choose a son from a poor family as his son-in-law now?"
Yang said: "I don't know this either. But I think in my heart, Wu Dacao seems to have this intention."
Zhang Yu said: "Such a high-ranking family must have thousands of choices when discussing marriage. It's nothing to meet Brother Yue once."
"It seems that you don't want to surpass your brother. You have a good marriage, but you are also his cousin." Yang said sarcastically.
Zhang Yu's expression froze when he heard this, and he turned around and said, "That's right. Why don't I go write to Wu Dacao and ask?"
Yang said: "No, I'd better go see Brother Yue in person and hear what he has to say? If he doesn't mean it, wouldn't he have offended Wu Dacao?"
It was Zhang Yu's turn to be stunned. Who would refuse such a good marriage? Isn’t this chapter the more idiotic it gets?
"There is also Brother Seventh's gift list. I want to go through it to make sure there are no omissions."
Zhang Yu said: "That's right, let's take care of everything for Seventh Brother. In a few days, the new magistrate of Shangzhou will take office and will pass through Bianjing. I will give a banquet at my house and invite him to come. Madam, look how?"
Yang nodded.
Yang is going out today.
She sent someone to inquire about the shop that Zhang Yueshuo went to at Daxiangguo Temple every day. She heard that although it was a small shop, it had an income of fifty or sixty yuan a month.
When Yang found out, she was very pleased, but she also felt that Zhang Yue's life was really hard and he still had to do these things to supplement his income.
Every time Yang thinks of this, she feels even more sorry for the two brothers.
Yang's carriage was outside Taixue. After waiting for a long time, he finally saw Zhang Yue.
But when she saw that Zhang Yue was not going to Daxiangguo Temple, Yang couldn't help but feel surprised. Zhang Yue had other things to do today.
She ordered people to follow Zhang Yue, and after many twists and turns, they finally arrived at a civilian alley in the east of the city.
Yang's heart trembled. Why did Zhang Yue come to this remote alley to do this?
Yang knew that Taixue students were very hard-working. Except for New Year's Day, they had to stay in Taixue. They could only go out for two days a month.
But Zhang Yue didn't go anywhere, so why did he come to this remote alley for what?
Yang's first thought was that there was a famous Goulan tile house in Bianjing nearby, but the liveliness of the Goulan tile house was only at night, so it was impossible for Zhang Yue to come here early in the morning to have fun.
"Could it be that you are going to a brothel?" Yang's face looked a little ugly.
Mother Xu, who had been following her for a long time, said quickly: "Mistress, please don't be angry. It is common for scholars to visit brothels."
Yang said: "Brothels are no longer the right thing to do, not to mention there are very few brothels here. Most of them are low-class brothels. They don't know anything except bed skills."
Mother Xu laughed dryly and said: "Is there some other reason, mistress, why the brothel doesn't open so early?"
Yang thought about it and thought so.
Immediately, a servant came to report: "Mother, Mr. Sanlang has entered a private house."
"What private house?" Yang asked.
Seeing that the mistress was so angry, the man suddenly panicked and knelt on the ground and said: "The villain did not do his job well and did not see clearly. Only... I only saw a few women's clothes outside!"
Yang slapped a hand on the armrest of the car.
Mother Xu said: "Madam, please don't get angry."
Mrs. Yang shed tears and said: "I thanked him... He finally learned well. Although he didn't follow his heart, he knew the hard work at home and made some living outside. Who knew... Who knew he had raised a foreign wife? No wonder the money is so freely spent. If word spreads about this useless child, no woman from a good family will be able to tolerate it in the future."
Mother Xu sighed.
No wonder Zhang Yue devoted himself to studying in Taixue and even opened a shop outside. It turns out that the purpose is to make money to support the outer chamber. How can this not be annoying?
"Mother, please don't get angry. Let's go back and discuss it later. I think Brother Yue is still a sensible child. We will teach him slowly in the future."
"No, I don't believe he is such an incompetent child. I have to see it with my own eyes."
After saying this, Ms. Yang got out of the car decisively and hurriedly advised her: "Mother, you are not in good health. The doctor told you not to get angry."
Yang didn't listen to the advice, so everyone had to follow him.
When Mrs. Yang arrived at the door, she thought about it for a while and was patient and asked her servants to knock on the door first.
Soon a middle-aged woman came out and opened the door.
Seeing the crowd of people standing outside, the other party couldn't help but smile and said, "I'm sorry, the house here has been sold. Have you torn up the door stickers?"
"What?" It was Yang's turn to be confused.
"Is it really this place?" Yang asked.
A servant on the side said: "Reporting to the mistress is indeed here. It is absolutely true. I don't dare to lie."
Seeing that the other party was about to close the door, Yang couldn't help but look in, but saw a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy in the courtyard, who seemed to be measuring something.
Yang immediately called out: "Sanlang?"
The other party looked over and walked to the door. After the two of them met, the other party said in surprise: "Second aunt?"
