While Zhang Yue and Yang were talking, they saw Zhang Yu and Lao Duguan walking out of the back hall.
Zhang Yu said with a smile: "Brother Yue is here, what a rare visitor."
Zhang Yue smiled perfunctorily and said, "I've met my uncle."
Zhang Yu has been an official for many years and has experienced the ways of the world, so he can see how sincere Zhang Yue's uncle is.
Zhang Yu sat down and said, "I heard that you got third place in the aptitude test this time, very good, very good. Although not as good as our brother Dun, Kaifeng Fu Yuan, you still got the ace at any rate."
After hearing this, Zhang Yue thought to himself that this was not to ridicule him for not being as good as Zhang Dun.
But there is no comparison in the Kaifeng Prefecture's interpretation test. Is it interesting if you decide to rank first or third?
Zhang Yue said: "What I learned from my uncle is that he must have ranked high in the exam. I wonder where my uncle ranked in the exam?"
Zhang Yu laughed and said, "I'm getting older, so I don't remember it for the moment."
"I admire my uncle's relief and indifference, and he doesn't worry about everything. My nephew really admires me."
Zhang Yu laughed dryly, but when he saw Mr. Yang looking at the two of them, he immediately changed his words and said, "Brother Yue is just asking for excuses, and he has said such a good marriage, so my uncle is really happy for you."
Yang asked the old capital official: "Are you here?"
The old man said: "The bride was just playing leaf cards with some ladies. When she heard that Brother Yue was coming, she pushed the cards and waited in the pavilion."
Yang said to Zhang Yue with a smile on her face, "Let's meet your sister-in-law."
"yes."
Zhang Yue stood up immediately after hearing this, and soon a woman in her twenties and eighties entered the room.
This woman was wearing a bright red gown, but her dress was very dignified and elegant. Her appearance was not outstanding, but she looked wealthy.
Zhang Yue looked at the other person's appearance and thought that Yang really had chosen a good wife for his second brother.
How do rich families choose a daughter-in-law? That's also from rich people's homes.
As my second sister-in-law, I can tell at a glance that she has grown up in fine clothes and fine food since she was a child, and her eyes are pure, and she looks like she has been peacefully and uncontroversially.
Zhang Yue couldn't help but compare her with Qi Niang. One of them is rich and the other is noble. The other party's eyes were very humble, while the Seventeenth Mother's eyes were arrogant.
Zhang first bowed to Zhang Yu and Yang, and then greeted Zhang Yue.
"I've met my sister-in-law."
"I met uncle."
After the two of them saw the ceremony, they took their seats. Yang asked first, "Has Brother Dun come home to send you a letter?"
Mrs. Zhang smiled and said, "Brother Dun's letters home are not always sent to Mother Cui first, right?"
Yang smiled and said, "I forgot about it for a moment."
Zhang Yue lamented that this sister-in-law is sensible.
Yang asked again: "Have all the houses on Tianshui Lane been tidied up?"
"Everything is ready. The three main rooms have been cleaned. The wife bought the household utensils based on those of a Fujian official who came to Beijing. There is also a study room where Xi'er studies. The writing is based on the best selection in the capital. The west study room One room is reserved for the future gentleman, and the east wing is for my uncle. The east wing is not only spacious, but also has a conservatory next to it, so it will be warm in winter."
Zhang Yue lamented that Mr. Zhang was so attentive and thoughtful that he even knew that he was afraid of the cold. Although I would not live there, I still thanked him.
Yang said: "You have worked hard these days."
"The mother trusts her daughter-in-law to take care of the house, and the daughter-in-law should do her best."
Zhang Yu on the side looked cheerfully. Anyway, the affairs of the family were previously handled by the Yang family. Now that there is the Zhang family, he is happy to be the shopkeeper.
But Zhang Yu did not forget his pride and said to Zhang Yue: "Brother Yue, have you seen that there are so many things about the housekeeper? Your future wife must be able to share the burden for the family like your sister-in-law."
ah?
Are you teaching me... what to do as a lady?
You don’t have to do this when you praise your daughter-in-law to her face.
Zhang Yue had ten thousand complaints in his heart.
Mrs. Zhang hurriedly said: "The wife of the Wu family is from the prime minister's family. She is a lady among all the ladies. I will ask her for advice on how to run a family in the future."
After speaking, Mrs. Zhang smiled apologetically at Zhang Yue.
Zhang Yue once again lamented Zhang's virtuousness. He now finally understands what it means for every successful man to have a virtuous woman.
Zhang Dun married such a woman, no wonder he became a powerful official.
Zhang Yu secretly laughed, the prime minister's family background is good, but such a girl is difficult to control, can Zhang Yue control her?
After that, Zhang Yue left and declined the Zhang family's meal.
Zhang Yue went to see Guo Lin after saying goodbye. Nanjian admitted more than 20 people this time.
Guo Lin now lives in Zhang Yue's hut. The former scholar surnamed You often stayed up all night after failing the exam. He heard that he was dragged away to gamble. Most of the time, only Guo Lin lives in the hut.
This time Zhang Yue brought a jug of good wine and went to the street to buy roasted meat and brought it to Guo Lin's house.
Zhang Yue felt that he had many identities. He was a prospective son-in-law to the Wu family, a student to Chen Xiang, and a nephew to Ouyang Xiu. Only when he was in front of Guo Lin, Zhang Yue finally found the person he was before.
The two of them talked without any scruples, saying whatever they wanted to say.
Zhang Yue poured the wine, but saw that Guo Lin was a little unhappy and asked, "What's wrong?"
Guo Lin said: "I don't know if I should tell you or not. I used to have a few close classmates when I was in Nanjian. This time I passed the test, but they failed."
"Nowadays, there are cases of cheating in the imperial examination. They say everywhere that I am involved in cheating. I have a close relationship with the examiners... Now they don't have any contact with me."
Hearing this, Zhang Yue laughed and said, "What else can I say? Senior brother, this is a good thing. It is better to see these people clearly sooner rather than later. These friends are better off."
"They are making up stories everywhere now, and they are still slandering among classmates. I feel a little..." Guo Lin let out a long sigh as he said this.
Zhang Yue patted Guo Lin on the shoulder and said, "Senior brother, I tell you to ignore him."
"In the past, Han Shan asked Shi De: How should I be dealt with when the world slanders me, bullies me, insults me, laughs at me, despises me, despises me, hates me, and deceives me?"
"Shi Deyun: Just tolerate him, let him, let him go, avoid him, be patient with him, respect him, ignore him, stay for a few more years and you can watch him."
Guo Lin nodded and said, "Junior brother, that's right."
Zhang Yue said with a smile: "But what Han Shan and Shi De said is the truth of Buddhism, but we Confucian scholars cannot say that. Senior brother, you have to endure it, but it depends on how you endure it."
"I believe in this sentence. People must work hard at all times, let others slander and bully others, benefit everywhere, and gain virtue everywhere."
"If you don't work hard, others' slander and bullying will eventually become your own demons, and you will eventually be exhausted."
Guo Lin nodded suddenly.
Zhang Yue saw that Guo Lin had listened and continued: "In life, you will always suffer all kinds of slander and bullying. You retaliate with tooth for tooth, but it only makes you happy for a while and it also involves energy. But if you don't retaliate, you will suffer from the anger in your heart all day long. One day Become a demon.”
"It's better to work hard and stop hanging out with these people. When you look down on them, the humiliation and humiliation you suffered at the beginning will become your virtue."
"Senior brother, this is something I have thought about for a long time before I understand. Now I will give it to you, and you will gain something."
Guo Lin nodded and said: "Junior brother, you are really different from before. If you use these words to persuade me, you are not trying to persuade yourself. The person you want to win in your heart is your second brother."
Zhang Yue nodded and said, "Senior brother knows me."
Guo Lin said: "I understand, junior brother has been really suffering these years."
Zhang Yue smiled and said, "I don't think so, it's just a matter of practicing and refining one's mind."
The two brothers drank all night, talked about many things when they were young, and finally got drunk together.
At the end of September, Zhang Shi's family finally arrived in Bianjing.
