The next day, Zhang Yue, Xiang Qi and several classmates visited Liu Zuo.
Xiang Qi was a Jinshi in Jiayou's fourth year, and the most prominent figure among his classmates was Liu Ji, who was the number one scholar at that time.
After Liu Jizhong won the first prize in the imperial examination, he was awarded the title of judge of Hezhong Prefecture. Because his grandmother was not acclimated to the climate and the soil, she asked to be dismissed from the position and returned to her home. The imperial court asked him to change his post to Jiangning, and his official position was also moved to Zuo Lang.
Liu Ji and Zhang Yue occasionally exchanged letters.
Zhang Yue and Xiang Qi asked about Liu Ji's current situation and learned that Liu Ji did not like being an official. His grandmother died of illness in the seventh year of Jiayou. Liu Ji's parents died when he was young, and he was raised only by his grandmother, so he decided to resign from office and mourn.
At that time, many scholars admired his talent and came to be his disciples. Liu Ji took a simple vegetarian diet and taught his students during his mourning period, without any intention of becoming an official.
Zhang Yue thought about how he got along with Liu Ji's classmate back then. He was a rare person. He was not only charming and easy to make friends, but now he was living like an old monk, and he couldn't help but sigh.
As soon as Liu Ji left, there was no effective person among Jiayou's Taixue classmates during his four years.
This time Xiang Qi came to visit Liu Zuo in his early seventies, firstly to express his nostalgia for old feelings, and secondly to gather his classmates.
Zhang Yue and Xiang Qi arrived at Liu Zuo's home, but they saw that Liu Zuo's family was completely bare. Ruoda's house had been emptied out, and not even a single thing was left to them.
Liu Zuo was lying on a straw mat with his head wrapped, and he didn't know who he was. His wife was feeding him some rice soup. Liu Zuo was unconscious and had difficulty swallowing, but after taking a few mouthfuls of rice soup, it slowly flowed out of his mouth.
When his wife saw this scene, she couldn't help but drop the bowl on the ground. His three children heard the sound and went inside to hug their mother and burst into tears.
Liu Zuo's old man beside him was also so angry that he fell ill. Now he drank some decoction. It seemed that there would be twenty or thirty servants in the house to serve him, but now there was no one in sight.
All the classmates couldn't stand it and all walked out of the door.
Zhang Yue left the house with sadness in his heart, and Liu Zuo's fate was closely related to him. When Zhang Yue walked out of the door, he saw Xiang Qiliu, the last one looking at the unconscious Liu Zuo, with a complicated expression on his face.
The indifference on his face was like that of an unrelated person, but there was a bit of hatred in his eyes. Finally, Xiang Qi covered Liu Zuo with a sheet again.
Zhang Yue couldn't help but think of the time when the three of them went to take a bath together when he first entered Imperial College. At that time, everyone was talking and laughing.
After pushing out the door, everyone discussed paying off Liu Zuo's debt. Xiang Qiyi shot three hundred guan, Zhang Yue shot 100 guan, and the other classmates together shot 100 guan.
Zhang Yue knew that Xiang Qi was going to be in the limelight, so he didn't pay more. He just secretly stuffed a deposit receipt of 200 guan from the Zhao family in the city to Liu Zuo's wife and children before leaving the house, and told her if anything happened in the future. Come to him if you have any problems.
After Zhang Yue went out, he saw Liu Zuo being flattered by several other classmates. Today, Xiang Qi won a good reputation among his classmates by helping Liu Zuo out of danger.
Most of the people who came today were Taixue classmates who had friendships with Liu Zuo and Xiang Qi. Zhang Yuelai was a late student, so he didn't have many interactions with them.
Some of these people have become officials, some have been awarded Jinshi, and the oldest ones have their own special titles. As for the two who are not officials, they are also from wealthy families or have direct connections to officials.
I heard that Xiang Qi also invited a dozen more people, but none of them arrived. Either his life is unsatisfactory now or his friendship with Liu Zuo is mediocre.
The relationship between classmates in Taixue is tight. It is difficult to organize without an authoritative figure. After the classmates reunite, there is a vague feeling that Xiang Qi is the leader.
Zhang Yue clearly remembered that this position belonged to Liu Ji.
Zhang Yue also knew that Xiang Qi was not purely trying to help Liu Zuo, but the motives of officials were never pure. If you could reach this point, you should not speculate on others' motives.
After that, Xiang Qi suggested that everyone should find a place to have a drink after not seeing each other for a long time. Everyone applauded and went to Zhuangyuan Building.
I asked Qi for the most convenient location, where I could see the scenery of the Bianhe River from a distance. The boatmen on the Bianhe River boat were busy lowering the mast and lowering the sails, and the trackers were pulling them forward.
There were lively crowds on both sides of the river. In front of the waterside building along the river, hundreds of coolies were squatting and waiting for the boat to unload the goods. As for the shopkeeper, the shopkeeper was negotiating with the bow of the boat.
Further away, there are many Wangzi wine feudal lords, and the densely packed houses all the way to the base of the imperial city.
The bustling half of Bianjing can be seen at a glance.
As for the place Xiang Qi chose, it was also good. The pear wood screens of the same color were lined up to isolate the inside and outside. As soon as he sat down, a female waiter handed him a hot handkerchief and a scented towel.
There were ten people present today. When arranging seats, Xiang Qi asked Zhang Yue to take the seat. Zhang Yue said with a smile: "Today is just a classmate reminiscing about old times, no need to talk about official etiquette. I am the youngest here and should be the last."
Everyone gave a few words of humility.
Xiang Qi, who was second only to Zhang Yue in official position, took the chief position, and Zhang Yue took the second place.
Next, Xiang Qi lined up five or six more young and beautiful prostitutes to take their seats, but he saw that all of them had good looks and outstanding looks. These are official prostitutes, which are different from private prostitutes.
This is a place where scholars and officials talk about things, so it's not that vulgar. I'll sit on your lap and wait.
Therefore, the official prostitutes in gorgeous costumes were very reserved and poured wine for the guests sitting on the left and right.
After pouring the wine, he said to the seven pairs of people: "This place is called Zhuangyuan Building. Scholars come here to drink to take a chance on the good fortune. But now we have a real number one scholar here. Please see if you are suitable for the occasion."
Everyone smiled and praised Zhang Yue. When a prostitute on the side heard this, she looked at Zhang Yue with surprise in her eyes.
One of the prostitutes was about to ask whether her surname was Zhang or Xu, but when the words came to her lips, she saw that she was suave and young, so she was definitely Zhang Yue.
The name "Meizhang Lang" when he was praised by officials in the imperial street was known to all the young and old in Bianjing.
It is said that class reunions are the best time to show off. Zhang Yue sees all the big guys in front of the imperial court on weekdays. Only others are showing off, so there is no place for him to show off.
Zhang Yue smiled and nodded in response to everyone's gaze.
Next to Zhang Yue sat a beautiful woman with black hair on her temples and brightly colored clothes. She couldn't help but let go of her reserve, took the initiative to get closer, and then raised a cup with both hands to persuade Zhang Yue to drink.
Zhang Yue looked at the other person's beautiful eyes, full of affection, and thought to himself, maybe this is the rhythm that makes me kneel on the washboard, I must hold it.
Xiang Qijian Zhang Yue couldn't help but smile and said: "A real man should be dissolute and indulge in sex. To be successful in life, you need to have all the fun. You might as well get drunk today!"
The woman on the side said in a disgusted voice: "Young Master Zhuangyuan, you might as well drink this wine before talking."
Zhang Yue smiled slightly. It is also an elegant thing to persuade prostitutes to drink. Ouyang Xiu and Su Shi are both masters of this.
Zhang Yue raised his cup and drank it all in one gulp. Everyone praised: "A huge amount!"
“What a massive amount!”
"The number one scholar is huge!"
Seeing Zhang Yue finish the drink in one gulp, and listening to the crowd's cheers, the prostitute said, "I'll have a drink with you too," and immediately raised the cup and drank it all in one gulp. However, she saw the other party's eyes were dizzy and her brows were dizzy, and some of the wine flowed down her cheeks and neck. Slide down to the chest.
The other party looked at Zhang Yue with tenderness in his eyes, and once again tried to persuade Zhang Yue to drink.
But when Zhang Yue smiled and glanced at him calmly, the woman paused her hands, cut her hair, and did not dare to propose a toast again.
Xiang Qi looked at it and said with a smile: "Come on, everyone, eat the food."
Then the focus of the banquet turned to Xiang Qi. Zhang Yue listened to Xiang Qi's words and demeanor. He was really different from the original Wuxia Amen. They all said that officialdom is the most training place for people. It is true at all.
As long as jade is polished, it will shine. Xiang Qi has indeed changed a lot in these years.
After three rounds of wine, five flavors of food.
Everyone chatted casually.
At this time, a classmate sitting next to Zhang Yue who was now serving as the Taimiao Zhailang asked Zhang Yue in a low voice: "I heard that the bachelor is now in charge of the Exchange. It is said that the imperial court has started a business. This is the first time in ancient times."
Zhang Yue said: "Hey, this is a test of the water. The princes in the court are still debating it. Whether it can be done or not is still a matter of debate. Brothers, where are you going to serve as an official now?"
The other party said: "It's shameful to say that it is really shameful. You also know that I, the Yin official, have not been elected to serve as an official. You see, even if I am elected, I have to go to Beijing to serve as an official. When I get there, I still have to go to the capital." There is some right and wrong.”
Zhang Yue smiled and took a chopstick and said: "That's right, it's not easy to choose people now. Brothers, if you and I are classmates, if you need my help, just say so!"
The other party said with a worried face: "It would be best if Du Zhi is willing to help me. It doesn't hurt to arrange a harder and tiring job. As long as I can have something to do and eat the royal food."
Zhang Yue has heard about this person and has some ability. Besides, if he can become a Taisheng, even if Yin Guan comes in to make up for it, he won't be any worse off.
Zhang Yue thought of this, chewed a few mouthfuls of vegetables and said, "Come to the exchange office tomorrow and I will arrange an errand for you."
The other party said happily: "Thank you very much for helping me."
Zhang Yue smiled, and the prostitutes on the side brightened up after hearing this, and all the classmates also said: "I want to congratulate you brothers, and I also want to thank you for your high righteousness!"
On the other hand, Xiang Qi also praised Zhang Yue. He was a person who missed old friendships and helped his friends out of kindness. He was right in his opinion and was worth making friends with.
At this time, another person toasted with Zhang Yue and said to the side: "Du Zhi, I also want to find a job, not me, but my third brother. He was diagnosed last year, but the provincial examination was the third time." He failed, and now I also want to ask you for a job for him."
Zhang Yue heard that if he could solve the test and pass the test, he would be better than Yin Guan's children. Such talents are what he wants.
Zhang Yue said: "Okay, do you have my famous tattoo? You can get it from me later, and let your third brother personally take the post to the Census Bureau another day."
The man was overjoyed and said: "That's great, thank you for saving me, I'll give you a toast!"
Zhang Yue smiled and drank.
It is true that it was difficult for officials in the Song Dynasty to find jobs, otherwise Fan Zhongyan would not have proposed the reform of Sandu.
Why are there so many redundant officials? It's all the fault of the Yin officials who are too busy. They take their salaries and do nothing all day long, but there are only so many positions in the court.
Fan Zhongyan started to lay off these unemployed officials out of consideration for the country, but the question is, can you lay them off?
And there are so many scholars every year. The imperial examination involves thousands of troops crossing a single-plank bridge. How many can pass the exam? Even if I give you a special name, your body will be half buried in the loess.
But here Zhang Yue dares to pat his chest, I will solve your work problems.
