Waiting for Zhang Yu, Zhang Shi sighed after Zhang Fang left, while Zhang Qiu remained silent.
Zhang Yue said to Zhang Qiu: "Don't take the words of the two uncles to heart. It is the Zhenzong Dynasty's business that brothers should not be promoted simultaneously. Han Zhongxian (Han Yi)'s eight sons are all Jinshi, why don't I see anyone saying this?"
Zhang Qiu said: "But what the two uncles said just now will hinder the career of the second and third uncles? Besides, it will be more beneficial to me if I take the exam again next time."
Zhang Yue said: "Hinder? They just don't want to see another Jinshi in our family. If they really want to, why not let Brother Chu give up the exam? Well, you don't have to think too much. You can become an official as soon as possible and share the burden for me. It’s a good thing.”
Zhangqiu was silent when he heard this.
Zhang Yue thought to himself, you don't know how much you value Zhao Xu. In the future, I am afraid that your third uncle and I will have to rely on your support for my career.
Zhang Yue thought to himself that he was getting farther and farther on the road of hugging his thigh. He hugged Ouyang Xiu's thigh before, then his father-in-law's thigh, and he was afraid that he would have to hug his nephew's thigh in the future.
Zhang Yue said: "Don't think too much, go and prepare for the exam!"
Zhang Qiu left quietly.
Zhang Yue then said to Zhang Shiyu: "Don't worry. I will take care of Ah Xi's affairs. Don't worry about the opinions of those old uncles. We never relied on them when we were poor. Now that our family is prosperous, how can it be difficult for us to do so?" If you don’t succeed, you have to turn around and listen to their words.”
"There's absolutely no reason for that."
Zhang Shi nodded.
Yu made a decision and said: "That's right. If you want to wait, why not let their children wait? You must let Axi abandon the list. Official, don't you think so?"
Zhang Shi made up his mind and said: "Let's do it. Anyway, I can't bear Axi to study any more. This child is working too hard. In order to become a Jinshi, he studies hard day and night just to fight for our Zhang family. It's so easy." With today's situation, how can there be any reason to give up after hearing a word from someone?"
"I will never accept this as a father. At worst, they will live their lives and we will live our lives."
Yu said: "It's them who live with them, and we live with ours."
After saying this, the family looked at each other and smiled.
Zhang Yue said: "But I'm still worried that Axi will fail the second test, so I'll go and persuade him."
Yu said: "Okay, uncle, please help me persuade him. I'll go to the kitchen to make something that Xi'er likes to eat."
Zhang Shi said: "Don't be too busy going back and forth just for those few dishes. I'd better go to Qingfeng Building to buy some wine and food. Let's have a good meal as a family."
"Okay, don't forget that my siblings like Qingfenglou's Qingxing wine."
Before Yu could finish speaking, Zhang Shi hurried out.
Mrs. Yu couldn't help but shake her head when she saw Zhang Shi and said with a smile: "Your brother is still like this. He just goes to restaurants when he has some money, but he can't save any money."
Zhang Yue smiled and said, "I like my brother to be like this."
After speaking, Zhang Yue walked to Zhang Qiu's study. Zhang Yueben was worried that Zhang Qiu would be affected by his words. But Zhangqiu was holding the book and reading it seriously.
Zhang Yue couldn't help but feel happy.
"Axi, it's time to eat." Zhang Yueyan said.
Hearing this, Zhang Qiu said: "Third uncle, I will read it again. This policy paper may be useful in the examination room."
"There is no rush now," Zhang Yue said happily, "Your mother said that you have been studying too hard these days. Now you can only have a good rest, and you will have a flash of inspiration when you get to the examination room."
Zhang Qiu said: "Third uncle, Ah Xi believes that practice makes perfect. The so-called flashes of inspiration in the examination room are all obtained by reading thousands of volumes on weekdays. It seems that those who can do it without hard study, even if they get the ranking, they will not be able to do it. There’s nothing to be happy about.”
Zhang Yue was surprised when he heard this. These words were really ambitious.
My Zhang family is really a thousand-mile horse. From now on, my third uncle, I really need to rely on you as a good nephew to support me.
After hearing Zhang Qiu's words, Zhang Yue felt relieved. How could Zhang Qiu, who could say such words, be affected by a few words from Zhang Yu and Zhang Fang?
Zhang Yue was not in a hurry to leave, and immediately taught him his experience in writing policy papers in Zhangqiu's study.
It was such a unique opportunity to be taught by a former number one scholar. Zhangqiu cherished it very much and listened to every word.
The uncle and nephew talked for a while and waited until Yu sent someone to urge them again and again before giving up.
The next day, Zhangqiu visited Su Xun at his home. Su Shi was about to be transferred back to Beijing, so Han Qi recommended him to try out the position.
With Su Shi serving his old father, Su Che's original excuse to serve his relatives was gone. Now Wang Anshi was in mourning, and Su Xun scolded him with accusations of adultery, and Su Che happened to be serving as an official abroad.
Zhang Qiu studied policy theory under Su Xun. In fact, Su Che taught him most of the time. The two were both teachers and friends. When they knew that Su Che was leaving, Zhang Qute came to visit.
Su Xun was in poor health, so Zhangqiu talked to Su Che after visiting him. Su Che taught Zhang Qiu some battle tactics and said: "Although your strategies are good, your writing is too neutral. It seems that your uncle may not write as well as you, but his articles have the spirit of an overlord. This is why I can’t wait for him.”
"You should write your essay with all your heart in mind, no matter what you do. However, there are too many formal texts in the examination room, so the choice is up to you."
Zhangqiu said: "My uncle has spoken to me before."
Su Che smiled and said: "Your uncle Ce's writing is one of the best in the world. With his guidance, I will feel relieved for your second time."
While we were talking, it was announced that Zhang Kai was visiting.
Both Zhang Kai and Zhang Qiu were disciples of Su Xun, and were usually taught by Su Che.
When Zhang Qiu heard that Zhang Kai was coming, he quickly stood up and saluted. Zhang Kai glanced at Zhang Qiu and silently bowed.
The two of them were very familiar with each other and often discussed knowledge together, but because of this today, there was some estrangement.
The three of them talked for a while, and Su Zhe left the room because he had something to do.
Zhang Kai looked at Zhang Qiu and said, "I'll tell you, Ah Xi."
Zhangqiu said: "Uncle, I am listening."
Zhang Kai said: "I heard that my father and Uncle Yu were looking for you yesterday. Don't take this matter to your heart. They are also planning for the future of our Zhang family."
Zhangqiu nodded.
Zhang Kai said: "So straight to the point, I want to advise you to continue taking the exam, but I gave up this place to wait for the next exam."
"uncle…"
Zhang Kai said: "A sixteen-year-old Jinshi will have a bright future in the future. I am an official by nature, so I can be an official even without passing the imperial examination."
Zhang Qiu said hurriedly: "No, uncle, I know you are ambitious. I still remember the ambition you made back then... I should be the one who should give up."
Zhang Kai shook his head and said: "When your second uncle abandoned your family, I had a chat with him and found out that he was really uneasy. Now I think I can make up for it for your second uncle. I know that he has always been thinking about your family."
"Stop talking. I am your elder. You need to listen to my instructions and take the exam well to get at least A degree."
No matter what Zhang Qiu said, Zhang Kai just didn't respond. Zhang Qiu was so anxious that he almost cried.
Zhang Kai patted Zhang Qiu on the shoulder and said: "Axi, you are a good son of our Zhang family. If you pass, I will be sincerely happy for you! Don't let me or your second uncle. You’re disappointed.”
After finishing his words, he left.
That day Zhangqiu returned home in despair.
Unexpectedly, two days later, Zhang Shi Yu discovered that Zhang Qiu suddenly disappeared.
The seventeenth mother of Zhang Shi Yu's family searched all the imperial palaces at home, but there was no trace of Zhang Qiu. The couple were so anxious that they told Zhang Yue about the incident when he returned home.
Zhang Yue said to them: "Axi is a measured child and would not leave without saying goodbye."
The next day, Zhang Qiu's best classmate in Taixue, Zhang Shangying, came to Zhang's house.
Zhang Shangying is the younger brother of Secretary Cheng Zhang Tangying and is from Xinjin County, Shuzhou. Zhang Yue had a close relationship with Zhang Tangying, who was also eloquent and courageous in admonishing, and firmly sided with the officials on the matter of Empress Dowager Cao's curtain.
As a son of an official, Zhang Shangying also entered the Imperial College to study, so he had a close relationship with Zhang Qiu and often visited Zhang's house in the past. Zhang Shiyu also treated Zhang Shangying as favorably as he did Guo Lin. Moreover, Zhang Shangying is very talented and is also on the list in this subject.
When Zhang Shangying arrived at home, he first said hello to Zhang Shi and Yu, and then handed them a letter from Zhangqiu.
When Zhang Shizhan read the letter, he was so angry that he almost fainted on the spot.
It turned out that Zhang Qiu secretly stole some money from the family and ran away from home. He and Zhang Shiyu said they were going to travel to Sichuan and Sichuan, and a trip to Zhang Shangying's hometown would take about half a year, so that they would not have to worry about it.
As for the Jinshi examination in this subject, he will not take the exam until the next subject.
Zhangqiu also said that he did not perform well in this subject, and that the results were not in line with his wishes, etc.
In short, he did not take the exam.
After Zhang Yue finished reading the letter, he felt that his blood pressure was a little out of control and he felt dizzy.
Being so willful and making decisions on his own without consulting his family, what is the difference between this and Zhang Dun who ran away from home?
Zhang Shi said: "No, send someone to chase him immediately. After chasing him, he will take the exam!"
Zhang Shangying said carelessly from the side: "I'm afraid Zhang Taichang won't be able to catch up. Ah Xi left early yesterday morning in our Zhang family's caravan back to Shu. Even if we send someone to catch up, we won't have time to come back for the second game." ."
Zhang Shi said angrily: "Zhang Er, what kind of evil did Quanzi do to know you? Our Zhang family has always treated you well, how can you repay him like this? Do you know that you have ruined his reputation like this?"
Zhang Shangying said: "Uncle, you are wrong to say that. Ah Xi and I are sworn friends. If he asks me for something, I will do it for him no matter how difficult it is. Besides, what you want to give him He may not want it too. Since Ah Xi doesn’t want to take this subject, we might as well make it happen for him.”
Zhang Yue looked at Zhang Shangying and said, "Okay, that's how you treat me as a friend."
Zhang Shangying said to Zhang Yue: "If you are doing something wrong like this, please give me some advice from Mrs. Zhang!"
Zhang Shi smashed a porcelain bottle on the ground and said to Zhang Shangying: "Get out of here and don't enter Zhang's house again."
Zhang Shangying was really startled when he saw this, with a little aggrieved face on his face, Zhang Yue said: "That's it, brother, it's useless to say anything now."
"Axi has always been obedient and filial, but such a well-behaved child would do surprising things. I was wrong. Zhang Erlang, I will leave your Zhang family to take care of my Axi when she goes to Sichuan."
Zhang Shi listened and said: "Third brother, do you really want him to go to Sichuan? It's such a far away place."
Zhang Shangying said: "Uncle, don't worry, Axi will be protected by my Zhang family's caravan along the way. At the same time, I also wrote a letter and sent it to my hometown to ask them to entertain me well. Axi will never make any mistakes."
Zhang Yue said: "Brother, let him go. Ah Xi is not young anymore. He will be responsible for what he does."
Just when Zhang was visiting, Zhang Kai arrived at Zhang's house. It turned out that they had also received a letter from Zhang Qiu.
