As children from poor families, Zhang Yue and Zhang Zhi both had the energy to pursue fame. When Zhang Yue first came to the Wu family, he wrote a poem in praise of the moon. It was only brought out in the sky, and all the people in the world looked up.
At that time, some people said that this was an ambitious poem, showing the resentment of a poor scholar who was determined to make a comeback through the imperial examination.
For the children of aristocratic families, wealth is something they are born with. If they want to be an official, they can do so at any time. The implication is that a child from a humble family like Zhang Yue who is obsessed with fame may be much worse in other aspects such as his character.
Although he didn't say it explicitly, this evaluation made Zhang Yue a 'Phoenix Man'.
It is true that Zhang Yue has such a background, but Wu Chong and Li Taijun do not think of Zhang Yue that way, because they all know what Zhang Yue is carrying.
Zhang Yue felt like a mirror in his heart.
A girl from the Wu family wants to have a good family background, good looks, and money, but she has nothing but good education.
Later, when he won the first prize and the Seventeenth Mother married him, Zhang Yue still felt that he owed his wife a little.
What's more, after becoming an official, he indeed relied on the resources of his father-in-law's family. Moreover, because Zhang Yue was Wu Chong's son-in-law, the Han Jiang brothers regarded him as one of their own.
Therefore, Wu Anshi has often said outside these years that she has relied on the Wu family's power to rise to great heights.
In short, Zhang Yue can live a life of food and drink like Yan Hui, but his wife and children cannot live like this.
So he could say this to Zhang Zhi, fearing that he would lose his enterprising spirit while enjoying a luxurious life, but he had another idea for Qi Niang.
The Seventeenth Mother smiled and said: "Although the Wu family is rich, there are many people and many words. I am a commoner, so I have to be cautious in everything I say and do. But after marrying an official, the harmony in the family is not what it used to be."
Zhang Yue smiled and stroked the back of Seventeenth Niang's hand. The couple hadn't seen each other for almost two years, so it was good to have a moment of tenderness. At this time, hurried footsteps were heard.
Zhang Yue let go of his hand, only to see the curtain lift up and go straight inside: "Third uncle, my parents have known that you have returned home, and they are preparing a wedding banquet for you."
Seventeenth Mother smiled and said, "Brother has to worry about it again."
Zhang Yue said with a smile: "It doesn't matter. Today the emperor will appoint me as a bachelor of Duanming Palace and a bachelor of Hanlin. I can add two more dishes."
Zhang Zhi and Shi Qiniang were both surprised and happy when they heard this.
The seventeenth mother's beautiful eyes almost sparkled. When she got to this position, she was under the Prime Minister and above the officials.
Zhang Yue said to Zhang Zhi: "There is no need to make any announcement, as long as my family is happy."
Zhang Zhi said with a smile: "I'm afraid when the decree comes tomorrow, it won't be up to Third Uncle."
Zhang Yue smiled, and Zhang Zhi left again with windy footsteps.
Zhang Yue shook his head and said: "For such a big person, there is no definite conclusion."
The Seventeenth Mother smiled sweetly, looking at Zhang Yue with admiration in her eyes. As the saying goes, a wife is more valuable than her husband.
Zhang Yue held Seventeenth Niang's hand and asked her about her family affairs. Now there are hundreds of people in Zhang's family.
The Zhang family has always been led by the Seventeenth Mother.
Internally, we must maintain the food and clothing support for Zhang Shi's family, and externally, we must maintain the dignity and pomp of the Zhang family's third-rank officials. There must be no less things to do and entertain.
Although Zhang Yue's salary was high, he was an honest official and earned nothing, so his family spent a lot of money and favors, and the Seventeenth Mother had to take money from the dowry to supplement it. Until Zhang Zhi's official position was high and the emperor granted him a title, the two sides gradually separated.
In the current Zhang family, Zhang Yue's third bedroom and Zhang Shi's eldest bedroom are beginning to be separated from each other inside and outside.
There are hundreds of people in the family, and the two houses are under the same roof. There are a lot of things to do and a lot of talk. Lu is a person with ideas and may not be able to listen to the Seventeenth Mother's arrangements. Even if the two houses can communicate with each other. Together.
However, the servants who serve each other are not united. Where there are people, they will inevitably form cliques. It is inevitable that each of them will show their loyalty to the master. This will easily lead to conflicts and estrangement.
Moreover, there are also disputes of interest. The servants work on a "contract" basis. For example, when building a small garden in the house, it is arranged to give someone how much money to do it. After the person finishes it, the remaining money is left. Everything goes into his pocket.
Therefore, who will do the work is also determined by how close he is to the manager.
Therefore, the Zhang family has a situation where they have separate houses but not separate families. The Lu family and Qi Niang are in charge of the affairs of the house. Every month, the Qi Niang will give money to honor Zhang Shi and Yu family.
They and their husbands supported Zhang Yue to study. Now that Zhang Yue is an official, this kindness will be repaid throughout his life.
In addition, the Seventeenth Mother paid the lion's share of some of the expenses incurred by the two families, and some of them were negotiated.
Zhang Yue listened to Qi Niang's words and felt deeply that it was not easy for her. In the past few years when he was away from Beijing, it was really difficult for her to manage such a big family.
Zhang Yue said distressedly: "Madam, you have worked really hard."
But Seventeenth Mother smiled and said: "It's not difficult, just arrange everything for your servants to handle. You don't have to imitate Zhuge who has to do everything by himself. So I don't manage things, only manage people. I just let go and do it every day." I have a lot of free time every day.”
Zhang Yue asked curiously: "Treat people? If
The Seventeenth Mother smiled sweetly and said: "These three people must have my teacher. How come there is no talent in the house?"
"It's just that you have to know something deep in your heart. You have to be reasonable with people who have good character. If you use means, you will chill their hearts. You have to use means with people with bad character. Reasoning is useless. But it cannot be generalized. Sometimes it is necessary to both To be reasonable, you must also use means. It is not difficult to understand this."
Zhang Yue listened and said in admiration: "If you become an official, your wife will definitely beat me ten times."
The Seventeenth Mother smiled and said: "The official has a hundred thousand soldiers in the northwest, but you come here to flatter me. What good does it do to you?"
Zhang Yue said seriously: "You will find out tonight."
The Seventeenth Mother's face turned red when she heard this and she spat softly.
While talking about this, it was reported that someone was visiting.
Zhang Yue originally didn't want to meet the guest at this time, but when he heard that the visitor was Wang Anguo, he decided to meet him.
Wang Anguo is a fat man, and he looks like he is sweating profusely now that it is hot.
Before the tea was served, he saw Zhang Yue and said hurriedly: "You just returned to Beijing today, so I took the liberty of disturbing you. I want to ask you one thing, please save Zheng Jiefu!"
Zhang Yue hesitated after hearing this. He didn't want to be involved in such a big deal as soon as he returned to Beijing. "I have heard about Zheng Jiefu, but I don't know the details yet."
Wang Anguo said: "Zheng Jiefu can be said to be a sage, independent and fearless. I also knew about the upper-class people's plot. When my brother was at Dingli Temple, he explained to me that he didn't accept his words. He told me, He used the reason of drought and the loss of hundreds of officials, so he asked for help to save the people. In the end, it was not his original intention that his brother gave up and went to Jinling."
"I said that my brother wanted to introduce a new law, but he didn't even listen to my words, let alone you? It's just that my brother always said that as a minister, you should not avoid the resentment of the world and return it to the king. Therefore, there is no better way to dedicate yourself to the country than this."
Zhang Yue was silent for a moment and then said: "Tomorrow I will go to your residence to see your brother!"
Some people died, but not completely...
