Shen Zheng asked Ah Fu to take Mrs. Qi out to buy groceries and come back. Sister Cheng would cook and Ninglan would help.
The two elders of the Cheng family rested in Cheng Zhao's bedroom. After walking for more than twenty days, both of them were exhausted.
Cheng Wanwan and Shen Zheng were sitting in the yard talking.
Shen Zheng kept talking about his experience in the capital. He kept talking non-stop. He was always excited and seemed not to take his failure at all seriously.
"Brother Cheng is so awesome. He was just a little short of becoming the number one scholar in the third place. It's such a pity..." He shook his head, "But the current third place is also satisfied. After all, the first place is from the Ministry of Rites. Mr. Fu from the Shang Shu family has been studying in the palace with the prince since he was a child. If he can't even pass the first prize, it will be a waste of his quota..."
Cheng Wanwan took a sip of tea and said, "Okay, stop talking about Zhao'er and talk about yourself."
"Me? What do I have to say?" Shen Zheng looked unconcerned, "I know what my godmother wants to say, but I have decided to find a job in the capital and study while doing it. I will try again in three years. If If I still can’t pass the Jinshi exam, that means I really don’t have the talent, so I’ve given up.”
Cheng Wanwan disagreed: "Since you still want to try again, then settle down and study hard. If you study with Master Yu for three years, you will still have a great chance."
Shen Zheng lowered his eyes: "Wherever my job is, I will study there. Godmother, there is no need to persuade me."
Cheng Wanwan really couldn't understand him. A Juren who failed in the first exam could only find a job as a junior official. Although going to a local position could sharpen his skills, it was not easy to get promoted and his future career would be limited. Of course, there are some people It's just that there are very few people who take this path... A person can also be a county magistrate, but according to the stipulations of this dynasty, you can only register and be assigned by the court to be assigned to a local county magistrate after failing the examination three times. Shen Zheng did not meet the requirements.
"I am making two preparations." Shen Zheng said, "Everyone looks down on local junior officials, but I do. As long as I am in charge of my position, I will be promoted one day. But The chance of promotion is too low, so I have to continue studying. If I am lucky enough to pass the Jinshi exam, I can find an official position in the capital."
"There are only a few vacancies in the capital, and they are all prepared for the children of aristocratic families in the capital. You have no chance..." Cheng Wanwan still disagreed, "It's okay to make preparations, but staying in the capital is not an option. You can return to Yunwan City. This year many people in Yuncheng have committed crimes, and their qualifications in all aspects have been cancelled. You might be able to find a good job if you go back..."
"Godmother, I just want to stay in the capital." Shen Zheng said firmly. Looking at Shang Cheng's crooked eyes, he told the truth directly, "I have someone I like, who is the legitimate daughter of Huzhou Supervisory Yushi Lin. When my term is over in the next year, my family will return to the capital. I asked Lin Yan, Mr. Lin and Mrs. Lin only have one daughter, and will not marry her daughter away. I must establish a foothold in the capital to have such a trace of success. Chance."
Cheng Wanwan was shocked.
She said how it felt like Xiaozheng had grown up all of a sudden, and it turned out that he had gained motivation.
Although Mr. Lin is only a seventh-grade man, his family is not simple. At that time, Taifu Lin, a first-grade man, was Mr. Lin’s uncle. Mr. Lin’s parents died early, so it can be said that he was raised by Mr. Lin as a son. So Mr. Lin was quite So Miss Lin's grandfather... wanted to marry the granddaughter of the current emperor, which was probably a bit difficult.
However, Xiao Zheng also had an advantage. She could feel that Miss Lin was also thinking about Xiao Zheng, and it was not considered unrequited love.
"After Brother Cheng's wedding, I will go back home. Firstly, I will visit my father and grandmother. Secondly, I will thank Master Yu for his teachings. Thirdly, I will visit Mrs. Lin. I want Mrs. Lin to wait for me for three years." Shen Zheng was somewhat agitated. She said unconfidently, "Do you think Mrs. Lin will agree?"
Cheng Wan is bald, so she can give some advice on other matters. But she really can't say much about the relationship between men and women, and has no experience at all.
She paused and said, "Ms. Lin is sixteen this year and will be almost twenty in three years. You have to show enough sincerity before Mrs. Lin will let go."
Shen Zheng nodded: "I know."
No matter what, he will try his best. If Mrs. Lin and Miss Lin are unwilling to wait, then just think that he and Miss Lin are destined to have no connection.
Sister-in-law Cheng quickly prepared the meal, because today was a good day, and Mrs. Qi bought a lot of fish and meat. This was a delicacy for the Cheng family who had been on a vegetarian diet for more than 20 days. To celebrate, she also bought After drinking Zhuangyuan red wine, each of them poured a glass.
In the past, when the Cheng family faced Shen Zheng, they would hold it in high esteem. Now that their children have made a difference, they consider themselves to be on equal footing with Shen Zheng, and their words are a bit more arrogant. However, Shen Zheng has a carefree temperament, so naturally he doesn't care. Regarding these things, he held up his wine glass and drank one glass at a time with Old Man Cheng, Brother Cheng and me.
The meal was eaten until nightfall, and Cheng Zhao came back at this time.
Originally there was a poetry gathering arranged by the court at night, but Cheng Ding came over and told him that the Cheng family had arrived, so he came back early on the pretext of being drunk.
"Oh, it's Zhao'er who's back. My son is so handsome." Mrs. Cheng greeted her with a smile. "This dress feels so comfortable. My son was born to wear silk and satin. He's so handsome..."
Brother Cheng was so drunk that he came over and said, "I have never worn such good clothes in my entire life. Taking them off will make me look majestic."
"You'll get into trouble after a few sips of cat urine." Old Mrs. Cheng kicked him over. "Go back and lie down when you're drunk. Don't be embarrassed."
Ah Fu quickly helped Old Man Cheng and Brother Cheng back to the wing to rest. Shen Zheng had already fallen asleep.
Mrs. Cheng and Sister-in-law Cheng kept touching Cheng Zhao, and couldn't get enough. They kept asking questions. The two boys in the second and third bedrooms of the Cheng family kept saying "big brother" to each other, and they were very excited.
"Zhao'er is tired today. Let's go to bed early." Cheng Wanwan stood up and said, "Cheng Jia has booked an inn nearby. I'll come over and talk to you tomorrow morning."
Cheng Zhao hurriedly walked over and said: "After the second aunt wrote the letter, I rented the small courtyard next door. I have asked someone to clean it and everything is ready. The second aunt can live in it directly. After staying for a few days, You can move directly to the new house..."
Sister-in-law Cheng was originally complaining that her son was so kind to the second aunt and actually rented a courtyard... But as soon as she heard the following words, she immediately howled: "Zhao'er, did the emperor reward you with a new house... "
"No." Cheng Zhao said, "Today the emperor rewarded me with five thousand taels of silver, so I revealed my idea of buying a yard to my colleagues. When I visited the lake in the evening, someone introduced me to a house. Although it is located in the suburbs of Beijing, it is very personal. The second time you enter the courtyard, I will go and secure the courtyard tomorrow, and you will be able to move into the new house in a few days."
Cheng Wanwan asked a lot: "How much does a second-entry hospital in the suburbs of Beijing cost?"
"Because it is an old courtyard, the price is not expensive, 4,500 taels of silver. However, because someone in the other party's family also studies and wants to enjoy the joy of being a prodigy, I automatically lowered the price to 3,000 taels." Cheng Zhao had a smile on his face. , "I still have two thousand taels of silver left on hand and plan to invest in the business."
Cheng Wanwan was surprised: "You can still do business?"
"It's just a matter of buying shares, and you will be able to distribute profits in two months. Er Gu doesn't have to worry about Zhao'er being cheated. I went through many investigations and found that there are no problems in all aspects before I dare to buy shares. It's not convenient for me to have an official status, so Cheng Ding "I want to invest in the company in my name." Cheng Zhao said with some embarrassment, "Now that I have settled down in the capital, my wedding is coming soon, and I need money everywhere, so I can only think of ways to make some money first."
Mrs. Cheng was filled with relief: "Zhao'er has really grown up and become sensible. Grandma still has more than a thousand taels of silver here. You can use it to do business..."
Cheng Zhao couldn't refuse at all. He didn't know what he thought of, but he still took the money.
Cheng Wanwan is not worried that Cheng Zhao will be cheated. This child has always been very stable. No matter what he does, he will not act rashly until he is 90% sure... He is indeed short of money at the moment, and his self-esteem does not allow him to ask for help anymore. The clansman and the second aunt couldn't help each other, so they had no choice but to invest in the business themselves.
Xiaozheng has grown up, and Zhaoer...has also grown up.
