"Who are you? Brother Zhong?" Little Wei had met Wang Zhong, but only once.
When she went to the Sheng family to take care of her sister Wei Shuyi, it was after the Sheng family moved to Tokyo. Wang Zhong was already in Tokyo at that time. The first time Xiao Wei and Wang Zhong met was when Wang Zhong went to Quanzhou to take office. I took Mrs. Sheng and Minglan back to Yangzhou and met Wei Shuyi, which didn't last long.
At that time, Wang Zhong and Minglan's marriage had already been decided.
"I've met my aunt!" Wang Zhong said with a smile and cupped his hands in greeting.
"Brother Zhong, why are you here?" Little Wei was surprised to see Wang Zhong.
Wang Zhongdao: "I just came back from Tokyo. I brought letters from my sixth sister and my mother-in-law. I came here to see my aunt!"
Hearing Wang Zhong's address, Little Wei was stunned for a moment, and then realized that the mother-in-law Wang Zhong mentioned was none other than her sister who was the mistress of the Sheng family and Minglan's biological mother.
"Have tea, have tea!" Xiao Wei hurriedly invited Wang Zhong to drink tea.
"Where are my uncle and two younger brothers?" Wang Zhong glanced around the room, but did not see Xiao Wei's husband and two sons.
Little Wei's home is a small farmhouse with three main rooms, a side room and a warehouse to the east, a kitchen and a firewood shed to the west, and a backyard behind the main house. There is also a barn, chicken coop, and There is also a duck pen and a livestock shed, where pigs and cows are raised.
It's a standard farmhouse, and it's the kind where the family is quite wealthy.
After all, Xiao Wei's family now has 20 acres of good paddy fields and several acres of dry fields. They can't finish growing them, and some of them are even farmed out. This family is considered relatively wealthy in the village.
"Your uncle took them into the city with the villagers! It's almost time to come back!"
Wang Dian nodded and asked Wang Qier to take the letter to Xiao Wei.
"Although Minglan and her mother-in-law are far away in Tokyo, they are still thinking about their aunt!" Wang Qier has already sent the letter to Xiao Wei.
Little Wei didn't rush to open the letter, but spoke to Wang Zhong: "How is my sister's health? How is Minglan and Brother Dong's child doing?"
Wang Zhong said with a smile: "My mother-in-law has recovered very well, and now she is basically no different from ordinary people. Brother Dong has also started enlightenment with my husband, and he already knows a lot of words. Be it Minglan, everything is fine! Even my mother-in-law and Minglan miss my aunt very much and hope you can go to Tokyo to see them!"
Wei Shuyi is just Sheng Hong's concubine. Although she is a good concubine, a concubine is just a concubine. It is not easy to leave the Sheng family, let alone leave Tokyo and return to Yangzhou thousands of miles away. Naturally, she can only Little Wei went to Tokyo to visit his sister and Minglan.
"That's good! That's good!" After Wang Zhong confirmed from Wang Zhong's mouth that her sister's recovery was excellent, little Wei was obviously relieved, and the smile on her face became brighter.
In the past, when Wang Zhong performed Caesarean section to deliver Wei Shuyi's son, the younger Wei heard her sister Wei Shuyi mention it more than once when she was taking care of Wei Shuyi in Yangzhou.
At that time, Wei Shuyi was completely despairing. He thought he was dead and was ready to be separated from his sister and daughter forever, but he didn't want to be pulled out of the Palace of Hell by Wang Zhong.
Wang Zhong asked: "How has my aunt been living in Yangzhou these past few years?"
"Okay! It's good!" Little Wei said with a satisfied smile: "Now we have land and land at home, we don't have to worry about food and clothing, and we live a comfortable life!"
While he was talking, two childish shouts came from outside: "Aniang!"
Xiao Wei explained: "They are back!"
After a while, Wang Zhong saw two boys about ten years old, wearing cotton-padded jackets, each carrying a small bamboo basket.
There was also a man who was carrying a piece of fat and thin pork belly tied with a straw rope. He looked like he was in his thirties or forties, with dark skin and a short stature. His hands were thick and his knuckles were quite rough. He was following behind the two boys.
Little Wei helped introduce her: "This is Brother Zhong. He has already made an engagement with that girl Minglan. They will get married in the spring of next year."
Then he introduced to Wang Zhong: "This is the head of my family. His surname is Zhang and his name is Erniu."
"Junior Wang Zhong, I have met my uncle!" Wang Zhong greeted the man.
Wang Zhong's clothes are quite extraordinary, and he is Minglan's fiancé, so he cannot be an ordinary person. Zhang Erniu is an honest and honest person, so he can't help but feel a little reserved in front of Wang Zhong.
Fortunately, Wang Zhong was not the one who took Qiao. Xiao Wei went to the kitchen to work, and Wang Zhong chatted with Zhang Erniu. They were not talking about any major national affairs, but ordinary farm matters, such as weeding, insect control, and rice prevention. Sickness and the like.
Wang Zhong didn't have any airs about him, and he took the initiative to talk to Zhang Erniu. After a while, Zhang Erniu's initial restraint no longer existed.
While chatting, the two of them inevitably talked about Zhang Erniu's two sons.
The two brothers are called Zhang Xin and Zhang Yi respectively. Zhang Xin is the elder brother and Zhang Yi is the younger brother. Both brothers were named after their mother, Xiao Wei, which is simple, clear and meaningful.
The Zhang family could not be in such a good situation today without the help of Wei Shuyi and Minglan, but it was also inseparable from Zhang Erniu's hard work and little Wei's shrewdness and ability.
Xiao Wei originally came from a scholar's family, but due to the decline of her family and her parents' serious illness, she was reduced to the situation where her elder sister sold herself as a concubine and her younger sister married a farmer.
Now that the family has improved slightly, Xiao Wei naturally hopes that her two sons will have a bright future. Even if they fail to pass the imperial examination, it would be better to read more books and write and do calculations in the future than to work hard in the fields to earn a living. Therefore, brothers Zhang Xin and Zhang Yi started reading for enlightenment early.
In the beginning, little Wei taught him step by step. However, although little Wei was literate, he did not read many books due to his limited talent. He could enlighten his two sons, but could not teach them deeper knowledge. Now the second brother Everyone is studying in a school run by an old scholar in a neighboring village. Each person is required to study at a rate of 500 yuan a year, but this does not include the cost of books, and he has to bring his own pen, ink, paper and inkstone.
The price is not high, it can even be said to be very cheap. After all, the trend of studying is prevalent in the Huaihe, Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas. There are countless large and small schools, and there are also many famous academies. After many years of age, they have passed the imperial examination and official career. Most of the hopeless scholars will choose to return to their hometowns to open schools and teach younger generations of their own race and village how to read and write.
It is precisely because of this that the literary style in the Huaihe, Jiangsu and Zhejiang areas is becoming more and more prosperous. More and more people are reading and literate, and more and more talents will naturally come out.
Little Wei prepared the meal, and his two sons ran back with baskets on their backs to buy two jars of wine. The couple respectfully invited Wang Zhong to sit down, but Wang Zhong refused at all costs, saying that he and Minglan were already engaged, so he was Junior, how can you take the seat?
The couple had nothing to do with Wang Zhong. Fortunately, the little Wei family also had a cheerful temperament, so they simply let Zhang Erniu sit in the main seat. The couple drank bowl after bowl with Wang Zhong and brought Zhang Erniu back. The braised pork made from pork belly, fried soybeans, scrambled eggs, stir-fried cabbage, and stir-fried bacon with garlic moss, taste very good.
After a while, the two jars of wine were empty. Little Wei had to take care of the child, so he didn't drink much, but Zhang Erniu drank until his face was red, his eyes were cloudy, and his consciousness was confused.
Wang Zhong put down the wine bowl, and with the influence of alcohol, he suddenly changed his voice and asked, "Now that Brother Xin and Brother Yi are getting older, has Auntie ever considered their future?"
"In the future?" Little Wei was stunned.
But Zhang Erniu said drunkenly: "Why haven't you considered it? It's just that the two brothers have little potential and are not good at reading. We, as a couple, do not expect them to be able to take the exams. We only hope that they will not be like us in the future." They can only make a living by farming, and they can’t do anything else.”
Zhang Erniu is honest and honest, even a little dull. He is a good hand in taking care of the crops, but when it comes to doing business, he is a little less shrewd.
Xiao Wei said: "We don't expect them to be very successful. We just hope that the two brothers can live in peace and have enough food and clothing."
"I have been working in Quanzhou for three years. Nowadays, all walks of life in Quanzhou are in a prosperous development stage, and there are many opportunities. My uncle and aunt are willing to take Brother Xin and Brother Yi to come with me to Quanzhou?"
"Going to Quanzhou?" Little Wei was caught off guard by Wang Zhong's words. Even Zhang Erniu, who was originally dizzy and confused, lost a lot of his drunkenness and regained some clarity.
Wang Zhongdao: "Sister Qian and Brother Xu are also going to Quanzhou with me this time. After I arrive in Quanzhou, I will invite famous teachers to a banquet to teach Sister Qian and Brother Xu how to read. I will personally supervise them. If I have time, I will also teach them. If my uncle and aunt are willing to go to Quanzhou to study and practice martial arts, they can let Brother Xin and Brother Yi study and practice martial arts together with sister Qian and her brother."
"If my uncle and aunt are reluctant to leave their hometown, that's okay. They can let Brother Xin and Brother Yi go to Baishui Academy to study. The Xiaozhu Village in the east of Baishui Village is my property. My uncle and aunt can also move to Xiaozhu Village and watch Brother Xin. Two brothers studying.”
"If my aunt and uncle have a favorite academy, I can also edit a book. Although I am not old, I am still a bit thin in this three-acre land of Yangzhou."
Wang Zhong gave Xiao Wei and Zhang Erniu three choices at once. Happiness came so suddenly that the couple was confused and didn't know how to choose.
"Uncle and aunt don't have to make a decision in a hurry. I will leave Yangzhou in three days. Within three days, if uncle and aunt have some decisions, they can go to Xiaozhuzhuang to find me!"
After having enough wine and food, and it was getting late, Wang Zhong said goodbye.
Early the next morning, Wang Zhong found three elders and wise men in Baishui Village and directly expressed his decision.
"I'm sorry, the three masters. I've been thinking about the proposal of the three masters that day for the past two days. I've been tossing and turning, having trouble sleeping. I've thought about it over and over again, and finally I feel that taking a concubine is still inappropriate!"
"Chong Tie thinks that the way we get along now is excellent. Now, almost every household in the village has someone working in Xiaozhuzhuang. Some of the villagers who have graduated from school have passed the apprenticeship stage, and there are several people who are working as stewards. Now, it can be said that every household in the village no longer has to worry about food and clothing, and what the three elders are worried about is nothing more than the future of the younger generations in the village."
"Today I can make a promise to the three elders. Among the teachers in charge of Baishui Academy, the one with the highest academic status is no more than a civil servant, let alone the world-famous Confucian scholar. However, as long as there are scholars in the academy who want to continue to take the imperial examination, Yes, we will spare no effort to support you.”
"That's great!" The three princes all had smiles on their faces.
"We old guys are here to thank Brother Chong on behalf of the young people in the village and the students in the school!"
The three elders themselves did not have high expectations. After all, Wang Zhong was too premature, too stable, and too decisive. Moreover, he had passed the imperial examination and entered the officialdom at a young age, and he was still in a high position. They only dared to compete with Wang Zhong. If you make suggestions again, how dare you be Wang Zhong's boss?
In fact, Wang Zhong himself had always planned this way, but the establishment of White Water Academy was too short, and it has not yet produced another scholar.
The first batch of people who entered the academy have either entered Xiaozhu Village or followed Wang Zhong to Quanzhou. However, there are still a few talented people in the academy, but they are not very old and their knowledge is still lacking.
Although the three elders felt regretful, they also respected Wang Zhong's decision, and they could only respect Wang Zhong's decision.
"The three great masters are so polite!" Wang Chongchong and the other three said with cupped hands: "In addition to reporting on my duties this time when I returned to Beijing, I also got an order from the officials, who ordered me to take charge of the Quanzhou Shipbuilding Department. When the Shipbuilding Department is established, Quanzhou will definitely be It can become an external port that is not inferior to Hangzhou and Mingzhou.
The three masters can discuss with the villagers. If there is anyone in the village who wants to go to Quanzhou, whether to do business or find a job, and if there is anyone who wants to go out to sea with the ship and experience the exotic customs, they can also come to me. "
"Going to Quanzhou?" Now ten students from Baishui Academy have gone to Quanzhou with Wang Zhong. Although not all of these ten people are from the Yu and Li surnames, most of them are related to the Yu and Li clans.
"Besides, there is one more thing!" Wang Zhong said again.
"What else is there?" The three princes all looked at Wang Zhong in confusion.
"When I return to Quanzhou this time, I want to recruit a few young, strong and physically strong people from the village, preferably those who are good at martial arts, to serve as bodyguards."
As the saying goes, the three senior officials in front of the prime minister's door did not mean to look down on the guards. They just asked curiously: "I wonder what the regulations are for recruiting guards?"
Wang Zhongdao: "If you are a villager, you will be exempted from land rent for five years, and you will be given five guans to settle down. If you are a fellow villager, you will be given 10 guans to settle down. If you have made meritorious services, there will be other rewards based on the size of your merits. If you are unfortunate enough to die in the line of duty, you will not only be rewarded with money, but also with other rewards." And fields.”
"A reward for the land?" Even the three elders were shocked when they heard Wang Zhong's words.
Although there is a lot of fertile farmland near Yangzhou, the population is also dense. Especially in recent years, as water transportation has become more and more prosperous, there are countless wealthy salt merchants in Yangzhou city. The nearby fields are all priced but not available. You can buy them if you want. Less than.
In order to buy Xiaozhu Village, Wang Zhong spent three times the market price. This was done with the help of Caogang's relationship and just in time.
Generally, for a village like Xiaozhuzhuang located near Yangzhou, as soon as the news of the sale is released, within half a day, the door will be filled with people looking to buy.
"Brother Zhong, are you serious about what you said?"
"A gentleman's words are hard to chase!" Wang Zhong said resolutely.
In the afternoon of that day, the three elders held a clan meeting to inform everyone of the news. In just half a day, Wang Zhong prepared to recruit guards, and the news of extremely generous treatment spread throughout Baishui Village.
The next day, as the sky was getting brighter, about twenty men who considered themselves young, strong and physically strong gathered outside Xiaozhu Village.
Wang Zhong made a selection and selected five people.
In the afternoon, Zhang Erniu and Xiao Wei, with their two sons, drove Niu Tou and carried large and small bags to Xiaozhuzhuang.
Looking at the little Wei family who had even prepared their luggage, Wang Zhong showed a smile on his face: "It seems that my uncle and aunt have thought about it!"
Zhang Erniu rubbed his head and said: "Your aunt said that you have read a lot, are highly knowledgeable and well-informed, and your vision must be better than ours. If I can follow you, Brother Xin and the two brothers will definitely have better jobs." We have discussed our future and will follow you to Quanzhou."
Wang Zhong showed a smile on his face, respectfully invited the two of them to drink tea, and asked by the way: "Have the arrangements been made at uncle and aunt's house?"
Xiao Wei said: "All the livestock in the family have been sold, and the houses and fields have been entrusted to the care of the uncles. Our family only brought some clothes with us."
"That's enough, that's enough!" Wang Zhong said with a smile: "We can wait until we get to Quanzhou to deal with everything!"
"If my aunt goes together, she can be my sister-in-law's companion!"
"That's a good relationship! You'll have company along the way!" Little Wei smiled without restraint.
Although Zhang Erniu is honest and honest, little Wei is a straightforward and clear-minded person who does things cleanly, has a non-sloppy temper, and is quite decisive. Wang Zhong guessed that their family could give up their house and land and follow him to Quanzhou. , must be inseparable from Xiao Wei's persuasion.
"Uncle and aunt, let's stay at Zhuangzi for now, and we can set off again the day after tomorrow, okay?" Wang Zhong seemed to be asking for their opinions, but in fact, the itinerary had already been decided, and naturally it would not be changed at will because of the little Wei family.
"Now that our whole family has come to join Brother Zhong, we will naturally follow Brother Zhong's arrangements for everything!" Zhang Erniu was not good at speaking, so little Wei was usually the one to deal with many foreign affairs.
Wang Zhong said: "I still have some small things to deal with. My sister-in-law has taken Sister Qian and Brother Xu back to her parents' house. They will be back in the evening. If my uncle and aunt have nothing to do, I can let Chu Er take you for a walk around the village. Let’s go shopping, and when my sister-in-law comes back, I’ll meet my aunt and uncle again!”
"Brother Zhong, if you have something to do, just go and do it. You don't have to call us!" Xiao Wei was very discerning and knew that Wang Zhong was busy with everything, so he understood very much.
I heard that Mrs. Wei's whole family was here. Mrs. Wang and Li didn't even bother to eat dinner. After talking to their family for a few words, they hurried home with their children. After meeting, they found out after a short chat. The two actually got along quite well.
Thinking about it, although Xiao Wei comes from a scholar's family, her family has already fallen into decline. She only studied with her father and sister for a few years when she was young. After that, she followed her mother to make a living by sewing and farming. She was in the same situation as she was after marrying into the Wang family. The Wang Li family is quite similar, and it is inevitable that the two of them feel the same sympathy and sympathy for each other.
Two days later in the morning, the group took a boat from Yangzhou Pier all the way to Hangzhou, and then transferred to a sea ship. The journey was leisurely. By the time they arrived in Quanzhou, the Lantern Festival had already passed for quite some time.
(End of chapter)
